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

Attending the ARRL SW Div Convention Saturday?
by Clint Bradford 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

If you are attending the ARRL SW Division Convention in Torrance this Saturday ... AND if you've been thinking of purchasing either an Elk 2M/440L5 Log Periodic, an Arrow 146/437-10WBP, or Premier AL-800 ... Then have I got a couple deals for you! In conjunction with Ham Radio Outlet - Anaheim, mention "K6LCS Sat Special" at the HRO booth at the show, and get a couple bucks off the show price on the AL-800 and/or the Arrow ... and an impressive price of $82.95 for the Elk! AND THERE'S MORE! Bring your receipt from the purchase of a Yaesu FT-60R that you purchased from the fine folks at the HRO booth on Saturday to me - and the first four who do so will be handed a Smiley 270A antenna! I will be at the show from 7:30AM to dinner time on Saturday. Find me working the sats from the parking structure at the times posted all over the event. Or see me right before, during, or after my satellite show in Suites 9-11 which begins at Noon. Go ahead and interrupt the session - I only have FOUR of these great antennas to give away! Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

1 0

Re: UPDATE: DELFI C3 Close Approach Message
by Peter Portanova 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hello, An updated close approach message. 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 3:24 PM Subject: UPDATE: DELFI C3 Close Approach Message > Sir/Ma'am, > > The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has updated a > predicted conjunction between DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) and SCC# 33312. > > Primary Object: DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) > Secondary Object: SCC# 33312 > Time of Closest Approach: 07 SEP 2011 16:57 UTC > > Overall miss distance: 664 meters > Radial (dU) miss distance: 47 meters > In-Track (dV) miss distance: 650 meters > Cross-track (dW) miss distance: 134 meters > > Primary Radial Error (U): 13 meters > Primary In-track Error (V): 188 meters > Primary Cross-track Error (W): 7 meters > > Secondary Radial Error (U): 6 meters > Secondary In-track Error (V): 37 meters > Secondary Cross-track Error (W): 2 meters

1 0

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn
by Joseph Armbruster via LinkedIn 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

LinkedIn ------------ Joseph Armbruster requested to add you as a connection on LinkedIn: ------------------------------------------ Robert, I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Joseph Accept invitation from Joseph Armbruster http://www.linkedin.com/e/nue9k3-gs9oigh0-38/uZZS51qQ8vtoSwf-G8aUdsIbren2oL… View invitation from Joseph Armbruster http://www.linkedin.com/e/nue9k3-gs9oigh0-38/uZZS51qQ8vtoSwf-G8aUdsIbren2oL… -- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

1 0

Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by i8cvs 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

----- Original Message ----- > From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus(a)mcn.net> > To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 11:02 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > > > Hi domenico, > > I've always used the north star (Polaris) to set my rotor to true North or > "near" true North, and at 45.8 degrees N Lat it's easy to use the north > star to double check rotor elevation too. It's not 100% accurate. To be > 100% you might need some sort of astronomical almanac, but my antennas are > really low gain so accuracy for me isn't a problem. But I like to be > close, even so. > > 73 KB7ADL > Hi Vince, KB7ADL I too have always used the Polaris and found this procedure very satisfactory for the accuracy and backlash of the gears in our amateur rotator for VHF and UHF antennas. For the S band at 2400 MHz and a 1.2 meter dish to calibrate the Azimuth and Elevation I use the Sun Noise but the rotators have negligible backlash and the position readout can estimate +/- 0.25° Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

ISS digi activity
by Jeremy Bomkamp 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Seems to be a lot more QSO's going on any more. I guess we can blame KF7MYK for some of his posts months ago, thanks Kevin. I did get QSL cards from Brad, N5LUL and Josh W9HT, and had a lot of packet QSO's in the past couple months through the ISS including a couple with Kevin, it has been fun -- AB9RU

1 0

ARISSat-1 KEDR Award
by Roland Zurmely 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

I am very happy! I received my certificate for SSTV ! http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/arissat.htm#m 73 de Roland.

