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

Send your name / callsign "from the Moon"
by M5AKA 11 Sep '14

11 Sep '14

4M is expected to launch on its Lunar flyby sometime after 1800 UT on October 23, 2014 http://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/11/send-your-message-from-the-moon/ ---- Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK Website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amsatuk Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna suggestions
by Dino Papas 11 Sep '14

11 Sep '14

Hmmmm, not my experience at all with M2. My 2MCP14 and 436CP30, along with their accessory polarization switches, and 2m and 432 egg beater antennas all met the dimensional specs and apparent operational characteristics. Robert KR7O in sales and Matt on the technical side were always very helpful and responsive to my calls and e-mails. Sometimes you’ll find that suppliers will have antennas in stock (got all my stuff from DXEngineering, another great experience BTW) where they actually may be out of stock and simply in new production at the factory. Guess we’ve nailed down the ends of the bell curve on experience with M2; I’ll buy from them again when I build my weak-signal arrays and probably their HF LPA as well. Of course YMMV. 73 - Dino KL0S On Sep102014, at 2352 PM, Lizeth Norman <normanlizeth(a)gmail.com> wrote: > If you're buying anything from M2 expect poor customer service and a > bad build. I have more to do tonight than list the screwups those > people have done. They actually charged my credit card and THEN 2.5 > months later (after finishing another manufacturing cycle) shipped the > product (upgrade kit for a KLM kt-34a)!!! Not to mention having to use > a dremel on the "CNC" hardware. The UHF antennas use a cheap white > plastic insulator that cracks, allowing water ingress. Remember the > $200 circularity switch that you need to buy? Junk after 7 years. > See here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/11312549334/ > Considering what these people charge, I'd expect teflon. > > Because I'm a glutton for punishment, I purchased another antenna from > this bunch of rejects (These bozos actually had the balls to cancel > two credit card orders for parts!). It was cheaper than ordering one > from Europe. I guess at $800, lasting 7 years, it's just over $100 a > year to use this, then throw it away. > > The antenna has 21 pair of elements. 14 pair (!!!!!!) were miscut. 13 > by 1/16 and one by an 1/8. (I took pictures because I care!!!) That's > a real problem where the elements of the antenna are 1/16 th of an > inch different (most). Took me almost two hours to verify what they'd > done and decide that regardless of what screwups they'd made, it was > going together. > Seems to work. I've no way to test it other than swr and on air usage. > > Take care to read the Gulf Alpha page. Last I looked, the satellite > antennas were out of production and he was reserving parts/service for > original owners, only. > > > On Wed, Sep 10, 2014 at 4:23 PM, Dave Webb KB1PVH <kb1pvh(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Keith, >> >> I'm not sure if Gulf Alpha is still making the satellite antennas. He had >> something on his website saying that he wasn't going to build them and even >> if he was to build them, you will wait a minimum of 4 months regardless of >> what timeframe he tells you. >> >> Dave-KB1PVH >> >> Sent from my Samsung S4

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W1AW/4 TN em55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 11 Sep '14

11 Sep '14

Star comm group would like to thank the 138 hams we logged while operating the W1AW/4 TN. on the satellites( WA4NVM and myself WA4HFN) were the operators for this event. Now if you are working towards the 5 in EM55 award, you can use that call as a em55 contact for the award goto www.starcommgroup.org click awards then click 5 in em55 Thanks WA4HFN EM55 Damon www.starcommgroup.org

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two out of three ain;t bad.
by Rick Tejera 11 Sep '14

11 Sep '14

All, A little help with SAT pc 32. I just started to play around with decode the NOAA weather sats. I want to get the frequencies into the dopper.sqf file so I can see the Doppler correction. I've edited the file and only two of the three sats show the frequency. The format is the same for all three: NOAA 15,137620.0,,FM,,,, NOAA 18,137910.0,,FM,,,, NOAA 19,137100.0,,FM,,,, NOAA 15 is the culprit that won't show. I've looked with a fine tooth comb for any differences and don't see any. I also looked in the KEp file for the Weather & NOAA sats and the sat name is correct. Anyone see what I'm missing. Rick Tejera Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur radio Club (K7TEJ) www.w7tbc.org

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W1AW/5 SO50 frm TX
by Tom schuessler 10 Sep '14

