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

Another G5500 Question
by Randy 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

Question.. Rotor is on order along with the FT-897D I know I should mount the rotor in a tower with a thrust plate I think its called. But don't have one . I only have a 2 meter and 440mhz yagi to mount ooon it .. Will that be a problem .. Or is it mostly when its loaded Up to near the max? or one of those faster wear and tear Things no matter what? Oh .. And 3rd party controllers to interface to the computer.?? Are they all so darn expensive? Randy - N2CUA

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G5500 Rotor mounting
by Randy 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

Question.. Rotor is on order along with the FT-897D I know I should mount the rotor in a tower with a thrust plate I think its called. But don't have one . I only have a 2 meter and 440mhz yagi to mount ooon it .. Will that be a problem .. Or is it mostly when its loaded Up to near the max? or one of those faster wear and tear Things no matter what? Randy - N2CUA

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Re: Trolls on the -bb
by Mark L. Hammond 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

It would seem that folks that vote in our BOD elections certainly not are silent. Let's see how the current (and future!) elections turn out. Then we'll see what the "silent majority" thinks. Or at least the majority--which will tell us something, won't it? I think the results will help to define the silent majority. Oh wait--then they're not silent. Oh, that's right. The only silent ones are the ones not voting. And if you don't like the current candidates, there is no one to blame but one's self. I will now publicly state my personal thanks to Gould WA4SXM and Drew KO4MA for all that you have done, are doing, and will do for AMSAT and our hobby. Thanks! :) 73, Mark N8MH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Trolls on the -bb From: Rocky Jones <orbitjet@xxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 06:34:09 -0500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nick...nice thing about a silent majority...it can be defined at will Robert WB5ZO > From: quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net > To: dguimon1(a)san.rr.com; glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com > Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 05:43:43 -0500 > CC: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Trolls on the -bb > > Dave got it right. The silent majority are your fans me included > > So A big at a boy for you Drew and thanks > > nick > > > >People often ask me why more of the AMSAT leadership doesn't participate on > >the AMSAT-BB. I think that over the last few weeks we have seen ample > reason > >why. We've been accused of stupidity, malfeasance, sloth, and called out at > >every opportunity. I've about had it with the trolling and the bickering > and > >the internet commandos cruising for reactions. They've caused it to cease > >being fun or even interesting to participate in this email list. > > > > Please hang in there, Drew...for every one of the idiot whiners, > there are probably several hundred of us that deplore them, but > they'll dry up and blow away, just like a cloud of bad gas!! > > This has had many a repeat performance in the past, and the names > always change.... > > > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO > dguimon1(a)san.rr.com > > Disagree: I learn.... > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you’re up to on Facebook. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:O… _______________________________________________ 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: please be positive
by Daniel Schultz 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

If you think the web site can be better maintained then step forward and offer to maintain it. If you think the Board could do a better job of running Amsat then put your name up for the next election. If we could capture all of the hot air that has been exhausted here in the past couple of weeks, we could use it to propel a satellite into HEO. Use your energy more productively, find something that needs to be done and start doing it. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Re: RE - iPod tracking software.
by Dennis Griffin 02 Sep '09

02 Sep '09

I have used PocketSat+ on Palm devices for years and have been very pleased with it. It has helped me have many visual ISS, occasional Shuttle sightings and listen in on some school contacts. I installed GoSatWatch on my iPhone shortly after it came out and have been pleased with it as well. Since I have $9.95 invested in GoSatWatch and since it is highly unlikely that Jim Berry will be able to offer a crossgrade discount for PocketSat 3, due to the App Store constraints, I'll continue to use PocketSat+ on my Palm TX & GoSatWatch on my 3gs, although I expect PocketSat would run appreciably better on the iPhone than the Palm. If he offers a special price, I would say go for it. 73 de Dennis KD7CAC sent from my iPhone On Sep 1, 2009, at 6:51, Amir Findling K9CHP <sarlabs(a)gmail.com> wrote: iPod/iPhone owners should just go to the app store and search for satellite tracker and you'll find several ranging from free to $9.99. I've been playing around with the free one and it seems to give good data for individual satellites, but the $1.99 version of the same has reviews bad enough for me not to even consider it, although it has more features that I could use. But there are others that seem pretty good and worth their price. * 73 de K9CHP Amir Findling, Member ARRL, ARRL/ W5YI VE, WAC, WAS, DXCC * www.K9CHP.net <http://www.k9chp.net> Blog: http://k9chp.blogspot.com <http://k9chp.blogspot.com/> * Senior K9 Handler * K9 Certification Tester, NYS Federation of SAR Teams * 1st Special Response Group (1SRG) GW1FKY(a)aol.com wrote: Hi all, Please accept my sincere apologies regarding my posting on the Pocketsat3 tracking software for the iPod. I have been contacted to advise that unlike the PDA software there is NOT an unregistered version that can be downloaded. Not having an iPod I had not tried to follow up any down load etc and was therefore unaware of the need to get it via an iTunes store without a trial !!!!! Sorry for my ignorance and error in the posting of the information. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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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AMSAT Journal
by Ed Long 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

