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

Shuttle Landing from Orlando
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

What a great show this morning from Orlando. Was able to record the last sonic boom from the Shuttle and also view the ISS as it pasted over just to the south of the Cape at 5:49am escorting the craft to its historic landing. Dave, AA4KN

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FUNcube Environmental Testing at RAL
by Trevor . 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

This week environmental testing of the AMSAT-UK FUNcube Cubesat has been taking place at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratories. For a report and pictures see http://www.uk.amsat.org/archives/funcube-enviromental-testing-at-ral FUNcube will carry a 435/145 MHz linear transponder and there will be a presentation on the CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium being held from July 30-31 in Guildford, GU2 7XZ, England. The Colloquium is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL's. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. For futher information see http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium-2011/ AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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Re: Yaesu 5500 Rotor Problem
by John Kopala 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

Jeff, KB2M, I am sending the schematic for the G-5500 separately. Disconnect Azimuth and Elevation wires 1, 2, and 3 from the Control box. Check the resistance across the 1 and 3 leads. It should be 500 ohms. Check the resistance across the 1 and 2 leads. It should be between 0 and 500 ohms and should change as the rotors are turned. If these tests pass, the problem is in the control box. If not, the problem is the pots in the rotors. If the pots are OK, the problem is somewhat more complicated. Looking at the schematic, there are separate circuits for the meters and for the feedback level to your automatic control. If the IC's failed, the ones involved are Q3 and Q4 which are 4558s. Since these are dual circuit ICs, that would mean 4 failures at the same time. Not likely, but possible. More likely the problem is either in the Q1 power supply circuit which provides the power for Q3 and Q4 or the Q2 regulator, a 7806, which provides the voltage to the pots. A failure in these circuits would kill the meter readouts and the voltage feedback to the automatic control. John Kopala N7JK > Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:54:10 -0400 > From: "Jeff KB2M"<kb2m(a)comcast.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu 5500 rotor problem > To:<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID:<003b01cc4656$05d2e1e0$1178a5a0$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > I'm having a problem with my 5500 after a thunderstorm. What is happening > is that the rotor works manually, but doesn't display az and el information > on the control box. Also when I try to use computer control it goes all the > way to stop in both azimuth and elevation. I'm thinking this might be in the > control box, as both az and el are doing the same thing, the control box > being the single point of failure. Did anyone ever have this problem? How > can I diagnosis what chip might be at fault without a schematic. I vaguely > remember having this same problem after a close lightning strike with my > prior az el Yaesu box about 14 years ago but don't remember what chip I > swapped out, or how I determined which one was at fault. This getting old > thing really sucks. Any help would be appreciated. > > 73 Jeff kb2m

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Re: Yaesu 5500 rotor problem
by G. Beat 20 Jul '11

20 Jul '11

Jeff - Yaesu G-5500 Owner / Operator's Manual -- Schematic Diagram on LAST Page. http://gatorradio.org/Manuals/Yaesu_G-5500_Operating_Rotor_Manual.pdf If you have the paper manual, you have the schematic. LINK to Electronic version provided above. Fairly straight forward, component level troubleshooting with a VOM/DVM (Logic probe useful). greg w9gb == Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:54:10 -0400 From: "Jeff KB2M" Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu 5500 rotor problem To: amsat-bb I'm having a problem with my 5500 after a thunderstorm. What is happening is that the rotor works manually, but doesn't display AZ and EL information on the control box. When I try to use computer control it goes all the way to stop in both azimuth and elevation. I'm thinking this might be in the control box, as both AZ and EL are doing the same thing, the control box being the single point of failure. Did anyone ever have this problem? How can I diagnosis what chip might be at fault without a schematic. I vaguely remember having this same problem after a close lightning strike with my prior AZ EL Yaesu box about 14 years ago, but don't remember what chip I swapped out, or how I determined which one was at fault. This getting old thing really sucks. Any help would be appreciated. 73 Jeff kb2m

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HudsonValleySatcomNet 7/21/11Echolink N2EYH-L(429079)@8PMEDT&MTBeacon146970PL100
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 20 Jul '11

20 Jul '11

Hope the Echolink is up and running for the net this week. I am sorry for the problems in the past with the Echolink connection. Please join us for the net.73 Gary wa2aqh

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SO67 for South Africa
by Hans 20 Jul '11

20 Jul '11

Hi all At last some passes over South Africa. Visit www.amsatsa.org.za <http://www.amsatsa.org.za/> Hans Hans van de Groenendaal Features Editor EngineerIT www.eepublishers.co.za 012 991 4662 082 781 4631

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VUCC # 219
by Ronald Oldham 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

I'd like to thank each and every Ham that made this possible. Not only for the contacts but each ham's willingness to provide a QSL card. All of the efforts are greatly appreciated. Special thanks goes out to Bruce, KK5DO, for his efforts in checking the large stack of cards. After several e-mails and phone calls the ARRL was able to complete the application and issue the certificate in near record time, slightly less than 3 months! Along with the certificate I received a copy of the grids already worked in a paper format. I'm still trying to get the ARRL to link my LOTW account to the award. I guess I just need to be patient. Again many thanks for all of the efforts. Ron - N8RO one of you that made this possible. I couldn't of done it without you. I especially like to thank the one that made the dxepedition to many grids during their vacation or during work or just for fun. Whether is was a vacation, work or fun, I know you gave up much desired rest and relaxation so I and many other could make those rare contacts. I do really appreciate that.

