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

Re: Cellphone Pass Predictions
by Pedro Converso 04 May '09

04 May '09

Cellphone pass predictions is available now for most of cellular phones. Function is trying to detect if called from a cellular device/mobile or not in order to serve pass predictions. As there are quite different brands and devices, some could not yet be screened appropriately. If access is not going as it should, please email to lu7abf(a)amsat.oprg.ar which device is being used to add it. Thanks in advance, hoping help 73, Pedro Converso Lu7abf(a)amsat.org.ar www.amsat.org.ar

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Re: How satellites could 'sail' home
by Trevor . 04 May '09

04 May '09

Alternatively commercial satellites could incorporate an Amateur Radio payload that would work on solar power only and thus extend the mission life for 35 or more years. There is an opportunity for Amateurs here. 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Mon, 4/5/09, Tony Langdon <vk3jed(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Tony Langdon <vk3jed(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: How satellites could 'sail' home > To: kg4zlb(a)gmail.com, "amsat bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Monday, 4 May, 2009, 12:14 AM > At 02:00 AM 5/4/2009, David - KG4ZLB > wrote: > > > >From "Auntie" (or the BBC for anyone not from > England!) > ><http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8029899.stm> > > Hehe, that could get confusing for us, as we call our ABC > (Aussie > equivalent of the BBC) "Auntie". :) > > 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL > http://vkradio.com > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. > Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur > satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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Re: Cellphone Pass Predictions
by clintbrad4d＠earthlink.net 04 May '09

04 May '09

Please let us know when this service is available ... Because the URL you cite merely goes to a one-option page, and that option goes to your country's non-English AMSAT site.

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Dayton Reminder
by Martha 04 May '09

04 May '09

I still have 1 room left for our hotel - The Hampton Inn at Fairborn. If you are interested, please call me ASAP. This is due to a cancellation. The days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Also, if you have not registered for the AMSAT/TAPR, please do so by May11th. All registration need to be done on the AMSAT store. If you have any questions, please call me at 301-589-6062. -- 73- Martha

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CPX Data Decoder Software Available
by Jason Anderson 04 May '09

04 May '09

So the CPX Data Decoder software is now available for download now at http://moredbs.atl.calpoly.edu Follow the link and click the 'Download' menu option. This will take you to the download page where you can download the software for your computer. You will still need to have your own tracking software to control the rotors and radio as our software simply links onto the output of your TNC. Launch night will hopefully go as follows. The rocket carrying CP6 will launch on May 5th between 20:00 and 23:00 EDT. Minutes later the rocket will kick out our CubeSat into orbit. Due to safety reasons, our satellite will turn on 4 hours after it is deployed and will start to beacon every 2 minutes. Each beacon is 6 seconds long and contains 4 seconds of CW followed by 2 seconds of a 1200 baud AX.25 packet. Unfortunately for tracking purposes, tuning will still be a minor issue as it was with our previous satellites (work is being done on our next generation Comm system which will hopefully make this issue disappear). The best way to combat our transceiver frequency drift is to start with the calculated frequency and adjust the radio frequency manually as soon as you hear a beacon. This is part of the reason why we have 4 seconds of CW before the AX.25 data packet. One trick it to tune the the CW signal to 1200 Hz on a waterfall display (something like MixW if you have it) which happens to line up the frequency to decode data packets. Hope everyone is up for a small challenge :). As for the TLE required to track our satellite, we have created a very rough predicted TLE. We are told we will receive the actual TLE 4 hours after the launch occurs which is approximately when our satellite will start to beacon. We will be posting the updated TLE as soon as we receive it on the CP6 information page found at http://polysat.calpoly.edu/CP6.php We will also announce the updated TLEs in the CubeSat IRC room which can be found at Server: irc.freenode.org Room: cubesat If you have any questions regarding the software or trying to contact CP6 please feel free to ask. Thanks for such a great initial response and I wish you all happy satellite listening. - Jason Anderson, KI6GIV

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JPL tour
by Tim Goodrich 04 May '09

04 May '09

This weekend, JPL was open to the public for tours. I wanted to go, but they turned me away because I had a dog in the car (going hiking afterwards). Did anyone go and can you post pictures and a description of what they had? Thanks, Tim KI6VBY

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Cal Poly's CP6 Satellite Launching May 5th
by Jason Anderson 03 May '09

