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

Re: Funcube Transponder Orbit # 47
by Andy Kellner 25 Nov '13

25 Nov '13

Telemetry came thru loud and clear. Transponder was strong, however I had to correct uplink frequency to about + 4 kHz. at the beginning of the pass. Kept changing too, so at the end of the pass uplink frequency had to be + 5.2 kHz. to hear myself properly; and that is with doppler correction enabled. Normally when keps are correct and doppler is enabled, uplink frequency correction stays stable. Probably 2013-066B not the correct Keps ? Brief contact with VK5EI, but then lost contact as antennas had to swing around. Also heard VK2ZAZ. Andy - VK4TH ________________________________ From: vk2mal <vk2mal(a)yahoo.com.au> To: amsatvk(a)yahoogroups.com.au Sent: Saturday, 23 November 2013 10:25 PM Subject: [amsatvk] Re: FUNcube-1 (AO-73) Transponder Test Saturday November 23 Hi All Good signals from AO-73 over VK tonight. Stations heard through the transponder were ZL2BX Alan and VK4CBW Wal. 73's Malcolm VK2MAL __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a new topic Messages in this topic (2) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___

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AO-73
by Erich Eichmann 25 Nov '13

25 Nov '13

Hello, here you will find very precise and clear instructions by Wayne Estes, W9AE, how to add new satellites to SatPC32: http://www.dk1tb.de/W9AE_Tutorial.htm 73s, Erich, DK1TB

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Amazing New HAMSAT - AO-73!
by Andy MacAllister 25 Nov '13

25 Nov '13

Very FB QSOs with NX9B and K8YSE on AO-73 just a few minutes ago. 15 deg max elevation pass here in Houston... LOTS of activity on the new satellite! 73 de Andy W5ACM

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AO 73
by Pat McGrath 25 Nov '13

25 Nov '13

Any files available for SATPC to track AO 73?

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AO-73 Transponder calibration
by David W0DHB 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

What sort of calibration numbers is everyone seeing for AO73 ? I'm seeing greater than 10K and I know that can't be right. Uplink 435.130 to 435.150 Downlink 145.950-145.970 Correct ? Copied folks great on 03:26 pass 10 deg Thanks Dave W0DHB

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Funcube
by Perry Yantis 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

I listened for the Funcube pass orbit 57 at 1020 pm Sunday night that was an overhead pass for me. I heard many people using it with strong signals. But for some reason I could not hear my return signal. I kept trying and finally did hear myself, but very weak and discovered it was near the end of the pass already. Don't know what is wrong, never ran into this problem before. Anybody got some suggestions???? Perry py41(a)att.net sent from my Apple Macbook Pro

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FW: Re: Listening to Funcube with RTL-SDR
by Kevin Deane 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

I have been very curious I am glad this came up. It seems to good to be true to me considering you usually get what you pay for and this $20 against 150 bucks sure sounds great...... Any feedback ont the Funcube Dongle pro vs this RTL-SDR? I am on the waiting list, Since I can not afford another all band rig. Kevin KF7MYK > Date: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 12:08:34 -0500 > From: Mat_62(a)charter.net > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Listening to Funcube with RTL-SDR > > Jason, > Your approach is similar to something I tired to do several months ago > before AO-73 was launched. My idea was to try and use an RTL dongle as > an inexpensive sat RX. I was using HDSDR with the dongle and an omni > scanner antenna. I didn't have any luck at all receiving SO-50 but was > able to copy some stuff from VO-52. I also had desense issues when I > conducted experiments with an old two meter HT I have lying around here. > I was going to experiment with some filters to cope with the desense and > build an preamp based on the design of the one available from AMSAT but > I got discouraged a bit and sidetracked so the project went on the back > burner. Just lately I tried the SDR Radio console with my RTL dongle but > could never get the software to recognize it. I apparently have some > files missing and it hasn't been clear to me which ones or where to find > them. I very much wish I could afford a Funcube dongle pro but it's not > in the cards for me right now. Perhaps I'll give receiving AO-73 a shot > again. Been thinking about it. I appreciate you posting your experiences. > 73, > Michael, W4HIJ > On 11/24/2013 11:28 AM, Jason Charles wrote: > > All, > > > > I posted an inexpensive way to listen and decode the Funcube telemetry > > with the cheap RTL-SDR dongle. This can apply to almost any satellite > > too. What makes this setup unique is the ability for SDR-Radio (v2) to > > listen to Wide Upper Side Band and the Funcube dongle to Autotune. > > Between the two you don't need to worry about doppler correction for > > telemetry decode. > > > > I also have the I/Q file and the audio of the transponder pass from > > last night on there. I hope you find it useful. It has has been great > > fun for me! > > > > 73 de Jason, N4JTC > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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Adding new satellites & Getting back to basics
by Clayton Coleman 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

I realize not everyone is a computer expert. I recognize that we live in the days of appliance-operator hams, myself included. It surprises me the number of individuals who post on this BB without first reading the fine manuals provided with their applications or looking at relevant, redundant emails posted within 72 hours. With the recent flutter of BB email activity over working AO-73, it surprises me the number of individuals solely dependent on using a computer to communicate via a satellite. Gone are the days of the manual transmission -- most individuals now drive an automatic and have forgotten to use their clutch. I would encourage people to step back to the basics a little bit. Try to work in "Manual" for a while. Brush up on your tracking skills, both by ear and by signal strength. Understand that not all of us are sitting behind a computer with a fully automated station, antennas to work Neptune, a receiver to hear the moon, and an amplifier to reach Pluto. My intent is not to disparage those who have a nice OSCAR-class station. By all means, enjoy it. I hear frequently in the post-HEO era that "Doppler is too difficult on LEO's." If you need an elmer there are plenty of active operators here on the BB who would be willing to lend a helping hand. Don't forget the acronym KISS and its definition. Sometimes simplicity brings with it a little fun. 73, Clayton W5PFG

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Please QRP on AO-7
by Paul Stoetzer 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

Good evening, Just a friendly reminder to please keep the power down when working AO-7. I was attempting to work XE3ISS on the last pass, but a high power CW signal was causing the AGC of the transponder to kick our weaker (but still S7) signals completely out. We did complete the QSO eventually. Remember that 100 watts EIRP is generally more than enough to work AO-7 unless you're trying to stretch the footprint and I've copied my downlink plenty well enough at higher elevations with just 5-10 watts EIRP. Thanks and 73, Paul, N8HM

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Triton-1 update #5 24 November 2013 22:15UTC - Triton-1 AX.25 beacon decoding information
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 24 Nov '13

24 Nov '13

Hi all, We have put an AX.25 mode beacon content decoding document on the Triton-1 amateur radio information page. This document contains the conversions from raw nominal mode beacon telemetry to engineering values. See http://www.isispace.nl/HAM/ Best regards on behalf of the team, Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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