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

Hamvention Balloon Launch with SSTV
by Farrell Winder 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

ALL, During this years Hamvention, Bill Brown, WB8ELK launched a balloon carrying data packages of APRS on 144.39, other data on 144.34 and SSTV , Scottie S2 on 147.56Mhz.. Did anyone copy the balloon SSTV and record pictures? If any pictures are available please forward to me and I will resend to Bill. I would have tried to copy but missed all of the Hamvention being out of town for a Grandson's graduation. Many thanks for any picture copies or info on anyone who did copy. Farrell Winder, W8ZCF , Cincinnati.

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nitinol wire vs steel tape
by Nick Pugh 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

Does anyone on the list know if there is any trade off using nitinol wire over steel tape for antennas on cube sats? Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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Re: full duplex w/ 2 HT's
by Dobarrows 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

My portable setup using an arrow antenna doesn't use a diplexor or duplexor. With the setup for 2m uplink, I connect my VX5R to the two meter driven element with a piece of RG-8X. I connect my Icom IC R10 to the 432 mhz driven element with another piece of RG-8X. Just turn the radios on, adjust the frequencies, and wave the antenna around until you hear the satellite on the receive radio. When I transmit and I can hear my signal in the IC-R10 I know that I may be heard. If I hear someone else in the downlink, I stop transmitting and wait for another chance Now note that my IC R10 is not a second HT, but just a receiver. You should be able to swap in a second HT for the IC R10 with no problem. Most of the time, I use a better setup by inserting a Down East Microwave preamp between the antenna and the IC R10. The preamp improves reception on the downlink considerably. By using a receive only radio with the pre amp, I don't have to worry about accidently transmitting on 432 and burning up the pre amp. I run the preamp with two six volt lantern batteries in series. When working a pass, I start with the receiver in usb mode and tuned about 10 mhz higher than the published downlink frequency. This helps me zero in on the satellite. When the signal gets better (the squawking noise listening to a FM signal with usb setting gets loud) I switch the receiver to FM and gradually tune down frequency to keep up with the doppler. I usually don't touch the transmit frequency on the VX 5R. I just keep it on the published downlink frequency for the whole pass. 73, W8IJ

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full duplex w/ 2 HT's
by Robert Coppock 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

hola, i am trying to determine the best way to work full duplex on the birds with 2 HT's or radios. i cannot find any info so far on the web. my concern is to keep the transmit power out of the receive radio, i guess basically the difference between a diplexer and duplexer. since i am efficient (lazy) i thought i would just look for suggestions here while i am checking google also. what do i need, di/du/ plexer, and what is the correct wiring scheme ? i will be using the arrow antenna without the built in duplexer, from the 2 feeds (vhf/uhf) and 2 HT's for now. my picture of it so far, is to wire the vhf radio direct to the vhf feed port on the arrow, and have the uhf port on the arrow come into a duplexer, with the duplexer uhf port going to the uhf radio, and the duplexer vhf port terminated into a 50 ohm dummy load. also, any suggestions of specific duplexers would be appreciated. i think i started on this project a few years ago, but never got around to getting it all together. grazie mille, Robert k f 0 g cn81 in the woodwork, literally, shasta/klamath national forests.

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Re: European Lunar Lander - Call for Declarations
by Daniel Schultz 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

Keep in mind that any ham radio transponder on the moon will not be an "easy sat". You will need an EME class station to work it. If we build a lunar transponder, we can expect to see many, many postings on Amsat-BB about how Amsat only cares about elite hams and is not interested in building satellites for the common ham. I'm not saying it wouldn't be fun to have a transponder on the moon, and we in the USA might even be able to help you build it if they get ITAR fixed in time, but we better put on the flame proof trousers when we announce the project to the masses. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Re: A great suggestion
by Clint Bradford 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

Brilliant! Great program ... accurate tracking ... simple and elegant - GREAT work, Tom. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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1K grids
by Bruce 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

Congrats to Jerry, K5OE. He just submitted his VUCC upgrade to 1,000 grids today, actually 1,008 but who's counting. It was an easy set of cards to check. About 30 from a bunch of hams and 100 or so grids from Yuri. Not a bad haul. and... I have never worked Yuri on satellite. 73...bruce Sent from my iPhone

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A great suggestion
by Thomas Doyle 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

A great suggestion was made for a simple addition to the program written for demos and education. You can now add your own images to the little slide show that takes place in the lower right hand portion of the screen. This is a good way to personalize your presentation by including images that are of specific interest to your group or add images that for one reason or another are not included in the program. If any group or organization would like an image added to the gallery and/or included with the program distribution just send me your request in an email with the image attached and I will try to include it. If any registered trademark or copyright issues are involved with the image simply add a line or two to your request authorizing use of the image in this application. The updated version of the program, information on how to add your own images and a little gallery of images to try out is on the web site. http://www.tomdoyle.org/simplesatlookdown Have Fun - 73 W9KE Tom Doyle

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Re: Icom Power Cord
by Clint Bradford 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

I believe the IC-910 also uses the IC-OPC-657A power cord - if that helps in your searching. Clint K6LCS >> ... IC-821 ...

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EN-0?
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 03 Jun '12

03 Jun '12

Someone was looking to work EN-02 or 03 or one of the low EN numbers.. I'll be headed south Wednesday and should be able to activate something on SO-50 or AO-27. If you need one of those grids please let me know. 73, Joe kk0sd

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