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

KD8KSN/M Ops 9/8
by Zachary Beougher 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Hi All, For those of you who worked me while mobile in EN83 yesterday, I will be sending out cards Monday and no sase/request is needed. I was hoping to get on a few other passes from EN75/74/81, but my RX antenna was sandwiched between two canoes which was impeding my receive ability. I will be back through these same grids in December, and I am hoping to be a bit more successful then. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Elko Trip
by Kevin Deane 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Ok DN01 is out sorry. However DN20-21 meet right above Jim's property so those are definatly in for Sun & Mon I will be up early for the 51 passes for sure and the rest I will basicly hit every pass I can. I am not gonna try and figure out exact times, if you hear me then there you go. :) DN00 I will try whatever passes are left on Sat afternoon from Toulon Lake off I-80. DN10,11 Meet perfectly just outside Winnemucca where I-80 bends up a little there, but I am not sure what time we will be passing through. If any FM Sats are overhead you know I will make him stop so I will try 00,10,11 comin and goin. Good Luck to all, I always have fun anyway, so this should be good for everyone. Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by jlv 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Ed: That is true. For my position MONTEVIDEO - URUGUAY Latitude: 34° 54' 38.2" S Longitude: 56° 11' 35.9" W Magnetic declination: 9° 34' WEST Declination is NEGATIVE Inclination: -39° 37' Magnetic field strength: 23116.9 nT regards Jose Luis Vila CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> To: "jlv" <jlv(a)fing.edu.uy> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > At 07:30 AM 9/8/2011, you wrote: >>True North >> >>tip: >> >>Look for the magnetic north with the compass, read their geographical >>coordinate in the GPS, >>use this webpage >>http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp >>and calculate the magnetic declination for their place. >>You will know where this the true north using the magnetic north + / - the >>degrees of magnetic declination. >> >>Jose Luis Vila >>CX2AN >>CX0CFI op. >> >>-----Mensaje original----- From: Luc Leblanc >>Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 10:07 AM >>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Magnetic North vs True North >> >>How i find my north! >> >>At noon always using standard time i pointed the beam in the direction of >>top tower pole shadow on the ground. Quite simple and accurate >>enough here. >> >>"-" >> >> >>Luc Leblanc VE2DWE >>Skype VE2DWE >>www.qsl.net/ve2dwe >>DSTAR urcall VE2DWE >>WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > thanks Jose, > > very useful as declination is moving +17min/year here > 17deg52min east > > I have old aviation maps of the region showing 26-deg declination. > > The sun shadow method works only if you know accurately what time solar > noon is. For our time zone it is 2202:52 utc (today) which corresponds to > 2:02:52 pm local time. So if you used the shadow at 12:00:00 local time > you would be off considerably from true north. Of course one hour is due > to daylight savings time which advances the clock one hour in summer and > the fact that our local time was permanently advanced by one hour for > political/business reasons (so we would only be +4 hours from EST in the > USA). > > This is the reason that one must know true north to orient a sundial. > > Sea navigators know they either need to know time precisely to "shoot the > sun" and find their location or know true north to determine the exact > time of meridian crossing at noon. > > > > 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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Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by jlv 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Ed: That is true. For my position MONTEVIDEO - URUGUAY Latitude: 34° 54' 38.2" S Longitude: 56° 11' 35.9" W Magnetic declination: 9° 34' WEST Declination is NEGATIVE Inclination: -39° 37' Magnetic field strength: 23116.9 nT regards Jose Luis Vila CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> To: "jlv" <jlv(a)fing.edu.uy> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > At 07:30 AM 9/8/2011, you wrote: >>True North >> >>tip: >> >>Look for the magnetic north with the compass, read their geographical >>coordinate in the GPS, >>use this webpage >>http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp >>and calculate the magnetic declination for their place. >>You will know where this the true north using the magnetic north + / - the >>degrees of magnetic declination. >> >>Jose Luis Vila >>CX2AN >>CX0CFI op. >> >>-----Mensaje original----- From: Luc Leblanc >>Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 10:07 AM >>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Magnetic North vs True North >> >>How i find my north! >> >>At noon always using standard time i pointed the beam in the direction of >>top tower pole shadow on the ground. Quite simple and accurate >>enough here. >> >>"-" >> >> >>Luc Leblanc VE2DWE >>Skype VE2DWE >>www.qsl.net/ve2dwe >>DSTAR urcall VE2DWE >>WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > thanks Jose, > > very useful as declination is moving +17min/year here > 17deg52min east > > I have old aviation maps of the region showing 26-deg declination. > > The sun shadow method works only if you know accurately what time solar > noon is. For our time zone it is 2202:52 utc (today) which corresponds to > 2:02:52 pm local time. So if you used the shadow at 12:00:00 local time > you would be off considerably from true north. Of course one hour is due > to daylight savings time which advances the clock one hour in summer and > the fact that our local time was permanently advanced by one hour for > political/business reasons (so we would only be +4 hours from EST in the > USA). > > This is the reason that one must know true north to orient a sundial. > > Sea navigators know they either need to know time precisely to "shoot the > sun" and find their location or know true north to determine the exact > time of meridian crossing at noon. > > > > 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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Massive Power Failure(s)?
by Clint Bradford 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Southern CA is suffering a major power failure ... the AMSAT.org Web site is down ... What am I going to do tonight??? Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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G5500 and LVB tracker interface
by Chris Bloy 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hi Group, I have finally order the fibre glass pole from Moonraker of all places and am awaiting its replacement after being damaged in post! Anyway, I have also received and played with my new shiny LVB tracker to interface to the G5500 and have a couple of questions that may you guys could help me with! a) I have calibrated the rotator with the G5500 and it would appear at 0 degrees on the LVB tracker, the control box is at 0? If I use the controls on the control box it moves about 2 degree to the stop point. Is this normal or have I missed something as I have recalibrated several times! b) The tracker has a USB interface and uses a virtual serial port to communicate with, but it seems to disconnect quite a lot when using NOVA during the testing? c) What are the recommended settings for NOVA as I am not sure I understand them 100%! I know it uses the G232A command set and does control the rotator, but I am not sure I have set the interface section correctly.. Do I set the maximum azimuth to 450 and leave the azimuth setting to 0-360? Sorry for the questions, but I know how to use it once its been working, just never had to create all this from stratch. I have checked the archive on AMSAT-BB and not found much to help, although some hints to actually get the rotator talking did come from the group! Many Thanks, Chris Bloy - M0DQO

