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

Re: Sat Tracker iPod touch
by Clint Bradford 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

I am a fan of PocketSat ... Once you use it, you'll appreciate it. It is not inexpensive at $25. As a matter of fact, of the 150+ apps I have on my iPod touch, it is actually the most expensive app I have acquired. But I have been with this program since the Palm version was released. You get excellent product support from the author and a support YahooGroup for questions. It painlessly downloads the AMSAT Keplerian data (or others) and I consider PocketSat the ULTIMATE n satellite tracking software for this platform. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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first satellite contact for N6PG
by Scott Rights 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

since attachments aren't allowed, I've made an unlisted youtube video of the first contact for the group. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCs_eoIL1A 73's Scott

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by K5OE 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Like most things on the bb, this is not a new topic. Several years ago, on the first cruise I took out of Galveston, TX, I followed (exactly) the advice from Allen, N5AFV, on his various web articles. You can get a good overview here and links to more details as well: http://www.qsl.net/n5afv/cruise.html Allen has been there and done that and I had nothing but success in following his recommendations. I had the license and the ship's permission--no problem. I have another cruise planned April 11-17 (listen for me on AO-51), but remember my first cruise "experience" like it was yesterday: EL60 27.08.2007 1358 N5ZNL 27.08.2007 1358 N5AFU 27.08.2007 1359 W7JPI 27.08.2007 1400 W0SAT 27.08.2007 1402 XE1KW EL51 28.08.2007 1320 N5AFV 28.08.2007 1321 N3YZ EL45 29.08.2007 1418 WA2EHL 29.08.2007 1419 W7JPI 29.08.2007 1419 W0SAT 29.08.2007 1420 N7JK 29.08.2007 1420 KE5CWC 29.08.2007 1421 XE1KW 29.08.2007 1422 N5ZNL I used an FT-51R and an AL-800 antenna. I plan to take an Arrow this time :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by John Heath 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

I didn't expect to be contributing to this thread, but Bob WB4APR's posting suggested another idea. Permission to operate is always at the discretion of the captain or master of the vessel. But how about keeping a list of operations from cruise ships with the first three items on Bob's list together with dates, name of vessel, name of cruise company. That way anyone wishing to do this has a precident for the captain. There may be less reason to say no if the captain knows its been done before and the vessel didn't sink or all the navigation aids crash. Worth noting that with all of the automated comms and navigation on cruise ships these days there probably isn't a wireless operator, so no potentialy friendly professional to put a in a good word. Just a thought. 73 all John G7HIA ________________________________ From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, 1 March, 2011 22:11:02 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises > I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something. > Wouldn't it be much easier to say ... > that you must check with the ships > Captain and/or communications officer Yes, exactly the point. But that is no where near good enough advice. So that we don’t have to address this for each 4000 of us that might eventually take a cruise and have piecemeal responses from a dozen different people offering portions of the answer that then we have to assemble each time from a dozen emails, the AMSAT web page should also address these points (and more). The web page should also suggest: 1) In your (1 page or less) written request to the captain include: 2) What frequencies and bands and power level 3) Description of your antenna and power source 4) Copy of your license 5) Copy of appropriate language in ITU Radio Rules 6) Copy of appropriate language in Maritime Law 7) Copy of whatever else. Lets nail down the above list once and for all, post it. And then we don’t have to hash it everytime with only pieces of the answer coming in from a dozen different folks, but one answer that accumulates all that info in one place. Something like that is what I was proposing. Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: Donald Jacob [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 4:41 PM To: Bob Bruninga Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something. Wouldn't it be much easier to say (on web page or what ever since this topic has been address MANY MANY times) that you must check with the ships Captain and/or communications officer. Forget FCC or any other nation's communications authority, since once at sea the ship is totally under the authority of the Captain -- Maritime Law. Just seems much more logical to me than beating a dead horse! 73 Don WB5EKU On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 12:51 PM, Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: > OK, the web page could say: > > 1) "The following have written policy prohibiting all "radio" operations... > <big list> > > 2) "The following have written policy prohibiting "amateur radio" operations > <big list> > > 3) "On the following lines no one has yet found a written prohibition, but > the captian of the ship should always be informed as to any radio operation > (usually via the Comm officer). > Good luck. > <list> > > 4) In all categories above. There are known examples of individuals > obtaining permission. These cruise lines AND ships have supported amateur > operations. > > * Then each amateur that has been successful should submit a simple sentence > of what he did (May request his call be removed before posting on the web > page so he is not burdened by continuously answering the same question for > the next 20 years.) But properly formatting your sentence to answer all the > proper questions in the first place will usually avoid that kind of bother. > Examples: > > Wrote letter advance to ____. Got written permission > Asked Bursar on arrival to speak to commo... Got permission > Slipped note under door of comm. shack with my cabin number.. got > permission... etc.. > > Etc... > > Bob > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: n0jy(a)lavabit.com [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 1:17 PM > To: Bob Bruninga > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises > > For what it's worth, you may not be as forward as I am... > > On our last cruise (in 2008) I just took my HT and Arrow with me, called > the Purser and asked to speak with the Radio Officer for permission to > operate. I believe it was the next day that I spoke with them and > described what I was using and what bands, they gave me permission and I > went to work making satellite contacts. > > At that time, their primary concern was power, frequency, and whether my > antenna would bother any other passengers. Princess Cruise Lines. > > 73, > Jerry > NØJY > >> Can we nail down all the cruise ships that prohibit it and those that >> allow >> it into a single document. Then provide a link to it on the AMSAT web >> page? >> >> This topic comes up over and over, and someday when I retire, I too am >> going >> to want to go on cruise, AND take ham radio along, and so I too will be >> asking this question. >> >> So this is a good INFO topic that we need to collectively nail down, and >> then get it permanently posted on the AMSAT web page... >> >> Thanks... >> Then we can UPDATE it as new info comes in (everyone write their cruise >> ship >> and indicate you're not taking their cruise if you cannot bring your >> radio)... >> >> Bob > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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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FM SSB Receiver Kit
by Kevin Deane 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

