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

A LITTLE HAM HUMOR for a change
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

You Might Be (and Probably Are) an Amateur Radio Operator, If: 1. You have bought black electrical tape in ten packs. 2. You have stripped wire with your teeth. 3. You have told your child, "One day, all this will be yours," and he or she did not respond at all. 4. You would rather help another Ham friend to hook up new equipment, or to put up a new tower, than to mow your own lawn. 5. You have grabbed the wrong end of a hot soldering iron. 6. You have gotten an RF burn from your own antenna. 7. You have given out RST reports while you were on the telephone. 8. When the microphones or visual aids at a meeting did not work, you rushed up to the front to fix them. 9. You have told the XYL, when she noticed a new rig in the shack, "Why, that has been there for years." 10. You have set your watch to UTC only. 11. You have had to patch your roof after an antenna project fell onto it. 12. You have put a GPS tracker in the XYL's car or on the riding mower, just so you could watch it on APRS. 13. You have tapped out "CQ" or "HI" on the car horn in Morse Code to another Ham. 14. Your teenager has refused to ride in your car because it looks like a porcupine. 15. You know the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of your home QTH. 16. You have gone into the local Radio Shack store, and the store clerk has asked you where something is and how it works. 17. You have answered the telephone with your call sign, and then finished the conversation with "73" and your call sign. 18. You have looked for antennas, radios, and Morse Code in movies and television shows. 19. When you look at anything made of wire or metal tubing, you wonder if it could be used as an antenna. 20. Your call sign is listed on one or more of your hats, T-shirts, or other garments. 21. You regularly carry one or more tools in your pockets at any given time. 22. When any kinds of batteries go on sale, you get really excited. 23. When you look at a barbecue grill, it creates ideas about ground plane antennas. 24. You have designated all your friends as Hams or Non-Hams. 25. You have referred to your Ham friends by their call sign suffixes instead of their real names. 26. You have intentionally confused Non-Hams by telling them that the only things you talk about on the air are pork products. 27. You have intentionally scared Non-Hams with the word "RADIATION"! 28. You have looked at telephone poles and power line towers as potential antenna supports. 29. You have thought you were still hearing CW, SSB, or SSTV tones, even when your Ham radio was off. 30. Your Go-Bag has more clothes in it than your dresser does. 31. You have a SKYWARN sticker on your back window. 32. Your significant other sits in the back seat, and your radios ride in the front. 33. Your neighbors wonder if you are a "Narc" (narcotics officer), a Spy, or a Federal Agent. 34. The cops pull you over because they want to see the inside of your car. This one is actually being done by Tim Clark, KB4RPV: 35. Your cell-phone's ring tone is your Ham radio call sign, sent in Morse Code http://www.planetofnoise.com/midi/morse2mid.php). ______________________ Thought this might be worth a little chuckle WA4HFN

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Re: A LITTLE HAM HUMOR for a change
by Zachary Beougher 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

