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

Video – Vega’s First Launch Campaign + PhoneSat Propulsion
by Trevor . 31 Jan '12

31 Jan '12

An ESA video about the Vega launch campaign can be seen at Vega’s First Launch Campaign http://www.uk.amsat.org/4268 An item about the propulsion system to be used for the Phonesat STRaND-1 (downlink 437.575 MHz, launch TBC) is at: Bright sparks redefine propulsion http://www.uk.amsat.org/4253 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: Palm Springs HamFest - APOLOGY
by Clint Bradford 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

K6LCS>> ... There was a Canadian gentleman there who said we should blame it on solar conditions ... (grin) I have been contacted off list by a gentleman who thought I was insulting Canada/Canadians with the above line. In no manner, shape, nor form did I mean to disrespect my neighbors to the North. When I wrote that line, I was remembering the gentleman and his cool, red "Canada" hat ... and also the marvelous stories he had as he worked the last Winter Olympics in that beautiful country. I could have left the descriptive term, "Canadian," out of the sentence altogether. I wrote it just to give an international flavor to the group that was there. I cannot believe I am apologizing for THAT line ... But the gentleman who wrote me is a respected fellow ham - so here it is. Clint K6LCS

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Release spin rate query.
by Fred Kennedy 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

Hi Guys, Recall a post a week or so back re a satellite released from its launch adaptor with a spin rate of in excess of 30rpm! (36rpm?) Can anyone point me to that again, please. Didn't pay much attention to it at the time as was a) busy on other aspects and b) it was not a LV that we are looking at using for KiwiSAT anyway. Haven't seen any follow-up on it and, on reflection, would like another look at it for what we may learn/consider. Thanks Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP.

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Hats off to Russian satellite operators!
by Bato, Andras 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

Gentlemen, All CW tests were eliminated in the US in 2007. There is no Morse Code (CW) requirement any more. Of course there's a possibility to learn Morse code which can be learned during a single week but reality says most choose not to do CW any more. What a pity! Please do everyone everything to bring back telegraphers who would use less bandwidth on satellites then SSB! To eliminate CW int he exams was a big mistake and the outcome can be heard on VO-52 when SSB operators simply can not recognise Morse code. May I ask all those who has never heard morse signals to tunu a bit down or higher in case he/she hears unidendified signals int he satellite bands?! VO-52 is overcrowded which shows the interest in satellite operations. I do hope AMSAT-DL will pass along P3E -which is said to be ready to start for many years- to start from India! Anyway, there are fortunately satellite ops in Russia who use CW and do not keep shouting on the back of CW stations! gl de ha6nn Andras

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Vega Satellite Deployments
by Trevor . 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/4235 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: Palm Springs HamFest ...
by Clint Bradford 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

>> ... I saw a couple of guys doing an ATV demonstration ... [might have wiped out AO-27 reception] ... Hmmm ... But I would have thought that would have affected SO-50 reception, too ... But SO-50 was great yesterday. There was a Canadian gentleman there who said we should blame it on solar conditions ... (grin) All things considered - it was a great day! Clint K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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CW
by Kevin Deane 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

I have interest in CW and hope that others will also, I tried using Mix-W and basicly got shunned so now I am learning. What a nice mode, that goes so far with minimal power!!! Kevin KF7MYK > From: bato(a)starjan.hu > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:31:14 +0000 > Subject: [amsat-bb] Hats off to Russian satellite operators! > > Gentlemen, > > > > All CW tests were eliminated in the US in 2007. There is no Morse Code (CW) > requirement any more. > > > > Of course there's a possibility to learn Morse code which can be learned > during a single week but reality says most choose not to do CW any more. > What a pity! > > > > Please do everyone everything to bring back telegraphers who would use less > bandwidth on satellites then SSB! > > > > To eliminate CW int he exams was a big mistake and the outcome can be heard > on VO-52 when SSB operators simply can not recognise Morse code. > > > > May I ask all those who has never heard morse signals to tunu a bit down or > higher in case he/she hears unidendified signals int he satellite bands?! > > > > VO-52 is overcrowded which shows the interest in satellite operations. > > > > I do hope AMSAT-DL will pass along P3E -which is said to be ready to start > for many years- to start from India! > > > > Anyway, there are fortunately satellite ops in Russia who use CW and do not > keep shouting on the back of CW stations! > > > > gl de ha6nn > > Andras > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Re: Phase 3 Express Launch Opportunities
by Nitin Muttin 30 Jan '12

