November 2014 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Office Closed
by Martha 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

The AMSAT office will be closed until Monday, December 1st. Happy Thanksgiving! -- 73- Martha

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Re: [amsat-bb] Does one 847 equal two 817's
by Kevin M 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

> I’ll take a look at the SAT memories. I would like to fully utilize this rig. Pages 66-69 of the user manual cover satellite operations. You will find an explanation of how to Label the Sat memories on page 69. If you don't have a copy, just google FT-847 manual... PDF versions are available. Not having two way CAT is not a deal breaker for me... I have always tuned manually anyway. If you say you are manually tuning, most ops will oblige you and do the same. What I will appreciate having the computer control do is turn the rotators! =^D 73 es GL, Kevin N4UFO

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SpinSat deploy??
by Masahiro Arai 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

JAXA announced NASA's small satellite will deploy from ISS 28th Nov. Preparation for the deployment will be done 26th and 27th. There is no satellite name info. I guess the satellite may be SpinSat. 73 Masa JN1GKZ

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Re: [amsat-bb] Does one 847 equal two 817's?
by Bill ACITO, W1PA 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

Kevin, Thanks... I had a feeling it wasn't that easy. My FT-847 gets infrequent use because I don't have a permanent station for satellite, and as you and others have pointed out, it may be "car" portable, but certainly not "man" portable. Mine also has 1st generation CAT so I don't have full bidirectional PC control -- just one way. I used a special SATPC32 exe for FD this year that was provided to me by Erich (with my sincere thanks); I had to control the radio completely from the laptop. >>As for split VFOs on an 847... it doesn't really operate that way. To operate manually on the 847, you first go into SAT mode which changes the function of a number of buttons, the memories, and several other things. The easiest way to use the rig is to set up the SAT memories... ...There is a sub tune knob, but it moves at a much slower rate and is really just to keep up with doppler changes. So no, it doesn't really operate the two VFOs separately like having two radios. The closest you could operate like that is to adjust one band, hit the VFO 'A-B' swap button and then adjust the other band. Kevin N4UFO<< I’ll take a look at the SAT memories. I would like to fully utilize this rig. Bill W1PA

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New Web page for Shin-en2
by JH3XCU 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

New Web page for Shin-en2 Prof. Nishio, Kagoshima-Univ. opened new web page for Shin-en2 http://www.shin-en2.jp/index_E.html 73, Hideo JH3XCU/1

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W7O
by W M Willoughby 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

Just wanted to say THANKS to Patrick, WD9EWK, for organizing the W7O special call sign event. It took a lot of work to plan and manage the past week of operations and his work is not finished yet - he has QSLing to do :). I had fun operating as W7O and I'm certain awareness of that special bird (AO-7) and our AMSAT organization was furthered. Thanks again, Patrick! 73, Red, KC4LE

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Gold Standard for Keplerian Data
by Steve May 24 Nov '14

24 Nov '14

I have noticed that when I update the Keplerian Data for my location on SatPC32 and generate a list of passes they all seem to be about 5 minutes different than the predictions from the AMSAT website. This is for the earliest pass, and I am using the exact GPS coordinates for my location. So which do I rely on? Which predictions should I consider the "gold standard" for passes? Steve, W5IEM

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Re: [amsat-bb] Gold Standard for Keplerian Data
by Steve May 24 Nov '14

