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

LO-78 and Invader
by Rick Walter 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

Monday, June 30, 2014 Nothing heard from LO-78 on the 20:04-20:13z pass here in FN10. Invader was on 437.325 with CW beacon. No celestial poem on 437.200 on the 20:21-20:31z pass. Rick - WB3CSY Sent from Rick's iPhone 5 "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds" - Albert Einstein

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WD9EWK - 2014 Field Day
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

Hi! Even though I only worked the radios for a few hours on Saturday, the 2014 Field Day was another fun time to be on the radio. I had two objectives for this weekend - try to make a QSO with NA1SS, and try a new radio on HF - which I was able to do. I was on some satellite passes, making a couple of QSOs, which I'll submit to both ARRL and AMSAT. Knowing that the ISS would be passing by within minutes of the start of Field Day, I was set up in my back yard for that. I used my normal FM satellite setup (IC-2820H, Elk log periodic), with the power cranked down to 5W to fall in the 1B QRP classification I normally operate for Field Day, and was ready to go. About 5 minutes into the pass, and after hearing other stations' calls from NA1SS, I heard my call coming from there. Within seconds, I was getting e-mails, SMS messages, and tweets from friends who also heard that. A nice way to start Field Day! I listened to the rest of the pass, and recorded it. I was on the next ISS pass at 1952 UTC, hoping to hear anything from the ISS on 70cm (around 437.550 MHz) while recording the 145.800 MHz downlink. Lots of activity on 2m just like the earlier pass, but nothing up on 70cm. Did anyone hear anything from the ISS on 70cm during Field Day? A few hours later, with more shade in the back yard, I broke out the HF setup. An FT-897D with autotuner and its internal battery packs, set to 5W transmit power, and a Buddipole portable dipole with its mast and tripod. Before I started on the satellites in late 2005, I used to do a lot of portable HF operating, so it took no time to get the antenna up and the radio ready to go. Although I heard Field Day activity on most HF bands (10m was surprisingly quiet in the late afternoon), I ended up working 15m and 6m SSB to get a few QSOs. I tried to work FO-29 during a western pass around sunset, but could not get through with my normal SSB satellite setup - two FT-817NDs, Elk log periodic. Lots of activity, with some who sounded like they may have been overpowering the transponder a bit. Around 0400 UTC, 9pm for me in Arizona, there was a western SO-50 pass where I was able to break through with my IC-2820H at 5W and Elk log periodic. Lots of twisting the antenna around, trying to keep up with the satellite and hear myself on the downlink. I made two QSOs there - one that counted for QSO points and the satellite QSO bonus with VA7VW, and the other was to respond to W6KA calling me. I did not score the second QSO. I heard two other stations calling me, but could not get back to them and complete those QSOs with so many stations trying to get through. Some were not using PL tones on the SO-50 uplink, which only made the situation worse. I also wanted to make an SSB satellite QSO, so I tried AO-73 about an hour later, at 0500 UTC. A high pass for me, I was able to make a QSO with W5MSQ before another strong station overpowered the transponder. I was using my two FT-817NDs and Elk log periodic for the SSB pass, staying with my normal SSB satellite configuration instead of getting the FT-897D set up for SSB operation. This was the last QSO in my Field Day log. I have already sent off my QSL request for the NA1SS QSO. Since I recorded the audio from those two passes, I made slideshow videos of them. The first pass, or the 1815-1822 UTC portion I could hear, is on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QC3l6NplbM I removed the first couple of minutes of my recording, since it only had my calls to NA1SS, and one unreadable response from NA1SS. By the way, did anyone else record this ISS pass? Especially if you are on the west coast? If so, please e-mail me directly. My slideshow video of the later ISS pass (1953-1957 UTC) is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxsIzal68VM This was a shallow pass here, with maximum elevation of only 8 degrees, so this was a bit shorter than the earlier recording and slideshow video. I had the audio recorder sitting near the IC-2820H for the first pass, so it could pick up the speaker audio and my voice. For the later pass, I had a patch cable running between the speaker jack on the TH-D72A HT and the mic jack on the recorder, since I was not planning to work the later pass on 2m. I had my Elk log periodic antenna routed through a diplexer, so the 2m side was going to the HT and the 70cm side to the IC-2820H, in the hopes of working NA1SS on 70cm and recording the audio on 145.800 MHz. Another summary of my Field Day activity, including some photos, can be seen at: http://www.arrl.org/soapbox/view/8943 I'm hoping to get out of town for next year's Field Day, which is what I normally do. It is fun to work with a portable setup, but it would be better if the outside temperature was not as hot as it was in Phoenix on Saturday afternoon (108F/42C at one point, in the shade of my back yard!). Until next time... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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AO-73 issue
by James Brown 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

need help with SAT32pc ver. B and C! In selecting AO-73 I get and error "select the correct receive frequency". How do I correct this? I am not sure how to set up new satellites. I see the salellite list in Doppler sqf. but not sure how to get it set in the cat file? Could someone clarify the steps needed? Thanks Jim KI6WJ

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LO-78 Decay Date
by Paul Stoetzer 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

I noticed that AMSAT-UK and the ARRL have both published posts that state that LO-78 will decay by the end of this week. That's probably based in part by information I posted on the BB from satflare.com, which predicts decay on July 2nd (http://www.satflare.com/track.asp?q=39571#TOP) However, the keps they are using appear to be incorrect. They are showing an altitude of just 226 km. Celestrak keps are showing an altitude of 317 km. Interestingly, the map view of the satellite's current position appears to be correct. SATVIEW's decay predictions seem to be based on the 317 km current altitude and show a predicted reentry of August 5th. (http://www.satview.org/decay.php) I think SATVIEW's prediction is more accurate. Anyone else have any input? 73, Paul, N8HM

