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

Feedback on Netbooks with Satellite Software
by Rick - WA4NVM 14 Feb '10

14 Feb '10

Hi all on the BB, I am planning to buy a Netbook computer for my trip overseas next month. I am looking for feedback on any problems running satellite programs (Orbitron, SatPC32, etc.) with a netbook pc that has the Windows 7 Starter operating system. Also any information using different Atom Processor's (N270, N280, N450,etc.) I would rather be down level with XP and a 32 bit machine if anyone has had major problems with the 64 bit (N450) and/or Windows 7. Thanks for any information, Rick WA4NVM

2 1

No Hawaii stations on HO-68 pass
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 14 Feb '10

14 Feb '10

No Hawaii stations were heard on the 1950 utc 2/14/10 pass of HO-68 FM ... VE4AMU, KL7XJ and myself were the only 3 trying to drag them away from the beach. John W6ZKH

1 0

FW: ANS-045 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 14 Feb '10

14 Feb '10

-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lee McLamb Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 8:22 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-045 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-045 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. This is your chance to join in the ranks of AMSAT. There is still an opening or two for someone to step in and assist with the ANS editing process. If you are interested, please drop a line to Joanne Maenpa, K9JKM(a)amsat.org. There are many other volunteer slots and you can find them in the advertisement in the AMSAT Journal. It takes many helpful hands to keep our group well oiled. (ed.) Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference * LORAN C Shutdown * HO-68 Schedule * Arecibo Dish to be Activated on Amateur Radio EME * W6ZH, Silent Key * ARISS Status - 8 February 2010 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.01 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.01 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference The 36th Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference will be on April 16-18, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Enfield, CT. The NorthEast Weak Signal Group (NEWS) is calling for the submission of papers and presentations. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and opera- tional aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. We will have a Hospitality Suite for early arrivals on Friday Evening starting at 7:00PM to 11:00 PM. Conference registration will begin on Saturday at 7:30 AM and talks and band sessions will start at 8:30 AM. A banquet dinner, Triva quiz and prize raffles will begin at 7:00 PM. On Sunday an outdoor flea market, weather permitting, will begin at 8:00 to 11:00 AM. Starting this year flea market admission will be FREE for both buyers and sellers of VHF and above relate equipment items only. Compliments of Greg WA1VUG and R&S we will have the following test capa- bilities up to 50 GHz. Registration is now open for this years conference. A block of Hotel Rooms is available at the Crowne Plaza, Enfield under the NEWS group for $99. The latest conference news can be found on-line at: http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html [ANS thanks Bruce, N2LIV Conference Chairman for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.02 LORAN C Shut Down AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.02 LORAN-C shut down On February 8 the U.S Coast Guard shut down the Loran-C a navigation system that has been in use since World War II. LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) made use of a network of Low Frequency (LF) radio transmitters and the receivers used these multiple signals to determine the location and speed of the vessel. It has served mariners and aviators well for over 60 years. President Obama has called the system obsolete, saying it is no longer needed in an age in which Global Positioning System devices are nearly ubiquitous in cars, planes and boats. Running Loran-C is claimed to cost the Federal Government about $38 million a year but shutting it down means there is no longer a back-up system for GPS. [ANS thanks Southgate news service for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.03 HO-68 Schedule AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.03 14 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 01:37...Turn On FM/Digital Transponder North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:52...Turn Off 08:40...Turn On Europe,Africa 09:20...Turn Off 19:15...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:00...Turn Off 15 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 00:25...Turn On South America, NA 01:05...Turn Off 03:03...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:18...Turn Off 06:10...Turn On NA,North Asia,Middle East,Europe,Africa 06:55...Turn Off 15:25...Turn On Middle Asia,India,Europe,NA 16:10...Turn Off 18:45...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:30...Turn Off 16 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:55...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:35...Turn Off 11:00...Turn On Oceania,South Asia, East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:40...Turn Off 15:25...Turn On NA,South America 15:55...Turn Off 16:50...Turn On India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:35...Turn Off 20:15...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 21:00...Turn Off 17 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 02:24...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:39...Turn Off 10:45...Turn On Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:30...Turn Off 15:10...Turn On Europe,NA,South America 15:40...Turn Off 18:30...Turn On India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 19:15...Turn Off 20:10...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:55...Turn Off 18 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 02:17...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:32...Turn Off 03:10...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:55...Turn Off 10:25...Turn On Oceania, South Asia, East Asia, North Asia,Europe 11:10...