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

KB5WIA Portable in CM89 on 2/21/2011
by David Palmer 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

Hi Everyone, If anyone needs grid square CM89, I'll be in Colusa, California next Monday (February 21, President's Day) with my portable satellite gear. Back in December a number of hams mentioned that CM89 hasn't been on the air in a few years, so this will be a good opportunity to take a little road trip and get on the sats from there. I'll try to get on SO-50, AO-27, FO-29, and AO-51 from around 1930 UTC to around 2330 UTC. Exact pass times are in the schedule below, if all goes well I'll be there for most of the passes in the table. I'll have my SPOT tracker with me, so if you want to check my location then just look me up on QRZ (there's a link to the location map right below my bio). 73 de Dave KB5WIA WinAos QTH: -122.0/39.2 T#: 12104 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 21.02.2011 SO-50 19:44 19:56 12 25 179 - 043 21.02.2011 AO-27 20:38 20:51 13 32 138 - 357 21.02.2011 SO-50 21:24 21:37 13 33 234 - 026 21.02.2011 AO-27 22:18 22:31 13 29 194 - 337 21.02.2011 FO-29 22:33 22:42 09 06 045 - 122 21.02.2011 AO-51 23:14 23:27 13 31 140 - 357

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Re: Yaesu 847 vs. Icom 910
by Bill Dzurilla 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

At long last, the IC-9100 received FCC approval last week, so it may finally be hitting the market. I talked to an ICOM rep at the Orlando hamfest on Saturday, and she said they still do not have any in the USA. There are photos on the ICOM website. Still no official word on price, but it won't be cheap, perhaps even more than the $3000 mentioned by Jeff (I've heard speculation close to $4000). I have 2 FT-847s and like them, especially in Europe where I can use it on 70mhz (4 meters). Cons: only 50w out on 2 meters, problematic volume control and power switch, no 1296 mhz option, no internal antenna tuner, no VOX. The TS-2000 has 100w on 2 meters, a 1296 mhz option, VOX, and an HF/50 mhz antenna tuner, but it does have the incurable birdie that inhibits reception on AO-27 and SO-50. Kenwood apparently has no interest in providing a fix. The IC-910 is supposedly the best VHF/UHF radio of the group, but it does not do HF or 6 meters. These are the only current options for a first class all-in-one setup for linear satellites. They are similar in price on the used market, about $900-$1200. Many opt instead for 2 separate radios, such as a pair of IC-7000s, FT-817s, FT-857, FT-897, FT-706 MKII, or a combo of any of these. This is particularly attractive if you already have an all mode rig for 2 meters. The cheapest route may be a pair of FT-817s, if you can live with the small knobs and controls and the 5w out (adequate for the sats with a good antenna, and if you want more you can buy a cheap 30w amp). You can buy these used for under $400 each (the newer ND model is pricier). Software such as SatPC32 or Ham Radio Deluxe controls the 2 radios so that the downlink frequency matches your uplink. Stay away from the older radios that cannot be computer controlled. It is theoretically possible to work the linear sats with a single, non-duplex radio. As the tracking programs are supposed to set transmit frequency automatically to match the spot where your receiver is tuned, it should not be necessary to hear your downlink. I made a few contacts this way with a single IC-7000, but it is not recommended, as the tracking programs are often a bit off with the frequency calculation. There are also some intriguing transverter options but I'm not familiar with those. If interested, check out the Elecraft, Down East Microwave, and Flex Radio. 73, Bill NZ5N > Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2011 06:55:08 -0500 > From: "Jeff KB2M" <kb2m(a)comcast.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu 847 vs. Icom 910 > To: "'zach hillerson'" <qstick333(a)yahoo.com>, > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <003c01cbcd07$31bc24b0$95346e10$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="iso-8859-1" > > Icom is coming out with a new hf/sat rig the IC-9100. It > looks to be a bit > pricy at around $3000 or so, but it will be newer > technology. I sold my 910 > to make room for one on my desk :) I did keep my > trusty 14 year old 847 I > purchased new. I would recommend the 847 over the 910, and > if you have the > means the 9100 would be my choice... > > 73 Jeff kb2m > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org > [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] > On > Behalf Of zach hillerson > Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 21:01 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu 847 vs. Icom 910 > > I am finally in the market for a base station radio for > satellites.? I > should mention that I am also planning to install a wire > dipole in the > backyard for HF work, but convenience shouldn't be the > reason to buy/not to > buy a radio..... > > It seems that the Icom 910 and Yaesu 847 are the two main > transceivers in > base use for satellites.? I know some folks are using the > Kenwood TS2000, bu > i t I understand thatit has a "birdie" that makes operation > on a couple FM > satellites challenging.? I am hoping to work both the > linear and fm birds > with this transceiver.? > > Is there a BB favorite?? Have I just opened up a bad can of > worms?? I just > want to make sure that I am purchasing the proper parts the > first time....

