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

HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY- JANUARY 8TH
by Peter Portanova 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

Hello, Once again I will have the pleasure to be involved with one of the major events on the East Coast for Amateur Radio. Ham Radio University, http://hamradiouniversity.org/, billed as "A Day of education to share ideas, experience, knowledge and fellowship among Amateur Radio operators". I will lead the Satellite Forum, "How you can have your own Amateur Satellite Space Station", in addition I will be a moderator on Political Advocacy, discussing my work with H.R. 607 and H.R. 3288. I would like to appeal to anyone who lives in Rep. Berman's 28th CD in California to contact me for assistance on H.R. 3288. I will be on the 12:52 EST pass of AO-27 as special event station W2V, I hope we can work many stations to spread the word that Amateur Satellites are a thrill. N2MUN, will be the QSL manager for the event, his contact information is on www.QRZ.com, thank you 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com

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ARRL and TAPR 2011 DCC videos are available
by David Bern 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

All: ARRL and TAPR 2011 Digital Communications Conference videos are available to view for free at http://arvideonews.com/dcc2011/index.html Of particular note, take a look at the open source codec2 speech codec presentation by David Rowe, VK5DGR at http://arvideonews.com/dcc2011/2011_DCC_CODEC_2.html Thank you, David, W2LNX

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Sat Magazine -CubeSat's and AMSAT-India Transponder
by Trevor . 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

Lot's of Cubesat coverage in the January issue of Sat Magazine. RAIKO, FITSAT-1, WE WISH, PRIME, the Vega CubeSats, QB50 and the AMSAT-India 435/145MHz Linear Transponder all get mentions. Download your copy of Sat Magazine at http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Jan_2012.pdf 73 Trevor M5AKA

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ARISSat-1 Certificate Team
by Kevin Deane 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

I received a certificate today and a friend of mine was wondering if they where still giving them out. I forgot where I sent my pics and stuff from ARISSat-1 to. Does anyone have info on that? Thanks. Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: Enhancements ...
by Clint Bradford 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

>> ... The only addition to your list is a receive preamp ... Gawd, I don't know what for ... (grin) I mean, ARISSat-1 was a measly 250mW on its 2M broadcast, and I couldn't ask for a stronger, cleaner signal from it that I had while receiving it with my HT and an Arrow antenna. Same with SO-50 and AO-27. Keep it simple! If you are NOT clearly hearing decent passes of '50 and/or '27 with small beams/Yagis on your HT - then there is something wrong elsewhere in your setup. Clint Bradford K6LCS

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5 in em55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 07 Jan '12

07 Jan '12

Congrats to Randy WB4LHD for 5 in em55 award #43

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Enhance your Easy Sat Experience!
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

Have you thought about upgrading your station to full-duplex capability? I realize that many amateurs jump into the satellite fray by utilizing an existing handheld radio and an antenna like the Arrow, Elk, or tape-measure beam. It's a great way to get your feet wet and make that "first" contact via the birds. Now, let's look at how we can do BETTER. Full-duplex has a very important purpose in the satellite world. It allows you, the ground station, to know that your signal is being received and retransmitted by the satellite. I’m not saying it is a mandatory but once you see its benefit, you may never want to go “semi” again. How do you really know you are being heard by the bird if you can't hear yourself? Answer: You don't. How do you know another station wasn't already being captured by the bird and in the middle of a QSO when you transmit? Answer: You don't. Let's talk about HOW to do full-duplex. First of all, you don't need base-station radios like the Icom IC-9100, IC-910, Kenwood TS-2000, or Yaesu FT-847. If you own two handhelds, chances are you have what you need! What you need is at least one radio capable of transmitting on the uplink and one radio capable of receiving on the downlink. For example using AO-27: 1. A 2m-only HT, set to the satellite's uplink, ~145.85 MHz. 2. A 70cm-only HT, set to the satellite's downlink, ~436.795 MHz. One added benefit is that while hearing the downlink, you can twist your handheld antennas (like the Arrow) to match polarity and peak your uplink. Technically you do not even need a radio capable of transmitting to hear yourself on the downlink. A scanner or pocket receiver works dandy! To get into full-duplex inexpensively, there are numerous options. You can buy a NEW Baeofeng UV-3R for about $50-60 USD, shipped. This radio could serve as an uplink or downlink radio, depending on your need. I’m not peddling these radios but using them as an example. If you have the Arrow with the built-in diplexer, simply bypass it by running a patch cord from each radio to the respective UHF and VHF beams. If you are running an Elk or tape-measure 2m beam, you will need an inexpensive diplexer to give you both 2m and 70cm feed points. One can be constructed easily or purchased from numerous vendors for $30-80. Give full-duplex a try. You will not only help the satellite community by eliminating unnecessary hetero-dyning tug-of-war, it will generally make you sound better on the birds! Oh, and use a pair of earphones or a headset when you give it a try to avoid feedback. 73, Clayton W5PFG Here are some more example full-duplex combinations: Wouxon HT - Downlink 2m only-HT - Uplink FT-60R - Uplink Baofeng - Downlink Handheld scanner - Downlink Dual-band HT - Uplink

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Re: Enhance your Easy Sat Experience!
by K5OE 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

Yes, Bob, I see those old D700 at hamfests regularly. Add to the list of full-duplex HTs the Yaesu FT-51R. I bought mine on ebay years ago for way less than it costs to go to a Texans game. I did a quick check and found one for sale: http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAESU-FT-51R-2M-440MHZ-PAGING-TRANCEIVER-PORTABLE-4… An old HT almost always needs a new aftermarket battery (or two) if you plan on actually using it handheld. 73, Jerry, K5OE > You omitted all of the other full duplex radios: The D7 and D72 HT's and > D700 and D710 mobiles. > >> Full-duplex has a very important purpose in the satellite world. >> you don't need base-station radios like the Icom IC-9100, IC-910, >> Kenwood TS-2000, or Yaesu FT-847. If you own two handhelds, >> chances are you have what you need! > > There are 10's of thousands of these Kenwood radios out there, and many > people upgraded from the D7 and D700 to the D72 and D710 for the enhanced > APRS functions. But the full duplex dual band radios remain the best there > is for full duplex FM satellite AND APRS satellite work. > > Bob, WB4APR

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Re: Enhance your Easy Sat Experience!
by Bill Acito W1PA 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

>> The only addition to your list is a receive preamp if you're running full duplex. Norm, I completely agree. I hang a ARR 432 pre-amp with it's own small 12v pack between the diplexor and the 432 side of the Arrow. I have an RF switched version just in case I do something stupid with the FT-530. I use a headset so there is no audio feedback/echo. Makes all the difference on low passes (<5) and less than optimal locations. Bill W1PA

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satpc32 problems
by Bob- W7LRD 06 Jan '12

06 Jan '12

I had to reinstall satpc32. first problem ..could not open com port 3 then no source file found for group standard still getting the error 105 marching across the screen thanks from the digitally challanged 73 Bob W7LRD

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