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

Re: Arecibo
by Edward Cole 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

At 08:23 AM 4/15/2010, Bob- W7LRD wrote: >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 >_______________________________________________ >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 Bob, A good question since they will be using SSB, initially. I do not operate eme on 432+ but I believe that normal calling is done on 2-1/2 minute sequences. I suspect that will not be done with Arecibo (but they should say what their operating protocol will be). Normal eme protocol goes like this: CQ de KP4AO calls for 2.5 minutes KP4AO de KL7UW means KL7UW copied KP4AO call sign (not calling in the blind); calls for 2.5 minutes KL7UW de KP4AO signal report (May be RST or OOO); also means Arecibo copied both KP4AO and KL7UW's call sign; gives report for 2.5 minutes KP4AO de KL7UW roger your report (RO) and/or RST; for 2.5 minutes KL7UW de KP4AO RRR means I copied your report; for 2.5 minutes KP4AO de KL7UW 73 and SK; end of successful contact; for 2.5 minutes total time 15-minutes So with 2:45 hours of operation 11 QSO's could be made; so I do not expect the usual 2.5 minute time sequence. That is usual for CW and digital eme, but I do not know what is likely to ensue with the expected pile up on SSB. But for proper eme both calls must be given and confirmed (unlike HF were only one call is stated and the other station, assumed). 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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Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Tonight On N2EYH-L April 15 At 8 PM
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Join us tonight at 8PM for net number 91 April 15. Hopefully Echolink will be activated for the net. Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary WA2AQH

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Circular polarisation question
by Phil 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Thank you for reading this. Ten years ago I built a pair of circular polarised aerials primarily for satellite use. The UHF aerial has 12 elements in each plane while the VHF aerial has 6 elements in each plane. My UHF received signal strength often seems to be below that of other stations and so I'm rethinking how I have set up these aerials. The received signal strength via VO-52 is S7 at the best, without a pre-amplifier, and so I'm happy with that. The UHF aerial is where the problem is even thought they are set up in the same way. Both aerials are mounted in an X orientation. One set of elements is a quarter wave ahead of the other set. Because of the X mounting I cannot tell if the vertical set is ahead of the horizontal set or not. Each aerial is fed via a power splitter via equal length cables. My question is; does this sound like a correctly set up right hand polarised aerial? Originally I thought it was now I'm not sure. -- Regards, Phil

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Re: Settings to work HO-68 in FM
by Nader Omer 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Hi Fran EA1JM and All Many things can be the cause 1-Check up your receiving setup ! listen to beacon before you transmit . 2- some time the sat not changed to FM mode (happened few time ) instead of the schedule stats so. 3- check the beacon to see which mode is on. 4-AFC in downlink shift the frequency so fast ,so deactivate it until you hook with strong down link signal. 5-Never Try to work FM satellite in IC-910 sat-mode . IMHO IC-910 sat mode is perfect only for Xponder satellite. 6- check volume level! and check if the tone on the VHF and not on UHF.(common mistake to mix uplink tone with downlink tone) 7-Check Main and Sub External speaker setting combination Hope this help! 73 de Nader

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SatPC32
by Roger Swickis 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Dear Folks, I am attempting to get myself back on the satellites and am having some problems with SatPC32. Although WinAOS gives me accurate satellite position data, SatPC32 does not. Furthermore satellite AOS/LOS data is different between the two programs, sometimes by a half an hour. I have checked all the settings and have tried updating the Keps but can't seem to get the program to display accurate data. Has anyone had this problem or does anyone know if there way around this other than re-installing SatPC32? (I'd rather not have to input all the settings again if I don't have to.) Thanks Roger VA7MG

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AO-7 "situation"
by Bob- W7LRD 15 Apr '10

15 Apr '10

Hello Just got off AO-7, it really sounds not too good. Weak and distorted audio. Like not enough voltage from the 35 year old solar cells. Heard eveything from response to a CME event to being in mode C to being hit by whatever. The audio distortion does not depend on the uplink power, it sounds distorted weather I ran very minimum power or more. I know we are simply "blessed" to have this old bucket of bolts for our enjoyment. Perhaps some our experts on the bb can shed some of their expertise on what's going on with this old bucket. 73 Bob W7LRD

