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

Call for Papers--2010 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
by Mark Thompson 18 Apr '10

18 Apr '10

Call for Papers--2010 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference Posted by: "Ford, Steve, WB8IMY" sford(a)arrl.org wb8imy Date: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:12 am ((PDT)) Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 29th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 24-26, 2010 near Portland, Oregon. These papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do NOT need to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings). The submission deadline is July 31, 2010. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 or you can make your submission via e-mail to: maty(a)arrl.org Papers will be published exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights. 73 . . . Steve, WB8IMY ARRL

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Arecibo--MUCH louder today!
by Mark L. Hammond 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Hearing test carriers MUCH better today! Give it a listen, they are saying 350W output today (rather than 30W yesterday ;) 73! Mark N8MH Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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EME
by ANTHONY JAPHA 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Hi all, On a lark, I took my FT817 with ARR preamp and 8-el cheap yagi downstairs to listen for KP4AO. They were about 349 on CW around 2000Z. Unbelievable, I thought. I have tremendous noise of all manmade kinds here in Manhattan. You can only imagine how loud the noise is. Still, KP4AO was in there steadily for as long as I listened, about 15 minutes.. Another reason for my surprise is that the FT817 has no CW filter. With a filter, I'm sure they would have been Q5. Pointing the beam was not critical at all. This all reminds me of W2RS's backyard EME article of some years ago. Are you in there, Ray? Anyone out there with a spare million watt amp? 73, Tony, N2UN

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Amsat Weekend Sympoium 2010 & Question
by Stuart Balanger 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

*Hi all, A couple of suggested places to visit @ this yrs Sympoium: San Fallipo Residence & Musical museum In Barrington Hill,Ill. Chicago museum of Science & Techmology! Also, there is both an elevated rail line& a Blue line Subway line that goes from O'Hare Airport fto Downtown Chicago (Near Chicago's Union RR Terminal) For more info (Subway & elevated rail):www.transitchicago.com 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) PS Home of "Walkway over the Hudson"! Also, does anyone know where I can go (Online) to download a copy of "MxW? *

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Thanks - re: Arecibo
by David Barber 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Thanks guys, had a blast. A brilliant Saturday evening. Not enough antenna gain or power here to work you but hearing you over the last two evenings has been very satisfying. Hope to listen again tomorrow. Congratulations to all and to those that made it, I heard several UK stations confirmed. Best wishes and thank you to you all. Regards David G8OQW ******** -----Original Message----- From: moon-net-bounces(a)list-serv.davidv.net [mailto:moon-net-bounces@list-serv.davidv.net] On Behalf Of joe(a)Princeton.EDU Sent: 17 April 2010 16:39 To: moon-net(a)list-serv.davidv.net Subject: [Moon-net] Arecibo Update Hello from Arecibo: Update for today (Saturday) : we have diagnosed our amplifier problem and are hard at work on repairs. With any luck we should be good for 350-400 W today. We have also located a power supply for a solid-state amp that should be good for a bit more power, maybe 500 W. Keep your fingers crossed... we *should* be 10-13 dB louder today. Operating plans for today: SSB at first, then CW. As before, we Tx on 432.045 and Rx on 432.050 - 432.060. If we exhaust the CW pileup we will go to JT65B. In JT65B mode, KP4AO will transmit first on 432.045. Please call us between 432.045 and 432.049. Expected QSO pattern will be like this: 1. CQ KP4AO FK68 2. KP4AO K1ABC FN42 3. K1ABC KP4AO FK68 OOO 4. RO 5. RRR 6. 73 (... tail-ender...) KP4AO G4XYZ IO83 7. G4XYZ KP4AO FK68 OOO ... and so on. We will not send 73s; please feel free to call us following our "RRR" transmission, as G4XYZ did in the example above. On Sunday we may work any mode, depending on available activity. We will certainly be on JT65B for at least half of our Sunday moon window. Remember: please limit yourself to one QSO with us, regardless of mode. 73, Joe, K1JT ... for the KP4AO team _______________________________________________ Moon-Net posting and subscription instructions are at http://www.nlsa.com/nets/moon-net-help.html

