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

AMSAT needs a Visual C#, C++, Visual Basic programmer
by Gould Smith 27 Mar '09

27 Mar '09

AMSAT has a need for a volunteer Visual C#, C++, Visual Basic programmer. The task is to take an Excel file of Area Coordinator information, including their skills and produce an output file/spreadsheet that: 1) Parses through the cells containing multiple skills in a cell and develop a list of those skills 2) compiles a list of these skills and then produces a list of all the ACs that have that skill (with their contact information) 3) We can setup the spreadsheet in a fixed format, so this program can be run multiple times a year on the database. Please contact Gould, WA4SXM if you are interested in writing a program to do this. 73, Gould

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successful first EVE-Echoes (Earth-Venus-Earth) in Germany and Europe
by Peter Guelzow 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

On March 25th, 2009 a team from the German space organisation AMSAT-DL reached another milestone on its way to an own interplanetary probe towards planet Mars. The ground station at the Bochum observatory transmitted radio signals to Venus. After traveling almost 100 million kilometers and a round trip delay of about 5 minutes, they were clearly received as echoes from the surface of Venus. Receiving planetary echoes is a première in Germany and Europe. In addition, this is the farthest distance crossed by radio amateurs, over 100 times further than echoes from the moon (EME reflexions). For receiving the EVE (Earth-Venus-Earth) reflections, an FFT analysis with an integration time of 5 minutes was used. After integrating for 2 minutes only, the reflected signals were clearly visible in the display. Despite the bad weather, signals from Venus could be detected from 1038UT on until the planet reached the local horizon. The high power amplifier which is described in the current AMSAT-DL journal has therefore passed this crucial test as a final key component for the planned P5-A Mars mission. By receiving generated echoes from Venus, the ground and command station for the Mars probe has been cleared for operational use and the AMSAT-Team is now gearing up for building the P5-A space probe. For financing the actual construction and launch, AMSAT-DL is currently in negotiation with the DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt) among others, to obtain financial support for the remaining budget of 20 Mill EUR. AMSAT-DL wants to show that low-budget interplanetary exploration is possible with its approach. More information and the link to the official press release: http://www.amsat-dl.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=166&Item… The EVE experiment was repeated on Thursday, March 26th for several hours with good echoes from Venus. Morse code was used to transmit the well known „HI“ signature known from the AMSAT OSCAR satellites. 73s de DB2OS Peter Guelzow President AMSAT-DL

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[Fwd: Earth-Venus-Earth experiment success
by Tim Tuck 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

FYI... This is amazing ! regards Tim -----------------------include message----------------- Amsat-DL international team successfully transmitted and received signals via Venus on 25-03-2009 at 10:38 utc. The signal received was about 0.3 dB under bad interference from WLAN and bad weather in Bochum. The transmitter was about 6 kW CW on 2.4 GHz . The transmitter used a magnetron that has been locked to rubidium and for the first time SSB quality was achieved making it possible to use this transmitter for P5A Amsat-DL mission to Mars. The use of a magnetron for this purpose was possible thanks to a new Amsat-DL developed modulator that enables a magnetron to be used for narrow band operation. With this transmitter Amsat-DL is ready to start the next step in the Mars mission and prepare the spacecraft. More information on Amsat-DL website http://amsat-dl.org <http://amsat-dl.org> --------------- end include -------------- -- VK2XTT :: QF56if :: BMARC :: WIA :: AMSAT-VK :: AMSAT

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Dave Toth, Part II
by Bob McGwier 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

I talked for a while with Dave this afternoon. It was amazing. While he was not trying to kick touch the roof from a stand, he was talking about coming to Dayton for 3 days. He just sounded terrific. He has some potentially tough days ahead with the upcoming treatments but he wanted me to let everyone know that he was as cantankerous as ever and he intended to go back to work in 12 weeks. He believes the prognosis is good. He is tired, still in a bit of pain, but in good spirits. He appreciates the emails, notes, etc. he has been getting, is looking forward to a visit from John, and expects to be having a good time at Dayton in 7 or so weeks! He is a little too tired to tackle all of the emails but he will soon. Bob -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. "It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.", Anatole France. Twitter:rwmcgwier Active: Facebook,Myspace,LinkedIn

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AMSAT-BB Digest
by Call Sign 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

