AMSAT-BB December 2015

157 participants
241 discussions

Sat32PC talking to radios question
by Brian Sarkisian, KG8CO 31 Dec '15

31 Dec '15

I recently installed the Sat32PC program and it doesn't look like the program is talking with the radios. I am using an IC-7000 and a FT-100D as the two radios. I have set up both radio's comport information and at this point I do not have a rotor. I see that SatPC32 is tracking as the frequency changes, however, the radios aren't doing anything. What am I missing? Thank you Brian, KG8CO

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AO-85 Celestrak TLE
by Frank Westphal 31 Dec '15

31 Dec '15

I use an IOS satellite tracking program called SatExpPro which downloads the TLE's from Celestrak. I can't find the TLE's for AO-85 at the Celestrak site. Does the Celestrak site use a different name for AO-85? There is no listing for Fox either. The SatExpPro program does not allow for the downloading of the TLE's from the AMSAT site which has the TLE's for AO-85. I use SatPC32 on my desktop and download the TLE's from the AMSAT site for AO-85. Is there a reason that the Celestrak site would not host the TLE's for AO-85? Thanks for any help in solving this mystery. 73, Frank K6FW

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LNB use on 10 Ghz?
by jameshickox＠sbcglobal.net 31 Dec '15

31 Dec '15

Hello,Questions about the discussion on inexpensive downlink using the satellite TV LNB's. Do they require any conversion to get from 11 Ghz down to the 10ghz ham band? If they don't, is there any significant loss in signal from being used on a different frequency than they were intended for? Is there anything posted on a Web page showing a working setup? Lastly, (I promise) Are there any working sats in the 10ghz range to test a system on? Thanks and 73, James AA5AO Abilene Texas Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note® 3, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-30 21:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 30 Dec '15

30 Dec '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-30 21:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Frederick W. Harnett Middle School, Blackstone, Massachusetts, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-01-05 17:42:06 UTC 81 deg Sandringham School, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK, direct via GB1SAN The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-01-08 08:47:47 UTC 83 deg **************************************************************************** ** I would like to thank everyone who has supported ARISS since the first contact back 15 years ago. I can still remember ARISS contact #1 where I was the control operator at Burbank outside of Chicago. It has been a blast ever since. Now we are heading into 2016 where we hope to keep the traditions going. We have 2 contacts scheduled in the first week of the new year. Charlie AJ9N **************************************************************************** ** >From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 115 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 114 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-12-30 21:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1015. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 980. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-12-09 07:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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N3YKF/8R1
by Eduardo Erlemann 30 Dec '15

30 Dec '15

N3YKF/8R1 Worked on FO-29, AO-7 and SO-50 Thanks Ed PY2RN GG66

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Is anyone using a phased array for LEOs?
by Douglas Quagliana 30 Dec '15

30 Dec '15

I would like to hear from anyone who is (or was) using a phased array of antennas for LEOs. (For example, the LA2QAA 435-jpole phased array that appeared in the AMSAT Journal a few years ago). In particular I would like to know - what antenna elements you used (jpole, vertical, something else) for the array - number of elements in the array - what coax relays/switches you used (brand/model/signal losses?) for phasing? - details of the computer controlled steering or did you manual steer? - what band(s) (2m, 70cm, other)? - which satellite(s) you were trying to receive and -your overall experience with how well the phased array worked (or didnt work) for LEOs. If there's enough interest and/or replies then I'll write it up for an AMSAT Journal article. 73, Douglas KA2UPW/5

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Fox-1Cliff and -1D matching contribution offer
by Andrew Glasbrenner 30 Dec '15