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

I am getting some requests for more Grids. We will be transmitting Sat, Sun, Mon not sure from where or when yet will post a better scheduale this evening. So Far DN 00,10,11,20 Hope to work in DN 21 maybe O1 Can only do FM Sats. Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: Magnetic North
by jlv 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hi Tom, another useful page http://www.n2yo.com/?s=5580 enjoy..!! jlv - CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Deeble To: jlv(a)fing.edu.uy Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:36 PM Subject: Magnetic North Jose, That's a very handy site. Thanks for the info on the AMSAT bb. 73's, Tom - KA6SIP

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Magnetic North vs True North
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

The earlier discussion on this topic caused me to think about my setup. I know the tracking programs use True North; my question: If my declination is 8 º 6' West, is my true north East or West of Magnetic North. I am currently setup to where my True North is 8º East of Magnetic North. I have looked a various sights on the Internet but I have always had a problem wrapping my thick brain around this topic. Thanks, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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K2BSA/5 at National Scouting Museum, Irving, Texas
by Tom Schuessler 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hello all, I will be leading a Radio Merit Badge class at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, EM12, this Saturday, September 10th. We will be using K2BSA/5 as our active call for the day and I will attempt a low angle AO-27 pass with an AOS for me of 18:22 (+ for satellite turn on), an AO-51 pass with an AOS of 21:08 and maybe but not likely, a SO-50 pass at 21:44. Rig will be my Arrow antenna and the HT but maybe a small amplifier for a bit extra punch. There will be Scouts in tow observing and maybe throwing out the all-be-it not so rare EM 12 grid. Please help me out and pro-actively call for K2BSA/5. You will bring a level of excitement to the Scouts taking the class and maybe helping to spur further interest in our fine hobby. Also please look for us on the HF bands near the Scout frequencies and for those local in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, on the Irving 146.72 and the Cedar Hill 442.400 repeaters as we demonstrate Ham Radio to the Merit badge Scouts and other visitors to the National Scouting Museum. Schedules are welcome. 73 and hope to see you on the birds this Saturday. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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SO-67
by Helmuth Kump 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

I think this is new information...at least I haven't seen it yet. http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ under the heading of "Breaking News", says: SO67 SAFE BUT PROBLEMATIC The Ground Control Station Engineers at SunSpace in Stellenbosch are still working to restore SO67. SumbandilaSat developed a problem with the Power Distribution Unit, similar to what happened some time back. The other sub-systems are in a healthy state and SO67 is in no immediate danger . 73 Doc KT3L

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VUCC RULES
by Kevin Deane 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