1 0

ARISSat observations
by Jack Colson 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I have noticed on a number of daytime passes over the Southern US that the satellite is ON at AOS but within a minute or so switches off, NO FM, CW beacon or BPSK. Is this what is considered normal and I did not interpert the operation scheme correctly. Secondly, I have been sending in telemetry reports, should we hear that they are accepted ? 73 Jack, W3TMZ

1 0

Info on Prospero
by John Heath 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hi, Looked to see what I had on Prospero from the previous attempts to hear it. This might be of interest. I only have this fragment, not the entire paper, or section 4.4 more's the pity. 73 John G7HIA Accession Number : AD0734634 Title : Orbital Operations Handbook for the X3 Satellite. Descriptive Note : Technical rept., Corporate Author : ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT FARNBOROUGH (ENGLAND) Personal Author(s) : Adams,V. W. Report Date : AUG 1971 Pagination or Media Count : 63 Abstract : The X3 satellite, the first technological spacecraft in the British National Space Programme, is scheduled to be launched on a Black Arrow vehicle in late 1971. The spacecraft carries experiments to investigate performance of solar cells, characteristics of thermal surfaces, micrometeoroid flux and performance in orbit of a hybrid electronics package: section 4.4 gives details. In addition newly developed data, telemetry, telecommand and power system will be tested in orbit. The micrometeoroid flux experiment has been contributed by the University of Birmingham, England. (Author)

1 0

More On Apollo Landing Site Pictures
by B J 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

New Views - Apollo Landing Sites
by Clint Bradford 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

RELEASE: 11-289 NASA SPACECRAFT IMAGES OFFER SHARPER VIEWS OF APOLLO LANDING SITES GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. Images show the twists and turns of the paths made when the astronauts explored the lunar surface. At the Apollo 17 site, the tracks laid down by the lunar rover are clearly visible, along with the last foot trails left on the moon. The images also show where the astronauts placed some of the scientific instruments that provided the first insight into the moon's environment and interior. "We can retrace the astronauts' steps with greater clarity to see where they took lunar samples," said Noah Petro, a lunar geologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., who is a member of the LRO project science team. All three images show distinct trails left in the moon's thin soil when the astronauts exited the lunar modules and explored on foot. In the Apollo 17 image, the foot trails, including the last path made on the moon by humans, are easily distinguished from the dual tracks left by the lunar rover, which remains parked east of the lander. "The new low-altitude Narrow Angle Camera images sharpen our view of the moon's surface," said Arizona State University researcher Mark Robinson, principal investigator for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). "A great example is the sharpness of the rover tracks at the Apollo 17 site. In previous images the rover tracks were visible, but now they are sharp parallel lines on the surface." At each site, trails also run to the west of the landers, where the astronauts placed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) to monitor the moon's environment and interior. This equipment was a key part of every Apollo mission. It provided the first insights into the moon's internal structure, measurements of the lunar surface pressure and the composition of its atmosphere. Apollo 11 carried a simpler version of the science package. One of the details that shows up is a bright L-shape in the Apollo 12 image. It marks the locations of cables running from ALSEP's central station to two of its instruments. Although the cables are much too small for direct viewing, they show up because they reflect light very well. The higher resolution of these images is possible because of adjustments made to LRO's orbit, which is slightly oval-shaped or elliptical. "Without changing the average altitude, we made the orbit more elliptical, so the lowest part of the orbit is on the sunlit side of the moon," said Goddard's John Keller, deputy LRO project scientist. "This put LRO in a perfect position to take these new pictures of the surface." The maneuver lowered LRO from its usual altitude of approximately 31 miles (50 kilometers) to an altitude that dipped as low as nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) as it passed over the moon's surface. The spacecraft has remained in this orbit for 28 days, long enough for the moon to completely rotate. This allows full coverage of the surface by LROC's Wide Angle Camera. The cycle ends today when the spacecraft will be returned to its 31-mile orbit. "These images remind us of our fantastic Apollo history and beckon us to continue to move forward in exploration of our solar system," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. LRO was built and managed by Goddard. Initial research was funded by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In September 2010, after a one-year successful exploration mission, the mission turned its attention from exploration objectives to scientific research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. To learn more about LRO, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/lro -end- Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

