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

VA7EWK from British Columbia, 3-11 July 2010
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 May '10

23 May '10

Hi! In the past two years, I have taken road trips through northern Arizona and parts of Utah and Nevada - lots of sightseeing, and lots of satellite operating. This year, I am escaping the desert heat, going north for a week. I will spend over a week in British Columbia, visiting much of Vancouver Island plus spending time in and around metropolitan Vancouver. I enjoy visiting Canada, and this is the perfect time of the year for me to head up there (it is hot in Arizona in early July - over 110F/43C!). During this trip, I plan on working satellites - FM and SSB - from many locations on Vancouver Island and some locations in and around metropolitan Vancouver as VA7EWK. The only things that have been set in stone right now are my flights to and from Vancouver. I go to Vancouver on Saturday, 3 July 2010, and return home on Sunday, 11 July. Beyond the flights, all plans are tentative at this time. I am thinking of spending a few days, including part of the 4 July holiday (in the USA) weekend on Vancouver Island, and then a few days at the end of the week in and around Vancouver. Based on several printed and online maps, it appears that I do not need a Jeep, tank, boat, or helicopter to visit 6 of the 8 grids on Vancouver Island (CN78, CN79, CN88, CN89, CO60, CO70). Of these 6, two of them are heard with some regularity on the satellites (CN88 and CN89), as those grids cover parts of Washington state and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. I do not plan on much radio activity from them. The others are rarely heard, and those would be the focus of my radio operating while on the island. Two other grids on the island (CN69, CO50) could be visited, if I see passable roads when I am up there. Back on the Lower Mainland, CO80 north of Vancouver is one that has been rarely heard on the satellites. This is where the Whistler ski resort is located, and an area I want to visit and operate from. I may be able to drive to CN99 east of Vancouver, depending on how much time I have at the end of the week - assuming I start the week on Vancouver Island. I also hope to meet up with some satellite operators while I am in Vancouver. My recent trip to Dayton was partly a test in preparation for this planned trip to Canada. I wanted to bring a station with me to Dayton that I could use to work FM and SSB satellites, and in particular try to work long distances through the SSB birds to places I can't work from home in Arizona. As I had posted last weekend, I was able to make a couple of transatlantic QSOs via AO-7 from the Dayton area, and was able to work other satellites from points in and around Dayton. I will take my two FT-817NDs, Elk log periodic antenna, and other gear and accessories to Canada as my portable station - just like I did for Dayton. I have started a web page for this trip at: http://july2010.wd9ewk.net/ I will post updates there, as well as through messages to the -BB before and during this trip. Please e-mail me if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc. regarding this trip. Even though radio is only one part of the trip, I hope to have time to work many stations all over from up there. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Wet Grids from ND9M/MM
by Clary, James T, Civilian 23 May '10

23 May '10

My merchant marine vessel is scheduled to sail from the Persian Gulf to Diego Garcia starting tomorrow, 24 May. I expect to be QRV in several wet grids during the afternoon and evening, as well as in the morning if my work schedule permits it. I'll be hitting AO-51, AO-27, FO-29, and VO-52 as much as possible during the 10 days we'll be underway along with AO-7 and HO-68 when they're available. 73, Jim, ND9M/MM / VQ9JC

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WD9EWK @ Show Low AZ hamfest (5 June)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 May '10

23 May '10

Hi! On Saturday, 5 June 2010, I will attend the White Mountain Hamfest in Show Low, Arizona. This is a half-day hamfest in eastern Arizona, and more information about the hamfest is available at: http://www.whitemountainhamfest.com/ During the hamfest, there will be on-air demonstrations on various satellites by WD9EWK. The hamfest site is in grid DM44xg. After the hamfest, depending on the time and weather, I hope to be on the air from the DM44/DM54 grid boundary which is less than 3 miles/5km east of the hamfest site. On Sunday, 6 June 2010, I plan on driving northward toward grid DM56 somewhere in northeastern Arizona or northwestern New Mexico. This is a grid I have worked from only once (July 2008), and have worked only one station via satellite from this area in the past few years. I will try to work as many passes, FM and SSB, that I can get on from up there into the mid-afternoon. Since it will take at least 5 hours for me to get home from this area, I cannot stay up there for the passes in the late afternoon or evening. I will post more information about this part of the trip to the -BB during that weekend. As with my other road trips, I will be happy to QSL contacts made with WD9EWK from the hamfest and the post-hamfest activity. Please e-mail me the QSO details, and - if you are in the log - I will send you a card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Fwd: Next "HV Satcom" Net
by Stuart Balanger 23 May '10

23 May '10

*Please add onto my posting: Am thinking of purchaseing "SatPC32" & was wondering if it will work on "Windows XP Pro.? 73,.Stu PS Never got the ANS Bullitin for May 23! * ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stuart Balanger <wa2bss(a)gmail.com> Date: Wed, May 19, 2010 at 6:36 PM Subject: Next "HV Satcom" Net To: ans-editor(a)amsat.org *The next "HVSatcom" Net is Thursday May 27, & hope the Echolink node of "N2EYH-L" will be activated! Net time is 8PM (EDT; or 2400UTC), & the Repeater is the MT.Beacon ARC 146.97 2 Meter Repeater! More info go to : www.hvsatcom.org 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) *

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AO-27 website schedule behind
by George Henry 23 May '10

23 May '10

On the AO-27 pass that just took place (~ 19:00Z), I noticed that the AO-27 website schedule was a good 20 minutes behind the satellite's actual mode, while my son's Java scheduler was about 2-1/2 minutes behind. I have sent Michael Wyrick an e-mail to let him know. George, KA3HSW