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FS: Yaesu FT8900 for FM sat use
by John Geiger 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

I have for sale a Yaesu FT8900 quadband (10m/6m/2m/70cm)transceiver. It does 50 watts on 10m, 6m and 2m FM and 35 watts on 70cm. It comes with the box, manual, power cord, and mic. Works fine, and looks good other than a small scuff on the top of the radio. This radio does dual receive so it is perfect for full duplex on the FM satellites. I am am asking $320 shipped and can take paypal/check/MO. 73s John AA5JG

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Radios for satellite operations
by Jacob Tennant 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Was wondering today after searching around on the internet, what radios are people using for satellite operations as I noticed the ICOM IC-910H and the Yaesu FT-847 are now discontinued? Was hoping to get into the SSB/CW satellites but was hoping to do it on a new radio, but it seems the satellite radios are disappearing from the market. I do have a Yaesu FT-857D that I am getting setup to do the FM satellites with and will try the SSB/CW satellites if I can do it with that radio. Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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Arecibo
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Here is a good reference for the Arecibo EME event http://www.k2txb.com/2010_arecibo_operation.htm nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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Arecibo and circular polarization using cheap yagis
by Douglas Quagliana 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

I heard Arecibo would be using circular polarization, but I haven't heard if it will be left or right-handed circular polarization. I also heard that there's a way to do circular polarization with the popular "cheap yagis." Apparently the details are in an article in the April 1999 issue of CQ VHF "Cheap Circular Polarization? It Can Be Done" on pages 66-69. Is there anyone on the list that has this back issue that can tell me what the method is that is described in this article? Is it a physical quarter-wave displacement on the same boom? Two booms with a quarter-wave coax delay? Something else? How is the circular polarization done with the cheap yagis? Douglas KA2UPW/5

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Arecibo
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Hi All I have a KLM 436 with < 1 db preamp I did not here them yesterday. I have about 2 db of sun noise. The question I have for those who copied Arecibo yesterday how much sun noise do you have in a 2.4 KHz band with filter? Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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HO-68 Mode Schedule
by John Zaruba Jr 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Does anyone know if HO-68 will move to an automated schedule after commissioning? Does the satellite have the ability to automatically schedule it's operational state or does it require interaction from the ground command station? The english language version of CAMSAT's website does not discuss this aspect of the satellite's operation. 73, John K2ZA

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op error
by Bob- W7LRD 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

My 910 in cw will tx when key is closed whether in vox mode or not. Set the key for external keyer. I'm sure it's simple, I can't figure it out. 73 Bob W7LRD

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OT-ish - anyone got FT-290 bits?
by Gordon JC Pearce 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Hi all, In order to get onto the linear transponders I picked up a slight-project Yaesu FT-290 at a rally last weekend. It's pretty much working, but the display is faulty. It pretty much only ever displays a backwards F, no matter what you do. Other than that it tunes, memorises, clarifies and generally seems to behave itself, so I suspect that the display IC is faulty and the CPU is actually okay. So, does anyone have a dead FT-[267]90 for spares? Really, I just need the display PCB (the LCD seems fine, so I'd take a chance on one with a broken LCD) or even just the chip. If I could find spec on the chip I'd even have a crack at building a replacement controller. Feel free to reply offlist if you don't want to noise up the list with radio fixing chatter. Thanks, Gordon MM0YEQ

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AGWPE and Window 7 problems
by D. Craig Fox 17 Apr '10