2 1

Is Prospero still TX'ing?
by John Heath 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Is Prospero still transmitting? Sometime ago, I think in 2007 the BBC TV program Coast was on the Isle of White where there had been a test stand for rocket testing. They talked about Prospero and had a short piece with some people trying to hear it with a small yagi. Apologies but the memory is a bit hazy. Subsequently I spent quite a few hours listening for it with a tower mounted 5el X yagi, an up to date set of keps, and an FT847 - after several days, nothing heard. 73 John G7HIA

2 1

6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina
by i8cvs 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hi All, Just for curiosity please look at this 6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina ! http://sinocom.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=2124&d=1302278111 The left capacitor is encapsulated in original conditions while the right capacitor has been decapsulated. Info received from my friend Paolo, IW2HEU 73" de i8CVS Domenico

7 6

Re: Is Prospero still TX'ing?
by Trevor . 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Although funding to command the satellite ceased in 1996 the Prospero real-time oribtal tracking page says it was heard in 2006. http://www.vk3ukf.com/Space/GadgetSatProspero.htm I would image now the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey are attempting to command the satellite again the 137.560 MHz beacon would become operational if enough of the satellite is still working. Given the 40th anniversary of this historic UK spacecraft takes place in October I would expect the media would be very interested if any amateur succeeded in receiving it in the coming weeks. Audio recordings of the 0.3 watt phase modulated signal with PCM at 2048 bit/s from Prospero on 137.560 MHz can be heard on the Sounds from Space website of Matthias Bopp DD1US http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%204.html Bernhard VA6BMJ says that there's an item about Prospero in the Space Boffins podcast: http://audioboo.fm/boos/431009-space-boffins-podcast2 73 Trevor M5AKA

2 1

ARISSat-1 status message
by Richard Ferryman 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I use ARISSatTLM to decode and forward data from ARISSat-1. Usually the 'mode' shows HIGH POWER or LOW POWER but today I saw at least one frame showing EMERGENCY although a later frame was back to LOW POWER Can anyone tell me the conditions that trigger this EMERGENCY mode and what changes to operation take place in this mode. Dick G4BBH

4 3

I8CVS
by ANTHONY JAPHA 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Domenico, Wait till you see what's inside the 2200uf cap! 73, Tony, N2UN

2 1

ARISSatTLM under Wine?
by Greg D. 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Has anyone had any success running ARISSatTLM on Linux under Wine? It seems to install ok (I'm using Crossover Office), but when I launch it I see the briefest glimpse of a telemetry screen, and then it goes away (exits or crashes). No log files that I can find for what it didn't like. If it matters, I'm running OpenSuSE 11.1 / KDE 3.5 on a 3.2 GHz Pentium-4 HT. Thanks, Greg KO6TH

1 0

Fwd: TAPR PSR Summer 2011 Journal Now Available
by Mark Thompson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Stan Horzepa <stanzepa(a)sbcglobal.net> To: tapr-announce(a)tapr.org Sent: Monday, September 5, 2011 9:23 AM Subject: [tapr-announce] Summer 2011 TAPR PSR is now available Summer 2011 TAPR PSR is now available at http://www.tapr.org/psr Table of Contents of the Summer 2011, #116 issue of TAPR PSR: * President's Corner * Board of Directors Elections * DCC Schedules * Bible’s Blog * Digital ATV Yahoo Group * What’s With the ### ? * Hermes on YouTube * Time for More Time * TAPR at Dayton Hamvention * TAPR Board of Directors Meeting Minutes * Join TAPR on Twitter & Facebook * VK6APH Receives Award * APRS Supports Bicycle Riders Public Service Event * APRS Tactical Call Signs * Write Here! * Fixing A Little TAPR History * The Fine Print * Our Membership App By the way, the TAPR editorial staff is now accepting contributions for the next issue of PSR. October 15, 2011 is the deadline for submissions; send your submissions to wa1lou(a)tapr.org