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On India,Middle East Asia,Europe,NA, 17:00...Turn Off 19:40...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA, 20:25...Turn Off 19 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:54...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:10...Turn Off 02:50...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:35...Turn Off 14:35...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia,Europe 15:05...Turn Off 19:35...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:20...Turn Off 23:20...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia,East Asia 24:05...Turn Off 20:00...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA,North Asia 20:45...Turn Off 20 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:34...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:49...Turn Off 02:35...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:20...Turn Off 08:45...Turn On North Asia, Europe,Africa 09:25...Turn Off 19:05...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:50...Turn Off 21 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:27...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:41...Turn Off 02:20...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:00...Turn Off 08:30...Turn On North Asia,Europe,Africa 09:10...Turn Off 11:25...Turn On Oceania 11:40...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn [ANS thanks Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.04 Arecibo Dish to be Activated on Amateur Radio EME AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.04 Arecibo Dish to be Activated on Amateur Radio EME While this item is not satellite related it may provide our ANS readers with a unique opportunity to utilize modest UHF and 1296 stations to copy EME signals. A large OSCAR-class antenna array equipped station may be able to participate. Echoes of Apollo EME 2010 or World Moon Bounce Day, is scheduled for the weekend of April 16, 17, and 18. This year, EOA has been graced with a special opportunity to use the Arecibo Dish as the ultimate "big gun" station on 432 MHz SSB & CW. EME operation on 1296 MHz may also be possible. Arecibo has more than 50 dbi gain on 432 MHz so the team thinks it can be heard with modest equip- ment. [ANS thanks the Echoes of Apollo project for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.05 W6ZH, Silent Key AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.05 It is with much sadness that AMSAT notes the passing on Feb.4 of Herbert "Pete" Hoover III, W6ZH at his home in San Marino, CA. Pete was the grandson of former President Herbert Hoover. Pete's W6ZH call was inherited from his father who served as ARRL President; Pete's original call was W6APW. He was AMSAT Life Member #65. In the 1970's, Pete and Bill Eitel (W6UF) saw that AMSAT and amateur satellites were a significant wave of amateur radio's future. In addition to making substantial contributions, they worked with the ARRL to form the ARRL Foundation in 1976. Beginning in 1978 Pete served on the ARRL Long Range Planning Committee. I remember the hospitality Pete and his wife Meridith showed to Jan King (W3GET) and me on several occasions when we dropped by his home in San Marino to discuss AMSAT's future. Pete was always very active in the American Red Cross. When the Pacsat concept was being developed, Harold Price (NK6K) and I called on Pete at the Hoover Foundation offices to discuss the concept of a store-and-forward messaging satellite to provide medical communications to a remote area. At Pete's instigation, we began working with VITA (Volunteers in Technical Assistance) and our Pacsat concept bore fruit when UoSAT-3 was re-badged as Healthsat-1 (see http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/healthsat-2.htm). I last saw Pete at Dayton two years ago. I was in the chow line when I heard a "Hey Tom" from a nearby table. Pete was spending most of his time at his retirement home on Maui and he looked very fit and had an incredible tan! While I was munching on a hamburger we has a great face-to-face QSO. He told me that he was still on the air, now using an Elecraft radio. I'll miss Pete's enthusiasm and friendship. I could always count on his thoughtful advice. 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI) [ANS thanks Tom, K3IO, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-045.06 ARISS Status - 8 February 2010 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 045.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 14, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-045.06 1. Astronaut T. J. Creamer Enjoys ARISS Contact with Riley Ave. Students On Tuesday, February 2, astronaut Timothy Creamer, KC5WKI spoke with Riley Avenue Elementary School students through an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The Calverton, New York youth spent weeks preparing for the contact, studying space and the solar system during Science and creating rockets and robots in Art class. The Peconic Amateur Radio Club helped coordinate the contact and provided the equipment used. A Riley fourth grader and newly licensed ham acted as the control operator during the contact. 2. Principal has Good Memories of First ARISS Contact The first Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Bill Shepherd on the ISS and students attending Burbank School in Burbank, Illinois on December 21, 2000. Recently Burbank's principal made the comment, "I continue to feel that the contact and the follow-up visit were by far my best experiences as an educator," which says much about the program and its effect on those who participate. The school continues to display a plaque commemorating the ARISS event in its lobby. 3. ISS Ham Debrief Held with Frank De Winne Expedition 20/21 astronaut Frank DeWinne, ON1DWN participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) debrief session on Thursday, February 4, 2010. The feedback provided will help ARISS update program operations. 4. ARISSat-1 Status Report Posted AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) posted an article on the status of ARISSat-1. To view "Building the First US ARISSAT-1 Flight Unit Begins," see: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

