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

Possible Wallops Launch Tonight
by Bob Bruninga 19 Sep '09

19 Sep '09

Hopefully we will have someone putting out global APRS bulletins about the launch. So even if you are mobile or standing outside with only your APRS HT, you can get Launch Updates via Pete's CQSRVR. To Logon to CQSRVR for this event: 1) Send an APRS message to CQSRVR 2) Message must begin with CQ LAUNCH CQ LAUNCH text_here This will log you in and send your logon message to everyone else that is logged on. For the next 24 hours, you will receive any similar messages from evryone else. Including those who have up-to-date launch info. 3) Those sending launch info, can only send once every 30 minutes, so they cannot use if for fine-grain details in the last minutes, but others with new info can. A great capability. Use it. I'll be out at an outdoors barbQ with an astronomy club and so this is the only way I will get the Launch INfo. Bob, WB4APR I'll go ahead and logon to CQSRVR now so I can see everyone else that logs on. (You only see others AFTER you logon of course)... Bob, WB4APR

2 1

AO-51/QRP
by Tim - N3TL 19 Sep '09

19 Sep '09

My thanks to the AO-51 control team for this week's schedule, which includes activation of 145.880/435.150 for QRP operation. There is another week of this "QRP Pair" coming up later in the month. I hope more of you will take the time to see just how little power it takes for effective communication on AO-51 or any of the FM satellites, for that matter. On the AO-51 pass here from roughly 22:30 UTC to 22:45 UTC, KD8CAO and I completed a contact using HTs with whip antennas. Doug was using a Pryme RD-98, and I was using the Diamond SRH-789 telescoping whip. Anyone who has an HT with a general coverage receiver ought to check out the Diamond whip because it brings the shortwave broadcast bands alive on the radios from Yaesu (VX-3R and VX-7R) and Kenwood (TH-F6A) I've tried it with. In addition, it works extremely well on the satellites. I didn't pick up the RD-98 for satellite use, but it is comparable in performance to Pryme's satellite-popular AL-800 telescoping whip. Pryme, by the way, claims the same gain numbers for the RD-98 as for the AL-800. I had an AL-800, and my RD-98 performs at least as well as it did. I prefer the SRH-789, which has an SMA connector, because of its versatility - and it's more rigid than the RD-98 in use. Diamond also makes a BNC version of the antenna, the RH-789. On the next pass of AO-51, which hits me beginning at about 00:10 UTC, I'll be back on the crappy ol' Elk dual-band log periodic - but I'll be running 50 milliwatts out instead of the 5 watts I just used with the whip. I intend to run 50 mW and the Elk for the remainder of the weekend on AO-51. Experience suggests that I need at least 8 degrees of elevation to make the satellite on .05-watt, but I almost made it through the other day when AO-51 was below 7 degrees. A good contact at that low angle will represent a new "miles per watt" record for me, and I hope to get there. Thanks again to the control team for the QRP-pair activation. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

1 0

Cushcraft A432-20T
by Luc Leblanc 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

I just get a Cushcraft A432-20T at a recent Hamfest. As per the theory if the longest matching line is connected to the horizontal element and the shortest to the vertical one i should have a RHCP but if i reverse the connections should i have LHCP? If i rotate the antenna by 90 degress how i can determine the horizontal versus the vertical elements? The only one reference i have is the U bolt attachment to determine the horizontal elements or one driven elements is the closest to the reflector (further away behind the other driven element). There is no marking on the beam only the driven elements caps are both marked with 1/2 SC? This model was not made with a switching device and as i don'r have the specs sheet i'm in the blind to configure it to RHCP as it seems it is the actual UHF standard on the circular LEO's fleet? Thank's for your help "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

2 1

nice signal from new object
by Danny Casier 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Had a pas over of the group of new-objects from 18:55z - 18:59 and heard telemetri on 435.360 in FM. Strong Sounds strange mode. I have a record 73 Dan ON5UE

1 0

Other Computer Controlled Rotator Options
by Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Hi All, I tried googling through the AMSAT-BB archives and didn't find what I was looking for so here's my question. Has anyone tried using a motorized pan\tilt mount for a CCTV as their Az\El rotator? If so, what model? I heard of one example on another forum and want to see if anyone here has tried it. I figure it would be less to get one of these to play\experiment than an G5500 or Alfa Spid. Thanks, Frank B. KB1QZH

4 5

For sale
by David - KG4ZLB 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Offered here first before going to flea-bay! *Icom W32A* c/w stock antenna, battery and wall charger Speaker mic Leather case AA battery box *Arrow 146/437-10* c/w roll-up tote bag Adaptor to fit the Arrow to the W32A Shipped anywhere in the lower 48 for $385. Paypal OK. Reason for sale? I am just not using any of this stuff and its just too damn hot to go outside anyway! :-D 73 David -- David KG4ZLB www.kg4zlb.com

1 0

Captured CW from new sat
by Edward Chuang 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Hi all, Captured CW signal from new sat using keps for 2009-049E ( 2009-049A - E are very close): uaba155 abb155 ibs4 iaba125 iabb126 ispa0 ispb126 taba132 tabb130 tsep136 mcon69 sma166 smb148 mra6 mrb14 rs28 ubs153 (one whole cycle) Freq.: 435.365 MHz (center) Time: 13:41 - 13:51 UTC QTH: PL04vq Also monitored 2009-049F on 435.300 and 435.350 MHz from 12:25 to 12:35 UTC, nothing heard. 73 Edward / BX1AD -----

3 2

Thursday Night Fun
by Clint Bradford 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Thanks to AO-51 operators in Idaho, Ohio, Washington, Texas, Patrick in Arizona, and others during the 5:50PM PDT (00:50 GMT) pass of AO-51 last night! I don't record the contacts while making demonstrations, but I wish I had last night while showing off AO-51 to the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club! Upcoming Southern California presentations/demos ... October 2 - Long Beach ARC* October 5 - WARA (Fullerton) meeting* October 8 - EchoLink “SCARS” Node 96140 5:30PM PDT October 15 - West Coast ARC (Huntington Beach)* October 17 - Victor Valley ARC’s JOTA November 8 - QWCA Chapter 7 (Norwalk) Clint Bradford http://www.k6lcs.com

2 1

Re: Tiny 2 TNC EPROM
by Greg Beat 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

Steve - I assume that you did not get a response from Linda Reedy? (Gywn Reedy's (W1BEL, sk) wife who has been managing the company since his death) She can be reached at: sales(a)paccomm.com I did have her mobile number somewhere in my Rolodex, if that would be helpful. She was changing telephone numbers, web page, and office hours -- when I talked to her about 8 weeks ago. Greg w9gb ==== Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:24:58 +0100 From: "Steve Daniels" <g6uim2(a)hotmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Tiny 2 TNC EPROM Hi Can anyone supply me with an EPROM for a paccomm Tiny 2 TNC the circuit board says revision 1.6. Am happy to cover costs. Regards Steve G6UIM

1 0

Re: Universitetsky 2 (Tatiana 2) heard ?
by David Barber 18 Sep '09

18 Sep '09

This time only 9 minutes of pass heard. Any opinions as to identity? Is it Tatiana 2? Mid frequency 435.365MHz AOS 12.26utc LOS 12.35utc CW for whole period. Example of copied data (not consecutive blocks): IABB1?9 ISPB132 TAB?132 TABB130 TSEP131 TSEP132 David G8OQW

1 0