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

HO-68 Not Heard ?
by Andre' v Deventer 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Hi, I noticed the beacon info showed for 5 cycles before switch on ( 18h45 UTC) that temp was 21C . FM and DIGITAL was active normal for 13 mins 23 sec after switch on. There after beacon still on and reported xponder on but silent and temp was now 25 and 26C ? Wonder if this was a "tempreture" output shutdown ? 73 andre zs2bk

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Recommended TNC
by Michael Wolthuis 03 Feb '10

03 Feb '10

Can anyone point me to the recommended TNC for adding to an FT-847 for digital satellite work? Are there special modifications needed? What connector does it use on the FT-847? Thanks, Mike kb8zgl

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Visit with ND9M @ Arrow Antenna Factory
by Jack K. 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Hello all, I just returned from a Visit to the Arrow Factory here in Cheyenne where I live. Silly me, so close by and I have never visited them once before. The purpose of the visit was to meet ND9M (Jim) + Lovely wife and Chauffer to have an eyeball QSO and watch him operate on AO-27 from the parking lot as well as take a tour of the plant.. What impressed me most at Arrow was all of the machinery is made and designed by themselves, and trust me it is pretty impressive as well as mostly microprocessor controlled. Anyone can make an antenna, but to design the machinery to make the antenna parts is a skill few possess. They build a quality product and stand behind their product... I did ask why no corner reflectors any more and was informed a lot of hams have trouble putting them together... I guess it does pay to read the instructions. As the appropriate time for AO-27 approached we all sashayed into the parking lot where in a very short period of time Jim had the equipment set up and soon ND9M was waving his handheld Arrow dual band antenna knowingly in the SSWerly skies... Soon, contest style, he was making contact after contact. He and his wife have been on the road for some time activating grid squares, those of you who keep up on this sort of thing and count grids should give him an ATTA BOY for his efforts. As the bird disappeared over the horizon it was time to pack up and put things away, I was allowed to wind up the headset cord and a coax... So I can I participated in the event... It was fun thanks Jim for the call and if you get back this way again, plan on some more time here so I can pick your brain a little bit. DE Jack - KD1PE http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?call=kd1pe*&terra=4

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Re: Recommended TNC
by Edward Cole 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Having owned a FT-847 since 1998, I can. For 1200-baud packet it merely requires connecting a std TNC (I use a KPC-3+) to the 6-pin mini-Din packet connector (plug available from many Radio Shacks) on the back of the radio. Page-17 in the operators manual shows how. You can also connect 9600-baud audio-output from pin-6. Back in the AO-40 days I used Mix-W2 as a sw modem and connected to pin-6 for audio into the computer soundcard. 38k4 requires some radio modifications to tap wide bw ckts inside the FT-847. I never played with 38k4. Setting modulation for Packet without a deviation meter is harder (pin-1 on the radio). I use my FT-817 for packet, now. Nice thing is the connector on the radio is pin-compatible with the FT-847, so I could use the same TNC/radio cable. The FT-817 has packet mode available in menu so you can preset your mod levels by mode and by channel. Note: I may have my new "Lindy's" operational later today. Hooking up the preamp power and T/R relays wiring in the shack. Probably give AO-51 a try for my initial "return" to satellites. I also have my M2-436CP42, LY2345 (1.2-GHz Loop Yagi), 33-inch dish (2.4-GHz Rx), and a M2-2m7 yagi for hard-core satellite work (they also require wiring in the shack to be QRV). All those antennas have T/R relays, preamps and 432, 1268 have amps at the tower. So I am (about to be) ready for P3E! You can view these on my website: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm 73, Ed - KL7UW At 10:06 AM 2/2/2010, you wrote: >Hi Mike, > >You probably should specify which type of packet you are interested in >working; an answer to your question depends on that. > >For 1200 baud packet, you can use just about anything, including some >software solutions (MixW, for example). Or, one of many MFJ TNCs you >find at hamsfest or on eBay. > >For 9600 baud packet, you'll need to be more careful in your search. > For 38k4, you need to be even MORE selective, as there aren't many. > >If you want a TNC that does all three--1200, 9600, and 38k4-- you >might consider a KPC-9612+ TNC. Never owned one myself, so I can't >comment. > >For 9600 and 38k4, my personal choice is the Paccomm Spirit-2 satellite model. > >I've never owned or operated the FT-847, so I can't comment on that >part of your question, either. But one thing's for sure--38k4 packet >requires modification of any radio currently in (or out!) of >production (well, except for the Icom PCR-1500/2500). > >73, > >Mark N8MH > > > >On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 1:37 PM, Sean Cavanaugh <seanc(a)unixgeeks.ca> wrote: > > On 02/02/2010 11:12 AM, Michael Wolthuis wrote: > >> Can anyone point me to the recommended TNC for adding to an FT-847 for > >> digital satellite work? Are there special modifications needed? What > >> connector does it use on the FT-847? > >> > >> Thanks, > >> Mike > >> kb8zgl > > > > I can't speak to any specific "recommended TNC", but I've been using my > > old PacComm Tiny-2 MK2 for years. It uses a 5-pin DIN (think ancient > > AT-style keyboard connector) and I connected it the packet port on my > > FT-847 (6-pin mini-din, like the slightly newer PS/2 keyboards) and have > > copied the ISS using this. The connections were fairly trivial to make > > following the manuals for the radio and TNC. > > > > Years ago I used the same TNC with my old radio shack HTX-242 to post > > messages to the BBS on the Mir. > > > > With a different TNC, I could also do 9600, but I don't have that > > capability at the moment. I'd think most any TNC should work. > > > > -- > > Sean - VA5LF > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > >-- >Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] > >_______________________________________________ >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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Good News Allan ZS1LS !! BUT for how long it wll stay?
by Nader Omer 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Hi Allan ZS1LS Good news!! So HO-68 still hold messages ( at least some). But for how long HO-68 wll hold these messages ? ?this is the main question! I Hope other station sharing with their downloaded Dir info! I'm still confused !! You mention in you previous post : > (I then switched to voice mode with PL=67 Hz, and then tried again >and the directory came screaming down) ! do you mean the tone was on when you request the Dir??!! The HO-68 've shut down at Orbit #653 before AOS here (kk56gp)!! two other station from South Africa heard HO-68 on same pass as mention at http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php, plus your BBS Posting at 18:45 UTC (tnx for photos) Mike dk3wn confirm absent of FM/DIG mode too. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/48hour/msg77829.html Most propable due to programming error !!! Thanks again Allan Regards Nader / ST2NH /EX