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AO7 heard few minutes ago.
by PY5LF 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Hello all Signal heard from AO7 few minutes ago ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAjsrSmmmiU 73 PY5LF LUCIANO FABRICIO CURITIBA-PR-BRAZIL GG54JM <http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf> http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf <http://www.falautomation.com.br/> www.falautomation.com.br

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amazing video of robot for ISS
by Samudra Haque 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

I wonder if a robot operator would make a 2-way QSO from the ISS using a ham radio transceiver? See the video... amazing development: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY-SJyS18lA&feature=player_embedded http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-20002479-72.html 73 de N3RDX & S21X

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Re: Most Hams in Space at one time?
by Trevor . 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

I made the total 10 hams, see list at Six radio hams fly to space station http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2010/six_hams_on_sts131.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Tue, 13/4/10, Alan VE4YZ <ve4yz(a)mts.net> wrote: > From: Alan VE4YZ <ve4yz(a)mts.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Most Hams in Space at one time? > To: "'James French W8ISS'" <w8iss(a)amsat.org>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Tuesday, 13 April, 2010, 17:09 > Okay, I have the crew list but could > any of these folks have non U.S. call > signs beyond the 9 American Licensed Amateurs? > > ISS Crew > > > Oleg Kotov > > T.J. Creamer > > Soichi Noguchi > > Alexander Skvortsov > > Tracy Caldwell Dyson > > Mikhail Kornienko > > Visiting STS-131 Crew: > Alan G. Poindexter > James P. Dutton Jr. > Clayton C. Anderson > Rick Mastracchio > Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger > Stephanie D. Wilson > Naoko Yamazaki > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org > [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] > On > Behalf Of James French W8ISS > Sent: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 9:45 AM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Most Hams in Space at one time? > > Currently there are 9 licensed American Amateur Radio > operators on the ISS > currently going by the list that is at the ARISS site on > RAC.org. > > Is this the most hams in space to date or has there been > more before this > shuttle-ISS mission? > > James W8ISS > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Settings to work HO-68 in FM
by Francisco Jiménez-Martín Sánchez 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Hello to all the people in the list, I would like to know if you use any special setting to work the HO-68 sat in FM, because I have tried for to two days to enter in the satellite with no success. I have an icom IC-910H, with the pl tone of 67 in the uplink but there is no way to enter in the sat. I have tested to increase the power or decrease and tried to follow the sat the best way possible with my yaesu g-5500 and my X-Quad wimo antennas with no luck. Do you have any recommendation? Thanks in advance for your replies. Kr, Fran EA1JM

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2 Tracker Boxes
by Martha 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Due to 2 cancellations, I now have 2 Tracker boxes in stock. You can place your order on the AMSAT store found on the AMSAT website. The first 2 orders will get the boxes. -- 73- Martha

