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

KB9BIT in DM80
by Thomas Laskowski 05 May '10

05 May '10

I'm leaving Thursday, May 6 for my annual trip to West Texas to attend the Texas Star Party near Ft. Davis, TX. I plan to be active on SO-50 and AO-27 as much as possible from DM80 next week. AO-51 won't be in V/U mode most of next week so I won't be on that one. I'll also plan to activate DM70/80 a few times since it's only two miles west of where I'll be. I'm also going to try and activate some of the grids along the way from Indiana to Texas, but it will be whenever I get a chance to stop and operate. I don't even know for sure which grids I'll be passing thru. There won't be any specific schedule for these grids on the way down or back. If we work and you need a card drop me an e-mail. [qrz.com] 73, Tom KB9BIT

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Re: USB to Serial Converter
by Ron Miles 05 May '10

05 May '10

Hi Bill: For transfer of digital data between radio “CAT” ports and laptop I use the Keyspan USA-19HS interface to an Ultra ULT33056 USB 7 port hub. Although I have the FT 897D, this CAT interface may also work for the FT 847. The laptop is Windows XP/Dell Inspiron. The hub requires it's own 12V source. Hub: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=… RS232 to Serial Interface: http://www.amazon.com/Keyspan-Speed-Serial-Adapter-USA-19HS/dp/B0000VYJRY This interface works great for both radios Yaesu FT 736R and FT 897D. The hub and Keyspan works great with the G5500 rotor control. Software application interface examples: SATPC32, Nova, UniTrac2003. Ham Radio Deluxe/DM780 works great with the 897D. Hope this example helps. 73 Ron n6paa

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Starter antennas
by Jacob Tennant 05 May '10

05 May '10

I have a set of M2 loops antennas for 2 meters & 70cm and from reading their website they state that they are good LEO antennas. So I was wondering what the consensus is from anyone that has tried them. I understand that they won't be as good as a CP beam setup on a az/el rotator, but since I have nothing up as of yet hoping they will at least let me get started, was also hoping to use them for a mobile satellite setup as well... Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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Re: USB to Serial Converters
by Bill Dzurilla 05 May '10

05 May '10

> Is anyone using a USB to Serial converter successfully to > control a FT847?? > > > > Frank VK5KV.. > Yes, I am. No problems here (knock on wood) with an eBay cheapie (just $2 shipped) and a Dell Optiplex running Windows XP. 73, Bill NZ5N

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mmds downconverters for ao-51?
by jfloyd＠es.vccs.edu 05 May '10

05 May '10

Has anyone tried one of the itfs mmds downconverters like this one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110523087399&ssPageName=… for ao-51 s band downlink? 75 ohm out and looks cheesey but less than $30 shipped. it's cheap enough for me to play so I bought one to experiment with, maybe just to remove the downconverter. I would welcome stories of your experience or just advice. Thanks John, kn4ge

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Happy Birthday to HAMSAT
by Prathap Kumar 05 May '10

05 May '10

Hi All Heres wishing HAMSAT VO-52 a very Happy Birthday with 5 years of healthy service to hams all over the world. On behalf of hams Amsat-India thanks ISRO, with sincere gratitude for their wondeful gift of HAMSAT to the world of Amateur Radio. At the recent meet ISTRAC reported that Hamsat is very healthy and should provide many more years of service to hams. Comemorating the 5th birthday we would appreciate user reports and feedback about Hamsat. Please email your reports , feedback & experiences Thank you ISRO and all who contributed to HAMSAT project. Best 73 Pop VU2POP Director Technical Amsat India

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Re: Satellite passes for open house TH. night
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 05 May '10

