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

Practical Wireless - FUNcube Dongle Article
by Trevor . 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

The April edition of Practical Wireless magazine has a special treat for all satellite enthusiasts and VHF/UHF listeners - a two page article on the AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle radio The FUNcube Dongle (FCD) Software Defined Radio (SDR) was developed as part of the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite project. It plugs into the USB port of your PC and although little bigger than a memory stick covers the range 64 - 1700MHz (Note: external antenna required). The FCD costs about £125 and a proportion of the price goes to support AMSAT-UK's FUNcube satellite. So far over 500 have been sold around the world. David Dix G8LZE bought his FCD in January from the second batch to be produced. He must have been quick off the mark as they all sold out in under a minute of going on sale! Since then David has been putting the FCD through its paces. His well written PW article gives an overview of CubeSats and describes the results he obtained with his 1/4 wave 70cm Ground Plane antenna and the free WRplus software. As usual PW is packed full of first class radio articles. In this issue Data Modes columist Mike Richards G4WNC deals with ALE, while Chris Lorek G4HCL, in his Emerging Technology column, shows how once again Amateur Radio work is proving its valuable worth to the emerging future of radio communications. Practical Wireless magazine is on sale now from UK High Street newsagents such as W.H.Smith. Postal copies can be purchased using a Debit or Credit card by ringing +44 (0)1202 659910 Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 4.00pm. Yearly subscriptions to PW are available from http://www.mysubcare.com/magazinestore.asp?curpage=3 PW Publishing http://www.pwpublishing.ltd.uk/ Free WRplus SDR Software by Alberto di Bene I2PHD http://www.wrplus.altervista.org/ You can join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: 145.825 MHz satellite
by Andrew Rich 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Must be UO-11 ? ----- Original Message ----- From: Andrew Rich To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 8:12 AM Subject: 145.825 MHz satellite Hello I am hearing another satellite on 145.825 MHz Sounds like some sort of PSK Ideas ? - Andrew -

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for sale
by Dads 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Hi: I,m trying to help a fellow ham with health problems. He has a real nice Kenwood TS-2000 like new. It has very low hours on it. The price is $900.00 firm w0sat(a)msn.com Jerry w0sat

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145.825 MHz satellite
by Andrew Rich 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Hello I am hearing another satellite on 145.825 MHz Sounds like some sort of PSK Ideas ? - Andrew -

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AO-51 reports indicate transmitter(s) are OFF
by Mark L. Hammond 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Hi All, We are receiving and reading multiple reports that AO-51 is OFF, since about 1400 utc today. Additional reports will be appreciated, especially to note if the 435.150 transmitter is active or not; if ON, it should be in 9k6 packet mode. http://oscar.dcarr.org/ It will be a few more hours (around 2100utc) before the bird is in the footprint of a command station, so we'll hope for the best (a quick reset after a voltage trip). 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Welcome Back, Discovery!
by B J 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

The orbiter just landed at Kennedy Space Centre. It was a perfect touch-down, a fitting end to its last mission. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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presentation Thursday, hamfest Saturday
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

Hi! The next few days will be busy for me, but definitely fun. Tomorrow morning, I will head out to San Diego. I will give a presentation for the Escondido Amateur Radio Society at their regular monthly meeting tomorrow night at 1930 local (0330 UTC Friday) on satellite operating away from home. The club meets at the Escondido Salvation Army building on Las Villas Way, east of the I-15 freeway in grid DM13kd. More information about the club and the meeting is available at: http://www.earsclub.org/ About 25 minutes before the meeting, there is a VO-52 pass that I hope to be on for a demonstration. If you hear WD9EWK on there, please feel free to call. Many thanks to John W9EN, the club's program chairman (and satellite operator) for the invitation. This will be my first time in the San Diego area since 2004, and I'm looking forward to this. There may be some other opportunities to work satellites from the San Diego area, or during the driving between Phoenix and San Diego on Thursday and Friday. For the road trip, I will have my TH-D72A on APRS as WD9EWK-9. That should be visible at: http://aprs.fi/wd9ewk-9 After heading back home on Friday afternoon/evening, I will attend the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's annual spring hamfest on Saturday morning with an AMSAT table. The hamfest is a half-day event, starting around 0600 local (1300 UTC) and running until noon. More information about the hamfest, including a flyer with a map of the new location, is available at: http://scottsdaleamateurradioclub.ning.com/ During the hamfest, I will have demonstrations using various satellites. If you hear WD9EWK on any of those passes, please call and say hello to the crowds listening in on the demonstrations. If you work WD9EWK on any satellite passes over the next few days, whether at the club meeting Thursday evening, the hamfest Saturday morning, or somewhere between Phoenix and San Diego on either Thursday or Friday, I will be happy to QSL those contacts. If you want a QSL card, just e-mail me with the QSO details. All QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World as well. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Daylight Savings Time in US
by Clint Bradford 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

US Daylight Saving Time Starts on Sunday http://tinyurl.com/4pswl5y Make sure your satellite tracking programs know about it! Clint, K6LCS

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Another Terrific View Of ISS From Space Shuttle
by B J 09 Mar '11

09 Mar '11

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/sts-133/html/s133e010480… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Elmer
by Pete Rowe 08 Mar '11

08 Mar '11

I have shipped an S band downconverter to Paul AC0Z. I'm sure he will need a bit of Elmering from those of you who work the sats on 2401 MHz. Thanks to Paul, AMSAT has a donation and I have a bit more room in my garage. 73, Pete WA6WOA

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