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

Re: ARISSAT telemetry - no kursk frames
by Burns Fisher 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Don't I recall correctly that the Kursk experiment requires an entire orbit of data? I think I heard this in t context of low-power operation had to keep Kursk running. But in any case, now that the battery is history and we only get power for the non-eclipse part of each orbit, I'd think that would mean that Kursk is not doing much. I don't know what the IHU should do with the Kursk tlm in that case, but 0 is not unreasonable. Burns, W2BFJ > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ARISSAT telemetry - no kursk frames > Message-ID: <Yy4z1h0014ltuWb05y4zTa(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Mike, > > Had it just come out of eclipse? I have seen no Kursk frames when it just > came on just after eclipse...I think the Kursk Experiment isn't running > quite yet, so no frames to xmit. > > So yes, I saw this yesterday :) > > Also, to confirm W5RKN---I have seem some "all 0" frames too...you can hear > hear it on the audio actually :) > > Mark N8MH > > At 08:23 AM 9/15/2011 +0200, you wrote: > >Hi all, > >I had a 1 deg pass this morning and could grab 18 telemetry frames (!). > Interesting was that I received no one KURSK frame. > >Can someone confirm this? >

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SDR For Satellite Use
by Joel Black 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

I have successfully built and operated my G59 transceiver with GPA10 10W amp (http://www.genesisradio.com.au/) for 40m JT65a contacts to VK2, 75m voice contacts in the States, and everything in between. At some point in the past, some group (TAPR?) had a 2m SDR transceiver. I have no idea where that information might be. Does anyone here use SDR for their satellite operation? Maybe using Flex radios or something else? I don't know that it would matter on the FM birds, but it would be nice to be able to see the spectrum on the linear birds. Thanks, Joel - W4JBB

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Re: Good mobile antennas to use
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

>The problem is hearing the downlink. That is why the 19.5" whip is so good. It acts like a 3/4 wave antenna for the UHF downlink and it has almost >7dBi gain above 30 degrees up to over 70 degrees. So it beats a quadrifilar easily (only 4 dBi or so overhead). As an example, my last four AO-51 passes were 36, 15, 26, and 27 degrees -max- elevation. Would you prefer gain at low to mid elevations, or above 30 degrees to work this satellite today? A 1/4 wave will work, sometimes, but it is far from ideal for anything but occasional downlink access. As Clayton pointed out, it's easy to spot the guys on crappy antennas, as they are the ones missing calls, or transmitting on top of QSOs, because they mistake a loss of signal as a break in the action. 73, Drew KO4MA PS My satellite grid addiction started in 2000 with a DR-605 Alinco and a 1/4 wave magmount, and a winter in the Dakotas logging production wells. UO-14, AO-27, and SO-35 were my only breaks from the boredom and snow. Since then I've operated mobile from probably 100+ grids on the FM and SSB birds both. It's addictive.

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aa5ck road trip
by ted 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Thanks to everyone for the Sat QSOs during my trip the past week. I had a great time viewing scenery that I hadn't seen in a while and working the Sats! There were even QSLs waiting for me when I arrived home yesterday evening! If you haven't sent one yet, SASEs and return cards are certainly not necessary. I'll eventually get cards out to everyone, and LOTW updated. Thanks again....ted....aa5ck

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Re: Good mobile antennas to use
by k6yk 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

When I was mobiling a lot I used quarter wave antennas on 2M and 70CM. Preamp on the receiver,and just a dual-band mobile FM rig, and at times just a dual band HT in the car. Receiving was the hard part, but at the time UO-14, AO-27, SO-35 had pretty good downlink signals. And as far as a mag-mount goes, Anything that doesn't blow off the car at 70 MPH will be fine ! 73, John, K6YK with about 4,000 mobile QSO's in the log. ____________________________________________________________ 57-Year-Old Mom Looks 25 Mom Reveals $5 Wrinkle Trick That Has Angered Doctors! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4e722c0b930bd29360dst04vuc

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SatPC32 via USB2Serial not working (Error reading comm device.)
by PE0SAT 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hi, Thanks for reading this message. Because I do not have enough serial ports in my computer, I bought a USB to serial converter from StarTech. It is a 4-port version. (ICUSB2324X) I switched my FT-847 from a buildin serial com1 to com3 (the USB to Serial one.) Everything seemed okay, until I wanted to use SatPC32. When I start SatPC32 the CAT option lighstup in my FT-847 display and then I get the error message: "Error reading comm device." I have looked around to see if there is a setup option that can solve this, but I am unable to find one. Is there anybody out there who knows of a way to solve this? Other programs work fine, for example HRD 5. Here some hardware information: - Using a HP Compaq 3GHz P4 HT with 2G memory running Windows XP - EN SP3. - Yaesu FT-847 - SatPC32 V.12.8a (2009) 73 Jan PE0SAT

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HudsonValleySatcomNet Tonight Sept15@8PMEastern
by cotejaune2＠aol.com 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hello all it is time again for the Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net tonight Sept 15 @8PM on Echolink N2EYH-L. Please join us for the net. We can also be heard on the Mt Beacon 146.970 pl 100 repeater. 73 Gary WA2AQH

