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

Re: I'd like your shack ideas
by Clint Bradford 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

David, the ARRL Map #8804 sure looks cool on one's wall ... -Clint, K6LCS ARRL Amateur Radio Map of the World (Robinson) Full-color laminated prefix map (26 x 34.5 inches). Order No. 8804 - $15.00

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Re: SatPC32 Help Needed
by Wayne Estes 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

David Palmer wrote: I seem to have to adjust ± 100 to 200 Hz at the start of the pass, and periodically during the pass, to keep my return pitch constant. Wayne replies: I have to make similar corrections when SatPC32 tunes my FT-847. One likely cause is that the radio's local oscillator drifts slightly when transmitting due to heat generated by the transmitter. My FT-847 transmit frequency drifts noticeably when I transmit on 435 MHz with high power. It drifts less when I transmit at low power. Unless your radios have high-stability oscillators I think it's normal to need to correct the frequencies by 100-200 Hz. From one pass to another, the local oscillator on the satellite might also drift slightly due to changes in temperature. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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ND9M Road Trip Update #5
by claryco＠aol.com 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

Cori and I will be in the Glacier Nat'l Park area for a couple more days. She's under the weather after two weeks of camping in the other parks, so we're done with camping for the time being. Most of our time here is in DN38, but our motel is just across the line in DN28, so I'm putting out both grids depending on where we are when pass time comes. We'll likely start out on the "official" return trip on Saturday. Our plan at that time is to head east along the 47 North latitude across Montana, through North Dakota, and into Minnesota before turning south. FM sats are still the birds of choice, mainly because I've made so few contacts on the various linear sats that I've been on. Setting up and breaking down the portable station takes up to a half hour, and since this is still a vacation trip rather than an actual grid-pedition, I'm inclined to stick to that regimen. That said, if someone needs me to be on one of the linear sats, feel free to contact me off list and I'll do my best to work something out. Depending on where we are at any given time, both e-mail and cell service (850.960.8566) may be intermittent, but let's give it a try anyway. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Columbia Falls MT / Flathead Co. / DN28

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Re: Is AO-51 in PBBS mode?
by Mark Hammond 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

Hi Bruce, Yes the 1.2g uplink should work. Colin VK5HI reported recent success accessing the pbbs. Mark Hammond -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Semple <bruce.semple(a)verizon.net> Sent: October 06, 2010 9:20 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Is AO-51 in PBBS mode? I see that the schedule calls for it to be in PBBS mode -- but is it really? I was seeing all the telemetry frames -- but no PECHO-11, PECHO-12 .. Bruce WA3SWJ _______________________________________________ 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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Is AO-51 in PBBS mode?
by Bruce Semple 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

I see that the schedule calls for it to be in PBBS mode -- but is it really? I was seeing all the telemetry frames -- but no PECHO-11, PECHO-12 .. Bruce WA3SWJ

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AMSAT Symposium This Weekend Near O'Hare Airport in Elk Grove Village, IL
by Mark Thompson 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