24 Nov '14

Thank you very much guys. That was totally the reason for the issue. I took the "minimum elevation" to mean that it would filter out all of the passes in which the satellite never reaches x-degrees. Meaning that if it didn't reach x-degrees from my location it would not display it, but for those that did it would display the information for the full pass. I did not realize that it would show the AOS for when the satellite reaches x-degrees. I checked against 2 satellites and it appears to have solved the problem. Thank you again for your assistance on this. Steve May, W5IEM On Mon Nov 24 2014 at 5:19:33 AM David G0MRF <g0mrf(a)aol.com> wrote: > Does this mean you are telling the PC to ignore all passes until they > reach 15 degrees ? - That's about 5 minutes. > > Prob best to take control back from the PC and set any limits at the > horizon. > > Also, is this a 'real issue' with tracking, or just a problem with the > computer giving different AOS times? It may be worth checking the time of > closest approach which will avoid all of the AOS / LOS limits. > > Thanks > > David > > The time seems to be incorrect for all of the satellites I am trying to > predict. Since I am only concerned with AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, and SO-50 they > are the only ones I a running a prediction for, and since I am pretty new a > this I am trying to use a 15-degree minimum elevation. > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Steve May <steve.w5iem(a)gmail.com> > To: AMSAT-BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 4:58 > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Gold Standard for Keplerian Data > > I appreciate the suggestions. After a long day at work I have sat down this > evening to look at the system, but I am still stumped. > > I am using a Windows 8.1 system, and the clock appears to be synchronized > correctly. I am letting Windows set it automatically, and when I look at my > cell phone the two display the same time and the minutes change > simultaneously. > > The Keps seem to be updated correctly, and it shows that they are looking > at the file that was updated earlier today. I looked in the directory and > the updated nasa.all file is there. > > The time seems to be incorrect for all of the satellites I am trying to > predict. Since I am only concerned with AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, and SO-50 they > are the only ones I a running a prediction for, and since I am pretty new a > this I am trying to use a 15-degree minimum elevation. > > I am generating a WinAos list, and it seems to be pretty much across the > board hat the predictions in the WinAos software are about 5-6 minutes > later than the predictions from the AMSAT website. Some of the predictions > show a 1-degree difference in max elevation as well, although it isn't on > every pass. These inconsistencies are probably based on rounding. > > It is showing this difference in time on every satellite in the predictions > as well. > > I have checked and double-checked the Observer location on both predictions > and I am using the correct location, EM78re. I have tried it on both > predictions to enter the 6-digit grid square location as well as putting in > the GPS coordinates manually and it doesn't seem to change anything. > > I am stumped by this. I assume it has to be something in my SatPC32 setup, > and I will try it at work tomorrow on a different machine to see if the > errors are the same. > > Any other suggestions? > > Steve, W5IEM > > > > > > > > On Sun Nov 23 2014 at 12:45:34 PM Erich Eichmann <erich.eichmann(a)t-online.de> > wrote: > > > Steve, > > I compared the results of the pass prediction from the AMSAT website for > > the next 10 passes of FO-29 with the results of WinListen (that comes > > with SatPC32) for my location (8.9 degrees east, 51.94 north). The > > results are exactly the same (WinListen rounds the AOS/LOS times to the > > closest full minute, however). It requires to enter and save your QTH > > locator or longitude/latitude. I used the latest file nasa.all as Keps > > file. > > > > in most cases of different results between the AMSAT pass precition and > > SatPC32 wrong longitude/latitude values in menu "Setup", "Observer" or > > "Setup" of WinListen or different Keplerian data were the reason. > > > > What is your 6-digit QTH locator (or longitude west and latitude > > north)? What is the entry in SatPC32, menu "Observer" and in WinListen, > > menu "Setup"? > > What Keps file do you use? Download the Keps file you use from > > SatPC32 menu "Satellites", "Update Keps". When the download is > > successful click "Quit" and then "OK". The path to the Keps files folder > > can be seen in the foot line of menu "Satellites", the file date in the > > bottom line of the SatPC32 main window and in the left list of the menu > > you can choose the file. WinListen will use the same same path (foot > > line in menu "Listen"). > > > > 73, Erich, DK1TB > > > > Am 23.11.2014 17:04, schrieb Steve May: > > > I have noticed that when I update the Keplerian Data for my location on > > > SatPC32 and generate a list of passes they all seem to be about 5 minutes > > > different than the predictions from the AMSAT website. This is for the > > > earliest pass, and I am using the exact GPS coordinates for my location. > > > > > > So which do I rely on? Which predictions should I consider the "gold > > > standard" for passes? > > > > > > Steve, W5IEM > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > > Opinions expressed > > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > > AMSAT-NA. > > > 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. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > 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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AmsatDroid on Android LOLLIPOP (v5)
by David Johnson 24 Nov '14

24 Nov '14

Hi, A new version, 1.0.14, has been uploaded to the Google Play Store which should fix the various problems that have been reported in the past couple of days when running the application on Android v5 platforms. Please let me know if there are any more problems after you get this update. 73 - Dave, G4DPZ

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Re: [amsat-bb] Gold Standard for Keplerian Data
by Steve May 24 Nov '14

