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

Re: HamSatDroid Version 0.8 (SDP4)
by David Moisan 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

+1 for Nook Tablet support. I'm using the "old" version on the Nook. It's fine. The problem with the Nook right now is that shortly after the Nook Tablet was released, BN released a firmware update that blocked the ability to "sideload" applications (in other words, bypass the BN app store) which I was able to do shortly after I got mine in December. It didn't last long, so I only have the few sideloaded apps I could get on there before my firmware was updated, including HamSatDroid. So for the moment I have HamSatDroid but I can't take advantage of the new version. Even with the limitations of the Nook compared to a full tablet (no camera or GPS), HamSatDroid worked very well and would do nicely in the field. I'm not happy with BN, of course, but my tablet does everything else I expected (universal ebook reader), so I have no good reason nor budget to get a new tablet. Thanks for HamSatDroid.

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HamSatDroid Version 0.8 (SDP4)
by David Johnson 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Hi, We are pleased to announce that we've released a new version of the app! This now uses my Java port of John Magliacane's Predict SDP4 to support the elliptical orbit CubeSats to be launched on VEGA. The app is free and is available for download from the Android Marketplace. 73 Dave Johnson, G4DPZ AMSAT-NA Life Member AMSAT-UK Committee Member FUNcube Data Warehouse Dev.

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Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop
by Rodrigo Zeledon 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Dear AMSAT community, I am writing to inform you of a new conference that may be of interest to you. Cornell/JA/MIT are organizing the 1st Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop. The conference will be held at the end of May this year at MIT, and abstracts are now being accepted for technical talks. The event website describing keynote speakers, program details and other information can be accessed at: www.iCubeSat.org Thanks, Rodrigo

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Re: Receive Pre-Amps for 70cm
by K5OE 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Peter, An omni antenna with the current crop of LEO's is at the margin for an effective station. A preamp will help substantially in two cases: 1) the antenna and radio are far enough apart the RF losses in the coax cable degrade the signal (and more importantly, the NF), or 2) your radio's front end is not very sensitive (more of a problem with "classic" rigs than today's offerings like your FT-8800). To get the most out of your eggbeater(s), follow these guidelines: - put the best (lowest loss) coax you can between the antenna and the preamp - keep the coax between the antenna and the preamp as short as possible (use this criterion to determine whether you mount the preamp right at the antenna (preferable) or inside the attic using an indooor unit) - as suggested by Alan, use a 50 dB diplexer to split the signal to the V/U antennas - use a second diplexer (with the lowest insertion loss you can find) between UHF antenna and the preamp (UHF side only) - put as much physical separation as you can between the UHF and VHF antennas Other useable preamps, besides those mentioned already by Peter and Alan, include Mirage, Landwehr, and even Icom. I saw a pair of nice Mirage preamps go on ebay last week for less than $50 each. If you do buy one that is not RF switched, you can power it or switch it (with a relay) driven by the FT-8800's data jack (usually pin 3 on late model Yaesu rigs). 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original posting --- I recently purchased an M2 Satellite Eggbeater antenna kit with the intention of working satellites from my shack. I think this antenna will work best with a pre-amp for the 70cm band that perhaps I can put in my attic close to the antennas. Who makes a good pre-amp for this situation to mate with my FT-8800 radio. Thanks, Peter KC2RBX

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Re: HamSatDroid Version 0.8 (SDP4)
by John Wright 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

At 09:03 07/02/2012, you wrote: >Cool, > >just wondering which Android tablet people are using and what is their >experience in portable use. > >Tx Stefan VE4NSA I'm using Hamsatdroid on my Samsung Galaxy S2 Smartphone. It's compact and very quick, The phone is equipped with GPS so it even gets your location and displays the Maidenhead locator . An exceptional FREE bit of software!

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URI
by Kevin Deane 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Just want to say that I missed the heck out of URI, I can not, still, by listening to him, even by the Recoding's, CO6CBF is plenty clear... URI....Is Loud as ever. EVERYONE does not sound like that... Point being made I Still Love the Regular's hope to make a another contact with URI......:) Kevin KF7MYK

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Chibis-M?
by John Heath 07 Feb '12

07 Feb '12

Hi, Any UK stations copied Chibis-M ? 73 John G7HIA

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Kenwood TM251 memory battery replacement
by John Geiger 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

I have a Kenwood TM251A FM radio I use on the FM satellites, and the memory battery is going to need to be replaced. I figure sending it to Kenwood for replacement is going to cost more than the radio is worth. The only thing the manual says about it is to send it to Kenwood for replacement. Does anyone have more information on replacing it yourself? How hard of a job is it, and is the battery avaiable? 73s John AA5JG

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NASA Seeks Proposals for Small Satellite Demonstrations
by Trevor . 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/4451

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Receive Pre-Amps for 70cm
by PETER SIMONSEN 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

I recently purchased an M2 Satellite Eggbeater antenna kit with the intention of working satellites from my shack. I think this antenna will work best with a pre-amp for the 70cm band that perhaps I can put in my attic close to the antennas. Who makes a good pre-amp for this situation to mate with my FT-8800 radio. Thanks, Peter KC2RBX

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