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

Re: Cans o' Worms
by k6yk 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

And let's hope we don't get 100 messages a day saying the same thing about ARISSAT, such as "I CAN't HEAR IT" On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 17:23:26 -0700 Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net> writes: > >> ... Boy did I open up a can of worms ... > > Yes, you did. > > I propose that we all NOT initiate ANY threads with the following > titles until AFTER the ARISSat-1 activation this week ... > > -Elk versus Arrow > -ITU vs. MY Phonetics > -Circular polarization on the FM birds > -When will we have a ham Geo-synschronous bird over North America? > -What is the difference between UTC and GMT? > -I live in Kansas, and there's no one on the FM birds to talk to > -I live on the West Coast, and it is hard to get in with all the > traffic > > Clint (readying for our Yuri / ARISSat-1 party) Bradford, K6LCS > http://tinyurl.com/YURI-K6LCS > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ Groupon&#8482 Official Site 1 ridiculously huge coupon a day. Get 50-90% off your city's best! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4da261f4a706169c6abst03vuc

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Yaesu FTM-350AR
by John Price 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Has anyone tried using the Yaesu FTM-350AR mobile to work the FM satellites. It is stated in the manual that it is a full-duplex radio. Been looking at something to use mobile. I would appreciate any input anyone might have. Thanks. << John -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,FO-29,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Email N4QWF(a)AMSAT.ORG Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il >From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"

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Re: ITU Phonetics - Kilo
by Mark Spencer 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

I have no problems figuring out most adhoc phonetic alphabets, but when people use two separate words to represent one letter I find it distracting and confusing. I doubt I'm the only person who suffers from this. (In case any one is wondering, yes I was trained in the use of the icao phonetics a long time ago, and I work in a field were the abriveation KW means Kilo Watt.) In any event as this is ham radio the worst that will likely happen is that an extra letter will get added to some one's call. 73

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anybody hear Arissat-1 yet?
by Mark L. Hammond 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Well, if I have my notes right, Arissat-1 should be active for almost one orbit thus far---anybody hear it yet? West Coast US? South Africa? Russia? Heading to India and China soon... 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Diplexer
by N8GBU 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

I was wondering if anyone has scene the article about using a diplexer (I think that's the right name) on both ends for a satellite setup? One where the two antennas are then a single feed then another one to split things up again by the radio. I think it was in QST but can't remember the issue or if someone has used that setup I would like some input ......Thanks and 73's Mike N8GBU

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Mobile satellite operation from 4X this Tuesday, April 12, 2011
by Shamai "SAM" Opfer 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Hi all, To celebrate the April 12 event of Yuri Gagarin's first manned flight to space, and to receive ARISSat1, we will hold a mini field-day in the Herzliya Science Center on coming Tuesday, (together with a BarBQ..) Our event is planned to take place between 12:00UTC (15:00 Israel time) until the ISS pass that is expected in the evening little after 18:00 UTC (21:00 Israel time). Success is not guaranteed, as we are not yet experienced with this kind of operation, but we will appreciate any European and Russian operators that can show up in the mutual passes of AO07, AO51, FO29 within these hours, and also SO67 and VO52 toward 18:00UTC, to try and make QSOs with us, and help us to demo HAM satellites operation. Thanks and 73, Shamai 4z1ws(a)amsat.org on behalf of 4x4hsc club/ground station

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SO67
by Hans 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Hi all Last chance for USA tonight Europe from tomorrow see www.amsatsa.org.za <http://www.amsatsa.org.za/> If you have any recent recordings please send the MP3's to saamsat(a)intekom.co.za Thanks Hans

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Re: Wanted: ARISSat-1 audio recordings
by Clint Bradford 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

I'll be posting video and audio - I'll let you know where, and allow downloading and sharing! Clint, K6LCS http://tinyurl.com/YURI-K6LCS

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The Need for Phonetics
by John Papay 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Kevin, KF7MYK, provides a great example of what happens when operators do not use phonetics. You may think you are saving time by not using them, but the fact is that unless someone is familiar with your callsign, they may copy it incorrectly. You want everyone on the bird to have your callsign correct so they can call you with the right call rather than having to ask for it again in phonetics, or worse yet, getting it wrong. If you call someone using just their suffix, it means that you don't have their prefix. When you hear someone call you that way, you know they need the missing part of your call. If you have someone's complete callsign, don't call them by their suffix. That's not their callsign. Sometimes you only hear the grid square and call someone that way. This is an indicator that you need the persons complete callsign. A complete exchange is what we should strive for. If you call someone with an incorrect call, other stations pick up on that callsign and the inaccuracy propagates throughout the pass. You find yourself looking them up on qrz.com and not finding a match. Then you are listening to the recording and trying to figure out where you went wrong. Satellites have varying audio quality and the users radios are all over the place in terms of level and clarity. Phonetics will get the callsign through correctly and avoid the problems associated with not getting it right. Everyone is not copying the bird full quieting. Give them half a chance. Also keep in mind that when you are working someone whose first language is not English, they may have even more trouble with your callsign if you don't use proper phonetics. Many non-English speaking amateurs know just enough to copy a callsign, give you their name, report and QTH. They learn the International Phonetic Alphabet and will recognize the words associated with the letters. If you use some other words, they may not understand what letters you are trying to convey. Adjust your operating based on who you are trying to work. Remember that everyone on the bird is listening to your QSO and hopefully writing down your callsign for future reference. Use phonetics and SLOW DOWN. Don't run your grid square into the end of your callsign. Announce your callsign at a constant pace. This methodology will help everyone get it right the first time and save airtime in the long run. All this, of course, in my humble opinion. 73, John K8YSE

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SATPC32 and FT847
by Tom Schuessler 10 Apr '11

10 Apr '11

Hi all, In an attempt to dabble my toes in the linear transponder pool, I asked a FT847 owner friend to bring his rig over to try and understand the mechanics of making it all work with the computer interfaced. Got SatPC32 to communicate at 9600, 8, none, 1, none, with the radio and the radio responded to changes I made on the program like using keystrokes to modify the frequency of uplink or downlink. Problem is that although the program was tracking Doppler correctly, the radio was not tracking at all. With the multiple lines of possibilities on the Doppler.sqf file as is the case for AO-51, I can go to the CAT dialog and change the mode frequencies just fine, the radio goes to the new frequencies and even reflects the current state of the Doppler shifted frequencies but from there, no Doppler corrections occur. Now I remember reading the "Manual" that "CAT Delay" for the FT897 needed to be set to 20. Cat Delay is in the "Radio Setup" dialog is defaulted to 70. I realize this now after the fact with radio not in my presence. Is this the reason that the above mentioned problem could be occurring? I hope to make another go at this in a few weekends in the hope of getting ready for Field Day. Thanks for the help of the list. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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