January 2010 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

HF equip--wanted by buy
by ANTHONY JAPHA 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Any former or current HF ops have an old Drake MN2700 antenna tuner you'd like to sell? Must be in good condition. Tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN

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Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Tonight Jan 21 at 8PM ON Echolink N2EYH-L
by cotejaune2＠aol.com 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Hello everyone it is time again for the HVSG Net tonight Thursday, January at 8PM EST. We can be heard on Echolink N2EYH-L or on the Mt. Beacon ARC repeater at 146.970 pl 100 on your dial. On our last net we had four Amsat area coordinators from coast to coast. We had Pete/wb2oqq from Long Island in NY and Dee/nb2f in NJ and Patrick/wd9ewk from Arizona and Clint/k6lcs from California. Wow, what a great group to have together. So if you have any questions there is plenty of knowledge on the net to answer it. Please join us tonight and share your satellite expertise with us. 73 Gary/wa2aqh

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Graphical display of states worked or something similar?
by Michael Wolthuis 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Been having lots of fun with new rooftop sat antennas. What I would like to do is attempt to work all states via AO-51, but I am struggling with a good layout to keep myself motivated. Does anyone know of a logging program I could display on a flat screen specific to sats? Here is my thought: A google maps overlay that has states and gridsquares on it (does this exist today as overlays for Google Earth maybe?) Then Iog my sat contacts on AO-51 into a logging program (LOTW or something else). Then it gives me an output overlay for Google so I can see all states and gridsquares worked. It would be great if it could color in the states I have worked and/or the grids I have worked on zoomin. Well, I know it is a lot to ask and maybe it has to be designed, but it certainly sounded interesting to me. It would really be nice when scouts or family come over to show them the states I have worked on AO-51 and/or others in a visual display. Thanks for any ideas or any pointers into anything close or at least a good sat logging program that maybe I can export a file to utilize in Google Earth to make a KMZ out of or something. Mike kb8zgl

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Re: Sats turning 20
by Tom Clark, K3IO 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Thanks to Mark for remembering the Microsat (AO-16 thru 19) Birthday. For me personally, this project was really a Personal High Point! We went from "light bulb turns on" concept to flight in just over 2 years. The concept of building a satellite with 5 stacked trays interconnected with a standardized bus was really an innovation. All 4 satellites shared 4 (nearly) identical trays (TX, RX, Computer & Power) and a 5th tray housing each group's unique hardware worked out very well; the 5th module was dubbed "TSFR" (this space for rent!). My personal contributions were the receiver modules (with help from W4PUJ), the AART "glue" board that is in every module (with help from Bob Stricklin, N5BRG) and the TSFR concept. Bob McGwier (N4HY) has collected a lot of Microsat photos at http://n4hy.smugmug.com/AMSAT/Microsat. You can see the hardware and the team. Happy 20th Birthday! 73 de Tom, K3IO

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Rob - KD4ZGW mobile in EM40
by Rick - WA4NVM 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Hi all on the BB, Rob, KD4ZGW asked me to post that he will be working A0-27 this afternoon on the 2052utc pass for anyone that needs that grid. (EM40) Also, there is a slight chance he may be on the previous pass at 1912utc. Also, does anyone know who to contact to try to get the ao-27.org prediction up to date? The times are very late once again. Thanks for any information. 73, Rick WA4NVM

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Dee NB2F solves puzzle! Re: IC 910H query
by Mark L. Hammond 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Well Dee, I should have listened to you :) Got my IC-910H back from Icom (Washington state). It took me over $50 to find out it was my old power cord to the radio! Heh. So today when I got the radio back, I tried the old cord, still reduced output (70W 2M, about 40W 70cm). Hooked up the factory power cable (much shorter, heavier gauage), and it now meets spec: it puts out the full 100W (and a bit more!) on 2M and over 70W on 70cm. The sheet with the radio said they had "touched up allignment [sic]" and verified it met overall specs. It included a reminder to verify power supply was in spec during transmit (which it was, as voltage didn't sag a bit), and mentioned the SWR foldback if SWR is excessive (which my match was fine). The power cable simply wasn't flowing sufficient current. Four hours labor, no charge, since the radio was under warranty. Only cost was my shipping/insurance to them. Rather than pretend that it didn't happen, I'll try to save somebody else the same problem and fess up ;) Live and learn...even from other people's mistakes! Thanks for the sage advice, Dee! Next time I'll try to listen :) 73, Mark N8MH _________________ Re: IC 910H query -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: IC 910H query From: DOMINICK INTERDONATO <morsesat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:09:18 -0500 (EST) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree with all you have suggested, Mark. I too had questions about power output on the 910. I discovered that the power to the radio was the culprit. Before you send it away, check and make sure you have #10 cables to the radio and your power supply delivers the correct voltage and current. Mine does and it meets Specs on VHF and UHF on "both" my 910's. One I have the 1.2ghz Module in. One I use for demos at field day and hamfests etc. Good luck. 73, NB2F Dee On Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 9:18 AM, Mark L. Hammond wrote: > Hi Louis, > > Congratulations on your new IC-910H! I was the very lucky winner of > a new IC-910H at the AMSAT Symosium, so I have a bit of time on the > radio now. > > I haven't used RigTalk, so I can't comment on that. > > Regarding the CIV USB cable--my experience is that you do NOT need to > check the RTS + 12V option. I bought a cheap USB CIV level converter > on eBay, and it works perfectly without this option checked. My > homebrew interface, on the other hand, uses the serial port and > requires me to check that option, or else it doesn't receive power via > the serial line and won't work. > > You will need to know which serial port number the USB converter is > using/emulating; there is a setting in SatPC32 where you must tell it > the comport number where the level converter (USB CIV cable) is > installed. You can use the Windows Hardware Tab/Device Manager to > figure that out. > > Your addresses are correct for "default", they should work OK. Be > sure to also set the BAUD rate in both SatPC32 and the radio to match. > I think 9600 baud is the highest the radio will do. Be sure to read > the "Hints" sections in the SatPC32 program to figure out an > appropriate delay setting, too. > > Lots of folks using this setup, so you should be able to get lots of > help as you get it going! SatPC32 is a fantastic program for working > satellites. > > Personal question/note. I am interested in the output power of your > IC-910H. Mine is rather low on both VHF (75W) and UHF (45W). So, I > just sent it back to Icom in hopes they can make it meet "advertised > and published specs" in that regard. Shipping and insurance on that > radio was over $50! I won't complain since I won the radio :) > > 73, > > Mark N8MH > > On Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 4:24 PM, Louis House <kd5gm(a)sbcglobal.net> > wrote: >> I plan to commission my new IC 910 H on Saturday this week.Â I plan >> to drive the radio with the "RigTalk" and CIV cable from a USB port. >> Has anyone experienced any negative function from this data control >> system type??Â In setting up the SatPC32 software, the addresses that >> appeared by default are "$60" (in all fourÂ boxes inÂ the "Radio Set >> Screen").Â Does this $60 setting work OK??Â The read me file is not >> very clear concerning the selection for "RTS + 12V", does theÂ IC 910 >> H need this settingÂ selected to work correctly??Â Â Â Any other known >> problems would also be most helpful. >> Thanks for listening. >> Louis, KD5GM >> CW ;-) The Original Digital > Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Sats turning 20
by John Marranca, Jr 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

