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

Re: [amsat-bb] New M2 LEO Antenna System
by Doug - k4gkj 08 Mar '15

08 Mar '15

Okay boys.... That's enough... Your grounded... No desert tonight. And you can stick your noses in the corner till your ready to come back and play nicely. Be it an economical 'tape measure' design, a telescopic whip, or Acme's super duper 80 foot long gold plated beam with 5 different polarities to choose from, the 100 Watt linear your using is really ruining the fun for the rest of us. Seriously though, this is terrible. The M2 design is something to consider, that is for those that can afford to consider it. And if your serious, it's most likely a viable solution for those in the market.... But I'm sure many starting out will try the economy route. If it's for experimentation or learning, then the whip and tape measure is a great way to go. But if your teaching others, or on a special event - such as an ARISS contact, it only takes the concentration of a couple brain cells to figure out what will serve me best. Either way, the kindness of the folks at M2 is a very nice thing to be thankful for... What I see here is a sad battle of the egos competing against one another. And in the wake of it all, your simply stating obvious facts most already know..... It's obvious yall have issues with each other that goes far beyond 'the ideal antenna'. Get real boys. And take it off line - *please. Doug Bennight K4GKJ -------- Original message -------- From: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> Date: To: 'Clint Bradford' <clintbradford(a)mac.com>,'Paul Stoetzer' <n8hm(a)arrl.net> Cc: k6lcs(a)ham-sat.info,'AMSAT BB' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] New M2 LEO Antenna System I agree Clint, and there is obviously room for both systems in our store. When can I expect you to have the first batch ready to drop ship to the purchasers? 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Clint Bradford Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2015 7:02 PM To: Paul Stoetzer Cc: k6lcs(a)ham-sat.info Bradford; AMSAT BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] New M2 LEO Antenna System >> ... You contributed to this thread because you wanted to make sure >> that people don't think you need a $500 antenna system to work LEOs - and that is true, but on the same token, a $15 tape measure antenna will produce disappointing results in most cases if someone is trying to make QSOs on SO-50. PRECISELY. I believe that - properly marketed - AMSAT-NA could make more profit selling 500 tape measure beam kits this year at $25 retail to schools, individuals, and clubs - than the profit they will realize selling a handful of $500 antenna systems. ESPECIALLY with the FOX projects coming up. What better way to get MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED in the satellites than to offer them an affordable and educational DIY antenna building project for their new satellites? Clint Bradford _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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

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Re: [amsat-bb] New M2 LEO Antenna System
by Clint Bradford 08 Mar '15

08 Mar '15

This is what makes this aspect of the hobby so incredibly exciting: SUCCESS can be achieved with antennas ranging from the $30 Pryme AL-800 or $25 Smiley 270A ... to handheld $15 home-made tape measure beams ... to beams made out of barbed wire or old umbrellas ... to the commercial units and elevation rotators. I lost track of how many successful satellite contacts Alan N5AFV has made with "merely" his Icom IC-W32a and AL-800 antenna - last time I checked with him, it was MORE THAN 9,000. SO ... please do not think you need to spend hundreds of dollars to work LEOs! Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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DN30vx
by Lee Ernstrom 08 Mar '15

08 Mar '15

Today I drove out to Antelope Island and worked the AO-73 satellite with my FT-897 and my new FT-817 so that I could try and get used to the duplex mode. I'm still not sure whether I should tune my transmitter to the receive frequency or tune the receiver. I know this has been discussed here but I guess I wasn't paying attention. Anyway I was able to work AC0RA, K4FEG, VE5SWL and NX9B. Thanks to all of you for the contacts. I'm trying to get good at duplex operation before our Alaskan cruise this August when I plan to take the 897 and the 817 with me so that I can cover some of those coastal grids that are mostly in the water from Seattle to Skagway. I plan to go back to the Island for this afternoons FO-29 pass. If you are interested is seeing my operation location I just posted the new photo on my QRZ page. Hope to work you all on FO-29 this afternoon from DN30vx. WA7HQD, Doc

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Sat Magazine
by Kevin Deane 08 Mar '15

08 Mar '15

http://www.satnews.com/register_new.php Free...

