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

XE3DX On EK08
by David Maciel 25 Apr '11

25 Apr '11

Hi All, next Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th I'll be working from the Grid EK08, State of Morelos in Mexico, all contacts will be confirmed via LOTW or direct, I will work passes just after 17:00z, I hope to hear soon. David XE3DX EK08

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Cat/Pin numbers NON Sat Question
by Kevin Deane 25 Apr '11

25 Apr '11

Does anyone know the pin numbers for the back of the computer/soundcard? I have a new Yaesu FT-7900 cable and one of the wires is black instead of blue like the manual says... How do I know what number the pins are on the computer side of the cable where I would connect the ends too I am sure that is standard? Any help would be greatly appreciated, not having any luck looking it up on the web. Thanks Kevin KF7MYK

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Today EK09
by David Maciel 24 Apr '11

24 Apr '11

Hi All, this day will be operating from ek09 in satellites AO-27 AO-51 and SO-50 all passes Dave XE3DX

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Re: FO 29 help
by K5OE 24 Apr '11

24 Apr '11

Ted, It sounds like you are hearing a "reflection" of your signal, not the downlink from FO-29. This is a common malady associated with 3rd harmonic interference on mode J (V/U) satellites. Try this on a pass that will reach at least 30 degrees above the horizon: 1. Turn HRD control of your TS2K off 2. Set your uplink at 145.950 CW 3. At AOS you should hear the beacon about 8-10 kHz above the beacon freq of 435.895 (about 435.904 MHz) 4. Tune your receiver to 435.850 plus that same delta from beacon (about 435.859 USB). You should be able to tune your receive and hear your CW dits (clearly). 5. Zero beat the CW dits on the low side, switch to LSB and you should be exactly on frequency and can turn on TRACE and go anywhere in the passband. If you have auto-Doppler turned on in HRD, your program should do the same thing as this manual procedure. You should be able to hear yourself. If not, Google the diplexer fix for the harmonic problem. >From the center of the passbands, whatever the UHF Doppler shift is, the VHF Doppler will be approximately 1/3 in the opposite direction. This is a helpful rule for finding your downlink manually. 73, Jerry, K5OE -- original message -- Good morning, Since putting up the Elk on a rotor (fixed el +- 25 deg), I decided to try some linear birds. I have tried FO 29 about 3x but seem to have some issues. I am using TS-2000 in SAT mode with HRD Sat program. Up: 145.9 LSB Dn: 435.8 USB I am clearly able to track the bird with doppler as I can hear the CW beacon through the entire pass (switching back and forth). I can also TX into the bird and hear my signal coming back duplex. However, what is coming back is my voice signal but totally unintelligible. Also, I have heard no other stations on these passes. Am I doing something wrong? Tnx for any help Ted, K7TRK

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Re: KB5WIA / P in Death Valley Next Week (DM17, etc)
by herr＠ridgenet.net 24 Apr '11

24 Apr '11

No, they do not close DVNP after Easter. It is open all year around. There are a couple of camp grounds closed after mid April that is only due to the lower attendance. I was there last year well after Easter and walked from Furnace Creek to Stovepipe with about 70 other fools for the Death Valley Walk for Life. Was there just last week, nice 103f weather. The summer months there is considerable traffic in the park, lots of Europeans visit then. I will go up in June for the VHF / UHF contest and operate out of Mahogany Flats near Telescope Peak - nice 8,000 foot spot, a bit cooler than at Badwater. ...Mike WA6ARA >Wow, Dave, did you know that they close down DVNP after Easter for >the rest of the summer? It can reach +125F or higher at Easter so be >prepared with lots of water. I loved to visit Bodie and Scottie's >Castle. I lived in Barstow 1971-1976. The desert was my playground >with my old 66 GMC suburban V6. > >But been there, done that, and don't miss it! ;-) GL on the sats! > >73, Ed - KL7UW

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Thank You
by Mike1234 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

I would thank everyone who commented on my question about the diplexer. The discussion opened up some new thoughts where, had I not read about duplexers I may have been kicking myself in the rear. Hopefully if weather holds I will have everything going ! Thanks again to everyone and I hope to eyeball some of you at Dayton ! Mike N8GBU

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Re: FO 29 help
by Bill Dzurilla 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

It sounds like you when you are hearing your distorted voice it is some cross-mod from your own radio rather than a downlink signal from the bird. I assume you are using a diplexer to split the coax from the Elk to 2m and 70cm, and then running coax to each output on the TS-2000? The diplexer may not be providing adequate isolation. The center of the FO-29 passband is 435.85, not 435.8, so as the bird is approaching you most of the SSB signals will be at .85 and higher, you need to tune around. Signals from this bird are usually quite loud, so there must be a problem if you are not hearing anybody. This bird is under-utilized but there are usually at least a couple of people on. I am also using an Elk with fixed elevation (12 degrees) and it works great with my FT-847, can work FO-29 almost to the horizon. 73, Bill NZ5N > Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 11:08:29 -0700 > From: "Ted" <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] FO 29 help > To: "'amsat-bb'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: > <4EDCCDC24E15410BA806C31CEDA08866@HamComputer> > Content-Type: text/plain; > charset="us-ascii" > > Good morning, > > Since putting up the Elk on a rotor (fixed el +- 25 deg), I > decided to try > some linear birds. > > I have tried FO 29 about 3x but seem to have some issues. I > am using TS-2000 > in SAT mode with HRD Sat program. > Up: 145.9 LSB > Dn: 435.8 USB > > I am clearly able to track the bird with doppler as I can > hear the CW beacon > through the entire pass (switching back and forth). I can > also TX into the > bird and hear my signal coming back duplex. However, what > is coming back is > my voice signal but totally unintelligible. Also, I have > heard no other > stations on these passes. > > Am I doing something wrong? > > Tnx for any help >

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SSB/FM
by Kevin Deane 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

Thank you for your responeses, I finalley get a good answer other than just "Stay off the linear birds" I knew some of you would get your panties all in a bunch, take a chill pill! So it makes sense, thanks for taking the time to explain... Kevin

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Re: FO 29 help
by Dave Guimont 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

That's a weird one...let us know when u find it!! >Totally clear and full quiet no distortion > > >---------- >From: Dave Guimont [mailto:[email protected]] >Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 1:48 PM >To: Ted >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FO 29 help > > > > >I am clearly able to track the bird with doppler as I can hear the CW beacon >through the entire pass (switching back and forth). I can also TX into the >bird and hear my signal coming back duplex. However, what is coming back is >my voice signal but totally unintelligible. Also, I have heard no other >stations on these passes. > > >Ted, what does it sound like on cw?? > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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FO 29 help
by Ted 23 Apr '11

23 Apr '11

Good morning, Since putting up the Elk on a rotor (fixed el +- 25 deg), I decided to try some linear birds. I have tried FO 29 about 3x but seem to have some issues. I am using TS-2000 in SAT mode with HRD Sat program. Up: 145.9 LSB Dn: 435.8 USB I am clearly able to track the bird with doppler as I can hear the CW beacon through the entire pass (switching back and forth). I can also TX into the bird and hear my signal coming back duplex. However, what is coming back is my voice signal but totally unintelligible. Also, I have heard no other stations on these passes. Am I doing something wrong? Tnx for any help Ted, K7TRK

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