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

Re: What a shame!
by Sean Cavanaugh 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

Sebastian wrote: > While I certainly agree with the intent of the QRP transponder on > AO-51; you might want to consider the possibility that the station > calling CQ may not be aware of it. Not all the hams who work, or > attempt to work the satellites are active on this reflector, or even > read up on how to properly work a satellite. > > I always try to send an email to the person who can't hear anything, > and 9 times out of 10 I receive an email back thanking me for letting > them know they were heard, and asking me why they can't seem to hear > anything. It then translates into a bit of Elmering to get them to > put up either better antennas or just send them towards some of the > articles on the Amsat web page. > > A number of those hams are now active 'new' hams on the birds. If you > have his call, why not send them a nice email, saying they were heard, > and it's not proper etiquette to call CQ on an FM satellite > continuously; and point them to this reflector or the AMSAT web. > > Recently on this reflector there have been several posts about the > over abundance of activity, abuse and interference on AO-51; even one > that surprised the heck out of me from one of the AMSAT officers. > Seems to me that we might need another LEO or 2 to tied us over since > the loss of AO-27 and AO-16. While it seems that most of the posts > on here eventually go on a tangent towards the lack of a HEO, the use > of the LEOS are exponentially going up. Just my .02 worth. > > 73 de W4AS > Sebastian [resend, forgot to cc list] Hi Sebastian, Thanks for helping out with getting new people on the sats. I've only recently started working the FM LEO sats myself and have been enjoying it quite a lot. I tend to agree that a lot of the "bad" operating I've been hearing on the recent passes can be attributed to lack of knowledge on how to operate satellites. It seems that in the last couple of weeks the contention for AO-51 has gotten extremely high compared to what it was even earlier this month. Perhaps the K5D expedition has sparked interest in a few more new people to try using satellites, and this is a good thing IMO. I hope that more people take your example and try to help out the new people. The majority of hams don't want to be LIDS, they just need guidance. As for the HEO vs. LEO issue, I think that more LEO sats would be useful as well. I've never used a HEO, and while I would love to be able to, I also think that we should put our resources into things that will give the greatest return. LEO sats are cheaper and easier to get into orbit than HEO, no question. LEOs are also much more usable by those getting started, or in areas where there are restrictions on antenna arrays (both apply to me at the moment). I have been able to use AO-51 and SO-50 with a vertical for the uplink and a small PVC pipe and copper wire beam for the downlink. I don't think that setup would be very good for HEOs. I am not suggesting that the amateur satellite community should ignore HEO opportunities, but rather than LEOs seem to be a better use of resources at the moment, given the current state of things. Anyways, enough ranting. I'm off to work on getting things set up so I can start using my newly aquired FT-847 on the linear transponder birds. 73, Sean - VA5LF

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Fw: Contacts (K5D)
by Andrew Glasbrenner 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

An update from K5D... > Drew, > Here are the contacts so far: > > Yourself > KI4TZ > XE2AT > K5QXJ > K3SZH > WS2E > N3NUM > XE1MEX > > There is a good AO-51 this evening around 7pm we are going to try to make > it. The is also a pass around 4:30 but we got a supply boat today and we > are > bushed from the work. We will try to do some more over the next few days. > We > will be breaking camp on Tuesday, pack on Wednesday and helo all the stuff > on Thursday. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Cute/CO-65 packet: anyone outside Japan ?
by Henk, PA3GUO 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

Hi all ! Several times I tried digipaeting via CO65 (Cute-11), but so far never success. (23cm up, 70cm dwn / 9k6) ... still our Japanes friends seem very succesfull ! Whom of us has had success ? Please share the tricks ! Henk, PA3GUO Kenwood TS2000X 10W / 35 elements 23cm (works on AO51) preamp / 8 elements 70cm (can receive the CW beacon strong) PK96 TNC, UNPROTO CQ VIA JQ1YTC, HBAUD 9600 Automated doppler correction via HRD

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New UISS version 5.2.5
by nader omer 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

UISS Version 5.2.5: ------------- http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/uissdownload.htm ·New: Text color of messages addressed to you can be defined ·New: In Connection Window: -Make/Edit/Delete Pre-defined Selection List: Select a pre-defined text-file from the selection list which can/may contain unlimited number of pre-defined text files. - Open files by default in the CSaves folder ·New: Open MHeard files (in "View MHeard details" and in right-click MHeard list) ·New: Open any log file (right-click Autolog label in the Monitor console and also found in Options-menu 'Autolog') ·New: Open any messages files in the Messenger ·Profiles selection shows date of creation, last accessed and last written time and dates ·The name of the last selected (or active) profile (if any) is shown in the File-menu and in Console Statistics (works after at least one profiled has been opened in v5.2.5) ·Rare occurrence of error nr 9 in LAN fixed ·And other minor changes 73's Guy ON6MU ............................... sourse http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UISS_ON6MU/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Guy for the new upgrate UISS version Great work Guy pse joint UISS yahoo group and support UISS . 73 de Nader st2nh www.st2nh.com

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TS-790 430 low output
by William Liporace - WC2L 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

Hi Folks, OK I have replaced D2 & D3. I am now getting about 2.5 watts output (Bird Slug and a dry dummy load good to 2 GHz). I am the process of downloading the service manual for the TS-790. Can some one give me a hint on what to look for. Not a lot of test gear, but any help would be great!! FYI, the 144 MHz and the 1.2 GHz portions seem OK. I am getting the specs out. or close to it. TNX Will WC2L

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(no subject)
by jrj13＠aol.com 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

Jim Jennings Elcom Sales Jim_Jennings(a)elcomny.com Phone 585-385-1400 Cell 585-329-6546

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CO-65 GMSK 9k6 digipeat
by Mineo Wakita 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

CO-65 GMSK is now scheduled on every weekend over the world wide. Up 1267.600MHz / Down 437.475MHz http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ct17gmsk.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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K5D in the log!!!
by joe 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

Got them on this morning's AO-51 pass. Heard him work a few guys, so they are active. 73, Joe KI4TZ

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What a shame!
by John Price 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

During the over head pass this evening of AO-51 on the QRP transponder there was a station that called QC from AOS to LOS. He obviously could not hear himself or anyone else. A couple of stations tried to call him and got no answer. I wont give the call but I am sure he it was him. What a shame! Hard to believe anyone would be that inconsiderate. I don't know if the DX was on or not but they sure would have had no chance if they were. Then someone started sending music towards the end of the pass. How bad is ham radio going to get before we all get feed up and find another hobby? Sure is causing me to rethink my opinion. -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Internet N4QWF(a)AMSAT.ORG Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463 Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il >From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"

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AO-51 QRM from Russia
by andy thomas 21 Feb '09

21 Feb '09

I understand that communities in Russia of less than 10,000 inhabitants may (legally under Russian law) have an unlicensed local telephone system operating by radio relay. Given the ready availability of Chinese manufacture repeaters and handhelds I suspect that's the problem on the AO-51 uplink here in Europe. I'll try and find out more in May this year. 73 de andy G0SFJ

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