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Re: tracking Ao-51 on heavens above questoin
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 23 May '10

23 May '10

Jimmy, On Heavens-Above, AO-51 is listed as AO-Echo. Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID On May 23, 2010 2:32 PM, "Jimmy c" <kc9pxz(a)centurytel.net> wrote: HI , well envery think is gone set up wise fished the dross boom for my tri poad kast night. All that leaft to go is track Ao-51 and pick a pass and try to see if i can hear then give it a try. I wanted to try heavens above for tracking. well I gi there make a acount so that my QTH is in there when I log in. its all good LOL so I try to rack ao-51 I cnat find it on that site, what up maybe it because im new to that site. I cant find Ao-51 on the web so so does somone have a link? thanks KC9PXZ jimmy c Norwalk WI _______________________________________________ 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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New HO-68 sked
by John Neeley 23 May '10

23 May '10

Anyone know when Alan will send out the new weekly sked for HO-68, as last weeks is now out of date. I am guessing it will be in the FM configuration, but that is again, just a guess.. John W6ZKH

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tracking Ao-51 on heavens above questoin
by Jimmy c 23 May '10

23 May '10

HI , well envery think is gone set up wise fished the dross boom for my tri poad kast night. All that leaft to go is track Ao-51 and pick a pass and try to see if i can hear then give it a try. I wanted to try heavens above for tracking. well I gi there make a acount so that my QTH is in there when I log in. its all good LOL so I try to rack ao-51 I cnat find it on that site, what up maybe it because im new to that site. I cant find Ao-51 on the web so so does somone have a link? thanks KC9PXZ jimmy c Norwalk WI

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PL tone on FO-29 ?
by i8cvs 23 May '10

23 May '10

----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Portanova" <roic(a)optonline.net> To: <fwmeyer(a)richland.edu> Cc: <amsAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 2:21 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Fw: Re: New FO-29 Solar Array Current Graph > Frank, > > We were forwarded, via the AMSAT-BB, from Mineo the FO-29 telemetry that > you captured and anylyzed. As an observer and avid user of FO-29 I > found it very informative. If the solar array output continues to > deteriorate perhaps the control operators might consider a PL tone to > open the transmitter to conserve the battery when not in use, which is > what they are doing with AO-51. > > 73's > PeteWB2OQQ > > Hi Pete, WB2OQQ I don't think it is possible to consider a PL tone on FO-29 to open the transmitter to conserve the battery when not in use because actually FO-29 is operating only: Voice/CW (Mode JA) Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 MHz and the Digital Mode JD Uplinks: 145.850 MHz FM 145.870 MHz FM 145.910 MHz FM Downlink: 435.910 MHz 1200-baud BPSK or 9600-baud FSK Callsign: 8J1JCS Digitalker: 435.910 MHz is out of service from many years now.In addition I don't think FO-29 in Mode JD has been designed to operate FM Voice with a PL tone. How can you actually open a PL tone in ( Mode JA ) using an SSB transmitter ? In my opinion it is best to use a minimum EIRP power on FO-29 to conserve the battery because actually FO-29 along with HO-68 and OSCAR-7 is the best available satellite for linear CW and SSB operation. On FO-29 SSB I worked N2UN in New York from my JN70ES and it was a real thrill to contact Tony with his portable station on a promenade next to the East River. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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HO-68 Schedule - 23-30 May 2010
by Alan Kung 23 May '10

23 May '10

UTC: 23 May 2010 ================================ 16:55...Turn On--FM India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:40...Turn Off 18:40...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:25...Turn Off 22:45...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 23:30...Turn Off 24 May 2010 ================================ 03:25...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 04:10...Turn Off 12:51...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 13:05...Turn Off 18:20...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 19:05...Turn Off 25 May 2010 ================================ 23:45...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 00:30...Turn Off 01:15...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 02:00...Turn Off 10:25...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:10...Turn Off 14:22...Turn On--FM North Asia, East Asia, South Asia 14:37...Turn Off 16:20...Turn On--FM India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:05...Turn Off 18:05...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 18:50...Turn Off 26 May 2010 ================================= 10:05...Turn On--FM Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 10:50...Turn Off 12:15...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 12:29...Turn Off 17:50...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 18:35...Turn Off 21:50...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 22:36...Turn Off 27 May 2010 ================================= 05:05...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,Middle East, Europe,Africa 05:50...Turn Off 09:50...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 10:35...Turn Off 13:43...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 13:59...Turn Off 17:30...Turn On--FM Africa,India,Middle East,Europe,NA 18:15...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 19:45...Turn Off 28 May 2010 ================================ 23:25...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 00:10...Turn Off 13:31...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 13:47...Turn Off 14:00...Turn On--FM Europe,NA,South America 14:45...Turn Off 17:15...Turn On--FM India,Africa,Europe,NA 18:00...Turn Off 23:05...Turn On--FM South America,Africa,NA, Europe,North Asia,East Asia 23:50...Turn Off 29 May 2010 ================================ 00:25...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 01:10...Turn Off 13:11...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 13:26...Turn Off 13:45...Turn On--FM Europe,NA,South America 14:30...Turn Off 17:00...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 17:45...Turn Off 30 May 2010 ================================ 00:05...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 00:50...Turn Off 06:05...Turn On--FM North Asia,Europe,Africa 06:50...Turn Off 13:00...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 13:15...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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