January 2015 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Replacement or Alternate radio to FT-847?
by Jacob Tennant 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

Since the Yaesu FT-847 is discontinued, what would be a good alternative to this radio for satellite operations? Just in case I can't find one when I am ready to purchase a new radio? Jake WF8S

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AMSAT membership
by tom.wz9u＠gmail.com 28 Jan '15

28 Jan '15

I finally decided to put my money where my mouth is and joined AMSAT on 18-Jan. I received my robot-response about my “order in processing” but so far, that's all. Should I expect something more? (I also realize this is a small, volunteer effort, so Amazon-like service is not what I expect. Perhaps I'm just impatient to dig in the archives) Tom WZ9U Sent from Windows RT

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HDSDR & SatPC32
by Richard Lawn 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

I'm trying to get HDSDR, which is connected via CAT & Omni Rig to my KX3, to then be controlled by SatPC32 via DDE. In the Options menu of HDSDR I selected DDE to HDSDR and selected SatPC32. The result was a green connected message and smiley face so I assumed all would work. However when I select a satellite on SatPC32 nothing what so ever changes on the KX3. Am I trying to do something that is impossible with the KX3? Rick W2JAZ

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Need help understanding inverting transponder operation
by Jacob Tennant 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

I am very new to satellite operations and I am running MacDoppler on my home Mac Mini computer and trying to get the modes setup as I am having a little trouble with how / where the program should be tuning my Yaesu FT857D. As I think I understand it for a inverting transponder (FO-29 for example), the downlink frequency range is 435.800 to 435.900 and that would be USB and the frequency would move lower as the pass happens starting at 435.900 and going down to wards 435.800. The uplink frequency range is 145.900 to 146.000 and that would be LSB and the frequency would move higher as the pass happens starting at 145.900 and going up to wards 146.000. Is this correct? Jake WF8S

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CHIPSTAR + Solar-Powered Balloons
by M5AKA 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Two solar-powered Southern Hemisphere balloons still transmitting on HF http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/27/ham-radio-pico-balloons-keep-flying/ CHIPSTAR "Your personal satellite Programmable in BASIC, affordable launch from the ISS" http://hackaday.io/project/3612-your-personal-satellite On the first flight, the TRSI Sat will be part of the CHIPSTAR project http://hackaday.io/project/2915-trsi-pocketqub-satellite/log/13075-trsi-sat… Article about Phil Crump M0DNY Volunteer RF Engineering Consultant for the Southampton University UOS3 Cubesat Project http://3dprint.com/38917/3dp-camera-battery-emulator/ The RSGB is selling a new book about satellites, HAMSAT - Amateur Radio Satellites Explained https://www.facebook.com/theRSGB/posts/1428837687407417 ---- 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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2m or 70cm masthead preamp first?
by Dominic Hawken 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Hi all, If you could only afford one of the above, which one would you go for? If you have both I'm interested in which one you currently use the most? I'm a few weeks away from setting up a simple az/ele system on 2 and 70 having moved house 18 months ago, so have not worked the birds for a while and am out of touch with what's available / popular. Can only afford the one, at least to start with so could do with the wisdom of this group to help the choice. Many thanks for any advice, Dominic G6NQO

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VHF Items for Sale
by Les Rayburn 27 Jan '15

