AMSAT-BB June 2013

122 participants
146 discussions

Best Antennas for Attic (Short Booms)
by Burns Fisher 06 Jun '13

06 Jun '13

> I'm in the process of upgrading my satellite array. Hope to add an AZ/EL > rotor system, and build a complete stand-alone satellite antenna system. > Right now, I'm sharing my weak signal Yagis for satellite duty. > > I'll be limited in boom length to about six feet maximum due to > construction of the attic itself. Anything longer, and I start bumping > into things. I'd like maximum performance from the space, so I'm > wondering if any short length circular polarization antennas are made > commercially? Everything I can find (at least in the States) are > long-boom affairs. > > Feedline will be 3/4" hardline for the 432 antenna, and an SSB > Electronics pre-amp. 2 Meters will get 1/2" hardline for feedline, and > an SSB Electronics pre-amp. Runs are about 50 feet. > Hi, Just be sure to test in your attic with some simple-but-known-working setup before you spend a lot of effort/money. For reasons that I don't understand at all, I could not pick up ARISSat-1 from the attic, but it came booming in on my HT standing outside. I have just regular asphalt shingles as far as I know, and wooden beams. But SOMETHING was blocking 2M! 73, Burns W2BFJ

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WA4OVO/p fn42/43
by wyattdirks 06 Jun '13

06 Jun '13

Joe reported to me that he would be on the 1743utc pass of so50 today from fn42/43 gridline. He asked me to report to amsat bb so here it is. 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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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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My S2 and VU adventure begins either next
by R Oler 06 Jun '13

06 Jun '13

Monday or Tuesday depending on what day Universal sets up for the airplane ferry. I have authorization from the relevant authorities to bring amateur radio gear into S2 (Bangladesh) onboard the Boeing I am ferrying to the country. It is a sovereign airplane so I expect no issues. I should have a call sign at least in S2 within a month. I am bringing both HF and satellite gear. I have unlimited baggage (the Boeing is ferrying empty...) I should set up some residency in Bangalore a month or so after that. I have visa's for both countries. Robert WB5MZO

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AMSAT at HamCom in Plano, TX, 7-8 June 2013
by Keith Pugh 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

AMSAT will have its usual presence at HamCom in Plano, TX, this weekend. There will be an AMSAT Booth, Demos, and an "Introduction to Amateur Radio Satellites" talk by Douglas Quagliana, KA2UPW/5. Come by and visit with us and take home some of the "goodies" introduced at Dayton this year. We will attempt to operate on as many of the passes below as possible - remember, it's hot in Texas this time of the year and we may not stay outside in the Blazing Sun very long. It looks like AO-07 will probably be in Mode B all weekend and we have included HO-68 as a "listen only" demo on several passes. More information about HamCom is available at the following URL: http://www.hamcom.org/ 73 - Keith, W5IU ----------------------------------------- Ham-Com 2013 Demos Grid EM13pb Min El = 10 deg Time Zone = UTC WinAos QTH: -96.7/33.1 T#: 12941 Sat.: 6 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 07.06.2013 AO-07 13:04 13:17 13 26 351 - 245 07.06.2013 VO-52 13:27 13:35 08 72 012 - 192 07.06.2013 FO-29 14:47 14:51 04 12 068 - 114 07.06.2013 HO-68 15:38 15:52 14 56 024 - 182 07.06.2013 FO-29 16:29 16:40 11 60 005 - 206 07.06.2013 HO-68 17:27 17:37 10 23 345 - 245 07.06.2013 SO-50 18:13 18:17 04 13 024 - 085 07.06.2013 SO-50 19:51 19:59 08 58 322 - 165 08.06.2013 VO-52 13:43 13:51 08 57 002 - 204 08.06.2013 AO-07 14:01 14:04 03 11 321 - 294 08.06.2013 HO-68 15:21 15:34 13 42 031 - 170 08.06.2013 FO-29 15:35 15:44 09 38 030 - 167 08.06.2013 HO-68 17:09 17:21 12 31 353 - 234 08.06.2013 FO-29 17:21 17:28 07 21 340 - 243 08.06.2013 SO-50 18:39 18:46 07 33 352 - 124 08.06.2013 SO-50 20:20 20:26 06 19 291 - 203 08.06.2013 AO-07 21:07 21:19 12 24 106 - 008

