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

Southwest Texas Grids - August 22/23
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

August 22 I will be in transit and likely to activate EL09, EL08, and possibly EL07. August 23 In the afternoon I am planning to work from DL98/DL99. I cannot be more specific as to which passes because this trip's primary focus is business. I'm expecting to be on passes after 15:00 CDT. As always I will be glad to QSL via post or LotW. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Re: I heard it! (Was frustrated!)
by Clint Bradford 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

>> ... my F6a and a slightly-better-than-stock ducky ... You can get into the world of much higher gain for under $20 ... Build yourself a tape measure beam! That scratchy signal you heard from ARISSat-1 would have been BOOMING into your TH-F6a! Plans all over the Web ... My visitors have enjoyed the one I have posted on the ANTENNAS page at ... http://www.work-sat.com Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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N. Eu. AO-7
by Bob- W7LRD 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Hello Northern Europe The next pass of AO-7 at about 2026Z keep an ear out for me on about 145.950. I am located in CN 87 near Seattle Wa. If this were easy, everyone would be doing it. Very low elevation. 73 Bob W7LRD CN-87

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ARISSat telemetry and Doppler tuning
by Ronald G. Parsons 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Last evening, after having several days experience capturing ARISSat telemetry, I sat at my radio and watched carefully how SatPC32 and ARISSatTLM played together. I had settled on a tuning correction value of –540 HZ to get the CW signal to center around the CW tuning point as the Doppler correction was handled by SatPC32. The approach of the satellite seemed normal. but as the satellite passed by, I noticed the CW signal average “position” to be creeping upward, needing a reduction of the tuning correction by about 40 Hz to –500 Hz. This lasted for a couple minutes and then the CW signal started creeping down and I had to go back to my –540 Hz value. The first explanation I could think of is that the Doppler correction computed by SatPC32 from my position and the keps was in error. But of course, it could have been a change in my radio (unlikely as it had been on for hours) or a change in the frequency of the CW signal from the satellite. I’ll keep watching this and wonder if others have noticed something similar. Ron W5RKN

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ARISSat-1 Pass In DO33 2011-08-21 @ 0342 UTC
by B J 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

The FM telemetry signal was acquired at 0342. The following was heard: - End of ID ("...01S") - Speech in unknown language - MET = 54 minutes - IHU temp. = +34 deg. C - Control panel temp. = +24 deg. C - Battery voltage = +35.54 V - Battery current = -20 mA - ID - Speech in another unknown language - Tones (SSTV?) Reception ended at 0345. The signal was generally clear with strength of at least S7. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ

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I heard it! (Was frustrated!)
by Burns Fisher 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. Tonight for the 7PM pass of ARISSat I went up on a hill where I had a good view of the horizon, taking my F6a and a slightly-better-than-stock ducky. I actually heard the bird! Not strongly, and (surprisingly) not until it was way down on the horizon toward the end of the pass. I thought I heard a carrier on and off but slightly before LOS, I hear a tone, followed by a woman speaking telemetry values. I could actually understand it mostly even though it was pretty much down in the noise. Interestingly, holding the antenna VERTICALLY gave the best results. Since I heard a woman, I guess that means it is reading the SD card again...or is that just for the messages? I'm wondering whether the direct-overhead time that I heard nothing the bird's antenna was actually pointing away. Has anyone had any estimates of how fast it is tumbling now? Anyway, I know now that my radio can do it. Next I have to mange to get a better signal to it. Thanks again! Burns, W2BFJ

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EduSat active?
by Giulio P. AOL 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Hi to everyboby , are there any news/reports about reception of EDUSAT ? Thanks Giulio AB2VY

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ARISSat-1 Voice Telemetry 02:01z 8/21/2011 CM98
by Greg D. 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

Wow, a nearly overhead pass, apparently mostly in high power mode (a first here at KO6TH) 02:01z 8/21/2011 as received in CM98 Voice announcement (possibly Chinese or similar) Telemetry: MET = 45 min IHU Temp = +33c Control panel temp = +21c Battery = 35.70v Current = ?? (QSB) Voice announcement (English) Canned SSTV picture More voice (Spanish, I believe) 02:04 telemetry MET = 47 IHU Temp = +34c Control panel temp = +22c Battery = 35.85v Current = -12ma more voice (Spanish, reference to Puerto Rico?) Live SSTV More Spanish Telemetry MET = 49 IHU temp = +34c Control panel temp = +22c Battery = 35.78v Current = -20ma English announcement Voice (Chinese?) Live SSTV picture English announcement Telemetry MET = 51 IHU temp = +35c Control panel temp = +23c Battery = 35.90v Current = -20ma At this point the satellite turned off for the first time during the pass. Then LOS. Great pass, but why did it turn off? Greg KO6TH

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Arissat-1 Comic
by Kevin Deane 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

By request a new comic is on my QRZ page for veiwing... Kevin KF7MYK

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2 to 10 meter converter
by Richard Lawn 21 Aug '11

21 Aug '11

I've been making an effort to downsize a bit a found an old treasure, or it might be to someone. It is a downconverter made by parks electronics laboratory in Beaverton, or. Its labeled as Model 144-1 two meter converter. 144 = 28mhz and 145=29mhz. Has a self contained power supply. It is quite well made and last time I fired it up it worked. Any body want it? I could send a picture so email me off list. Rick W2JAZ

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