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

EQUiSat Optical Beacon CubeSat
by Trevor . 17 Oct '18

17 Oct '18

Students at the Ivy League Brown University are developing an amateur radio satellite EQUiSat that will carry a Xenon Flash Tube (XFT) subsystem to act as an Optical Beacon that should be visible to the unaided eye of observers on Earth. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10635 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAK-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

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LVB Tracker USB serial port driver for Windows 7 x64?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 22 Dec '16

22 Dec '16

Has anyone located a driver for the LVB Tracker internal USB to serial port adapter on Windows 7 x64? If not, has anyone reverted to the serial port connection on LVB Tracker and used an external USB to serial port adapter successfully with SatPC32 on Windows 7 x64? I have an Edgeport multiple USB to serial port that has drivers for Windows 7 x64 that I will use if I have to. I would prefer using the LVB Tracker with its USB to serial adapter if someone has another solution. 73, Bill NJ1H

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AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010
by Mark L. Hammond 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Hi All, Here is a quick AO-16 update. On Sunday I turned AO-16 long enough to get some telemetry packets. The satellite would remain on for less than one minute after being commanded on. A quick test of the "bent pipe" voice mode repeater was successful. . The "hardware watchdog timer problem" is still evident; as expected, spacecraft temperatures are insufficient to keep the transmitter ON (needs to be above 15 deg C). Orbit projections suggest that satellite illumination conditions will not result in increased temperatures for nearly 10 years. Command stations do periodically turn AO-16 "ON" to check on its condition and see if the hardware timer problem has "automagically" fixed itself (which in not anticipated, but who knows...). AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010 1838 utc PACSAT MBL Telemetry Decoder Ver. 1.3 (c) Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN =============================================================================== (average values) +10V Battery Bus : 0.00 V Battery Charge Reg : 0.55 mA Base Temp : 9.07 °C PSK RF Out : 1.90 W +5V RX Bus : 4.87 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8.49 V +10V RX Bus : 11.24 V Here is another teaser :) Several months ago I commanded the AO-16 S-band transmitter ON; it too remains functional (albeit weak), and was received by me, Drew KO4MA, and Alan WA4SCA. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Ideal AMSAT FM Transponder
by Robert Bruninga 01 Oct '12

01 Oct '12

The ideal AMSAT FM transponder for a cubesat is the PSK-31 transponder being developed for the Naval Academy PSAT mission. With an FM downlink, anyone can receive it with an HT and a laptop with PSK-31 software. And anyone with a 10m PSK-31 uplink can transmit to it. The reason it is ideal is that it is a multi-user transponder supporting up to 30 users at the same time. Everyone can transmit horizon-to-horizon and see everyone else. A big QSO party in the sky: http://aprs.org/psat/PSK31-DESIGN-NOTES.html And since it is FM, Everyone tuned into the downlink SEES THE SAME WATERFALL and sees EXACTLY where they are in the downlink. A small uplink doppler adjustment can keep each station locked to his chosen channel in the passband. Everyone can talk to everyone if they want, or go one-on-one too. The SSB uplink and UHF downlink transponder fits on a smaller than 3"x3" circuit board being developed by Mirek Kasal at Brno University. If we could just get more Cubeats to fly these things, we would have all the joys of multi-user transponders, and yet they fit well in any cubesat. The ONLY problem is the HF wire antenna. Ours is going to be a 4 or 6' whip of Nitinol Wire. In addition to thes PSK-31 transponder, PSAT also supports the usual APRS AX.25 transponder on 145.825 too. Launch is planned for Summer 2013. Bob, WB4aPR