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Re: Moon
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Below is an email quoting some 60 lines of text for a 6 word reply? Can't we do better than this gang? What ever happened to just quoting the significant part of the text that you wish to reply to? I'm just askin' 73, Gary -K8KFJ- Sat VUCC #125 In a message dated 4/11/2010 6:46:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, vlfiscus(a)mcn.net writes: At 06:15 PM 4/11/2010 -0400, you wrote: >I was just thinking about the version number...it is 12.6. I'll get it from >your website..viele dank! > >Philip N4HF > >On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 6:13 PM, Erich Eichmann ><erich.eichmann(a)t-online.de>wrote: > > > Hello Philip, > > what SatPC32 version are you using? Older program versions (older than 12.8 > > if I remember correctly) didn't include the SuM files. These programs could > > be downloaded separately from my website. Beginning with V. 12.8 the > > SatPC32 > > setup program installs also the SuM files into the SatPC32 folders. > > > > 73s, Erich, DK1TB > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Philip Jenkins" <wythe25(a)gmail.com> > > To: "Jari Koivurinne" <jari.koivurinne(a)aina.net> > > Cc: "Jack Barbera" <barberaalderwood(a)yahoo.com>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2010 9:58 PM > > > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Moon > > > > > > I joined AMSAT as a life member at the Orlando Hamcation a couple of years > >> ago, and acquired SAT32 at the same time. > >> > >> I followed the directions on the previous email and cannot find the > >> program > >> SuM in the SAT32 folder or in the program list when SAT32 is running. (Do > >> I > >> need to look on the original CD installation disk as well?) > >> > >> Alternatively, I think I will load the keps for the Moon into SAT32; I > >> know > >> there was a thread on this subject a few months ago. > >> > >> Thanks for a great BB! > >> > >> Philip N4HF > >> > >> On Sun, Apr 11, 2010 at 1:35 PM, Jari Koivurinne > >> <jari.koivurinne(a)aina.net>wrote: > >> > >> > >>> > > >>> > Little help. > >>> > Where in SAT32 do I look for SuM for moon tracking. > >>> > Also looking for suggestions as to the best way to record SAT > >>> > contact from head set out put using sat 32 and a 910 radio. > >>> > Thanks > >>> > Jack WA1ZDV > >>> > >>> In Orbitron there is selection TARGET. Choose there MOON. > >>> > >>> -jari oh3uw > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> 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 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 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 Ahhhhhhh, The luxury of InstantTrack. :) 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

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NH6VB back on the satellites from Hawaii
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Hi! On Saturday (10 April) morning, there was an HO-68 SSB/CW pass that went from the north toward the Pacific Ocean. I was out at my normal Phoenix QTH (DM33xp/DM43ap boundary), and worked 3 stations. Early in the pass, John VE8EV called me from CP38. I've worked John in the past when I was on a road trip, and this was the first time I have heard him - or worked him - from my "home QTH". After that, Mike KC9ELU in Indiana called me. Then I went back to CQing, until the third station I heard on that pass called me - Peter NH6VB. I remembered seeing his posts to the -BB last month about getting a new satellite radio, and then trying to get SatPC32 working again. We ended up chatting for a few minutes, as the satellite was approaching LOS for me. It was fun to work VE8EV and KC9ELU, but hearing NH6VB calling me on HO-68 in SSB was a huge - and pleasant - surprise. After the pass, Peter sent me an e-mail explaining his setup. His larger Yagis are still on the ground, but he was using an Arrow Yagi until those other antennas are back on his tower. For those that missed AA5UK/KH6 recently, and have not heard the only resident station working the SSB satellites from Hawaii in recent years (WH6BIE), we may now have another option for those looking to work Hawaii via satellite in modes other than FM. Hopefully Peter will show up on more passes, as he continues to get his satellite station back on the air. And, maybe, we can return this list to its regularly-scheduled subject matter... :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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OX Dxpedition Update
by Reid Crowe 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

I just wanted to give everyone an update on an upcoming QTH change. Although I am scheduled to be in Thule until April 23rd, there is a chance I could leave as early as April 21st. I will be going to Wallops Island, VA to put our radar equipment on a P-3 aircraft and do flight tests. I will be returning to Greenland on May 1st (although there is talk that it will be pushed back to May 4). I will be in Sondrestrom, grid GP47pa, for two weeks before returning to Thule for two more weeks around May 18. Thanks to everyone that has tried to work me. You've made this trip a lot of fun! 73, Reid, OX/N0RC

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SDR Forum at Dayton
by Bob McGwier 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Speakers at Dayton SDR Forum 2:30-5 PM for Friday May 14. Me, N4HY "SDR status, ARRL SDR committee evolution" Lyle Johnson "Choices in Embedded DSP for SDR" Scotty Cowling, "Open HPSDR Status" John Melton, "Linux ghpsdr" Gerald Youngblood, "Flex Radio new offerings, amateur and commercial (Flex 1500, New V/U satellite capable add on, etc.) Jeremy McDermond "MacHPSDR" Average length of talk 25 minutes but this is the list. I will work with each author to square away the time and get it into Dayton for the program. Thank you all for volunteering! Looks like a great year indeed. I am very excited. Bob N4HY

