February 2009 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

help with yaesu 736
by Nick Pugh 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

My 736 in its 3 rd decade has low audio on all modes. I have to turn the af gain to about 3 o'clock position. Has any one on the list had the same experience. nick Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Enigneering School

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too many satellites ?
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

Timely image... after yesterday's crash. Todays's 'Image of the Day' shows the cloud of satellites about earth. http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/312941main_Bee-Hive-1_H1_full.jpg (This is a large image) It is apparently getting a little crowded up there. The SatScape program can provide a similar view if you zoom out far enough. For the detailed writeup, and other sizes check the main URL for IOTD... http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/iotd.html (After today, this one will be in the recent pics collection) Enjoy /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net -> <- http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg * My 'Day Job' ->

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Omid - Did you Receive It?
by Bob Christy 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

I am compiling a log of Omid radio observations. It operated in two regimes: 1 - between Feb 3 and Feb 8 transmissions were limited to passes going over the Middle East but it was heard as far afield as Western Europe and South Africa 2 - between Feb 8 and Feb 10 it transmitted continuously but it now seems to be silent. If you have any observations, I would appreciate receiving them. The date, time, transmission mode and your location will be sufficient. If it is of help - there are descriptions of three transmission modes, and a direct contact e-mail address for me if you wish to use it. Eventually I will include a summary of all observations on the web site: http://www.zarya.info/Tracking/Omid/OmidFrequencies.php Thank You Bob Christy

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KX4Y-SK
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

This evening I introduced myself to Dieter's wife Tina. We had never met. When she saw my AMSAT badge she grabbed onto my hand and held it for at least 10 minutes, like we were long-lost friends. She said she was so glad that AMSAT could come to the visitation, and went on to tell me about all the wonderful email and phone calls she has received from all over the world. She understood what AMSAT meant to Dieter, and was so proud that the people of AMSAT recognized what a good man he was. She asked me to let everyone know how thankful she was that Dieter had so many wonderful friends... "Thank You All" from Tina ... -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net -> <- http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg * My 'Day Job' ->

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Re: Orlando Hamcation!
by Bob Bruninga 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

> Orlando Hamcation, one of the largest > hamfests in the nation, will be commencing > tomorrow at 12:00pm at the Central Florida > Fairgrounds here in Orlando, Florida. I just checked http://map.findu.com/hfest* and the only hamfest showing up on APRS is one in Shizuoaka Japan. And I also checked for hamfest* and there is only one of those also, and it is showing in Orillia, ONT. Please excuse my repetition if I mention many ways to enhance the local HAMFEST experience... One of the best ways to reach out to fellow amateurs is to place an APRS object on your local map named HFEST-14x for example for a hamfest on the 14th of the month ("x" allows for 26 different hamfests on the same day...). Then it shows on the front panel of all APRS mobiles within 100 miles and their GPS maps for them to easily find it. It is also visible then globally as well to all APRS stations on the internet. It is also best to include the talk in frequency in the object too, so everything the mobile needs is available to him right there on his radio. He just pushes the TUNE button when he sees that object and his D710 radio for example will instantly tune to that talk in frequency. Done. Net control at the HAMFEST also has an APRS display in front of his operating position, and then he can see where everyone is. Those without APRS who want to tell the net control where they are can just use their nearby mile mark, and then they also can easily show up on APRS. For AMSAT operations, If someone is running DIGI_NED or APRSdata in the area, then also on the front panel of all APRS mobile radios and HT's will show any AMSATs in view and their azimuth and range as well as their operating frequency. If there are none in view, then a schedule of all passes for the next 80 minutes is uplinked every 10 minutes to their radio's DX list for review at any time. For details on getting this local info to the mobile user, see www.aprs.org/localinfo.html Sorry for the intrusion. I will go put this out onto the APRS bulletin board and find out why no one down there is putting out this infromatin object. Oh, you can also put an AMSAT-x object on the map so people can find your table directly. You can also announce there your own separate AMSAT talk in too, and all mobiles will see it. Bob, WB4APR

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Orlando Hamcation!
by David J 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

Orlando Hamcation, one of the largest hamfests in the nation, will be commencing tomorrow at 12:00pm at the Central Florida Fairgrounds here in Orlando, Florida. We are expecting large crowds and hope to many of our AMSAT friends there. The AMSAT booth is in the Commercial 1 building. AMSAT plans to have a working sat. station at the booth during all three days. Please listen for the station during sat. passes. We will try to work all available passes as we can. The call will probably be K4H, but possibly we will use my call, AA4KN. Please keep an ear out for either. We hope to work everyone we can. 73s, Dave, AA4KN

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Live coverage
by G0MRF＠aol.com 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

Live coverage of todays Ariane 5 launch is now running at: _www.videocorner.tv_ (http://www.videocorner.tv)

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KP5 Desecheo DXpedition on satellite
by Andrew Glasbrenner 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

Updates from www.kp5.us indicate that at least part of the team is now on Desecheo, and will soon begin HF operations as K5D. Thanks to the support of AMSAT-NA, the team is equipped with a Kenwood D7 HT and Arrow antenna, as well as training on using the FM satellites. AMSAT-NA would like to thank Doug Faunt N6TQS, Tim Lilley N3TL, and Patrick Stoddard, WD7EWK for their generous donations of equipment for this and future DXpedition, as well as Keith Pugh, W5IU for training assistance. Satellite operation is not expected to begin until the second half of the DXpedition, and then only on an as available basis. A second repeater on AO-51 (145.88/435.150) will be activated on February 16th and reserved -only- for contacts with K5D while within sight of the island. K5D may be active on either AO-51 repeater, SO-50 or the ISS voice repeater modes if available. Operation on the transponder satellites is not expected unfortunately. Outside of range of Desecheo, users are encouraged to operate under the standard AO-51 QRP rules. These guidelines are 10 watts output or less, to omnidirectional or handheld antennas only. Telemetry collection operations on AO-51 will occasionally interrupt the 435.150 downlink on US west coast passes not in range of Desecheo. Users attempting contact with K5D should be aware the the DXpedition does not wish to exchange grid squares during the QSO in order to allow more operators the chance for a QSO. Their grid square is FK68, same as most of Puerto Rico. Please be courteous and limit yourself to one QSO. Logs are expected to be available online at http://www.kp5.us/ . Many prolific DXpeditioners are on this trip, and a positive experience with satellite may result in increased participation by future expeditions. Good Luck on working a new one on satellite! 73, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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AO-7 web site
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

Anyone have success with the AO-7 web site? No connect here. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Out of the Office
by Martha 12 Feb '09

12 Feb '09

I will be out of the office Friday, February 13th and Monday, February 16th. The office will reopen Tuesday at 10:00AM ET -- 73- Martha

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