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

international SAT contacts
by Matt Wilbur 29 Oct '10

29 Oct '10

Hi all, I sent a note a few weeks ago about a trip to Kauai and the potential for satellite contacts. It was pretty comical, the only chance I had to actually hit a pass was one where a satellite went directly overhead. I ran out, got full quieting, was all kinds of excited, and .. well.. I was the only guy in the footprint :-) I'm heading to Seychelles tomorrow (LI75RJ, out in the indian ocean) for an 8 day trip and bringing my HT and Arrow2. Am I being overly hopeful that I'll have anyone to talk to if I can catch few passes? I'm a new ham and new to satellite contacts so just not sure if it's worth the trouble to try. ?? thanks Matt NM6W (S79RC from 31Oct-8Nov)

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ISS Inhabited For 10 Years
by B J 29 Oct '10

29 Oct '10

http://spacecoalition.com/blog/benefits-of-space-exploration/space-station-… http://tinyurl.com/2g3beup http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/living/10years.html http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/expedition_10_years/ It's been continuously occupied for longer than Mir. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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ISS NA Flyby
by Jeremy Kiehner 29 Oct '10

29 Oct '10

Tonight about 2320 28/10/10 UTC I finally made contact with NA1SS, Col Wheelock. A BEAUTIFUL flyby I watched, turned on HT in the truck, heard voice. Few attempts later I made contact. We talked briefly about the views. I can only imagine his view of the eastern US during our night while I watched them fly over head. Safe journey crew! Thanks for QSO Jeremy -KB3DLP FM19 York, PA

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AMSAT at Fort Wayne Hamfest
by Doug Kuitula 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

Hi all, For those of you that are going to be at the Fort Wayne, Indiana Hamfest. I just wanted to let you know that the AMSAT Forum will be on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 1:15pm. Hope to see you there. For more info check the following : www.fortwaynehamfest.com 73 de Doug KA8QCU

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What does it mean?
by Michae J. Wolthuis 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

I just contacted Eric, who gave me fp/kv1j - gn17. What does the fp stroke mean? Do I enter this into AC Logger as kv1j without the fp/? Something new on AO-51, I'm learning! Mike Kb8zgl

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Radio Interference on AO-27
by Larry Teran 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

I think there were some post on the past about this topic. Today 10/28/2010 on the AO-27 pass around 2049z we heard some signal of two people getting into the satellite, I was able to recognize the accent and they were from Central or South America as I can hear they were talking about the results from a medical testing that makes me think about a hospital or a medical laboratory. the satellite reach it's high altitude from me at 45 degrees they no longer interfere, thats when the Central America region went out from the foot print, Last year in Mexicali Mexico we spot a company that uses ISS down link freq 145.800 Mhz to communicate on simplex, as soon as we get their phone number by monitoring for a few days we give them a courtesy call and they politely agree to change their operating freq. I did not record the audio from this pass but would like to get it to see if we can get more details. 73's Larry KI6YAA

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Last pass on AO-51
by Michae J. Wolthuis 28 Oct '10

28 Oct '10

My tape recorder stopped on the last pass, I have a callsign on the log I thought was WA8JDR in EN44, but qrz.com says no good. Anyone know who it was? Thanks, Mike Kb8zgl

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Re: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2010-10-27 16:30 UTC
by Mike Rupprecht 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

All, Testu san JA0CAW will broadcast the downlink of this contact also via our webradio. See my SatBlog -> Webradio or simply click here: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?page_id=17689 73, Mike DK3WN Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Funakata Elementary School, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, direct via 8N2FE Contact is a go for: Fri 2010-10-29 08:20:08 UTC 63 deg

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HudsonValleySatcomGroupNet Oct28@8PM on N2EHH-L or Mt beacon 146.970pl100
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hello all. It is time again for the HVSGN on Thursday on Echolink N2EYH-L at 8 PM or on the MT beacon repeater 146.970 pl 100. Please join us for the net. 73 Gary/WA2AQH

