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

LVB cabling?
by zach hillerson 13 Mar '11

13 Mar '11

I just ordered my LVB box from Amsat as one of the final pcs. necessary to finish building my base station. I know a CAT cable is needed from my 847 to the computer, but what is required from the computer to the LVB box and from the LVB to the rotator control box? For this installation, I plan to use a Yaesu 450 for azimuth only movement along with a Gulf Alpha dual band at a fixed 15* elevation. 73, Zach/N4ERZ

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K4ACK?
by Michael J. Wolthuis 13 Mar '11

13 Mar '11

Did I mess up a typo on the callsign? I copied down K4ACK - el82 on the last AO-51 pass. No QRZ entry though. Anyone know? mike kb8zgl

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Weak Signal on AO-51
by Zachary Beougher 13 Mar '11

13 Mar '11

Hi! The last few AO51 passes I have been on over the last few days have seemed to have a very weak signal. I can usually acquire the bird at about 2-3 degrees when it comes up from the S, but I was having a hard time hearing it at 10. Max elevation of the last pass was 23 degrees, and I could barely hear it then. It seemed like the polarization was all over the place too – clear one minute and gone the next. I was wondering if the transmitter power is lower than it has been – I have not seen anything on the BB regarding any mode change. Hopefully it is not something up with my antenna. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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What an interesting coincidence
by Michael J. Wolthuis 13 Mar '11

13 Mar '11

Made my contact #500 today on AO-51. I couldn't be more surprised putting it in the log that it was no8dx/20 with John. I couldn't believe it. There 20 years being honored and my #500 contact. Thanks John for being there, this will be a VERY special QSL card!!! It has been a fun, I can't wait to see what happens on the next 500 on AO-51!!! 73s, and see you all on the birds tomorrow. Mike kb8zgl

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Re: UO-11 received
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

Hi, Glad that you had success with UO-11, however sad to say according to Clive Wallis whom gives regular status reports on its operation, it is expected to "switch off" tomorrow -13th March. He has requested me to ask however that if it is still heard that reports should be sent to the DCARR web site. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat-UK Amsat NA

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UO-11 received
by Paolo Mattiolo 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

I received a full passage of UO-11 at 08:15 in jn56oo Equipment ft817 and 5/8 vertical Fantastic!!!, in some moments the signal was strong s5 -- Paolo Mattiolo Programmer http://www.mattiolopaolo.com cell:347 9454207 skype:paolomattiolo msn:paolomattiolo@hotmail.it twitter:IN3AQK ham call sign: IN3AQK IQRP N° 715

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ND9M/MM Op Sked: 13 March and Rare Grid DM02
by Clary, James T, Civilian 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

We're wrapping up our assignment in the San Diego area. Thankfully, the tsunami that resulted from the earthquake in Japan was pretty much a non-event for us, but it was interesting to witness all the different types of alerts (government, military, and civil) that went out in the local area. We are scheduled to depart our local anchorage this coming Sunday, 13 March, at 1500Z and head for the Panama Canal. We're due to arrive there and transit the Canal on the 23rd and then finish up the trip at Jacksonville on the 29th. I asked the ship's captain to detour the ship a few miles once we get underway so that we would sail southbound through DM02, and he agreed to the request. This is one of the rarest grids to get for those trying to work all 488 grids in the Continental USA. San Clemente Island is located partially in DM02, but the island is controlled by the Navy, which only allows military personnel and contractors to come to the island. Also, quite a bit of the grid square is covered by areas used for testing things that go boom. (The ARRL offers the "Fred Fish Memorial Award" for working all 488 grid squares on 6 meters only. There's currently no award for working all 488 grids by satellite, but efforts are being made to get one going.) That's the good part of the detour. The bad part is that the four hours or so that we'll be in DM02, there will be only two satellite passes available to work the grid. One is AO27 which will favor the eastern states and provinces but will only be 6 degrees for me. Since I set up my gear on the ship's flight deck which is a bit more than 100 feet above the water line, I can usually hear AO27 throughout its entire 7-minute window when it's available to me even at low satellite elevations like this pass will be. The other pass that I'll be on from DM02 will be either VO52 starting at 13/1712Z or the second AO27 pass that turns on at about 13/2111Z. Neither of those two passes hits the eastern areas. We'll cross into DM01 after that and turn southeast to follow the Baja coastline toward DM11 and DM10 and on down towards Panama. Our general direction of travel will be southeast which will typically take us through three different grids each day and probably a fourth and sometimes a fifth. I'll be on from as many grids as I can, including in the middle of the night when it's necessary. Here is the planned sked: VO52 - 13/1712Z - DM13 or DM03 or DM02 AO27 - 13/1930Z - Approx turn on time - DM02 AO27 - 13/2111Z - Approx turn on time - either DM02 or DM01 AO7 - 14/0040Z - if in Mode B - DM01 or DM11 VO52 - 14/0229Z - Probably DM00 or DM10 AO7 - 14/0236Z - if in Mode B - Probably DM00 or DM10 FO29 - 14/0938Z - Looks like DL09 or DL19 AO7 - 14/1440Z - DL18 ? Will try to hit these: AO27 - 13/2251Z - Approx turn on time - DM01 or DM11 AO51 - 13/2314Z - DM01 or DM11 FO29 - 13/2331Z - DM01 or DM11 Maybe: VO52 - 14/0402Z My work sked is from 0800-1700 ship's time every day, including weekends. Starting Sunday when Daylight Savings Time begins, those hours translate to 1500-0200Z. Other than my lunch period which is very flexible, I'll hit passes during my work hours if possible. As we approached the States last month, I was able to get in quite a few passes during that time frame; hopefully I'll be as lucky as we head towards the East Coast. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid DM13

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Mini Grid Expedition CP29/CP39
by k6yk 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

Wow ! Just at the last minute or 2 of the 21:54 and 23:03 passes! Thanks, John. 73, John, K6YK On Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:15:26 -0700 (MST) "John Boudreau" <john(a)newnorth.ca> writes: > I managed to get in and out of Paulatuk (CP79) this week without > freezing > to death. With the wind chill the temp went down as low as -60F! > Thanks > to everyone for all the contacts. > > Tomorrow (Friday) will be travelling by ice road up to the coast. > Not > many good passes but I'll be on for the these ones: > > AO27 20:30z from CP39 > AO51 21:26z from CP39 > SO50 21:54z from CP39 > > AO51 23:03z from CP29 > > 73 > John - VE8EV/P > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ $65/Hr Job - 25 Openings Part-Time job ($20-$65/hr). Requirements: Home Internet Access http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d7aca01d4b68cd89fst06vuc

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Cubesats in NASA's future
by charlie Cantrill 12 Mar '11

12 Mar '11

FYI http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/early_stage_innovation/centennial_challenge… CharlieKI4RDT

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(no subject)
by Clary, James T, Civilian 11 Mar '11

11 Mar '11

Hello Domenico, I am on a ship close to San Diego in southern California. There was very little effect from the tsunami when it reached this area. As a precaution, my ship left the coast and sailed out a few miles to deeper waters, but it turned out to be unnecessary, and we have already returned to where we had been. We were safe at all times. If your son's ship is in this region, I am sure he is safe as well. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid DM13 > Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:11:09 +0100 > From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Off topics ( tsunami on the west coast of USA ? ) > To: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <002001cbe020$14cc4de0$0401a8c0@b3o7f1> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > > Hi All, > > I would like to know if after the terrific earthquake in Japan the tsunami > reached the west coast of USA. > >I am worry about because my son is part of the crew on board the ship >"SPIRIT" sailing the coast of California and Mexico > >Tank you for any information. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico

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