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10Mhz ocxo
by Andy Brian 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hi, I bought 10mhz OCXO Trimble from ebay and I can't find any datasheet so I'm looking how to connect the pins VFC Vref and if this OCXO is good enough for 10Mhz reference for transverters maybe (like db6nt, demi). Can I leave pins VFC and Vref not connected? Any helps very welcome, thanks, regards AB

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PCSAT NO-44
by Rick Kowalewski 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hi all, I'm trying to digipeat through NO-44 but to no avail. Using a Kenwood TM-D700 on 145.825MHz and ARISS,W3ADO-1 as the path. I've tried different paths and still no go. I see stations in Japan show up on http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi only minutes after a pass over Australia. So I'm thinking if they can, why can't I. Do I need any other settings? 73, Rick VK6XLR

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Re: Good mobile antennas to use
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Neither are going to be very good on the FM sats, comparatively. You might make a few Qs per pass. If you are going to go to the trouble of going somewhere to make contacts, why not take a small UHF beam like the CJU or the UHF part of an Arrow? With that on the downlink, and a whip on the uplink, you can work horizon to horizon! My last trip, to Oklahoma, I used a IC-207 and 1/4wave magmount for the uplink, and FT-817 and CJU for the downlink. This afternoon it was the FT-857 and 1/2 Comet up, and a $40 Baofeng UV-3R HT and 4 element UHF arrow for the downlink. Both are horizon to horizon setups when parked, and holding the UHF out the window. If you can only work while in motion and driving, well, nevermind, LOL. A 1/4 wave would probably be as best as you can do then, without going to something like one of the quadrifilars from antennas.us online. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: John Geiger <aa5jg(a)fidmail.com> >Sent: Sep 14, 2011 6:28 PM >To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Good mobile antennas to use > >I am looking to get on the FM satellites while mobile and activate some >different grids. Can anyone recommend a good mag mount dual band antenna to >use for satellite work? Does the MFJ 1/4 wave mag mount antenna do pretty >good on the sats? I am guessing a 1/4 wave will cover more of the pass than >a 5/8 wave would. > >73s John AA5JG >_______________________________________________ >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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2500 Watts on 10.14 GHz?
by Bob Bruninga 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

We just got a 2500 Watt phased array transmitter and antenna that can put out up to 4 several hundred watt solid state beams at 10.14 GHz. The prospects are tingling, but since it takes a full rack of equipment within a few feet of it, one would have to have a top floor room. And then , it only covers about 120 degrees. Best I can think of is FMTV and beam it from the ground to illuminate the top of the nearby 600 foot antenna tower and then let that SPLASH in all directions for county wide X band Ham TV. But it is completely wasting the instantaneous steerable beams. Oh, we got it junk. No one knows how they steered the beams and there is no software. But no one in this area has anything on X band. I'm not offering it to anyone, it is Government equipment, just trying to come up with ideas other than a perfect example of a RADHAZ sterilizer. The antenna is 2' square Sigh... Bob, Wb4APR

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Good mobile antennas to use
by John Geiger 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

I am looking to get on the FM satellites while mobile and activate some different grids. Can anyone recommend a good mag mount dual band antenna to use for satellite work? Does the MFJ 1/4 wave mag mount antenna do pretty good on the sats? I am guessing a 1/4 wave will cover more of the pass than a 5/8 wave would. 73s John AA5JG

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AO-7 record (almost)
by Bob- W7LRD 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Hello AO-7 fans Just worked OH5LK in KP30on from CN87wk, near Seattle, Wa., that's 7692km. I believe the record is 7766km, but whose keeping track <grin>. So you N. European stations keep listening to your LOS. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: AO-7 record (almost)
by n0jy＠lavabit.com 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Good work, Bob! Jerry N0JY > > > > Hello AO-7 fans > > Just worked OH5LK in KP30on from CN87wk, near Seattle, Wa., that's > 7692km.Â I believe the record is 7766km, but whose keeping track > <grin>.Â So you N. European stations keep listening to your LOS. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > _______________________________________________ > 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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New Launch System Announced By NASA
by B J 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/sep/HQ_11-301_SLS_Decision.html http://www.onorbit.com/node/3831 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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FN85 K8BL/VE Operation
by John Papay 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Bob, K8BL will be in FN85 at the Bay of Fundy (where the highest tides are) on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and part of Friday. He will likely operate AO-27 and AO-51 with possible SO-50 passes. This is a very rare grid so be sure to work him and give him some space to work others. Today he operated from FN64 on the AO27 and AO-51 passes at 1838z and 1913z respectively. Look for him on AO51 at 2051z, maybe in another grid. John Papay john(a)papays.com

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KC0YBM/9 EN45
by Chris Meyers 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

I will be in EN45 Thursday afternoon (9/15) and hope to work the following passes: SO-50 19:04-19:18 AO-27 19:30- AO-51 19:36-19:46 SO-50 20:45-21:00 AO-27 21:02- AO-51 21:12-21:26 KC0YBM Chris

