January 2011 - 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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AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010
by Mark L. Hammond 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Hi All, Here is a quick AO-16 update. On Sunday I turned AO-16 long enough to get some telemetry packets. The satellite would remain on for less than one minute after being commanded on. A quick test of the "bent pipe" voice mode repeater was successful. . The "hardware watchdog timer problem" is still evident; as expected, spacecraft temperatures are insufficient to keep the transmitter ON (needs to be above 15 deg C). Orbit projections suggest that satellite illumination conditions will not result in increased temperatures for nearly 10 years. Command stations do periodically turn AO-16 "ON" to check on its condition and see if the hardware timer problem has "automagically" fixed itself (which in not anticipated, but who knows...). AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010 1838 utc PACSAT MBL Telemetry Decoder Ver. 1.3 (c) Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN =============================================================================== (average values) +10V Battery Bus : 0.00 V Battery Charge Reg : 0.55 mA Base Temp : 9.07 °C PSK RF Out : 1.90 W +5V RX Bus : 4.87 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8.49 V +10V RX Bus : 11.24 V Here is another teaser :) Several months ago I commanded the AO-16 S-band transmitter ON; it too remains functional (albeit weak), and was received by me, Drew KO4MA, and Alan WA4SCA. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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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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Working HO-68
by Richard Lawn 16 Oct '11

16 Oct '11

Doing what I try to do every vacation which is try to spend a little time back on the birds. I've yet to have a QSO on HO-68. I hear the beacon just fine. But I just finished my 2nd pass from NJ and was unable to hear any signals let alone myself coming back on any mode. Did I misread the operating schedule or am I doing something wrong? MacDoppler told me there was a good pass to this part of the world are around 21:30 my time. Great beacon strength but nobody else was home. Rick W2JAZ

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AMSAT INDIA January 2011 News Letter
by Nitin Muttin 15 Mar '11

15 Mar '11

All, AMSAT INDIA's January 2011 news letter is available for download. The PDF of the newsletter is at http://amsatindia.org/Newsletter/AMSATINDIA-News-January2011.pdf and the archives at www.amsatindia.org/Newsletter Contents of the Newsletter : 1. Message from the President of AMSAT INDIA, Ramesh, VU2RMS. 2. Monthly talks on topics related to Amateur Radio satellite communication 3. Report by Technical Director, POP, VU2POP 4. Few images to an AZ/EL rotator. (More details in next news letter) 5. News from AMSAT organizations world wide. 73's Nitin [VU3TYG] Secretary, AMSAT INDIA www.amsatindia.org vu3tyg(a)amsatindia.org _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3383 - Release Date: 01/15/11

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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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LoTW Questions
by Zachary Beougher 02 Feb '11

02 Feb '11

Hi All, I am trying to get myself going on LoTW, and I need to know what the generally excepted parameters are for QSO information. 1) In my logbook (HRD), what should I put for the freq. (2m, 440)? 2) What happens if my log entry is one minute off of stations B’s entry (1906z versus 1905z) – will they match up? 3) What should my mode be set at (FM, SAT)? 4) Other than date, time, call, mode, sent RST, rcvd RST, band and name (op name), is there anything that needs to be added to it when I go to upload? This was the default LoTW selection for HRD, so I am assuming it is correct. I can’t think of any other questions at the moment, but any other helpful tips for getting it started would be appreciated. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Fwd: Re: Re: UKuke-1 Announcement
by Mark L. Hammond 01 Feb '11

01 Feb '11

>#21--must be from UK! :) > >http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/assets/pdf/UKUBEAOGS.pdf > >"UK-based entities are invited to submit a proposal for Ground Segment support on this pilot mission." > >73, > >Mark N8MH > >At 06:22 PM 1/26/2011 -0500, you wrote: >> >>That is good news. >> >>Also, I see bids are being solicited from anyone / any team who would like >>to form the official U-Kube ground station for the 1 year duration of the >>mission. >> >>There are a list of 20 requirements for the ground station at: >> >>_http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/20701.aspx_ >>(http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/20701.aspx) >> >>Two are fairly easy. 1) Must have full amateur radio license. 2) Antenna >>must have RH and LH polarisation. >> >>73 >> >>David >> >> >> >> >>In a message dated 26/01/2011 17:33:32 GMT Standard Time, >>g.shirville(a)btinternet.com writes: >> >>Sorry this time WITH the relevant link! >> >>_http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/21973.aspx_ >>(http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/21973.aspx) >> >> >>----- Original Message ----- >>From: _Graham Shirville_ (mailto:g.shirville@btinternet.com) >> >> >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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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K4-LU QSO on AO7
by Luis Quintas 01 Feb '11

01 Feb '11

Gary (K4MF) and I (LU6QI) made several attempts during more than a month (we tried on more than 15 passes for sure) for a QSO on AO7 in cw in Mode A or B. Finally on Jan 30, 2011 we succeed. We made a fine short qso in Mode B at 2315 UTC during the orbit # 65714. It was a very clear copy with the satellite just above the horizon. The distance between Gary’s location (EL98JG) and mine (FF66TQ) is 7024,45 Km. I don’t know of any other qso between USA and Argentina on low altitude satellites, at least I never saw it reported on the AO7 Log.

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