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

FUNcube Frequencies and Website
by Trevor . 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination panel have announced coordinated frequencies for the linear transponder and beacon of the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite. They can be seen on the AMSAT-UK website at: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ The FUNcube website is at http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio News (Email/RSS): http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
by mlengruesser＠aol.com 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

Hi Laurent, Attention: The Moon TLE (2line) it's not usefull for the "SGP4/8 two lines format ephemerid model " (InstantTrack, SatPC32 etc. ) the format is only a compress readable parameters The moon: Giving Keplerian elements for the moon is much more difficult. The main problem is that the moon's orbital plane has a fixed inclination with reference to the ecliptic plane. The moon's orbital plane wobbles around there and turns once every 18.6 years. Seen from the earth, that gives an changing inclination of about 18 to 28 degrees. The inclination of true earth satellites, on the other hand, remains fixed and the tracking program assumes that the inclination is not changing. The only way to overcome that problem is to give sets of "Keplerian elements" every 50 to 100 days. In that period the change of the inclination is not too big and the error stays small. A second problem with "Keplerian elements" for the moon is that the moon's orbit is severely perturbed in a way a ordinary satellite tracking program cannot handle. Those perturbations come from the sun, the earth (not being a exact sphere) and from major planets. To compute those perturbations exactly, we would need several hundred corrective terms. For the accuracy needed here (1-3 degrees for the usual amateur satellite antenna), it has been sufficient to correct only for the varying eccentricity. 73, de Michael

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Cal Poly Pomona
by Clint Bradford 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

I gave an abbreviated presentation to the newly-resurrected Cal Poly Pomona ham club this afternoon. "Abbreviated" because we just had an hour, and a great pass of SO-50 right over us (85 degrees!). Glen Shiery, AF6V, is doing great work exposing the kids to different facets of amateur radio. They have a dedicated room for their shack, and it will probably be up and running again by the Summer. It felt great speaking to a "younger" crowd. We need more youth in this magnificent hobby! Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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XE2/WD9EWK on Sunday (21 Feb) afternoon, trip wrap-up
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Hi! Sunday afternoon was not planned to have much radio activity. There was going to be a get-together at a ham's house in Mexicali, before I left that area for the 3.5-hour drive home later in the day. I saw a pair of passes - AO-27 first, then SO-50 - to the east that I wanted to try to wrap up my radio operating for this trip. I took my FM satellite setup - IC-2820H, Elk Antennas 2m/70cm log periodic - across the border one more time. The get-together was at the house of David XE2DAK, southeast of downtown Mexicali in grid DM22go just over 3 miles/5km south of the USA/Mexico border. This neighborhood is tightly packed with houses, but with a decent view of the eastern sky. I had the pass predictions for the two passes, and was ready for the AO-27 pass at 2025 UTC. It seemed fitting that my first QSO was with another Mexican station, Manuel XE2BHL west of me in Tijuana. After that, 7 more QSOs were made in what sometimes becomes the busiest 7 minutes on the radio (it *definitely* was on Thursday afternoon's 2025 UTC pass!). About 40 minutes or so later, SO-50 came up from the south. With XE2DAK's house blocking the south, I had to wait a couple of minutes for the satellite to clear the house. Once that happened, 7 QSOs were made with stations across much of the USA. Two of the QSOs were interesting... I worked Larry KI6YAA, who was only a few blocks north of the USA/Mexico border. Larry gave me a QSL card for that contact after I crossed back into the USA - so I now have grid DM22 confirmed on my way toward an XE2 satellite VUCC. The other QSO was with a station in my home city Phoenix - K7NYS. After SO-50 went away, it was time for some great Mexican "carne asada" and enjoy the afternoon with friends before crossing the border and driving home. I was able to see the XE2DAK shack and the gear David has been using to work the FM satellites. For a small station, it was impressive. You can follow links with photos of XE2DAK's station from his QRZ.com entry. For this weekend, I made 93 QSOs from Mexico between Thursday afternoon's activity south of Mexicali and Sunday's QSOs from Mexicali. I made 42 QSOs at the Yuma hamfest, and Kevin KJ6DDS made 7 QSOs on a couple of passes Saturday afternoon. When I returned home last night, I saw that my truck had traveled 868.3 miles/1397km for this trip. Thanks to everyone who helped make the hamfest demonstrations a runaway success. Stations that were giving a brief description of their location, even if it was just the state, helped make a positive impression on the audiences. Thursday showed that there was a lot of interest in grid DM21, and that it might be worth a return trip there before my current XE ham permit expires. Or maybe some of the locals will make the trek south and put it on the air. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