Hi Gang, Just letting you know that the July/August Journal was uploaded to the printer's ftp site this past weekend. Again a slow trickle of articles slowed down publication. It's a good issue with BoD minutes, some more history of AMSAT (we're 40 you know) and other interesting articles on Field Day and a portable antenna pointing system plus more. Hope you enjoy it and sorry for the delay. I do have a great group helping me now with the Journal and they are working hard to get more articles in so we can keep the Journal on schedule. Look at the upper right of the front cover and you'll see who they are. Thanks for your understanding and patience with all the delays! A personal comment (so please bear with me or skip this if you want): I'll bet you guys and gals didn't know this, but I've been the Journal editor now since late 2003 (6 years) and I have never made a satellite contact on my own equipment. You've never heard my voice on the satellites except once on someone else's equipment at the Dayton Hamvention three years ago (thanks Keith!). I did buy a nice dish and downconverter for S-band right before AO-40 went "tits up" (sorry - a British expression I learned a few years ago on one of my many trips to England). It's too unwieldy to use with AO-51. Imagine my disappointment. I have an Arrow and adequate radios and preamps, but my job as a senior executive for my company keeps me busy and traveling with little time for radio other than the Journal and some low band work occasionally. It frosts me when I ask someone to write something for the Journal (and I've done that a lot) and I'm told "I don't have time". Not much of an excuse guys and gals. The point of this blather is if I, someone who has never made a satellite contact, can volunteer for the organization why can't you do something? Not being self-righteous here, but I think it's a good question. Thinking about all this reminds me of an expression that came from the villain in the movie "The Fifth Element" which was "If you want something done - do it yourself!!". If you don't like something find a way to fix it somehow. I like to think I fixed the Journal with its new look (now a few years old) and I've been trying to get more technical content into it. After all, we're supposed to be rocket scientists. Another example - have you seen what William Leijenaar, PE1RAH, is doing all by himself? It's awesome! Check it out on YouTube. Quit talking and get busy!!!! Force someone to take you on as a volunteer by persisting. Don't just write one e-mail and then give up. Many people are busy like I am and can't always get back to you immediately. Wanna be a Web master? I think we might have an opportunity here because I feel sure Rick is tired of doing it (maybe I'm wrong). And so on ...... there's plenty to do. Wanna be VP of Engineering? That's open too, although I would think the person that fills those shoes would have to have some engineering experience. You get the idea. Wishing you 73 and a somewhat bickering free evening, Ed Long WA4SWJ Editor, The AMSAT Journal Belleview, FL (A volunteer - sorry just had to add that given the recent postings)

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My thoughts as somone pretty new to AMSAT
by racer5039 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

I am pretty new to AMSAT so I can't speak to the what and why of the B.O.D. or the operation of AMSAT. What I will speak of is what I found when I first started looking at the AMSAT site. First thing I found was a lot of the information was very old and out of date. As someone new to the mode I really thought hard if I wanted to send money to an org. or CORP. that wasn't keeping things up to date. With the said. I would also like to offer some thoughts. My JA friends may look at this as I do. If there are parts of the web site that take up too much time or effort to keep up, It is "Mooda", waste. Remove it so that it isn't giving the new onlooker the wrong idea of what to expect. I fully understand that to run something like AMSAT take's a lot of time. But you must also think of the image that old, out of date, data sends to other like me. There are a lot of things on the web site that are no longer of use to the here and now. If I have thrown myself under the bus, so be it. I only speak of what I know. Marv. N0FJP

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1.2 ghz antenna?
by Norman W Osborne 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