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Re: UoSAT article
by Trevor . 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hi Gordon, Looks like that article provides all the Missing Frequency Information requested at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=31 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Tue, 26/10/10, Gordon JC Pearce <gordonjcp(a)gjcp.net> wrote: > From: Gordon JC Pearce <gordonjcp(a)gjcp.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] UoSAT article > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Tuesday, 26 October, 2010, 22:58 > Hi all, > I recently acquired a large box of electronics and > radio magazines > from the early 80s. Looking through them I discovered > an article on > UoSAT in the August 1981 issue of Hobby Electronics, which > I've scanned > in and uploaded here: > > http://www.gjcp.net/media/space/uosat.pdf > > I hope you find it as interesting a glimpse into history as > I did. > Jeez, I was 7 when I first read that article... ;-) > > Gordon MM0YEQ > > _______________________________________________ > 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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question about ao-51
by N. Mahdinejad 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Dear amsat members. I have question about reciveing analouge signals from satellites in S- band. In amsat webpage there is only ao-51, is there any other satellite or not? another question is about ao-51, for receiving from ao-51 in s-band which technical specification of antenna is need? Is there need to track the satellite in s-band, or not, the position of antenna(azimuth & elevation) is fix. i mean is there need to locate antenna up the rotator? Any help would be gratefully appreciated. Best Regards. N.Mahdinejad

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Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net 10/14/10@8PM On EcholinkN2EYH-L
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hope to hear you on the Net. Please join us. 73 Gary WA2AQH

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SatPC32 options not saving.
by Tom Schuessler 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

Hello all, I recently bought the current version of SatPC32 from AMSAT and have installed it on two different computers each running Windows 7 67 bit. The programs run fine but when changes are made to the "Options" dialog, they do not stick after the program is restarted. The userdata folder is apparently this path C:\Users\Tom\AppData\Roaming\SatPC32. What is the file in this that stores these settings and why would it not be written to? Have others experienced this issue? Would like to fix this as I have a demo coming up and want to have the program work properly. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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Competition For Commercial Spacecraft Development
by B J 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1010/25ccdev/ The funding will depend upon the passage of legislation by Congress. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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New Launch Date For Falcon 9
by B J 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/101026launchdate/ It's been moved to November 18. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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LoTW and HO-68
by John Boudreau 27 Oct '10

27 Oct '10

It seems that ARRL finally brought together a team of crack software engineers to edit the satellite config file in Logbook of the World so it would accept QSO's made on HO-68. Unfortunately, it looks they did not have enough keystrokes available to also add SO-67. Perhaps next year... John - VE8EV

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Wanted: Az/El Rotor
by David Mennerich 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Hi all - if you have an Az/El rotor (e.g., 5400B) that you're not using anymore and would be interested in selling, please let me know. Thanks, Dave N2TEB

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Air Force Lost Comms with 50 ICBMs
by Clint Bradford 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

For 45 minutes last Saturday, our Air Force was unable to communicate with nor monitor 50 nuclear missiles. Read Wired.com article at ... http://t.co/zxyTGFV Clint Bradford

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UoSAT article
by Gordon JC Pearce 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Hi all, I recently acquired a large box of electronics and radio magazines from the early 80s. Looking through them I discovered an article on UoSAT in the August 1981 issue of Hobby Electronics, which I've scanned in and uploaded here: http://www.gjcp.net/media/space/uosat.pdf I hope you find it as interesting a glimpse into history as I did. Jeez, I was 7 when I first read that article... ;-) Gordon MM0YEQ

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ND9M/P update
by KERRY LA*DUKE 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

All, I spoke with Jim on 20M cw and he said satellite operations form en16 and 17 were off today because of wx. High winds and rain are making operating and driving conditions poor. He indicated satellite operations were possible tomorrow October 27, 2010 wx permitting. 73 WC7V Kerry

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ND9M Road Trip Update #14
by claryco＠aol.com 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Depending on this afternoon's weather, I'll operate from EN17 during the AO27 passes that rise locally at 26/1824Z and 2002Z and hopefully on AO51 at 26/2141Z and 2320Z. We've got rain today and a blizzard warning starting this afternoon. We can hardly complain about the timing of course since we're wrapping up the state. We've been incredibly fortunate that every day of the seven weeks we've been on the road, the daily temps have been in the 60s or higher, and yesterday was the first day we had rain! Sounds like a good time to blow out of North Dakota! A return to EN16 is possible for tomorrow, hopefully from the MN side and away from the blizzard! This will conclude the focus on running grids on this trip. After we leave ND, we'll be taking the interstate (probably I-94 to I-65 with a three-day stop off in EN61) back to Florida. I'll still operate from the grids that we hit when it's pass time, but the ones we'll be in aren't likely to be greatly needed. Feel free to contact me off list if there's something in particular you need along that route. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grand Forks ND / Grand Forks Co. / EN17