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WD9EWK @ Tucson Hamfest and Fly-In, Saturday (6 October)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the new Tucson Hamfest and Fly-In, hosted by the Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club. The hamfest will be next Saturday, 6 October 2012, between 0700 and 1300 local time (1400-2000 UTC). This hamfest will be at a new location northwest of Tucson, at the Marana Regional Airport along Avra Valley Road west of I-10 exit 242. More information is available at: http://www.tucsonhamfest.com/ I will have on-air demonstrations throughout the hamfest, starting with an SO-50 pass just before the official 1400 UTC start of the event. I will work passes on that satellite, as well as VO-52 and FO-29, until an AO-27 pass just before the 2000 UTC end of the hamfest. For the SSB satellites, I will try to start out around 10 kHz +/- above the center of the transponder. If you hear WD9EWK on those passes, please call and be a part of the demonstrations. The hamfest site is in grid DM42jj. If you work WD9EWK next Saturday and would like to receive a QSL card, please e-mail me with the QSO details. QSOs will also be uploaded to Logbook of the World after the hamfest. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: F1 Telemetry Decoder
by Mark L. Hammond 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

Hi Keith, It's apparently setup to use hardware modems. This shack loves hardware TNCs :) You might be able to get AWGPE working if you can send KISS data out to a virtual com port...check out http://www.soundcardpacket.org/ "In addition, Tim Pearson KB9VQF has written a <http://www.pearsoncomputing.net/freeware.php>AGWPE Serial Loopback utility that creates virtual serial ports that will let you link AGWPE to any packet program that can link to a KISS-enabled TNC (AGWPE's sound card mode simulates a KISS TNC). " 73, Mark N8MH At 09:04 AM 9/30/2012 -0700, Keith O'Brien wrote: >The F1 Telemetry Decoder Manual in Section 5.2.3 Decode Data OBC2 >*You should connect this program with your transceiver first. > >Not sure what they are looking for here. I would like to use AGW Packet Engine >as my packet TNC. Anyone offer any guidance in how to configure APWPE to the >F1 decoder program ? I also have MixW if that would work... > >Keith N4ZQ > > >_______________________________________________ >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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AO-7 record distance
by Bob- W7LRD 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

Anyone who would like to try to establish a new distance record on AO-7 mode B, get hold of me. I believe the current record is 7766km. The potential distance is 7907km. I have worked out to 7692km thankyou OH5LK. New satellite tower/antennas complete. I am located near Seattle Wa...CN87wk and enjoy trying to stretch the footprint. The difficult we do immediately the impossible takes a little longer. 73 Bob W7LRD CN87wk

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Re: F1 Telemetry Decoder
by Mark L. Hammond 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

Yes, that'll work. You'll make your head hurt getting it all set up tho :) Quick outline of approach: 1) get AWGPE installed and working. 2) install a virtual serial port pair using something like com0com; use baud emulation. 3) install AGWPE KISS-Mode Loopback interface. Configure to use one of the virtual ports; use 9600 baud. 4) Now launch/configure F-1 Telemetry decoder. Pick "the other" virtual com port, use 9600 baud, and then start it. Use local APRS packet traffic to test...you should be printing it (raw data.... It takes a bit of monkey-ing around, but it works! 73, Mark N8MH At 12:29 PM 9/30/2012 -0400, Mark L. Hammond wrote: >Hi Keith, > >It's apparently setup to use hardware modems. This shack loves hardware TNCs :) > >You might be able to get AWGPE working if you can send KISS data out to a virtual com port...check out http://www.soundcardpacket.org/ > >"In addition, Tim Pearson KB9VQF has written a <http://www.pearsoncomputing.net/freeware.php>AGWPE Serial Loopback utility that creates virtual serial ports that will let you link AGWPE to any packet program that can link to a KISS-enabled TNC (AGWPE's sound card mode simulates a KISS TNC). " > > > >73, > >Mark N8MH > >At 09:04 AM 9/30/2012 -0700, Keith O'Brien wrote: >>The F1 Telemetry Decoder Manual in Section 5.2.3 Decode Data OBC2 >>*You should connect this program with your transceiver first. >> >>Not sure what they are looking for here. I would like to use AGW Packet Engine >>as my packet TNC. Anyone offer any guidance in how to configure APWPE to the >>F1 decoder program ? I also have MixW if that would work... >> >>Keith N4ZQ >> >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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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F1 Telemetry Decoder
by Keith O'Brien 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

