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

13 Original Colonies Special Event reminder
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 20 Jun '11

20 Jun '11

It's coming soon! *ORIGINAL 13 COLONIES INDEPENDENCE WEEK SPECIAL EVENT July 1st-5th 2011* http://www.13colonies.info/ We will be on the satellites again this year! MA- KB1PVH/K2H, Dave VA- NL7VX/K2B, Steve PA- KE3LB/K2M, John SC- K4YYL/K2L, Art GA- N3TL/K2G, Tim NC- W4MPS/K2J, Marc NY- WB2OQQ/K2A, Pete CT- KA1TCH/K2D, Al NH- NE1H/K2K, Bob RI- N1MIW/K2C, Larry NJ- KB2M/K2I, Jeff (when available) DE- KB2M/K2E, Jeff (limited time marine mobile) MD- WA3SWJ/K2F, Bruce Please limit yourselves to one contact per state, so that others may have a chance. The 4th of July, 2011 lands on a Monday, which means that you can work us starting Friday through Tuesday. Due to popular demand, we will run the event all 5 days like in 2010. Times will be: 12:01 AM Eastern start on July 1st, (That's one minute after midnight, early Friday morning, July 1st) to 11:59 PM Eastern ending on July 5th (One minute to midnight, late Tuesday night, July 5th). Hope everyone get a Clean Sweep Dave - KB1PVH/K2H

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Fw: SO-67 repeater temporarily suspended
by Andrew Glasbrenner 20 Jun '11

20 Jun '11

I didn't see this come through the -bb yet, so you might get it twice. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Forwarded Message----- >From: Johann Lochner <lochner(a)sun.ac.za> >Sent: Jun 19, 2011 4:36 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Cc: Hans van de Groenendaal <hans(a)intekom.co.za>, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >Subject: SO-67 repeater temporarily suspended > >Hi folks, > >Last week Thursday flash memory of a CAN controller on Sumbandila >was corrupted by a probable radiation event. It does not affect >satellite health but prevents activation of the amateur radio >repeater. > >Similar problems occurred in October 2009 and December 2010 and were >corrected. > >The fix will take many days. Activation of the repeater for Field >Day in the USA remains a priority but is unlikely at this stage. > >73 de ZR1CBC, Johann. >

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Working FO-29
by Richard Lawn 20 Jun '11

