AMSAT-BB May 2010

179 participants
273 discussions

LVB Tracker USB serial port driver for Windows 7 x64?

by Bill Bordy, NJ1H

Has anyone located a driver for the LVB Tracker internal USB to serial port adapter on Windows 7 x64? If not, has anyone reverted to the serial port connection on LVB Tracker and used an external USB to serial port adapter successfully with SatPC32 on Windows 7 x64? I have an Edgeport multiple USB to serial port that has drivers for Windows 7 x64 that I will use if I have to. I would prefer using the LVB Tracker with its USB to serial adapter if someone has another solution. 73, Bill NJ1H

5 years, 9 months

Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference

by Ford, Steve, WB8IMY

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 28-30, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut. 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, 2007. 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

10 years, 2 months

Re: EggBeater

by Bill Dzurilla

Steve, I have both a commercial and a homebrew Eggbeater and am disappointed with both, especially in light of its rather high price. Connected to my IC-7000 via an ARR mast-mounted preamp, performance is far less than with an HT and an Arrow. Guess an omni can't cut it, at least not from my QTH. Maybe if I could get it up higher, clear of all roofs, it would do better. I can make contacts at relatively high sat elevations, but can do just as well with a $10 dual band ground plane. My friend has an Eggbeater and the same preamp at a clearer QTH, and he hears substantially better, down to 10 degrees elevation in some directions. Good luck and 73, Bill NZ5N > > Hi Steve, > > > > It is surprising to read that you are not hearing > anything. I have > > repeatedly used a 2m and 70cm Eggbeater for the sats > and have had no > > problem hearing things. No pre-amp. > > > > I was using a short cable (e.g. less than 10 meters). > The rigs I > > used were a FT-736r (deaf) and a FT-847 (so-so). > > > > 73, > > > > Dave

10 years, 3 months

FW: Re: The Moon is our Future

by Dave

We have met the enemy and they are us. WE need to do something. Yes, $15m is outta reach, but isn't there a cash prize for the first on-commercial moon landing? Dave DM78qd // KA0SWT If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners.-- Johnny Carson +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff Davis Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:35 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Moon is our Future On Thu, Jul 02, 2009 at 06:48:51AM -0600, Jack K. wrote: > communications anyway) and move forward... We can put up all the leos > we want, but until someone makes something like B. Bruninga's cell > concept work, we are only going to have more of the same, We don't > need more of the same! I couldn't agree more - we don't need more of the same. If I want to sit back and have a two hour rag-chew with someone on the other side of the planet I will use Skype or my cell phone! Dreaming about what *might* be in space is a fun exercise. Actually doing something about it requires sending things to LEO because reality has dictated that's as far as we can afford to go. How's about we use some of that frustrated *imagineering* to come up with interesting new concepts at LEO? We don't need any more FM repeaters buzzing overhead, but what about more cameras downloading HD images, scientific payloads that monitor the ongoing climate change, payloads to study the Earth's magnetic field, etc. etc. Our own 'Twitter' messaging network from space...? The Apollo 13 creed of "failure is not an option" has completely infected the brains at AMSAT and this list. You want something at HEO or on the moon, cut a check for $15 million dollars and let's get on with it. Been waiting since 1996 for another AO-13 and I am getting too old to keep waiting. AMSAT is becoming completely irrelevant as it strives without success for the impossible mission and exhibits a shocking amount of leadership malfesance as it stubbornly refuses to recognize and adapt to realities in the launch business. I know, I know maybe NEXT year someone rich will die and leave us a boatload of cash. Or the bankrupt US government will suddenly cough up a billion dollars for some orbiting emergency communication system. In the meantime we have to stifle the truth because it might blow yet another *secret* deal that's in the works and *almost* a done deal, so let's not complain publicly and ruin it. Heard the stories, heard the lies, got all the t-shirts and ball caps. Whatever. -- Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA member since 1994, Skeptic that we will ever go back to HEO since 2002 _______________________________________________ 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

