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

AO-51 WELCOME BACK
by Humberto González 13 May '11

13 May '11

AO-51 is back, was nice surprise see the bird active again on the QRP repeater. Heard several stations saounding like nice music to my ears. Congratulations to all AO-51 team and the stations whom participate in any way to achive the comeback of this nice bird. Bert / XE1FZE - DL80

2 1

satellite VUCC applications via LOTW
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 13 May '11

13 May '11

Hi! Back in February, shortly after ARRL announced that the VUCC award would be supported in Logbook of the World, I uploaded my satellite QSOs to that system. I have since added other non-satellite QSOs, and have uploaded subsequent satellite QSOs (including the QSOs from the Sierra Vista AZ hamfest and my operating from the DM51/DM52 grid boundary last Saturday). On 8 February, I filed an application for a satellite VUCC award using the 103 grids I had credit for in LOTW. After 3 months and lots of face-to-face chats with my ARRL section manager and division director, along with e-mails to the LOTW help desk and other e-mails copied to several in the ARRL hierarchy, my VUCC application was cancelled yesterday. There have been problems in the migration of the VUCC award into the LOTW system, and my application was apparently a victim of those problems. Thankfully, the credit card I submitted with the application had not been charged - probably the only thing ARRL did right in the past 3 months with that (not charging it until the application was processed). I don't know the reason(s) why my application was cancelled, even after additional e-mails yesterday asking for more information. I was told that I could resubmit my VUCC application, now that the original application was cancelled. In the past 3 months, my grid count in LOTW went up 10, to 113. I filed my application, and waited. This time, the application was approved in 24 hours! When I log into LOTW now, I see that I have been awarded a satellite VUCC. Other than seeing what gets charged to my credit card for the new application, ensuring there is no charge for the cancelled application and getting the certificate in the mailbox, this is the way things should work when an application is filed through LOTW. The fees are another matter, but at least the process of getting a VUCC through LOTW appears to be finally working. Thanks to all of those who have been uploading satellite QSOs to the LOTW system. Many - like me - started in the last few months since the announcement that VUCC would be supported in LOTW. A few have been uploading satellite QSOs over the past few years. I'll wait and see if ARRL revisits the matter of the VUCC fees before I apply for an endorsement to my satellite VUCC (I have over 300 more grids I could add to it, using QSL cards), but for now I have a VUCC coming my way. I will continue uploading my satellite QSOs to LOTW, for those who want to use that to apply for or endorse a satellite VUCC. I know I could have applied for a satellite VUCC with QSL cards as far back as late 2006. I know I had accumulated enough cards for a VUCC back then. I put it off, thinking "Why not wait until I have 125?" Then 150, 175, 200, and so on into the 300s. Around the 350 mark, I decided to wait until I reached 400. By this point, it was about the time ARRL made its announcement about VUCC in LOTW along with the new fee structure. I decided to try the on-line application, instead of having to buy dinner for my local card checker as he went through my cards (especially if I filed the application with all the grids I have confirmed). I may still be on the hook for a lunch or dinner, if I write out an application to endorse my VUCC in the future. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

3 3

Office Closed
by Martha 12 May '11

12 May '11

The AMSAT office will be closed on Friday, May 13th and Monday, May16th. I will be back in the office on Tuesday. -- 73- Martha

1 0

AMSAT-DL Symposium and AGM on May 14 in Bochum
by Peter Guelzow 12 May '11

12 May '11

Dear All, just as a reminder.. If you are not too far away, you're welcome to join in. http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amsat-dl.org%2Finde… For those who can't attend, we will publish a full report in the next issue of the AMSAT-DL Journal. 73s Peter, DB2OS

1 0

LOL
by Kevin Deane 12 May '11

12 May '11

Ok guys, my first time USING the ELK in my hand, not my first contact. I have snuck it up on the roof fixed position a lot, no antenna's allowed, and got tired of only hearing a small part of the pass. It works great if you point it in the right place. I am used to an array and two rigs at my brothers... Anywho, just thought I would clear that up. Not exactly sure who keeps AO-51 working but thanks again! Kevin KF7MYK

1 0

HudsonValleySatcomgroupNet Tonight 5/12 At 8 PM EDT ON Echolink N2EYH-L
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 12 May '11

12 May '11

Please join us tonight for the Net.Hope to hear you there.73 Gary WA2AQH.The echolink connection is only on for the net.

1 0

AO-51
by Kevin Deane 12 May '11

12 May '11

I got to talk on the AO-51 today was pretty neat! Sorry for my bad performance, I was using the Elk, handheld for the first time and probably should not practice on that bird. I dont know how you guys do it, my arm was all getting tired, gotta be a better way to do that. Camera tripod or something? Also I was receiving it on the western pass, but there was no one there. Unless I was picking up something else on that frequency...Is it on all the time now? Will it be on this morning? I thought you guys were turning it on and off? Anyway, thanks to all who do the work, something about talking on the satellite's, I love it every time! Kevin KF7MYK

3 2

CAMSAT and HO68 at Dayton Hamvention 2011
by Michael Chen 11 May '11

11 May '11

Guys, Are you going to Dayton this year? If you do, try to stop by the CAMSAT and HO68 display at AMSAT booth and say hello. I'll be happy to meet you. Alan, BA1DU is going to present amateur satellite activities in China as well as HO68 in AMSAT forum. I believe this will be the first time that a delegation from China to demonstrate on Dayton Hamvention. Everyone is welcomed. The CAMSAT delegation consists of Alan/BA1DU, Ken/BH4REQ, Jin/BA4TA, and I. After Dayton, we are going to visit Newington on May 24, NYC on 25-26, and Washington D.C. on 27-30. If you are in these area and interested, leave me a message to find a good time to get together for a cup of coffee. Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 AMSAT-China: http://www.camsat.cn ----------------------------------- Twitter: http://twitter.com/bd5rv Email: michael.bd5rv(a)gmail.com MSN: bd5rv(a)jsdxc.org Skype: michael-bd5rv

2 1

Re: Iredell County
by Clint Bradford 11 May '11

11 May '11

>> ... dude, it's NC, not TN ... Sorry 'bout that. Clint is geographically-challenged ... (grin) Clint Bradford, K6LCS

1 0

Iredell County TN Club
by Clint Bradford 11 May '11

11 May '11

Here's a club interested in growing their membership - they get their monthly meetings published on their local newspaper's Web site ... http://tinyurl.com/ICARS-Show Clint Bradford, K6LCS

2 1