20 Jun '11

Ted It's been a while since I've worked FO-29 but never had any trouble using ft-847 and macdoppler pro software or satpc32. Have you tried using cw first as sometimes that makes it easier to initially find your own signal coming back. If you're not using radio control software though it will be tricky to say the least. I remember those days :) 73 good luck Rick W2JAZ On Sunday, June 19, 2011, <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. FO-29 ? (Ted) > 2. SoCal to East Texas (Eric Fort) > 3. Re: FO-29 ? (Jim Jerzycke) > 4. ANS-170 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins (JoAnne Maenpaa) > 5. VUCC # 207 (KE4KOL) > 6. Re: VUCC # 207 (Zachary Beougher) > 7. Re: SoCal to East Texas (G0MRF(a)aol.com) > 8. Re: SoCal to East Texas (i8cvs) > 9. kc0zhf WAS Satellite #324 (Rodney Waln) > 10. Re: kc0zhf WAS Satellite #324 (Zachary Beougher) > 11. Re: SoCal to East Texas (Jeffrey Koehler) > 12. KC0ZHF WAS #324 & KE4KOL VUCC #207 (John Papay) > 13. Working ISS and or other digis (Donald Pittman) > 14. Re: Working ISS and or other digis (Dave Taylor) > 15. Fwd: ANS-170 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins > (wa4hfn(a)comcast.net) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:33:59 -0700 > From: "Ted" <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29 ? > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <AF13278E6E464905AD057D0340D737FE@HamComputer> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Is the frequency info on the amsat page accurate? > > Also, are both up/dn USB? Any tone? I just have no luck tuning that sat > for some reason.. > > Thank you, > > Ted K7TRK > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 16:05:06 -0700 > From: Eric Fort <eric.fort(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] SoCal to East Texas > To: Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <BANLkTim2bK5WpWhzv4xMKgOefLtgeaVTjw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > A Technician class friend of mine and I would like to ragchew between > His QTH in Lindale, TX (32.495164 N, 95.513233 W) and My QTH in > Phelan, CA (34.436400 N, 117.468649 W) with the exception of oscar 0 > is anything flying that would enable this on a frequency above 50MHZ? > > Thanks, > > Eric > AF6EP > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 23:21:41 +0000 > From: Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea(a)verizon.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FO-29 ? > To: Ted <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: <4DFD3305.9080704(a)verizon.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Uplink is LSB, downlink is USB as it's an inverting transponder. > > "Tone" is NEVER used on linear birds. > > On 06/18/2011 10:33 PM, Ted wrote: >> Is the frequency info on the amsat page accurate? >> >> Also, are both up/dn USB? Any tone? I just have no luck tuning that sat >> for some reason.. >> >> Thank you, >> >> Ted K7TRK >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:33:12 -0500 > From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" <k9jkm(a)comcast.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-170 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <000701cc2e20$dafe6cc0$90fb4640$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > AMSAT NEWS SERVICE > ANS-170 > > ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North > America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the > activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an > active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating > through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. > > Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: > ans-editor(a)amsat.org > > In this edition: > > * AMSAT-NA Files Formal Comments on Proposed ITAR Changes > * Announcing AMSAT Project FOX Website > * It's Time to Get Ready For ARISSat-1 > * ARRISat-1 Team Pointers to Get Ready for SSTV Reception > * North America SO-67 Schedule For Field Day > * Visit the New AMSAT-UK Website > * AMSAT-UK Display at First UK Space Conference > * Satellite Shorts From All Over > * Follow Up to Receiving STEREO-B at 219 Million KM > > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-170.01 > AMSAT-NA Files Formal Comments on Proposed ITAR Changes > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 170.01 > >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > June 19, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-170.01 > > AMSAT submitted comments to the U.S. Department of State/Directorate > of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) on June 13, 2011 in response to their > proposed rule making on International Traffic in Arms Regulations > (ITAR), which would provide clarification on defense services, noting > that public domain material is not subject to ITAR. > > AMSAT asked DDTC to not only acknowledge that public domain materials > are not subject to ITAR, but to expand the scope of how they view how > materials are to be placed in the public domain. AMSAT requested that > rather than focus on the method of placement of materials in the public > domain (e.g. printed publication), the critical criteria should be the > intent of the originator to broadly and freely make such material > available to anyone who has the ability to access it via appropriate > means, including electronic origination and distribution. > > The full copy of AMSAT's comments will be published in an upcoming > edition of the AMSAT Journal. An electronic copy of AMSAT's comments > can be viewed on the AMSAT web at: http://tinyurl.com/3jtbff2 > > [ANS thanks AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW for the above > Information] > > /EX > > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-170.02 > Announcing AMSAT Project FOX Website > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 170.02 > >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > June 19, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-170.02 > > Alan Biddle, WA4SCA is pleased to announce that AMSAT's Project FOX > website has been updated. Titled, "Introducing FOX, AMSAT-NA's Next > Satellite!", this page brings you the highlights of: > > + "Why do we need Fox?" > + A link to the Project FOX presentation slides from the Dayton > AMSAT Forum > + A Project FOX donation widget > + FOX Project Status > + High level project design goals > + A call for volunteers to join the AMSAT FOX Team > > Begin your exploration of the AMSAT FOX project at: > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fox/ > > Here is a summary of AMSAT Project FOX design goals: > > Development Phase: Approved by the Board of Directors. > Design in progress. > Projected Launch: 2013. > Space Frame Structure: Standard 1U (One Unit) CubeSat. > Space Frame Size: 10 cm X 10 cm X 10 cm. > Mass: Approximately 1.33 kg, ~ 3 lbs. > Orbit: 600 - 800 km, circular, depending on launcher. > RF: 500 mW EIRP, U/V (Mode B). Deployable antennas. > Transponder: High density Software Defined Transponder (SDX). > Power source: Deployable solar arrays. Lithium Ion or NiCd > batteries. > Power mangement: Maximum Power Point Trackers. > > [ANS thanks Alan Biddle, WA4SCA for the above information] > > /EX > > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-170.03 > It's Time to Get Ready For ARISSat-1 > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 170.03 > >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > June 19, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-170.03 > > A few weeks remain before the