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

SATELLITE DEMO FOR SCOUTS TONIGHT
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

I'll be presenting to a scout group tonight. The only satellite pass available during my time slot is SO-50 at 19:04 ET (00:04 UTC) for 11 minutes. Its only 10 deg. off horizon, but I'm going to try. I'd appreciate anyone who can to listen out for my calls. Thanks, Dave, AA4KN

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Re: Tracking Software
by Bob- W7LRD 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

Satpc32 from AMSAT, has excellent after purchase support, AMSAT gets all the money (rocket science ain't) cheap, the learning curve is easy, runs my LVB tracker perfectly. The only problem I have is entering new keps that aren't already in the downloadable database. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael" <mikef1234(a)buckeye-express.com> To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, November 30, 2010 5:36:29 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Tracking Software I was wondering if someone could give me the pros and cons of the tracking software. I have orbitron, the one from amsat ( can't think of the name ) then I see ARRL has a software. What are the pro's and cons on these three and are there more ? Mike N8GBU _______________________________________________ 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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Re: O/OREOS TLE errors ?
by Ryan Caron 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

The O/OREOS TLEs consistently do not have valid checksums (last digit of each line). I submitted a comment about this on their website but I have not heard back. The correct checksums are 2 & 3, and not the 6 & 5 that is listed. If, by the time you read this, the posted TLEs are not 6 & 5, then the TLEs have been updated and you'll have to generate new checksums. The formula is a sum of all numerical characters on the line, including the line number, treating minus signs as a one and everything else (letters, +, spaces) as a 0. Then take modulus 10 of the sum (i.e. last digit of the sum). Look it up on wikipedia for more details. I've made a spreadsheet to fix this, but it is still a manual operation for me (got to write a script at some point). Some programs disregard the the checksum, which is why HRD & the website still work and your tracking tool doesn't. Predict/GPredict, my tools of choice, require valid checksums, making proper TLEs a pet peeve of mine. I don't know what NOVA's up to. In terms of "swarm spread" (i.e. how small delta-V between spacecraft that shared the same ride, which in this case is just done by compressed springs, translates into spatial differences), 35 minutes of separation is pretty high for just 10 days after launch. With all the latest TLEs from the three websites, I show O/OREOS being 3.5 minutes ahead of RAX, and RAX being a 1.33 minutes ahead of FAST1/2. Ryan, KB1LKI On 11/30/10 4:54 AM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:55:16 +0100 > From: PA3GUO<pa3guo(a)upcmail.nl> > Subject: [amsat-bb] O/OREOS TLE errors ? > To:amsat-bb@amsat.org > Message-ID:<19767175.1291067716437.JavaMail.root(a)viefep21.chello.at> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > Dear all, > > I keep on having troubles with the O/OREOS kepler sets. > RAX and the others are fine. > > With todays version (as from the O/OREOS dashboard on the web) > - NOVA gives O/OREOS just a bit behind RAX > - HamRadioDeluxe give O/OREOS 35 minutes behind RAX > - The O/OREOS web (dashboard graphic) shows O/OREOS 35 minutes behind RAX > - My private antenna tracking tool does not recognize the keplerset of O/OREOS > > Anyone else has experienced this (and maybe even a solution) ? > Henk > -- > Henk, PA3GUO >

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unitrack 2004
by Dale Hershberger 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

I need some help. I recently acquired a new HP 64 bit computer that has win 7 home OS. I tried to load the unitrack software and it would not permit me to do it. I have ordered a LVB tracker from AMSAT and not received it yet. I have tried to download the latest upgrades from Unitrack but can not install on the 64 bit machine. Any help would be appreciated. 73, Dale/KL7XJ

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Network of MEO sats at 8000km
by Trevor . 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

03B networks is planning to launch a network of 20-24 satellites into a 8000km equitorial orbit on Soyuz rockets from Kourou in the Caribbean. http://www.o3bnetworks.com/Media_Centre/press_release_details.aspx?id=60 http://www.o3bnetworks.com/Media_Centre/press_release_details.aspx?id=67 Trevor