30 Jan '12

We from AMSAT INDIA have written to AMSAT DL in the past and have offered to talk to ISRO in this regard for any launch opppurtunities for the Phase 3 express. 73 Nitin [VU3TYG} Secretary, AMSAT INDIA

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Re: Palm Springs Hamfest, Exploding Eggs, and SO-50
by Andrew Glasbrenner 29 Jan '12

29 Jan '12

>cable-ready analog cable tuner. If that ATV transmitter was on >434 MHz and close to the demonstration, could that have wiped >out the 435-438 MHz satellite subband? Yes! Almost every year at the Orlando Hamfest, one of the Red Cross vans is running ATV all day, and it destroys the satellite band. They will usually turn it off if I ask, since it isn't ever being actually used for something. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Palm Springs Hamfest, Exploding Eggs, and SO-50
by Clint Bradford 29 Jan '12

29 Jan '12

I should have known that the exploding egg was an omen for how the rest of the day would proceed. I guess an explanation is in order ... I arrived at the Palm Springs HamFest yesterday morning in plenty of time to set up my table, display my "modified" Arrow Antenna, establish WiFi and get online, and get ready. The event started in a few minutes, so I had time to grab one of the breakfast sandwiches that the Palm Springs Desert RATS club was preparing - ham and egg and fresh tomato on a soft bun. The p.a. announcer started making opening remarks to the hams assembled at the doors. I was eating my sandwich just as he unexpectedly announced, "And we have Clint Bradford here working the satellites for you ... " Just as he pointed to where I was, I completed a bite of the sandwich - and the egg yolk exploded out the back of the bun. I mean, all over my name badge and chin. It seemed like a gallon of egg yolk - although, of course, it was probably way less that a quart ... (grin) How can you do anything but laugh? I found a sink, and cleaned up. What else could go wrong today? Patrick showed up, after driving straight through from Arizona. Well, not really - he actually stopped at least one time to work a pass from the road. He is amazing - indeed, the hardest workin' satellite promoted I know. Other friends came by. Folks walked up to us and appreciatively "blamed" us for getting them started working and enjoying the sats ... Then it came time to work the first of two passes of AO-27 for the day. Patrick and I re-checked the AO-27 schedule, and re-re-checked our pass data. All was well. The sat was there - but never came ON for us. Lovely ... that probably means it won't be up for the next pass ... nothing like disappointing crowds who show up at the times published all over event handouts to watch you work a bird for them ... (grin) No - '27 wasn't ON for the second pass, either. But the attendees were inquisitive and we shared a bunch of information. SO-50 "bailed me out" for the day with two wonderful passes to close the show. The last one was actually about a half-hour after the 'fest officially ended - but there were plenty of stragglers and vendors left to come over and watch working SO-50. We worked Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Ontario (CA), and even worked Patrick - who had left earlier, but stopped alongside the road to work us. Did I mention earlier that he's the hardest workin' satellite promoter I know? THANKS to all who dropped by. MANY knew of our upcoming ARISS contact with the Flabob Airport Academy the week of April 16 - and wanted to know how that was progressing. (Our Web site is http://www.iss-flabob.com.) The 'fest's attendance was UP for the third year in a row - and the Desert RATS folks are to be commended for pulling of another successful event, providing attendees with just about everything an annual hamfest "should" provide: history of the hobby was on display, a couple seminars, a couple of "the big" equipment vendors right alongside smaller vendors, a swap meet, honest pricing for good food for breakfast and lunch, FREE coffee refills (grin) - all for a measly two bucks for admission - FREE parking. Many RVs were there - from folks who arrived a day or two early - with many staying overnight Saturday, too . The weather was spectacular - which I sure was also the doing of the Desert RATS club ... Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com 909-241-7666

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