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K8YSE QSL Cards
by Zachary Beougher 26 Oct '10

26 Oct '10

Hi All, I wanted to publically thank John, K8YSE, for the incredible job during his Lake Superior grid expedition this past August. I received a very thick envelope in the mail today (always a good sign), and was EXTREMELY happy to find 19 new grids contained within the QSL cards! The cards where great with all the pictures, grids, location info, etc. What an incredible setup - WOW! Thank you again, John, for your hard work, and for activating so many of these grids and making them available to us ops! 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Project Oscar Uk
by Chris Bloy 25 Oct '10

25 Oct '10

Hi All, I have recently launched a new project in the UK call Project Oscar to promote Amateur Satellite service here in the UK. After all the talk of abuse and use of satellite in Europe, I hope to bring something to the market! Its aimed at beginners and we do work with Scouts and local radio clubs to promote better usage and practice! I cannot talk for the rest of Europe, but I will do my best in the UK! Please have a look and make any suggestions. http://www.projectoscar.co.uk Thanks, Chris Project Oscar UK

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Re: AO-51 short experiment
by PA3GUO 25 Oct '10

25 Oct '10

My 2 cents: A. I like to have MORE APRS satellites, like PCSAT, RAFT, ANDE, ISS. To my best knowledge we do not have an alternative for such services. B. We do need to improve the usage / behaviour. >From the RAFT days I recall: - HAMs using 2 second interval beacons ( !! ) - HAMs abusing features in ISS APRS SW (UISS ??) that allows smart beaconing (as soon as satellite is in view launch a salvo of beacons) (cool feature - but it can be abused) Unfortunately, it's just a limited amount of users, whom are difficult to reach. Once I had the idea of a payload / mode in a satellite that would do just what has been done on AO51: on a scheduled time, start a recording on a programmed frequency, store the recording, be able to re-play or donwload. Kind of like a iPOD + wide band scanner into a cubesat (Spy-In-Space). We could use this as a 'debug' tool, and also demonstrate we do pro-active 'maintenance' on our bands and our own usage of those. Just a thought. Most likely technically way-off & incorrect ... Henk, PA3GUO

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QSL cards mailed today, QSLs for DM30 activity on Saturday, DM31?
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 25 Oct '10

25 Oct '10

Hi! On my way to the office this morning, I dropped a few dozen envelopes at the post office. I finished printing and writing out cards covering my trips over the last 3 weekends (7-11 October for the AMSAT Symposium and post-Symposium travel in/around Illinois, 16 October to a hamfest in Tucson AZ followed by a quick trip to DM51/DM52, and Saturday's quick trip to DM32/DM42 south of Phoenix) yesterday. They should start showing up in mailboxes over the next few days. On Saturday, there were a group of Mexican hams operating on HF and satellites from grid DM30 south of the Arizona/Mexico border. I think that most of the satellite operating from there was done by Alex XE2BSS. If you worked XE2BSS and would like a QSL card, I am Alex's QSL manager. Please send those requests to me. I heard three other calls from that group on an SO-50 pass Saturday morning (David XE2DAK, Eliseo XE2TPJ, and Uriel XE2VAS). I don't know how active these 3 were on FM passes later in the day. Of those 3, I am also the QSL manager for XE2VAS. If you need assistance in getting cards from any of these 4, please feel free to e-mail me. I know all 4 of these guys, and may be able to help with the QSL exchange. Over the past 2+ years, I have operated from every grid that covers the state of Arizona. For all of these grids except one, I have made multiple trips to those grids. I have only made one trip to DM31 in southern Arizona in September 2009, and have thought about making a return trip now that the summertime heat is done for the year. Most of DM31 is in Mexico, except for the northeast corner that reaches into the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the border town of Lukeville AZ where I operated from last year. I would probably make a return to Lukeville on a future trip. I don't currently have a Mexican ham permit, and - even if I had a valid XE permit - I'm not interested in crossing the Mexican border at that point. Since there are new operators coming onto the satellites all the time, and some (many?) may have missed my last trip down there. If there is any interest in another trip down to DM31, please e-mail me directly. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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