17 Apr '10

Greetings all. Having only 12 el on 70cm and no az/el, Arecibo is so not happening at my QTH. But I digress. I recently went to a new Windows 7 (Intel Core I-7 processor) computer from a P4 (what a delight.) Anyway, SatPC, digipan, MMRTTY, HRD all work fine using my Signalink. What no longer works, however, is AGWPE and UISS. Unless I set the default speakers in the computer to the USB codec (Signalink), it simply will not transmit packet. Decodes fine. This is preventing me from d'ing on NO44 and ISS. I have posted this problem on some other sites but so far no useful feedback. If you are running Signalink, AGWPE and Windows 7, can we talk offline? Thanks in advance. 73s Craig N6RSX NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

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Re: Arecibo
by Bill Dzurilla 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

I'm at work and not QRV, but I had no problem copying them with a single 12 el. yagi leaned again the chair when they did the test a couple of weeks ago, and most everyone else gave them good reports. At the time, they were running 50w, a barefoot Kenwood TS-2000. They must have changed rigs if now they only have 20w. And something else must be wrong, because even folks with big antennas are having trouble copying them (more so than the 50w vs. 20w would suggest). There's a live feed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kp4ao-eme Good luck and 73, Bill NZ5N > From: Sebastian <w4as(a)bellsouth.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arecibo > To: "Mark L.Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> > Cc: AMSAT BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <4141F900-265D-4987-B3BE-59B3834BE01B(a)bellsouth.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset=us-ascii > > I can hear very faint CW from them. > > I'm surprised as I have just a single yagi, and apparently > their amp isn't working. > > 73 de W4AS

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Arecibo
by Bob- W7LRD 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

Nill copy till the last 10 min barely out of the noise. The west coast seemed not to hear very well?? 910/40 el. cp yagi. Hope they get the amp running. The video streaming is neat. Better luck tomorrow. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: Arecibo heard
by Mark L. Hammond 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

I went home for a "lunch break" and was able to copy them on CW (but not SSB) with the following: M2 440-18 (an 11' vertical/linear antenna that claims 14.5 dBd) ARR MSP432VDG-160 preamp (claims 0.55 dB NF) TS-2000X radio, CW mode, filter width betwen 600Hz and 200Hz It wasn't arm-chair copy, but after nudging the array around a bit, I could make out characters and their call. Didn't try to listen to anybody else (assuming they would quite a bit lower). The moon was around 67 deg elevation, right in the small "hole" of the forest canopy growing at my home :) Anyhow, it was fun, and given their low output, will be fun to listen tomorrow with a repaired amp! 73, Mark N8MH On Fri, Apr 16, 2010 at 3:27 PM, Bill Dzurilla <billdz.geo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I'm at work and not QRV, but I had no problem copying them with a single 12 el. yagi leaned again the chair when they did the test a couple of weeks ago, and most everyone else gave them good reports. At the time, they were running 50w, a barefoot Kenwood TS-2000. They must have changed rigs if now they only have 20w. And something else must be wrong, because even folks with big antennas are having trouble copying them (more so than the 50w vs. 20w would suggest). > > There's a live feed at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kp4ao-eme > > Good luck and 73, > Bill NZ5N > >> From: Sebastian <w4as(a)bellsouth.net> >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arecibo >> To: "Mark L.Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> >> Cc: AMSAT BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> >> Message-ID: <4141F900-265D-4987-B3BE-59B3834BE01B(a)bellsouth.net> >> Content-Type: text/plain; >> charset=us-ascii >> >> I can hear very faint CW from them. >> >> I'm surprised as I have just a single yagi, and apparently >> their amp isn't working. >> >> 73 de W4AS > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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]

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Fwd: [Moon-net] Arecibo Update from the Op room..
by Edward Cole 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