I miss AO-16. That was the easiest satellite to work in the fleet, in my opinion. Picked up quite a few states for Satellite WAS because of AO-16. Hurry back, PACSAT! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr -PBX Technician- BN Systems, Incorporated Orchard Park, NY (716)406-7130

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Happy Birthday! Guess who is turning 20??
by Mark L. Hammond 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

Happy Birthday! Guess who is turning 20 years old on January 22nd? AO-16, DO-17, WO-18, and LO-19 !! :) To honor the great work of AMSAT volunteers that created, built, and launched the original "fleet of four" microsats exactly 20 years old, we will be *attempting* to operate AO-16 in its special "voice mode" on select passes during the period January 21-24. Operations will be limited to stations that share the footprint with the command station N8MH (grid FM05pj). Mode FM Voice Repeater (Downlink is DSB. Operation is Intermittent) Uplink: 145.9200 MHz FM Downlink 437.0260 MHz USB and LSB Please understand that because of the current orbit and a thermal issue in the spacecraft, the satellite turns itself OFF via a reset rather unpredictably--sometimes only moments after being turned ON. So operations may be limited to very short periods of times (barely enough for quick exchange). During some passes it might not work at all...but I'm willing to give it a shot. Watch for AO-16 to be turned ON for operations during the following dates and times, posted below in UTC: WinAos QTH: -78.7/35.4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS ---------------------------------------------------------- 21.01.2010 AO-16 19:02 19:16 22.01.2010 AO-16 08:56 09:10 <- (yes, that's 4am Eastern time ;) 22.01.2010 AO-16 20:10 20:25 23.01.2010 AO-16 08:25 08:40 23.01.2010 AO-16 19:39 19:54 24.01.2010 AO-16 19:09 19:23 24.01.2010 AO-16 20:49 21:02 Let's hope at least a few of you can make a contact! If nothing else, you can listen to the familiar "hmmmmm" of 1200BPSK and reminisce. 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] AO-16 Command Station

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QRP organization adds satellite endorsements to its awards
by Tim - N3TL 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

Hey everyone, The QRP Amateur Radio Club International (QRP ARCI) has added satellite endorsements to many of its awards, which are available to all amateurs. Please visit the QRP ARCI Web site - http://www.qrparci.org/- and click on the Awards tab down the left side of the home page to see the various awards the group offers, and to get the guidelines for each award. I’m confident that many readers/posters here (especially those of you who, like me, enjoy the challenge of using a handheld station on the FM satellites and of using low power levels in general) probably can claim the Grid Square and/or All States awards right away – or, at least, very soon. Thanks to AMSAT and Bruce for its outstanding awards program, and thanks to QRP ARCI for giving us QRP addicts some other awards to shoot for with our satellite operations. 73 to all, Tim – N3TL Athens, Ga. – EM84ha

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UO-11 mode S beacon
by Auke de Jong, VE6PWN 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

Hi all, Just a quick query regarding UO-11's Mode-S beacon at 2401.5. In a couple of places I have read that the Mode-S beacon is said to "transmit continuously", while others list that beacon as "non-operational". I have also noticed that it is listed a few times as having been heard(telemetry only) on the "oscar.dcarr.org" site inside their database, using Mode-S. I am wondering if it is worthwhile to listen for this beacon (using my newly installed BBQ-grid antenna), or is it definitely not making any noise? 73 Auke de Jong VE6PWN DO33go Edmonton, AB

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