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ANS-067 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 07 Mar '15

07 Mar '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-067 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems Announce Member-Only Special Pricing * Fox-1A Delivery and P-POD Integration Set For March 25 * AMSAT and University of Iowa Partner on Scientific Payload for Fox-1D * ISS Deploys Cubesats * I0/W5PFG/P Active on Satellites from Italy * Upcoming ARISS Contact 07 March 2015 * Danish Astronaut Earns Technician License * NASA JPL 2115 MHz Moonshine Signals Received in Australia SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-067.01 ANS-067 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 067.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. March 8, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-067.01 AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems Announce Member-Only Special Pricing M2 Antenna Systems, Inc. of Fresno, CA introduced the new satellite antenna LEO- Pack using their 436CP16 and 2MCP8A yagis during the 2015 HamCation in Orlando, FL. The 436CP16 and 2MCP8A are light weight, circularly polarized antennas optimized for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite communications or other applications where a small circular polarized antenna is required. Optimum match and gain designed for the satellite band. Rear mounted for easy coaxial cable routing. A preamp (not included) can be mounted close to the antenna for almost no coax loss before the preamp, maximizing your receive performance. Computer design techniques help keep spurious side lobes down for optimum signal to noise rations. Both the 436CP16 and 2MCP8A feature the same CNC machined, O- ring and silicone-gel sealed, driven element assemblies common to all M2 Yagi Antennas. This insures years of trouble free performance regardless of weather. M2 designed a custom LEO cross boom to pair these two antennas together for a very manageable amateur satellite ground station. AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems are pleased to announce that the LEO-Pack system is being offered to members only at $499, shipping included (US only). Non- members can join AMSAT-NA at time of purchase to participate in this special purchase. The M2 list price is $545.99. To place your order, visit the AMSAT store at: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ M2 Antenna System's LEO-Pack page can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/nyhgmcr [ANS thanks the AMSAT Store and Robert Brown, KR7O, Amateur Marketing and Sales Manager at M2 Antenna Systems for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1A Delivery and P-POD Integration Set For March 25 Following the successful conclusion of vibration and thermal/vacuum testing Fox-1 now is stored in a clean environment waiting for launch. AMSAT Vice- President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY says several required reports are being reviewed by the launch provider. Fox-1 completed its Mission Readiness Review (MRR) at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo CA on February 24 before a review board of Cal Poly and NASA representatives. Jerry sums it all up, "Fox-1A delivery/P-POD integration is now set, for March 25, 2015 at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. From there, we won’t see her again – but certainly look forward to hearing from her again!" Ongoing updates will be posted on the AMSAT web page, on the AMSAT-NA Facebook page, and in the AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT and University of Iowa Partner on Scientific Payload for Fox-1D AMSAT and the University of Iowa have agreed to include the University’s HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation mapping experiment on Fox-1D. According to Don Kirchner, KDØL, Research Engineer at the University of Iowa, “HERCI is intended to provide a mapping of radiation in a low earth orbit. This is of scientific interest for planning CubeSat test flights for low energy X-Ray detectors.” “The instrument consists of a digital processing unit (DPU) derived from processors currently in orbit around Saturn on Cassini and on the way to Jupiter on the Juno spacecraft,” says Kirchner. “The DPU was shrunk to a CubeSat form factor with funding from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium.” The University of Iowa’s history in spaceflight research dates back to the earliest satellites. As Kirchner puts it, “HERCI can be considered a direct descendent of the first University of Iowa spaceflight instrument flown on Explorer I in 1958. The instrument is being constructed as a Senior Design Project by four Electrical Engineering students from the UI College of Engineering, under supervision of Space Physics engineering staff from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.” AMSAT’s VP of Engineering, Jerry Buxton, NØJY, noted the win-win benefits of the agreement, stating, “This partnership with the University of Iowa illustrates our strategy of leveraging the new CubeSat design to assist universities that need a way to fly scientific payloads while providing a viable ongoing platform for amateur radio.” [ANS thanks Jerry, N0JY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- I0/W5PFG/P Active on Satellites from Italy Clayton, W5PFG, will be active as I0/W5PFG/P from Italy between March 7-12th. He will operate the satellites from Rome (WW Loc. JN61et). He states, "Due to my work schedule, I will only be available to work satellite passes in the late evening or early morning hours. If you would like to schedule a contact, please send an E-mail to w5pfg at arrl.net. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1205 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS Deploys Cubesats Lambda-Sat was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on July 13, 2014, in an Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket CRS-2/ORB-2. Deployment from the ISS took place on March 4, 2015 along with the MicroMAS CubeSat. This followed the deployment of two other CubeSats GEARRSAT and TechEdSat-4. The Lambda team encourages amateur radio operators around the world to listen for and report the Lambda-Sat signal. Frequency: 437.462 MHz Downlink: AX.25 Unnumbered Information (UI) packets at 1200 bps AFSK Transmission Power : 1W Call Sign KK6DFZ The Secretary of the Cyprus Amateur Radio Society (CARS) Nestor 5B4AHZ has written an article on Lambda-Sat, he says: The naming of the Lambda-sat satellite came from the Greek letter L, lambda, a reminder of Hellas, Helios, the Greek word Thalassa for sea, the Greek word Lithos which directly translates to stone (meaning “Land of Light”). The Lambda-sat was constructed entirely of Greek volunteers who worked feverishly, selflessly and without any personal gain. Members of Lambda-sat contributed to the construction of the satellite system each with their knowledge in robotics, electronics, software development and telecommunications. The group consists of young people from Greece who traveled to Silicon Valley in California to participate in this project. “I want to motivate the youth in Greece to continue to dream,” says the original initiator of the project, Periklis Papadopoulos, Professor of Aerospace Engineering of the Federal University of California San Jose, which has been awarded from NASA for his contribution with the prize Turning Goals Into Reality (TGIR). As the professor states, “My goal is to demonstrate the capabilities of young people in Greece.” The professor believes that our country could be active in this area and this is not an economic issue, but a question of will alone. Reception reports of Lambda-Sat came be submitted to: http://lambdasat.com/?page_id=181 Additional Lambda-Sat links: Lambda-Sat http://lambdasat.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lambdateam Article on Lambda-Sat by Nestor 5B4AHZ http://www.cyhams.org/index.php/en/news-and-events/359-the-first-greek- microsatellite-is-a-fact [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact 07 March 2015 An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at G. Salvemini - G. La Pira, Montemurlo, Italy, and "Dante Alighieri" 1st Grade Secondary (Middle) School, Casale Monferrato, Italy on 07 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:51 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between IR0ISS and two other stations IK1SLD and IQ5VR. The contact should be audible over portions of Italy and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English/Italian. The school "Salvemini - La Pira" is in Montemurlo, province of Prato, Tuscany region and it is a Secondary Middle School; it has 21 classes with pupils aged between 11 and 14. The name of the school derives from the fusion of the two schools of the commune. This is the only secondary middle school of the area. The schoolhouse hosts around 520 pupils. The "Dante Alighieri" School is situated a bit off the town centre of Casale Monferrato, near the ancient Cittadella, province of Alessandria, Piedmont region. It's a modern construction, developed on two main buildings: one for the school's didactical and administrative activities, one for the sport activities (gym and pool). It's surrounded by a wide playground, with a little plantation of poplars, planted by the pupils of the school. There are 12 classrooms (4 at the main floor and 8 at the first floor) and different labs: Science lab, Informatics lab, Techno lab, Art lab, Maths lab, Languages lab and a coloured and wide library. There is also a lot of afternoon activities, such as Latin courses, Languages courses and sport tournaments (soccer, basket, volley). The Dante Secondary I grade School has a current roll of 230 and a teaching staff of 29. In the last few years the school has been enhanced by the richness of its diverse student population. [ANS thanks Dave, AA4KN, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Danish Astronaut Earns Technician License Danish Astronaut Andreas Mogensen Andreas Mogensen completed his license class on Feb 23 and passed his exam on Feb 25. He has been assined the callsign KG5GCZ. Andreas was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009 and completed the astronaut basic training programme at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany in November 2010. Since completing the astronaut basic training programme, Andreas has been trained and certified as a private pilot by the Lufthansa flight school and is trained and qualified for spacewalks using both the American EMU suit and the Russian Orlan suit. Andreas has been assigned to a 10-day mission to the International Space Station to be launched September 2015 on the Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft. He will be the first astronaut of Danish nationality to go to space. [ANS thanks ARISS and ESA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA JPL 2115 MHz Moonshine Signals Received in Australia Last week's NASA JPL EME lunar ranging experiment was received in Australia. On Tuesday March 3 between 0600 to 0900 UTC, the JPL tested its Lunar Ranging Experiment. With JPL using 20 kilowatts into a 34-metre antenna, it was suggested that reception of the reflected signal would be possible on a basic receiving antenna. This inspired Noel Ferguson VK3FI in Mildura, who decided to have a listen. As his three metre dish was out of service, he decided to try an old "grid pack" pay TV antenna to pick up the reflection on 2115 MHz. The initial noise floor was about strength five. The reflected signal first appeared as the moon rose over the tree line at about 0820 UTC, with the moon's distance at that time about four hundred and three thousand kilometers from earth. Signals in Mildura peaked at strength seven using the FT847 as an IF on 164 MHz. Noel VK3FI reports that reception continued through to 0900 UTC, when the JPL test was terminated. Well done on getting that signal. [ANS thanks Vk1wia-news, Australia's WIA News for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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New M2 LEO pack antenna system is now available in AMSAT store
by Andrew Glasbrenner 07 Mar '15

