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

Re: A Proposal for ARISS
by Edward R. Cole 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Well, it didn't take Amsat officials long to shoot down the proposal and tell me that ARISS does not stand for amateur radio use on ISS. ARISS is a free use of ham radio for PR under the guise of educational outreach. Probably payback for cancelling my membership after 25-years and resigning as Field Op (their rules). I found that I enjoy eating and having a roof over my head in my retirement so had to make a choice on what I spend money. This may very well be my final post on amsat-bb ...25-years Notice that my services are no longer free ....$150/hour for technical help 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)gmail.com ======================================

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G-5400/5500 Cross-Boom U-Bolts
by Jim Jerzycke 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Greetings, all I'm "improving" my elevation rotor setup, and I'm wondering what others are using to secure the cross-boom inside the elevation rotor. I've been using stainless hose clamps, and they work kinda-sorta OK, but have a tendency to slip. I'd really like to get either some proper size u-bolts, or the part numbers from the clamps Yaesu supplies with the rotor. They appear to be 54mm / 2-1/8" inside-the-legs, and I'm coming up blank on searching for some. There are no part numbers for the clamps in the manuals I have for the rotors. I have FOUR elevation rotors, and NO clamps! Seems like the clamps always get lost when people take these apart to sell. Thanks! 73, Jim KQ6EA

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Re: G-5400/5500 Cross-Boom U-Bolts
by Jim Jerzycke 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Well, 54mm is so close to 2-1/8" that it wouldn't matter. Either would fit, and the 54mm muffler clamps I found also state they work for 2-1/8" pipes. And I anti-sieze *everything8! 73, Jim On 07/04/2011 01:07 AM, Stan, W1LE wrote: > Hello Jim, > > I would go to Yaesu (Standard Vertex USA) parts to get the exact ones > needed. > > I have always had problems trying to find SAE u-bolts to fit a metric > device. > > Be sure to grease the threads when applying, so they do not rust up > and seize. > > Stan, W1LE > > > > > On 7/3/2011 3:19 PM, Jim Jerzycke wrote: >> Greetings, all >> >> I'm "improving" my elevation rotor setup, and I'm wondering what others >> are using to secure the cross-boom inside the elevation rotor. >> >> I've been using stainless hose clamps, and they work kinda-sorta OK, but >> have a tendency to slip. I'd really like to get either some proper size >> u-bolts, or the part numbers from the clamps Yaesu supplies with the >> rotor. >> >> They appear to be 54mm / 2-1/8" inside-the-legs, and I'm coming up blank >> on searching for some. >> >> There are no part numbers for the clamps in the manuals I have for the >> rotors. >> >> I have FOUR elevation rotors, and NO clamps! >> >> Seems like the clamps always get lost when people take these apart to >> sell. >> >> Thanks! >> >> 73, Jim KQ6EA >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > >

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Smokey & The Bandit
by K5OE 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

There I was yesterday, sitting on the side of the road (actually, off I-45N on the frontage road), at the intersection of grids EM20 and EM21, trying (unsuccessfully, it seems) to work the 1710z pass of SO-50 when the Texas State Police pull up behind my truck. You know the ones--the black and white units with a really large fellow wearing an impressive hat. To complete the picture, when he pulled up behind me I did have my arm out the window holding my home-brew 3-element 70 cm beam and pointing it where I could best hear the downlink. And he said, "What you in for, son?" Just kidding--and sorry for mixing metaphors. What he actually said was, "Can I ask what you are doing?" When I explained, in as non-technical terms as I could, he asked me to, "explain that again." I did. My wife was quite amused. He walked around my truck, noted the call sign on the plates (in Texas it actually says "radio operator" in small print on the plates), and I explained the antenna on the back window was for transmit and the hand-held one was for receive. He looked perplexed, but then smiled and told me he had a call from someone saying I was waving a gun around out my window. My wife actually chuckled at this point. He asked me to pull further off the road and went on back to his cruiser/interceptor and drove off. My wife continued with quips like, "I can't wait to tell people about this." I never did make any contacts on that pass (I've only had this radio 10 years, but I swear I still get confused on the menu choices), but managed 13 solid contacts today (AO-51 2201z) from the same spot on the South side of I-45 as I returned home from Dallas, including HK3Z, Aki, and CO6CBF, Hector. I was hoping to work some VEs to impress my wife, but I think they were all on royals watch for the weekend. 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Re: G-5400/5500 Cross-Boom U-Bolts
by Jim Jerzycke 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Great! I've always heard that the support for their rotors is spotty, but if they have them, I'll go that way. I live in Long Beach, and they're not very far from here. Maybe I'll swing by Tuesday afternoon when I get off from work. Thanks! Jim On 07/03/2011 09:11 PM, John Becker wrote: > Jim > After moving 3 years ago I went and got all new from > Yaesu Vertex. Since I was replacing with the right type > as well as size I had no worry. > > John > > > At 02:19 PM 7/3/2011, you wrote: >> Greetings, all >> >> I'm "improving" my elevation rotor setup, and I'm wondering what others >> are using to secure the cross-boom inside the elevation rotor. >> >> I've been using stainless hose clamps, and they work kinda-sorta OK, but >> have a tendency to slip. I'd really like to get either some proper size >> u-bolts, or the part numbers from the clamps Yaesu supplies with the rotor. >> >> They appear to be 54mm / 2-1/8" inside-the-legs, and I'm coming up blank >> on searching for some. >> >> There are no part numbers for the clamps in the manuals I have for the >> rotors. >> >> I have FOUR elevation rotors, and NO clamps! >> >> Seems like the clamps always get lost when people take these apart to sell. >> >> Thanks! >> >> 73, Jim KQ6EA >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >

