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

Launch of 'KJ6FIX' Beacon aboard USC CAERUS CubeSat Subsystem
by Omair Rahman 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

Hello Respected Amateur Radio Community, I would like to announce the expected launch of University of Southern California's (USC) CAERUS aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, on the 8th of Dec 2010, with a launch window of 1400-1722 GMT. CAERUS is USC's 1st CubeSat subsystem delivered in May 2010, and was named after the greek word for "opportunity". It was developed from authorization to proceed (ATP) to delivery in 14 weeks. CAERUS is part of the "MAYFLOWER" Next Generation Technology CubeSat that is a joint effort with Northrop Grumman NOVAWORKS group. The satellite would be transmitting beacon data in the Amateur Band, with the following specifications. Call Sign: KJ6FIX Downlink Frequency: 437.600 MHz Beacon Output Power: 900mW Modulation Type: AFSK, 1200 baud TLE: Updated on website, right after launch. It would be greatly appreciated, if you can please collect the beacon data and email the raw text file to caerus(a)astronautics.usc.edu. The collection of the data would help USC in tabulating the performance of our first student driven endeavour into space. For further information and TLE updates, please go to the website http://www2.isi.edu/research/prj-serc/prj-serc_projects/prj-serc_projects-9…. The beacon data can also be translated with the jar applet provided on our website. Thanks for all your help, Regards, Omair A. Rahman. ## P.S. ## - If it's raw beacon data file, please have your email subject: Beacon Data and your info. - If you have the capability of hooking up a Spectrum Analyzer to the antenna feed, and can measure the 'Actual' frequency of the downlink, please send that too, with the Subject: Beacon Frequency. This is very important to us, for a tracking experiment we are conducting.

4 3

THD72 and VX8GR demo NewHaven CT
by Robert Bruninga 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

New Haven CT, Saturday. Demo of APRS radios D72, D710, VX8Gr, VX8DR, FMT350. I'll be in New Haven on Saturday with a few hours of free time and can play radio if there is anyone nearby that wants some hands-on time with these radios. Time and Place TBD. Morning, noon or afternoon? Bob, WB4APR [PS, W1GXT are you here?]

1 0

Falcon 9 Scheduled For 2010-12-08 Launch
by B J 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/dec/HQ_M10-170_Falcon_9_Launch.html http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/101207preview/ http://twitter.com/@spacexer 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

SVHFS 2011 Conference Call For Papers
by Robin Midgett 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

Call for Papers: 15th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference, Huntsville, Alabama The Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and presentations for the upcoming 15th annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Huntsville, Alabama on April 29th and 30th, 2011. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. Some suggested areas of interest are: Transmitters Receivers Transverters RF Power Amplifiers RF Low Noise Pre Amplifiers Antennas Construction Projects Test Equipment And Station Accessories Station Design And Construction Contesting Roving DXpeditions EME Propagation (Sporadic E, Meteor Scatter, Troposphere Ducting, etc.) Digital Modes (WSJT, etc.) Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Software Defined Radio (SDR) Amateur Satellites Amateur Television In general papers and presentations on non weak signal related topics such as FM repeaters and packet will not be accepted but exceptions may be made if the topic is related to weak signal. For example, a paper or presentation on the use of APRS to track rovers during contests would be considered. The Technical committee this year is K4IDC ,Robin Midgett and N2CEI, Steve Kostro. Contact Steve Kostro, SVHFS2011 AT downeastmicrowave DOT com by Jan 8th, 2010 if you wish to make a presentation and submit your paper for publication to the same adress. Deadline for the submission of papers is March 11, 2011. All submissions for the proceedings should be in Microsoft Word (.doc).Pages are 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches with a 1 inch margin on the bottom and ¾ inch margin on the other three sides. All text, drawings, photos, etc. should be black and white only (no color). Submissions for presentation at the conference should be in PowerPoint (.ppt) format, and delivered in person at the conference to Robin Midgett on either a USB memory stick or CDROM or posted for download on a web site of your choice. Notify or adress Robin with any other AVA questions at K4IDC AT Comcast DOT net. For further information and updates about the conference please go to www.svhfs.org Thank you, Robin E. Midgett K4IDC Thank you, Robin Midgett K4IDC 2011 Conference Program Co-Chair, SVHFS