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Most Hams in Space at one time?
by James French W8ISS 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Currently there are 9 licensed American Amateur Radio operators on the ISS currently going by the list that is at the ARISS site on RAC.org. Is this the most hams in space to date or has there been more before this shuttle-ISS mission? James W8ISS

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Yaesu FT-847 vs. Kenwood TS-2000?
by Bill Dzurilla 14 Apr '10

14 Apr '10

Any thoughts on the pros and cons of each of these rigs, particularly for satellite work? The used price for each is about the same, maybe a little higher for a fairly new TS-2000. I am aware of the TS-2000 birdie issue. 73, Bill NZ5N

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You Know What's Really Annoying?
by Joel Black 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

A lot of you incessantly bitching about the inane. Talk about taking up bandwidth... Yeah, I just took up your BW and bitched about the inane, but at least I realize it. Joel, W4JBB

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Re: Most Hams in Space at one time?
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

> >Currently there are 9 licensed American Amateur Radio operators on the ISS >currently going by the list that is at the ARISS site on RAC.org. > >Is this the most hams in space to date or has there been more before this >shuttle-ISS mission? > >James W8ISS I don't know the answer to your question Jim, but I DO know it is the largest group of Non-Active hams in space at one time. KB7ADL

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Space Debris: Predicted near impact for AO-51
by Tom Clark, K3IO 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB has reported that AO-51 will have a ~200 meter (i.e. 2 football fields) approach to object #34890 at 08:51Z on April 13th. Object #34890 (see http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=34890 and http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/iridium-33-debris.txt) is one piece of the more than 500 pieces of debris left over after the Iridium-33 -- Kosmos-2251 collision on Feb. 10,2009 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_satellite_collision). The total mass of the two spacecraft was about 1600 kg (well over one ton). You can get an HD movie animation of the Iridium/Kosmos collision here (warning -- 50 MB ZIP file). 73, Tom

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Re: Most Hams in Space at one time?
by Thomas McGrane 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Seems typical to me that the federal government would set a precedent in which they encourage licenses in space which I assumed to be free space. Why should anyone require a license off the planet? This reminds me of the FCC selling licenses for frequencies that only exist when used. Pat >------- Original Message ------- >From : James French W8ISS[mailto:w8iss@amsat.org] >Sent : 4/13/2010 10:45:28 AM >To : amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Cc : >Subject : RE: [amsat-bb] Most Hams in Space at one time? > >Currently there are 9 licensed American Amateur Radio operators on the ISS currently going by the list that is at the ARISS site on RAC.org. Is this the most hams in space to date or has there been more before this shuttle-ISS mission? James W8ISS _______________________________________________ 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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Russian president calls station for Cosmonautics Day
by Fabiano Moser 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