1 0

SK: Herbert "Pete" Hoover III, W6ZH
by Tom Clark, K3IO 14 Feb '10

14 Feb '10

It is with much sadness that AMSAT notes the passing on Feb.4 of Herbert "Pete" Hoover III, W6ZH at his home in San Marino, CA. Pete was the grandson of former President Herbert Hoover. Pete's W6ZH call was inherited from his father who served as ARRL President; Pete's original call was W6APW. He was AMSAT Life Member #65. In the 1970's, Pete and Bill Eitel (W6UF) saw that AMSAT and amateur satellites were a significant wave of amateur radio's future. In addition to making substantial contributions, they worked with the ARRL to form the ARRL Foundation in 1976. Beginning in 1978 Pete served on the ARRL Long Range Planning Committee. I remember the hospitality Pete and his wife Meridith showed to Jan King (W3GET) and me on several occasions when we dropped by his home in San Marino to discuss AMSAT's future. Pete was always very active in the American Red Cross. When the Pacsat concept was being developed, Harold Price (NK6K) and I called on Pete at the Hoover Foundation offices to discuss the concept of a store-and-forward messaging satellite to provide medical communications to a remote area. At Pete's instigation, we began working with VITA (Volunteers in Technical Assistance) and our Pacsat concept bore fruit when UoSAT-3 was re-badged as Healthsat-1 (see http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/healthsat-2.htm). I last saw Pete at Dayton two years ago. I was in the chow line when I heard a "Hey Tom" from a nearby table. Pete was spending most of his time at his retirement home on Maui and he looked very fit and had an incredible tan! While I was munching on a hamburger we has a great face-to-face QSO. He told me that he was still on the air, now using an Elecraft radio. I'll miss Pete's enthusiasm and friendship. I could always count on his thoughtful advice. 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI Additional details on Pete can be found on the ARRL web site at http://www.arrl.org/?artid=9426 and in this week's ARRL newsletter (http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2010-02-11).

3 2

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

13 Feb '10

We had to make the choice between driving 110 miles in 90 minutes through the west Texas mountains to get to DL79 or cut our losses and just get to DM70. It was tempting, but we opted to only do DM70 and back-burner DL79 until after we leave Big Bend which will probably be on Wednesday. We'll be camping in DL88, but it meets up with DL89 less than a mile away, so I'll be on from the line at various times from tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) through Tuesday. I won't be on from the line every pass, but there'll be plenty of opportunities to get both grids over the next few days, including on the linear birds. For any 6M ops, I'll have the FT897D fired up and will be checking for band openings in between sat passes. If there are any trees of any height, I might put up a 40M dipole and keep an ear open on 7182 kc (+/-). Meanwhile, we'll be out of cell and internet service while at Big Bend. 73 for now, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Fort Stockton, TX / DM80

