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

Antenna Opinions?
by Greg D. 23 Sep '10

23 Sep '10

Hi folks, So, we had a swap meet a couple of weekends ago, and I found a bargain I couldn't refuse. Of course, now I need to decide what to do with it... The Find was a 35 element 1296mHz antenna, well built and in excellent condition. Linearly polarized, horizontal; supposed to be 23dBi gain. Manufacturer, of course, is unknown. No markings, but it does not look home-built. By the mounting hardware, it looks like it was part of some sort of stacked array. The problem is that I already have a 1296mHz antenna. Home-made, circularly polarized, 18 turns Helix. Should be something like 17dBic, if the calculations are correct. In the shack, which is at the wrong end of 60' of 1/2" hardline and a total of about 15' of RG-213 or something like it, I have my Yaesu 736R and its 10 watts of screaming RF power. No preamps. Which antenna should I keep up on the rotor assembly? Last weekend I put up the new antenna. I've made one AO-51 LU pass with the new antenna, and I was not impressed. Several times I couldn't get into the bird, presumably because of the crossed polarization. But when I did get in, it was full quieting, even at low elevations. I don't recall having this much trouble with the Helix. I think AO-51 is the only current satellite on L-band, right? For other uses, there's nothing terrestrial to aim at, repeaters-wise; they're all hiding behind one or more hills, or went off the air years ago. That leaves Weak Signal work (hence the horizontal mounting). I do have one shot into the valley, to the North West, but probably slim pickings for contacts. I haven't tried EME. I'm leaning towards putting the Helix back up, and passing the new one on to someone more able to use it. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Greg KO6TH

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New Proposed Launch Date For Next Falcon 9
by B J 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

http://www.spacenews.com/launch/100922-spacex-targets-november-dragon.html The mission profile looks quite ambitious this time. The Dragon spacecraft is supposed to orbit, re-enter, and splash down. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Jan 09 sat passes
by francesco messineo 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hello all, I have a rather unusual question: can anyone tell me what satellite was visible over JM49MG around 20.20 UTC of 06 Jan 2009? I have in my log a contact via VO-52, but I received a QSL for that same contact via "AO-07 orbit 56249". I tried with my predict program but with current keps it gives result not meaningful for 06 January 2009. Thanks in advance Frank IZ8DWF

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antennas
by Dads 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hi : I have owned and tried nearly antenna on the market. I have used patch feed , dishes. eggbeaters, yagi,s etc. I have had Cushcraft, Hy gain , M2, and KLM , s The best overall performance antennas are KLM, s . I use switchers on all the antennas too. Jerry w0sat

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Downconverters on Ebay
by Matt Patterson 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Just found a person selling several downconverters on Ebay that look like they could be used for AO-51 mode S. (with modifications) No Bias T or power supplies though. http://shop.ebay.com/the_consumer_rebellion/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_i… 73 Matt W5LL

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Re: Antenna Opinions?
by Steve Niles 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

I use a Directive Systems 25 element loop yagi and it works great for AO-51 L band. http://www.directivesystems.com I'm feeding it with 10 watts via 35 feet of LMR400. Directive Systems antennas are very well built and less expensive than some other popular brands. Steve N5EN --- ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com wrote: From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Opinions? Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2010 22:03:31 -0700 Hi folks, So, we had a swap meet a couple of weekends ago, and I found a bargain I couldn't refuse. Of course, now I need to decide what to do with it... The Find was a 35 element 1296mHz antenna, well built and in excellent condition. Linearly polarized, horizontal; supposed to be 23dBi gain. Manufacturer, of course, is unknown. No markings, but it does not look home-built. By the mounting hardware, it looks like it was part of some sort of stacked array. The problem is that I already have a 1296mHz antenna. Home-made, circularly polarized, 18 turns Helix. Should be something like 17dBic, if the calculations are correct. In the shack, which is at the wrong end of 60' of 1/2" hardline and a total of about 15' of RG-213 or something like it, I have my Yaesu 736R and its 10 watts of screaming RF power. No preamps. Which antenna should I keep up on the rotor assembly? Last weekend I put up the new antenna. I've made one AO-51 LU pass with the new antenna, and I was not impressed. Several times I couldn't get into the bird, presumably because of the crossed polarization. But when I did get in, it was full quieting, even at low elevations. I don't recall having this much trouble with the Helix. I think AO-51 is the only current satellite on L-band, right? For other uses, there's nothing terrestrial to aim at, repeaters-wise; they're all hiding behind one or more hills, or went off the air years ago. That leaves Weak Signal work (hence the horizontal mounting). I do have one shot into the valley, to the North West, but probably slim pickings for contacts. I haven't tried EME. I'm leaning towards putting the Helix back up, and passing the new one on to someone more able to use it. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Greg KO6TH _______________________________________________ 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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Re: AO-7 Logbook Website Contact - Other
by john hackett 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

