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

Shuttle Launch
by Clint Bradford 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

In case you missed it, here's a link to a HD video of this morning's launch of the Endeavour. http://tinyurl.com/y8uhdhj The Endeavour is carrying a lot to the ISS, including the last module - Tranquility - the 21-foot-long, 14-foot-wide module that will be mounted to Unity, facing Earth. Tranquility includes an attachment called Cupola - a huge viewing port with seven windows (six on the sides, and one on top). Clint, K6LCS

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FO-29 Telemetry 08-02-2010 19:00 CEST
by PE0SAT 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Here FO-29 Telemtry I received 08-02-2010 19:00 CEST HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 7A 65 9C 9C F0 8C 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 4D 65 9C 9C F0 42 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 3C 66 9C 9C ED 7A 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 CT 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 30 6A 98 97 E0 8B 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 32 68 95 94 E2 78 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 43 62 97 96 F0 79 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 75 64 99 99 F1 88 8D 86 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 7C 65 9A 9B F1 77 8D 87 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 7A 65 9B 9B F1 78 8D 87 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 78 65 9C 9C F0 73 8E 87 83 89 86 HI HI 20 C2 88 D5 00 84 00 00 09 60 01 01 76 65 9C 9C F0 7B 8E 87 83 89 86 73 Jan PE0SAT

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Re: LVB Tracker and Kenpro
by n4hy 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Flex is fully aware that the price of the V/U + the 5000 will limit the sales of the V/U. For those already owning the 5000, the V/U together as two sixty watt units with high performance and fully capable of full duplex operation, and is CHEAPER than the same system assembled from DEMI units. Now, you have to already have the 5000 to plug it in so it is limited to the 5000. The Flex equipment is fully capable of supporting external digital programs and CAT. Both of these are supported via "virtual connections". A pseudo sound card is set up and other programs connect to the pseudo sound card to deliver audio to/from the radio. The same thing for CAT control: a pseudo com port pair is set up, one at the radio and one at the controlling program, to support control of the radio via CAT commands. The radio has its own set of commands but implements Kenwood commands as well. I have the USB version of the LVB tracker and the latest model Kenpro (5400A) with the relay control lines brought out to the plug. The LVB plugs into that plug directly. This is good. I should have remembered this because Brooks developed the KCT Tracker and Tuner with the interface to Quiktrak at the beginning of our friendship. I used both to command the Microsat's in the first days, I should have remembered and should have realized that the plugin interface probably became a standard when Kenpro did and Yaesu maintained it in the B model. Thanks Mark! Bob On 2/7/2010 8:33 AM, Mark L. Hammond wrote: > Hi Bob, > > > Really, at the risk of oversimplifying, "all" the LVB tracker does is ground pins, so any rotor hardware/interface that works from that principle is set. > > I'm sure lots of us are interested in real world performance and ease of use reports from the Flex with VHF/UHF. I just wish the blooming thing didn't approach $4-5k. > > Are there any software solutions (or plans) for satellite packet at various speeds, such that a KISS virtual com port is available at different rates? Otherwise, how does one get the data out of the "magic black box?" > > 73, > > At 10:48 PM 2/6/2010 -0500, n4hy wrote: > >> Thanks to all who answered my (incomplete) email. >> >> It is clear to me now that my Kenpro 5400-A, which has an external >> control on the back, can be made to work with the LVB tracker. >> >> After the 2 feet of snow melts, I will be refurbishing the rotator where >> needed. I am hoping this and the antenna deployment coincides with the >> arrival of my U/V full duplex 60w on both bands, transverter block >> arrives from Flex and I get back on satellites again. >> >> 73's to all and thanks again for the answers. >> Bob >> N4HY >> >> -- (Co)Author: DttSP, Quiktrak, PowerSDR, GnuRadio Member: ARRL, AMSAT, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. “Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time. Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time. Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time. It’s time we gave this some thought.” -- R. Buckminster Fuller Active: Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn

