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

Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB) with antennas in attic?
by David Mennerich 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

I have HOA rules that prevent me from putting antennas on the roof where I live. However, I can put antennas in the attic. I have an Az/El setup that I could mount up in the attic, but wanted to get some feedback from folks on any experience they've had working the LEO satellites with antennas in the attic. Thanks! - Dave N2TEB

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FUNcubeDongle: out of the box test results (excellent !)
by PA3GUO 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZGlqKPPQo (HD video: set to 720p and Fullscreen) YouTube video featuring the first results; - HO68 CW - HO68 FM - AO51 FM - VO52 SSB - OOREOS 1k2 AX25 (packet radio with MixW) Results are amazing. The FUNcubeDongle gives results similar to the Kenwood TS2000x. Tests are done with the dongle straight out of the box, no tweaking. Great achievement Howard & team ! Henk, PA3GUO, The Netherlands http://www.pa3guo.com

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RAX Decode
by Vincenzo Mone 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

Hello, i would like to receive the RAX Satellite. as i read on the Amsat web it is GMSK 9600 BPS. I would like to know what to hear. Should i hear the noise like the AO-51 bird? What do i need to decode it? Thanks in advance 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************** ******* GSM +39 338 9749786 ******* ****** SMS +39 338 9749786 ****** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** *********************************

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Re: Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB) with antennas in attic?
by Joe Krepps 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

Question: when mounting an Arrow to a TV rotator, are the 2m elements vertical, horizontal or ...? Guess I better hang onto my bought-from-eBay-but-never-used ARR 432MHz preamp! Tnx & 73, Joe WB3CFN <-now on the hunt for a good ol' U100 (Ka-CHUNK Ka-CHUNK Ka-CHUNK...)

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Re: Fundraising ...
by Clint Bradford 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

CLINT >> Got some attractive "spare"accessories just taking up room in your shack? Get rid of 'em - by having the recipient send a couple bucks to AMSAT. DEE >> ... Good ideas ... EVERYBODY wins! The recipient gets a needed accessory. The recipient gets "credit" for the tax-deductible donation to AMSAT-NA. And Clint's spouse is happy that there's one less thing laying 'round the house ... HAPPY NEW YEAR, AMSAT-BB! Clint, K6LCS

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Fundraising ...
by Clint Bradford 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

Well, over in a YahooGroup covering the Yaesu FT-60 handheld radio this evening - 1. Pat KC2RNN needed a replacement FT-60 wall wart ... 2. Clint K6LCS had one, un-used, sitting 'round ... 3. AMSAT-NA is running a fund drive ... Put those three ingredients together, and Clint K6LCS is sending Pat a new wall wart for Pat's donation to AMSAT! (I feel like I should be on a PBS telethon ... (grin).) Got some attractive "spare"accessories just taking up room in your shack? Get rid of 'em - by having the recipient send a couple bucks to AMSAT. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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KD8KSN/8 EN90/EM99 Cards Mailed
by Zachary Beougher 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

Hi Everybody, The KD8KSN/8 EN90/EM99 cards went out in the mail this morning with the exception of AB0XE, KJ4CTZ and VE3JW. I ran out of labels and envelopes, so give an extra day or two on those three. I have heard from several stations that didn’t get to work me at this boundary that they need one or both of these grids. The plan in to return to this grid boundary in late winter/early spring before corn is planted and working the boundary become difficult. I will definitely try to go on a weekend this time. 73, and Happy New Year! Zack KD8KSN

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straight Key night on AO-51, Hows it work?
by Tom Schuessler 29 Dec '10

29 Dec '10

Greetings, The AO-51 status page says; December 30 (late UTC) CW/FM Repeater, V/U For Straight Key Night Uplink: 145.880 MHz CW Downlink: 435.300 MHz CW over FM The question was asked last week or so on the BB about what the uplink mode really is supposed to be, A1? Will it receive like a narrow transponder and output CW over FM with different frequencies of audio tone as the incoming signals populate the passband. I do not recall ever seeing an answer to the question. Obviously there should be an avoidance of the use of the normal FM by ground stations to allow the straight key folks a fighting chance. 73 de N5HYP Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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Vertically mounted beam question
by John Geiger 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

What sort of radiation pattern (mainly elevation lobes) would a dualband beam, like the Cushcraft A270-6S or Elk Antenna, have when mounted for vertical polarization? Does it have useful elevation lobes for most LEO satellite work? I used to have a Cushcraft A270-10S mounted horizontally and whichever band was on the top of the boom had some very high lobes with nothing on the lower parts of the passes. 73s John AA5JG

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Re: Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB)
by Mike Ryan 28 Dec '10

28 Dec '10

It can be done but there will be some loss. Generally the higher the frequency, the bigger impact of barriers like roofs and walls. So 70 cm downlink will suffer noticeably. I’ve done it and make the following recommendations. Get the most gain you can. While omnis are possible, you may lose patience with limited passes as I did when I started with turnstiles and moxon turnstiles. Get or build a yagi or other directional antenna and turn with a cheap tv rotor (I prefer old alliance u100s as they are inexpensive used and quite rugged). The biggest one you can afford or squeeze into that attic space available. Because you don’t need to weatherize, consider just rigging up an Arrow or Elk (I did it with the Elk) at fixed elevation. Get a preamp. Its night and day, believe me, when you have one with less than ideal antennas. I use the ARR 25 watt switched units. Youll really benefit from the preamp on 70 cm downlink. If you do VO52 or A07 mode B, a preamp on 2M is helpful, but I’ve found these sats quite usable without one from the attic. While this might just be my QTH, I found a lot more QRM on 2M than 70 cm and the preamp just tends to make the QRM louder. Keep the antenna away, best you can, from any possible sources of coupling (metal), including house wiring, ductwork, flashing, and even foil backed insulation batts. You cant avoid everything up there, but just try your best. The effect, exhibited often in the form of directional SWR issues and RFI is a combination of how big the metal is and how far away. In my case, I had to move things around due to nearby heating ducts. Good luck! Mike WB1AAT

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