(e) Stations who claim to operate from more than one grid locator simultaneously (i.e., from the boundary between two grid locators or from the intersection of four grid locators) must be physically present in all locators to give multiple locator credit with a single contact. These stations should be prepared to validate their claim. For a mobile station, this means parking the vehicle exactly on the line or corner. For a portable station, this means that the total area occupied by the station's physical setup, including operating position(s), power source(s), and antenna(s), must occupy some portion of each of the two/four grid squares simultaneously. Operators of boundary/corner stations should be prepared to provide evidence of meeting the simultaneous occupation test if called upon to do so. Two photographs -- one showing the placement of the GPS receiver in the station setup, and a close-up legibly showing the GPS reading – are typically needed as evidence of compliance. Video footage showing an overview of the operating site and then, uncut and in real time, zooming in on the GPS display coordinates is even better (f) Grid boundary lines and grid corners must be established using a GPS receiver whose map datum is set to WGS84, the global default for current GPS receivers. The GPS receiver should be set to use WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) if so equipped, since this improves the error figure to as little as 5 feet. In no case may the GPS receiver show an error figure in excess of 20 feet. Any modern GPS receiver equipped with WAAS will easily meet this requirement, as will most older units without WAAS. 6. For VUCC awards on 50 through 1296 MHz and Satellite, all contacts must be made from locations no more than 200 km apart. For SHF awards, contacts must be made from a single location, defined as within a 300-meter diameter circle. SOOO I still dont see where it says I cannot OBTAIN a grid from down the street or whatever. The above says I can basicly make contacts 124 miles from my QTH. Right? Kevin KF7MYK

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Astronaut autographs
by John Heath 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hi, Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, Ed Michel and Bruce Candless will be at the Autographica Event Radisson Edwardian Hotel Heathrow London 14-16th October 2011. When Buzz visted the National Space Centre in Leicester England a year or two ago he gave a lecture but did not sign autographs, as far as I know he rarely does. This is a good oportunity if you like that sort of thing. There is an admission charge and you have to pay Buzz and the others for their autographs. The small print on the advertisement says, guests apprance is subject to work commitments, guests may not be signing on both days, check the web site for details. See www.autographica.co.uk I have no personal or business connection with this event but I was very grateful to them bringing for creating the opportunity a few years ago to meet and get the autograhs of several Russian cosmonauts including Alexi Leonov and Valentina Tereshkova. Those are treasured memories. 73 John G7HIA

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DN 00,10,11,20
by Rodney Waln 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

i would not fret you can put them towards the rVUCC award?? that is my next goal, and be helping alot of people in the long run, Rodney kc0zhf

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thank you for the grids
by Rodney Waln 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

hi, all just checked the mailbox today and there was the Vucc endorsements for the the grids covering 100-250, i could not have done it without all of the people that give out grids and do grid expadetions in this country and others, again many thanks. Rodney kc0zhf WY Amsat area Coordinator

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DN 00,10,11,20
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

So much for that idea, I dont mind making myself look stupid. Oh well, at least somebody will get some new grids. :( Kevin KF7MYK

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Fast 2
by jerry keeton 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

(P 22:40 FAST2>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): F21001633 38263.461363903952.94 -3773326.54 +4430538.23 +0.00000 +0.00000 +0.00000+1372283286 017 017 014 018 027 09/07/2011 2240Z Jerry WB5LHD

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Looks like I will be passing though: DN00 DN10 DN11 DN20 I think someone was interested in DN10 there is a spot on I-80 where 10 & 11 meet. Now I want these Grids myself so I guess I have to work my brother 10 feet away to get them. Seems pretty lame to me but I suppose Rules are Rules. Kevin KF7MYK

