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

LVB Tracker USB serial port driver for Windows 7 x64?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 22 Dec '16

22 Dec '16

Has anyone located a driver for the LVB Tracker internal USB to serial port adapter on Windows 7 x64? If not, has anyone reverted to the serial port connection on LVB Tracker and used an external USB to serial port adapter successfully with SatPC32 on Windows 7 x64? I have an Edgeport multiple USB to serial port that has drivers for Windows 7 x64 that I will use if I have to. I would prefer using the LVB Tracker with its USB to serial adapter if someone has another solution. 73, Bill NJ1H

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AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010
by Mark L. Hammond 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Hi All, Here is a quick AO-16 update. On Sunday I turned AO-16 long enough to get some telemetry packets. The satellite would remain on for less than one minute after being commanded on. A quick test of the "bent pipe" voice mode repeater was successful. . The "hardware watchdog timer problem" is still evident; as expected, spacecraft temperatures are insufficient to keep the transmitter ON (needs to be above 15 deg C). Orbit projections suggest that satellite illumination conditions will not result in increased temperatures for nearly 10 years. Command stations do periodically turn AO-16 "ON" to check on its condition and see if the hardware timer problem has "automagically" fixed itself (which in not anticipated, but who knows...). AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010 1838 utc PACSAT MBL Telemetry Decoder Ver. 1.3 (c) Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN =============================================================================== (average values) +10V Battery Bus : 0.00 V Battery Charge Reg : 0.55 mA Base Temp : 9.07 °C PSK RF Out : 1.90 W +5V RX Bus : 4.87 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8.49 V +10V RX Bus : 11.24 V Here is another teaser :) Several months ago I commanded the AO-16 S-band transmitter ON; it too remains functional (albeit weak), and was received by me, Drew KO4MA, and Alan WA4SCA. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
by Ford, Steve, WB8IMY 16 Jul '12

16 Jul '12

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 28-30, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut. These papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do NOT need to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings). The submission deadline is July 31, 2007. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 or you can make your submission via e-mail to: maty(a)arrl.org Papers will be published exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights. 73 . . . Steve, WB8IMY ARRL

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Re: EggBeater
by Bill Dzurilla 29 May '12

29 May '12

Steve, I have both a commercial and a homebrew Eggbeater and am disappointed with both, especially in light of its rather high price. Connected to my IC-7000 via an ARR mast-mounted preamp, performance is far less than with an HT and an Arrow. Guess an omni can't cut it, at least not from my QTH. Maybe if I could get it up higher, clear of all roofs, it would do better. I can make contacts at relatively high sat elevations, but can do just as well with a $10 dual band ground plane. My friend has an Eggbeater and the same preamp at a clearer QTH, and he hears substantially better, down to 10 degrees elevation in some directions. Good luck and 73, Bill NZ5N > > Hi Steve, > > > > It is surprising to read that you are not hearing > anything. I have > > repeatedly used a 2m and 70cm Eggbeater for the sats > and have had no > > problem hearing things. No pre-amp. > > > > I was using a short cable (e.g. less than 10 meters). > The rigs I > > used were a FT-736r (deaf) and a FT-847 (so-so). > > > > 73, > > > > Dave

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Working HO-68
by Richard Lawn 16 Oct '11

16 Oct '11

Doing what I try to do every vacation which is try to spend a little time back on the birds. I've yet to have a QSO on HO-68. I hear the beacon just fine. But I just finished my 2nd pass from NJ and was unable to hear any signals let alone myself coming back on any mode. Did I misread the operating schedule or am I doing something wrong? MacDoppler told me there was a good pass to this part of the world are around 21:30 my time. Great beacon strength but nobody else was home. Rick W2JAZ

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Re: G5400 elevation issue
by i8cvs 27 Jul '11

