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

Re: Arissat bpsk1000 software?
by Gould Smith 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

Hello Jeff and BB, The BPSK-1000 downlink is transmitted in SSB mode. I sounds like a "shusssch", higher pitch than the 400 bps growl. It is difficult to tune by ear. So the CW signal was moved close to it so the CW signal could used as a tuning signal. Plug the audio from an SSB receiver into the computer soundcard MIC/LineIn socket. The PC//Mac software display contains a dotted line that you use to tune your receiver until the CW signal bump lines up with the dotted line and the software will decode the BPSK-1000 signal as well as the CW. The BPSK data is composed of 5 packets. TLM Experiment packet 1 of 5 TLM Experiment packet 2 of 5 TLM Experiment packet 3 of 5 TLM Experiment packet 4 of 5 TLM Experiment packet 5 of 5 TLM Experiment packet 1 of 5 ... We will have more about this as the developers get the first version ready for people to look at, we hope soon. We will also have an Internet data stream running for people to practice using the software. 73, Gould, WA4SXM ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Yanko" <wb3jfs(a)cox.net> To: "Gould Smith" <gouldsmi(a)bellsouth.net> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 2:17 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Arissat bpsk1000 software? > Hi Gould, > > Question. I've read the ARISSAT articles in both QST and AMSAT Journal > and understand the BPSK 1000 beacon. However, what mode will the beacon > be transmitting in? SSB, FM? Looking forward to your reply. > > > 73, > > > Jeff WB3JFS > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gould Smith" <gouldsmi(a)bellsouth.net> > To: "Vince adams" <vinoul(a)hotmail.com>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 8:02 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arissat bpsk1000 software? > > >> Hello Vince and BB, >> >> Thanks for your interest. >> >> We have working software to demodulate and decode the BPSK-1000 signal >> for >> both the PC and Mac. We got a live stream of realtime data running over >> the >> Internet last weekend. >> The developers are refining the software and we expect to make this >> available soon. >> >> 73, >> Gould, WA4SXM >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Vince adams" <vinoul(a)hotmail.com> >> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "Vince adams" <vinoul(a)hotmail.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 9:53 AM >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Arissat bpsk1000 software? >> >> >>> >>> I have been reading about the upcoming Arissat-1 mission and have found >>> lots of good information. However, I have been unable to find any links >>> to the bpsk-1000 software that will be used for telemetry. All of the >>> articles I have read say that the software will be available before the >>> suit is deployed. But if I read correctly, this is coming up fairly >>> soon. >>> Any info would be appreciated. >>> >>> 73 Vince N9VN >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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: VUCC Costs
by John Papay 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

The new fee schedule has brought forth a lot of comments. Twenty cents a card seems like a lot of money but consider how much you spent to get that card. An SASE with a stamp on it plus the stamp for sending it here in the US costs you $.88. If you send for a DX card to countries other than Canada and Europe, it's $.98 for the postage and an IRC costs $2.10. If you are lucky, you will get a DX card back for $3.08. If you're not lucky, you'll send for it again hoping to get a reply. Then there's the cost of the cards to add in, maybe $.10 each, and the envelopes, hopefully self seal so the other guy doesn't have to spend time moistening and sealing it. Maybv So after you spent all that money to get the card, spending another $.20 to submit it for VUCC doesn't seem all that bad.

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Re: AMSAT VUCC and WAS
by k6yk 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

One other organization that I can think of has already done this for WAS, DXCC, and maybe other awards, I can't remember them all right off-hand. MARAC, the Mobile Amateur Radio Awards Club (I think!) has a mobile WAS, and Mobile DX award. The DX award is given in steps of less than 100 countries. They're nice award certificates, the cost is reasonable. Maybe their process would be a good example for AMSAT to follow? 73, John, K6YK On Mon, 24 Jan 2011 20:59:28 -0800 Larry Teran <ki6yaa(a)gmail.com> writes: > That will be a great idea! and support for AMSAT > > On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 4:11 PM, <wa4hfn(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > > Maybe we all can talk AMSAT into offering a WAS and VUCC I would > be nice to > > see an AMSAT WAS on the wall > > WA4HFN Damon > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ Mortgage Rates Hit 2.99% If you owe under $729k you probably qualify for Gov't Refi Programs http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d3f1631a91b3f89fst01vuc

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Fwd: RE: VUCC awarsd fees
by Merle Olmsted 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

