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

WD9EWK @ Mesa AZ hamfest, Saturday (4 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 02 Dec '10

02 Dec '10

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Superstition Amateur Radio Club's hamfest in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday, 4 December 2010. The hamfest will be in the southwest parking lot of Mesa Community College, along Dobson Road between Southern Avenue and the US-60 freeway. This is a half-day hamfest, starting early in the morning and wrapping up by noon. During the hamfest, WD9EWK will be on several satellites for on-air demonstrations, FM and SSB. If you hear me on the air Saturday morning, please feel free to give me a call. If you work WD9EWK and would like a QSL card, please e-mail me with the QSO details to check against my log. If you're in the log, I'll send a card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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utility/educational electronic kits for sale cheap - source located (Kensington, MD)
by Samudra Haque 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Hi Amrad, Amsat folks. Some of you may appreciate picking up a few of these utility electronic kits, for yourself, or your younger generation SWL/DX and ham radio friends: they are all useful for your radio shack. I am planning to pick up a few myself if I have the time. Perhaps we could pool together a purchase lot? Please contact the original seller, Robert Lavoie for purchase: sale-r3rbj-2087904408(a)craigslist.org Huge assortment of Velleman/CanaKit audio kits, factory fresh in sealed original boxes, unopened. original buyer, perfect for audio hobbyists or electronics minded. There are literally over 80 kits in this assortment, everything from power supply kits to audio amplifiers, led displays, etc. Retail value of these items today exceeds $2000.00. Liquidation. Could make excellent XMAS gift(s). Individual kits are available. Also available are numerous Radio Shack black ABS project boxes, Calrad VU meters, potentiometers, Plitron low voltage toroidal transformers, many values, lots and lots of stuff. All negotiable Might be good for a school or laboratory for electronics. All prices negotiable . Velleman K2637 Super Mini 2.5 watt audio amplifier (quantity 21) current retail $12.50 Velleman MK 138 Thermostat (quantity 1) Velleman K4001 7 watt audio amplifier (quantity 2) current retail 14.69 Velleman MK 105 signal generator (quantity 7) current retail $5.23 Velleman K2570 universal pwr supply 5-14 volts (quantity 6) current retail $16.15 Velleman K2573 Stereo RIAA correction kit (quantity 3) current retail $14.73 Velleman KK4102 guitar preamplifier/headphone amp (quantity 7) current retail $32.77 Velleman K2032 3 digit panle meter (quantity 3) current retail $55.90 Velleman K4900 telephone amplifier (quantity 4) current retail $14.15 Velleman K1823 1 amp pwr supply (quantity 1) current reail $12.31 Velleman K4003 2 by 30 watt stereo amplifier (quantity 2) current retail $28.00 Velleman K2579 stop/start timer (quantity 1) current retail $ 13.38 Velleman K6001 temperature sensor kit (quantity 1) current retail $22.92 Velleman K7203 3-30 volt/ 3 ampere pwr supply (quantity 3) current retail $43.54 Cana Kit UK 193 20 watt bridged audio amplifier ( quantity 2) current retail $35.90 Cana Kit UK 205 mini sine wave generator (quantity 2) current retail $17.95 Cana Kit R 290 2 by 35 watt RMS audio amplifier (quantity 9) current retail $70.00 Cana Kit CK 161 10 watt amplifer w.microphone preamplifer (quantity 1) current retail $22.95 Cana Kit UK 3405 + -- 5 volts/300 and 100 ma pwr supply (qunatity 2) current retail $10.00 Cana Kit CK008 dynamic microphone amplifier (quantity 2) current retail $13.95 Cana Kit R146 advanced stereo tone control (bass/treble.volume/pan) (quantity 1) current retail $26.45 Cana Kit CK 104 SQ 5 led VU display (quantity 1) current retail $12.95 Cana Kit CK 151 2.5 watt microphone preamplifier (quantity 3) current retail $17.95 73 de N3RDX

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EM04/DM94
by ted 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Thanks to everyone who added to the enjoyment of my short stay on the 100th Meridian today! Great to talk to everyone and icing on the cake to provide new grids for several. I'll try to get cards made up and sent out before too long. No SASEs or return cards are necessary. 73....ted....aa5ck