Yes I agree with Gene, Elmer's wanted! I would read any tutorials, specific to this AO-51 event. I was able to grab some of Richard Garriotts, ISS, TV transmissions on my Yaesu VX7R HT with a Panasonic Digital Voice Recorder, plugged into my mic's head phone jack, using my dual band hand held Arrow antenna and then play that into, the computer SSTV program on my desktop computer, back in the shack. (QTH is in a radio hole, I must go remote and have no laptop, I think I have a link to those pics on my QRZ) I would love it, if someone could explain how I might; (1) convert a digital picture into the SSTV sound format, so I can put it on my digital voice recorder (I can do this from my shack before a pass) and then a better way to get that data, into the transmit side of my VX7R radio, outside of playing the sound file into the HT mic. I may have to break down and get a net book or lap top, dedicated for this purpose but if there is a more minimalist approach, I would love to consider it. Furthermore, as a CERT Communications team member, I would like to be able to transmit a SSTV pic from a remote site, with the absolute minimum of equipment needed. As a rule, right now, I always have, in my car; an Emergency CERT backpack, an HT HAM radio with battery charger, a directional antenna and others, a digital camera and a digital voice recorder, what other, minimum, pieces of the puzzle do I need, to transmit SSTV, remotely and how do they fit together? Just typing this email, has caused me to realize, I need to burn a SSTV program onto a disc and put that in my CERT bag too, so even if I dont have a laptop, in an emergency, if/when I can get to a computer, I can install the SSTV program, to view/create/send SSTV, remote. (feel free to respond here if appropriate or directly to KI6RRQ(a)cox.net if you have some wisdom and the desire to share it) Rich KI6RRQ > Message: 11 > Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:17:18 -0400 > From: WB2LLP <wb2llp(a)optonline.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Slow Scan > To: AMSAT -BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <393BE64D02154B49A334B0BCD863CF57@gene> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > AO-51's handlers are doing a very nice job of presenting us with several > different satellite modes. This week it is an opportunity to try Slow > Scan TV. Now it would be very nice if someone from the Slow Scan > community would tell us how to receive the pictures and once we have done > that, how do we send a picture. We only have a week to play with > something which is very different for some of us, so let us not waste any > time. > > TNX es 73 de WB2LLP Gene > > ARRL 1139432 > AMSAT 33183

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Any sugestions on where to get replacement adjustment pots for the Yeasu 5400 controller?
by boprie＠aol.com 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

Hi All ? We'd be interested in suggested sources for these. Tnx and 73 Dave

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G5500 help
by Jack Barbera 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

Matt Bennett Was adised by YAESU they do not sell the control box alone.Might look into Green Heron RT21.I use it for my H>F> Rotor control,works great Jack WA1ZDV

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Dave Toth, VE3GYQ
by Bob McGwier 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

I am saddened to report that Dave Toth, VE3GYQ, was hospitalized and had the tender care of a serious neurosurgeon. Dave, being the mild mannered, tame individual we all know and love, has managed to extricate himself from the clutches of the hospital and is resting at home. He will have to undergo some pretty tough medical treatments in a short time but he is a fighter like almost none of the rest of us can understand. He is watching BSG, moaning about going to Dayton, had his son tell me he was going with me and that is that. My plan is to take him to Dayton to at least the Saturday so he can be at the SDR forum. Dave is ambulatory, can get on his computer, and I know would love messages. But he is under absolutely strict orders to rest for now, so please email only. I've made arrangements to keep up with him via his son and Dave is absolutely insistent that if he can stand up and walk, I am taking him to Dayton. What a HARD HEAD! We love you Dave, take care. Bob -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. "It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.", Anatole France. Twitter:rwmcgwier Active: Facebook,Myspace,LinkedIn

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Dave Toth
by n4hy 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

I am saddened to report that Dave Toth, VE3GYQ, was hospitalized and had the tender care of a serious neurosurgeon. Dave, being the mild mannered, tame individual we all know and love, has managed to extricate himself from the clutches of the hospital and is resting at home. He will have to undergo some pretty tough medical treatments but he is a fighter like almost none of the rest of us can understand. He is watching BSG, moaning about going to Dayton, had his son tell me he was going with me and that is that. My plan is to take him to Dayton to at least the Saturday so he can be at the SDR forum. Dave is ambulatory, can get on his computer, and I know would love messages. But he is under absolutely strict orders to rest for now, so please email only. I've made arrangements to keep up with him via his son and Dave is absolutely insistent that if he can stand up and walk, I am taking him to Dayton. What a HARD HEAD! We love you Dave, take care. Bob -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. "It is human nature to think wisely and act in an absurd fashion.", Anatole France. Twitter:rwmcgwier Active: Facebook,Myspace,LinkedIn

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SOHLA-1 telemetry data
by Mineo Wakita 26 Mar '09

26 Mar '09

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/sohlatlm.htm (English by JE9PEL/1) http://www.sssrc.aero.osakafu-u.ac.jp/HP_M/ (Japanese by Grand Station) JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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