January 2011 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

AO-51 SSB uplink
by Howie DeFelice 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

What if we tried using SSB on the uplink and FM on the downlink as an experiment sometime. If the uplink passband was left a little wide, several stations could still be intelligible at once, assuming they weren't on the exact same frequency, not to mention a cw signal or two off to the edges. The DSP between the ears can work pretty good at separating signals sometimes. Not a good mode for handheld operation but may be worth a try just to see how well it works.. Howie AB2S

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Re: Protocol
by mlolmsted＠fuse.net 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Having been a ham for over fifty years and having worked most modes of operation, including chasing DX and even satellite back in 1979, I totally agree that working AO-51 can get frustrating. However, if you think the mess on AO-51 is bad, try working a rare dx expedition sometime. Talk about pile-ups! As for protocols, I think I've read this same protocol discussion in just about every ham mag. and no one has come up with a workable solution that solved the problem. People are individuals and they tend to do what they want to do. I really wish I had a workable, amiable solution, but I don't, sorry. However, I don't recommend the Frequency Policemen idea, they generally just tend to make everyone more upset and the confusion gets even worse Now I'll get off my soap-box. Thanks, Merle, AA4QE

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SSB via satellite (was Re: Protocol)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Hi Gordon! > Because AO-51 is the most reliable satellite in terms of actually > finding and working it. SO-50 seems to be almost impossible to lift, > and the linear transponder ones require extremely expensive radios. You > can work AO-51 with an el-cheapo dual-band handie and a homebrew > antenna, and you can work /P really easily because you don't need a > rotator or satellite tracking software. SO-50 isn't impossible, but your receiver and antenna system need to be able to deal with weaker signals than you hear from other FM birds. SO-50 is transmitting at 250mW, and it gets regular workouts on passes over here. AO-51 is now running with more power on the downlink than usual, which will make the difference between it and SO-50's downlink more noticeable. PL tones are also mandatory on SO-50, to turn it on (transmit briefly with 74.4 Hz) and to talk through the satellite (67.0 Hz). > I'm not going to rush out and buy a VHF/UHF SSB rig just to work the odd > pass, especially since I've never heard anyone on the linear birds. I > don't know if VO-52 works - I've never even heard its beacon - and AO-27 > is only ever enabled over the US, making it useless for most of the > world. It would be great to attempt a QSO through AO-7 but again I'm > not going to go and buy a rig that costs as much as a car to do it. I would not characterize a Yaesu FT-817ND and Kenwood TH-F6A (outside North America, TH-F7) as "extremely expensive" radios. Sure, these two radios are more expensive than a single 2m/70cm FM HT, even more expensive than the new TH-D72A HT, but not like the prices were on all- mode 2m and 70cm gear were in years past. I regularly work the linear birds with either two FT-817NDs or one 817 and a TH-F6A receiving the downlink. With an FT-817ND, you also get a radio capable of QRP HF and 6m operation. The 817s have been in production for a decade, so you could also look at picking up a used 817 (or two) to try SSB on the birds. The 817s have a CAT control port on them, so they can be controlled with software like SatPC32. Two 817s can be controlled by SatPC32, if you are looking for an all-mode full-duplex satellite ground station with those radios. Besides an 817, you could also look at radios like the IC-706Mk2 or Mk2G, IC-7000, FT-857, FT-897, etc. You'd need a larger battery to run them than you would an 817, but all of these are capable of being used for SSB satellite work. VO-52's beacon is just a carrier on 145.936 MHz. It is on all the time, and the VO-52 downlink is easy to copy. It is a great satellite for someone interested in starting out on SSB via satellite. AO-27 is available on daylight passes over the Northern Hemisphere, not just over North America. If the web site is accurate, you can get an updated schedule for AO-27 for the upcoming 24 hours at: http://www.ao27.org/ You can also download a program that shows when AO-27 will be on for any particular date from: http://sites.google.com/site/ao27satellitescheduler/ The SSB birds are not as busy as the FM birds, but you can find activity on them. Many will work SSB with computer-controlled radios or antennas/rotator, but I - and others - do this without the benefit of computer control. It may be "old school", but with practice it is possible. If you are looking to work these birds from a portable station, that is entirely possible. I do that all the time - at hamfests, parks, from the back of my truck, with my gear laid out on the roof or trunk of a rental car, wherever I happen to be. All of my satellite station, excluding antennas and items deemed unsafe in a carry-on bag for air travel, fit in an old laptop bag. The antenna and other stuff go in a duffel bag that gets checked for air travel. You don't get the numbers of QSOs on an SSB bird that you might on AO-51, but I have fun with it. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Yaesu FT 8800
by waf3153＠aol.com 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Does anyone on the reflector have any experience with? the Yaesu FT8800 for satellite operation?? Any information will be appreciated. Thanks ,?Buff WB2SIH FN31DD

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 19
by Mike Rupprecht (mobil) 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Llll/oopppptrttpoo ----- Ursprüngliche Nachricht ----- Von: John Elliott <jaellio(a)gmail.com> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 12. Januar 2011 07:52 An: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Betreff: [amsat-bb] Reooo: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 1o9 ip If anyone is using HRD with y-R controller to a Yaesu 5500 rotator. Can they contact me direct at jaellio(a)gmail.com and assist me to get minett working ??. Regards John Elliott VK3CVF _______________________________________________ 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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IR3UEF D-Star repeater 145.800 (!)
by f6htj＠aol.com 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Oh, I forgot that one: http://www.jfindu.net/dstarlh.aspx?rptr=IR3UEF 73 de Michel F6HTJ

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programming an ID800 to work the FM birds
by Ray T. Mahorney 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

is there an easy way to do this short of programming the up and down link frequencies into separate memory channels? in other words can the radio handle a split that broad on one memory channel? Ray T. Mahorney WA4WGA

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I: Re: IR3UEF D-Star repeater 145.800 (!)
by Francesco Grappi 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

...And about others still active ? 73" Frank IW4DVZ -----Messaggio originale----- Da: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] Per conto di Alain De Carolis Inviato: martedì 11 gennaio 2011 18.35 A: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Cc: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com Oggetto: [amsat-bb] Re: IR3UEF D-Star repeater 145.800 (!) Good news: the repeater on 145.800 has been deactivated http://www.issfanclub.com/node/30266 I would like to publicly praise ARI for this wise decision 73's Alain IZ6BYY/WW3WW _______________________________________________ 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: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 19
by John Elliott 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

If anyone is using HRD with ERC-R controller to a Yaesu 5500 rotator. Can they contact me direct at jaellio(a)gmail.com and assist me to get mine working ??. Regards John Elliott VK3CVF

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Re: Ao51 Protocol ?
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 12 Jan '11

12 Jan '11

Domenico, I8CVS said: "To solve the above problem the only way is to use satellites with linear transponder like VO-52. OSCAR-7 and FO-29 with several QSO on CW and SSB at the same time without QRM in the same passband." ------------------------- These multiple QSOs at the same time can also be full duplex. 73, Mike Williams, K9QHO

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