1 0

Wisp Keying MixW direct via virtual connector
by Nader Omer 13 Feb '10

13 Feb '10

I was trying to work with a pair of virtual ports to connect Wisp and Mixw! The com pair failed to connect these software!!! I found the virtual connector device at Virtual Serial port Emulator program (VSPE) can do this task nicely . Wisp send packet to MixW and Mixw send it to soundcard and keying the Rig via existing port. So the Tx line is working well between Wisp--> MixW--> Soundcard--> Rig The next step is to test the Rx line between Rig--> Soundcard--> MixW--> Wisp. So with out Hardware TNC could it works?!! May I should waiting for a bird ! Link for movie and photos. http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2010/02/wisp-keying-mixw-direct-via-virtu… 73's- Nader

1 0

CHASQUI-1
by andy thomas 13 Feb '10

13 Feb '10

Fw: I forgot to title this CHASQUI-1, sorry --- On Sat, 13/2/10, andy thomas <andythomasmail(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > From: andy thomas <andythomasmail(a)yahoo.co.uk> > Subject: > To: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Cc: "john heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com>, daniel.brandt(a)star.le.ac.uk > Date: Saturday, 13 February, 2010, 17:16 > I came upon an interesting comment > about batteries at the web blog of Cosmonaut Maxim Suarev > which is in English at Russia Today: > > http://rt.com/About_Us/Blogs/orbital-log/2010-02-09.html > > The blog was from someone working on a Peruvian cubesat > called CHASQUI-1. The specific question is: > > "Lizeth Bodero > 10 February, 2010, 14:24 > > hi!! I'm a science student and here in my University we are > building a nanosatellite named "Chasqui". We hope to launch > it this year but there's a problem with the batteries since > we wanted to use lithium polymer batteries and we don't know > if those are allowed by the Russian Federal Spacial Agency. > Do you have any suggestion about that? thank you so much > " > > Someone on the group might have the answer? Looks like they > have already identified a launch vehicle... > > There are wiki entries and a web page for CHASQUI-1, > although the onboard comms system isn't described here is a > description of the ground station: > > http://www.chasqui.uni.edu.pe/html/eng/ground-station.html > > Frequency bands: VHF (144 - 146 MHz.) and UHF (435 - 438 > MHz.) > Operating Mode: Half duplex > Transmitting power: 50 W. > Modulation: AFSK > Link Speed Downlink: 1200 bps. and 9600 bps. > Link speed increase: Between 1200 bps. and 9600 bps. > > 73 de andy g0sfj > > > >

1 0

(no subject)
by andy thomas 13 Feb '10

13 Feb '10

I came upon an interesting comment about batteries at the web blog of Cosmonaut Maxim Suarev which is in English at Russia Today: http://rt.com/About_Us/Blogs/orbital-log/2010-02-09.html The blog was from someone working on a Peruvian cubesat called CHASQUI-1. The specific question is: "Lizeth Bodero 10 February, 2010, 14:24 hi!! I'm a science student and here in my University we are building a nanosatellite named "Chasqui". We hope to launch it this year but there's a problem with the batteries since we wanted to use lithium polymer batteries and we don't know if those are allowed by the Russian Federal Spacial Agency. Do you have any suggestion about that? thank you so much " Someone on the group might have the answer? Looks like they have already identified a launch vehicle... There are wiki entries and a web page for CHASQUI-1, although the onboard comms system isn't described here is a description of the ground station: http://www.chasqui.uni.edu.pe/html/eng/ground-station.html Frequency bands: VHF (144 - 146 MHz.) and UHF (435 - 438 MHz.) Operating Mode: Half duplex Transmitting power: 50 W. Modulation: AFSK Link Speed Downlink: 1200 bps. and 9600 bps. Link speed increase: Between 1200 bps. and 9600 bps. 73 de andy g0sfj