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Re: AMSAT Awards
by i8cvs 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

Hi Bruce, KK5DO I don't agree with your answere to me because YOU as a AMSAT Director Contests and Awards should contact Andy Mac Allister W5ACM and Gould Smith WA4SXM because AMSAT must maintain the full list of the ZRO-Test "Z9" and AMSAT Technical Achievent Award for the K2ZRO Memorial Station Engineering Award This is your job and not my job because I am only a ZRO-Test "Z9" owner ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce" <kk5do(a)amsat.org> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 7:00 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Awards > i have no information on the zro tests. you will have to contact andy to > see if he still maintains them. also, you will have to get with gould to > see if he wants to add another page to the website for them. > > 73...bruce > > On 7/18/2011 10:58 AM, i8cvs wrote: > > Hi Bruce, KK5DO > > > > I have earned the ZRO-Test "Z9" # 19 on OSCAR-13 Mode-B dated Nov > > 1, 1992 signed by WA5ZIB and also I have earned the AMSAT Technical > > Achievent Award for the K2ZRO Memorial Station Engineering Award > > on OSCAR-13 with Z-8 Mode B endorsements and Z-8 Mode-L endorsements > > signed by Bill Tynan W3XO on May 25 1991 > > > > It would be very interesting to get from http://www.amsat.org or from > > http://www.amsatnet.com the full list of the other partecipants to the > > ZRO-Test "Z9" and the AMSAT Technical Achievent Award for the K2ZRO > > Memorial Station Engineering Award on OSCAR-13 just as a history record. > > > > I have a list of call letters for the Z9 Club Honor Roll uptodated only to > > Nov 1992 with 21 calls for Mode-B and 5 calls for mode L > > > > Do yo have a full list of it ? > > > > If you need more informations please call Endy Mac Allister W5ACM ex > > WA5ZIB > > > > Please let me know. > > > > TNX and 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Bruce"<kk5do(a)amsat.org> > > To: "amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org"<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 4:20 PM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Awards > > > >> Normally I am able to wait 4-6 weeks before posting a list of AMSAT > >> awards. However, something must have gotten in the water and in the past > >> few days the awards have sky rocketed. > >> > >> Due to the effort of Matt, N8MS, at the ARRL Teacher's Institute 2, > >> there were 8 hams that worked their first satellite contact. They are > >> included in the list below. > >> > >> The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for > >> making their first satellite QSO. > >> > >> Pam Kalafice, KD8MUC > >> George Wheeler, W7LX > >> Thomas Maxwell, AE5QB > >> Jerry Taylor, AC0PF > >> Stephen McClune, KB3FKO > >> Larry Brim, KI6FBT > >> Jackie Smith, KJ4SVQ > >> Larry Kendall, K6NDL > >> Samuel Saladino, NW9T > >> Walter Lemons, AE5IT > >> Stephen Reinen, N8BP > >> Lee Olson, N9LO > >> Thomas Talley, KA9QPG > >> > >> > >> The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. > >> George Henry, KA3HSW, #540 > >> Brandon Rasmussen, K7BBR, #541 > >> > >> > >> The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications > >> Achievement award > >> George Henry, KA3HSW, #US169 > >> Brandon Rasmussen, K7BBR, #US170 > >> > >> To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or > >> http://www.amsatnet.com > >> > >> > >> Bruce Paige, KK5DO > >> AMSAT Director Contests and Awards > >> > >> > >> ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE > >> Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* > >> Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com > >> Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes > > >

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HO68
by Ellis Foley 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

Return Mail to wa1rks(a)yahoo.comCan anyone give me an update as to the statis of HO-68? I used to be able to access the web site,but can't even do that now? I know the Bcn is working but what about the rest of the bird? I seemed to have missed something somewhere? Thanks! Ellis

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AO-51 Activity?
by Richard Lawn 19 Jul '11

19 Jul '11

As some of you may recall, I've been doing my best to make and try various stationary antennas. It's been tough testing them since not many birds seem active, particularly AO-51 which I usually heard well. Can anyone tell me if AO-51 was functioning during the pass at around 16:30 EDT on 7/18. I haven't heard a peep out of it but have heard a few other birds. TNX Rick W2JAZ

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