This was in reference to my e:mail asking why the rates for VUCC were much higher than DXCC.. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: VUCC award fees Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:30:42 -0500 From: Moore, Bill, NC1L (ARRL Awards Branch) <nc1l(a)arrl.org> To: <mlolmsted(a)fuse.net> Hi Merle: Actually, the VUCC fees are more close to what it costs to process an application. Most don't realize that for an average DXCC application (+/- 100 cards) the cost is about $40. VUCC, like DXCC, involves manual data entry just like DXCC and the time to process is costly and time-consuming. You'll notice that LoTW VUCC processing is less than the manual processing. Using LoTW is what we would like to see as it is less costly and no manual data entry by staff is required. I believe this is the first ever price adjustment for VUCC since the start of the program in 1983. Had we done it gradually over the years it may have been easier to deal with. We discussed this for some time before we made the change. The fees are not meant to make money or break even. All the fees ever do is minimize losses, just like DXCC. Regards Bill Moore NC1L Awards Branch Manager ARRL - The national association for Amateur Radio™ 225 Main Street Newington, CT 06111 Telephone: (860) 594 0234 Fax: (860) 594-0346 email: dxcc(a)arrl.org DXCC Web Site: www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc Blog: http://www.arrl.org/awards-blog

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Arissat bpsk1000 software?
by Vince adams 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

I have been reading about the upcoming Arissat-1 mission and have found lots of good information. However, I have been unable to find any links to the bpsk-1000 software that will be used for telemetry. All of the articles I have read say that the software will be available before the suit is deployed. But if I read correctly, this is coming up fairly soon. Any info would be appreciated. 73 Vince N9VN

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AMAST WAS and VUCC
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

OK everyone in favor of supporting AMSAT having a W.A.S and a VUCC lets contact AMSAT with the request.I should have an effective start date WA4HFN Damon

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LOTW and eQSL
by Bill Dzurilla 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

I agree with Jack and Tim, LOTW is great (albeit more complicated than it needs to be). For those who do not like the fees and complexities of LOTW, I'd like to remind everyone of eQSL, which is a cheaper and simpler supplement to LOTW. It's simpler because most logging programs will automatically upload your QSOs to eQSL, you don't have to do a thing. It's cheaper because it's free. The eQSLs are not valid for ARRL awards, but they are valid for CQ Magazine awards and for eQSLs own awards. The eGrid Sat award may be particularly interesting to those on this list. It requires 75 confirmed grids for the basic award. The certificate is free to download, or you can get a nice plaque, if you are willing to pay $85 for it. I use and recommend both eQSL and LOTW. 73, Bill NZ5N > From: "Jack/W6NF" <vhfplus(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [VHF] Re: Re: VUCC costs > To: Tim Marek <K7XC(a)charter.net> > Cc: "Amsat-Bb@Amsat. Org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, > VHF REFLECTOR > <vhf(a)w6yx.stanford.edu> > Message-ID: > <AANLkTi=u=NB2_0wDjgUiM1jY52qzNm3oGfePTXWS83Kc(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Yes, I agree with Tim wholeheartedly. > > Paper cards are nice (I have a few from my Novice days in > 1957) but I, like > many others, cannot afford the expense. I *do* QSL 100% > when a card is sent > to me but LoTW is fine, too. To summarily reject LoTW, to > invoke Mr. Spock, > not logical ;>)

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Re: VUCC Costs (re-send with corrections)
by John Papay 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

The new fee schedule has brought forth a lot of comments. Twenty cents a card seems like a lot of money but consider how much you spent to get that card. An SASE with a stamp on it plus the stamp for sending it here in the US costs you $.88. If you send for a DX card to countries other than Canada and Mexico, it's $.98 for the postage and an IRC costs $2.10. If you are lucky, you will get a DX card back for $3.08. If you're not lucky, you'll send for it again hoping to get a reply. Then there's the cost of the cards to add in, maybe $.10 each, and the envelopes, hopefully self seal so the other guy doesn't have to spend time moistening and sealing it. Maybe you bought one of those stamps that say QSO Verified by (Callsign) at $25. Then there are special airmail envelopes, one slightly smaller than the other from Plum. It's starting to add up. If everyone would use LOTW for satellite qso's, the savings would be impressive. No postage, no cards, and just a $.16/card to get credit for the grid. But cards are nice to receive; much more personable and they sometimes have other useful info. So after you spent all that money to get the card, spending another $.20 to submit it for VUCC doesn't seem all that bad. 73, John K8YSE

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AMSAT VUCC and WAS
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

Maybe we all can talk AMSAT into offering a WAS and VUCC I would be nice to see an AMSAT WAS on the wall WA4HFN Damon

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LOTW Grid vs. Call
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 25 Jan '11

25 Jan '11

Apparently I was doing something wrong. I now see the same station from different grid squares for a couple of calls. I believe it is working just as it should. 73, Joe kks0d

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