DJ8DT, I stopped maintaining the AO-7 log 2 years ago. I'm now the local area coordinator (Northern Europe) for HO-68. To edit your own entries click on the spyglass at the the left hand side of the screen and follow the on-screen instructions. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ..................................................................................................................................................................................... > Subject: AO-7 Logbook Website Contact - Other > To: emily(a)planetemily.com; la2qaa(a)hotmail.com > From: postmaster(a)planetemily.com > Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 08:40:37 -0700 > > > > The following message was received from the AO-7 Logbook website on 20 Sep, 2010 at 08:40 > > Email: dj8dt @darc.de Reason for Contact: Other > > Message Text: > Dear OM, > > tell me please, how I can edit the AO-7 log to correct > my entries ? > > 73 de DJ8DT > > >

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Re: Antenna Opinions?
by Bob- W7LRD 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Hi Greg et al I have been partial with the helix for satellites. I run 10W to a 16 turn helix through 40 feet of LMR-400. I rarely have an issue getting into AO-51. I believe AO -51 is our only L band bird, I try to "exercise" my gear when the opportunity is there. I experience very little fading with the L band uplink, input to the satellite is quite solid down to fairly low elevations. The yagi would as you mentioned would better for terrestial 1.2ghz stuff. 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 10:03:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Opinions? Hi folks, So, we had a swap meet a couple of weekends ago, and I found a bargain I couldn't refuse. Of course, now I need to decide what to do with it... The Find was a 35 element 1296mHz antenna, well built and in excellent condition. Linearly polarized, horizontal; supposed to be 23dBi gain. Manufacturer, of course, is unknown. No markings, but it does not look home-built. By the mounting hardware, it looks like it was part of some sort of stacked array. The problem is that I already have a 1296mHz antenna. Home-made, circularly polarized, 18 turns Helix. Should be something like 17dBic, if the calculations are correct. In the shack, which is at the wrong end of 60' of 1/2" hardline and a total of about 15' of RG-213 or something like it, I have my Yaesu 736R and its 10 watts of screaming RF power. No preamps. Which antenna should I keep up on the rotor assembly? Last weekend I put up the new antenna. I've made one AO-51 LU pass with the new antenna, and I was not impressed. Several times I couldn't get into the bird, presumably because of the crossed polarization. But when I did get in, it was full quieting, even at low elevations. I don't recall having this much trouble with the Helix. I think AO-51 is the only current satellite on L-band, right? For other uses, there's nothing terrestrial to aim at, repeaters-wise; they're all hiding behind one or more hills, or went off the air years ago. That leaves Weak Signal work (hence the horizontal mounting). I do have one shot into the valley, to the North West, but probably slim pickings for contacts. I haven't tried EME. I'm leaning towards putting the Helix back up, and passing the new one on to someone more able to use it. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Greg KO6TH _______________________________________________ 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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ND9M Road Trip Update #3
by claryco＠aol.com 22 Sep '10

22 Sep '10

Here's a tentative schedule for Cori and me tomorrow (Wed, 22 Sept) as we take the grid hunters route from Thermopolis, WY, to Grand Teton NP. Emphasis is on tentative, but with several passes available to my QTH, including two HO68 passes, we should be able to get to five and maybe even six grids if we keep our stops to a minimum. Sat / local AOS / Grid(s) HO68 / 22/1707Z / DN53 & DN63 HO68 / 22/1855Z / DN52 AO27 / 22/1931Z / DN52 AO27 / 22/2110Z / DN62 AO51 / 22/2235Z / DN51 & DN61 On Thursday, we'll swing up along the western side of the state and hit DN41 and DN42 along the way. Our current destination will be at Grand Teton in DN43 where we're expecting to camp for three days. For the 6M ops, I'm still CQing for several minutes on 50.125 MHz after each pass, but I've heard nothing but noise. Even though I'm running the rig off batteries on a short leash and with the car shut off, I'm also getting S8 noise. That's not unusual when I'm in or near a town, but following today's DN54 / DN64 operation at Bald Mt. in north central Wyoming, there was nothing around for miles, yet the S meter was sitting on 9. I'll keep trying though. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Thermopolis WY / Hot Springs Co. / DN53

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(no subject)
by Steve Howard 21 Sep '10

21 Sep '10

http://www.twincities.com/ci_16128573

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