11 years, 6 months

Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 on PSLV-C15

by Daniel Kekez

Hi All, The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) would like to announce the delivery of Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 (NLS-6) cluster payload to Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR), Andhra Pradesh, India, for launch on board PSLV-C15. PSLV-C15 will be launching from the First Launch Pad at SDSC-SHAR into 637 km sun-synchronous orbit with 10:30 Local-Time of Descending Node. NLS-6 shares this launch with Cartosat-2B primary, Alsat-2A co-primary, and STUDSAT auxiliary payload. NLS-6 is the 6th launch by SFL. The NLS-6 cluster comprises of two nanosatellite: AISSat-1 and TIsat-1. NLS-6 launch updates are being posted to http://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-6/ About AISSat-1 ------------------------------ AISSat-1 is built by SFL for the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). It is intended to demonstrate a new maritime AIS receiver that has been developed by FFI. The AIS receiver will be used to monitor ship traffic in Norwegian waters. The design of AISSat-1 is based on SFL Generic Nanosatellite Bus (GNB). The spacecraft has a main structure measuring 20 cm by 20 cm by 20 cm and it is stabilized in three-axes using reaction wheels. It has a fixed 46 cm long VHF payload monopole antenna for the AIS receiver and four UHF uplink monopole antennas for the command receiver. The downlink in the S-Band. AISSat-1 has an overall dimension of 80 cm by 45 cm by 37 cm and an overall mass of 6.5 kg. AISSat-1 will be secured to the launch vehicle using the XPOD GNB separation system. AISSat-1 is not an amateur satellite and, as such, has coordinated appropriate frequencies. Its ground segment is located at Svalbard and its control centre is at FFI, near Oslo, Norway. More information on the spacecraft can be found at http://www.utias-sfl.net/nanosatellites/AISSat-1/ and http://www.spacecentre.no/?module=Articles;action=Article.publicShow;ID=513… About TIsat-1 ------------------------------ TIsat-1 is a 1 kg CubeSat of 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm and is built by students and staff at University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). The primary mission objective is to involve students in systems engineering, development and test with a very challenging project and to provide students and staff at SUPSI with space mission knowledge. TIsat-1 will monitor the durability of material probes exposed to space environment, will test a micro electromechanical device and will validate the redundant, fault tolerant hardware and firmware design of the bus. Two monopole antennas (VHF and UHF) will be deployed after separation. Housekeeping and payload data will be communicated to the ground as orbital data profiles. TIsat-1 will be secured to the launch vehicle using the XPOD Single separation system. TIsat-1 communicates over amateur radio frequencies, as coordinated through the IARU, and they have been working with radio amateurs in Switzerland during the spacecraft's development. They have a Morse Code and data beacons. More information can be found at http://www.spacelab.dti.supsi.ch/tiSat1.html Future Launches by SFL ------------------------------ SFL has signed its 7th launch contract with ANTRIX for NLS-7 in late 2010/early 2011. NLS-7 will launch the twin-satellite CanX-4 and CanX-5 formation flying mission. SFL will be signing its 8th launch contract for NLS-8 momentarily, for the launch of two astronomy nanosatellites: BRITE-Austria (CanX-3A) and UniBRITE (CanX-3B). NLS-8 will also launch one partner spacecraft. In addition, SFL is under discussion for NLS-9, NLS-10, and NLS-11 launches in 2011/2012 time frame, and would like to extend an invitation to spacecraft developers world-wide to join our launches. For further information, please contact: Freddy M. Pranajaya Manager, Advanced Systems Group UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory 4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M3H 5T6 +1-416-667-7890 Voice +1-416-667-7799 Fax freddyp(a)utias-sfl.net http://www.utias-sfl.net/ 73, -Daniel, VA3KKZ

12 years, 2 months

FS: KLM 22el CP yagi & Arrow antenna

by Kevin Smith

Thanks for reading this post. The following have become excess to my needs and are for sale: 1) KLM 22-element CP, switchable polarization - this antenna was recently brought off my tower after more than 10-years of great service. I have pictures of this antenna including several with my MFJ 269Pro connected showing 1.1:1 to 1.2:1 SWR across the 70-cm band from 432 to 445 Mhz that I can send to you upon request. Although the antenna can be broken down somewhat into five shorter lengths I am not at all sure that it can be shipped commercially. I have a price in mind but let's talk. Shipping costs (if possible) will be extra. 2) Arrow II Model 146/437-10WBP with 10W duplexer & cables and nylon antenna bag. Both packages never opened. $120 firm. If interested in either item please contact me via email. Kevin Smith N3HKQ

