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

CAPE cubesat spinning?
by Robert Bruninga 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

At 1748z today 26 Nov, in Maryland, I heard what sounded like a solid carrier on 145.825 Cape frequency with clear spin modulation. It was right on schedule with the other Wallops launch birds. Like I said, sounded like a carrier only, so the spin modulation of the antenna was very obvious. Though it could have been some other data or modulation. Just thought Cape would like to know. Come to think about it, the rate was pretty high like 1 RPS and I doubt it was spinning that fast, so donno what it was. I was late for a meeting with my boss, so didn’t have time to figure out more. Bob, Wb4aPR

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WREN 437.405 MHz Help Needed
by M5AKA 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

The WREN team report that they have had no confirmed reception of the signal from their SSTV PocketQube satellite which was launched on November 21, see http://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/26/wren-437-405-mhz-help-needed/ ---- 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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AO-73 keps
by Ronald G. Parsons 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

The keps from this morning (epoch 13330.154) brings the sat LOS a little early. I was clearly hearing the telemetry down to –1.0 deg after “LOS”. AOS, of course, a little late. Ron W5RKN

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WA6ARA to DM 16 only
by Mike Herr 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

I'm sorry, just realized, I am only going to DM16, on November 27th and 28th. Sorry for the mistake. -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch

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Success AO73
by Perry Yantis 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

After not being able to get into AO73 last night I today reloaded my keps. I noticed that AO73 had a newer element set then I had before. As a result tonight I did get into AO73 and worked KC9ELU and K8YSE. I did have to retune my transmit every time I started talking. This is something I usually don't have to do on other satellites. So hopefully as the keps improve, so will the accuracy of the tracking programs. Only time will tell. I was impressed with the strong signals considering it was in the low power mode. Perry WB8OTH

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TenTec 2510 dial string ...
by Gregory Beat 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

Dial Cord Restringing From the Ten-Tec Reflector March 19, 2006 http://www.tentecwiki.org/doku.php?id=dialrestring Traditionally, restring kits from Ten-Tec were available. It is only a couple of dollars and includes sufficient lengths of the main cord and the flex cord to redo at least two transceivers. Normally doesn't come with instructions. 2510 PTO Rebuild http://www.tentecwiki.org/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=pto_rebuild.pdf Mode B Satellite Station, Model 2510 http://www.tentecwiki.org/doku.php?id=2510 == w9gb Sent from iPad Air

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UniSat 5 Update + WREN + ICUBE-1
by M5AKA 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

GAUSS have issued an update on the UniSat-5 mission, see http://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/25/unisat-5-mission-update-november-24/ They mention that the SSTV PocketQube WREN team have detected what may be its 437.405 MHz downlink. Possible Keps are: WREN 1 39422U 13066G 13326.48861818 -.00000055 00000-0 00000+0 0 75 2 39422 097.8066 039.1177 0023760 211.9046 148.0730 14.86334042 151 http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/24/wren-a-ham-radio-sstv-pocketqube/ ICUBE-1 is listed by IARU as having a BPSK beacon that has the capability of being reconfigured to a 435/145 FM-DSB transponder. http://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/24/foundation-radio-amateur-first-to-receive-ic… ---- 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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Ten Tec 2510 dial string help, please....
by tom fleissner 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

I have a ten tec 2510 that needs the dial string re strung...I took the front panel off and see that there is some black string and a spring hanging there, along with a thinner string around the dial shaft. I have no idea whats right and what needs to be done...can someone send me a picture of what a correct dial string looks like, please? thanks tom

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AO-73 QSOs on 0523 UTC pass tonight!
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

Hi! I was able to be in the yard for an AO-73 pass at 0523 UTC this evening. Following advice on which element set to use (2013-066B) and to go up 10 kHz higher than the originally published uplink, I was able to quickly find myself and work a couple of stations from my yard in DM43bn. Angelo N5UXT in New Orleans (EM40) was my first QSO on this bird, then Jack KC7MG south of me in DM42 called for his first QSO on the bird. This was a high pass, maximum elevation of 72 degrees, covering much of the continental USA at this late hour. There was some CW sweeping the transponder, but I was able to stay around 145.965 MHz on the downlink with nothing more than adjustments on my uplink frequency. High power is definitely not needed for this satellite. My station was my usual portable all-mode setup - two FT-817NDs, Elk handheld dual-band log periodic antenna. Transmitting at 5W, I could hear myself early in the pass. I need to do better twisting the antenna at both ends of the pass to have an easier time copying the downlink. At the midpoint of the pass, I cut my power down to 500mW. I could barely hear myself, weak but readable. I will try the other two power levels the FT-817ND has on other passes, to get a better idea on how sensitive the satellite's uplink receiver is. I should also be able to hear the transponder on my TH-F6A HT, my backup radio for satellite work. I hope to publish a little video in the next day or so with the audio I recorded and photos I took. No rain tonight, but the temperature was around 50F/10C when I was on the radio. My dog didn't want to stay in the house while I was playing radio, so she ran around the yard. I will put a photo or two of her in the video. Thanks to AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-NL, and everyone who worked to get FUNcube-1 (AO-73) in orbit and operational. Good night, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Activating DM16 27 - 28 Nov
by Mike Herr 26 Nov '13

26 Nov '13

I'll be in Death Valley, DM16, 27 and 28 of November. Will be on AO-07, FO-29, VO-52 and maybe AO-73 -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch

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