1 0

Columnist Wanted
by Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

Greetings All! As many of you know, I write a quarterly column in Monitoring Times (MT) magazine about amateur radio satellites. Right now, the good folks at Monitoring Times are looking for a columnist to write a technical column on antennas for VHF/UHF and above, including satellite reception. The column appears quarterly, beginning with the March, 2011 issue. Also, MT is always looking for short articles on technical projects for thir freelance On the Bench column. For more information on requirements and payment, please email Rachel Baughn at editor(a)monitoringtimes.com or rachel.baughn(a)gmail.com. Thanks and 73, Keith Baker KB1SF / VA3KSF

1 0

Re: Kenwood TH-D72a
by Clint Bradford 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

BOB>> ... I would tend to rephrase the above sentence ... What an excellent post, Bob! YES - The new Kenwood HT with all its capabilities is a value at US$500. And YES, APRS is much more than spitting out my coordinates every five minutes while driving around town. But from where I am coming from - advising audiences who have never worked a satellite before that they probably already own the equipment necessary to work them AND showing them how to accomplish it - I'll have trouble getting behind the 'D72a for that specific crowd as a "must-have" device. I'd like Kenwood to do what Yaesu did with their VX-8R: Offer a separate HT without some of the major (expensive) features, and get true dual-band capability to "us" at a lower price point. But I'm not running the world ... (grin) Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

1 0

Log Book of the World and HO-68
by KERRY LA*DUKE 06 Dec '10

06 Dec '10

All, Logging HO-68 on LOTW works but requires updating the configuration file. Here are instructions sent me from Kathy at ARRL LOTW. The current version of TrustedQSL is 1.13. With the configuration file updated, HO-68 shows up in the satellites list. 73 WC7V Kerry To have the TrustedQSL program accept the HO-68 satellite, please do the following to update your TrustedQSL program in your computer. 1. Log into your LoTW account 2. Click on YOUR ACCOUNT 3. Click on Your Certificates 4. Click on Download current TQSL configuration file

3 2

Re: more about the TH-D72A for satellites
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 06 Dec '10

06 Dec '10

Hi Ed! > I'm sure there a lot of us interested in what you find out using the new > radio. Thanks for the encouragement. So far, nobody has told me to keep quiet. ;-) I'm getting more packet and APRS questions in private e-mail, and can't really answer many of them other than the D72 works to transmit my location to an APRS digi network. I'm still a novice with APRS, and haven't done much with packet except to send some data through the ISS digipeater in almost 15 years! > My last ham HT was a TH-D7A, which I reluctantly sold back to the > person I bought it from (he was donating it to "doctors without borders"). > I used it a little on AO27 and UO18, though I used my FT-817 more. I liked > the fact it was packet ready and satellite ready. The TH-D72 with embedded > GPS looks like a real winner. I have two FT-817NDs, and those will definitely continue to be used as a big part of my portable satellite station. A TH-F6A is another recent addition, which can serve as a backup all-mode receiver and an FM (plus maybe CW) transmitter. I wish I would have had a true full-duplex HT for some of the stops I made on my Canada trip a few months ago, where an HT was the only way to get on the birds at certain locations. > BTW for those having cost-phobia the original TH-D7 cost $395. I do not > have a HT, now.....maybe? > It would be nice for air-travel w/ headset and mag-mount whip. Thanks for the reminder about that price. I knew it was relatively expensive in its day as a new radio, which was probably why I did not have one way back when. I know that a $500 radio in 2010 pesos is still not cheap, despite all the extra bells and whistles, so I don't fault anyone for citing cost as a reason to not get one. Maybe more D7s in good condition will hit the used market that can be put on the satellites, as more move up to the D72. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

2 1

PacComm Spirit-2
by Richard Lawn 06 Dec '10

06 Dec '10

Just to let everyone know that I sold this item. Thanks for all the interest and it went to the highest bidder who met my price. Still have the Mirage D1010 70cm amp for sale. TNX Rick W2JAZ

1 0

Antenna resurrection
by John 06 Dec '10

06 Dec '10

I recently picked up the Cushcraft Satellite pair: the 738XB and 22XB. These are circular antennas with a switch unit to change polarity. Well, they turned out to not be quite what was described. The switches on both antennas appear to be bad. I managed to remove the 2 meter unit and seperated the relay. The coil is burnt out. The PC board seems to be intact with little if any damage. Haven't had the courage to attack the 70cm on yet. Any source for the relay for this pair? Maybe original parts source for relays and the phasing harnesses. I would like to get some use out of this if it is possible. Thanks for your insight. NS1Z / EL99bf John Wilcox Silver Springs, FL

1 0