1 0

W4/G4DPZ
by David Johnson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Hi Folks, My wife and I will be in Orlando for 10 days from the 10th of September. I'm taking the Arrow and my TH-D7 so when we're not in the parks or Space Center, I hope that I'll catch you on one of the birds or one of the many Orlando repeaters. My thoughts are with my American friends and colleagues for 911. I was on a training course in SF, 10 years and due to the time difference across the USA, we awoke after it had happened and my European family had been watching it unfold for some time. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

1 0

Plan to revive 1970s UK satellite
by Trevor . 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

No not an Amateur Radio satellite but the United Kingdom's first satellite launched on a UK built rocket 40 years ago. The Prospero spacecraft was launched by a Black Arrow rocket on October 28, 1971 from Launch Area 5B, Woomera. Full story and pics at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14783135 73 Trevor M5AKA

3 3

2E1EUB is awarded LOUIS VARNEY CUP(for space communication)
by Daniel "Nick" Kucij 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Congratulations on your award Paul! It's always fun to catch you when you're operating portable (2M1EUB) from some wild location on an island off the Scottish coast and also to often hear your familiar voice calling on AO-7 passes when you're comfortable back at home. The rover and solar-powered, station set-up photos on your QRZ pages are neat. Looking forward to another QSO soon. 73 Nick KB1RVT

1 0

EI7KD on AO-51
by Daniel "Nick" Kucij 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

If you're in a location to work Ireland on AO-51, EI7KD, has been calling CQ on our first afternoon pass here in N.A. several times lately looking for trans-atlantic contacts. I'd not heard him on before. He's got a good signal. Give him a try! 73 Nick KB1RVT

1 0

2E1EUB is awarded LOUIS VARNEY CUP(for space communication)
by paul robinson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

2E1EUB was awarded yestered Sunday September 4th the Louis Varney cup at the Telford (uk) amature radio show,by RSGB president Dave Wilson (M00BW) Paul was nominated by amsat uk for his work promoting and encouraging the use of amature satellites and perfecting the art of a portable ground station. The cup was first awarded in 1956 and is for advances in space communication...Paul comments that he is privileged to have his call sign and name on the cup along side some very famous other call signs,some of which are no longer with us,he would like to thank amsat uk and the RSGB for this award.

1 0

Road Trip canceled
by Jim Adams 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

My planned trip to DM57 today isn't working out, so I have to cancel. I'll try to get up there next weekend. Apologies. Jim Adams - K0BAM

1 0

Exploring Space With Chip-Sized Micro Satellites
by Trevor . 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv9G2zzn1xI 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

Fw: DELFI C3 Close Approach
by Peter Portanova 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Good Labor Day to all, FYI 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com Subject: DELFI C3 Close Approach > Sir/Ma'am, > > The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has identified a > predicted conjunction between DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) and SCC# 33312. > > Primary Object: DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) > Secondary Object: SCC# 33312 > Time of Closest Approach: 07 SEP 2011 16:57 UTC > > Overall miss distance: 891 meters > Radial (dU) miss distance: 60 meters > In-Track (dV) miss distance: 872 meters > Cross-track (dW) miss distance: 179 meters > > Primary Radial Error (U): 14 meters > Primary In-track Error (V): 662 meters > Primary Cross-track Error (W): 6 meters > > Secondary Radial Error (U): 2 meters > Secondary In-track Error (V): 111 meters > Secondary Cross-track Error (W): 2 meters

1 0