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SO-67
by Kevin Deane 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

I missed the last few passes is the bird on this week? Kevin KF7MYK

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Packet via ISS
by John Becker 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

many years ago I would try to get a packet up and down with just my location for the map. But with so so many trying to work DX I have not done it in about 8 years. really 27MHz has nothing on this system. John, W0JAB

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5 in EM55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Congrats to Art K4YYL #013 for the 5 in EM 55 Award WA4HFN Damon EM55

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Ao51
by mm0kjg 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

Hello there. Can any one explain to me what's keeping 51 alive over Europe at the moment. Its been great getting to use it during the pass over Uk. I did notice tho that it does stop working for a day every 2 day's?. Is some one uplinking the software in Europe to make it work?. Anyway cheers to people who are keeping the bird going am still fairly new to the satellite side of our hobby and want to use 51 one as much as i can.. Cheers and beers Kev MM0KJG

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FW: ANS-184 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 03 Jul '11

03 Jul '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-184 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: * Getting Ready for ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V Operation * Call For Articles - Brief Author's Guide to the AMSAT Journal * DX & Rare Grids * Reminder: The DARA Matching Gift Challenge * Satellite Shorts * ARISS Report SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.01 Getting Ready for ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V Operation AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.01 Getting Ready for ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V Operation Here are some reminders to help you get your station ready for ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V operation. Your 2-meter FM radio or HT will work well to receive the FM voice messages and SSTV on the 145.950 MHz downlink. You will need a SSB-capable receiver to copy the BPSK telemetry beacon, the CW beacons, and the linear transponder passband. Read about the details ... 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. 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/RadioSkaf-V 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. 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/RadioSkaf-V Frequency Guide: http://tinyurl.com/4t497t2 (amsat.org) ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V Presentation Slides (~1MB) http://tinyurl.com/4n4pzkm (amsat.org) [ANS thanks the ARISSat-1/RadioSkaf-V Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.02 Call For Articles - Brief Author's Guide to the AMSAT Journal AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.02 Call For Articles - Brief Author's Guide to the AMSAT Journal You are invited to share your amateur radio in space ideas and experiences with fellow satellite operators. The AMSAT Journal, a bi-monthly publication of AMSAT-North America, brings you the latest information in satellite mission planning, satellite- related hardware design and construction, satellite-related sof- tware design and implementation, and amateur radio earth station construction. There are plenty of opportunities for you to share your ideas and experience across all levels. Did you homebrew a successful antenna? Which setup did you use for your first satellite con- tacts? A brief write-up and photos are appreciated by everyone! Do you have ideas about future amateur radio space missions? Can you describe unique aspects of a particular orbit and the equip- ment needed to make it work? Simply type out your ideas on your computer and send them in. Let the AMSAT Journal editorial team do the clean up and formatting for you. Its easy to send your article to the AMSAT Journal e-mail box via journal(a)amsat.org. There is no need to do any special formatting on your submission because the final layout format is driven by the magazine's typesetting software. All you need to include is: + Your text in MS-Word or plain text format Graphics saved in separate + files (jpg, gif, tiff) (Actually, an MS-Word file with embedded graphics is the most diffi- cult format to typeset.) If you have any questions, or need some help feel free to contact the editors at the AMSAT Journal at journal(a)amsat.org. One of us will get back to you as soon as we can. Ed Long, WA4SWJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Lilley, N3TL Assistant Editor Bill Hook, W3QBC Assistant Editor [ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.03 DX & Rare Grids AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.03 + Listen for Eric W4OTN, Amanda KI4IWS, Robin WA4WPD, Bill KG4CXY on July 29 to August 1 as they activate N4I from Core Banks Barrier Island (IOTA NA-067, USi NC033S, WLOTA 0596), Pamlico County, North Carolina. They will participate in the RSGB IOTA Contest. Outside of the contest they plan to be active 80-10m CW and SSB. Operation on 6m and satellites is being planned as well. QSL W4OTN via the bureau or direct at the address on QRZ.com. (rsgbiota.org) + Paul, 2E1EUB will be operating mobile on AO-7 and other satellites from the Islands of Harris and Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland for about 2 weeks between July 2-11. During this trip Paul will also be mobile in northern Scotland and the Island of Skye. He will also post information on his