1 0

Endeavour STS-130 Keps
by I6KZR 13 Feb '10

13 Feb '10

STS-130 1 36394U 10004A 10039.41667712 .00283964 11884-4 12265-3 0 18 2 36394 51.6327 172.0177 0022956 326.6494 236.7658 16.21297912 01 73, Renzo, I6KZR http://www.i6kzr.it

2 1

Albuquerque NM APRS Rocket Launch?
by Robert Bruninga 12 Feb '10

12 Feb '10

Do we have an APRS team in New Mexico? Or an AMSAT group? Interested in participating in a high-altitude APRS rocket Launch? I have a launch opportunity to above 60 miles. With a two month fuze. If we can form a team to build and integrate it. Total mission duration would be on the order of 10 minute flight? But one heck of an opportunity. If we can get the bodies together. Funding is covered.... Bob, WB4APR

1 0

UX-14
by Jim 12 Feb '10

12 Feb '10

Has any one put a UX-14 in a Icom IC-471. On the logic board there are 3 open sockets 2 8pin and 1 9 Pin. The UX14 board had 2 pigtails one 8 pin and one 9 pin Help 73 Jim K7UDG

1 0

ND9M Road Trip Update #9
by claryco＠aol.com 12 Feb '10

12 Feb '10

We were supposed to leave for DL88 today, but my XYL, Cori, over-exerted herself yesterday and needs to mend today. She'll be raring to go tomorrow. Cori's driven all but about 30 of the nearly 5000 miles we've racked up on this trip. We're only about half way, so she deserves a day to kick back. My apologies to those expecting to pick up the new ones in the Texas panhandle today. On the brighter side, this actually helps our operating sked as today's AO27, SO50, and AO51 passes allowed very little margin for delays of any kind if we expected to operate from the DM71/DM81 line as well as DL79/DM70 with any decent footprint coverage. All that said, I might be on for the AO27 pass that rises at 13/1923Z, but I'm figuring on being on from DM71/DM81 on that bird's next pass at 13/2101Z. After that, we should be in DM80 by the time SO50 shows up at 14/2224Z. AO51's AOS here immediately follows SO50's LOS, so although AO51 will be at a fairly low elevation here (13 degrees), I'll hit that one too. Then, an hour later, we should be sitting on the DL79/DM70 line for another SO50/AO51 tandem pass. >From there, we'll overnight in Alpine, TX (DM80) and should arrive at Big Bend Nat'l Park (DL88) on sunday where we'll camp for two or three days. Our campsite in DL88 is just a mile from the DL89 line, so while we're there, I'll operate from that line at various times during our stay. Once we leave Big Bend, I'll be on from DM80, DM90, and several others in south TX as we drive to Brownsville, TX, in EL15; that sked will be posted later. By the way, I should be on from the DM72/DM82 line later today after all. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Carlsbad, NM / DM72

1 0

K4T Dxpedition status ???
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

Hi guys someone know the status of the K4T Dxpedtion to EL84 ?? They will be from 11-14 Feb.... Many thanks for advance Al XE2AT _________________________________________________________________ Enciende tu hotness con Hotmail www.hotmailhotness.com.mx

2 1

Orlando Hamcation Table & Demos (N4EH)
by John Papay 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

There will be an AMSAT table at the Orlando Hamcation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12, 13 and 14 February. Everyone interested in satellites is welcome to stop by. We plan to have demo stations active both on FM and SSB. HO-68 will be on for the 1642z pass on 12Feb as well as the 1436z and 1624z passes on Saturday 13Feb. HO-68 will be in the linear mode. The callsign N4EH will be used. Please help demo satellites by making a contact with us. Mention your city and state so those listening will get an idea of what distance can be covered. 73, John K8YSE/4 Doug KD8CAO/4

1 0

Solar Dynamics Observatory Successfully Launched
by B J 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/sdo-launch.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

1 0

ND9M Road Trip Update #8
by claryco＠aol.com 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