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] Re: unitrack 2004
by Tom Schuessler 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

On the comment on using the Virtual PC for Windows 7 to run an XP emulation, This add on will not work with any version of Windows 7 Home, either 32 or 64 but will need to be at least Windows 7 Professional. This unless anybody has a hack to make the download think it is running on the Business platform instead of Home. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net _____________________________________________________ At 05:34 PM 11/29/2010 -0900, Dale Hershberger wrote: >I need some help. I recently acquired a new HP 64 bit computer that has >win 7 home >OS. I tried to load the unitrack software and it would not permit me to >do it. I have ordered > >a LVB tracker from AMSAT and not received it yet. I have tried to >download the latest >upgrades from Unitrack but can not install on the 64 bit machine. Any >help would be >appreciated. > >73, >Dale/KL7XJ

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UHF antenna help
by larry 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

Good evening, Name here is Larry, N1MIW. I recently moved to a better (higher) QTH and finally got around to setting up the satellite station "almost" like it used to be, but am experiencing some reception difficulties on UHF. I'm hoping someone out here can help me diagnose what I'm doing wrong, or what the problem is. I am using a Yaesu FT-847 which is computer controlled, as well as the Yaesu G-5400 rotator. The antennas are mounted on a solid fiberglass mast only ~17 feet off the ground, and fed with LMR-400. The frequencies are correct for the satellite I want to use. My problem is with the 436CP30 antenna. I cannot seem to find good results with it since my move - terrestrial or sat related. My SWR is around 1.5:1 at 435MHz, and the polarity switch is working. I tried changing feedlines and removing the pre-amp, but I still cannot seem to make it work correctly. I am trying to receive SO-50 D/L, and VO-52 U/L, but both are just not working like I remember it being before the move. I don't have any broken or mis-aligned elements (that I noticed - I'll look again). The only thing I was looking into was instead of having it placed on the boom in a "+" pattern was making it an "x" pattern - would that make a difference? I don't remember hearing or reading about that anywhere, so I was looking for your opinion. On a side note, what's your opinion of this antenna? Like I said, I used to have good luck with it, but I'm not sure what's different, except the new home. Should I get "horizon" to "horizon" coverage (plus or minus a few degrees)? Oh, I also looped the coax off the back like the manual states, but the improvement is very minimal. I checked the "jumpers" at the tuning box, and they seem OK too. I'm running out of ideas, and any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks & looking forward to working the birds again! 73's... Larry N1MIW

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Tracking Software
by Michael 30 Nov '10

30 Nov '10

I was wondering if someone could give me the pros and cons of the tracking software. I have orbitron, the one from amsat ( can't think of the name ) then I see ARRL has a software. What are the pro's and cons on these three and are there more ? Mike N8GBU

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Naive
by Robert Smith 29 Nov '10

29 Nov '10

Aloha All Success stories do not always tell the whole story. While I have been very successful with 1200 baud packet on my Kenwood D700 I have done very little with the 9600 baud. The new Satellite RAX is 9600 GMSK. In tracking the bird, the 20 second interval packets sound like fuzzy static. It seems to me that other 96k signals I have heard sounded much like APRS at 1200 except significantly speeded up. Is GMSK different and will the D700 interpret the signal??? I haven't found a whole lot on this topic on the web. Mahalo and a great week to all. 73 robert, NH7WN Honolulu

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FAST 2 Help
by Joe Barkley 29 Nov '10

29 Nov '10

I have been unable , so far, to get anything from FAST 2 on 145.825 with satpc tracking for doppler. I get a quick carrier keyed up but no packet data. And that is on some pretty good 35+ degree passes. Any help would be appreciated. I am able to hear and get data from FAST 1 fine. Thank es 73 Joe KI4TZ

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