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

BaoFeng UV-5R
by Robert Turlington 04 Aug '12

04 Aug '12

Any one in the group had experience of the BaoFeng UV-5R in general or on the birds,the spec looks good, as does the price, but that's not the whole story is it? Regards Robert G8ATE

4 3

Portable EM46
by K4FEG 04 Aug '12

04 Aug '12

Wa4NVM can be reached at wa4nvm(a)gmail.com while he is in EM46. Be sure and drop him an email if you need EM46 confirmed. 73 everyone! Frank; K4FEG, D.W.B. of EM55

1 0

Re: Active Birds
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Aug '12

04 Aug '12

If you want to make two-way QSOs, look at AO-7, FO-29, VO-52, SO-50, AO-27, and the ISS 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Paul Delaney - K6HR <paul.hamradio(a)verizon.net> >Sent: Aug 3, 2012 11:43 PM >To: 'kp hpjr' <inservice2him(a)hotmail.com>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Active Birds > > > >http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php > >Paul Delaney - K6HR >paul.hamradio(a)verizon.net >http://k6hr.dyndns.org:8080 > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >> Behalf Of kp hpjr >> Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 17:10 >> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Active Birds >> >> >> What birds are currently available to use? >> And what modes? >> Thanks >> Kirk, n0kk >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

2 1

Active Birds
by kp hpjr 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

What birds are currently available to use? And what modes? Thanks Kirk, n0kk

2 1

EM46 operation!
by K4FEG 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

Rickey, WA4NVM is operating portable from EM46, he asked if I would post up for him the following information: If you need confirmation for the grid square EM46, please send WA4NVM an email with the contact details, No SASE is necessary. Rick said he would be happy to confirm the satellite contacts. If you didn't see his previous post, he is operating FM satellites only this trip. He will be in EM46 for tonight and some of the weekend. 73 all! RAT de WA4NVM/p EM46 c/o K4FEG

1 0

No tune in transmit on FT-726
by Tom Gentry 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

Mystery is solved. The Repeater offset switch MUST be in Simplex for this to operate correctly. 73, Tom K5VOU On 8/2/2012 2:00 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > My Operators manual for the FT-726R instructs me to tune the receiver > while transmitting to the satellite in order to listen for my down > link. However on my 726, the RX tuning is locked while in transmit, > duplex or otherwise. Is there a mod necessary or is this a software > change made after mine was built? Looking for clues from 726 users. Thanks.

1 0

Commercial Spacecraft Development Awards Announced
by B J 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/aug/HQ_12-263_CCiCAP_Awards.html http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/08/03/boeing-spacex-and-sierra-nevada-win-… http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/08/03/boeing-statement-on-nasa-commercial-… http://www.parabolicarc.com/2012/08/03/sierra-nevada-hails-nasa-ccicap-awar… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

Re: Was AO-7B, now new High LEOs
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

> >Yes some launches such as the recent VEGA are into elliptical orbits BUT they have very short lifetimes before burn-up, I think the VEGA orbit is only 2 years. Ideally we'd want an elliptical orbit that would last 15-20 years I don't think any standard launches do that. > > >The costs of buying a launch to an orbit we'd like will likely remain prohibitive so it looks like we need to develop our own propulsion to take us from a "cheap launch" orbit at 350 or 700 km to one above 1250 km that'll permit DX working. > I think we'll find it easier to raise perigee of a short lived elliptical a bit, rather than raising a low circular to a stable high LEO or elliptical. But, I don't know for sure. I'm a geologist, a rock scientist, not a rocket scientist! AND! the propulsion depends on 3 axis control, which seems to be worked out well commercially now for 3U cubesats. 73, Drew

1 0

Re: Was AO-7B, now new High LEOs
by Trevor . 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

--- On Fri, 3/8/12, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > I still think we really need some good DX LEOs. Agreed, getting something into an orbit of 1250 to 2500 km is key (and having an SDX transponder that can survive the higher radiation levels). Yes some launches such as the recent VEGA are into elliptical orbits BUT they have very short lifetimes before burn-up, I think the VEGA orbit is only 2 years. Ideally we'd want an elliptical orbit that would last 15-20 years I don't think any standard launches do that. A number of CubeSats are expected to test a means of getting to higher orbits in the coming year: http://www.uk.amsat.org/5153 http://www.uk.amsat.org/9165 http://www.uk.amsat.org/9268 The costs of buying a launch to an orbit we'd like will likely remain prohibitive so it looks like we need to develop our own propulsion to take us from a "cheap launch" orbit at 350 or 700 km to one above 1250 km that'll permit DX working. 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

Was AO-7B, now new High LEOs
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Aug '12

03 Aug '12

Thanks for the report John. I was also on that pass, and concur with your observations, except I did hear two stations on voice repeating their calls, maybe trying to find themselves. Let's hope this is temporary, and due to bad solar angles or such. However, long term, every day AO-7 continues to tick is a gift. Eventually she'll degrade to unusability, or just quit altogether. Along the same lines of thought, FO-29 is long in the tooth as well, even though it's current performance is stellar.HO-68 was a worthy replacement for FO-29, but we know how that ended. As you well know, these two satellites are the backbone of the fleet at the moment. While I am extremely anxious to see everything on the next Dnepr launch fly and work well (FunCube, UKCube, Triton 1 and 2, etc...), the orbit isn't optimal for range and DX. The FOX satellites will likely be in similar orbits, although that is not known for sure yet. While it is important these satellites fly, and when they do they will fill important roles, I still think we really need some good DX LEOs. Launches of US and European small satellites are hamstrung by orbital debris rules requiring reentry in so many years. What's the solution? There are several. Look for launches to elliptical orbits with high apogees (like the recent Vega launch). Support projects from countries that do not participate in the orbital debris restrictions (India, Japan, China, Russia, etc.)as well as the lower altitude projects. I cringe every time a so-called "amateur" bird launches to 800 to 1700km from one of those countries with no two way package, especially when they are 10-40kg!. Look for piggyback opportunities to higher orbits. Develop propulsion and reentry measures to allow deorbit from higher altitudes after mission end. Pray for P3E to find a launch and funding to cover it. I'm not trying to be negative, just realistic in how we need to look for these opportunities before it's too late. I'm not knocking any current program; in fact I've donated heavily to Fox and FunCube. I'm just looking down the road to where we are headed. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: John Papay <john(a)papays.com> >Sent: Aug 3, 2012 8:28 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7B Performance 1005utc 3Aug2012 > >AO-7B continues to struggle along. This mornings >1005utc pass was no exception. No signals were heard >from Europe and I could not hear my downlink until the >satellite was over 15 degrees. Low power up on cw >produced key clicks in the downlink. Surprisingly, higher >power started to produce a tone along with the key clicks. >On voice the downlink was distorted with low power. Again, >higher power produced more audio and less distortion. I only >heard one station sending dah's but very weak. AO-7 seems >to have good passes and not so good passes. You just have >to keep trying and hope to find a good one. >73, >John K8YSE > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0