27 Jan '15

Several items for sale of interest to VHF and Satellite operators. Ship to lower 48 only. No international orders. Prefer PayPal or USPS Money order. Prices include UPS Ground shipping. If you want insurance, buyer pays for that (at cost). I've been on Ebay since 1996. 100% positive feedback with over 900 transactions. Buy with confidence. FOR SALE==================FOR SALE===============FOR SALE=================== Yaesu FT-736R Transceiver with 6 Meters, 2 Meters, 432, and 1296. Includes manual and microphone. Good condition, with some shelf wear. Purchased in an estate sale from original owner's wife. Very little use, he was a doctor and didn't have much time to get on the air. I used it briefly during September contest last year, then packed it away as my "backup" rig to my Icom IC-910H. A solid performer for weak signal or satellite operation. $1,050 ================ HIGH POWER AMP FOR 1296! Built by Merle Cox, W7YOZ in November of 2012. This 11 1/4" X 17 1/4" rack mount amplifier includes a DEMI 2370PA, 2 DOW-KEY 12VDC input and output coaxial relays, a NARDA microwave 20 db directional coupler and detector (this samples power to display on the output power meter, which is located on the front face of the rack mount). It also includes T/R time delay (which can be varied), and rear panel TR control. Hookup is nearly as simple as adding a "brick" amplifier on the lower bands. I ran a short piece of flex from my IC-910H into a Bird wattmeter to measure input power, connected the phono plug T/R to a short cable running to the DIN plug on the back of the Icom, and connected the antenna. Maximum power is achieved with about 6.5 watts on input power, with measured output power at 64 watts! That's a lot of power on 1296. Perfect for DXing, contests, or even EME. The build quality is very professional. Enamel gray, with toggle switches, super neat wiring, labeled connections, etc. 12 VDC is via PowerPole cables, rig input and antenna output connections are all Type N. It even includes an instruction sheet provided by Merle to make set-up easy for an "appliance operator" like myself. $750 ================= Kenwood TS-60S 6 Meter, All Mode Transceiver. Good condition. Includes microphone and mounting bracket. Legendary receiver make this a high performance rig for the Magic Band. $500 =================== Yaesu G-800DXA Rotor. New condition, unused in original packaging. Great medium duty, 450 degree rotor with preset. Very fast rotor. $400. ================= Mirage D3010N 430 Amplifier. 30 watts input with 100 watt output. All mode amp. Powerpole connector. Untested but working fine when I put it in storage. (replaced with larger TE amp) $175.00 =============== Mirage D-26 430 Amplifier. 4 watts input with 60 watt output. All mode amp. Powerpole connector. Untested but working fine when last used in rover operation. $150.00 ================== -- -- 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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LightSail-1 + DESPATCH 3D Printed QSL Card
by M5AKA 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

ARTSAT2:DESPATCH 3D Printed QSL Card http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/26/despatch-3d-qsl-card/ LightSail-1 launch announced http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/26/lightsail-1-launch-announced/ 3400 MHz and 10 GHz – ARRL’s comments on WRC-15 http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/22/3400-mhz-and-10-ghz-arrl-wrc-15/ ED-SAT CubeSat Training Kit http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/22/ed-sat-cubesat-training-kit/ Radio ham interviewed on TV about Beagle 2 http://amsat-uk.org/2015/01/19/radio-ham-tv-interview-beagle-2/ UK's Sarah Brightman Discusses Upcoming Trip to Space https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDt-9wByEbs ---- 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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AMSAT-IT / ARISS on the National Italian broadcasting company (RAI)
by Fabio A. IZ5XRC 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

Dear all, here below a television report produced by the Italian national public broadcasting company, RAI 3 channel, about AMSAT Italia and ARISS contacts: http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-7c260ac3-0c03-4dea-a… The service was hosted in "Spaziolibero", a television program sponsored by Italian parliament. The video gives "visibility" also to ARISS school contacts and HAMTV. 73 Fabio - IZ5XRC *www.amsat.it <http://www.amsat.it>twitter.com/iz5xrc <http://twitter.com/iz5xrc>*

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1 meter S-band dish available
by Jerry Pixton 26 Jan '15

26 Jan '15

I have an N3IYR 1 meter offset dish that I used for AO-40. It is about to go to the landfill as I have to downsize. If anyone wants to pick it up in Strasburg, VA it is free. It has a slight ding on the rim edge where it hit my tower when my elevator rotor bracket broke. It has a home make helix driver Contact me off-line if interested in picking it up for free. Otherwise it goes to the land fill in March. 73 Jerry, W6IHG -- ---------------------------------------------- Dr. Jerry R. Pixton, PIXOS Designs http://www.shentel.net/pixosdesigns/RadioTuner jpixton(a)shentel.net ----------------------------------------------

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