07 Mar '15

Since not everyone reads ANS or the Twitter or Facebook feeds, I thought I'd share this here a bit early. 73, Drew KO4MA M2 Antenna Systems, Inc. of Fresno, CA introduced the new satellite antenna LEO-Pack using their 436CP16 and 2MCP8A yagis during the 2015 HamCation in Orlando, FL. The 436CP16 and 2MCP8A are light weight, circularly polarized antennas optimized for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite communications or other applications where a small circular polarized antenna is required. Optimum match and gain designed for the satellite band. Rear mounted for easy coaxial cable routing. A preamp (not included) can be mounted close to the antenna for almost no coax loss before the preamp, maximizing your receive performance. Computer design techniques help keep spurious side lobes down for optimum signal to noise rations. Both the 436CP16 and 2MCP8A feature the same CNC machined, O-ring and silicone-gel sealed, driven element assemblies common to all M2 Yagi Antennas. This insures years of trouble free performance regardless of weather. M2 designed a custom LEO cross boom to pair these two antennas together for a very manageable amateur satellite ground station. AMSAT-NA and M2 Antenna Systems are pleased to announce that the LEO-Pack system is being offered to members only at $499, shipping included (US only). Non-members can join AMSAT-NA at time of purchase to participate in this special purchase. The M2 list price is $545.99. To place your order, visit the AMSAT store at: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ M2 Antenna System's LEO-Pack page can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/nyhgmcr

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N2IEN in VP2V
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 07 Mar '15

07 Mar '15

Got an email from N2IEN stating he will be in VP2V this coming Thursday through Sunday with Arrow and VX8. His QSL manager is Rex NR6M for those that work him. Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4

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test
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 07 Mar '15

07 Mar '15

Please ignore Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School Disagree I Learn

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UHF Preamp Needed
by Paul - K6HR 06 Mar '15