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Reception of the One Millionth Packet from FUNcube-1
by Graham Shirville 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

Many stations have been receiving the telemetry transmitted by FUNcube-1, which has now been in orbit for 221 days. The spacecraft, which has been operating nominally since launch, is providing on-board health and science data for the many schools and colleges who are already participating in the project around the world. Since launch, data has been received by more than 650 stations around the world and today our online Data Warehouse received its one millionth packet of information. The Warehouse is now storing more than 256MB of telemetry which is available for educational and research use. We have been successful in capturing almost 25% of all the telemetry transmitted including almost all of the Whole Orbit Data. This success is a great tribute to our designers of the Flight software, the Dashboard programme and the matching Data Warehouse. We are also immensely grateful to all the schools, colleges, radio amateurs and other listeners who are providing this data and want to encourage everyone to continue to listen to FUNcube-1 and to upload the data to the Warehouse. This will help enable the project to continue to provide a complete and current data set for analysis. We would, of course, also love to have additional receiving stations in the FUNcube Ground Station Network. This applies especially to anyone near the poles or who is located on an island in the middle of ocean. Their involvement would help us improve our rate of data capture still further. Our records show that there were three stations who actually managed to upload the same one millionth packet to the Warehouse today. They are G0EID, OM3BC and DL3SER. If they could contact “operations at funcube.org.uk” we will arrange them to send them a small prize to honour their contribution to the project. best 73 Graham G3VZV

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field day results - due date
by Bruce 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

I saw a lot of great posts to the BB regarding field day. Now, do not forget to turn in your summary sheets in time so that your group can be counted in AMSAT field day. The final date to turn them in is a lot sooner than the ARRL date. **** ARRL July 29 **** **** AMSAT July 14 **** The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the AMSAT Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail) by 11:59 P.M. CDT, Monday, July 14, 2014. Attach your stories of field day and some pictures. In the past we have been able to use almost all the pictures sent. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Wanted: AMSAT-UK Colloquium paper from 1993 or 1994
by Douglas Quagliana 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

I am looking for a battery paper by Carlos Lovett-Linares from the 1993 or 1994 AMSAT-UK Colloquium. Does anyone have a copy? Thanks and 73, Douglas KA2UPW/5

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Boy Scouts & ISS Contact
by w0hv＠sbcglobal.net 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

The Boy Scouts of Raymore Troop 32 at W0HV contacted NA1SS on the 2nd FD pass and I bet the boys could be heard up in orbit even without radio when Reid answered our call! Jim Reicher, W0HV Raymore, MO

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RES: Lituanicasat-1
by PY5LF 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

Hi Ted Yes , you`re right , LO78 , sorry . We had another pass , 1:00 UTC , very low for me , only 6 degrees , but good enough to made a QSO with LW3DRH , Luis. Thank you , 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF -----Mensagem original----- De: Ted [mailto:[email protected]] Enviada em: domingo, 29 de junho de 2014 21:03 Para: 'PY5LF' Assunto: RE: [amsat-bb] Lituanicasat-1 Hi Luciano, Is this sat LO78 now, for sure? Thank you and Happy Sunday 73, Ted K7TRK -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of PY5LF Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2014 4:43 PM To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org; starcom-bb-bounces(a)star-com.net Subject: [amsat-bb] Lituanicasat-1 Hi We had a good pass of Lituanicasat-1 a few minutes ago , transponder on , nice signal , nobody there , only me calling. 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [amsat-bb] Just Spoke to the ISS
by Tim Bosma 30 Jun '14

30 Jun '14

Congrats to Stefan and Clint on the ISS Field Day contacts! I heard Reid make a couple of contacts, but was too busy trying to make the CAT control in SatPC32 work with my 24 year old IC-970H. It works now although with some irritating limitations on the CAT side. The rotor control side works fine. Rather than wasting several hours, I should have just plugged it into my MacBookPro and fired up MacDoppler. It took all of 5 minutes to get up and running with full CAT control and then make a Field Day contact on AO-73. So on to the next “challenge” … My AO-16 era LL Grace DSP-93 isn’t quite current anymore. Any recommendations on current equipment and/or software to decode 1k2 BPSK telemetry, and 9600 FSK etc. ?? 73 Tim w6mu On Jun 28, 2014, at 11:38 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > > Date: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 15:07:58 -0500 > From: Stefan Wagener <wageners(a)gmail.com> > To: Fabiano Moser <fabianomoser(a)gmail.com> > Cc: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net>, amsat-bb > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Just Spoke to the ISS > Message-ID: > <CAKu8kHA4NriVXwivL2v27aYRPk4vWtNyQVzNbLEod18fx4=iBw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Yes, ISS (Reid Wiseman) was active again on the last past (2 min ago). He > is getting a workout :-) and is doing a fantastic job managing the calls. > > Thanks Reid and NASA, that was a special gift for field day. > > Stefan, VE4NSA > > > On Sat, Jun 28, 2014 at 2:08 PM, Fabiano Moser <fabianomoser(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > >> On Sat, Jun 28, 2014 at 7:25 PM, Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net >>> >> wrote: >> >>> Two Watts ? handheld radio ? tape measure Yagi ? Just spoke to the ISS >>> 11:16AM PDT! >>> >>> Clint K6LCS >>> >>> ---------------------------------- >>> Clint Bradford, K6LCS >>> http://www.clintbradford.com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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