You forgot a few..... 1. When looking for a place to live you don't look for a nice neighborhood, you look for the highest spot in the county with no trees. 2. Every grommet in your firewall has a 1" bundle of wires coming through it. 3. After you finish converting a computer PSU into one that can power a radio, you unplug it from the 120VAC and plunge your hand into the PSU to make some adjustments, just to remember the function of the electrical component called a capacitor. (I have done that) I could keep going..... 73! Zack KD8KSN -----Original Message----- From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 2:48 PM To: AMSAT Subject: [amsat-bb] A LITTLE HAM HUMOR for a change You Might Be (and Probably Are) an Amateur Radio Operator, If: 1. You have bought black electrical tape in ten packs. 2. You have stripped wire with your teeth. 3. You have told your child, "One day, all this will be yours," and he or she did not respond at all. 4. You would rather help another Ham friend to hook up new equipment, or to put up a new tower, than to mow your own lawn. 5. You have grabbed the wrong end of a hot soldering iron. 6. You have gotten an RF burn from your own antenna. 7. You have given out RST reports while you were on the telephone. 8. When the microphones or visual aids at a meeting did not work, you rushed up to the front to fix them. 9. You have told the XYL, when she noticed a new rig in the shack, "Why, that has been there for years." 10. You have set your watch to UTC only. 11. You have had to patch your roof after an antenna project fell onto it. 12. You have put a GPS tracker in the XYL's car or on the riding mower, just so you could watch it on APRS. 13. You have tapped out "CQ" or "HI" on the car horn in Morse Code to another Ham. 14. Your teenager has refused to ride in your car because it looks like a porcupine. 15. You know the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of your home QTH. 16. You have gone into the local Radio Shack store, and the store clerk has asked you where something is and how it works. 17. You have answered the telephone with your call sign, and then finished the conversation with "73" and your call sign. 18. You have looked for antennas, radios, and Morse Code in movies and television shows. 19. When you look at anything made of wire or metal tubing, you wonder if it could be used as an antenna. 20. Your call sign is listed on one or more of your hats, T-shirts, or other garments. 21. You regularly carry one or more tools in your pockets at any given time. 22. When any kinds of batteries go on sale, you get really excited. 23. When you look at a barbecue grill, it creates ideas about ground plane antennas. 24. You have designated all your friends as Hams or Non-Hams. 25. You have referred to your Ham friends by their call sign suffixes instead of their real names. 26. You have intentionally confused Non-Hams by telling them that the only things you talk about on the air are pork products. 27. You have intentionally scared Non-Hams with the word "RADIATION"! 28. You have looked at telephone poles and power line towers as potential antenna supports. 29. You have thought you were still hearing CW, SSB, or SSTV tones, even when your Ham radio was off. 30. Your Go-Bag has more clothes in it than your dresser does. 31. You have a SKYWARN sticker on your back window. 32. Your significant other sits in the back seat, and your radios ride in the front. 33. Your neighbors wonder if you are a "Narc" (narcotics officer), a Spy, or a Federal Agent. 34. The cops pull you over because they want to see the inside of your car. This one is actually being done by Tim Clark, KB4RPV: 35. Your cell-phone's ring tone is your Ham radio call sign, sent in Morse Code http://www.planetofnoise.com/midi/morse2mid.php). ______________________ Thought this might be worth a little chuckle WA4HFN _______________________________________________ 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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H.R. 607 - 440 Band
by Clint Bradford 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

>> ... Contact your Rep. about the possible loss of the 440 band http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters It is much more effective to follow the ARRL's suggestions and send letters directly to their lobbyist. Unless you have an inside contact with a rep's legislative aid to send to. Normal USPS mail can take up to two months to get screened in this "post 9/11" world. Clint, K6LCS Sent from my iPod touch. On Feb 24, 2011, at 12:00, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > > Contact your Rep. about the possible loss of the 440 band > http://www.arrl.org/sample-letters

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Re: Discovery Shuttle
by Trevor . 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Nicole Stott KE5GJN and Mike Barratt KD5MIJ 73 Trevor M5AKA > --- On Thu, 24/2/11, Ted <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > wrote: > > > From: Ted <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Discovery Shuttle > > To: "'AMSAT BB'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Date: Thursday, 24 February, 2011, 21:53 > > Launching now. > > > > Any hams on board ? > > > > TK > > K7TRK > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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Discovery Shuttle
by Ted 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Launching now. Any hams on board ? TK K7TRK

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Re: Discovery Shuttle
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Perfect Launch, Congratulations to all involved and pleased to see things went OK for this final launch of Discovery. Good luck for the rest of the mission and a safe return. We will miss you "Discovery " but you will always be a key player in the history of human space travel. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat -UK Amsat NA

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Re: PVC
by Andrew Glasbrenner 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

My az-el has an 8 foot steel mast, with two 5 foot PVC and closet dowel verticals on each end. It's been up for 5 years in the Florida sun and storms, supporting a 10 element 2m yagi, 30 element 70cm CP yagi, a 35 element 23cm yagi, and a 3 foot S dish at the ends of the PVC/wood H booms. I did use the grey thick-walled PVC, not the white stuff. It's a perfectly acceptable material with the wood inside, non-conductive, non-rusting. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Matt Patterson <mattpatt(a)1starnet.com> >Sent: Feb 24, 2011 2:05 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: PVC > >I can't even believe that some people recommend doing this! > > >Matt >W5LL >