30 Dec '15

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to AMSAT members and satellite enthusiasts everywhere! In this season of giving, we've had a generous offer for matching funds up to $1,000 for those that contribute to the Fox-1Cliff and -1D crowdsourcing campaign at https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6pz92/ab/561Zd between now and December 31st. Make your donation twice as valuable by taking advantage of this opportunity and contributing before the end of the year, and help AMSAT fund the launch of the next two satellites in the Fox-1 series. Slated for launch in 2016 on the inaugural Spaceflight SHERPA mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, Fox-1Cliff and -1D carry university experiments from Pennsylvania State-Erie, Vanderbilt, University of Iowa, cameras provided by Virginia Tech, as well as amateur radio voice repeaters capable of U/V or L/V operation. Donations of $100 or more are eligible for a special AMSAT Fox challenge coin, and $1,000 or more qualifies for a plaque with an actual solar panel cover from Fox-1Cliff or -1D. (We've nearly exhausted our coin supply and are waiting on resupply from the mint. Plaques will be distributed sometime after spacecraft integration. Please be patient for delivery of either premium.) AMSAT is a 501-(c)-(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization of amateur radio operators whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to AMSAT to help underwrite the development and launch expenses of our Fox satellite program. Donors wishing to provide additional matching funds please contact Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA at ko4ma(a)amsat.org.

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EO-79 transponder activation
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 30 Dec '15

30 Dec '15

Hi all, Wednesday 30th December 2015 - EO-79 activation and pass 1100 hrs - South to North here in Wales -UK. Transponder on and many stations heard very strongly working the satellite. I also heard my own downlink with my usual " ELK " antenna, however I was interrupted by very strong local QRM - We also have lots of rain which did not help. "Wouter -thanks to you and your team for the activation, dedication,time and effort. "HAPPY NEW YEAR " to all and Good Luck for future projects. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA

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TS-2000 and 9600 baud Sats - Problem Solved
by Tony 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

All: Not sure why, but It took a factory reset to get my Kenwood TS-2000 working with an external 9600 baud TNC. The setup now works fine with 9600 baud satellites. So for those who may have a TS-2000, the rig will work with an external 9600 baud TNC right out of the box. The external TNC data rate (menu 50F) must be set to 9600. The same menu item must changed to 1200 when operating the TNC at 1200 baud. Thanks for all... Tony -K2MO

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode A at 2158Z
by Paul Stoetzer 29 Dec '15

29 Dec '15

Yes, thanks for the QSO, Bob. As I said, I had much better signals on a pass I worked around 1000Z last year. The downside of a 10m downlink is the signals don't always get through the ionosphere very well! Glad to get three more Mode A QSOs into the log today. That makes only six QSOs I've ever made on Mode A. With my portable setup, it's difficult to manage the two antennas, but I wanted to make a few more QSOs before AO-7 only switches to Mode A when it randomly jumps modes, rather than on a predictable every other day schedule. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tuesday, December 29, 2015, R.T.Liddy <k8bl(a)ameritech.net> wrote: > Paul, > > TNX for the AO-7A QSO at 2158Z! > > Very, very weak!!! Lots of QSB!! > > 73 & HNY, Bob K8BL > > > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','n8hm(a)arrl.net');>> > *To:* "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','amsat-bb(a)amsat.org');>" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','amsat-bb(a)amsat.org');>> > *Sent:* Tuesday, December 29, 2015 3:19 PM > *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode A at 1950Z > > Great to work WB8RJY and KC9ELU on that pass from here in EN82. Heard a few > other weak signals out there too. Signals were much weaker than when I > tried this setup from this spot in the middle of the night last year. Of > course, that's the problem with 10m downlinks when the band is open! I'll > try the next pass at 2144Z too. > > Apologies for being off frequency. I'm struggling through tuning, holding > the Arrow, and holding my hand mic since my headset adapter broke a few > days ago. Luckily a replacement is waiting for me in my mailbox in DC! > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tuesday, December 29, 2015, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','n8hm(a)arrl.net');>> wrote: > > > Good afternoon, > > > > I'll be on AO-7 Mode A at 1950Z today looking for a few QSOs. There's > only > > a few days left until AO-7 sees daily eclipses for many years to come, > > meaning the 24 hour timer will not function and the satellite will spend > a > > large majority of its time in Mode B. > > > > I may also be on the 2144Z pass. > > > > 73, > > > > Paul, N8HM > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','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://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > >

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AMSAT-BB December 2015