In a message dated 2/22/2010 10:50:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, john(a)papays.com writes: > There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording The callsign I didn't see listed John sounded like that of a young op attempting to make a sat contact. The callsign sounded something like KJ4NVA or KJ4MGA. I sure would have liked to have seen him or her make a sat contact. Hopefully he or she will be back for another try and not be QRMed. - - - Many thanks for posting the excellent audio recording John. Much appreciated. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- Sat VUCC #125

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HO-68 and FO-29 common uplink
by Andrew Glasbrenner 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

There was a fair amount of confusion as the two satellites passed each other over the US tonight. It might be good practice to mention which satellite you are listening to while calling CQ, etc. 73, Drew KO4MA

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AMSAT at Charlotte NC hamfest?
by Philip Jenkins 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Are there any plans for an AMSAT booth/table at the Charlotte hamfest, March 13-14? Philip N4HF

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Re: AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by John Papay 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

As some of you discovered, the link to the recording was not working. Sorry for the inconvenience. It should work properly now. 73, John K8YSE At 10:20 AM 2/22/2010, Angelo Glorioso wrote: >Link is bad! > > >----- Original Message ----- From: "John Papay" <john(a)papays.com> >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:50 AM >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording > > >>A recording of the AO-51 pass on 20Feb2010 at 2259z is on my >>webserver: >> >> http://www.papays.com/AO-51_20Feb2010_225938z.mp3 >> >>This was a very busy pass with ND9M/p in EL07/EL08 and WD9EWK/p in DM22 >>at the Yuma Hamfest. Many of you are not full duplex and don't know what you >>sound like on the bird so here's your chance to hear yourself. >> >>There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording including: >> >>N5AFV, KD4N0Q, WA4HFN, N8RO, WA5KBH, KP4WK, KF4OTG, N5UXT, KB0RZD, >>ND9M/P, K4YYL, K7NN, KB0RZE, KB8ZGL, N1XED, KJ4PSU, VA3BL, N8MH, >>?4NDA/HH, KD8CAO, N2BX, WD9EWK/P KZ4WAT, KB9AVO, KD0HKR, WB1AAT, >>N0JE, ?OF, ?QYH, VE7CNA, KE7DOV. K8YSE >> >>KE7DOV appeared at the end of the pass operating portable from CN76 a rare >>coastal grid. >> >>Although there was a lot of instances of several stations >>transmitting at the same time, overall the number of successful qso's >>was good. It is rare when more than 30 stations are heard on a >>single pass of AO-51. It was a 32 degree elevation, 13 minute >>horizon to horizon pass for me. >> >>AO-51 is a great bird. Those who had a hand in designing and >>building this satellite can be very proud of their accomplishment. >> >>73, >>John K8YSE EN91dh >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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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TekSharp dish ants?
by Scott Townley 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Back again after a short absence... Wanting to get an L/S system going again. Ideally using a mesh dish like the 1.2m or 1.8m that TekSharp shows on their webpage...but it would appear that they are no longer in existence. Any suggestions or leads? I'm thinking, I'd go dish for S because of RX noise, so might as well throw in L while I'm at it. Especially since there don't appear to be any L crossed yagis out there. Scott Townley NX7U Gilbert, AZ DM43di mailto:[email protected] http://members.cox.net/nx7u

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missed you
by Gkcarr 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

I missed you as I came down with an upper resiratyory infection. Real bad cough, fever, aches etc. And wore out. tnx fer thinking of me. 73 George WA5KBH

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Need help for RARSFest in Raleigh, NC Sat. April 3
by Mark L. Hammond 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Hello All, Yes, it will be held on Easter weekend...but the event is on a Saturday :) I will be hosting an AMSAT table at the RARSFest in Raleigh, NC on April 3. Would really appreciate some help. Demonstrations are possible, but this depends on how much help you all provide. It's a nice hamfest, and the RARS club is always very hospitable to an AMSAT table and workers. http://rars.org/hamfest/ If you can commit to helping me on April 3, please contact me directly off-list n8mh AT amsat dot org Thanks! -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Suggestions for non-penetrating roof tower?
by Ryan Caron 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

I'm looking for something similar to, but more economical than, a GlenMartin RT-1832 tower & non-penetrating base. It doesn't have to be quite that tall, but I'm looking for at least 11ft so their 9ft model won't do. Suggestions? 73, KB1LKI AMSAT #37207

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AO-51 V/S
by graham mcphee 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Could I have an indication when AO-51 will change to V/S mode please Graham VK2AYE

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AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by John Papay 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