24 Nov '14

I thought what it meant was that the software would ignore passes that did not reach a minimum elevation. For example, if I had entered 15 degrees of elevation that the software would ignore any passes that had a maximum elevation of 14 degrees but would show the full pass detail for any that were from 15 degrees to 90 degrees. I am not proficient enough to work those that have a very low maximum elevation, so until I am I want to ignore those that are pretty low. What I have learned through this thread is that if a pass is going to have a maximum elevation of 45 degrees that the software will show the AOS when the satellite reaches 15 degrees, ignoring everything on that pass from 0 to 14 degrees. It totally makes sense now. What I am ultimately doing is testing a spreadsheet that I use to load a series of passes into a Google Calendar that I have set up for myself. This is pretty handy because I then have the calendar settings to notify me 45 minutes and 10 minutes before the pass. I was testing it and noticed the inconsistencies this weekend between the software on my computer and the AMSAT website. This isn't a huge issue, though, because I am able to do the filtering on my own for whatever maximum elevation I want to use from within the spreadsheet. I appreciate the help on this from everyone. Steve May, W5IEM On Mon Nov 24 2014 at 9:13:50 AM Mark Lunday <mlunday(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: > Steve, I am confused. > > What does "minimum elevation" setting imply? I thought as you stated > below... > > Mark Lunday, WD4ELG > Greensboro, NC FM06be > wd4elg(a)arrl.net > http://wd4elg.blogspot.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Steve May > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 6:52 AM > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Gold Standard for Keplerian Data > > Thank you very much guys. That was totally the reason for the issue. > > I took the "minimum elevation" to mean that it would filter out all of the > passes in which the satellite never reaches x-degrees. Meaning that if it > didn't reach x-degrees from my location it would not display it, but for > those that did it would display the information for the full pass. > > I did not realize that it would show the AOS for when the satellite reaches > x-degrees. > > I checked against 2 satellites and it appears to have solved the problem. > > Thank you again for your assistance on this. > > Steve May, W5IEM > > > > On Mon Nov 24 2014 at 5:19:33 AM David G0MRF <g0mrf(a)aol.com> wrote: > > > Does this mean you are telling the PC to ignore all passes until they > > reach 15 degrees ? - That's about 5 minutes. > > > > Prob best to take control back from the PC and set any limits at the > > horizon. > > > > Also, is this a 'real issue' with tracking, or just a problem with the > > computer giving different AOS times? It may be worth checking the time > > of closest approach which will avoid all of the AOS / LOS limits. > > > > Thanks > > > > David > > > > The time seems to be incorrect for all of the satellites I am trying > > to predict. Since I am only concerned with AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, and > > SO-50 they are the only ones I a running a prediction for, and since I > > am pretty new a this I am trying to use a 15-degree minimum elevation. > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Steve May <steve.w5iem(a)gmail.com> > > To: AMSAT-BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 4:58 > > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Gold Standard for Keplerian Data > > > > I appreciate the suggestions. After a long day at work I have sat > > down this evening to look at the system, but I am still stumped. > > > > I am using a Windows 8.1 system, and the clock appears to be > > synchronized correctly. I am letting Windows set it automatically, and > > when I look at my cell phone the two display the same time and the > > minutes change simultaneously. > > > > The Keps seem to be updated correctly, and it shows that they are > > looking at the file that was updated earlier today. I looked in the > > directory and the updated nasa.all file is there. > > > > The time seems to be incorrect for all of the satellites I am trying > > to predict. Since I am only concerned with AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, and > > SO-50 they are the only ones I a running a prediction for, and since I > > am pretty new a this I am trying to use a 15-degree minimum elevation. > > > > I am generating a WinAos list, and it seems to be pretty much across > > the board hat the predictions in the WinAos software are about 5-6 > > minutes later than the predictions from the AMSAT website. Some of the > > predictions show a 1-degree difference in max elevation as well, > > although it isn't on every pass. These inconsistencies are probably based > on rounding. > > > > It is showing this difference in time on every satellite in the > > predictions as well. > > > > I have checked and double-checked the Observer location on both > > predictions and I am using the correct location, EM78re. I have tried > > it on both predictions to enter the 6-digit grid square location as > > well as putting in the GPS coordinates manually and it doesn't seem to > change anything. > > > > I am stumped by this. I assume it has to be something in my SatPC32 > > setup, and I will try it at work tomorrow on a different machine to > > see if the errors are the same. > > > > Any other suggestions? > > > > Steve, W5IEM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sun Nov 23 2014 at 12:45:34 PM Erich Eichmann > > <erich.eichmann(a)t-online.de> > > wrote: > > > > > Steve, > > > I compared the results of the pass prediction from the AMSAT website > > > for the next 10 passes of FO-29 with the results of WinListen (that > > > comes with SatPC32) for my location (8.9 degrees east, 51.94 north). > > > The results are exactly the same (WinListen rounds the AOS/LOS times > > > to the closest full minute, however). It requires to enter and save > your > QTH > > > locator or longitude/latitude. I used the latest file nasa.all as > Keps > > > file. > > > > > > in most cases of different results between the AMSAT pass precition > > > and > > > SatPC32 wrong longitude/latitude values in menu "Setup", "Observer" > > > or "Setup" of WinListen or different Keplerian data were the reason. > > > > > > What is your 6-digit QTH locator (or longitude west and latitude > > > north)? What is the entry in SatPC32, menu "Observer" and in > > > WinListen, menu "Setup"? > > > What Keps file do you use? Download the Keps file you use from > > > SatPC32 menu "Satellites", "Update Keps". When the download is > > > successful click "Quit" and then "OK". The path to the Keps files > > > folder can be seen in the foot line of menu "Satellites", the file > > > date in the bottom line of the SatPC32 main window and in the left > > > list of the menu you can choose the file. WinListen will use the > > > same same path (foot line in menu "Listen"). > > > > > > 73, Erich, DK1TB > > > > > > Am 23.11.2014 17:04, schrieb Steve May: > > > > I have noticed that when I update the Keplerian Data for my > > > > location on > > > > SatPC32 and generate a list of passes they all seem to be about 5 > > > > minutes different than the predictions from the AMSAT website. > > > > This is for the earliest pass, and I am using the exact GPS > coordinates for my location. > > > > > > > > So which do I rely on? Which predictions should I consider the > > > > "gold standard" for passes? > > > > > > > > Steve, W5IEM > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum > > > > available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring > membership. > > > Opinions expressed > > > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > > > > views of > > > AMSAT-NA. > > > > 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. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > > 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. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to > all > interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > 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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