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Re: Ragchewing AO-51
by Bob- W7LRD 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Modes L and or S on AO51 enable us to do the same thing. Just a few of us left over AO-40 (sobsob) ops. 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Papay" <john(a)papays.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, December 1, 2010 10:20:02 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Ragchewing AO-51 The recent time change from daylight savings to standard time, coupled with the shifting of AO-51 passes over North America to much earlier morning times, makes it possible to actually have a QSO on AO-51 that lasts longer than a few seconds. All three morning AO-51 passes had only a few stations calling in today. It is possible to have a 10 minute qso or roundtable that is normally only appropriate on a linear bird. Most of the morning AO-51 passes for the last few days have been just noise. I look at the recordings and not seeing much voice audio, I don't put them on the website. This morning's passes are on the website and you can tell it's very early. Even KJ4CBC, who is a morning regular, seemed a bit drousy. http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html Of course, morning is really the middle of the night for most of us. The passes today were at 0950z, 1129z and 1311z. There was an Atlantic pass at 0814z where there were no stations heard. Daytime passes, of course, are a different story with 20 plus stations trying to make contacts. But you can take advantage of those early morning passes and have some good conversation on FM. Activity could pick up to the point where longer qso's are not appropriate, but considering these early pass times, that shouldn't be a problem anytime soon. Set your alarm and the coffee pot timer. Let's use AO-51 while we still have her. 73, John K8YSE _______________________________________________ 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: HO-68 Beacon?
by Peter Ng 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Hi Peter, Yes, I've heard the beacon regardless of modes... 73's Peter VE7NGP -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Peter Moscatt Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2010 3:14 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] HO-68 Beacon? Hi All, As this satellite has been placed on an initial schedule with regards to the On Times for both the Transponder and Repeater, does the Beacon operate regardless of the status of the bird? Pete VK4CCV _______________________________________________ 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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KiwiSAT aupplies help
by Fred Kennedy 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Hi Guys, Can anyone point me to a small quantity supply source of a space quality thermally conductive epoxy for KiwiSAT please? We will need probably less than 10 gms total over the next - and last - few months of her construction but it has to be usable in 'small mixes' on an 'as required basis'. ("Two tube" technology!) Tra-Con 2151 is ideal ( and samples have been used ) but MOQ's of 100 x 3gm "one mix" packets is not an option. We look after every cent/penny of your very generous donations and throwing out 90% of the mix every time we need a few mg. is not seen as financially responsible! (Unfortunately, absolutely no potential for aerospace "lunch box Cadillacs" down here in NZ!) Thanks, Fred Kennedy (ZL1BYP) KiwiSAT Project.

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Re: Ragchewing on AO-51
by Patrick Farcon 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

I agree with you John. My schedule at work often only makes the dreadfully early morning passes before 6am possible for me. I have often spoken with Craig W1MED and Carm WO3T roundtable style in the early mornings. Now if I could only figure how to stay warm at those hours since I am still using a portable setup. Lol! 73, Pat N2VYT Sent from my iPad

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Ragchewing AO-51
by John Papay 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

The recent time change from daylight savings to standard time, coupled with the shifting of AO-51 passes over North America to much earlier morning times, makes it possible to actually have a QSO on AO-51 that lasts longer than a few seconds. All three morning AO-51 passes had only a few stations calling in today. It is possible to have a 10 minute qso or roundtable that is normally only appropriate on a linear bird. Most of the morning AO-51 passes for the last few days have been just noise. I look at the recordings and not seeing much voice audio, I don't put them on the website. This morning's passes are on the website and you can tell it's very early. Even KJ4CBC, who is a morning regular, seemed a bit drousy. http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html Of course, morning is really the middle of the night for most of us. The passes today were at 0950z, 1129z and 1311z. There was an Atlantic pass at 0814z where there were no stations heard. Daytime passes, of course, are a different story with 20 plus stations trying to make contacts. But you can take advantage of those early morning passes and have some good conversation on FM. Activity could pick up to the point where longer qso's are not appropriate, but considering these early pass times, that shouldn't be a problem anytime soon. Set your alarm and the coffee pot timer. Let's use AO-51 while we still have her. 73, John K8YSE