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HO-68 Not Heard ?
by Nader Omer 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

HO-68 Not Heard Orbit #653 18:52 - utc Mode FM/Packet CW TLM ok scheadule:- 02 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder 18:45...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:30...Turn Off 73's Nader

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Free Terminal Emulator query results
by Charlie -K3VDB- 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Hi Fellows;.....First, I want to thank all who replied to my query. I got lots of suggestions regarding a Free Terminal program. For Andy W5ACM: Thanks for sending me the two Hyper Term files, I had previously tried that method with out success. Think Win7 64 would just not play nice with it. However, Kevin W5ACM sent me a link to TERMINAL. Thanks Kevin. http://sites.google.com/site/braypp/terminal It booted and talked to my LVB Tracker "out of the box", even the default comm stuff was set correctly. ie; I was able to calibrate the LVB with the rotator in no time. Not sure if I could program the EPROM if I would of had to. When I get time I plan to look at the program called PUTTY as some of you suggested. From the looks of it, it is more of a full featured program. Again, thanks to all Charlie K3VDB

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HO-68 Schedule - 01-07 Feb 2010
by Alan Kung 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

31 Jan. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 19:20...Turn On South Africa, Europe, NA 20:05...Turn Off 23:05...Turn On South Africa,South America,Europe, NA,North Pole,North Asia 23:50...Turn Off 01 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 02:35...Turn On South Pole, South America,NA,North Asia,North Pole 03:20...Turn Off 11:40...Turn On Australia,New Zealand,South Asia, East Asia,North Asia,Europe 12:25...Turn Off 19:05...Turn On South Africa,Europe,NA,North Pole,North Asia 19:50...Turn Off 02 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 00:30...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia, North Pole 01:15...Turn Off 04:20...Turn On South America,NA,Middle Asia 05:05...Turn Off 15:15...Turn On Australia, India,South Asia,Europe,NA 16:00...Turn Off 18:45...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:30...Turn Off 03 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 00:20...Turn On South America, NA,North Asia 01:05...Turn Off 03:45...Turn On South Pole,South America, NA North Asia, North Pole 04:30...Turn Off 13:10...Turn On Australia, South Asia, East Asia,North Asia 13:26...Turn Off 16:55...Turn On India,Middle East Asia,Europe,NA, 17:40...Turn Off 04 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:40...Turn On South Pole,South America,NA,North Asia 02:25...Turn Off 01:55...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:40...Turn Off 03:45...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 04:30...Turn Off 10:50...Turn On Oceania,South Asia,East Asia,North Asia 11:35...Turn Off 16:35...Turn On India,Middle Asia,Africa,Europe,NA 17:20...Turn Off 20:00...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA,North Asia 20:45...Turn Off 05 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:25...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:10...Turn Off 03:15...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 04:00...Turn Off 12:37...Turn On Oceania,South Asia, East Asia, North Asia 12:52...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On India,Middle Asia,Europe,NA 17:00...Turn Off 19:45...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:30...Turn Off 06 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:10...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 01:55...Turn Off 10:15...Turn On Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:00...Turn Off 16:00...Turn On India,Middle Asia,Europe,NA 16:45...Turn Off 19:25...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA,North Asia 20:10...Turn Off 07 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 00:50...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 01:35...Turn Off 01:47...Turn On South Asia,East Asia, North Asia 02:02...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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HO-68 WiSP directory download success
by Allan Saul 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

Hi, Just something I noticed on the 1845 Ho-68 pass. For 2 days I have been trying to download the directory without success. I uploaded 3 files now, but still couldn't get the directory. I then switched to voice mode with PL=67 Hz, and then tried again and the directory came screaming down. Very odd indeed. There are some screen shots here. http://www.rfdesign.co.za/default.asp?pageID=785423593&filePath=D:\SoftPage… 73' Allan ZS1LS

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Re: HO68 2Feb2010 0427z FM/DIG ( something worng with BBS)
by G0MRF＠aol.com 02 Feb '10

02 Feb '10

In a message dated 02/02/2010 07:06:47 GMT Standard Time, st2nh(a)yahoo.com writes: Hi John and All For sure there is something wrong with HO-68 BBS!! last nighth 1st feb at 19:30 utc Orbit #640. I've posted 2 messages and again the directory was EMPTY!!!!! I've notced this since last week! But I got no answer !! 73 Nader Hi Nader I saw your question last week, and the response that said the messages will stay for 5 days. But I wonder if the messages are lost when the BBS is switched off? Perhaps there is a timer to remove them after 5 days if it's left running. But at present I don't recall seeing any message lasting more than an orbit. Thanks David G0MRF

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