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WD9EWK back on the satellites - soon...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hi! Due to a series of events over the past 3 weeks, I have had no time to work on the satellites. I've moved to a new QTH, one with a yard where I can work the satellites from. I won't have to go out to a park or parking lot to get on the satellites, unless I want to. I still plan on making occasional trips to the DM33/DM43 grid boundary in Phoenix, if there isn't much activity from the DM33 side of metro Phoenix. Since my mail goes to a PO box, that's one thing that will not change as a result of this move. I still have some packing to do at my apartment, and pulling things out of storage (including some items that have been packed away since my last move a few years back), so the moving process probably won't be finished until later this month. Once things settle down, I will start operating from the back yard. I'm not able to install antennas on the house, but I can look at using tripods for antennas in the yard. I will also have time to do more with the computer and my radios, and possibly get my FT-817NDs working with SatPC32. I'm looking forward to spending more weeknights on the radio, since I won't have to drive somewhere to do that. Going out to hamfests and other parts of Arizona will also return to my schedule, starting with the first hamfest of the upcoming Arizona hamfest "season" in Tucson next month. One observation... it has been neat to see all the posts about ARISSat-1. It may not be in a high orbit, and its 70cm antenna is not what it should have been, but it has been fun to see the posts and look at the ARISSat-1 telemetry web page from time to time. I'm hoping to get things going at home to try the transponder again, something I was not successful at last month. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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NASA to Broadcast Soyuz Landing 09/15
by Clint Bradford 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Sep. 07, 2011 MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-188 NASA TV WILL BROADCAST SOYUZ LANDING ON SEPT. 15 HOUSTON -- NASA Television will broadcast the return to Earth of three crew members who have called the International Space Station (ISS) home for more than five months. On Sept. 15, Expedition 28 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev, NASA Flight Engineer Ron Garan and off-going station Commander Andrey Borisenko will undock from the station's Poisk module to return to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft. They are set to land on the southern region steppe of Kazakhstan near the town of Dzhezkazgan at 11:01 p.m. CDT on Sept. 15 (10:01 a.m. local time, Sept. 16). Their return was delayed a week due to the Aug. 24 loss of the unmanned ISS Progress 44 cargo craft. Expedition 29 station Commander Mike Fossum of NASA, Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Volkov and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa will remain aboard the complex to conduct research until their planned return to Earth in mid-November. The schedule to launch three new Expedition 29 crew members, NASA Flight Engineer Dan Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Russian Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin, is under review as NASA and its international partners assess the readiness to resume Soyuz launches. The full schedule of the Expedition 28 Soyuz TMA-21 hatch closure, undocking and landing coverage is below. All times are CDT. Wednesday, Sept. 14 4:40 p.m. - Expedition 28-29 change of command ceremony (Borisenko hands over station command to Fossum) Thursday, Sept. 15 4 p.m. -¬ Soyuz TMA-21 crew farewells and hatch closure (hatch closure scheduled at 4:35 p.m.) 7:15 p.m. - Undocking coverage (undocking scheduled at 7:37 p.m.) 9:30 p.m. - Deorbit burn and landing coverage (Deorbit burn scheduled at 10:06 p.m., landing in Kazakhstan scheduled at 11:01 p.m.) Friday, Sept. 16 2 a.m. - Video File of the landing and post-landing activities (repeated at 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.) 11 a.m. - Video File of the landing and post-landing activities that includes post-landing interview with Garan and the cosmonauts' return to Chkalovsky Airfield near Star City, Russia For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station -end- Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

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Magnetic North vs True North/ARISSat-1
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Thanks to all who responded. I was doing the right thing. Another dilemma was whether to orient the antenna to True North and not make any corrections in software or set it to Magnetic North and do the declination adjustment with the rotor software. Six of one, half dozen of the other. Right now I have it oriented to True North. But, like Pete said: For the work we do, a few degrees off one way or the other will not stop the show. BTW, I have noticed somewhat of a deterioration in the signal strength of ARISSat-1. I have not been able to copy any of the telemetry for the past several passes. I have copied a few of the SSTV pix and FM Voice, but even they seem noisier. Doesn't help that I have a power substation a few blocks away that obviously needs to have some of the insulators replaced. I called the power company and asked that they check things out. We'll see if they respond. Keep em flyin' *Carl W8KRF*

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EM35 this weekend
by Rick - WA4NVM 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hi All, I will make my annual trip to Mt. Nebo, AR for the Sept VHF contest. I will use our contest call NE5BO from Thursday afternoon (9-8-2011) until Monday morning (9-12-2011) If you work me and need a card from EM35, just send me an email with the information, and I will send you a QSL next week. Also, there will be other operators in our group using their own call. So, there's no reason you can't mark that grid off your list. Also, Frank K4FEG will be on another mountain top operating from EM24. FM birds only. Good luck, Rick WA4NVM

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Going to Elko this weekend and plan on hitting all the grids along I-80. I will bring all my brothers equipment so it should be alot better than when I went to So Cal. I will be taking pictures of GPS cooridinates and radio/antenna setup at each stop. I think that makes it official??? Will post more info tonight and am open to any suggestions. Thanks also to all the recent ISS Digi contacts been fun! Kevin KF7MYK

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EN85 Activation by VE3HZQ
by John Papay 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Patric, VE3HZQ, announced on the air that he would be operating from EN85 on Wednesday, 14September2011. This is a fairly rare grid spanning the US and Canada. He has been active recently from his home grid, EN96. 73, John K8YSE

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Re: ARISSatTLM under Wine?
by Guy Mallery 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

> Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 20:49:52 -0700 > From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISSatTLM under Wine? > Message-ID: <BLU133-W13504FBB09F771D8BA572DA91C0(a)phx.gbl> > > > 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 Howdy, Looks fine (under wine) with Ubuntu LTS. Also looks like one of those cygwin runtime module deals. GL 73, Guy - W6MSU

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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ARISSat-1 KEDR Award
by Roland Zurmely 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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I8CVS
by ANTHONY JAPHA 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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