06 Mar '15

Anyone have an ARR MSP432VDG-160 preamp excess to their needs they want to sell? Paul Delaney - K6HR paul.hamradio(a)verizon.net http://gw.k6hr.ampr.org:8080

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Operate a camera aboard an interplanetary spacecraft
by Clint Bradford 06 Mar '15

06 Mar '15

In May, the ‘webcam’ on board Mars Express will be available for public imaging requests. The European Space Agency is inviting schools, science clubs and youth groups to submit proposals for one of eight opportunities to image another planet. http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Have_you_ever_used_a_camera_on… Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Dawn In Orbit Around Ceres
by B J 06 Mar '15

06 Mar '15

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/march/nasa-spacecraft-becomes-first-to-orbit… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna question
by Jacob Tennant 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

So as I understand the general consensus with this antenna a small up tilt is all I need even if my western horizon is almost 45 degrees. Nobody mention anything about my ides of tilting the antenna at 45 degrees, halfway between horizontal and vertical? Any comments on that idea? Or should I just install it horizontal with the UHF side up for better reception of the UHF downlink satellites. Jacob Tennant WF8S On Thursday, March 5, 2015, Rolf Krogstad <rolf.krogstad(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Jacob, > > I have that same antenna which I use for satellite work. > I have it mounted vertical polarization and I modified the mounting > bracket so it is mounted at about a 15 degree elevation. > It seems to work quite well except when the satellites are directly > overhead. And that rarely happens in practice as I am not on that many > passes every month. > > The difference between us is that I have it above my HF yagi at the top of > my 50 foot tower, so I am over the trees and houses and I find I can work > down to the horizon. I think a 45 degree angle for your situation would be > too much. Maybe something more like 25 to 30 degrees. > Most of the time you will be aiming at satellites in lower elevations > where they are farther away, so that should give you the best performance > when they are the furthest. And when they are overhead they are much > closer so it seems to work ok. > > You will have to get a couple of diplexers to act as filters otherwise the > desense of transmitting so close to your receiving antenna will make it > hard to heard yourself on the downlink. > > GL es 73 > > Rolf, NR0T > Grid = EN34it > Amsat #38889 > Amsat-UK > > On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 10:09 PM, John Geiger <af5cc(a)fidmail.com > <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','af5cc(a)fidmail.com');>> wrote: > >> Hi Jacob, >> >> I have had a few of those antennas before. Are you only going to use it on >> the satellites, or are you thinking of using it for terresterial use as >> well? As you look at the antennas, one set of elements is on the top of >> the boom and the other set of elements are on the bottom of the boom. >> When >> it is mounted for horizontal polarization, the band that is on the top has >> a rather high angle of elevation. I always mounted it with the UHF >> elements >> on top, so the satellites would have to get up a bit in elevation before I >> could really pick them up well on Mode J. When VO52 was on, being Mode B, >> I >> would work it from horizon to horizon. The band on the bottom side of the >> boom seemed to function as one would expect a yagi to. >> >> If you were only going to use it for the satellites, mounting it for >> vertical polarization might eliminate this problem and give similar >> performance on both bands. I have never tried that, but someone who has >> might answer that question for you (and for me if I ever get another one). >> I am now using separate antennas for 2m and 70cm and the Diamond 15 >> element >> yagi I have for UHF hears SO50 better than the A270-10S usually did. >> >> 73 John AF5CC >> >> P.S. congrats on the 2 x 1 callsign as well! >> >> On Wed, Mar 4, 2015 at 9:52 PM, Jacob Tennant <jakewf8s(a)gmail.com >> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jakewf8s(a)gmail.com');>> wrote: >> >> > A buddy of mine has given me a Cushcraft A270-10S dual-band antenna. I >> was >> > going to try to use it start my satellite antenna farm and was thinking >> of >> > mounting it on a rotator, angled at 45 degrees up from the horizon and >> > angled at 45 degrees polarization. >> > >> > The main reason for the high up angle is that I live in a bit of a >> valley >> > or as I call it a hole. North and South aren't to bad as I have heard >> > passes at about 20 degrees, to the east my horizon is about 25 to30 >> > degrees. To the west though I have a horizon of 40 degrees. >> > >> > So I was thinking wit the antenna pointed at 45 degrees above the >> horizon >> > would give me the best chance all around. >> > >> > Am I on the right track or lost in the snow? >> > >> > Or would I be better to just mount the antenna horizontal aimed at the >> > horizon and take what I can get? >> > >> > Jacob Tennant WF8S >> > _______________________________________________ >> > 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > >