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Office Closed
by Martha 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Due to the Blizzard of 2010, the AMSAT office is closed. I will be in (hopefully) tomorrow. -- 73- Martha

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Endeavour 36394
by JC-Aveni 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

Spacetrack Endeavour = NORAD ID 36394 2010-004A 73 Jean-Claude tk5gh

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Re: lvbtracker (or other) and AlfaSpid rotors?
by Ryan Caron 08 Feb '10

08 Feb '10

I don't have experience with 3rd party controllers but the position reporting is fundamentally different. Instead of potentiometers indicating the present az/el, there are just pulses indicating when the motors have traveled a degree. So a little more work is associated with keeping track of the heading, and I haven't heard of a compatible 3rd party controller, but I don't foresee modifying one to do so as particularly challenging. On 2/7/10 10:12 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 17:34:13 -0400 > From: Bruce Robertson<ve9qrp(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] lvbtracker (or other) and AlfaSpid rotors? > To: AMSAT-BB<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: > <49657a761002071334n17015d9cm9de43e37134395f2(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > The Alfa Spid price list > http://alfaradio.ca/docs/AlfaSpid_Price_June15_2009.pdf indicates that > the az/el rotor alone is about $600 (CAD) cheaper than the rotor with > controller. I understand that this controller is a very nice piece of > kit, and many are quite pleased with, for instance, its mouse > interface. However, that additional charge moves the purchase from the > 'maybe one day' to the 'no way Jose' column. > > So I'm wondering if anyone has experience with third-party controllers > to operate the Alfa Spid rotors. Are they electrically similar to > other rotors, or is the proprietary controller absolutely necessary? > > 73, Bruce VE9QRP > -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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ND9M Road Trip Update
by claryco＠aol.com 07 Feb '10

07 Feb '10

We'll try to hit the DM86/DM87 and DM75/DM76 grid lines during the AO27 and AO51 passes tomorrow (Monday) and continue the southbound trek along 104W. We're currently holed up near the New Mexico border where we've got a few inches of fresh snowfall and looking for up to several more overnight. Predictions don't sound that bad though. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Trinidad, CO / DM77

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EM80
by Andrew Glasbrenner 07 Feb '10

07 Feb '10

I'll likely be portable in EM80 tomorrow night and Tuesday. If someone needs EM80 on satellite, drop me an email and I'll look out for you. 73, Drew KO4MA

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n3fjp logging + eqso + ADIF format - please help
by Michae J. Wolthuis 07 Feb '10

07 Feb '10

I really like n3fjp logging that everyone here recommended. I have not been able to get eqso to upload though. It keeps telling me bad mode. Can anyone who is using this software and eqso tell me what are you entering for your AO-51 contacts in Band and Mode? I tried 2, 2M and SAT J in Band and tried SAT, FM and FM (SAT) in Mode to no avail. Maybe I need to enable a field or something? I have read the whole manual from the website and it doesn't really talk about entering satellite contacts. Thanks for any help, I really want to get my whole log uploaded to eqso. Thanks, Mike Kb8zgl

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Re: n3fjp logging + eqso + ADIF format - please help
by jeffk13057＠yahoo.com 07 Feb '10

07 Feb '10

Are you talking about EQSL? I'm not familiar with EQso. 73 Jeff WB2SYK ------Original Message------ From: Michae J. Wolthuis Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] n3fjp logging + eqso + ADIF format - please help Sent: Feb 7, 2010 20:19 I really like n3fjp logging that everyone here recommended. I have not been able to get eqso to upload though. It keeps telling me bad mode. Can anyone who is using this software and eqso tell me what are you entering for your AO-51 contacts in Band and Mode? I tried 2, 2M and SAT J in Band and tried SAT, FM and FM (SAT) in Mode to no avail. Maybe I need to enable a field or something? I have read the whole manual from the website and it doesn't really talk about entering satellite contacts. Thanks for any help, I really want to get my whole log uploaded to eqso. Thanks, Mike Kb8zgl _______________________________________________ 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 Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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