Today is scheduled as a day off for us while we do tourist stuff locally. But depending on available time later in the afternoon, I may run back out to the DM72 / DM82 line for either or both of the SO50 and AO51 passes; SO50 rises here at 11/2307Z and AO51 pops up at 11/2357Z. We'll head out tomorrow (Friday) and expect to be at the DM71 / DM81 line for the AO27 passes that rise at 12/1950Z (east) and 12/2130Z (west). The ambitious part will be getting to the DL79 / DM70 line for the AO51 pass at 12/2316Z which is quickly followed a few minutes later by SO50. Road conditions permitting, we'll get to the line; otherwise, we'll stop in either DM80 or DM70 for the back-to-back passes. If the latter is what evolves, we'll stop in DL79 or on the DL79 / DM70 line for the AO51 pass at 13/0055Z. But it's only a 20-degree pass for that area, so it won't be all that productive. We need to get down to Big Bend (DL88) the next day, so we'll figure out when we can come back to DL79 to give those who need that grid a reasonable shot at getting it. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Carlsbad, NM / DM72

1 0

Re: Soft66 board, etc.- other options, and the STS-130 Launch
by Steven Bienvenu 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

I must agree with Johnathan that surface mount is not tough at all with reasonable components...and to recommend considering the SoftRock SDR boards for an IF receiver/display. I've no experience or info concerning the Soft66 boards. I'd had essentially no experience with surface mount before I ordered a SoftRock kit for 10.7 IF (was $12 then, now maybe 15 or so). So I bought a surface mount practice kit for 7 bucks, which came with a number of different kinds of surface mount components one might need to solder to a board, as well as a small working flasher circuit. Turns out, with some bent tweezers, flux in a tube, small solder and small soldering iron tip (mine was already small enough)-all fairly cheap on the net, it was absolutely no sweat, even fun, and maybe actually easier than through-hole stuff. I used magnifier lenses that fit on my bifocals, and an old, cheap magnifier lens/light combo at times, and had a great time. It's easier, in that one need never strip wire, trim leads, or turn the board over to solder the other side-nice. Then I tried the SoftRock board, and had zero problems. A cheap plastic 30x handheld microscope is good for checking questionable joints and connections. I wish someone had told me all this years ago... I turned 60 years old last week, and I shake like everyone else; rest your hand or hands on something and go to it. I'd recommend getting one of these practice boards, then decide (available from sources like Ramsey kits, etc.). The SoftRock worked well, was easy to build, and now provides me with a 96 kHz panadapter display with my old R7000 receiver, and various free software. I use mine to monitor the 10 meter beacon band, and it has provided a great deal of interesting insight into 10 meter propagation, since one can "see" essentially the entire domestic beacon band at once. With a better soundcard, it will provide a 192 KHz display; transponder downlinks await... This is not a project however small, for first-time builders, but excellent instructions are available on the net for it, the board is only 2 1/2 inches by 1 inch or less in size, and only some of the parts are surface mount. The fellow who sells these kits offers them intermittently, and the IF board is actually just a few parts different item from his 40 meter receiver board. I'd be interested in hearing about the SDR66. 'Just my experience. The other experience was watching the Shuttle launch from the Nasa Causeway on Monday morning...it was absolutely awesome, exceeded my expectations, and was well-worth traveling from Louisiana with my family to witness. The amount of light produced by the boosters was just incredible, and seemed to illuminate the entire sky, clouds and earth. The SDO launched this morning...delayed by the shuttle delay, then winds....almost got to see two launches, but I'll never complain! 73, Steve W5ZA Shreveport, La.

1 0

Falcon 9 Hardware Arrives At Cape Canaveral
by B J 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20100211 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com.

