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

Live Video Broadcast of OSSI CubeSat Presentation Thursday
by Trevor . 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

On Thursday, August 23 at 1000 (presumably CET ?), Hojun Song is giving a keynote presentation in Malmö, Sweden about the CubeSat OSSI to the Media Evolution Conference, further details at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=9758 Also on the AMSAT-UK site Amateur Radio CubeSat F-1 on TV http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=9746 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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Amsat Symposium call for papers!!!
by Daniel Schultz 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

This is the second call for papers for the 2012 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held in Orlando, Florida on the weekend of October 26-28, 2012. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy to be submitted by October 1 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at n8fgv(a)amsat.org We still have prime slots available on the speaker's schedule. The Amsat symposium depends on YOU to make it happen, without speakers there is no symposium. Please consider doing a presentation, even if you have never done so in the past. We are especially interested in papers and presentations involving our educational partnerships with K-12 and university level classrooms. Education is quickly becoming critical for our future rides to space. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Extended rubber ducks / whips on an HT for LEOs
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

I think it's time to stop recommending people use AL-800 or SRH320 -style extended whips for LEO newcomers. These antennas are very poor performers for working either SO-50 or AO-27. Even under an ideal pass, using these antennas will likely result in many missed calls. We all know "it can be done..." So can running a dogsled race with Chihuahuas. Here's my case, which has been experienced time after time, on the current FM birds: 1. New station decides to "give sats a try." (Excellent - we should encourage and provide proper guidance) 2. Station looks in drawer and finds an extended whip or buys one based on recommendation from website or article 3. Station gets on a pass, hears a break in the noise and some partial calls, so he gives his call sign 4. If the new station was lucky enough to capture the bird, likely other stations will "pounce" on the new guy and perhaps call incessantly 5. Perhaps the new station will hear the bird again for a minute, thinking it is clear, and gives their call sign 6. Repeat step 4-5; continue until LOS (many fewer good contacts are made) When we had AO-51, reception on an extended whip was more viable. Now with AO-27 and SO-50, these "extended" rubber ducks have become much less viable options. Often the stations on a whip do not take into account their "handicap" and try to make contacts even though they are not hearing the bird. It’s time to retire these extended whips as a recommendation since there are both inexpensive commercially-available gain antennas and many good home-brew designs. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Re: Full Duplex radio?
by Greg Dolkas 22 Aug '12

22 Aug '12

I'm guessing it lost something in translation, but what exactly are the Stun and Kill features listed under Main Features? Greg KO6TH Sent from my trusty HP iPAQ. -----Original Message----- From: "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> To: "'Gary "Joe" Mayfield'" <gary_mayfield(a)hotmail.com>; "'AMSAT-BB'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: 8/21/12 5:44 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Full Duplex radio? Joe, I have email in to Radio Mart about that. Their HT line gets generally good reviews based on value/$ but with the caveat that they are not on a par with Kenwood, Yaesu, and Icom WRT features and often performance. Still, looks interesting. Alan WA4SCA -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gary "Joe" Mayfield Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2012 7:06 AM To: 'AMSAT-BB' Subject: [amsat-bb] Full Duplex radio? Has anyone played with one of these yet? http://www.409shop.com/409shop_product.php?id=108702 Is it true full duplex? Pair it up with any antenna that hears the FM birds and you should be good to go? Just Curious, Joe kk0sd _______________________________________________ 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

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What is the best log software for us?
by Juan Antonio Fernandez 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

Nowadays I use a log software based in Microsoft ACCESS. Do you know a suitable log for us (sat operators) compatible with Microsoft Access? I would not have any objection to transform or convert the fields into a different format. Juan Antonio EA4CYQ

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ISS orbit boost in progress
by Alan P. Biddle 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

The ISS is having its orbit raised: http://preview.tinyurl.com/9dv7553 The article describes it being done in two steps, so it will take some time for the Keps to settle down. Alan WA4SCA

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ISS spacewalk, satellite to be released?
by Mark L. Hammond 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

Okay--which small satellite is going to be released? I've lost track... from www.nasa.gov : "International Space Station Expedition 32 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko of the Russian Federal Space Agency have begun a planned 6 1/2-hour spacewalk. The pair will move the Strela-2 hand-operated crane from the Pirs docking compartment to the Zarya module, preparing Pirs for its replacement with a new laboratory and docking module. They will also deploy a small satellite and install debris shields on the Zvezda module." -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Joel Kleinman, SK
by Clint Bradford 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

