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

AO-51 in mode L/US
by Mark L. Hammond 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Hi All, I had AO-51 all to myself right after the mode change. It sounds great in this mode. It's time to get some transmit time on those L-band modules/upconverters and/or check out your S-band downconverters! By the way---many of us use 1268.703 on the uplink!! April 13 - April 19 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz FM Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 Mhz FM Hope to work you there. 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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L/U on AO-51
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

A most interesting (learning) QSO was completed with Greg KO6TH on AO-51. L band antenna (22el yagi) mounted inside a 20M Quad, no elevation ability. 70cm yagi on a az/el system-none of it computer controlled. Tx a IC-1271A driving a KJ6KO amp. No automatic doppler correction. With three rotors and manual doppler correction and trying to see the computer screen too far away for my bifocals to work, it was a learning experience. I will be calling Martha tomorrow to order the LVB tracker, and putting one of my 16 turn helix antennas on the az/el system and move computer display or get stronger glasses! This is fun stuff! Thanks to Drew and the crew for playing with these different modes. I can receive 2.4ghz with a 3 foot dish, but I ran out of hands. try it you'll like it! 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: Preamps??
by Mark L. Hammond 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Hi Jerry, I cannot say enough good things about the preamps AND the PEOPLE at Advance Receiver Research! They are always personable, quick to ship/repair, and their products are awesome. I have around 5 of their preamps around the shack right now (okay, four are at the antennas where they belong!). It makes the difference between hearing and not hearing. In the last few weeks I finally added a 2M mast-mount model at the antenna. I keep kicking myself for not doing it years ago...I can't believe how much better I can hear AO-7 now. Suggestion---I have found that over the years I tend to "mess around" rather than get what I really want to begin with. In that vein---I don't think you will never regret getting the 160 Watt mast mounted versions: http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page10.html Models relevant to 2M and 70 cm: MSP144VDG-160 MSP432VDG-160 Yes, they are an investment of hard earned ca$h. But they're a GREAT investment, if you want to hear... 73, Mark N8MH >Date: Sun, 12 Apr 2009 09:34:17 -0500 >From: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield(a)hotmail.com> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Preamps?? >To: "'Jerry Felts'" <nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com>, <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Message-ID: <COL0-DAV19AC034F9A976954FA48CC8A7E0(a)phx.gbl> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >Jerry, > > Like all things in Ham Radio it boils down to how much you want or have >available to spend :-) > >There are lots of folks out there > >http://www.advancedreceiver.com > >http://www.ssbusa.com/ham.html > >http://www.downeastmicrowave.com/ > >http://www.hamtronics.com/ > >http://www.ramseyelectronics.com > >are just a few. > >RSGB and ARRL VHF/UHF handbooks all have designs in them as well. > >73, >Joe kk0sd > > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On >Behalf Of Jerry Felts >Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 7:23 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Preamps?? > >I've seen Preamps mentioned several times now so Who? What? Where? I have >not seen them in the AES catalog I got the other day. Can you build one? >Need info on them!! > >Jerry - NR5A > >-- >Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota >www.freewebs.com/nr5a >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Minimalist_QRP_Transceivers/ >http://www.cakewalkblogs.com/nr5asminimalradio/index.aspx >http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/ >_______________________________________________ Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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AO-10
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

AO-10 is in full sunlight from Mar 24 - Jul 24. Has anyone copied the beacon at 145.810? Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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AO7 QSO ACCOMPLISHMENT'S
by k3szh＠netzero.com 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

UA9CS Igor Congratulations on your 6000 plus qso's. You sure keep AO7 active. KC9ELU Mike the first 1000 are the hardest congratulation. N3TL Tim see it was only a skip across the pond well done my friend. And thanks to Terry G1WPR for being a good cw reader. K3SZH Amsat 3788 ____________________________________________________________ Reduce your debt up to 40%. Click here for debt consolidation information. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/BLSrjpYVtMNchBVS1lNQqgU54R2r…

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KR-5400A, KR-5600A Rotors
by Roy 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Some weeks back someone asked where they could obtain the manual for the old Kenpro KR-5400/KR-5600 AZ/EL rotors. These are the predecessors of the Yeasu 5400 rotors. There is a lot of similarity since Yaesu bought out Kenpro. The person asking never responded when I replied that I had made him a copy of the manual. It has been sitting on my desk, taking up needed space, so I will send it to the first person having the KR series rotors asking for it with a complete mailing address. If none then it will go to someone else. If none, it will be tossed out. -- Roy -- W0SL