27 Jul '11

----- Original Message ----- From: Dave Webb KB1PVH To: i8cvs Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 3:36 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue Domenico, The highest voltage that I can get at full 180° flip is 2.78 volts with voltage adjustment pot on rear of controller box. Dave - KB1PVH Hi Dave, KB1PVH Make the following troubleshooting : Measure please the DC voltage across E2 and E1 with the antennas at full 180° flip.Since the display on the control box reads correct elevation you must read about 5 volt DC. By the way since as measured between pin 1 and 8 of the external control DIN connector and with the voltage adjustment of pot VR4 you can get only 2.78 volt at full 180° flip it means that there is someting damaged across the operational amplifier Q4 4558 1/2 Since the pot VR4 is 10 k and there is a 4.7 k fixed resistor in series of it if you measure the voltage across VR4 you should get about 3.3 volt DC By the way measuring the voltage between the wiper of VR4 and the ground you should get a voltage change between 5 volt to 3.3 volt while rotating VR4 fully 270° back and forth If this is the case than the operational amplifier Q4 4558 1/2 do not correctly amplify the DC input signal applied to Q4 input pin 3 from the wiper of VR4 Measure the DC voltage between output pin 1 an ground of Q4 and rotating VR4 by 270° back and forth you should get and amplified voltage greater than 5 volt DC and if not check diodes D22-D23-D24-D25 and all components connected around Q4 If all components diodes-resistors and capacitors are nominal than it is possible that Q4 has lost amplification. In this case change the 47 k feedback resistor R39 with a 100 k resistor and the amplification will increase at a point that flipping the antenna at full 180° the voltage across pin 1 and 8 of the DIN external connector will rise up to 5 volt DC or more. Have fun 73" de i8CVS Domenico On Feb 7, 2011 7:46 PM, "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dave Webb KB1PVH" <kb1pvh(a)gmail.com> > To: "AMSAT -BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 5:16 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue > > > The display on the control box reads correct elevation, but on my digital > display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation position. I > have recalibrated it several times with no success. It won't read any > elevation until it is around 20° give or take. It also seems to have become > worse since our really cold temps set in. My best guess is the pot in the > rotor, but not sure where to start in the process. > > Thanks in advance > > Dave - KB1PVH

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IC9100 and SATPC32
by Frank Woolfe 13 May '11

13 May '11

Well the IC9100 has hit the market, when is SATPC32 going to be updated to accommodate this new offering from ICOM? Frank H Woolfe; Dip EE, VK5KV.

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First Call for Speakers for AMSAT UK Colloquium 2011
by David A. B. Johnson 10 May '11

10 May '11

Hi All, This is the first call for speakers for the AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2011 which will be held at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, UK (same venue as in 2010) from *Fri 29 Jul to Sun 31 July 2011* AMSAT-UK invite speakers, about amateur radio, space and associated activities, for this event. Offers of talks should be sent *ONLY* to G4DPZ, via the following routes: e-mail: david.johnson AT blackpepper.co.uk SnailMail: QTHR from www.QRZ.com AMSAT-UK also invite anyone with requests for Program Topics to submit them as soon as possible to G4DPZ. Invitations for specific subjects will be included in the future call. Likewise if anyone knows of a good speaker, please send contact and other information to G4DPZ. 73 Dave G4DPZ

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pots for Yaseu G5400 rotors
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 22 Apr '11

22 Apr '11

Can anyone recommend a good source for the pots that go into the Yaseu G5400 rotors? Dave, AA4KN

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Re: soldering iron recommendation
by Lowell White 01 Apr '11

01 Apr '11

Neat. Any problems with switch isolation from the AC line? I may add your "hack" to a standard iron. Thanks. 73, Lowell K9LDw ------ Original Message ------ Received: Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:07:51 PM CDT From: Dave Guimont <dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> To: "Lowell White" <whiteld(a)usa.net>Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: soldering iron recommendation > > Good recommendations, Lowell. > > I use fairly high wattage tips (on an iron, easier to handle) and > switch a diode in and out for two reasons...I have two heat choices, > and when switched on "low" it keeps the tip from "burning" as > quickly, and yet "high" heat is almost immediately available...the > switch case and diode holder is made from a short length of 1/2" PVC > and two PVC caps... > > > >You might find either a 'regular' or average sized soldering gun to be of use, > >or a 40W-50W iron, mainly depending on the size of wire / connector you plan > >to typically work on. Soldering guns typically will have a higher wattage > >rating and a larger surface contact area, lending them to better handle > >heating of, say, the shell of a PL-259. An iron is better suited for smaller > >or lower power (i.e. more sensitive to heat) applications. Various tips can be > >had on irons also to help suit them to the work to be done. The most common > >are round tips or chisel points. > > > > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO > dguimon1(a)san.rr.com > > Disagree: I learn.... > > Pulling for P3E... >

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