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

Curious Ground Track
by Roland Zurmely 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

Curious Ground Track This is really a curious ground track !: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/satdif.htm Please use Google translator. 73 de Roland.

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a couple tweaks to work AO-27 & SO-50
by Jimmy KC9PXZ 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

Good Morning, First I want to take a moment to say thank you to those that sent me off list E mails with advice. I have a couple tweaks I have been thinking on. One is due to easier set up. setting up my 3 element yagi & my 70CM 6 element yagi @ 90 degrees to each other. Still using two radio's so I can be full duplex. What are peoples thoughts as to setting my antennas up 90 degrees to each other? The other thought is that I have what I call a "ball" compass there is North, South, East & West on the top & the same on the side with degree marks on it. All I need now is something to tell me how many degrees up from the horizon I am. I thought if I could find something to print out with degrees to scale on it and put that on a piece of cardboard, wood or something. Then take a string & put washers on it to act as a counter weight. The string would stay in the same place but the scale would move as I point the tripod up or down. Then I would read it to know how many degrees up or down I am from the horizon. The problem is I don't know what there called so I am not sure what to search on google to find the scale. What is that called? 73 KC9PXZ Jimmy

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Re: a couple tweaks to work AO-27 & SO-50
by Clint Bradford 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

>> ... The other thought is that I have what I call a "ball" compass ... Jimmy - do not over-think this. The AMSAT data page you are using gives you the AOS (acquisition) and LOS (loss of signal) compass points. Just visualize those in your mind, and look at the compass point for the MAX ALT. The MAX EL point will tell you if the sat will be towards the East or the West - and, of course, the MAX ALTITUDE wiill tell you how far off the horizon. So just visualize a "sweep" from AOS to LOS - and the MAX EL point in the center. Yes, I started with an altimeter and compass - but now I just take a compass along to have someone else perform " navigator" tasks at demos. But although this is rocket science, it really isn't (grin). You will get to a point where you won;t even take the printout with you outside: You wiill just realize a N-to-S or S-to-N pass, and where off the horizon it will be at its max. And make sure you program for the Doppler effect on the 440 side of the V/U birds - and switch to the couple of memories ABOVE as you ACQUIRE. Clint K6LCS

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Assistance with a presentation
by Rick Tejera 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

All, I am beginning to prepare a presentation for my Club (The Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club, www.w7tbc.org) on the basic engineering considerations for amateur satellites. My original thought was to briefly discuss the various engineering considerations and then look at how they are applied. I am thinking in addition to tie this in to FOX, by discussing how AMSAT will solve engineering issues on the FOX series of sats. I think this approach will help make the concepts clear, while also serving to promote FOX. With this in mind, I'd like to know if anyone on the FOX team would be willing to field questions from me during as I prepare the presentation, to make sure I get it complete and right. I also wonder if it would be possible to arrange to have the Fox-1 Model made available to me when I give the presentation? What hoops do I need to jump through to make that happen? (The presentation will be given in mid October) Thanks in advance for any assistance offered. 73 Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Sagauro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club www.w7tbc.org

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Curious Ground Track - Thanks to DK1TB for explaining it
by Thomas Doyle 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

I am sure most everyone knows all about this and there many articles about it somewhere. Just in case you do not you might take a look at this short video. Be sure to read the description below the video and watch it in full screen HD. Thanks to DK1TB for providing the answer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYmqnKElcCw 73 W9KE Tom Doyle

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AO-07 running into eclipses again
by Ib Christoffersen 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

Hi all, Just saw that AO-07 was in mode-B and checked it as well. Yes - it is. And it means that the order of the day changes. Mode-A and mode-B will not change every day - but at random after an eclipse. Take a look at: http://oscar.dcarr.org/ 73 OZ1MY Ib

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Request for reception reports: AubieSat-1
by John Klingelhoeffer 09 Jun '12

09 Jun '12

Amateur radio control operators will attempt to change the transmission mode of AubieSat-1 this weekend to increase the quantity of telemetry. This increased telemetry will provide data to indicate how well solar cell protection is working. It should also provide additional onboard housekeeping information. Telemetry reception reports would be appreciated. Transmissions are CW and formats and frequencies have been published previously on AMSAT-BB. Downlink is on 70 cm. Reception results posted here to the BB will enable data to be shared with everyone. The orbits when commanding is planned are as follows: 09 June: 20:49-21:00 (MDT) Max Elev 50 deg 10 June: 10:09-10:23 (MDT) Max Elev 83 deg 11 June: 10:29-10:43 (MDT) Max Elev 61 deg Commanding will be attempted from north central United States. Thanks and 73.

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Re: first try @ a SO50 Pass
by Jimmy KC9PXZ 08 Jun '12

08 Jun '12

Hi, well I did not hear the bird. I did some recording with my phone(just to make sure I understood how to record with it, never used that before now) it works pretty good. But no receive. I can try in the morning on both SO-50 and AO-27. So not sure what I did wrong bet we try again in the morning. I don't think I would heard anything on the night passes other wise I would listen then to. Any one else in my neck of the Woods hear in Wisconsin that enjoys the birds? KC9PXZ Jimmy Norwalk, WI. En43qt

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FO-29 @ 20:25Z
by Joe Batty 08 Jun '12

08 Jun '12

Hi Folks, Just for my own edification, what the heck was the noise on FO-29 around the 2020UTC pass today? Was that man made stuff or what? Some one playing around, the Sat or? I'm still learning this stuff and I'm just curious. 73 and thank you Joe KT7E CN85

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Re: FO-29 @ 20:25Z
by K5OE 08 Jun '12

08 Jun '12

I am pretty sure that was someone "keying" FM on and off, sounding a bit like really bad code, or as some folks call "chirpy." I know, because I made a few contacts on FO-20 that way before I got an SSB rig for 2m :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE >Hi Folks, > >Just for my own edification, what the heck was the noise on FO-29 around >the 2020UTC pass today? Was that man made stuff or what? Some one playing >around, the Sat or? I'm still learning this stuff and I'm just curious. > >73 and thank you > >Joe KT7E

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