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Are satellites visible by moon light?
by Graham Shirville 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Last night was cold and clear here in the UK and the moon was full, or nearly full. I could easily see a number of aircraft “con” trails by the moonlight. This got me thinking about whether it would be possible to see space objects by moonlight in good conditions. Maybe it has already done or maybe it would not work but I would love to know! thanks and 73 Graham G3VZV

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Predicting launch times to space stations
by andy thomas 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Hi I remember a few years ago the question arose about the launch window to the ISS. I think there was a program or algorithm that, based on the TLE of the station and lat/long of the launch site, looked at the sub-satellite points of the station orbiting over the launch site, and calculated the launch by allowing a delay so that the launch vehicle orbited behind the station prior to docking. Could anyone guide me towards the method or program, please? The reason for the request is to apply it to a review of the launch of the Shenzhou-10 spacecraft to the Tiangong-1 space station. I am interested in what the options were for the launch window of Shenzhou-10, i.e. when other launches could have taken place, but didn't. I'm sure that there was a couple of days around the actual launch, and a period of time before and after until the window appeared again. But I would like to nail the issue. Any help gratefully received e.g by direct email: andythomasmail AT gmail Dot com or AT yahoo Dot co Dot uk thanks in advance 73 de andy g0sfj

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Lambda-Sat CubeSat – ISS Deployment
by M5AKA 05 Mar '15

05 Mar '15

Lambda-Sat CubeSat – ISS Deployment http://amsat-uk.org/2014/08/23/lambdasat-cubesat-iss-deployment/ Radio hams will be at BBC Solar Eclipse event http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/02/radio-hams-will-be-at-bbc-solar-eclipse-even… RSGB respond to Ofcom UHF review (70cm band) http://amsat-uk.org/2015/02/26/rsgb-respond-to-uhf-review/ ---- 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] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 10, Issue 82 Message 12
by K5VOU 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

Omedetoogozaimasu ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Wed, 04 Mar 2015 09:47:26 +0900 From:<tanaka(a)fit.ac.jp> To:<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] FITSAT-1 Message-ID:<20150304004726.0000307C.0378(a)fit.ac.jp> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Dear Ham Friends, The paper of FITSAT-1 was accepted on Journal of Acta Astronoutica\\(^O^) // http://WWW.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/paper/1-s2.0-S0094576514004019-main.pdf Best 73, JA6AVG -- Takushi Tanaka

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Antenna question
by Jacob Tennant 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

A buddy of mine has given me a Cushcraft A270-10S dual-band antenna. I was going to try to use it start my satellite antenna farm and was thinking of mounting it on a rotator, angled at 45 degrees up from the horizon and angled at 45 degrees polarization. The main reason for the high up angle is that I live in a bit of a valley or as I call it a hole. North and South aren't to bad as I have heard passes at about 20 degrees, to the east my horizon is about 25 to30 degrees. To the west though I have a horizon of 40 degrees. So I was thinking wit the antenna pointed at 45 degrees above the horizon would give me the best chance all around. Am I on the right track or lost in the snow? Or would I be better to just mount the antenna horizontal aimed at the horizon and take what I can get? Jacob Tennant WF8S

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UT1FG/MM FJ08 on FO-29 at 21:05 UTC
by Clayton Coleman 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

Yuri UT1FG indicated one more hour until his next grid (FJ07) on FO-29 at 21:05 4-March. He has traversed the Panama Canal system. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Yaesu G5400-B parts needed
by w4upd 04 Mar '15