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KO4MA St Pete Yacht Club demo
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

Please keep an ear out for me portable this afternoon between 5 and 6PM EST on either AO-51 or FO-29. I'll be doing a demonstration as part of a presentation at the St Pete Yacht Club. 73, Drew KO4MA

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WD9EWK @ Yuma AZ hamfest, 18-19 February
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the 2011 Yuma Hamfest in Yuma, Arizona, this Friday (18 February) and Saturday (19 February). The hamfest is at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, on 32nd Street between Pacific Avenue and Avenue 3E (south of I-8) in Yuma - across the street from the Yuma International Airport and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. More information, including a map showing this area, is available at: http://www.yumahamfest.org/ Weather permitting, WD9EWK should be on several satellite passes Friday afternoon and Saturday - in FM and SSB. Please feel free to give me a call, if you hear me on. The hamfest site is in grid DM22qq. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Stardust-NExT Flyby Of Comet Tempel 1 Successful
by B J 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

The first pictures should be available later on, apparently some time around 0800 UTC. The investigators don't know right now what was photographed, so the crater formed from by Deep Impact in 2005 might not show up. If it does, they'll be interested in what, if anything, changed over the years. If it doesn't, they expect to see some new features that Deep Impact wasn't able to take pictures of. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: ARISSat-1 - Batteries
by Clint Bradford 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

My comment was an accurate "summary" of what was posted on the Roscosmos PAO site. But it certainly doesn;t necessary reflect reality. I can very easily see how the information could have been misinterpreted ... or mis-stated. I mean, the "batteries" aren't going to give out in two months' time. Can't you see someone stating in a media session, "We're afraid the satellite will decay in two months ... " and that being written up as, "The batteries aren't going to last." The past 72 hours have shown to me that the best "media filtering" - being defined as "receiving info and validating it" is being produced by AMSAT-NA and the ARISSat-1 team, and reflected on their respective Web sites. Just Clint's opinion, of course. Clint, K6LCS

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TISAT-1
by jerry keeton 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

?Heard TISAT-1 beacon @ 03:30 Z .Good signal . Jerry WB5LHD

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Fwd: Rotator Control for Limited Vision?
by Bob- W7LRD 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

I'm fowarding this to the AMSAT group. Perhaps there is some information there. 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "Jeff Wandling" <jeff.wandling(a)gmail.com> To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net Cc: blindrage13(a)verizon.net Sent: Monday, February 14, 2011 1:26:59 PM Subject: Rotator Control for Limited Vision? Bob, I met this ham on 20m. His name is Simon. He's got a situation -- he needs a rotator controller w/ software capability that can be read easily for those with limited vision. He needs something that can be felt (Braille - like) or audio via the computer software controller. Bob, I know you know a lot about rotators w/ the satellite work. And, I figured with your contacts in AMSAT and elsewhere you had some hints and tricks. Please let me know what I can tell Simon? -jeff -- Jeff Wandling jeff.wandling(a)gmail.com

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KD8KSN EN90/EM99 Cards Mailed
by Zachary Beougher 15 Feb '11

15 Feb '11

Hi, KD8KSN cards for the EN90/EM99 grid boundary operation on January 29 will go out in tomorrow’s mail (2/14). I apologize for the delay. Also, all QSOs were uploaded to LoTW under KD8KSN. Email me if you do not receive your card within 2-3 weeks. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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ARISSat-1 - Best-available Info
by Clint Bradford 14 Feb '11

14 Feb '11

The best-available information on this project will be published at either ... http://www.amsat.org ... or ... http://www.arissat1.org These two sites will only publish VERIFIED (to the best of anyone's abilities) information. If you want do do a little study on contradictions and conflicts, then privately cruise the "official" Russian sites ... From now on, I am letting AMSAT and the ARISSat-1 teams interpret and verify (grin). Clint, K6LCS http://www.worksatellites.com

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