10 Sep '14

I tried a 0550Z SO 50 pass this morning 9/10 as W1AW / five but there was nobody on but me. I tried a1605Z pass this morning and only made two Qs. Bad Desense due to lots of other RF in the area making it hard for my radio to hear. I am willing to be on For a 0615 Z pass this coming morning if I knew some other people would be awake and willing as well. Please let me know via this BB. Tom. N5HYP

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Re: [amsat-bb] W1AW/5 - Texas
by Clint Bradford 10 Sep '14

10 Sep '14

>> ... Starting at 0000Z, 10 September, W1AW/5 will operate the satellites from Texas. And don't forget - Saturday, 09/13/14 at 10:45AM Texas time / 8:43AM PDT - Scout leader extraordinaire Tom N5HYP will have his Scouts working towards Merit Badges as they work SO-50 as K2BSA/5. It will be a 50+-degree pass for them ... Clint K6LCS

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Now Is The Time
by Martha 10 Sep '14

10 Sep '14

People - It is time to make your plans to attend the 2014 AMSAT Space Symposium and celebrate our 45th Anniversary. The event takes place October 10- 12th at the DoubleTree located at the BWI Airport *(Baltimore) .* Right now SouthWest is having a sale. For more information, go to the AMSAT website (amsat.org). Hope to see you there! -- 73- Martha

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W1AW/5 - Texas
by Glenn Miller - AA5PK 09 Sep '14

09 Sep '14

Starting at 0000Z, 10 September, W1AW/5 will operate the satellites from Texas. Look for me on the linear birds starting with the upcoming FO-29 pass at 0042Z (my AOS). Ron/W5RKN and Clayton/W5PFG will operate as W1AW/5 on the linear birds after I leave for FN24 on Friday. Also look for Tom/N5HYP on SO-50. 73 Glenn AA5PK

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Re: [amsat-bb] icom rs-ba1 solved problem
by Bruce 09 Sep '14

09 Sep '14

sure, i have a logging program (pda logic 8) that uses either the ci-v or usb interface. i had it running. with satellite, i use the ci-v for satpc32 and the usb for the logging program and it works just fine. i have used other programs that will access the radio with usb at the same time as the logging program. but for the remote control, it was no good. when i stopped the logging program, which also monitors the dx cluster and transmits my cw, then the remote software worked just fine. it will not be a problem not having the logging software running when i use the remote software as i am planning on not being at home when i use the radio. then after i got it working. i sat back down at the radio and heard 4x6tt loud as could be in the evening here on 20m. which is rare. worked him and it turned out he was in the united states operating his radio at home remotely. he said it after my qso with him and i never had a chance to ask him what software/hardware he was using. he sounded great. i have not connected the mic from the radio to the computer yet, i only have the audio from the radio going to the remote computer. i will do that when i have time to build a cable. i have not decided if i want to go from the acc plug or the mic plug. as i have the heil pro-set plus, it has a little 3.5mm female for the adapter already plugged into the the mic on the front of the radio. it will be easier to go 3.5mm mono to the 3.5mm stereo on the sound card than mess with the acc connector. i also will not be using the headset when i am away from home making it an easy hookup when needed. 73...bruce On 9/9/2014 2:17 AM, Fabiano Moser wrote: > Hello, > > Should you tell us what was wrong? > Then we can learn too. > > I also want to configure that on my IC-7700. > > Thank you > 73 > CT7ABD > > Fabiano Moser. > Enviado do meu iPhone > >> On 09/09/2014, at 04:51, Bruce <kk5do(a)arrl.net> wrote: >> >> i finally figured out how to get it to work on the remote computer. all is good. next is to install on the laptop. that should be a slam dunk. >> >> 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 -- 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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SDR & Satellites
by Simon Brown 09 Sep '14

09 Sep '14

Just FWIW, The HackRF is half-Duplex, the bladeRF and Ettus B200 are full-Duplex. I am interested in talking with anyone who is looking at the TX amplification stages required to deliver ~25W or so to the antenna using one of these devices. I haven't thought through the logistics required to switch antennas / pre-amps / PA stages etc., that'll come later. I have a nice set of SSB Electronics pre-amps, decent antennas which will be extended as necessary and a location with minimal obstructions unlike my previous QTH in the Swiss mountains. Simon Brown G4ELI http://v2.sdr-radio.com

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