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

LVB Tracker USB serial port driver for Windows 7 x64?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 22 Dec '16

22 Dec '16

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

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Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
by Ford, Steve, WB8IMY 16 Jul '12

16 Jul '12

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

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Re: EggBeater
by Bill Dzurilla 30 May '12

30 May '12

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

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FW: Re: The Moon is our Future
by Dave 15 Mar '11

15 Mar '11

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:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] 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

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Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 on PSLV-C15
by Daniel Kekez 12 Jul '10

12 Jul '10

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

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HF Satellite Relay
by Robert Bruninga 01 Jul '10

01 Jul '10

Heard today of a Passive HF relay satellite being proposed. Wondered if Hams could relay off of it. It's a 10m diameter sphere. I assumed a 10m signal and 1000 Watts And antenna gains at both ends of 10 dB. Unless I made a dumb error, it looks impossible? I get a received signal of -170 dBm Compared to a good HF receiver of -122 dBm So its 48 dB down in the noise. Going to narrow band, could improve things, but the Doppler of +/- 600 Hz would make that difficult. Anyway, if someone else wants to double check the link budget using the radar range equation, go for it. The beauty of this system is that it is perfectly spherical, so the reflection coefficient would be constant within 1 dB. That is the advantage over trying to use the ISS or other large rocket body... They vary by 20 dB making communication by reflection impossible. Oh, and it would be in space for 30 years or more. So with something that reliable, it would be worth developing an amateur capability to use it. It is not designed for comms, but as a calibration sphere for over the horizon radars that have LOTS more power and LOTS more gain than we do. Bob, Wb4APR

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Michigan's Upper Peninsula Grid Activation EN65, EN66, and EN76 July 3-5, 2010
by Doug Papay 30 Jun '10

30 Jun '10

All, I will be active via FM satellite (AO-51, SO-50, AO-27 and SO-67) from the uncommon grid squares EN65, EN66, and EN76 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula during the Independence Day holiday weekend (Saturday, July 3rd PM - Monday, July 5th AM). EN76 is my primary destination with side trips for operations from EN65 and EN66. Look for me on from EN76 on Saturday afternoon & Sunday and Monday mornings. I expect to operate from EN65 and EN66 during the afternoon/evening passes on Saturday and Sunday respectively coinciding with the location of the local fireworks displays. I will attempt to work as many passes as possible, family commitments prevailing. Operating conditions at my EN76 destination are unknown; satellite imagery shows heavy tree cover as is typical of most of northern Michigan, but since we will be located across the road from a lake, I should have good visibility to the south from the shore and/or dock. I expect to operate from the Lake Michigan and Lake Superior shorelines while in EN65 and EN66 respectively. My station consists of a Kenwood TH-D7A and Arrow antenna. If you are looking for EN74 or EN75, it is possible that I could operate from either these grids on the journey north (Saturday AM) or on the return trip (Monday AM/PM). Drop me an email with your request and I'll try to accommodate. As always, I will sign KD8CAO/P to indicate that I am portable and not @ my home QTH. For all contacts, no QSL or SASE is required, just send me an email request and I will send you a QSL card. 73, Doug KD8CAO

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Dual band "cheap yagi" question ( interlacing elements?)
by Michael Tondee 30 Jun '10

30 Jun '10

I'm in the process of putting together a portable FM satellite station and I intend to homebrew the antenna using the WA5VJB "cheap yagi" design. In looking at a picture in the May/June 2007 AMSAT Journal I've noticed that the so called "AMSAT demonstration antenna" that is composed of two elements on two meters and five elements on 70cm has the 70cm antenna built completely ahead of the two meter antenna on the boom. In other words, the elements for the two bands are not interlaced with each other. I'm planning to build a larger antenna with more elements as I will use it on a tripod rather than holding it by hand and I'm wondering if I can interlace the elements of the two antennas on the boom without adversely affecting performance. To build the antenna I envision in the fashion shown in the picture with one antenna built completely ahead of the other on the boom would result in an unruly boom length. Also, if I do interlace the elements, should I place them at 90 degrees orientation to each other as is done in the Arrow design? I doubt it makes any difference but just to be clear, I will be using two separate radios for TX and RX so no diplexer will be used. Yagi antennas, especially dual band designs, are not exactly my forte so I thought I'd ask this question just to be sure. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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AO-7 mode B
by Bob- W7LRD 30 Jun '10

30 Jun '10

AO-7 seems "stuck" in mode B. This is not a bad thing. Anyone know, how, why etc. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: AO-7 mode B
by Andrew Glasbrenner 30 Jun '10

30 Jun '10

Bob- W7LRD wrote: > AO-7 seems "stuck" in mode B. This is not a bad thing. Anyone know, how, why etc. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > _______________________________________________ > 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 > Short eclipses or near-eclipses over the South Pole cause the power to drop enough to reset the 24 hour mode change timer. 73, Drew KO4MA

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