QRZ.com callsign lookup for 2E1EUB. [ANS thanks Eric, Amanda, Robin, Bill & Paul for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.04 Reminder: The DARA Matching Gift Challenge AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.04 Reminder: The DARA Matching Gift Challenge The Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) has announced a fund raising challenge for AMSAT whereby they will match on a 1:3 basis up to $5,000.00 for donations made in 2011. That is, for every $3.00 that AMSAT raises, DARA will provide $1.00 up to a maximum of $5,000 donated by DARA. AMSAT kicked off the fundraising campaign at the Hamvention, where donations began count against this goal. Please consider making a donation to AMSAT at Hamvention or anytime this Spring as we strive to meet this goal. We appreciate DARA's support for AMSAT and see this as an opportunity for donors to increase the impact of their donations by taking advan- tage of this matching program. [ANS thanks AMSAT Headquarters for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.05 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.05 Satellite Shorts From All Over + The dates for the July Hudson Valley Satcom net are July 7 and July 21 at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (UTC - 4). You can tune in via the 146.970 MHz Mt. Beacon repeater, PL 100.0 or via EchoLink on the N2EYH-L node. More info is available at: www.hvsatcom.org (Stu, WA2BSS) + NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory posted an 11-minute animation depicting key events of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which will launch in late 2011 and land a rover, Curiosity, on Mars in August 2012. Watch on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/6bx2g3r (nasa.gov) + AMSAT can be found on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_7828379515 + Luis, LU6QI continues to enjoy success with the fine art and science of stretching the AO-7 footprint. He reports DX con- tacts with Louis, KD5GM on CW on AO7 Mode B, June 22 for a distance of 7631 km. Luis had a DX contact with Allen, N5AFV, on June 24 via CW on AO7 Mode B for a distance of 7644 km. + Nader ST2NH appeared on Ashorooq TV to describe the University of Khartoum Cubesat project - KN-Sat1. The 11 minute interview was in Arabic and can be seen on the Southgate ARC News Website at: http://tinyurl.com/66lab38 (Southgate) + John, K8YSE posted Field Day recordings for AO-51, AO-27 and SO-50 on his website: http://www.papays.com/sat + AMSAT has received the sad news of the death of Leanore Guimont, KA6UCD, the wife of Dave, WB6LLO. For many years no Symposium would be complete without the Dave and Leanore "jewelry" contest. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dave. He has requested no cards or email be sent. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-184.06 ARISS Status - 27 June 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 184.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 3, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-184.06 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report June 27, 2011 1. Japanese Contact Successful On Tuesday, June 21, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Nankan 4th Elementary School in Tamanagun, Kumamoto, Japan and on-orbit astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW. There was a delay in making contact, but once established, the students got in nine questions. This unique activity supplemented lesson plans about amateur radio technology and the International Space Station mission. An audience of approximately 100 attended the event which was covered by 5 newspapers and 5 television stations, including NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). 2. ARISS International Team Teleconference Held The monthly ARISS International Team meeting was held on Tuesday, June 21. Topics covered included the upcoming ARISS Face to Face meeting in October and a status on the ARISSat-1 satellite, designated KEDR in Russia. Minutes have been posted: https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2011-06-21.htm 3. News of U.S. ARISS Proposal Process Distributed The NASA EXPRESS message sent on June 16 included an item on ARISS contact opportunities for U.S. schools using the new proposal process. Also made aware of these opportunities were other U.S. education organizations such as Solar System Ambassadors, Space Grant Community, INSPIRE, WISH, Endeavor Fellows and the Museum Alliance. 4. Astronaut Training Status Don Pettit, KD5MDT, and André Kuipers, PI9ISS, were given an ARISS preflight session on June 22. The two astronauts hope to participate in ARISS contacts during their flight with Expedition 30 which will launch in November 2011. 5. ARISS Items in ARRL Letter The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran two ARISS items in its June 23 ARRL Letter. The first story is about the astronauts who recently passed their amateur radio Technician exams and were issued call signs. This piece is titled "NASA Astronauts and Astronaut Candidates Earn Amateur Radio Licenses." The second item is titled "Field Day from Space: International Space Station Could be Active for ARRL Field Day." Both stories may be viewed at: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2011-06-23 6. AMSAT Covers ARISS Proposal The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service June 26 bulletin (ANS-177) included another announcement about the new ARISS proposal process for U.S. schools. "July 15 Deadline to File ARISS Contact Proposals" may be found here: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2011/000526.html [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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