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

TH-D72 HT's arrive now in Atlanta HRO!
by Robert Bruninga 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

See ya'll in Atlanta at the HRO store For their Grand Re-opening, Saturday 4 Dec. Refreshments, and the release of the first batch of TH-D72 HT's. 10 AM to 4? PM Lots of MFR specials too. See ya there. Bob, WB4APR

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Falcon 9 Test Firing
by B J 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

The engines were fired a few minutes ago and the test appears to have gone well. Launch is still scheduled for 2010-12-07. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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X-37B
by David Barber 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11911335

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HO-68 Schedule 05-12 Dec 2010
by Alan Kung 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

UTC: 05 Dec 2010 ================================ 17:15...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 18:00...Turn Off 19:20...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 20:05...Turn Off 20:40...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 21:25...Turn Off 23:20...Turn On--CW/SSB South America,NA,North Asia 24:05...Turn Off 06 Dec 2010 ================================ 01:20...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:34...Turn Off 13:55...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,South America 14:40...Turn Off 17:00...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:45...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 19:45...Turn Off 23:00...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,North Asia,East Asia, Oceania 23:45...Turn Off 07 Dec 2010 ================================ 02:50...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia, East Asia,South Asia 03:05...Turn Off 11:00...Turn On--CW/SSB Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:45...Turn Off 13:40...Turn On--CW/SSB NA, South America 14:25...Turn Off 16:50...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:35...Turn Off 18:35...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:20...Turn Off 20:05...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 20:50...Turn Off 22:45...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia Oceania 23:30...Turn Off 08 Dec 2010 ================================= 02:28...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:44...Turn Off 13:25...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 14:10...Turn Off 16:35...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa,Europe,NA South America 17:20...Turn Off 18:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:00...Turn Off 19:50...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 20:35...Turn Off 22:30...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 23:15...Turn Off 09 Dec 2010 ================================= 02:11...Turn On--CW/SSB Asia,Oceania 02:27...Turn Off 13:10...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 13:55...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,India,Middle East Europe,NA 17:00...Turn Off 18:00...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 18:45...Turn Off 19:55...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 20:40...Turn Off 22:10...Turn On--CW/SSB Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 22:55...Turn Off 10 Dec 2010 ================================ 01:55...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:10...Turn Off 12:50...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe, NA,South America 13:35...Turn Off 16:00...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 16:45...Turn Off 17:40...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 18:25...Turn Off 19:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 20:00...Turn Off 11 Dec 2010 ================================ 23:45...Turn On--CW/SSB South America,NA,North Asia 00:30...Turn Off 01:38...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:52...Turn Off 12:30...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe, NA,South America 13:15...Turn Off 17:35...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 18:20...Turn Off 19:20...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 20:05...Turn Off 20:45...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 21:30...Turn Off 12 Dec 2010 ================================ 23:25...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia, South Asia,Oceania 00:10...Turn Off 14:05...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 14:50...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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NORAD Ready ...
by Clint Bradford 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

A tradition started with a wrong number in a Sears ad 55 years ago continues, as thousands of people from all over the world will call or e-mail NORAD to find out Santa’s Christmas Eve whereabouts. http://tinyurl.com/2ccoy6q Clint

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SO67 040oUT
by Rick Tejera 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

Anyone planning on working the SO-67 pass at 0400UT tonight? Clear Skies Rick Tejera Editor SACnews, Public Outreach Coordinator Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona www.saguaroastro.org <http://www.saguaroastro.org/> saguaroastro(a)cox.net K7TEJ, AMSAT 38452

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AO-51 pass 1230UTC 12/2
by n0jy＠lavabit.com 03 Dec '10