Note: More information about the symposium in attached files & at www.amsat.org/amsat-new/2010/index.php Date: Sun, 3 Oct 2010 22:07:40 GMT From: "uco(a)juno.com" <uco(a)juno.com> Subject: MAMSAT SYMPOSIUM THIS WEEK - CHICAGO To: ARISSat-1 will be the presented in detail during the Saturday morning sessions at the AMSAT 2010 Space Symposium and Annual Meeting which will be held on Friday, October 8 through Sunday, October 10. AMSAT Vice-President of Engineering Tony Montiero, AA2TX and ARISSat Project Manager Gould Smith, WA4SXM along with ARISSat team members will host the Saturday ARRISat-1 sessions including: * ARISSat-1 Overview * Software Radio Technology * BPSK-1000 format for ARISSat-1 * ARISSatTLM - Software Demodulator and Telemetry Program * Calculating Available Power (Examples: ARISSat & Fox) * Power System * Assembling ARISSat-1 * ARISSat-1 Vibration Testing The team plans to have a working ARISSat-1 prototype attending the Symposium. ARISSat-1 design and operations are discussed in detail in these papers published in the 2010 Symposium Proceedings book: * ARISSat-1 Overview by Tony Monteiro AA2TX * ARISSat-1 Power System by Tony Monteiro AA2TX * Software Radio Technology on ARISSat-1 by Tony Montiero AA2TX * ARISSatTLM - A Software Demodulator and Telemetry Display Program for the ARISSat-1 Satellite by Douglas Quagliana KA2UPW * BPSK-1000 format for ARISSat-1 by Phil Karn KA9Q An additional feature presentation and paper will introduce you to AMSAT's next satellite ... AMSAT-FOX Preview by Tony Monteiro, AA2TX. The AMSAT 2010 Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting will be held at the Chicago/Elk Grove Holiday Inn which is near O'Hare Airport. On-line registration for the Symposium continues on-line at the AMSAT Store. The registration fee is $45.00 from now through 5 October. Online registration closes 5 October at Midnight. Registration at the door will be $50.00. 73, John - AG9D Symposium Host Committee

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Re: LHCP or RHCP?
by Tom 07 Oct '10

07 Oct '10

Perhaps I should have worded my question differently. I understand the concept of circular polarization and the reasons for it. What I should have asked was "Is one direction preferred over the other for working the satellites?". Thanks for all the excellent info and I think what I've learned is that the ability to switch between directions of polarization is best but RHCP is preferred if only one direction is available. Domenico, thanks for the attachments. Good stuff which I had not seen before! Tom - K0TW > If I'm building an antenna of circular polarization for use with the birds > what determines if it should be LHCP or RHCP? I've read the ARRL Satellite > Handbook and "sort of" searched the AMSAT-BB archives but found nothing > about this question. > >Thanks. >Tom - K0TW

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 06 Oct '10

06 Oct '10

Here are the awards that I have processed over the last month or so. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Jay Kendall, N2JK Darek Dabek, SP9TTX Marisuz Kocot, SQ9MES The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. Bob Herrell, AJ5C #517 Jim Adams, K0BAM #518 Leo Hucin, OK2UUJ #519 Jay Kendall, N2JK #520 The following have earned the South Africa AMSAT Communications Achievement Award Jim Adams, K0BAM #US149 Jay Kendall, N2JK #US150 Marisuz Kocot, SQ9MES #US151 The following have earned the AMSAT Century Club Award John Papay, K8YSE #39 The following have earned the W4AMI Satellite Communications Achievement award Bob Herrell, AJ5C, #64 Zachary Beougher, KD8KSN #65 Mariusz Kocot, SQ9MES, #66 (plus 1 endorsement) Darek Dabek, SP9TTX, #67 (plus 3 endorsements) The following have earned the W4AMI 5000 Satellite Communications Achievement award Darek Dabek, SP9TTX #24 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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Re: LHCP or RHCP?
by PA3GUO 06 Oct '10

06 Oct '10

Mak SV1BSX (SK) visualized it nicely here: http://sv1bsx.50webs.com/antenna-pol/polarization.html .. but best is to wait for Domenico to jump in :-) (Domenico, one day you need to publish your excellent lectures on the internet !) -- Henk, PA3GUO

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Re Re: LHCP or RHCP?
by i8cvs 06 Oct '10

06 Oct '10

Hi Henk PA3GUO In a separate email I have sent to you what in my opinion is the best and easy to understand article about the use of circular polarization written by K4KJ "The advantages of circular polarization" If anybody is interested on it please let me know. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "PA3GUO" <pa3guo(a)upcmail.nl> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2010 9:25 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LHCP or RHCP? Mak SV1BSX (SK) visualized it nicely here: http://sv1bsx.50webs.com/antenna-pol/polarization.html .. but best is to wait for Domenico to jump in :-) (Domenico, one day you need to publish your excellent lectures on the internet !) -- Henk, PA3GUO

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