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San Jose Symposium
by Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

Greetings All! For those of you who are seriously thinking about attending the AMSAT Symposium in San Jose this year and also need to book flight reservations, I suggest you do so quickly. It seems air fares for early November are creeping ever upward, with a subsequent diminishing availability of "good" departure and arrival times into and out of San Jose. Between the time I first looked at a round trip fare from Detroit to San Jose, the fare had climbed nearly $100 and my preferred flight times were already sold out. If you have already decided to attend, I suggest you book your tickets NOW (while you still can get your choice of flights) and without also paying a last minute premium. 73, Keith Baker KB1SF / VA3KSF

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TAPR President, N7HPR on Ham Nation Broadcast
by Mark Thompson 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

TAPR President, N7HPR Discusses ARISSat-1, TAPR & DCC on Ham Nation http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation/16 Guests: Steve Bible, N7HPR and George Thomas, W5JDX

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SO-50 tonight
by n0jy＠lavabit.com 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

I will be giving a satellite presentation to the Parker County (TX) Amateur Radio Club tonight, and it looks like we'll have a shot at SO-50 for some contacts. It's low in the west, but we'll give it a try with max el 9 degrees about 23:17UTC. If you work me please give a shout out to the club members listening, and your QTH (city, state). Thanks! 73, Jerry NØJY

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PACIFICON 2011 Sat Shows
by Clint Bradford 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

A case of "Watch what you ask for - it may occur ... " (grin) At last year's PACIFICON Convention in San Ramon, 54 attendees crammed into a room that was set up for 44 for my "How to Work the Sats With Your HT" presentation. In an after-convention wrap-up session, I tossed out the idea of doing the presentation twice, back-to-back, in order to accommodate more folks ... Well, PACIFICON took me up on that. Heck, I didn't even think they were listening ... (grin) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting "How to Work the FM Ham Satellites With Your HT" presentation - twice - at PACIFICON 2011 in Santa Clara on Saturday, October 15. We had a great time last year - with a full conference room and several passes that we worked. I'll be making my presentation from 11AM-noon and 1-2PM. We have tentative passes of AO-27, AO-51, and ARISSat-1 (hopefully!) - Watch for posters near the check-in area for exact times. Download the tutorial and programming charts from ... http://www.work-sat.com And I always encourage pre-presentation inquiries. Send email to clint(a)clintbradford.com - or call me at 909-241-7666. See you in Santa Clara! PACIFICON's Web site is http://www.pacificon.org . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Anchorage HamFest
by Clint Bradford 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting his ‘Working Amateur Satellites With Your HT’ session at the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club annual hamfest on September 17, 2011. ALL are welcome to attend! Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 2PM ADT Kincaid Park - Modern Chalet building 9401 Raspberry Anchorage, AK 99502 Attendees should download Clint’s four-page tutorial and radio programming data from … http://www.work-sat.com … and Clint welcomes pre-presentation questions. Call him at 909-241-7666, or send email to … clint(a)clintbradford.com Clint Bradford, K6LCS /end/

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Successful Radio Merit Badge class and Satellite demo, National Scouting Museum
by Tom Schuessler 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

Many thanks to K8YSE, KX9X, WA4HFN, NE5BO, ND9M, K4FEG, KT3L, N9AMW, AA0SV, K5OE, N8MS, N2VYT and VE2RCN for making the AO-51 2108Z pass of AO-51 a memorable one for the Scouts and parents who participated. I got them to yell out our EM12 grid square for most of the contacts. It was a great topper to a great day. For those of you who worked it and those who did not, catch K8YSE's recording at http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html. Look for K2BSA/5 near the top of the list . near the top of the recordings listing. I had a non-licensed guy tracking the satellite via smart phone as I was tracking it with the arrow and afterwards some really excited parents. Hoping some of them come back to the Museum on October 15th for our participation in Jamboree On the Air. Again, thanks for the calls. Work some Scouts when you hear them. It is a great investment in the future. K2BSA/5 will again be active on October 15th for JOTA so see you then. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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ARISSat-1 KURSK frames all zeros
by Ronald G. Parsons 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

On the just concluded pass of ARISSat, all the KURSK frames I copied were all zeros (except for the header). Is there a problem or a change? Ron W5RKN

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NW2C 911- SPECIAL EVENT STATION
by Peter Portanova 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

Good Afternoon, I have been invited, WB2OQQ, to operate a portable satellite station on September 11th, using the call NW2C, at Historic Fort Totten, located in Bayside New York, only a few miles from ground zero. Fort Totten was one of many placed used in recovery and healing during 911. I will operate all FM satellite passes from 12 noon to 6pm EDT, 1600, -2200z. For those that make a confirmed satellite contact and wish to receive a Certificate of Confirmation, visit http://www.nw2c.org/911.html, for all the details, NW2C will also be operating on the general bands, check clusters for frequency updates. I look forward to demonstrating how our amateur satellites, can be utilized as another communications possibility in a crisis, let's put on a good show for the very special people that will be invited to this 911 event, thank you. 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com

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