Hello to all, After reading some of the postings on the bbs discussing AO-51 1.2 ghz mode, I am wondering what antennas are being used, commercial and homebrew. 73, Norman

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Quite right Laura.
by John Hackett 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com To: archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com Subject: FW: Quite right Laura. Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 23:05:20 +0200 I agree Laura, Incorrect information is not a 'bug'. For what it's worth, there were 7 replies in yesterday's mailbox commenting on the somewhat crass reply from the b.o.d. member concerned - good job they didn't see the private! one ... and just one, Gentleman commenting on tearing things down (???) - based on an obvious incorrect opinion. I also note that Mr Glasbrenner referred he whom enquired about AO-7's status, to the D.Carr page. Wasn't that rather inopportune after making such a fuss about the Amsat page being updated?. Please note that I *DIDN'T* criticise either an American, nor the Amsat organisation - (as Mr Glasbrenner accused me of doing in - (his words) ... "every time he saw my callsign" ... (in his mail to me direct). For those old enough to remember, there are many instances where I've praised Americans - (operating proceedure) and the Amsat organisation (full of clever, and often very helpful indivuduals). My friends Stateside are too numerous to mention individually but they know who they are. I'd hardly call Bill Tynan's plaque to LA2QAA as proof of concept of my criticising Americans or the Amsat organisation - however, if a current member of the b.o.d. gets his rocks off by a tantrum ... good luck! to him, I've faced slightly more wrath than that. The the 'tearing down' Gentleman ... if you find 6 days of incorrect information on your organisation's website as acceptable, and the reaction shown for pointing it out, fine. Personally, like I mentioned in my original mail, a couple of days I find acceptable, due to various commitments etc - but 6 days is, in my personal opinion rather lax - volunteer or not. That Mr Glasbrenner was a good deal rattier direct, was probably due to him confusing satire with criticism on a previous occasion ... and no, eventual satire has *NEVER* been directed at an individual. That, as they say - is it. I felt I needed to justify myself for anyone 'just wondering' where all that temper came from. I apologise for the bandwidth if you think it's misused. In my opinion, no permanent harm done. Worse things happen at sea!. 73 John. LA2QAA. <archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com> ....................................................................................................................... > From: marsgal42(a)hotmail.com > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Tue, 1 Sep 2009 08:31:29 -0700 > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Staus? ... come back next week! > > > I just put my software testing hat on, went to the offending web page, and noted that while there is a link to report bugs, there is no link to report outdated information. While this *is* an option when you follow the report a bug link, my idea of a bug on a web page is wonky layout on Safari (a common problem, alas...) or a graphic that doesn't load. Outdated information is not a bug. > > Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre > Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..." > ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte > > _________________________________________________________________ > Nouveau : connexion à Messenger par MSN > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9677413 > _______________________________________________ > 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 What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out See all the ways you can stay connected to friends and family

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Re: Staus? ... come back next week!
by Armando Mercado 01 Sep '09

01 Sep '09

> Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:19:38 +0200 > From: John Hackett <archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Staus? ... come back next week!. > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <COL123-W51C224C616E9AE78F157B191F30(a)phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > The Builder Author Unknown I saw them tearing a building down A team of men in my hometown. With a heave and a ho and a yes yes yell, they swung a beam and a sidewall fell. And I said to the foreman, "Are these men skilled?" "Like the ones you'd use if you had to build?" And he laughed and said, "Oh no, indeed... the most common labor is all I need... for I can destroy in a day or two what takes a builder ten years to do." So I thought to myself as I went on my way... Which one of these roles am I willing to play? Am I one who is tearing down as I carelessly make my way around? Or am I one who builds with care, in order to make the world a little better... because I was there? > > Err ... chaps, > This evening, Sunday the 30th of August, 21:10 GMT. > > The Amsat-NA satellite status page reports FO-29 as being A-OK. > > It's the 6th day of silence now - (the D.Carr page status is correct). > > *NOT* very Impressive Amsat. 1 day, OK, 2 days (marginally) acceptable, > but 6 days? ... doesn't exactly incite to impress the pitential newcomer. > > Yes, I *KNOW* they're volunteers. I understand the workload. The potential > newcomer doesn't - and he may wonder why he can't hear his downlink. > > The newcomer probably doesn't subscribe to the ANS yet, and maybe has > never even heard! of D.Carr & Bob Bruninga. > > 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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