03 Dec '10

Hello all, I was attempting to make some contacts on the 1230UTC pass of AO-51 this morning, from the mobile on my way to work. We have a bit of a commuter roundtable on 2m in the morning and I invited some of the others to tune in to see what we could hear. The downlink was weak enough that the pass was at best barely workable, but right at the beginning I did have a good enough signal to copy that a station came back to my call. I didn't copy the call though, so it was not a contact but it appears that I was heard well enough on the uplink... so I would appreciate it if the station(s) who heard me would let me know what my uplink signal quality was, that I can determine whether it's worth it to try to work the bird again during a "commute" pass. If so maybe I'll consider a preamp in the mobile... ;-) And if the uplink was OK then perhaps on some future closer passes I'll have the opportunity to get some of my fellow commuters on the bird! Thanks and 73, Jerry N0JY

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New TLEs for UT's FASTRAC Available
by Andrew.MacAllister＠emerson.com 02 Dec '10

02 Dec '10

New FASTRAC TLEs today: http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/predictedorbi… Andy W5ACM

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KO4MA/P headed to MS and LA
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Dec '10

02 Dec '10

Gentlemen, I have some business next week at NASA Stennis and will be staying just over the river in Slidell. I expect to have some free time in the evenings, and may be able to put some not rare, but not common, grids on the air. I return QSLs with SASE 100%. Let me know what you need in the area, although I expect EL49 and EL59 will be near the top of the list. Monday 12/6 I'll be in transit and might be on from somewhere between EL88 and EM40 through the day. I'm more likely to be on a transponder satellite than FM, on SSB 20khz or more above the center of the passband. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Highest data rate achieved in the Amateur Satellite Service
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 02 Dec '10

02 Dec '10

Hi Jim, You are quite correct 48K data rates have been used on amateur satellites. I trust that it is OK with Mark Hammond but here is a copy of a recent posing on the BBS regarding experiments to be carried out on AO -51. James Miller was I recall very involved in the use of higher data rate exchange and you might find some information posted on this. Another good source are the listings of the operational frequencies and modes of operation that are posted on a number of well known web sites including Japan. The main problem and concern of course is the need to modify equipment to be able cope with these higher rates. As you state modems are available but the inclusion in the equipment can be quite costly and i am not sure about the validity of warranty if you do make these additions. Another concern is that with the LEO's tracking and the doppler shift are a very significant factor , however with such short pass times of course the higher rate of date exchange is a very valuable asset especially with pictures Cheers Ken de GW1FKY Hello All, Just a reminder that we'll be running a few days of 38k4 packet beginning Sunday afternoon/evening until Thursday afternoon/evening, as per the schedule below. Note the voice repeater will be OFF. Please keep in mind that receiving packet at 38k4 requires more than your "stock" FM receiver and TNC. Generally speaking, folks are using a Symek board installed in their satellite radio to tap the IF which is then fed to a high speed TNC. Other options for a receiver include a PCR-1000/1500/2500 in FM mode with filters set to 50 kHz (NOT Wide-FM) (I think that's the right filter width). Please remember Douglas Quagliana's KA2UPW soundcard decoder (as presented in the AMSAT Journal a few issues back) that can be downloaded here: http://www.quagliana.com/ Look for Willow and Sabins. I suggest you get the software and test it out at 9600 before you attempt 38,400, so to become familiar with how it works with your receiver. It does work at 38k4--but remember you must have an appropriate receiver! It is possible to use some of the SDR stuff I'm sure, if you record with your SDR software and play back through KA2UPW's Willow program. I have a few options in my shack, as I've been running 38k4 since the good old UoSat days: Receivers capable of 38k4 (up to 76k, actually): TS-2000x with Symek IF board TS-790A with Symek IF board Icom PCR-1500 For decoding: Paccomm Spirit/Sprint-2 Satellite TNC models with 38k4 filters installed Willow My preferred combination is the TS-2000x with Symek IF board feeding a Pacomm Sprint-2 satellite model. I seem to get the best performance out of this combo. Here's a reminder of the schedule: November 14 (late UTC) 38k4 Baud PBBS Operations, L/U Uplink: 1268.705 MHz FM at 9600 baud Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM at 38,400 baud November 18 (late UTC) FM Repeater, L/SU Uplink: 1268.705 MHz FM (no PL tone) Downlinks: 2401.200 MHz FM *and* 435.300 MHz FM (at low power!) 73! -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] _______________________________________________ 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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