03 May '09

Hi Fellow Amateurs, Cal Poly's next satellite, CP6, is scheduled to launch on May 5th between 20:00 and 23:00 EDT. We would be more than happy if everyone who is interested could listen for CP6 as it comes over your locales. We will be providing a CPX Data Decoder program which will show you all of your decoded data as well as forward those packets to us at Cal Poly. I will be sending out another email in a few days regarding how to download the program. Also to note, we will be in the IRC chatroom at 'irc.freenode.org' in the 'cubesat' room before, during, and after the launch. Thanks! CP6 Satellite Link Information ------------------------------ Frequency: 437.365MHz Modulation: FSK (but uses LSB cheat to make AFSK) Radio Mode: LSB (neccesary for LSB cheat) Baud Rate: 1200 baud Beacon rate: 1 beacon every 2 minutes - Jason Anderson, KI6GIV PolySat, Software Team Lead California Polytechnic State University

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Re: Yaesu G5500 rotor trouble.
by w4upd 03 May '09

03 May '09

I tried once, but the last reply never came through AMSAT-BB yet. So I'll answer yours directly which also answered a previous one on getting the parts. I believe your G5500 uses the same elevation (G500b) as my G5400 late model. Also it probably has limit switches in the rotator which will prevent the down from working until it went up a bit. Mine still has a bad motor (actually the armature due to my own fault). As long as it draws current and the lamps dim on the UP selection, the motor itself is probably still good. ********* RESEND ******** I find this hard to believe unless its related to the G5500. I just got done ordering stuff from Yaesu for my G5400/G500b elevation rotator. Unfortunately, the IPB I had with my rotor was for the G500a and the parts were wrong and I had to send them back. They did give me credit for the returned parts as well. I have a bad motor and they one they sent was for the G500a and was $85.00 However, its size kept it from being close to being able to be used. When I checked the G500b IPB and gave them the part number, it was $207.17!!! So I said forget it. I'd figure a way to fix it. The cap you can get anywhere if that is all that is wrong. Mine had over a pint of water and as such rusted and dried and packed the grease keeping the motor from working. I suspect you have little choice but to take it apart and confirm the problem. Again, unless it is due to being a G5500, I had no problems getting parts from Yaesu as recently as last month. Regards, Reid, W4UPD AMSAT #17002 > I find this hard to believe unless its related to the G5500. I just > got done ordering stuff from Yaesu for my G5400/G500b elevation > rotator. Unfortunately, the IPB I had with my rotor was for the G500a > and the parts were wrong and I had to send them back. They did give me > credit for the returned parts as well. I have a bad motor and they one > they sent was for the G500a and was $85.00 However, its size kept it > from being close to being able to be used. When I checked the G500b > IPB and gave them the part number, it was $207.17!!! So I said > forget it. I'd figure a way to fix it. > > The cap you can get anywhere if that is all that is wrong. Mine had > over a pint of water and as such rusted and dried and packed the > grease keeping the motor from working. I suspect you have little > choice but to take it apart and confirm the problem. Again, unless it > is due to being a G5500, I had no problems getting parts from Yaesu as > recently as last month. > > Regards, > > Reid, W4UPD > AMSAT #17002 > > > Kevin Schuchmann wrote: >> Hi Alan and Shawn, >> FYI about a month ago I attempted to get that cap from Yaesu and they >> said they >> no longer sell it by itself, you either buy it with the motor or find a >> 3rd party >> replacement. >> 73 >> wa6fwf >> >> >> >>> If everything checks, then it is _probably_ the 100 uF phase shift >>> capacitor >>> you can see between the windings in the schematic. You can get a >>> replacement from Yaesu for $10-15 including shipping. Replacing it is not >>> hard, but it is very tedious and messy. Unlike other versions, the G-5500 >>> has the capacitor in the motor housing rather than the control box. >>> >>> I had exactly the same symptoms you describe, and it was the capacitor in >>> my >>> case. >>> >>> Good luck, >>> >>> Alan >>> WA4SCA >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.5.325 / Virus Database: 270.12.15/2093 - Release Date: 05/02/09 14:23:00 >> >> >

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 210
by Michael J Finn 03 May '09

03 May '09

Dear Sat members. I am looking to get incontact with anyone who is currently working pacsats. I am new to sats and want to learn more. Please email wb7qxu(a)juno.com if you can help ____________________________________________________________ Click to learn about options trading and get the latest information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIzQYuCQgwoJ7SLjPvGq4VMvY…

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G-5500 Rotor trouble
by N1HOQ 03 May '09

03 May '09

Hello group, Well, looks like I have to crack open the case. I swapped the AZ and EL cables with the EL rotor, and no luck, same result. Still making the click noise when engaging the UP control, the motor(?) still hums away (sounds like 60 Hz), but no movement. Last resort now , open it up and hope to catch all the bearings, hi. Since it seems Yaesu wont sell the capacitor sans motor, are there any know sources, or just look at Allied, Mouser etc.? Thanks for the help - Shawn N1HOQ.

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