9:50 AM, 4/12/10 Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called the International Space Station early Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic flight, suggesting an international space summit to discuss ongoing and future cooperative ventures on the high frontier. "Space is our highest priority, regardless of how hard the economic situation is in the country," Medvedev said in translated remarks. "Space will always remain our priority. This is not just somebody's interpretation, it's our official state position. I am here in my presidential office and when addressing you, I can confirm again the significance of space for the government." "We want to thank you again for today's holiday," station commander Oleg Kotov replied. All six Expedition 23 crew members - Kotov, Alexander Skvortsov, Mikhail Kornienko, Tracy Caldwell Dyson, Timothy Creamer and Soichi Noguchi - gathered for the conversation in the U.S. Destiny laboratory module. "On behalf of all of us here on the International Space Station, including our shuttle colleagues, we just want to wish everyone congratulations on this historic day," Caldwell Dyson told the Russian president. "It means as much to us for the event of Yuri's first launch as it does for all of the people involved in making this space program possible. We're all filled with gratitude and appreciation. Congratulations to all of you." Medvedev told the space station crew that in the early years of the space program, "development of cosmonautics was based on ideology and now, this is the area where we should try to assist each other in creating the mechanisms that will yield collective results. And this cooperation, I believe, is extremely important for the future, taking into account that space programs become more and more complicated, more and more costly, and the goals that we set become more and more complicated. "No country can develop space alone, we need to combine our efforts and we need to talk about it more often," he said. "So maybe we could have some sort of international meeting, maybe at the heads of governments level. Because we talk about various issues, such as tackling all kinds of challenges, dangers and hazards that humanity is facing these days, various disarmament programs, etc., but there is a very important and positive factor that unites us all. So maybe it would be good to have a summit, maybe at the heads of governments level, for the countries that are working in space. So see, I have a very good idea on this holiday. What do you think? We could invite you to participate as well." Kotov called the International Space Station "a great example of international cooperation where we have two completely different technical schools, Russian and U.S., and we combine our effort, we found the interfaces not only for machines but also for humans and we've created this wonderful, fully functional station ... and that is something that should be used in the future. "Together, we have created a single organism," Kotov said. "The crew functions as one body even though it consists of representatives from different countries. We have had a European astronaut on board, we have Japanese astronauts on board right now, we have American astronauts, Russian, and we understand each other perfectly, we don't have any conflicts and I hope this will be true also regarding our cooperation everywhere else." "Oleg, those are very good words, it's nice to hear that," Medvedev replied. Then he changed the subject, saying "I think it will be a mistake if I don't ask you some simple questions. How's life?" "Well, it's like one of the most popular questions that we're asked - what do you like best in space?" Kotov said. "And my answer is always two things: weightlessness and the view out of the window. Also, just life in this three dimensional space, where walls and floor and ceiling become all the same. That's very interesting, and it takes changing your mind the way you think about your surroundings." Medvedev asked if the absence of gravity caused any problems for the station crew. "I can tell you honestly in my first flight, I noticed one month into the flight I had this feeling as though I had been living in space and weightlessness my entire life, it became such a natural part of my thinking that I didn't have any problems," Kotov said. "Everything was so natural, so pleasant, so comfortable, you get used to all the minor negative details of being in weightless, you begin to enjoy the positives tremendously. And that's something you don't forget and your body remembers that. It was interesting. After I came back to Earth, I was uncomfortable, actually, experiencing Earth's gravitation. To me, it was strange to see the people not only walking on the surface of the planet, but also running. It seemed very difficult." Medvedev asked about the food on the International Space Station, wondering "are they feeding you well?" "Food in space is different from the ideas people have based on what they knew in the 60s or 70s," Kotov said. "The food becomes more and more similar to what we eat on Earth. We don't have any tubes. We do have cans and the variety is pretty good. Because we're using the resources of all the space agencies, we have a very international cuisine. We have Japanese food, we have American food, European style, no complaints here." -- 73 Fabiano Moser CT7ABD / PY5RX "There is no great talent without great will. (Honoré de Balzac)"

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Extension
by Martha 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

We have been given a one week extension by the Country Inn & Suites in Fairborn OH. If you are interested in reserving a room with the AMSAT block for the Dayton Hamvention, you MUST do so by April 20th. Please call me at 301-589-6062. After that date, I cannot get you a room! -- 73- Martha

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Yaesu FT-530
by Clint Bradford 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Please help me remember how the FT-530 is used for "full duplex" FM sat ops. Correct me, and add to this list - THANK YOU! - You must use an earpiece (or a headset) so that the RX audio isn't passed - There is a keystroke sequence to enable either the LEFT side or the RIGHT side to be the EARPHONE - what is it? - Then a press of the PTT "locks in" that audio choice setting, right? I must be gettin' old ... I *used* to remember this stuff. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Sat Collision - 2009 Event
by Clint Bradford 13 Apr '10

13 Apr '10

Thank you, Tom, for the AO-51 "collision" warning. What an email message to receive: "Guys, a project that you've spent years on that has opened up the world of amateur radio to thousands might be destroyed by a piece of space junk tomorrow ... " ANYWAY - I found this Celestrak page on last year's sat collision to be fascinating ... http://celestrak.com/events/collision.asp Clint, K6LCS

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