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

FO-69
by ryan woods 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

Is their any luck with FO-69? im gonna try it here on the next pass with a ft-817 and a tnc-x to a jpole...... If the jpole dont work ill use the arrow Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

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Articles on Getting Started on SSB Sats
by Trevor . 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

The AMSAT new starters page at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/ is a valuable resource but it seems to be all about FM sats, there's little showing newcomers how to use the Linear Transponder SSB/CW sats. Why is this, well clearly because no-one, myself included, can be bothered to write something that can be made available on the AMSAT site. There is of course some infromation scattered around the web that show what can be done with simple equipment on the Linear Transponder satellites such as: AO7 from Indoors on 2Watts and Arrow antenna. http://observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/Observations_04_01_2009.htm The LA2QAA portable AO-7 Station http://observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/observations_14_06_2008.htm POWER. How much is enough? http://www.observations.biz/Observations_from_Norway/howmuchpowerisenough.h… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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SwissCube
by Trevor . 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

There's an update on SwissCube at http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/12/03/swisscube-update/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Working SO-50
by Ib Christoffersen 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

Working SO-50. I think it is time to look at how one can operate over SO-50 and the problems that can be encountered. First the normal and nominal data: Uplink is at 145.850 MHz. Downlink at 436.795 MHz. If it is not ON - use 74.4 Hz CTCSS tone to activate the transmitter for 10 seconds to have it on for nominally 10 minutes - when on use 67 Hz CTCSS tone during your transmission. That was the intended normal operation. Now to the deviations from the normal scheme. The downlink frequency sometimes jump approximately 5 kHz. Therefore I have two different frequencies pairs to be used in SATPC32: SO-50,436788.50,145849,FM,FM,NOR,0,0 SO-50,436795,145850,FM,FM,NOR,0,0 If you do not use Full Doppler Tracking it is not much of an issue. Just tune for best downlink. Talking about SATPC32 here are the entries for the CTCSS tone: SO-50,67.0,$3F,1 SO-50,74.4,$3E,3 The first data is for the ICOM IC-910 radio. If you use another radio please look at the information in SATPC32. Next problem is the change of polarity of the downlink signal during a pass. The polarity changes during the pass. At least I have to switch polarity a few times from RHCP to LHCP to optimize the downlink signal. That has been confirmed by others. How it works using linearly polarized antennas I do not know - but I think there will be some fading. And if that is not enough - at least here over Europe - we have to put up with QRM on the uplink from a lot of different sources like repeaters and people using our frequencies as cheap phone connections. The result of the QRM is that it sometimes is difficult to turn SO-50 on. Also the QRM may turn the transmitter off. And since the inclination is not sun synchronous we have to live with a steady change of pass times over the year. Some may think I am not a fan of SO-50. That is not the case. It is a very good satellite we got for free and it works very well. Already more people are using it over Europe after AO-51 is not with us any more. That just took a couple of days. 73 OZ1MY/Ib

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Video - How to Work VO-52
by Trevor . 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

I liked this video that Simon 2E0HTS produced a couple of years ago, see http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/12/04/working-the-ssb-satellites/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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round-to-it
by Bob- W7LRD 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

I tried this before with mild results. Look around your ham shack and check out all your "upcoming" , "I'll get around to it projects". Now being honest, will you really get, round-to-it? I suggest you take that "round-to-it project and sell that bad-boy on ebay, craigslist, next fleamarket or your buddy. Don't have a ebay account? I'll bet you know who does. Then send the funds to AMSAT toward our next bird. You'll be supporting the next satellite and make more room for your next "round-to-it" project. This is rocket science, and that ain't cheap! Anyone want a IC-730 with good rx and no tx? 73 Bob W7LRD Washington State AMSAT Coordinator

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just a few things
by Bob- W7LRD 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

Regarding the few posts in bad taste. I'm an ex sailor I can handle it however, this place is not at sea. With the demise of AO-51 and the yearning for more birds. Do we have a place where we can actually see (pretty close) how much money is required for what bird/launch and even "ball park" time frame. From the "outside" looking in it appears we're simply shoot from the hip. Nothing works better than specific, concise and honest details be if from AMSAT-NA or our DL friends. I recently gave a satellite talk and could not give definitive anwers about even the future out a few years, other than my own hopes and dreams. The university "beep" boxes we have assisted with are kinda fun, why not hang on a small transponder from http://www.qsl.net/pe1rah/ . I'd like to see a specific goal oriented conversation in this direction, that in my opinion provides direction. With very specific goals we will have direction (money). I know we have "well connected" people in AMSAT" to the space industry, the devil is in the details. Now finally where can we find the keps of some of these odd ball birds like Phobos-Grunt. That thing should be optically visible at the gray line. 73 Bob Washingto State AMSAT Coordinator

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HR3288 - end of the ITAR nightmare?
by Daniel Schultz 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

There is a bill before the US House of Representatives that would give the President authority to remove communications satellites and related components from the Munitions List. This would free up commercial and amateur satellite builders to once again interact with our foreign colleagues. ITAR regulations have caused irreparable harm to Amsat and have severely restricted our ability to interact with our foreign colleagues. If you live in the USA and want to help Amsat launch new satellites, contact your congressman and ask him/her to support or possibly cosponsor HR3288, known as the `Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act of 2011'. You can locate your congressman's office on http://www.house.gov. This information comes from: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2011/will_hr_3288end_itars_chokeho… Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Fwd: VO-52 FM Operation
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net To: "John Heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> Cc: "John AJ4AT" <aj4at(a)comcast.net> Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 8:02:35 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] VO-52 FM Operation There are 2 FM birds use them and if you need to buy some used ssb equipment do it dont trash a good SSB bird . The hobby is still going good . Learn how to use SO50 and AO27 and enough with this FM on VO52 BRAVO SERRIA crap. Donate to AMsat sothey can put up a new bird . MAN UP enough crying about AO51 and I cant work the birds WA4HFN ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Saturday, December 3, 2011 12:53:03 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] VO-52 FM Operation Gentlemen, These are not normal times, we are seriously short of satellites and without satellites we don't have a hobby anymore. Without new and more satellites users we probably won't have a hobby anymore either. Time for creative thinking. FM on VO-52 might just be something we have to do. Send as much money as you can afford to the Fox project 73 John g7hia Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ 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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Remote polarity / preamp switching
by Dominic Hawken 04 Dec '11

04 Dec '11

I currently have two runs of coax from the shack up to the roof, each connected to smallish dual band 2/70 yagis, horizontally polarised, on an az/el rotator. One's connected to the 70cm output of my FT847, and the other to the 2m output. I'd like to upgrade to cross-polarised beams for 2 and 70 that I can switch between vertical, horizontal and circular polarisation, and also add masthead preamps powered through the coax. Some form of remote switching seems to be the way to go, but the few commercial switches I've found googling are really expensive (and I'd need two afaik). I'm basically wanting to upgrade without having to run more coax or power cable up to the mast if possible - wondering of anyone has done something similar without breaking the bank. Thanks in advance tor any help, Dominic G6NQO.

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