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

NASA's Deep Impact Mission Ends
by B J 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/september/nasas-deep-space-comet-hunter-miss… Meanwhile, Boeing tests its CST-100 spacecraft: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/20/nasa-commercial-partner-boeing-tests… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Canadian CubeSat to study South-Atlantic Anomaly + AMSAT-DL Symposium
by M5AKA 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

Canadian ConSat-1 CubeSat http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/18/canadian-consat-1-cubesat/ AMSAT-DL Satellite Symposium October 5 http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/20/amsat-dl-satellite-symposium-october-5/ AMSAT-SM compares FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and RTL SDR’s http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/19/amsat-sm-compares-funcube-dongle-pro-and-rtl… Australian ham radio BLUEsat satellite in the press http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/19/australian-ham-radio-bluesat-satellite-in-th… EEVBlog – ArduSat Arduino CubeSat http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/15/eevblog-ardusat-arduino-cubesat/ ---- 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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Microwave Modules MMG 144/V preamp manual request
by hegrenes＠charter.net 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

After a hiatus of several years (since 1986) I am dusting off my KLM antennas and again assembling my satellite station. The rig has been upgraded to a Yaesu FT-847 and the U400 rotators replaced with a Yaesu G5500 with LVB tracker. A few years ago I purchased a Microwave Modules MMG 144/V mast mounted preamp. The seller did not have the manual or installation instructions for the preamp. Microwave Modules is no longer in business and I can not find the manual on the web. Does anyone on the list have a manual that you can share? I look forward to working the birds again. Thank you. Bruce Hegrenes K0OE k0oe at amsat.org

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mailist webpage
by Kevin M 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

To whom it may concern... if one goes to AMSAT's webpage and looks under 'Services' menu and clicks 'Mailing lists' or 'Archives' the page that comes up is blank. I had to use google to find the new mailman list page with appropriate info and the new archives. 73 Kevin N4UFO ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Control is the need of the fearful mind. Trust is the need of the courageous heart."

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Re: SO-50, IC-910H, and Sat PC32 Issues
by Kevin M 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

Adding to Drew's comments... A.) Reception is poor. Especially high elevation passes. Yep I hear SO-50 better with an IO antenna mounted on my HT sitting in the shack than with my fixed elevation yagis mounted outside when the bird is overhead. I can twist and turn the HT to match the bird E.) I can only rarely hear my own downlink on this satellite, even in the middle of the night when the bird is empty. F.) Numerous reports of others calling me without success, even though I'm getting into the bird fine. If it is just yourself you cannot hear then your 2m transmit is likely wiping out your 436 receive. (The third harmonic of the transmit is 437.55) You might try adding some filtering. Look at using a 2m/440 diplexer on one or the other side. (or both) Better yet, try backing power down to 5 watts and see if you don't hear yourself better. But it more sounds like you just have a general receive problem... the cable between the antenna and the preamp can matter. Like I said, I hear better with an HT mounted antenna. If I were to add even a couple feet of coax between the HT and antenna, that would change. As for fading... SO-50 is in a slow tumble. I will lose the bird for a minute and then it comes strong for a minute... then it fades again for a minute. If there is a station I want to work, I have to hope I can get a chance to call when the bird is strong to me. But if I call when the bird is weak, I will still be heard by others... SO-50 'hears' quite well, even if you don't hear it. Best go back to basics... build yourself a 'CJU' antenna (contact me off list and I can send you a link to plans a pic of mine; some 12 gauge solid copper, a piece of pex pipe and a short piece of coax with a BNC) and try listening with a handheld. As I say, on overhead passes, I have to turn on the HT and listen that way until it gets to the 'other side'. So what you are finding is fairly normal... Simply put, SO-50 is not easy to work with fixed elevation antennas. 73 Kevin N4UFO ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Control is the need of the fearful mind. Trust is the need of the courageous heart."

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Orbital Sciences Looks Ahead
by B J 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/as-cygnus-heads-iss-orbital-eyeing-f… Meanwhile, another test firing for SpaceX's Falcon 9: http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/09/19/falcon-9-static-fire-clears-way-f… Another test for Project Morpheus: http://moonandback.com/2013/09/19/project-morpheus-tether-test-31/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: The "Good Ole Days" are now
by Andrew Glasbrenner 20 Sep '13