1 0

Re: Anybody use a Soft66ADD SDR?
by Owen B. Mehegan 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

> Message: 17 > Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:35:19 -0500 > From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Anybody use a Soft66ADD SDR? > To: Amsat - BBs <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: > <5d8cecfe1002101035x35f07d7dpc047e54cf120a4aa(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Found this today, look interesting. Prices are quite reasonable (if > not cheap). Performance is the question.. I suppose the quality of > the system sound card is a big issue. > > Anybody here own one or seen one in use? > > How about piping a 10.7 MHz IF into it for VHF/UHF? > > http://zao.jp/radio/soft66ad/ > > > -- > Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] A friend of mine just bought and assembled one. He said that the instructions were pretty poor... the parts list and schematic didn't always match up and he had to do a fair amount of head-scratching (and I think bang-head-on-desk-ing) to get it built. He was not impressed with that aspect. I haven't yet heard how well it's working as a radio. I'll ask him and let you know. -- Owen B. Mehegan (KJ6AKQ)

5 4

Wanted: Bird "43" wattmeter "slugs"
by jon 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

Thought I'd try the list first: I looking for 100-250 Mhz 100 Watt and 2-30Mhz 100 watt elements. Thanks and 73s, Jon Kenneke CBRE K7PGB

2 1

Re: A flight to near space this weekend
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 11 Feb '10

11 Feb '10

Hi Graham, Thanks for posting this information - For others this is part of " PEGASUS -HAB " project , and the planned flight has been put out on a NOTAM. Details can also be found on their web pages: _http://www.pegasushabproject.org.uk/wiki/doku.php_ (http://www.pegasushabproject.org.uk/wiki/doku.php) Cheers Ken de GW1FKY

1 0

A flight to near space this weekend
by Graham Shirville 10 Feb '10

10 Feb '10

Hi all, Check this page for details of a rare balloon flight from the UK this Saturday! http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?s=01467ce8e3c05447a2d6ee6f01c1… 73 Graham G3VZV

1 0

Re: New Lindy's QRV
by Bill Dzurilla 10 Feb '10

10 Feb '10

Ed, Congrats, it seems like you are in business if you heard the bird down to the horizon. HO-68 is louder, in some cases much louder, than most of the other sats, so check some others. If you can copy SO-50 to the horizon, then leave your antenna alone, it's working great. I measured a maximum of 20w directly at the antenna, and Elk claims a gain of 6.6 dbd on 2m, which would mean an ERP of 90 watts. I do not need full power at high elevations. 73, Bill NZ5N > From: Edward Cole <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: New Lindy's QRV > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <201002092025.o19KPAPG010369(a)huffman.acsalaska.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; > format=flowed > > One more update: > > I tried pass #744, this morning and copied a big > round-table of > several west-coast stations, but was unable to break > in. My downlink > was as loud as them, so...? I had one call to my CQ > right at LOS and > could not complete, sorry! Bear with me as I am > getting reaquainted > with running my radio on satellites ;-) My sub-VFO > tuning control is > not working which complicates netting with another > station. So I > find my signal with the Rx and then engage tracking. > That tracks for > a little while. > > The interesting thing is that I copied signals to > zero-elevation. I > would say that I am pleased with the new antennas. > > Question: what ERP are most stations using on SSB on > HO-68? I am > running 50w ERP. > > > > 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 > ======================================

1 0

HO-68 Telemetry 10-02-2010 18:45 UTC
by PE0SAT 10 Feb '10

10 Feb '10

Decoded the following CW Telemetry from HO-68 BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AUE T6T ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 ABE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 4VE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 TDE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 TBE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 T6E ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 A6E ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 4VE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 T6E ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 AEE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 AAT ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 AUT ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 A4T ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW BJ1SA XW XW AAA TTT AU4 TBE ETT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT TTT XW XW 73 Jan PE0SAT -- With regards PE0SAT Internet web-page http://www.ham.vgnet.nl/

1 0

Anybody use a Soft66ADD SDR?
by Mark L. Hammond 10 Feb '10

10 Feb '10

Found this today, look interesting. Prices are quite reasonable (if not cheap). Performance is the question.. I suppose the quality of the system sound card is a big issue. Anybody here own one or seen one in use? How about piping a 10.7 MHz IF into it for VHF/UHF? http://zao.jp/radio/soft66ad/ -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

1 0