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

Fw: Re: Elk (not Arrow) antenna will not unscrew, help
by Bill Dzurilla 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

Thanks to all who responded. It is an ELK, NOT Arrow, that is stuck. I am now in Europe with no antenna, will try to get on the sats anyway somehow. At least one day, I will work AO-7 from the spot where Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria touch together, thus 3 countries for one qso. 73, Bill NZ5N/OM9ACA

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UNITEC-1 current status
by Naomi Kurahara 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

Dear all, I am Naomi Kurahara, a member of UNITEC-1 project. We finished the first operation phase with small and big antenna. During May 21st 7:00:00(UTC) - 17:00:00(UTC), we received signals from UNITEC-1. Unfortunately we didn't receive after that. UNITEC-1 may have a nap... In the next phase we use 18m Katsuura, 34m NICT, 32m Yamaguchi to wake up UNITEC-1 again ;-) I hope we will find a way! Please keep watching our project. http://sites.google.com/site/unitec1ops/ Please listen a received data with our ground stations. http://arvireo35b.sakura.ne.jp/srdupload/ If you received UNITEC-1 signal, please report to me. We will send a verification card. 703kurahara(a)gmail.com Best regards, 73. JE6GXN Naomi Kurahara

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dx keeper
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

I am using dx keeper for my logging program. Is there a way to inter satellite contacts in it? Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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AO-51 Field Day
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

Just to be clear. AMSAT rules --- one contact on AO-51 mode V/S, and one contact AO-51 mode V/U ARRL rules --- one contact on AO-51 period. When I asked the ARRL for a ruling a couple years ago this was the answer I got. One contact on AO-51 regardless of modes. Is AMSAT allowing two? One on each mode. 73, Joe kk0sd

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Arrow antenna will not unscrew, help
by Bill Dzurilla 03 Jun '10

03 Jun '10

We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not that solid so it's not possible to use a great deal of force. Is there some trick to unscrewing these things? 73, Bill NZ5N (soon to be OM9ACA, look for me on AO-7)

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Wanted U-110 Rotor
by Howard Stephenson 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

I'm looking for an Alliance U-100 or U110 rotor with control box. Thanks, Howard Stephenson K6IA

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Re: Field Day AO-51 configuration - THANK YOU!
by Mark L. Hammond 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

You're welcome :) Thank Drew, actually. Everybody can get a shot at their preferred mode--1 day of V/U, 1 day of V/S--seemed like a good compromise. 73! Mark N8MH At 11:07 AM 6/2/2010 -0700, Ng, Peter wrote: >To the AO-51 Project Team: > >Thanks so much for the V/U mode during field day! :) > >73, Peter VE7NGP >_______________________________________________ >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 Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Drivers needed Tripp-Lite U209-004 USB to Serial (RS-232) Adapter-4-port
by Mark L. Hammond 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Hello, I've spent the last hour or two trying my best to find WindowsXP drivers for this USB to 4-port serial port converter box: Drivers needed Tripp-Lite U209-004 USB to Serial (RS-232) Adapter-4-port If anybody has drives, please contact me off list. The Tripp-Lite webpage doesn't have any..and I can't find them anywhere! 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Alt-Az telescope mount for Antenna
by saguaroastro＠cox.net 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

Hello all, I'm new to the boards here and was browsing through and saw a post a few weeks ago about using an Alt az Telescope mount as an antenna rotor. I didn't see a response so I'll add my .0661 Malaysan Ringgits based on my experience as an Amateur Astronomer. First I have to presume that the OP already has the mount in question as a purpose made rotor could be had for a lot less money. First I'd think wind load on a typical antenna wouldn't be that much, but I would mount the antenna with it's center of gravity as close as possible to the elevation axis. Since a telescope would be mounted with its CG ON the Elevation axis, you'd want to keep the Antennas CG as close as possible to minimize and torque loads on the gears. I'd also use a sturdy dovetail mount, though that being said it looks like the mount in question is more than capable of handling the weight. Also make sure that the antenna will clear all aprt of the mount though it's entire range travel. As for tracking, I'm not sure if it will track fast enough. I couldn't find any specs in that regard. I know the Meade Autostar can accept Keplarian elements and track sats. Quite frankly it looks like a pain to upload them and I've never tried it, though I've been tempted. Since I've gotten interested in working the birds (Still have yet to make a QSO, Building an antenna and amassing the needed equipment), I've been looking at my Orion EQ1 German mount as a possible rotor. It's a basic Mount and I've figured if I mount the antenna with the beam paralell to the Dec shaft, alI have to do is set the lattitude comlimentary to the Max elevation (90 Deg - Max El) and point the RA shaft opposite the Max Elevation Azimuth, it will track the path of the sat. It won't track using the Clock drive, but I should be able to keep up using the slow motion controls. That being said, substututing a faster motor shouldn't be too difficult for a later project. Hope this helps. Now if someone could show me how to reply to thread on the archives...... 73 Rick K7TEJ DM33vq

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Field Day AO-51 configuration - another option
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 02 Jun '10

02 Jun '10

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/

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