October 2013 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

[amsat-bb] Integration of World’s First D-STAR CubeSat
by M5AKA 22 Oct '13

22 Oct '13

OUFTI-1 is being assembled this week, see the videos at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/22/integration-of-worlds-first-d-star-cubesat/ Also on the AMSAT-UK site Indian Record for Tracking Ham Radio Balloon http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/20/indian-record-for-tracking-ham-radio-balloon/ Ham radio operators set to help in tracking comet http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/17/ham-radio-operators-set-to-help-in-tracking-… Movie: The Basement Satellite http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/19/movie-the-basement-satellite/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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FUNcube-1 launch site news
by Graham Shirville 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

Hi All, FUNcube-1 is presently at Yasny and is being prepared for launch. All the latest news can be seen at www.funcube.org.uk and the latest post includes a link to the launch blog from our launch service providers. We are still on track for a launch late next month and we are planning to release the FUNcube Dashboard software around November 7th. This should give everyone time to set it up and test its functionality in their systems. The Dashboard is capable of uploading received telemetry to a central warehouse over the internet. This can then be “viewed” live by everyone else. The present iteration of the Dashboard software is designed for all Windows machines (XP or later) 73 Graham G3VZV

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Re: Satellite contact between Cuba and UK
by K5OE 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

Well done, Hector and Peter! I know this is hard to do, because Hector and I tried it twice recently (once from a hiltop near Portsmouth, IO90) without success. It sounds like Peter really brought out the big guns for the effort, as I tried it with an Arrow and an FT-51R :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Satellite contact between Cuba and UK
by Hector, CO6CBF 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

Hello to all I am pleased to report that yesterday I had my first contact on satellites with UK. Peter, G4DOL (IO80so) and I (EL92sd) completed a contact successfully on FO-29. It is the result of a long history which began six months ago. We tried several times but Peter never could hear below a degree toward my location. I have the same problem in my home station and I usually go to specific spots to try these kinds of contacts. So, I suggested him assemble a portable station to operate from a better spot. He did so and his first smoke test was on October 15th, we almost completed a contact but Peter could not hear my report; I couldn't reach a good spot due to the rain. Yesterday, I went to a very tall building, I got access to the building `s top and operated from there. Actually, it is a very good spot, it allowed me a great horizon visibility toward Europe; I was able to work FO-29 until -1.5 degrees. We had a very narrow window but there was enough time to exchange reports, grids and greetings. Our maximum elevation was 1.1 degrees. I believe it is the first contact between UK and Cuba on FO-29! It is a 7286 km contact, a new grid and new country for us! Please, note that our success was on the 2301z pass, it was very late in the night for Peter. He had to load his car with antennas, radio, a battery and drive five miles from his home looking for a good spot in the windy and dark coast. He was running 50W into a 10 elements yagi and was using 19 elements yagi for the downlink; He mounted both antennas on a big tripod and had to manage with a "heavy weigh". Needless to say that Peter did the difficult part and a very good job! I was running a FT-817nd, a 50W homebrew power amplifier and ELK antenna. Everything was supplied by a 12V 7A Gel battery. I was operating Half-Duplex but we ran the frequency calculations based on the great feature implemented on SatPC32 V12.8b. So, it was very easy to find each other in the pass band. It was my 8th transatlantic contact with Europe on FO-29! Right Now, FO-29 has a big footprint. Please, if you are into the footprint and want to try a long distance contact, just drop me an email. I will try until complete a contact with you. Unfortunately, Cubans cannot operate on AO-7B; FO-29 is our only chance for DX contacts. Thanks very much to Peter for this exciting contact! 73! Hector, CO6CBF El92sd

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Yo Amsat Bb
by Gail A Mcdaniel 21 Oct '13

21 Oct '13

http://siempreeshoyradio.com.ar/wp-content/welcome.php?gtrdrvrhs224efezhp gmcdanl(a)sbcglobal.net Gail A Mcdaniel 24 hours in a day... 24 beers in a case... coincidence?

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Yaesu G-5400B Rotor Update
by Les Rayburn 19 Oct '13

19 Oct '13

Update on the Yaesu G-5400B rotor. It turned out that only the rotor controller and cable was available. It appears that the rotor itself may have gone with the tower whenever it was disassembled during removal. It's from an estate sale, so hard to be sure. Any value to the rotor controller? Or perhaps someone has the rotor but is in search of a new box? -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

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Next Dragon Flight Rescheduled For February
by B J 19 Oct '13

19 Oct '13

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/spacexs-dragon-moved-february-11/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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EM38/EM39
by Gail A Mcdaniel 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Grid hunters... I am planning on doing one pass of SO-50 on Friday 10/18 @ ~ 22:35 UTC... I will be working from a gridline EM38ax/EM39aa -93.9547, 39.0000 in Odessa MO.. I have worked from that location a few times before... Hope to hear you.... 73's Gail - KB0RZD

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Re: Lightning protection
by Art McBride 18 Oct '13

18 Oct '13

Surface area counts ten for lightning protection. Down conductor braid , copper pipe or strap 2-3" wide has the most conductivity. Coiling Coax in a 3" diameter at the base of the tower and placing a separate ground strap on the coax before the coil to strip off the lightning currents will off some degree of protection. For ideas and knowledge visit http://www.protectiongroup.com/Home Art, KC6UQH -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of K5OE Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 11:45 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Lightning protection K9STH wrote: > Sorry, but NFPA NEC (National Electrical Code) definitely requires that ALL > grounding electrodes MUST be connected together! There are VERY good reasons > for doing this... Yeah, this is a requirement that has vexed designers of complex electrical systems for years. One solution, generally meeting this requirement, is to go ahead an utilize separate ground rods and tie the rods together with a (large) grounding cable--usually pvc insulated cable for corrosion protection. In industrial installations these connections are often made so they can be disconnected in the event of differential currents flowing and causing problems with communication/signal systems. Much like K8BL's recommendations, I too have used #10 AWG for the ground from the rotor/mast to the ground rod, and hoped and prayed the lightning liked it (if ever needed). This is especially important for a non-earthed installation like a tripod on a roof. I have been fortunate to never having to find out... 73, Jerry, M0GOE _______________________________________________ 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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D STAR net tonight
by damon runion 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

D STAR AMSAT users net tonight 01:00 utc on REF58A. DX stations welcomed Please join in and share any news you may have or questions. Thanks WA4HFN em55 Damon

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