planned July deployment of ARISSat-1 > from the ISS. The AMSAT News Service will bring you more details > in the coming weeks. Here are some reminders to help you get your > station ready for ARISSat-1 operation. > > 145.950 MHz FM Downlink: > ------------------------ > FM transmissions will cycle between a voice ID as RS01S, select tele- > metry values, 24 international greeting messages in 15 languages and > SSTV images. One of the messages will be a conversation between Yuri > Gagarin and ground control. See the next news item for pointers to get > your station ready to receive the SSTV images. > > 435 MHz - 145 MHz Linear Transponder: > ------------------------------------- > The linear transponder will operate in Mode U/V (70 cm Up, 2m Down). > It is an 16 KHz wide inverting passband and the convention will be to > TX LSB on the 435 MHz uplink and RX USB on the 145 MHz downlink. This > mode is designed to work with low power transmitters and omni antenna. > > 145.919 MHz/145.939 MHz CW Beacon: > ---------------------------------- > The CW transmissions will be callsign ID RS01S, select telemetry, and > callsigns of people actively involved with the ARISS program. > > 145.920 MHz SSB BPSK-1000 Telemetry: > ------------------------------------ > The BPSK transmissions will feature a new 1kBPSK protocol developed > by Phil Karn, KA9Q to be readable in low signal level conditions. > The BPSK data will transmit satellite telemetry. > > The ARISSat-1 BPSK-1000 downlink is transmitted in SSB mode on > 145.920 MHz. When the CW2 beacon on 145.919 MHz is active this > indicates that the BPSK-1000 format is being transmitted. If the > CW1 beacon on 145.939 MHz is active this indicates the backup of > BPSK-400 format is being transmitted. > > Transmitting at 100 mW, both BPSK rates include Forward Error > Correction (FEC) and it is expected that modest quarter-wave > antennas with low-loss coaxial cable will provide sufficient > signal strength for decoding and display by the ARISSatTLM > software. > > An audio feed from an SSB receiver to the computer's soundcard > input is needed. An initial "Receive Only" configuration is easily > done consisting of an audio patch cable between your radio and > the soundcard. Take the speaker or headphone output from the radio > and run it into the line (or mic) input on your PC sound card. > > BPSK-1000 sounds like a "shusssch" with a higher pitch than the > 400 bps growl. It is difficult to tune by ear. The CW2 beacon is > used as a tuning signal for BPSK-1000. The PC and Mac ARISSatTLM > software display contains a dotted line that you use to tune your > receiver until the CW signal bumps lines up with the dotted line > on your PC screen. This will allow you to decode the BPSK-1000 > signal and you will also be able to copy the CW2 beacon. > > Download the Windows ARISSatTLM free ground station soundcard > demodulator and display software: > http://www.arissattlm.org/download/ARISSatTLM_050_Setup.exe > > Download the Mac ARISSatTLM software: > http://www.arissattlm.org/download/ARISSATTLM.zip > > The ARISSatTLM software user guide is available: > http://tinyurl.com/42uhtyf (amsat.org) > > Get your color ARISSat-1 Frequency Guide: > http://tinyurl.com/4t497t2 (amsat.org) > > ARISSat-1 Presentation Slides (~1MB) > http://tinyurl.com/4n4pzkm (amsat.org) > > [ANS thanks the ARISSat-1 Team for the above information] > > /EX > > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-170.04 > ARRISat-1 Team Pointers to Get Ready for SSTV Reception > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 170.04 > >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > June 19, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-170.04 > > The ARISSat-1 FM downlink on 145.950 MHz includes live SSTV > images as part of the cycling voice ID, select spoken telemetry > values, and the international greeting messages. Here are some > pointers to help you get your station ready to receive and dis- > the SSTV pictures transmitted by ARISSat-1. > > One fun feature is that there are four SSTV cameras mounted on > the spacecraft. On photos of ARISSat-1 you may have noticed black > brackets on the outside of the spacecraft. These hold the mirrors > that reflect the light onto the lens of the cameras. The software- > defined-transponder will use the image data from the cameras to > generate the SSTV downlink. > > ARISSat's software will sequentially select a new or stored image > from one the four cameras. There are two pre-recorded images as > part of the sequence. The camera that took the the picture can be > identified by the color of the call sign in the upper left of the > SSTV image. The SSTV image will be sent down as FM audio SSTV in > Robot 36 format on 145.950 MHz about every 140 seconds. > > The RF downlink power on the 145.950 MHz FM downlink will be 250mW > which is predicted to provide a link margin around 6 dB on an HT > with a 'big whip' when the satellite is at 15 degrees elevation. This > should be sufficient to receive SSTV pictures although you may need > to orient the whip to line up the antenna polarization. > > ARISSat-1 is not stabilized so the antenna orientation is unpredict- > able and a certain amount of fading will happen. The receiving link > margin may be improved with a handheld beam such as an "Arrow", "Elk", > or "Cheap Yagi" antenna. > (See: http://www.wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf) > > General Overview Radio-to-Soundcard Interface > --------------------------------------------- > To view the SSTV downlink from ARISSat-1 you'll need a computer > running SSTV software for your soundcard and an audio connection > between your radio and the computer. > > If you are already on the air with other amateur radio soundcard > applications chances are you are ready to receive ARISSat's SSTV > downlink with little or no modification to your setup. > > The audio from the radio to the computer is the key link. An initial > "Receive Only" configuration is easily done consisting of an audio > patch cable between your radio and the soundcard. Take the speaker > or headphone output from the radio and run it into the line (or mic) > input on your PC sound card. > > Setting the level is simple also as the MMSSTV software has a bar > indicator. Just adjust the sound card gain slider and/or radio volume > control so that the SSTV signal is within the center part of the bar. > MMSSTV will give you an "overflow" indication if the volume is too > high. > > If your rig has a 'Line Out' connection this can be run to the > soundcard 'Line In'. Using the radio 'Line Out' you won't have to > deal with the interaction of the radio's volume control with the > soundcard levels. But you will still need to use the soundcard > 'Volume Control' to set the 'Line In' levels. > > SSTV Software Download Sites > ---------------------------- > There are many amateur radio SSTV software decoding applications > available. One of the easiest to use on Windows computers is the > MMSSTV program. This can be downloaded from: > http://mmhamsoft.amateur-radio.ca/pages/mmsstv.php > > The Ham Radio Deluxe software package also includes SSTV operation. > > SSTV software for the Mac is available at: > http://web.me.com/kd6cji/MacSSTV/MultiScan.html > > [ANS thanks the ARISSat-1 Team for the above information] > > /EX > > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-170.05 > North America SO-67 Schedule For Field Day > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 170.05 > >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > June 19

