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

RF Quiet my digital recorder
by Bill W1PA 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

I am using an Olympus digital audio recorder for logging LEO passes, because I can directly transfer a .wma to my PC from it (versus the tape recorder I used in the 90's). I am using an extension clip-on mic. I am finding that it generates a lot of RF crud on 435, enough to swamp the RX if I am not careful. Beside a torroid on the mic cable, and maybe a foil/mesh cover over the recorder (maybe one of those new-fangled RF-ID protecting wallets), anything else I should try? Bill W1PA

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Re: ISS Packet using AGWPE
by Edward R. Cole 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

At 01:21 PM 4/15/2011, Ng, Peter wrote: >hey what's going on? amsat-bb got quiet all of the sudden....too quiet! :) > >I'm trying to connect to ISS using AGWPE with my soundcard. can >anyone help me with this? How does one connect to the ISS >digipeater? Are there documentation on the AMSAT site or >elsewhere? Any help would be appreciated! > >73's Peter VE7NGP >_______________________________________________ >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 WE are all catching up our lost sleep! ;-) 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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Verticals and such on SSB birds
by John Geiger 15 Apr '11

15 Apr '11

I have found firsthand that verticals, J poles, and the like work pretty good on FM satellites. How well do these same antennas work on the SSB satellites? Would they make VO52 usable? That seems to be the easiest of the SSB sats to get into. What about FO29? 73s John AA5JG

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ARRIsat-1 - No Show
by Edward R. Cole 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

It really does not instill much confidence in partnering with RSC-Energia for any future satellites. I will withhold judgement of individuals involved till we learn more. I certainly am not in favor of spending Amsat funds on such a venture, again. But then I no longer have a voice in the matter as I have let my membership in Amsat lapse. That was totally a financial decision - as a senior retired on social security, I have to chose what I spend money for. I could continue a couple memberships that provide a senior/retired rate. That also means I am retired as a field op. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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Joe "Pollyanna" Fitzgerald on ARISSat-1
by Joe Fitzgerald 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

The ARISSat-1 project can chalk up many successes, here is my list so far: AMSAT has: Built and launched a spacecraft which has sent signals back to earth Grown up significantly in our project management capabilities, now bearing fruit as AMSAT-Fox is developed Developed a telemetry scheme that gives us several dB advantage over anything else previously flown on an amateur or small university spacecraft Gown in our understanding of and implementation of ITAR compliance Learned a fair amount about extracting the most power out of solar panels and putting it to work or storage And on a personal level, I have: Learned a lot about project management - Learned a lot about BPSK demodulation and channel codecs Been privileged to work with a lot of smart people -Joe KM1P

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Re: ANS-104 ANS Special Bulletin - ARISSat-1 Not HeardDuring Gagarin Commemoration
by John Spasojevich 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

My understanding was that the D-700 was turned off. Packet transmission began soon after the posted time for ARISSat to be powered off. Since theory and conjecture abound I would toss out a theorie that they did turn it on but were unaware it was not transmitting. Until they actually say what happened, assuming they say what really happened, we'll never know. John - AG9D

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FN01 tomorrow (4/15)
by Helmuth Kump 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

Weather- and Murphy-permitting, I will be in PA State Game Lands 95 tomorrow (FN01bb) and working most of the daytime passes, hopefully starting with SO-50 at 1345 and going till AO-51 at 2120. Hope to work you then. I'll post other info on my QRZ.com. 73 Doc KT3L

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I: Re: ARISSat-1 - Battery Failure
by Francesco Grappi 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

.... I agree with you Tony, much better to read some news about e.g. P3E status or HO-68 .... isn't it ? 73" Frank IW4DVZ -----Messaggio originale----- Da: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Per conto di Anthony Monteiro Inviato: giovedì 14 aprile 2011 21.42 A: AMSAT BB Oggetto: [amsat-bb] Re: ARISSat-1 - Battery Failure Dear Friends, There has been a great deal of speculation on the amsat-bb about the Russian battery on ARISSat-1 having failed. Be aware that this is nothing other than idle speculation. There has been no information from RSC-Energia to support this. I believe the mis-information comes from a report on the ARISSat-1 power system that was written by me and sent to RSC-Energia. One of the sections included a prediction of the battery life in orbit. The 825M3 is a Russian space suit battery and its life was not specified or characterized for operation of a satellite. The most recent AMSAT Journal includes an article that covers this material. The article in the AMSAT journal predicts that the 825M3 battery should last for about 2 months in orbit. That means that if the satellite was deployed in February as originally planned, it might be too weak to run the satellite reliably by the time the Yuri celebration commenced on April 12th. This fact was stated on the (Russian) Roscosmos web site but is being misinterpreted as the battery "is weak." For the record, the battery in ARISSat-1 was a brand new 825M3 space suit battery and was charged on the ISS prior to the February test. After charging, the battery can run ARISSat-1 for at least 100 hours so it should have had more than enough remaining charge to operate through the Yuri Gagarin event. It is of course possible that the battery did indeed fail but any information propagated on amsat-bb to that effect at this time is not based on facts. AMSAT is working with RSC-Energia and NASA to identify the actual reason that the satellite was not heard. 73, Tony AA2TX _______________________________________________ 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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Dayton Rooms
by Martha 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

I have to send the rooming list for the AMSAT Dayton rooms to the hotel tomorrow. If you have not called me with your reservation, you need to do so ASAP (301-589-6062) -- 73- Martha

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XE3DX Grid Expedition April 17-30th
by John Papay 14 Apr '11

14 Apr '11

David XE3DX recently posted that he will be operating from EK08, EK09, EK18 and EK19 from April 17th to the 30th. These are grids that you don't hear very often so if you are chasing grids, be on the lookout and please give David some room. This morning's AO-51 pass at 1050z was a little exciting. XE1SOV showed up from EK18, one of the grids that David will operate from and a new one for me. David was also on the pass and worked a few stations. After the pass, David emailed me with a request that we should use phonetics when working him and other XE's. He asked me to confirm some of the callsigns he heard/worked where phonetics were not used. This is not an issue for debate and please do not respond one way or the other. I am simply passing on his request. Act on it as you see fit. David uses LOTW, so if you make a contact you'll be able to get confirmation without sending for a card. If he doesn't get your call right, there will be no match in LOTW. As an aside, the US postal rate to Mexico (and Canada) goes to $.80 for 1 oz. effective April 17th. All other countries remain at $.98 for 1 oz. 73, John K8YSE

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