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

ICOM IC-W32A and RT Systems Software
by Joe Leikhim 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

I am throwing out a shameless plug for this great software. I was at the Orlando Hamcation and eyed their booth and finally bought the software I so have needed to use my W32A properly. Entering anything into the W32A is tedious and a bother, while the software provides a spreadsheet entry mode. I love spreadsheets- really I do! Anyway, I am a bit picky so I found a quirky thing about the software and contacted Karin in support who got it sorted out and made me BETA TESTER! Bottom line, there is an upgrade on line at their website and you can access through the program. So if you already have the newer version with USB interface try it out. Let me know if anything broke, I may be responsible! But I think it is fine. If you have a W32A and don't have this SW you are glutton for punishment! -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT

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Re: Anyone on VO-52 around 00:15Z 2/18?
by K5OE 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Burns, It sounds like you had feedback into your receiver or headphones from your uplink signal. I have been fooled by this before as well (quite common, I suspect). It is more common for mode V/U than U/V, but always possible. Anyway, I'll listen for you on the 0225z pass and give you a shout if I hear you. 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Anyone on VO-52 around 00:15Z 2/18?
by Burns Fisher 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

I'm sort of excited, sort of disappointed...I believe I FINALLY heard myself on a satellite! I have gotten my 70cm uplink antenna working and I'm pretty sure I could hear myself on VO-52 as it passed high over New England at about 7:15PM 2/17 EST, 00:15 2/18 UTC. But I'm a bit unsure. First, my voice seemed very distorted in the headphones. Of course it is hard to tell when you are talking! Second, I could not get any CW signal bounce. And finally there was NO ONE else that I could hear in the passband. So I'm just wondering if anyone else was hitting VO-52 about that time, or if anyone might have heard me (W2BFJ). Trying to clarify whether VO-52 is just not very busy or if I was not really hearing it after all! Thanks, Burns, W2BFJ

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Isabel Island Dxpedition
by John Papay 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

The OPDX Bulletin 1050 is reporting that a team of 10 operators, from the Aguas- calientes Amateur Radio Club will activate Isabel Island using the callsign XF1AA. Ismael, XE1AY, is one of the operators and is active on the satellites. The planned dates are March 16th through the 21st. The grid appears to be DL71. If you should hear Ismael on the birds, please give him the airtime to work as many as he can. Good luck with the operation! 73, John K8YSE

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Lotw
by BobHerrell 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi all, All my contacts for HI4/AJ5C have been uploaded to Lotw under that call. They have also been uploaded to Eqsl. Paper QSL's are due in next week and will have them out shortly thereafter. 73, Bob Herrell AJ5C

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Re: Anyone in Europe copying PW-SAT
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi John, You have confirmed similar the same situation that I experience also today ( Friday ). I have listened and monitored some of the other sats in the group operating on UHF, they were OK on the keps. put out on the bbs as objects yesterday. So I expected PW -SAT to be in the same ball part. Nothing heard regret to say and it had been quite strong when I tracked it using my ELK antenna on previous days. Ken Eaton GW1FKY

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Anyone in Europe copying PW-SAT
by John Heath 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi, Tried a afternoon pass today ( Friday) Listening for PW-SAT but nothing heard. I only have an omni + mast head pre-amp but expected to hear it. Using Hamscope I could decode the signal just after launch I may have the wrong keps, although I did listen for about 10 minutes on either side of the predictions. 73 John G7HIA

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Office Closed
by Martha 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

The AMSAT Office will be closed on Monday February 20th in observance of Presidents' Day. -- 73- Martha

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Looking for Help with High Altitude Weather balloon Launch in France
by Elizabeth Henriquez 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hello: My name is Liz Henriquez and I am with the US-based Project Aether high altitude balloon group. We have obtained funding to do launches in Europe this month and we are looking for the help with a launch in Northern France.. We are hoping you have information about permits, or perhaps you have a blanket clearance, as UKHAS does in the UK. We are looking to launch on February 28th. Please advise if you are able to assist us or who else we might contact. Thanks in advance for your help, Liz Henriquez www.projectaether.org

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Correction
by Martha 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

In my announcement of Dick Daniel's Memorial Service, I named the church Little River Presbyterian Church. Please note that the church is *Little Falls Presbyterian Church.* It is located at 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington VA 22207. The service begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 25th. -- 73- Martha

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