January 2012 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

spaceweather.com
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

RADIATION STORM IN PROGRESS: Solar protons accelerated by this morning's M9-class solar flare are streaming past Earth. On the NOAA scale of radiation storms, this one ranks S3, which means it could, e.g., cause isolated reboots of computers onboard Earth-orbiting satellites and interfere with polar radio communications. An example of satellite effects: The "snow" in this SOHO coronagraph movie is caused by protons hitting the observatory's onboard camera

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Titan's Dunes
by B J 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2012-021&cid=release_2012-021 http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=49878 http://www.onorbit.com/node/4274 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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ARISSat-1 voice messages
by Mineo Wakita 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

All audio files of the message by children of all the countries of the world sent to by ARISSat-1 and the translated sentence were uploaded in SatBlog of the DK3WN station. I can guess that it would be hard to collect these messages. This is a laborious work. Please hear all once. A password appears in the last of the message of each country, but already I thinks this to be statute of limitations. http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=25476 JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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AO-27 at 2122 UTC
by Bryan Herbert 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

My phone rebooted during the pass so I lost the audio recording. I'm pretty sure the station I QSOed with was N0JA but I cant recall the grid square (DN?) If anyone has audio they can send or if the operator I QSOed with could contact me it would be greatly appreciated. -- Bryan Herbert - KE6ZGP Newhall, CA. DM04RJ USA http://bryanherbert.com http://twitter.com/ke6zgp

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More satellite videos....
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 Jan '12

23 Jan '12

Hi! After the positive reaction to the videos I posted to YouTube yesterday, I added three more from passes I worked today. The first video was from the 1527 UTC VO-52 pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K10RiIEyjfE Then the 1936 UTC AO-27 pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0IdEPsajkU I then tried FO-29's 2043 UTC pass: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP80fVF9Lek I used the same equipment on today's VO-52 and AO-27 passes as I used yesterday. For the FO-29 pass, I swapped out the TH-F6A and used my second FT-817ND with its better receiver for the weaker downlink. The antenna on all of these passes was the same Elk handheld 2m/70cm log periodic I normally use. Videos were recorded with a Sony DSC-H70 camera which makes 720p videos. If you want to have an idea of how much adjusting I do to the VFOs on my radios, just watch closely when I reach for the radios on the table (or whatever other location I have them set up in my other videos). I always set my transmitting radio on the left, and the receiver on the right. This has let me get to the point where working SSB/CW satellites with a portable two-radio setup has become essentially automatic, wherever I happen to be operating, over the past 3+ years - determine which way is North, set up my gear, and start making QSOs. Even with being comfortable with my current portable setup, I'm always looking to experiment. I've been using different radios for the SSB/CW downlinks, and I know I should get a tripod to hold my antenna. I also want to get around to trying SatPC32 with my two FT-817NDs, since I have the software and the cables to connect both radios to my netbook. Then there's more operating from wherever I happen to go. More for the satellite to-do list... :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Full Duplex, Pre-amplifiers, LIDs, and Know-it-all's
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 22 Jan '12

22 Jan '12

Having a computer controlled, full duplex station with azimuth and elevation rotation, receiver pre-amplifiers, and high gain antennas is nice. Being able to point your small yagi antenna at the sky and work an FM transponder anywhere in the world with a HT is nice. Both scenarios require a common element for success: the operator's skill. Rather than attack others' ideas of a "perfect satellite station," why not try to support each other in becoming better operators? Having the right equipment is truly important. Having the right skills to operate, in my opinion, is much more important. It is doubtful that everyone on this mailing list will ever agree what comprises "the ultimate satellite station." While some favor flexibility of portable operation, others may strictly utilize the highest gain antennas available. Next time you hear some bad operating practices, consider writing a kind note to the offending station. Be considerate that the station may be unaware of their satellite faux-pas. Perhaps they are new and have had little guidance from an Elmer. Take the opportunity to welcome the station and introduce them to the "right way" of doing things even if they are not using your favorite radio or antenna. Good ham radio operating skills are not typically an inherent quality of man -- it takes time to develop them. At some point in history, you made your first contact. 73 Clayton W5PFG Still learning 20 years after receiving my novice class license.

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looking for DE and WV
by davekn4ok＠aol.com 22 Jan '12

22 Jan '12

Looking for DE and WV on the birds for WAS. Please reply by email. Thanks, Dave, kn4ok

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Hawaii for WAS
by Wyatt Dirks 22 Jan '12

22 Jan '12

Still looking for someone in Hawaii to work for my last state for satellite WAS. From EN41 either AO7 or FO29 would have to be used to make contact. While FO29 is operation it might be the better choice as it is quite a bit easier to work at low elevations and it in my opinion is easier to work portable. If anyone could help that would be great! 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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5 in EM55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 22 Jan '12

22 Jan '12

Congrats to Mark WB8TGY for 5 in em 55 award #44 and Your $$$ donation will be forwarded to Martha at Amsat in your name WA4HFN em55 Damon

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Re: Working VO-52 with an FT-817ND and TH-F6A
by Joe Krepps 22 Jan '12

22 Jan '12

Patrick, How did you manage doppler shift between the FT-817ND and TH-F6A? 73, Joe Krepps WB3CFN (FM19pw08)

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