A recording of the AO-51 pass on 20Feb2010 at 2259z is on my webserver: http://www.papays.com/AO-51_20Feb2010_225938z.mp3 This was a very busy pass with ND9M/p in EL07/EL08 and WD9EWK/p in DM22 at the Yuma Hamfest. Many of you are not full duplex and don't know what you sound like on the bird so here's your chance to hear yourself. There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording including: N5AFV, KD4N0Q, WA4HFN, N8RO, WA5KBH, KP4WK, KF4OTG, N5UXT, KB0RZD, ND9M/P, K4YYL, K7NN, KB0RZE, KB8ZGL, N1XED, KJ4PSU, VA3BL, N8MH, ?4NDA/HH, KD8CAO, N2BX, WD9EWK/P KZ4WAT, KB9AVO, KD0HKR, WB1AAT, N0JE, ?OF, ?QYH, VE7CNA, KE7DOV. K8YSE KE7DOV appeared at the end of the pass operating portable from CN76 a rare coastal grid. Although there was a lot of instances of several stations transmitting at the same time, overall the number of successful qso's was good. It is rare when more than 30 stations are heard on a single pass of AO-51. It was a 32 degree elevation, 13 minute horizon to horizon pass for me. AO-51 is a great bird. Those who had a hand in designing and building this satellite can be very proud of their accomplishment. 73, John K8YSE EN91dh

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Have a TS-2000 and wonder if the Flex or a Icom-9100 would be the next best step for satellite work.
by Jack KZ4USA 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Jack KZ4USA Bradenton, Florida

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ND9M Road Trip Update #13
by claryco＠aol.com 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

We wound up having to stay put for the day. We needed to buy auto insurance for driving in Mexico, but every sales office was closed for the day. With the unexpected time available, I took advantage of the deferred AO51 mode change and operated from the EL15/EL16 during the late afternoon pass. My thanks go to the AO51 Ops Team for the heads up that the switch would be delayed by a day. I'll do the EL15/EL16 line again on Tuesday (vice Monday). It'll be from a different spot on the grid line though; the place I set up today was a mosquito fiesta. I couldn't keep the Arrow antenna aimed at the satellite because I was swatting so many bugs! (If you're old enough to remember the "Off" commercial from the 60s with the actor's arm inside the mosquito tank, you can appreciate what I found.) 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Brownsville, TX / EL15

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k4bix/h - em55??
by Michae J. Wolthuis 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Just worked a station close to the above callsign, but I must have miss typed it. Anyone else copy and can tell me what I got wrong in the call? Not on qrz. Thanks, Drew glad I was able to get yah from GA! Mike Kb8zgl

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KO4MA and Pile Up
by Angelo Glorioso 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Drew, It was awesome the way you handled the pile up. Answering multiple callsign at the same time. You have my vote for the next Satellite DX Expedition. HI HI :-) 73 de Angelo

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Re: Patrick at Yuma
by Clint Bradford 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Great work, Patrick! That's two great "smaller" ham fests in a month. The Palm Springs Desert RATS put on a great one-day show a couple weekends ago, and then your Yuma experience. Organizers of the "big" three-day affairs are watching and listening .... Clint, K6LCS

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Convert grid to County?
by Michae J. Wolthuis 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

I have worked a lot of portable/handheld stations lately and have a hard time determining their county based on grid. Is there an online convert tool to go from grid to county? Thanks, Mike Kb8zgl

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AO7 DX LOOKING USA
by paul robinson 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

WILL BE QRV .950 LATER ON AO7 LOOKING USA -PAUL 2E1EUB

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Satellite gear sold
by Don Blachura 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Hello group, The antennas and pre-amps have been sold locally as one setup. Thanks Don....w2xb