04 Mar '15

I am presently working on rebuilding my G-5400 rotator. I have the elevation unit done and seems to work fine. However, I have finally started working on the azimuth unit and find that one of the two mast clamps has a crack at the top. I was wondering if anyone has a spare(s) or a unit not working that you can part out. The rotator itself works but needs some TLC with bearings, greasing etc. The mast mounting clamp halves have the part number: 7501-075. I only need one since they are the same, but two would be fine but not necessary. You can contact me off the list. Reid, W4UPD

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FITSAT-1
by tanaka＠fit.ac.jp 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

Dear Ham Friends, The paper of FITSAT-1 was accepted on Journal of Acta Astronoutica\\(^O^) // http://WWW.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/paper/1-s2.0-S0094576514004019-main.pdf Best 73, JA6AVG -- Takushi Tanaka

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Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB outage and changes.
by Joe Fitzgerald 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

Glen Zook<gzook at yahoo.com >wrote: >Unfortunately, Yahoo is still dumping most AMSAT BB messages to the SPAM >folder. Glen, K9STH Glen, Thanks for your feedback. So far, the change I implemented seems to be working ... note that your "From" address has been "munged" such that it no longer claims to be sent from a Yahoo! server, when it in fact comes from amsat.org - the AMSAT server checked to see if yahoo.com had a restrictive DMARC policy, saw that it did, so replaced your address with the list address. Other mail servers around the internet don't see a DMARC policy violation, and list mail is delivered. Spam folders, on the other hand, are a separate problem. ISP's have a different methods of sorting spam from ham. Yahoo! has some tips for its users at: https://help.yahoo.com/kb/mail/SLN4910.html Other ISP's have their own procedures. -Joe KM1P

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UT1FG/MM FJ09 - 21:56 UTC
by Clayton Coleman 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

I just worked Yuri from the Panama Canal, grid FJ09. He indicated he would be in the Pacific Ocean around 0600 (local) tomorrow. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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K4AMG request for orbit data
by wa7eth＠frontier.com 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

This web site will provide you ten days of orbit data. You will have to put in your location but it works great. You can put in any satellite you like and it will show the orbit data and even provide a map with the track on it..LIVE REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING AND PREDICTIONS: ISS (ZARYA) | | | | | | | | | LIVE REAL TIME SATELLITE TRACKING AND PREDICTIONS: ISS (ZARYA)This is the main page of the real time satellite tracking web site, tracking thousands of satellites and other objects, showing WHAT'S UP IN THE SKY, making predictions about satellite passes over your location, sending alerts and more. | | | | View on www.n2yo.com | Preview by Yahoo | | | | | .73'..Ed WA7ETH

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AMSAT P4A: the worlds first ham radio transponders in geosynchronous orbit
by Michael Fletcher 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

It is now the second day of the ITU Symposium and Workshop on small satellite regulation and communication systems (Prague, Czech Republic, 2-4 March 2015). The symposium is streamed live at: http://media.fel.cvut.cz/stream/itu.asx Apparently this will only work with Windows Media Player. Todays lectures just started with SSTL. There is a presentation at ~17:50 local time: "Es’hail-2 Satellite AMSAT Payload" The presentation schedule may be found here: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/workshops/2015-prague-small-sat/Documents… This presentation covers also frequencies, polarisation data and block diagrams of the implementation. Maybe food for thought stateside, how something similar could be negotiated with the NA space industry ? With some clever planning, maybe even some continent hopping could be implemented ;-) Symposium main page: http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/space/workshops/2015-prague-small-sat/Pages/def… Michael, OH2AUE

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help with satpc32
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 03 Mar '15

03 Mar '15

Sunday my satpc32 crashed probably from picking a de orbited sat . I erased files and now my rotator is off in azimuth by 225 deg changing the turning point from N to south and calibration has no effect Pse help Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School Disagree I Learn

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