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Re: Bounced ARRL.ORG Email
by Clint Bradford 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

Their forwarding service just worked instantly for me for a test ... Log in to ARRL.org Clink Edit Your Profile Go to Edit Account / Account Info - make sure your email address is entered there properly Make sure the box is checked to opt-in for their email forwarding service. Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

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SO-67 repeater temporarily suspended
by Johann Lochner 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

Hi folks, Last week Thursday flash memory of a CAN controller on Sumbandila was corrupted by a probable radiation event. It does not affect satellite health but prevents activation of the amateur radio repeater. Similar problems occurred in October 2009 and December 2010 and were corrected. The fix will take many days. Activation of the repeater for Field Day in the USA remains a priority but is unlikely at this stage. 73 de ZR1CBC, Johann.

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Re: SoCal to East Texas (Eric Fort)
by Clint Bradford 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

>> ... ragchew ... between TX and Phelan, CA ... No birds. How about Echolink? If you both have Apple iPhones or iPod touch units, iPTT is a fun app. Clint, K6LCS

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Bounced Emails
by Jim Bennett 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

I believe my emails are getting routing thru arrl.org. And it think arrl.org site is down. But if not, my email account on arrl.org will not test ok. So I am not getting any email off the bulletin board. Can someone tell me how to have it routed directly to my ke4kol(a)bellsouth.net account? Thanks, Jim Bennett KE4KOL

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2M1EUB/P QRV IOTA EU010 ......NW SCOTLAND
by paul robinson 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

Hi all just a reminder as from 3.July .11 ill be qrv from ISLAND OF HARRIS AND LEWIS AND SKYE N.W.Scotland for 14 days look out for me on AO7 and other birds...opperations from the van...more info on qrz. de paul 2E1EUB

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Working ISS and or other digis
by Donald Pittman 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

I know there are many out there that work the ISS and cube sats . The question is do any of you use Apple Mac's to do so. If you do what are you using ? I have been trying quite unsuccessfully to get a KPC3 that I got back in 97 to talk to the Mac mini using a TRENDnet TU-S9 usb to serial cable. Using MacTNC or Zmodem. They just do not see a serial port to go to. I am thinking of trying an outboard interface like signal link or one of the others with a built in sound card to use digital modes. I am getting very frustrated and not sure which way to go next. So if any of you Mac users could give me a little advice I am open to it. Thanks -73 WB8ZOM Don

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FO-29 ?
by Ted 19 Jun '11

19 Jun '11

Is the frequency info on the amsat page accurate? Also, are both up/dn USB? Any tone? I just have no luck tuning that sat for some reason.. Thank you, Ted K7TRK

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