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

K1N 2149-2202Z recording online
by Andrew Glasbrenner 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

I'm very happy. That's all. 73, Drew KO4MA https://www.dropbox.com/s/yh0g70fb3prkm6p/k1n%202149-2202Z%202-12-15.wav?dl= 0

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K1N Worked on FO-29 at 2150z 2/12
by k3sv＠pa.net 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Worked him early in his US pass from EL88. Many are in the log now. 73 Bill K3SV

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K1N - FO29 2207z
by Sean K. 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Well, if it wasn't a pirate, I worked K1N on FO29 at 2010z today. A few others made it, too. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X

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Re: [amsat-bb] Those were the days
by RSoifer1＠aol.com 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Drew, I think the best source of info on forthcoming DXpeditions is Bernie, W3UR (bernie(a)dailydx.com). He sells the Daily DX and Weekly DX e-newsletters for a very reasonable price, but there is also a lot of free DXpedition news on his web site (www.dailydx.com). 73 Ray

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Re: [amsat-bb] Those were the days
by RSoifer1＠aol.com 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Paul, Yes, there's certainly less interest in satellite operating than 30-40 years agp, but here's what we did. Most satellite DXers were also active HF DXers, and any time we worked someone in a country or state we needed on OSCAR, we would talk up satellte operating. :The informal leaders of this actiivity were Ben, W2BXA, and Pat, G3IOR. Ben is now SK but Pat is very much alive and kicking at 84. Unfortunately, though, the only operating he does these days is FM on his local repeaters. Since most of the people we worked already had good 10m setups, all they needed to get on Mode A was a 2m transmitter and antenna. They usually could cannibalize the latter from their FM rigs or borrow one from a neighbor, so all they needed was the transmitter. Ben got a few used Ameco TX-62s and appropriate crystals, and we appointed him AMSAT Loaner Equipment Manager. A DX station op could borrow a TX-62 free for several months, as long as he agreed to put it on the air and, when the loan was over, ship it to the next borrower at his own expense. That arrangement worked fine for several years until AO-10 came along. A bit like Drew loaning equipment to the K1N guys. Glad to see activity perking up. Hope it keeps going. 73 Ray W2RS

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Those were the days
by RSoifer1＠aol.com 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Bob, Yes, the AO-10/AO-13/AO-40 days "were the days" for DX. But so were the 1970s and pre-AO-10 1980s, when a lot of us were working DX on AO-6, AO-7, FO-12 and the RS birds. It was more challenging than HEO operating, but IMHO it was a lot of fun, and about a dozen of us made WAC and DXCC, all-LEO. There was some SSB, but most LEO DXing was on CW. We used all satellite modes, of course, but more DX was worked on Mode A than B or J. Mode A had a slightly better downlink range than B or J, if you had a good 10m beam and a low-noise QTH. For a discussion of that, see my QST article on the AO-5 propagation test results. The good news is that AO-7 and FO-29 (successor to FO-12) are still with us, so we can still do it. Let the good times roll! 73 Ray W2RS

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Sat Pc Cat Frequencies
by mm0kjg 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Hello all. Would somebody be kind enough to email me a copy of their current up-to-date file used for setting the cat frequencies in Satpc please. Cant remember how to update manually. Only seem to have So-50 F029 and A07 and none of the new Birds . Thanks Kev MM0KJG

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K1N operations
by Grant Zehr 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

Here's my take on the K1N DX-pedition from the satellite point of view. 1. I could hear him well on SSB today (Wed) in spite of a lot of activity on the bird. So his power is adequate, in my opinion, on a clear freq. 2. He announced that he was listening at 435.820 which was about 10 KHz down from his uplink frequency. 3. That means that if we transmit where we hear ourselves (his transmit frequency) we'll never work him. I'd suggest the following which would give us all a chance: 1. Listen for him in the lower 50 KHz of the passband. 2. When you hear him, listen to his instructions. He'll either say listening up, down or give a frequency (on his radio). 3. Leave your receiver on his frequency so you can hear him, and then move your transmit freq. to approximately where he says. For FO-29 you move the transmitter UP 10 kHz to show up DOWN 10 KHz on his dial. Don't worry about being exactly on his listening frequency. He's going to be tuning around to pick out calls. It's better if we spread out and let him find us. Figure out how to do this on your rig before the pass starts. 4. Call him even though you don't hear yourself. That feels weird, but it will work. 5. Remember, if you hear him and call over him, then he for sure won't hear you and NO ONE ELSE will hear him either. 6. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT GETTING HIS GRID SQUARE.you can look it up on a map later! 7. When he gets your call correct, give him a 'QSL 59, thank you', and give the next guy a chance. If we can stay off his transmit frequency, spread out in the general area where he is listening, and keep the calls really short, then he can easily work 20-30 of us in one pass. These guys are not used to satellite operations, but they are great ops and very bright guys. There is still time for all of us to get in their log if we turn off our computer frequency tracking and follow the operators instructions. Remember - Don't call on his frequency! Go where he tells you. Good luck! 73 Grant Zehr AA9LC

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K1N today
by Andrew Glasbrenner 12 Feb '15

12 Feb '15

K1N has sent word they will attempt to be on satellite today. That's all the info I have. Listen for them 435.820 +/- Doppler on FO-29, and remember they are half-duplex. Good Luck. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Spacex / Discovr Mission
by Clint Bradford 11 Feb '15

11 Feb '15

Ten minutes after launch ... All looks perfect! Sent from my iPod touch.

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