May 2013 - 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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Digipeating Through the ISS
by Les Rayburn 07 Jun '13

07 Jun '13

After several frustrating hours of trying to get the software set up properly, I finally managed to get Packet Engine Pro and UISS working in time for a good pass of the ISS over the Southeastern US. It was really something to see the software display stations and plot them on a map as the ISS passed overhead. Even more so to see my own callsign digipeated through the software. Next up is to attempt a full fledged QSO through the ISS in real-time. My special thanks to Joanne Maenpaa, K9JKM whose paper on working through the ISS using software was most helpful. I used my Icom IC-910H with a Signalink interface instead of a hardware TNC. Having a blast on the birds, and this just adds a whole other element of fun to the process. -- 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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Call for Papers: 2013 Digital Communications Conference
by Ford, Steve, WB8IMY 06 Jun '13

06 Jun '13

Amateurs are invited to submit papers for publication in the conference proceedings of the ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference that is taking place September 20-22 in Seattle, WA. You do not have to attend the conference to submit a paper for consideration. Send papers by July 31 to: Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 . . . or by e-mail to maty(a)arrl.org Submissions will not be edited and authors will retain all rights. 73 . . . Steve Ford, WB8IMY QST Editor in Chief and Publications Manager ARRL -- the National Association for Amateur Radio tel 860-594-0287 sford(a)arrl.org

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June 1 Texas Balloon Launch to Carry 70 cm to 10 meter SSB, CW, and FM Transponders
by JoAnne Maenpaa 03 Jun '13

03 Jun '13

Please see http://ww2.amsat.org/?p=655 for news of the June 1 N5BPS balloon launch from Galveston, Texas. This flight includes a 70 cm to 10 meter transponder capable of SSB, CW, and FM modes. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

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Circular Polarization with Two Yagis (Spacing)
by Mike Sprenger 31 May '13

31 May '13

Hi, I'm sure this has been covered, I just can't find some detail. I'd like to consider taking a pair of say 3, 5, or even 11 element 2M yagi's (off the shelf) and put them on a boom on either side of a rotor, with nonconductive cross support boom, rotating the boom's to offset the elements 90 degrees. Question I have, what would the spacing be between the two yagi's ? Jerry has done this with success on 2 meters: http://www.n0jy.org/images/IMG_20120623_215906.jpg It would be great to refine his good work with the spacing for the 2 booms. (Then I may compare with putting all the elements on one boom) I like the collaborative nature of the discussion here. -- Thanks, Mike

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Is there anyway to get a linear transponder on the ISS?
by K5VOU 31 May '13

31 May '13

Just thinkin' Tom K5VOU

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wanted: to borrow or buy a Yaesu G-5500 AZ-EL controller and rotor
by David Bern W2LNX 31 May '13

31 May '13

Friends: I am working on a summer project with students at Montgomery College, Rockville. The project is to design and build a device that controls a pair of inexpensive satellite TV rotors. And the device would emulate a popular AZ-EL rotor such as a Yaesu G-5500 AZ-EL controller so it can be used by a satellite tracking program such as SatPC32. Tom, K3IO suggested this project at the last AMSAT-DC workshop and is guiding us with this project. I would like to borrow a Yaesu G-5500 AZ-EL controller and rotor for about three months or buy a used one so we can study and understand its command protocol. I will pick up or pay for shipping. Please contact David, W2LNX directly at W2LNX(a)amsat.org Thank you, David, W2LNX

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Amateur Radio Newsline Interview With Barry Baines, WD4ASW
by JoAnne Maenpaa 31 May '13

31 May '13

Please see http://ww2.amsat.org/?p=661 for the transcript of the Amateur Radio Newsline interview with AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW at Dayton. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

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