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

A Decade Since The End Of Mir
by B J 25 Mar '11

25 Mar '11

http://moonandback.com/2011/03/24/world-marks-anniversary-of-first-space-st… I remember watching CNN's coverage of it. There was a TV camera on board which showed the view from orbit, though the station had been abandoned by then. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Congratulations to K8SYE
by Angelo Glorioso 25 Mar '11

25 Mar '11

Congratulations to K8YSE for hitting the 900th grid mark with his contact with UT1FG/mm on AO-27 and grid 901st with ND9M/mm on AO-27. 73 de Angelo --------------------------------------------------------- If you don't ask, you will never know!!

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1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and Cubesat Workshop download
by Group of Astrodynamics 25 Mar '11

25 Mar '11

Dear All, click here<http://www.gaussteam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=132&I…>to download all the presentations of 1st IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and Cubesat Workshop . Regards, -- Gruppo di Astrodinamica Università degli Studi Sapienza Via Salaria, 851 00138 Roma website: www.gaussteam.com tel. 0039 06 88346436

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Farewell, Stardust-NExT
by B J 25 Mar '11

25 Mar '11

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-094 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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ND9M/MM Op Sked: 25 March
by Clary, James T, Civilian 25 Mar '11

25 Mar '11

Here's the op sked for tonight and tomorrow. Pse note that "planned" means just that: I'm figuring on being in the grid(s) listed, but I can only be certain when the actual pass occurs, and the GPS rules. I identify my current grid during each and every contact so there won't be any question later on. We're adjusting our clocks forward one last time tonight, so my work day will now be 1200-2100Z, starting tomorrow. Planned VO52 - 25/0228Z - FK04 FO29 - 25/0956Z - FK05 AO51 - 25/1051Z - FK05 or FK06 FO29 - 25/2119Z - EK97 AO51 - 25/2150Z - EK97 AO7 - 25/2352Z - EK97 VO52 - 26/0111Z - EK97 Probably; not certain but I'll try AO27 - 25/1847Z - EK96 or EK97 - Approx turn on time 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid FK04

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Re: Antenna discussions
by K5OE 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Ted, How about a 3rd school of thought? If you have a clear view of the horizon, I recommend you point the antenna(s) directly at the antenna (0 degrees elevation). That is the point in a satellite's path across the sky where you have the greatest range (distance between you and the satellite) and the bi-directional greatest path loss (not counting any ground gain you will experience if you have horizontal or CP antennas). As the satellite rises in elevation, range and path loss both decrease and you need less gain to overcome noise: a moderate-beamwidth antenna with a gain of 8-10 dBi will match this nicely. A LEO satellite spends the majority of it's visible time below 30 degrees and the pass time above 60 degrees is almost negligible. If you can't hear the satellite at the horizon with this setup, then you can raise the antenna's angle and listen when the satellite is closer (higher elevation), but you will greatly reduce the available time/footprint and your number of contacts. 73, Jerry, K5OE -----Original Message----- Agree !! Along those lines, before I put up my Kenpro az/el rotor, I plan on testing various locations using my Elk with a fixed el but on a small rat shack rotor for az. I have seen here recommendations for 15 deg and some for 30 deg fixed el. Thus there seems to be 2 schools of thought on this. Is there any compelling argument for one or the other? I'm almost inclined to split the diff at +-22 deg. (most passes for me are N/S and to the E - not so good to W Any thoughts appreciated 73, Ted, K7TRK

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Re: Antenna discussions
by John Becker 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

I really forget.... was it the radio or the antenna that came first?

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Re: Antenna discussions
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Hi all, Regarding the discussions on antennas - I am not into any debate about the pro's and con's, but would just like to encourage anyone to just have a go. Sure the argument will always prevail perhaps under the " Must do Better" comment and I am sure that one can always improve or progress with experimenting - ( AMATEUR RADIO ) To verify my point I have just received a QSL card from " Nick" - KB5RVT confirming our contact on AO-7 mode B (SSB). MY QTH is WALES in the UK and "Nick" in So.Burlington, Vermont. I was using my "ELK" antenna (horizontal) and Nick has confirmed that he was using an ARROW YAGI. Thanks for the contact " NICK" - A great pleasure to work you via the old bird still working pleased to say. QSL card on the way with thanks. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat- UK Amsat NA

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ND9M/MM Op Sked: 24 March
by Clary, James T, Civilian 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

Many tks to everyone who sent screen captures and video clips of my ship transiting the Panama Canal today. Although I've been sailing for a long time, this was my first time through the canal and a very exciting day for me. (Remember when this area was KZ5, now a deleted DXCC country?) Plus I was able to put a couple new grid squares into a bunch of logs to boot, so win-win! I operated the FO29 pass at 23/2126Z and AO51 pass a few minutes later from the middle lock at Gatun Locks in FJ09; the ship was literally going down at the time, but only by virtue of the water level being lowered as we approached the Atlantic side of the canal. We've since cleared the canal and are now fully into the Caribbean. Our route to Jacksonville will be around the western end of Cuba so that we can pick up the Gulf Stream near the Florida Keys; the Stream will push us along by adding about 15 percent to our speed. Since we're on a fixed ETA, we'll ease back on the engines a bit so that they don't have to work quite as hard, not to mention not burn as much fuel. We're due into Jacksonville next Tuesday, 29/3. On an unrelated note, congrats to Allen, N5AFV on making his 50,000th satellite contact early this morning; that's quite an accomplishment! Our course over the next 24 hours will be almost due north, so we'll cross into a new grid square about every five hours. Here's my planned op sked for tonight and tomorrow: Planned VO52 - 24/0208Z - FK00 - only pass this grid FO29 - 24/0904Z - FK01 AO51 - 24/0951Z - FK01 FO29 - 24/2216Z - FK04 AO51 - 24/2229Z - FK04 AO7 - 24/2256Z - FK04 VO52 - 25/0052Z FK04 VO52 - 25/0228Z - FK05 - only pass this grid Probable, but not certain AO7 - 24/1216Z - FK02 - probably the only pass this grid AO27 - 24/1916Z - FK03 - Approx turn on time; 3-minute window starting at 16 degrees & going down FO29 - 24/2030Z - FK03 or FK04 AO51 - 24/2049Z - FK03 or FK04

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DX spots and old idea
by Andrew Glasbrenner 24 Mar '11

24 Mar '11

I was looking at the cluster tonight and noticed where LU6QI had spotted ND9M, then I spotted him on a later pass. It made me think it might be fun to pick a pass of say FO-29, and originate a message from say the Mideast, which gets passed to Europe, then to the northeast US, then say Florida ;-), then to Central America, then to South America. Sort of like the parlor game where you pass a secret around the room. Yes I realize this is traffic handling, and some folks do it all the time on HF, but for some reason it amused me the idea of leapfrogging along the ground track of a bird. It's sort of what we have done with the AO-51 Sputnik and Apollo events, only two way. I'm sure someone will be right along to tear it to shreds. 73, Drew KO4MA

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