05 May '10

Sorry about the posting with the list of passes for 5/6 and 5/7, intended for UF listserv.but at least the AMSAT group can see how we use college satellite nights as an educational experience. Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL Gator ARC Faculty advisor.work us at W4DFU and get our new satellite QSL card! _____ From: Dr. Jay Garlitz [mailto:drjay@gatordental.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 6:17 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Cc: 'Dr. Jay Garlitz AA4FL'; fopalko(a)cox.net Subject: Satellite passes for open house TH. night The satellite passes below start 22:35 UTC (6:35 local time) Thursday night and follow until 10:16 pm local time. As you can see from the list below there are satellite passes of many different satellites and modes. This is a good evening to come by and learn how to use the satellites and the advantages/disadvantages of each mode. I hope to see you there! Dr. Jay, AA4FL AO-51 will be in the FM repeater mode J (2m up, 70cm down); Japanese satellite FO-29 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down); AO-7, satellite from 1974, mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down) or mode A (2m up, 10 SSB/CW down); Saudi satellite SO-50 Mode J (2m FM up, 70 cm down); HAMSAT Indian Satellite VO-52 inverting transponder mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down); New Chinese Satellite HO (Hope)-68 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down) WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11813 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 06.05.2010 FO-29 22:35 22:48 13 11 041 - 143 06.05.2010 AO-07 22:39 22:59 20 40 139 - 354 06.05.2010 SO-50 23:08 23:21 13 55 196 - 033 06.05.2010 AO-51 23:10 23:24 14 25 197 - 334 WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11814 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 07.05.2010 FO-29 00:19 00:36 17 71 010 - 199 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5200:28 00:29 01 00 066 - 048 07.05.2010 AO-07 00:32 00:52 20 36 188 - 334 07.05.2010 SO-50 00:50 01:01 11 12 254 - 007 07.05.2010 HO-68 01:18 01:35 17 25 128 - 359 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5201:57 02:09 12 50 155 - 355 07.05.2010 FO-29 02:06 02:16 10 08 341 - 260 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5087 (20100505) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5087 (20100505) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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Satellite passes for open house TH. night
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 05 May '10

05 May '10

The satellite passes below start 22:35 UTC (6:35 local time) Thursday night and follow until 10:16 pm local time. As you can see from the list below there are satellite passes of many different satellites and modes. This is a good evening to come by and learn how to use the satellites and the advantages/disadvantages of each mode. I hope to see you there! Dr. Jay, AA4FL AO-51 will be in the FM repeater mode J (2m up, 70cm down); Japanese satellite FO-29 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down); AO-7, satellite from 1974, mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down) or mode A (2m up, 10 SSB/CW down); Saudi satellite SO-50 Mode J (2m FM up, 70 cm down); HAMSAT Indian Satellite VO-52 inverting transponder mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down); New Chinese Satellite HO (Hope)-68 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down) WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11813 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 06.05.2010 FO-29 22:35 22:48 13 11 041 - 143 06.05.2010 AO-07 22:39 22:59 20 40 139 - 354 06.05.2010 SO-50 23:08 23:21 13 55 196 - 033 06.05.2010 AO-51 23:10 23:24 14 25 197 - 334 WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11814 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 07.05.2010 FO-29 00:19 00:36 17 71 010 - 199 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5200:28 00:29 01 00 066 - 048 07.05.2010 AO-07 00:32 00:52 20 36 188 - 334 07.05.2010 SO-50 00:50 01:01 11 12 254 - 007 07.05.2010 HO-68 01:18 01:35 17 25 128 - 359 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5201:57 02:09 12 50 155 - 355 07.05.2010 FO-29 02:06 02:16 10 08 341 - 260

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HAMSAT VO-52 Completes 5 Years
by Mani VU2WMY 05 May '10

05 May '10

Dear friends, HAMSAT VO-52 was launched on 05.05.05 from India by PSLV C6. Today, HAMSAT is entering into its 6th year after successfully completing five years of fruitful service in the orbit. On this great occasion, we all at 'Upagrah Amateur Radio Club' ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, India take pleasure in expressing our sincere thanks & gratitude to each & everyone in ISRO, who contributed to the success of 'HAMSAT'. Our good wishes & greetings to 'HAMSAt VO-52' to remain in orbit with good health for many more years and to provide the services as one of the 'most favorable satellite' among all of us. We wish 'HAMSAT VO-52 'A Happy Birthday'. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-2508 2054/2192/2537 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com

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First attempt with beam antennas. . .crap
by Jacob Tennant 05 May '10

05 May '10

Well as I should have expected my first attempt with the full size beam antennas did not turn out as good as I had hoped but it gave me reference point to work up from. Never heard anything on ISS repeater, but did hear a few people on SO-50 but still not good enough to make out any callsigns but signals were louder than before. One problem I found in tear down was that when my experimental antenna base mount turned it changed the up-tilt angle of the antennas from above 30 degrees to the west to 10 degrees to the east so my aiming was less than optimal as well as I was doing armstrong method for spinning them and had to run from deck to antenna and back as well as trying to make a qso if possible. Also experimentation base is only a 5 foot tall piece of mast, angles were eyeballed, I was tired. . . SO, I am hoping to get this setup somewhat perfected as I am getting the itch to take this dog & pony show up to my Field Day site with me as it is at 2600amsl so the horizon is almost always below me and should make for interesting fun as evening come around since I am running the 10 meter station and it will die early if the LEO's are active. See you on the air soon. . . Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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