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Saturday @ Yuma (AZ) hamfest...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Hi! After an overnight rain shower that stopped just after sunrise, this was a great day for the Yuma Hamfest. Skies that cleared as the day progressed, and more people came in from all over. And there were also more people helping with the AMSAT table today. This was a good way to wrap up the 2010 version of this event. The amount of foot traffic in the main exhibit/vendor hall was well beyond anything from last year. Icom, Yaesu, and the Ham Radio Outlet store from San Diego had booths in the hall. The hamfest took advantage of this large facility - outside the main hall, there were two areas for non-commercial sellers to set up, licensing exams in another part of the facility, and did I mention all the people? I don't have any data from the hamfest on this year's attendance, but it appeared to be a better event in terms of attendance than in 2009. For the satellite demonstrations, by midday today people were asking "When will the next demonstration take place?" or "Is the 'satellite guy' outside ready for a demonstration?". Some of the demonstrations were watched by as many as 30 people, something I rarely see even at hamfests in larger Arizona cities like Phoenix or Tucson! I missed the eastern VO-52 pass just after 1600 UTC, an hour after the hamfest opened. I apologize to anyone who may have been waiting to hear me on that pass. I wanted to get on there, since VO-52 would be the only non-FM satellite I would use for demonstrations. The western VO-52 pass came by around 1740 UTC. As it moved by, I was able to make contacts with 4 stations: AA5PK in west Texas, W0XG in Minnesota, W7JPI in southeastern Arizona, and W6ZKH in California. Lots of questions followed this pass about SSB satellite operation, and especially differences between working these satellites with computer control compared to manual control. I do not use a computer to control anything when working SSB/CW satellites; two FT-817NDs and my adjustments of the VFOs has gotten better with practice for almost 18 months now. Once VO-52 went away, I had almost 2 hours until the next pass. On Thursday, I offered to let Kevin KJ6DDS - a relatively new ham, and new satellite operator - the chance to work my station during the demonstrations. Kevin accepted my offer. This allowed another voice to be heard on the air during the demonstrations, and provided a great learning opportunity for Kevin to get more familiar with the birds. On the SO-50 pass around 2048 UTC, Kevin logged 4 QSOs. Three more followed on AO-27 a few minutes later. Kevin even worked Jim ND9M on the SO-50 pass while Jim stopped on the EL08/EL09 line near San Antonio. New grids for Kevin's log and toward a satellite VUCC award, since Yuma is well within the 200km distance limitation for QTHs used for contacts toward a VUCC award based on his home address in Calexico CA. Kevin's father Larry KI6YAA, using his own portable FM satellite station about 25 yards/meters away from my station, was able to work ND9M at that same EL08/EL09 boundary line on the AO-27 pass. It would be an understatement to say that both of them were happy with getting the new grids from ND9M while doing this at a hamfest demonstration. By the time the next SO-50 and AO-27 passes were coming by starting at 2230 UTC, Kevin went off and participated in a hidden-transmitter hunt on the hamfest grounds. While he proceeded to be the first ham to find that hidden 2m transmitter, I worked these passes. I logged 7 contacts on the SO-50 pass at 2229 UTC, followed by 2 QSOs on the AO-27 pass a few minutes later. There was a shallow AO-51 pass at 2300 UTC, and that brought 5 more contacts to wrap up the on-air demonstrations for this hamfest. Inside the hall, I had lots of help manning the AMSAT table. Along with KI6YAA and KJ6DDS, a few Mexican hams helped out. Thanks to Alex XE2BSS/N2IX, Eliseo XE2TPJ, and Antonio XE2SIV. All of them have been on the satellites, and helped make the day more fun. More hams from northwestern Mexico made their way to this hamfest, and it seemed like they spent some of their time talking with all of us at the AMSAT table. Even before the 2010 Yuma Hamfest came to a close at 5pm (0000 UTC) this afternoon, I was already approached by the organizers about making a return trip for their 2011 event. I will certainly do that. This hamfest is growing, with more people and vendors coming out, and Yuma's location being not too far away from the major cities in Arizona and southern California is starting to convince hams in those places to make the trip. Thanks to Richard KC2LGR and the Yuma Amateur Radio Hamfest Organization for allowing AMSAT to be a part of this event. And, of course, thanks to all the stations making contacts with WD9EWK and KJ6DDS during the demonstrations. One more thing... for anyone who worked WD9EWK during the hamfest demonstrations in the past two days, I will be happy to confirm those QSOs without needing to receive your QSL card(s) first. Please e-mail me the QSO details. If you're in the log, you will get a card. For the QSOs made by KJ6DDS Saturday afternoon, please check QRZ.com for his address and send those QSL requests directly to him. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Elk antenna as carry on luggage?
by Mark L. Hammond 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Anybody know for sure if an Elk antenna is an acceptable carry on luggage item? Disassembled, and rolled up in a bag, for example. Or am I going to have to check it in? 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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ND9M Road Trip Update #12
by claryco＠aol.com 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

I expect to be on from the EL08 / EL09 line during three afternoon passes today: two AO27 passes (VOX at 20/1927Z and 2108Z) and one pass over SO50 which rises in my area at 2047Z. AO51 rises locally at 20/2258Z at which time I should be in EL07. The next pass will be at 21/0037Z; we should be in EL06 for that one. Cori and I will get to Brownsville this evening and goof off tomorrow. I'll be on the El15/EL16 line for the afternoon AO27 and SO50 passes on Monday. AO51 makes its switch to V/S mode tomorrow evening, so ops for the week following will be primarily on the AO27 and SO50 birds. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Eagle Pass, TX / DL98

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