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

W5PFG/P West Texas Grids
by Clayton Coleman 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

I have been operating from some grids in DL79,88-89 the past few days. I am now moving to DM70 for several nights. I will squeeze in some passes from DM70 and DM80 the next several days. No set schedule though evenings are most likely. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Got Grids? AWARD
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

Got Grids ? Award Sponsored by The Star Comm Group http://www.starcommgroup.org/gotgrids.html To qualify for this award , you must log 1 contact in each of the 10 GRID FIELDS, CN,CM,DN,DM,DL,EN,EM.EL,FN,FM ( lower 48 states) in the U.S.A. by means of a SSB/CW amateur satellite. Send your log to WA4NVM or WA4HFN for checking , along with your call, name, and currant mailing address. wa4nvm(a)comcast.net wa4hfn(a)comcast.net This award will be effictive 01 January 2014 all contacts must be made on or after this date . This award is free. If you would like to make a donations to the AMSAT SATELLITE program send it to: Amsat 850 Sligo Ave. Suite 600 Silver Springs. MD. 20910

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DSTAR net
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

D Star satellite users net tonight 0100 utc (day light savings time now) REF60B Would like to see some IC 9100 owners checkin and tell us how you like the radio,also lets have everyone tell how many grids they now have, states worked and countries confirmed Thanks WA4HFN Damon em55

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Question for the antenna gurus
by Gus 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

Regarding axial-mode helix antennas, what happens if you build a helix for each of two different bands (like 2M/70cm), and mount them concentrically, on the same backplane? -- Gus 8P6SM The Easternmost Isle

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Re: Question for the antenna gurus
by kc6uqh＠cox.net 13 Mar '14

13 Mar '14

Gus, As long as one is twice or more the frequency of the other it should work fine. If you are using them as a feed for a dish the phase center of each one must be considered for best focus.73, Art,KC6UQH -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gus Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 1:33 AM To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Question for the antenna gurus Regarding axial-mode helix antennas, what happens if you build a helix for each of two different bands (like 2M/70cm), and mount them concentrically, on the same backplane? -- Gus 8P6SM The Easternmost Isle _______________________________________________ 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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W5PFG/p
by Wyatt Dirks 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

Just talked to w5pfg and he asked me to post that he was going to be on the upcoming 0008utc pass of fo29 and the following vo52 pass from DM70. He also said he was going to try to operate from DM80 tomorrow evening. 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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Re: AO-73 deaf ?
by g0mrf＠aol.com 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

Hi Peter. I've sent you a private e-mail about the UK radar on 70cm, but I've just looked at the telemetry for the last pass and it shows a lot of transponder activity over Europe. It may be that the AGC was being suppressed by high power signals. The satellite is coming over to the west in about 15 minutes, I'll have a look at the passband then. - It's usually much quieter after 23.00 UTC Thanks David G0MRF -----Original Message----- From: Peter Wilson <protest(a)virginmedia.com> To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 22:01 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-73 deaf ? Hi all, I tried to work AO-73 this evening at 21:35 UTC from UK. Normally with an overhead pass I have a very good signal to/from the satellite - tonight, nothing. This is not the first time I have seen this - anyone else seeing this? Peter G8KEK _______________________________________________ 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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AO-73 deaf ?
by Peter Wilson 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

Hi all, I tried to work AO-73 this evening at 21:35 UTC from UK. Normally with an overhead pass I have a very good signal to/from the satellite - tonight, nothing. This is not the first time I have seen this - anyone else seeing this? Peter G8KEK

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Circular and elliptical polarization question.
by Douglas Phelps 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

I read in 'The Satellite Handbook' that I can mount to linear yagis side by side (and at right angles) and I will get elliptical polarization. My two questions are: 1. Is their a formula or rule of thumb that will tell me how elliptical (or non circular) the waveform will be as a factor of the separation between the two antennas? (I would expect that the greater the separation the more elliptical the waveform(farther from circular)). 2. I would think that the closer the better. I know when you mount two yagis next to each other, in the same plane, there is a minimum separation distance to prevent the antennas from affecting each other but with cross polarization intending circular polarization, the closer the better. Does this make sense? The reason I am asking is that I want to mount arrow antennas with the same element sets at right angles and offset a quarter wavelength, with the correct phasing harness and the WRAPS AZ/EL to create a portable auto tracking satellite setup that can be disassembled and easily moved. Yes, I know the VHF offset will be wrong for UHF but I intend to re-drill the UHF antenna holes so that both the VHF and UHF will be offset a quarter wavelength. The matching system used by arrow does not allow the crossing of the same wavelength antenna on the same boom. I would appreciate and advice from those that are more competent with antenna theory than myself. Doug K9DLP

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W1AW/7 satellite activity from Arizona has started!
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 12 Mar '14

12 Mar '14

Hi! Between John K8YSE/7 and me, we have logged 27 satellite QSOs as W1AW/7 on the satellites from here in Arizona this evening. John worked a VO-52 pass to start the activity, logging 8 QSOs, followed by 9 more QSOs on the FO-29 pass around 0104 UTC. I logged 7 QSOs on the later FO-29 pass at 0248 UTC, and 3 more QSOs for the night owls on AO-73 at 0514 UTC. Not a bad start, in the first few hours of Arizona's week with W1AW/7. K8YSE/7 plans to put W1AW/7 on satellites during the daytime tomorrow (Wednesday), including SO-50 for those wanting an FM QSO with W1AW/7. I plan on working some passes in the evening. Both of us will be giving out the official exchange - 59 Arizona - along with our grid locators to comply with the instructions for operating as W1AW/7 this week. We hope to work lots of different stations during this week, in the hopes of making a respectable showing for the satellite community while Arizona has the W1AW/7 call sign. I'll use W1AW/7 for my on-air demonstrations Saturday morning from the Scottsdale AZ "Springfest" hamfest, which should provide many across North America a good shot of logging this call (including SO-50 QSOs, as that satellite passes by the hamfest during Saturday morning). Time for bed... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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