SB SPCL @ ARL $ARLX013 ARLX013 QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK) ZCZC AX13 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 13 ARLX013 >From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT August 21, 2012 To all radio amateurs SB SPCL ARL ARLX013 ARLX013 QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE (SK) QST Managing Editor Joel P. Kleinman, N1BKE, of Meriden, Connecticut, died from injuries received during a house fire. He was 64. Kleinman was responsible for the coordination, organization, control and completion of all aspects of QST's editorial content each month. Kleinman's wife Jayne survived the fire, but is currently in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. "Joel was obsessed with making QST the best Amateur Radio magazine it could be, but he pursued that obsession with uncommon dignity and kindness," said QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY. "He was the quiet man behind the scenes, shouldering much of the burden that comes with creating 164 pages of new content every month. Joel set a high standard for all who may follow him." After graduating from the University of Montana with a MA in Journalism, Kleinman came to ARRL's Club and Training Department in June 1976 to lead a program aimed at introducing students to space science using Amateur Radio satellites. It was in this capacity that he contributed to the five-part series "Getting to Know OSCAR from the Ground Up" that was published in QST in 1977. Less than year later, Kleinman moved over to the ARRL's Production Department as an editorial assistant before becoming the ARRL Features Editor, then Editorial Supervisor, then Editorial/Production Supervisor. In 1988, he became Book Team Supervisor, where he was responsible for the development and editorial integrity of ARRL books and other media. He was named as QST Managing Editor in April 2001. Kleinman was not licensed prior to beginning his career at ARRL Headquarters: "When I came on board, I didn't know much about ham radio," he remarked in a "Behind the Diamond" feature in the June 1979 issue of QST. "But it was made very clear to me that I soon would -- and I did!" Before long, Kleinman had written such QST articles as "The Lure of 2 Meters -- Part 1," the OSCAR articles and "Network Hams: A Hobby Becomes a Career," which focused on hams who worked at ABC, CBS and NBC: "It's not often that a person gets to go on behind-the-scenes tours of the headquarters of all three broadcast networks in two days." "With the passing of Joel Kleinman, N1BKE, we have lost not only a respected professional colleague, but also a friend," said ARRL President Kay Craigie, N3KN. "The shocking circumstances of his death sharpen the sadness we feel. The ARRL sends our deepest sympathy to all of Joel's friends and family. I would like to thank the many amateurs who have expressed condolences through social media and by other means. Although you may not have known Joel personally, you feel his loss as a member of the extended Amateur Radio family. Your kindness and words of comfort are sincerely appreciated." According to the Meriden Record-Journal, David Chester -- who lives across the street from the Kleinmans -- and about 20 others who were in his backyard at the time of the fire were the first responders to the blaze. "It was crazy," Chester told the newspaper. "Somebody smelled smoke, and most everyone went over there immediately." Others immediately ran into the house to save Jayne Kleinman. "Steve [one of Chester's friends] said he saw her legs and pulled on them," Chester said. "The other two grabbed her from her back, and together they brought her out onto the front lawn." Meriden Assistant Fire Chief Mark Finnegan told the Record-Journal that the Meriden Fire Department received a call around 5:15 PM on August 18, reporting a fire on the second floor of the single-family home. The fire was contained to the second floor of the home, and was put out by firefighters within 10 minutes. Firefighters were able to locate Joel Kleinman in a bedroom on the second floor and paramedics treated him at the scene, but he died later at a local hospital. "When they got to the top of the stairs, the guy told me they saw [Jayne's] foot and they grabbed her foot and dragged her down the stairs," Meriden Fire Chief James Trainor told the Hartford Courant. "I guess they tried to go back in but it was untenable. There was so much smoke he just couldn't make it." Trainor said that the fire was in an upstairs room and may have been burning for a while before rescuers arrived. "Joel was a gifted writer and editor," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Amateur Radio is the richer today because he chose to devote his talents to the work of the ARRL." Kleinman was a former president of the Newington Amateur Radio League (NARL) and a member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA). Funeral arrangements are pending. The ARRL is collecting condolence messages to forward on to Joel's family. If you would like send a message, please email it to, news(a)arrl.org. NNNN /EX

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Full Duplex radio?
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

Has anyone played with one of these yet? http://www.409shop.com/409shop_product.php?id=108702 Is it true full duplex? Pair it up with any antenna that hears the FM birds and you should be good to go? Just Curious, Joe kk0sd

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Antenna
by Juan Antonio Fernandez 21 Aug '12

21 Aug '12

Experience tells me that the success come when you can change the polarization. So my advice is to build two dual-band linear antennas and set it in 90º with enough separations between them. You will remember this advice each time you turn your antenna switch and the signal emerges from the noise. You will take advantage of the 80% of each pass. Do not forget to take into consideración other similar easy-yaguis to build such as the IOio antenna. http://personales.ya.com/ea4cax/paginaea4cyq/Antenaioio/ioioingles.pdf Juan Antonio EA4CYQ From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ld.lucas(a)frontier.com Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 2:18 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna This may have been discussed before forgive me if it has I am new at this. I was wondering if an Elk or Arrow antenna mounted on a mast at an angle with a TV rotor would work as a base antenna for Satellite work. Has anyone done this and any tips on how you have been successful. If this does not work what would be the best antenna other than beams for under $200.00 to do this? Thanks for your information.

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