Forward from Arecibo (reported on MoonNet): >From: Patrick Barthelow <apolloeme(a)live.com> >To: <moon-net(a)list-serv.davidv.net> >Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:34:57 -0700 >Folks, > > > >Looks like plenty of updates on Arecibo. I am writing from just >behind the current op team of Jim Breakall, and Joe Taylor and >Angel Vazquez. AS has been mentioned, the > > 3CX-800PA is off line now, but we expect a serious look later > after today's Arecibo window closes. Good to see a lot of > technical talent and spirit among the team for repairing things and > getting the job done, also good to see lots of caution exercised > towards jumping in to find where we lost B+ from the PS to the > amp. No need to rush at the expense of safety...Dr Breakall will > look at the 3CX800 amp after the Moon window closes and will > hopefuly add about 13 db to our signal tomorrw and Sunday. > >Wonderful, very tropical forest venue here, with exotic birds coming >and going here at operating position, probably wondering about the >beeps they hear. Sounds like 20 M CW generally here....Lots of >fun. -Looking forward tomorrow to take a climb to the focus >platform of the antenna.. Best, 73, Pat AA6EG Echoes of Apollo/Arecibo > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. >http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:… >_______________________________________________ >Moon-Net posting and subscription instructions are at >http://www.nlsa.com/nets/moon-net-help.html 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-600w, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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KP4AO Arecibo Video Streaming
by Trevor . 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kp4ao-eme 73 Trevor M5AKA

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SATPC32
by Roger Swickis 16 Apr '10

16 Apr '10

Thanks Mark, Well, I had the same position data in both AOS and SATPC32. I don't know what was happening, but it seems to have magically resolved itself. Both programs now read the same. Strange. But I think we can attribute it to RF getting into the computer. At any rate I'm glad I didn't go ahead and reinstall everything. Oh well - you don't have to be good of you're lucky! Roger VA7MG

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Re: Arecibo, Sun & Moon
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

At 01:26 PM 4/15/2010 -0800, Edward Cole <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> wrote: >At 01:49 PM 4/15/2010, you wrote: > >>I noticed the moon is fairly close to the sun in the sky. There may be >>some solar noise, but I don't know how much noise the sun generates at 432. >> >>KB7ADL >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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 > >Vince, > >The Sun is approx. 20-degrees away from the Moon (today), so it may cause >some degradation of receiver sensitivity, depending on how narrow your >antenna beam is. I will be using a 16-foot dish with 9.9 degree >HPBW. Hopefully, the sun will be down -15 dB or more when I point at the >Moon. But if you are using a 15-dBi yagi yoru beamwidth is about >33-degrees and the sun will be seen by your system. > >I don't have time to research what to expect in degradation, busy working >on getting the antenna ready ;-) > > >73, Ed - KL7UW, Your beamwidth will be a lot more narrower than mine. If I get a chance to give it a listen I'll be using an auto-tracked eight element RHCP yagi with a Landwehr preamp. There was an OM in the area that was an avid EME'er at one time. He has since passed away, I asked him once when is the best time to listen for stations doing EME, Full moon, New Moon, Quarter moon, and he said new moon was worst because of solar noise and also when the sun is within your beamwidth around new moon. KB7ADL

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Arecibo, Sun & Moon
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

I noticed the moon is fairly close to the sun in the sky. There may be some solar noise, but I don't know how much noise the sun generates at 432. KB7ADL

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Most hams in space at one time??
by edward kacura 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

I know this sounds negative, but with all these hams in space, why isn't anyone operating??? Why can't I and all the rest of us earth bound hams contact the ISS with our handhelds and Arrow antennas???? What good is it , to have all these hams up there, and not a one, can make contact with us poor souls on earth??? ???????????????????????????????????????????? 73 de Ed N7EDK ???????????

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50 ohm antenna matcher
by Dave Guimont 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

There was a request on here several days ago for a 50 ohm antenna matcher, and by the time I found the file, I accidentally deleted the request... An inexpensive homebrew one can be found here: http://cid-1973adc8c1d3207c.skydrive.live.com/summary.aspx?sa=140581470 See 435QuarterWaveMatcher Probably find the parts in your junk box..... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Arecibo
by Bob- W7LRD 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Hello Should I be so lucky as to connect with Arecib o this weekend, what is the proper protocol for a QSO? 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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