So my new trip is building a receiver for the SSB birds!!! How about that! Does anyone know where I can order a kit??? Kevin KF7MYK

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Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk andHT?
by K5OE 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Bryan, I built a cheap (about $17 as I recall) little Ramsey UHF preamp in a small enclosure with a 9 V battery rubber-banded to the Arrow boom, but found the Arrow had so much gain at 70 cm, even AO-27 was workable at the horizon. I used an external MFJ diplexer in lieu of the Arrow built-in-handle diplexer to protect the preamp from RF on transmit (worked fine, BTW). If you don't find you can hear that well, take a look at your coax and connectors between the antenna and the rig for unusual losses. I occasionally see the ARR non-relay preamps going on ebay for under $50 as well, and one of those with a double-ended BNC connector would bolt right onto the Arrow driven element connector. 73, Jerry, K5OE > Does anyone have a recommendation for a UHF preamp suitable for use with an > HT and an Arrow? I always wish I had one when I listen for SO-50... it seems > like it ought to be inline with BNC connectors and battery powered to > maintain portability... > Thanks in advance! > Bryan Green KL7CN > Usually /W6 in CM98fn 408-836-7279

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Bad news for Kysat-1
by Bruce Robertson 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

NASA TV is reporting that the rocket's fairing did not separate, and therefore it will not have enough velocity to enter orbit. So sorry for all working on this interesting project. 73, Bruce VE9QRP -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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Icom 910/9600bps
by CU2JX Pedro 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Hello to all Any one uses the icom 910 with 9600bps tnc, how toconnect the rig to tnc Best 73! Pedro Cruz -cu2jx

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Glory Fails
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Launch failure ... fairing did not deploy ... not sufficient speed to maintain ... launch failure. Clint

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Glory Fails
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Gawd, it was beautiful as we watched it cruise down the CA coast. Launch failure ... fairing did not deploy ... not sufficient speed to maintain ... launch failure. Clint

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