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Europe finds Georgia on AO-7!
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 13 Apr '09

13 Apr '09

Hey everyone, At 21:33 UTC today (12 April), G1WPR answered my "CQ DX" on AO-7/Mode B. I was sending CW with the straight key I picked up for Straight Key Night on AO-51, and Terry called me in SSB - so we completed a cross-mode QSO of more than a minute with a few exchanges. I am thrilled! I used a Yaesu FT-857D for TX and a Yaesu FT-817ND for RX (both used radios), and a Diamond MX-72H duplexer to connect them to my dual-band Elk log periodic, which I hand-hold and manually track the satellites. I mention all of that because I have learned that (1) one doesn't absolutely need all the bells and whistles to enjoy any - and all - of the amateur satellites currently in operation, and (2) the Elk rocks! That being said, I will confess that adding computer Doppler control has made a huge difference here with the linear satellites. I was using Simon's HRD Satellite Tracker on that pass, but I also have SatPC 32 and Orbitron set up and successfully Doppler tuning here. It's nice to test and experiment with all of them. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has provided insight, guidance and encouragement over the past 10 months, and I especially want to thank Joe, K3SZH, who has told his longtime AO-7 friends in western Europe that there might be a CW signal from EM84 down the passband. Happy Easter, and 73 to all, Tim - N3TL Athens, Ga. - EM84ha

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Yaesu FT-736 problem
by Greg D. 12 Apr '09

12 Apr '09

Hi folks, I just noticed a problem with my Yaesu FT-736R rig. Everything seems to work fine in FM mode (both FM and FM-N), but when I switch the receiver to any other mode (SSB or CW) the S-meter immediately jumps to about S9+50 - not quite pegged - and I hear a full-quieting-but-no-audio sort of sound from the speaker. This happens on any band - 2m, 70cm, or 23cm, and anywhere in the band. If I tune to an active repeater and switch to SSB, I can tell that the FM signal is still there, but being swamped by something. It's got to be an internal problem, but where to start? Any ideas? Greg KO6TH _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009

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Re: Preamps??
by Mike Ryan 12 Apr '09

12 Apr '09

I havent tried every product out there but I'll share what I've experienced. AES will sell the Mirage preamps (KP1440), but I cant recommend those. I recently bought one for 70cm and was very unhappy with it. Gain was poor as was immunity from interference (i.e. my 2M uplink). The Ramsey PR40 amps are a fun kit to build and you cant go wrong for about the $20 price tag. Takes an hour to build but don't be surprised if you take 4 times that working out and assembling a case, housing, connectors, pigtail leads, etc. Still, its cheap and fun and a fantastic option for portable or handheld use. But this, like many other RX amps has no sense of humor when it comes to accidentally transmitting through it. It only takes one bump of the PTT to fry the transistor. Happily its a quick replacement and a $2 part. I built one and keep it as a backup. My everyday preamp is the ARR SP432VDG. Its a 25 watt switched model for indoor use at about $120. There is a $90 RX only version with the same vulnerability as the Ramsey and other RX only units. I know mast mounted should be a lot better but I opted for indoor use due to the lower cost and couldn't be more pleased. Lots of gain (9+ s units vs 7 on the Ramsey and Mirage) and no de-sense or interference from my uplink 3 ft away running 50 watts. The other nice thing is that its small enough that I can bring it outside with the Arrow/Elk and easily run it on a small 12 V source (pack of 8 AAA batteries). One thing to watch out for on GASFet preamps is you should never swap connectors or antennas when they are energized. I popped my first one (wondering how since I only had 5 watts) and after a long talk with ARR, agreed that this how I may have done it. ARR customer service was also very responsive and personable (its a small company). Mike -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jerry Felts Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2009 7:23 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Preamps?? I've seen Preamps mentioned several times now so Who? What? Where? I have not seen them in the AES catalog I got the other day. Can you build one? Need info on them!! Jerry - NR5A -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota www.freewebs.com/nr5a http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Minimalist_QRP_Transceivers/ http://www.cakewalkblogs.com/nr5asminimalradio/index.aspx http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/

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Preamps??
by Jerry Felts 12 Apr '09

12 Apr '09

I've seen Preamps mentioned several times now so Who? What? Where? I have not seen them in the AES catalog I got the other day. Can you build one? Need info on them!! Jerry - NR5A -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota www.freewebs.com/nr5a http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Minimalist_QRP_Transceivers/ http://www.cakewalkblogs.com/nr5asminimalradio/index.aspx http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/

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