The F1 Telemetry Decoder Manual in Section 5.2.3 Decode Data OBC2 *You should connect this program with your transceiver first. Not sure what they are looking for here. I would like to use AGW Packet Engine as my packet TNC. Anyone offer any guidance in how to configure APWPE to the F1 decoder program ? I also have MixW if that would work... Keith N4ZQ

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W5KUB Live WebCast on October 4, 5, 6
by JoAnne Maenpaa 30 Sep '12

30 Sep '12

Hello Everyone, Here is a news item that would be too late if we waited for the next ANS bulletins. I'm posting this as a favor for Tom W5KUB since many hams enjoy his live amateur radio webcasts. AMSAT is not sponsoring any part of this event nor endorses any of the products or commercial content. Lots of hams have a good time during Tom's shows so tune in if you can. You might win one of his on-line prize drawings too. He randomly picks a participant in the webchat. When live webcasts are not going on he loops recordings of his previous shows. His amateur radio webchat is available from his web page also. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Associate Editor, AMSAT Journal It's time for the Live Broadcast of MFJ 40th Anniversary Celebration! The Amateur Radio webcasts live, on-line at http://w5kub.com will cover MFJ Enterprises as they celebrate their 40th anniversary Oct- ober 5th and 6th (Friday and Saturday) in Starkville, Mississippi! For those that can attend in person, there will be door prizes (must be present to win), free factory tours (MFJ, Ameritron, Cushcraft, Hy-Gain, Mirage, Vectronics, and MFJ Metal Shop), free lunch, free tailgating, free forums/discussions, and FCC license exams. Special guests will include: + Martin F Jue, K5FLU, president and founder of MFJ Enterprises Inc + Malcolm Keown, W5XX, ARRL Mississippi Section Manager + Harold Kramer, WJ1B, CEO American Radio Relay League + Chip Margelli, K7JA, CQ Advertising Manager and famous DXer + Janet Margelli, KL7MF, Ham Radio Outlet Anaheim Manager + Ray Novak, N9JA, ICOM America Amateur Radio Sales Manager + Ted Randall, WB8PUM, QSO Shortwave Radio Host + Dick Ross, K2MGA, CQ Magazine Publisher + George Thomas, W5JDX, Ham Nation, AmateurLogic.com For additional information regarding the MFJ 40th Anniversary Cele- bration go to http://www.mfjenterprises.com/dayinpark.php. If you cannot attend in person, please join the live, online broad- cast of MFJ 40th Anniversary Celebration events at http://W5KUB.com where the fun begins! MFJ 40th Anniversary Celebration broadcast hours: + Thursday, October 4: 2000 UTC (3:00 PM CT) drive from Memphis, Tennessee to Starkville, Mississippi (approx. 3 1/4 hour drive) + Friday, October 5: 1300 - 21:30 UTC (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM CT) + Saturday, October 6: 1300 UTC - 1900 UTC (8:00 AM - 2:00 PM CT) + Saturday, October 6: 2000 UTC (3:00 PM CT) drive from Starkville, Mississippi to Memphis, Tennessee (approx. 3 1/4 hour drive) You could be the winner of an online MFJ prize (not to be confused with the MFJ door prizes) which will be awarded during the W5KUB broadcast. Of course, no purchase is necessary to win a prize. W5KUB is not affiliated with any products or companies and does not sell any products or services. During the live broadcast, you will also have the opportunity to meet and chat with other amateur radio operators from all over the world. The 2012 Dayton Hamvention broadcast had 47,400 viewers! Please join our group on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/w5kub/ to keep up with us year-round. Also, please help spread the word by posting this announcement in Facebook and forwarding this message to your ham radio friends that may not have received this message! We'll 'see' you at MFJ! 73 Tom Medlin, W5KUB http://w5kub.com

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