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AO-51 schedule for February, March 2011
by Mark L. Hammond 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Hello All, Here is the AO-51 schedule for the next few weeks. There is a little bit of something for everyone in here! Keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change due to power budget and/or telemetry downloading. February 21 (~2145 UTC) [Eclipses should end around Feb. 24/25] Dual Voice Repeaters : Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink 435.150 MHz FM February 27 (~2100 UTC) Mode V/S Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink 2401.200 MHz FM March 3 (~1030 UTC) Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud March 6 (~2115 UTC) Mode L/SU FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink1 2401.200 MHz FM Downlink2 435.300 MHz FM (low power) March 11 (~1000 UTC) [Eclipses return around March 12/13] Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz 9k6 baud As always, command stations may need to reconfigure modes in order to collect telemetry as needed. Remember that power management may be running, and the transmitter(s) will shut OFF during periods of eclipse and/or low battery voltage. 73, Mark N8MH AO-51 Command Team

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Puyallup hamfest
by Bob- W7LRD 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Got a huge hamfest coming up in a few weeks. http://www.mikeandkey.org/hotels00.htm I plan to run a AMSAT information table. If you're there stop by and say hello. I will be on the look out for a dual band vhf/uhf transceiver. For playing mobile/satellite stuff. Please give me some make and model information for what you're using. I will check out satellite passes to try for a demo during the hamfest probably just the fm birds, using a IC-w32A/arrow. Uncle Larry, I hope you can make it! 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: A LITTLE HAM HUMOR for a change
by Edward R. Cole 24 Feb '11

24 Feb '11

Or when out on a Sunday drive with the XYL you point homes as "great ham locations!". When shopping for a new home, antenna considerations were highest priority. Holidays are scheduled in areas/dates with great hamfests or ham conferences. 73, Ed - KL7UW At 10:48 AM 2/24/2011, wa4hfn(a)comcast.net wrote: >You Might Be (and Probably Are) >an Amateur Radio Operator, If: > > >1. You have bought black electrical tape in ten packs. >2. You have stripped wire with your teeth. >3. You have told your child, "One day, all this will be yours," and >he or she did not respond at all. >4. You would rather help another Ham friend to hook up new >equipment, or to put up a new tower, than to mow your own lawn. >5. You have grabbed the wrong end of a hot soldering iron. >6. You have gotten an RF burn from your own antenna. >7. You have given out RST reports while you were on the telephone. >8. When the microphones or visual aids at a meeting did not work, >you rushed up to the front to fix them. >9. You have told the XYL, when she noticed a new rig in the shack, >"Why, that has been there for years." >10. You have set your watch to UTC only. >11. You have had to patch your roof after an antenna project fell onto it. >12. You have put a GPS tracker in the XYL's car or on the riding >mower, just so you could watch it on APRS. >13. You have tapped out "CQ" or "HI" on the car horn in Morse Code >to another Ham. >14. Your teenager has refused to ride in your car because it looks >like a porcupine. >15. You know the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of your home QTH. >16. You have gone into the local Radio Shack store, and the store >clerk has asked you where something is and how it works. >17. You have answered the telephone with your call sign, and then >finished the conversation with "73" and your call sign. >18. You have looked for antennas, radios, and Morse Code in movies >and television shows. >19. When you look at anything made of wire or metal tubing, you >wonder if it could be used as an antenna. >20. Your call sign is listed on one or more of your hats, T-shirts, >or other garments. >21. You regularly carry one or more tools in your pockets at any given time. >22. When any kinds of batteries go on sale, you get really excited. >23. When you look at a barbecue grill, it creates ideas about ground >plane antennas. >24. You have designated all your friends as Hams or Non-Hams. >25. You have referred to your Ham friends by their call sign >suffixes instead of their real names. >26. You have intentionally confused Non-Hams by telling them that >the only things you talk about on the air are pork products. >27. You have intentionally scared Non-Hams with the word "RADIATION"! >28. You have looked at telephone poles and power line towers as >potential antenna supports. >29. You have thought you were still hearing CW, SSB, or SSTV tones, >even when your Ham radio was off. >30. Your Go-Bag has more clothes in it than your dresser does. > >31. You have a SKYWARN sticker on your back window. > >32. Your significant other sits in the back seat, and your radios >ride in the front. > >33. Your neighbors wonder if you are a "Narc" (narcotics officer), a >Spy, or a Federal Agent. > >34. The cops pull you over because they want to see the inside of your car. > >This one is actually being done by Tim Clark, KB4RPV: > >35. Your cell-phone's ring tone is your Ham radio call sign, sent in >Morse Code http://www.planetofnoise.com/midi/morse2mid.php). > >______________________ > >Thought this might be worth a little chuckle >WA4HFN > > > >_______________________________________________ >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 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw*, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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