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

Re: Other Sat ants
by Jim Jerzycke 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

While this may be heresy to some, I've used my terrestrial "weak signal" 2M and 70cm antennas many times for satellite QSO's. The 2M antennas is an M2 2M9, and the 70cm antenna is an M2 420-50-11. Each has an SSB USA preamp powered up the coax from my FT-847. They both work very well for weak signal use, and are mounted using a 4' mast extending out of the rotator mounted at the top of a 5' tripod (2M above the 70cm) on the roof of a large 2 story commercial building. I'm sure it helps that I have a 360* clear view for many wavelengths at 2M/70cm. The beamwidth of both antennas is roughly 35*, and I have NO problem picking up the satellites at 0*, and keeping good copy to 30* elevation, which is enough to keep me amused on the satellites when I want to operate. I guess the "moral" to my story is to not fret over having less than optimal antennas, and to get on the birds, or to at least try to listen for them. Just make sure whatever you're using can HEAR them before you try and transmit, and always use a preamp and good coax. 73, Jim KQ6EA --- On Thu, 6/4/09, Jerry Felts <nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Jerry Felts <nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Other Sat ants > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 3:50 PM > I was wondering is there a small > 144/435 antenna? I'm open to ideas, > trying to come up with something simple cheap and fast. It > would be > put at the 20ft level on my tower. At 25 ft level is a 9 el > M2 2m yagi > but its not at a angle. I like the Elk cause it only > has one feedline > but would not want to mount it outside permanently. > > -- > Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota > www.freewebs.com/nr5a > > http://nr5abikeblog.blogspot.com/ > > http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.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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Elk Antenna ?
by harry＠gunship.org 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Guys, I want to mount the Elk dual band 144/440 antenna up on my 85' tower. Can I get away with a fixed elevation of about 30 degrees and horizontal polarization? I recognize that this is a compromise, but I'd like to avoid the additional complexity of dealing with an azimuth rotor. Any thoughts appreciated. 73 de harry, W6DXO

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Re: Card checkers in Florida
by Bill Dzurilla 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Sebastian, Don, W3AZD, lives less than a mile from me, just off the Nob Hill Rd. exit (Exit 3) on I-595 in Broward. He is an ARRL checker and would be happy to check your cards. Tell him I sent you. 73, Bill NZ5N (now in Europe as OM9ACA)

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Re: Elk Antenna ?
by Clint Bradford 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

>I want to mount the Elk dual band 144/440 antenna up on my 85' tower. Consider Loc-Tite(tm) for all of the elements ... I'd rather see you mount a more durable, meant-to-be-mast-mounted dual-bander - like a Cushcraft unit. Clint Bradford 909-241-7666 ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: Elk Antenna ?
by Bruce Robertson 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:58 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: >> I want... a dual band 144/440 antenna on my 85' tower. >> Can I get away with a fixed elevation of about 30 >> degrees and horizontal polarization? > > Three facts say that 30 degrees is the wrong angle. > > 1. The amount of time that LEO satellites are above 30 degrees > is less than 20% of all view times. > > 2. You don’t need gain when satellites are above 30 degrees > because they are much closer and 6 to 10 dB STRONGER. > > 3) You DO need gain at the horizon where they are 6 to 10 dB > WEAKER. > > So putting the beam at 30 degrees is counterproductive to LEO > satellite reception, you will be giving up 3 dB where you need > it most!. > > The answer is to elevate it to 15 degrees. Once again, Bob's advice is very good. I followed it when I began satellite operations, and it was quite helpful. Some further notes: 1. This pertains to shorter, and therefore wider beamwidth, antennas only.Fortunately, these are quite acceptable to communicate with LEO satellites. 2. You needn't be too fussy about the exact angle. 30% is too high, but you'll probably not notice the difference between 12 and 17, for example. 3. With a tower that high, you must include low noise preamps at the top of the tower. The ones from Advanced Receiver Research and SSB USA are highly regarded on this list.With that much cable between you and the antenna, you will be better off with a simple 1/4wave vertical and a preamp than you would with these antennas and no preamp.

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LogSat Y2k???
by RFI-EMI-GUY 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Anyone still using LogSat out there? I have version 5.2.61 with the Y2K patches installed. I am running WINXP OS. This has been a very good program for me over the years. I like how it works. I just got through updating the KEPS etc so that I could print out some satellite predictions. All worked well until I fine tuned the time to GMT using the time setting utility in the program that queues up the system clock. (This utility has only two digits for the year.). I printed out about 10 pages of work and then turned on my browser and found the Yahoo security certificate had expired. In checking the system clock under windows the year was 3909! Has anyone encountered this bug? Also the DST box has to be checked to get correct GMT - Strange?? -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Use only Genuine Interocitor Parts" Tom Servo ;-P

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AO-7 milliwatt CW
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hey everyone, I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB. On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise. It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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need 3SK121Y or similar for icom AG-25
by Raul Romero 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

need 3sk121y any have unit sold need 2 unit in my country not have tnx Raul CA3SOC

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GO-32 back to V4.2
by Mark L. Hammond 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

FYI...GO-32 is back to it's more "routine" version: [6/3/2009 12:24:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:24:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:25:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005E0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:25:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000620E0200 [6/3/2009 12:26:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:26:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000490E0200 [6/3/2009 12:27:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000400E0200 [6/3/2009 12:27:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000590E0200 [6/3/2009 12:29:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003E0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:42:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000A00E0300 [6/3/2009 12:43:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009B0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:44:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009A0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:44:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009A0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:45:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000980E0300 [6/3/2009 12:45:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000940E0300 [6/3/2009 12:46:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000900E0300 [6/3/2009 12:46:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000008D0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:47:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000880E0300 [6/3/2009 12:47:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000830E0300 [6/3/2009 12:48:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000007E0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:48:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000790E0300 [6/3/2009 12:49:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000740E0300 [6/4/2009 12:00:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000400E0200 [6/4/2009 12:01:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003C0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:01:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000360E0200 [6/4/2009 12:02:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003D0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:02:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000340E0200 [6/4/2009 12:03:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000390E0200 [6/4/2009 12:03:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003A0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:04:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000550E0200 [6/4/2009 12:04:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000006C0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:05:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003A0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:06:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000380E0200 Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Card checkers in Florida
by Sebastian 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Last year when I had enough cards for 6 meters VUCC, it took me a few weeks to find a card checker. The list I received from the ARRL had a lot of emails that bounced, and I received a lot of responses saying "I no longer check cards". I finally found one after about 8 attempts and all went well. I now have more than enough cards to qualify for satellite VUCC, and I emailed the card checker who I used last year for 6 meters a couple of weeks ago, and have not heard a response. So is there an ARRL card checker in Florida, or near Florida who can help me please? The ARRL didn't seem to be too concerned that their list was not up to date (based on not even receiving a reply from them, and even after offering my services to be a card checker), so I figure someone on here is either a card checker, or has used one recently. 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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