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

AO-51 update 28 Dec 2010 2315utc
by Mark L. Hammond 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

Hi All, This evening we shut down the digital transmitter TXA (435.150). This is due to less sun (we are on the edge of eclipse). I suspect we'll be keeping TXA off for the most part, except to collect telemetry. We'll do our best to keep 435.300 running as much as possible. 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB) with antennas in attic?
by Bill Dzurilla 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

Dave, It depends to an extent on the composition of your roof. I did not get good results from the attic, but others have. Give it a try if you have no other choice. A couple of people have mentioned fixed elevation at 30 degrees. If you go this route, I would recommend just 15-20 degrees of elevation, not 30. I use an Elk with 20 degrees fixed elevation and a small TV azimuth rotor, mounted outside. My HOA also disallows outside antennas, but the Elk is so tiny (2' long) no one has complained (knock on wood). I've worked Europe on AO-7 and HO-68. Good luck and 73, Bill NZ5N

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New UT FASTRAC TLEs available
by Andrew.MacAllister＠emerson.com 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

Just updated today for FAST1 and FAST2 (not yet separated): http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/predictedorbi… 73 de Andy W5ACM

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Attic antennas
by WB2LLP 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

For the attic antennas, how much space is there between the attic floor and the ridge pole?

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Re: Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB) withantennas in attic?
by Patrick Farcon 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

Dave, I have the same antenna restrictions here at my home. When a member of the "board" has seen me outside my home working the satellites in my parking lot he asked me just that, "anyway you can put antennas in the attic?" I try to make it outside with my portable Arrow II or Elk setup but it has gotten to be really cold and with the recent blizzard tough or almost impossible. Be that as it may, I have been working handheld indoors but my receive is very poor at times. I have mad a few contacts but most likely I am getting out better than I receive which is not a good thing. I used to have an old TV antenna rotor from Radio Shack that would at least help with azimuth and I could use a fixed elevation of about 30 degrees but I think it is long gone after the move years ago. I was thinking of putting a more elaborate AZ/EL setup in the attic as well and looking for suggestions. Also looking for suggestions on preamps as well to at least improve my signal on receive even if I work handheld for some time longer. I always enjoy and filled with envy when I hear stations working each other down to about 1 degree elevation at their QTH and dream of someday getting there, especially for HO-68 and the linear satellites. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as well. 73, Pat N2VYT FN20un

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Akatsuki Malfunction Possibly Caused By Valve
by B J 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20101227p2a00m0na016000c.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: ISS Voice Contacts?
by AJ9N＠aol.com 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

At this point in time we do not know active the new crew will be. As with every new crew, the crew is off limits for a few weeks once they have docked to allow for them to get acclimated to space and learn their way around the ISS. The first scheduled ARISS school contact with the new crew is Università degli studi di Bari “Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza”, Bari, Ba, Italy, direct via IZ7EVR slated for Sat 2011-01-08 12:21:55 UTC 41.2 deg. So look for activity starting about then. As always, I attempt to keep everyone up to date with the latest schedule when I post to the various bulletin boards. Also monitor the ISS Fan Club webpage for activity announcements.. 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS mentors In a message dated 12/27/2010 6:52:57 P.M. Central Standard Time, k7trkradio(a)charter.net writes: I guess I'm a little late coming to the party, but is there any possibility of working the station post Col. Wheelock? Ted K7TRK _______________________________________________ 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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ISS Voice Contacts?
by Ted 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

I guess I'm a little late coming to the party, but is there any possibility of working the station post Col. Wheelock? Ted K7TRK

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Re: High resolution serial antenna tracking
by Richard Ferryman 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

Thank you Erich and Paul. I will program another chip to accept the EasyComm protocol and test it out. I probably won't require this accuracy unless we get a bird up with X-band or above. Thanks es 73 de Richard (Dick) G4BBH

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High resolution serial antenna tracking protocol?
by Richard Ferryman 27 Dec '10

27 Dec '10

I have been working on an antenna tracking system using a very heavy duty CCTV pan and tilt head which uses large stepper motors. I have built a new control system that accepts Yaesu serial data commands from SatPC32 and drives the stepper motors to the correct position. The Yaesu protocol only works in whole degrees. Does anyone know of a serial protocol that allows fractional degree or minute data? I know our application doesn't need it but I would like to test the hardware to it's limit! Dick G4BBH

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