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

Using Cheap radios for Sats ( and APRS)
by Robert Bruninga 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

http://aprs.org/ani.html With the development of QIKCOM-2 APRS DTMF satellite*, we have found a way to encode ANY ham call 3 character suffix into the 5 digit ANI codes of all those cheap radios. And hence, we can use the ANI to place anyone on the APRS map locally and globally. And knowing who is on the air when, where and on what frequency is what APRS brings to Ham radio. This project is part of the overall APRStt, TouchTone project to allow anyone to use any radio for APRS contact and visibility. Especially the cheap Chinese radios. Here is how it works: . User makes VOICE ID and his ANI goes out when he releases PTT . Other repeater users do not hear the DTMF ANI because repeater output is typically muted. . APRS-ANI engine ($50 gizmo) at the repeater receiver decodes the ANI . That repeater APRS-ANI engine has a list of all known callsigns (and their suffix) in that area . APRS-ANI engine responds with SPOKEN CALLSIGN (if needed) for feedback . APRS-ANI engine sends out APRS packet on national APRS channel as follows: . It is from your full call like any other APRS packet . It shows WHEN you keyed the radio (real time) and were on the air . It includes the FREQUENCY and PL of the repeater . It includes any ID or BRAG text associated with that repeater . Your POSITION shows on every APRS radio locally and every map in the world in a table near the repeater And THAT is what APRS is all about. Facilitating human-to-human contact by providing situational awareness of everything going on in Ham radio in the area. What we need: We already have all the pieces needed to do this. We just need to get organized to do it more efficiently. I have working models of the APRS-ANI engine using just the DTMF chip and a Byonics TinyTrack4. But here are some things that can help speed this along: . Programming your ANI radio: Daniel KB3MUN has a good summary on these radios. http://aprs.org/aprstt/DTMF-China.html . CALL/Suffix lists: Need a Smart parser that can take ANY club roster in ANY format and output a simple list of nothing but callsigns in .TXT format for the local ANI engine to use for suffix correlation to full calls. . Tweaking DTMF decoders (such as Byonics) to follow the high speed ANI codes (hardware solution) . All repeater developers to add this to their Controllers! (software solution) And this is just the beginning of what we can do with DTMF and APRS. See http://aprs.org/aprstt.html Bob, WB4APR * http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html

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A refresher needed...
by Mark Lunday 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

1. Based upon the AMSAT page, I conclude the following birds are active: ISS (FM), LILACSAT-2, AO-73, AO-85, SO-50, NO-44, NO-84, FO-29, XW-2F, AO-07. 2. At the top of the AMSAT satellite status page, there is a blank line for satellite status, with reports. Is this a new satellite that is not yet turned over to operations? 3. Which of the following satellites will work when NOT illuminated? I remember AO-7 and NO-44 won't, and AO-73 will, but not sure about SO-50, FO-29, NO-84, AO-85, XW-2F. 4. What is the best way to tell if a satellite is illuminated? Could be before sunrise at my QTH if the bird is east, or after my sunset if the bird is west. How can I tell? 5. I need more info on APRS. I set it up to relay my position from my car on 144.39 many years ago, but Bob Bruninga has often said APRS capable of so much more. a. Is satellite APRS helpful just for isolated locations, for relaying information? b. How long does the satellite transmit the information packet (what is the lifetime of the packet?) c. What if the amount of packets to be transmitted by the satellite takes longer than the visibility of the satellite at my QTH? I won't hear certain data, right? d. What is everyone else using satellite APRS for? Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

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AO73, unsuccessful loop test
by Mark Lunday 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

I can hear a WA2, but not my own CW signal on the downlink. Using an Elk for uplink. IC910H. Power at 50%, azimuth only 20 degrees from center of the Elk. Just to confirm, uplink center band is 435.140, downlink center band is 145.960. Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

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Satellite Breakup and some debris?)
by Robert Bruninga 02 Dec '15

02 Dec '15

Just got this. -------- On 25 November 2015 at approximately 0816z, [multiple objects] were detected in the vicinity of NOAA 16 (#26536), which may indicate a breakup of the non-operational satellite. As of 1830z, 19 associated objects have been cataloged... More pieces may be cataloged as analysis continues... -------- Just a reminder how messy it is up there. Bob, WB4APR

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ARISS Audio for Friday Conatct
by John Spasojevich 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