12 years, 3 months

SO-67 Back Next week?

by John Meeks

From Jan-Albert Koekemoer via sumbandila.googlegroups.com : "We've indeed have a long "radio silence" now. Some good news is that we're reprogramming the command transceiver on the satellite used by the SA-AMSAT payload (CTR-VU2) tonight. This will hopefully sidestep the issue we've had with the cut-off at the PTT tail. The idea is to keep the PTT active for the 15 minute duration that the SA-AMSAT payload will be active at a time, i.e. uncouple the PTT functionality from the rest of the SA-AMSAT payload functions. We will then make sure it works as expected (hopefully first half of next week) and if all goes well, aim to have the payload fully operational and in service again by the end of the week." From SARLNEWS: "SUMBANDILASAT SOON BACK IN AMATEUR RADIO MODE SA AMSAT announced that SumbandilaSat will soon be back in the Amateur Radio Mode. Currently Sunspace will re-program CR2 with a fix for the SA AMSAT PTT problem . This is expected to be completed by mid May. Programming of the Amateur Radio Payload will in future be carried out by the CSIR Satellite Application Centre at Hartebeeshoek. SA AMSAT will work with SAC to coordinate operational requests. More details on how to request operation will be announced in the next two weeks and published on www.amsatsa.org.za <http://www.amsatsa.org.za>. We will not be using googlegroups."

12 years, 3 months

Field Day AO-51 configuration - another option

by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)

Hi! With all the talk about the possibility of an L-band uplink and/or S-band downlink on AO-51 since there will be at least 2 other V/U FM satellites available during Field Day weekend, what about sticking with the V/U frequency combination but go with something different for the 2m uplink mode? Using SSB or even CW on the 2m uplink would make AO-51 different than the other V/U satellites, yet still provide a challenge that more stations could take on than L-band or S-band - and the variety that Drew mentioned that the AO-51 group wants to provide for Field Day weekend. Just a thought... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

12 years, 3 months

Doppler Tuning Convention Question

by John Belstner

I know there is a lot of discussion on this subject in the AMSAT archives, but I've recently read a few posts to the BB that have me confused. Just this weekend I got my Sat station on the air (FT-736R w/MacDoppler) and I noticed that the MacDoppler program I use adjusts both the TX and RX frequencies during the satellite pass. I'm assuming this is to keep my signal located in the same place in the transponder. The program seemed to work quite well. I was able to copy several QSO's on VO-52 and made a couple contacts as well. One thing I noticed is that about half the QSO's I copied did not require any manual tuning on my part (MacDoppler adjusted the RX correctly) while the other half did. According to MacDoppler, those that did require manual tuning were moving around within the transponder passband. I've read a few posts (one as recent as today) that suggested the convention is to keep the RX frequency fixed and manually adjusting the TX frequency while monitoring the downlink. Looking through the AMSAT archives this is the old convention prior to the popularity of tracking software and CAT control. So my question is, are there two conventions? or do I not have my software configured correctly? Sorry for what might seem like a stupid question, but I'm a newbie to this facet of Ham Radio. BTW, I'm having a blast! Cheers, John Belstner w9en(a)arrl.net

12 years, 3 months

EM37 & EM38

by Gail A Mcdaniel

May 26th and 27th I was in training at Tan-Tar-A at Osage Beach Missouri. I knew I would have some free time so I took my HT's and Arrow antenna and worked some passes. Most of the passes I worked was from one of the parking lots at Tan-Tar-A Resort (EM38), I worked 2 passes from the EM37/EM38 grid boundary on US-54 and I worked one pass from Ha-Ha-Tonka State Park (EM37). If you would like to have a QSL card from any of the grids I worked please send me an email for the contact/grid(s) and I will get it out to you asap. And as always... I had a blast! 73 from KC Gail - KB0RZD

12 years, 3 months

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AMSAT-BB May 2010