20 Sep '13

AO-7 is in Mode A every other day right now. You can operate AND be nostalgic! 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Rob <pabutusa(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Sep 19, 2013 4:40 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The "Good Ole Days" are now > >I miss RS-6 and RS-8 .... sniff .... > > >On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 2:58 AM, Pavel Milanes Costa <co7wt(a)frcuba.co.cu>wrote: > >> Amen, I second that motion... >> >> Third word hams who do not have 70cm rigs can work the sats more easily >> (70cm FM gear is very rare here, not to mention SSB) >> >> The 2m uplink is workable with transverters and HF multimode CAT capable >> rigs are almost ubiquitous for the 10m downlink >> >> 73 >> >> El 18/09/13 17:48, Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE escribió: >> >>> I've been working sats off and on for many years. I must admit that I >>> haven't done much since RS-12/13 and RS-15 went silent. I believe that if >>> we had more "easy sats" with Mode VHF up and HF down they might be more >>> popular. Tuning and alignment weren't as critical. >>> >>> Just my two cents or so. >>> >>> >>> Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE >>> Grid EL09uf >>> Eagle Creek Observatory >>> http://www.**eaglecreekobservatory.org<http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org> >>> I've stopped asking "How stupid can you be?" Some people are taking it >>> as a >>> challenge. >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@**amsat.org<amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org>] >>> On >>> Behalf Of Les Rayburn >>> Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 3:32 PM >>> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] The "Good Ole Days" are now >>> >>> Like many hams (I suspect), I dreamed of working satellites for decades. >>> Followed them with at least a passing interest but always seemed to put >>> them >>> off till "someday". Even during the craze of the "work satellites with >>> your >>> handheld", I was distracted by other priorities. When I got involved in >>> VHF/UHF a few years ago, and purchased an Icom IC-910H, I kept thinking >>> I'd >>> finally pull the trigger. But years passed without anything other than >>> weak-signal contacts being made on that rig. >>> >>> A few months ago, I finally decided to give it a try. Downloaded SATPC32, >>> and updated my keps. FO-29 was the next satellite coming my way, so when I >>> was inside the footprint, I tuned around a bit, and found some stations >>> coming in. Cool! I was actually hearing hams on satellite---next up was >>> answering a CQ...nervously I pushed the PTT on the mic. >>> >>> 82 grids and a few hundred contacts later, I'm having a ball! >>> >>> I don't miss the birds that came before, but just enjoy what we have now. >>> My >>> only complaint might be that more folks are not active on F0-29 and VO-52. >>> Even SO-50 can be nearly empty after midnight. >>> >>> My understanding is that within the next year we'll have 2 or 3 more >>> linear >>> LEO satellites, and possibly another FM bird, right? While we may not >>> work a >>> lot of DX on those, we should get to the point where no one has to wait >>> long >>> for "something" to be overhead. That's exciting to me! >>> >>> AMSAT is staffed with wonderful volunteers, and seems to be doing great >>> work. I'm thrilled to be a member, even if it is #38965. >>> >>> The good ole days are now. Get on the birds and make some contacts. I need >>> your grid! (ha, ha) >>> >>> >>> ______________________________**_________________ >> 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<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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Interorbital to launch 433 MHz Mexican Art Satellite
by M5AKA 19 Sep '13

19 Sep '13

According to an article the satellite Ulises1, which plans an Interorbital launch, will transmit in the 433 MHz band (a license exempt allocation in much of the world), see http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/sergio-autrey-mixing-science-art… Ulises1 website http://www.ulises1.mx/Ulises_1/Inicio.html In Google English http://tinyurl.com/Ulises1-Satellite 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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FO29 N. Eu.
by Bob- W7LRD 19 Sep '13

19 Sep '13

this one is a stretch.. 435.850 from CN87 max El. 2* 73 Bob W7LRD

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The "Good Ole Days" are now
by Les Rayburn 19 Sep '13

19 Sep '13

Like many hams (I suspect), I dreamed of working satellites for decades. Followed them with at least a passing interest but always seemed to put them off till "someday". Even during the craze of the "work satellites with your handheld", I was distracted by other priorities. When I got involved in VHF/UHF a few years ago, and purchased an Icom IC-910H, I kept thinking I'd finally pull the trigger. But years passed without anything other than weak-signal contacts being made on that rig. A few months ago, I finally decided to give it a try. Downloaded SATPC32, and updated my keps. FO-29 was the next satellite coming my way, so when I was inside the footprint, I tuned around a bit, and found some stations coming in. Cool! I was actually hearing hams on satellite---next up was answering a CQ...nervously I pushed the PTT on the mic. 82 grids and a few hundred contacts later, I'm having a ball! I don't miss the birds that came before, but just enjoy what we have now. My only complaint might be that more folks are not active on F0-29 and VO-52. Even SO-50 can be nearly empty after midnight. My understanding is that within the next year we'll have 2 or 3 more linear LEO satellites, and possibly another FM bird, right? While we may not work a lot of DX on those, we should get to the point where no one has to wait long for "something" to be overhead. That's exciting to me! AMSAT is staffed with wonderful volunteers, and seems to be doing great work. I'm thrilled to be a member, even if it is #38965. The good ole days are now. Get on the birds and make some contacts. I need your grid! (ha, ha) -- -- 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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