Please join us in listening to the ISS contact with participants at *Dragonskolan, Umeå, Sweden* on Friday December 4. AOS is anticipated at 10:15 UTC The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and LU1CGB in Argentina. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. NOTE: Contact is dependent on outcome of the Cygnus launch scheduled for Thursday December 3. If Launch is successful this contact is a go. If the launch fails this contact will be rescheduled for another date due to time constraints. Dragonskolan is one of the biggest upper secondary schools in Sweden and is located in central Umeå. Currently hosting 1820 students aged 16-19 and 300 staff; it has recently been renovated to meet modern needs in a stimulating learning environment. Audio from this contact will be fed into the: EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) Server Streaming Audio at: https://sites.google.com/site/arissaudio/ Audio on Echolink & web stream is generally transmitted around 20 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. ** Contact times are approximate. If the ISS executes a reboost or other manoeuvre, the AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) time may alter by a few minutes ** 73, John - AG9D ARISS Audio Distribution Team

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HM58 on AO-73 at 22:04
by Pedro Sousa 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

Hi all, For those in Europe, on AO-73 pass starting today at 22:04 UTC, CU7BC in HM58qm will be active. I'm "training" him on the job, but go ahead and give him a call if you hear us chatting. 73 de Pedro CU2ZG HM77fr --- Este e-mail foi verificado em termos de vírus pelo software antivírus Avast. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Recap on my radio tests with AO-85...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

Hi! Since AO-85 was launched in October, I have been testing different HTs to see which ones can work this satellite full-duplex and writing about those tests here on the AMSAT-BB list. Other than the ISS U/V cross-band repeater, it has been a long time since we have had a U/V FM satellite (going back to SO-35 in 1999-2001). To make it easier to reference my posts, I'm listing the links to them in the AMSAT-BB archive here... For the Wouxun KG-UV9D, I posted my first comments about using that on AO-85 early on the Saturday (10 October) following the launch: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-October/055421.html After additional testing, I wrote more about this radio last week (Monday, 23 November): http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-November/056189.html I first wrote about the Wouxun KG-UV8D with AO-85 on the Sunday (11 October) following the launch: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-October/055462.html and after additional tests, a post late last Saturday (28 November) evening: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-November/056254.html I briefly wrote about the AnyTone TERMN-8R just before the AMSAT Symposium, on 12 October: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-October/055493.html and wrote more about it after testing it last Thursday (26 November) evening: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-November/056232.html I tried a Puxing PX-UV973 last Friday (27 November), and wrote a report about it that morning: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-November/056238.html Not that it really needed to be tested against AO-85, I tried my Kenwood TH-D72A HT the same Friday I had tried the PX-UV973. I posted a report about it late that evening: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2015-November/056245.html None of these reports include the occasions I varied the transmit power from my Icom IC-2820H 2m/70cm FM mobile radio among its 3 levels (5, 15, and 50W) when working AO-85. With all of these radios, my original comments about the KG-UV9D and being able to work AO-85 when the satellite was above 20 degrees elevation appear to be true for all of these radios when used at the 5-watt transmit power level. I still plan on finding my IC-W32A and DJ-G7T to try with this satellite, as well as trying two-radio combinations. As I try other radios, I'll post my findings here. If anyone else is trying different radios with AO-85, especially HTs (or other radios with low transmitter power levels), please post your findings to this list. The AMSAT-BB archives are open to the public, and searchable via search engines. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Vega Launch Web Streaming
by JoAnne Maenpaa 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

Here is another opportunity to view a web streamed launch video on the evening of December 1 USA time. The European Space Agency's LISA Pathfinder technology demonstrator will be launched by Arianespace on a Vega rocket from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch is planned for 04:15:00, December 2 UTC. This will be the evening of December 1 USA time. Video coverage begins 20 minutes prior to launch at http://www.arianespace.tv/ then click the 'Follow next launch' link. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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First contact on LilacSat-2
by Bill Dillon 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

I was thrilled to make my first contact (with W4CLJ) on the 00:35 z LilacSat-2 pass this evening. Lots of odd tones, and it sounded at times that someone was keying without speaking, but I still was able to get through. I used an HT and Arrow 2 antenna. Unlike AO-85, there wasn't much activity on the sat, I heard just one other station (NP4?? DM41), but couldn't make contact. Good ol' SO-50 is still the easiest of the easy-sats for me to work with my simple gear. --Bill, KG5FQX

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BIas-T Power Supply
by Tony 01 Dec '15

01 Dec '15

All: I'll be installing new SFH-Elektronik preamps along with Bias-T's to run DC along the coax. I'd like to feed each preamp with one power supply, but I was wondering if this may cause RFI issues? The power supply for the preamps will be separate from the rigs power supply. Thanks 73, Tony

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