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Is there any frequency error on the AO-7 Mode A transponder?
by Scott Armstrong 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Hi all, I am new again to satellites after a 30 year absence. I recently began operating on AO-7 ,Mode A, since that is the only bands I currently have equipment for. Over the past few weeks while trying to find my downlink signal, it seems to be farther off in frequency than I would expect it. Even after taking the doppler into consideration. I know there is some error on my transmit side but the receive side is fairly accurate. Is there any frequency error associated with the Mode A transponders? If so how much error? Ideally, ignoring doppler associated with the uplink and downlink signals and any frequency error associated with my transmitter and receiver, an uplink signal of 145.9000MHz should result in a downlink signal at 29.45000 MHz. Thanks in advance, Scott AA5AM

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OSCAR-11 Report
by Clive Wallis 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

OSCAR-11 REPORT 30 November 2010 This report covers the period from 29 October to 30 November 2010. During this time the satellite has been heard from 30 October to 09 November and 19 to 29 November . At the time of writing it is is expected to switch-on 10 December. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from decoded telemetry frames. The satellite is now transmitting during eclipses, although signals are weaker at those times. This indicates that there is still some capacity remaining in the battery. The on-board clock is now very stable. It gained eight seconds during November. This is comparable with its accuracy when the satellite was fully operational, when it gained approximately one minute per year. However, there is still an accumulated loss of 309 days, which has occurred during eclipses of the last few years. Operation during eclipses and stability of the on-board clock suggest that some part of the system may have recently failed 'open circuit' thus reducing the overall power drain of the system, and allowing more power to be available during eclipses. When analogue telemetry was last transmitted, an unexplained current drain was observed. This fault may have cleared. The Beacon frequencies are - VHF 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry UHF 435.025 MHz. OFF S-band 2401.5 MHz. OFF Reception reports have been received from Gene WA4UKX, Horatio CX8AF, David G8OQW and Michael M0MPM/PA3BHE . Many thanks for those and to everyone who posted reports on the satellite status website. At the present time, while OSCAR-11 is operating in a predictable way, I no longer need direct reports by e-mail. However, could you continue to enter reports on the general satellite status website. This is a very convenient and easy to use facility, which shows the current status of all the amateur satellites, and is of use to everyone. Reports around the expected times of switch-on and switch-off are of special interest. The URL is http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php OSCAR-11 transmits on 145.826 MHz., set receiver to NBFM. The satellite has a characteristic sound, rather like raspy slow morse code, sending "di di dah dah dah dah dah dah dah" sent over a period of five seconds. If you are receiving a very weak signal, switch the receiver to CW or SSB. You should hear several sidebands around the carrier frequency and should be able to hear the characteristic 'morse code like' sound on at least one sideband. Please note that you need a clean noise-free signal to decode the signals, and your receiver must be set to NBFM mode, for a decoder to work. If you need to know what OSCAR-11 sounds like, there is an audio clip on my website www.g3cwv.co.uk/ which may be useful for identification and as a test signal for decoding. The current status of the satellite, is that all the analogue telemetry channels, 0 to 59 are zero, ie they have failed. The status channels 60 to 67 are still working. The real time clock is showing a large accumulated error, but is now incrementing accurately to within a few seconds per month. The day of the month has a bit stuck at 'one' so the day of the month may show an error of +40 days for some dates. The time display has switched into 12 hour mode. Unfortunately, there is no AM/PM indicator, since the time display format was designed for 24 hour mode. The spacecraft computer and active attitude control system have switched OFF, ie. the satellite' attitude is controlled only by the passive gravity boom gradient, and the satellite is free to spin at any speed. The watchdog timer operates on a 20 day cycle. The ON/OFF times have tended to be very consistent. The average of many observations have shown this to be 20.7 days, ie. 10.35 days ON followed by 10.35 days OFF. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting my website. If you need to know what OSCAR-11 should sound like, there is a short audio clip for you to hear. The last telemetry received from the satellite is available for download. The website contains an archive of news & telemetry data which is updated from time to time. It also contains details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. The URL is www.g3cwv.co.uk . If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT151 .CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace xxxxx by g3cwv)

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