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LoTW and ISS Digipeater Contacts
by Les Rayburn 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

I'm now logging all my satellites contacts and trying to upload them every couple of days to the ARRL Logbook of the World (LoTW). So far, so good with just over 25 grids confirmed via LoTW. Only hitch so far is when I tried to upload my two digital contacts, made using packet through the ISS digipeater. I'm using VOLog and it has a field for satellite data. I logged the ISS as the satellite and V/V as the satellite mode. LoTW rejected those two QSOs, and a quick check with the TQSL editor revealed that ISS was not considered a valid satellite. ARISS is listed, but I wasn't sure if that would be correct either. So--is it possible to upload ISS digital QSOs to LoTW for VUCC credit or not? If so, what is the correct method in terms of the log entry? I tried a Google search on the topic--but that only added to my confusion. Thanks--as always! -- -- 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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fw: hello
by paul robinson 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

http://localonlinetrafficsystem.com/nnwkscoowogsa.php/public_html/nnwkscoow…

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Subject: Was, Is there anyway to get a linear transponder on the ISS?
by K5VOU 05 Jun '13

05 Jun '13

Thanks for all the input regarding the FM 'repeater' on the ISS. Further research into the issues has enlightened me on the machinations of getting things done on the ISS and the complicated processes of working with such varied national interests. It is obviously way above my pay grade and with these comments I sadly end the quest with a feeling of not going anywhere. The Kenwood TM-D700 portion of the Phase 2 Hardware system is apparently overheating. Possibly because of a lack of airflow over the heat sinks. Possibly because when it is made available, the duty cycle rises to near 100% and the unit consumes too much power from the ISS power budget. Since the other parts of the Phase 2 system are fulfilling the needs of the ISS and NASA agenda, there are no resources available to correct the problems with the TM-D700. Indeed, replacing it with a linear transponder of equal bandwidth and much reduced power consumption may be a much better solution but there do not appear to be any benefits to the ARISS program to drive the solution. There was a mention in the paper produced circa 2002-3 of a third phase of the ARISS hardware system to be mounted outside but no mention of such a program since then has been located. Should others want to pursue a program of getting a linear transponder mounted on the outside of the ISS, I wish you luck and refer you to the document; "Amateur Radio on the International Space Station - Phase 2 Hardware System" by Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO, Lou McFadin, W5DID, Bob Bruniga, WB4APR, and Hiroto Watarikawa. Sergej Samburov, RV3DR was also listed but this call sign now returns as belonging to Energia in Russia. The document was found at http://www.ariss-eu.org/phase_2_document.pdf on the internet. Frank is a new Amsat VP in this area, Bob is a participant in this list and Lou is still around too I think. Maybe one or all of them can help. 73, Tom K5VOU

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Solar Impulse: Dallas to St. Louis in flight!
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '13

Solar Powered flight is underway from Dallas to St. Louis. See the flight. http://live.solarimpulse.com/ We need APRS operators in RF range to help maintain an OBJECT track on the bird so that not just those in front of a PC can see this, but also those hams in their APRS mobiles who will see the location of the bird and maybe be able to see it. Imagine an airplane the wingspan of a Jumbo jet that weighs less than a car. So, help out your fellow ham and do what APRS was designed to do… provide INFO in the field to mobile operators. Please use the object name SOLAR1 so that subsequent updates will replace older positions. Those with APRS radios will see SOLAR1 on their GPS maps and the radio will show distance and bearing so they will know where to look. Bob, WB4aPR

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AAUSAT3 CubeSat – The First 100 Days
by M5AKA 04 Jun '13

04 Jun '13

The AAUSAT team have released a report on the first 100 days which also explains the two crises that occurred: http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/04/aausat3-cubesat-the-first-100-days/ Also on the site UK’s SpaceKate Wins ‘Most Inspiring App’ – International Space Apps Challenge http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/03/uks-spacekate-wins-most-inspiring-app-intern… IARU Coordinates Frequencies for Fox-1A Ham Radio CubeSat http://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/04/iaru-fox-1a-cubesat-frequencies/ ---- 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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AMSAT-BB June 2013