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

W1AW/5 for DM73 Wednesday
by Mark Spencer 25 May '10

25 May '10

For those that tried to help with the Teachers Institute demonstration today, thanks, but I had a battery failure and missed the pass. I will attempt again tomorrow first during the AO27 pass at 1922Z and then again if not successful on the 2209Z pass. I'll be using W1AW/5 from Roswell, NM DM73. Thanks again for the support, things happen, and we'll try and recover tomorrow. Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME Education and Technology Program Coordinator ARRL, the national association for Amateur RadioT mspencer(a)arrl.org www.arrl.org/education-technology-program www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology 530-495-9150

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"sustainable satellite" Cube sat
by Luc Leblanc 25 May '10

25 May '10

A cube sat " "sustainable satellite" university project of ETS (École de technologie supérieure) in Montreal will be presented at the Québec Provincial Hamfest in Sorel-Tracy on MAY 30 2010 www.hamfest.qc.ca Project details are on the following web site in french an english: http://edds.etsmtl.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog… "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Gordon West's Technician Class 2010-2014 Book
by Clint Bradford 25 May '10

25 May '10

Well, we didn't get the entire text I submitted to Gordon printed in the new exam prep manual. Darn those editors! (grin) But AMSAT did get their "Ham Hint" box with a plug and Web address on Page 100. And of the URLs I submitted, the following appear as "Web Site Resources" on Page 104: AMSAT.org Heavens-Above.com RT Systems - cloningsoftware.com ArrowAntennas.com K6LCS' Work-Sat.com site BigFatTail.com software DogParkSoftware.com So "we" did OK. I'll "Shoot for More in 2-0-1-4" for the new book release! Clint, K6LCS http://www.k6lcs.com 909-241-7666

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Re: Transystem 3731 vs. 3733
by Ron Miles 25 May '10

25 May '10

Rich: Maybe you've seen these popular links already, here they are again regarding the 3731 and 3733 73, Ron n6paa http://www.k3roj.com/images/AIDC3733downconvtr.txt http://www.jrmiller.demon.co.uk/products/patfot.htm http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200110/msg00136.html http://128.54.16.15/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200104/msg00285.html http://www.jrmiller.demon.co.uk/products/patfot.htm

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Re: S and L band suggestion
by Ron Miles 25 May '10

25 May '10

Hello Reid: If you don’t mind experimenting, connect one of these 2.4G MMDS grid antennas http://www.amazon.com/2-4GHz-24dBi-Outdoor-Antenna-Cable/dp/B001J1Y7IA/ref=… to the downconverter taken from this antenna http://cgi.ebay.com/Yagi-MMDS-ITFS-AFN-High-Gain-Antenna-Downconverter-Used… The downconverter IF output is given at 222-408 MHz. The noise figure which isn’t all that great is listed as < 2dBi. I use a grid antenna because it has much less wind load than the solid surface of a TV dish. For my S Band downlink, I use the AIDC 3731 downconverter tuned to the 2M band. For test tuning purposes, I built one of these 2.4GHz source oscillators to locate the 2M IF output from the downconverter. http://ve2zaz.net/SigSourc/SigSourc.htm DC power to the downconverter is explained here for a Bias T. http://www.hamtv.com/pdffiles/biasT.pdf Finally, if you want Doppler frequency control, a program called SATPC32 explains how to write the Doppler.SQF file based on the downconverter Local Oscillator offset frequency. You can expect others with better suggestions. But, the above detail works well for me. Squelch quieting for AO-51 V/S band downlink often pushes the S meter full scale (there are also deep fades with AO-51). 73, Ron n6paa

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Transystem 3731 vs. 3733
by Rich Dailey (Gmail) 25 May '10

25 May '10

Can someone tell me the major difference between the two downconverters? Ten years ago or so, I used a 3733 un-modded at the fed point of an 8ft dish to copy ao-40 tlm. Today I read a lot of references to the 3731, but not much about the 3733. Just wondering if one is preferable to the other. Rich, N8UX

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UNITEC-1 ARRL Announcement
by Trevor . 25 May '10

25 May '10

ARRL - Amateur Community Needed to Assist Japanese Amateur Interplanetary Satellite http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-community-needed-to-assist-japanese-amateu… 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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Re: S and L band suggestions
by Bob- W7LRD 25 May '10

25 May '10

Hi Reid and those interested- -Getting into L & S can be as simple or as complicated as one tries to make it. Many of us are using modified MMDS downconverters http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS37… for what means. The downconverter takes the 2.4ghz downlink and "usually" converts it to the 2M band. However usually for a 2M output the crystal and some minor filter modification is required. Generally if used without modification the output is around 123mhz. A downconverter can be had for as much as about $500 for the UEK-3000 or a Keps for about $225 or a surplus MMDS unit can be found on Ebay for as little as $5 (caveat emptor). For AO-51 in mode S (downlink) reception has been reported with a simple patch antenna connected directly to the DC. Or a simple 5 turn (left hand ci rcular polarization) in front of a 18 inch TV type dish will work well. Or a longer (10 turn +) RHCP helix can work. Again the DC is connected directly to the antenna/feed to reduce losses. Usually power for the DC is feed up the coax (RG6) to the DC from a bais tee(power inserter). A larger dish could be the 36"X30" primestar, from that now defunct direct TV system. They are usually free, just watch roof lines around your neighborhood. The bigger the dish the higher the gain and the necessity for accurate pointing. I use a Transystem 3731AA (MMDS) downconverter/5 turn helix feed/Primestar dish which is connected to an old TS-700A transceiver with Tx disabled to avoid that maj or ooops of accidently transmitting into the DC. For 1.2ghz (L band) uplink will usually cost some coin! Many "satellite" radios, like the IC-910, FT-736 etc. and several others can be had and adding the optional 1.2ghz module. Again not too cheap. Or a transverter. If in your area there is local L band terrestial activity, it can be quite interesti ng. L band antennas can be loopers, yagi's or a helix. I can get into AO51 quite well with 10W from an IC-910 to a 16 turn helix. I have some pictures available which can answer many questions. Good luck with your efforts. There are ma ny on this bb that have been doing this for a long time, and are wealth of information. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Reid Crowe" <kc0idi(a)ku.edu> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:25:07 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] S and L band suggestions I am thinking I want to get into S and L band operations. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting started? What equipment is everyone using? 73 Reid, OX/N0RC _______________________________________________ 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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SatPC3 v 12.8a
by Don 25 May '10

25 May '10

Has anyone used this software with Windows 7 64 bit ? If so does it work ok? WB8ZOM Don

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S and L band suggestions
by Reid Crowe 25 May '10

25 May '10

I am thinking I want to get into S and L band operations. Does anyone have any suggestions on getting started? What equipment is everyone using? 73 Reid, OX/N0RC

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