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

FUNcube Dashboard, limited to installation on PC hard drive?
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Apr '15

15 Apr '15

Hi! I posted this query on the FUNcube forum, but I have yet to see a response over there. Hopefully someone with the FUNcube project will see it here, and possibly help me find an answer to my question. For the past 3+ months, I have been using small Windows 8.1 tablets with both the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and assorted "RTL-SDR" dongles. When working the SSB transponders, I have been using one of these tablets with a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and HDSDR as the downlink receiver. I have also experimented with using the FUNcube Dashboard program on the tablets. The tablets appear to be able to run the Dashboard program, but the program has a restriction that requires it to be installed on a computer's hard drive. Since these tablets have small "hard drives" (C: drives), sometimes as small as 16 GB, a 32 GB or 64 GB micro-SD card is one way to gain more space to run programs from. I don't know if there is some reason that requires the program to be installed on the computer's C: drive. Since I have been able to install other programs to the D: drive (micro-SD card) in my tablets, including programs like HDSDR and SDR Sharp, it appears that there isn't anything inside these tablets that would prevent a program like the Dashboard from running off the micro-SD card. Could a future version of the Dashboard allow users to install the program somewhere other than a "hard drive"? Thanks in advance, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Rocket Reusability Update
by Bryce Salmi 15 Apr '15

15 Apr '15

In the interest of lowering launch costs to satellite makers this info is sort of relevant. Getting closer: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/588082574183903232

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Satellite/AMSAT presentation in Tucson AZ, Friday (17 April) evening
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Hi again! I will give a presentation about satellites and AMSAT for the Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club in Tucson, Arizona, this Friday (17 April) evening. The meeting site is the Ascension Lutheran Church, at 1220 W. Magee Road on the north side of Tucson (north of Ina Road, between Oracle Road/AZ-77 and La Canada Drive). The meeting starts at 7pm, and my presentation will come later in the meeting after other club business is discussed. More information about the club is available from its web site: http://www.tucsonhamradio.com/ There is the possibility of one or two demonstrations after the meeting - an SO-50 pass around 0417 UTC, and an AO-73 pass around 0449 UTC. I probably won't have the entire SO-50 passes, since the Catalina Mountains east of the meeting site will probably cause an earlier LOS. The AO-73 pass won't have this "problem". :-) I will have my gear capable of working both passes at the meeting site, which is in grid DM42mi. I will use my @WD9EWK Twitter feed to post updates about the plans for demonstrations after the meeting, which is also visible in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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"DeVry hamfest" in Phoenix AZ on Saturday (11 April) - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Hi! Last Saturday morning, I had an AMSAT table at the Arizona Amateur Radio Club's "April Hamfest at DeVry", also known locally as the "DeVry hamfest", in Phoenix. This was the first time I hosted an AMSAT table at this event, and there seemed to be a good turnout for what is normally the smallest of the Phoenix-area hamfests. As with others out here, the crowds started arriving before sunrise. I had my AMSAT table ready for AO-7 and FO-29 passes just before 6am (1300 UTC), and made a couple of contacts - AA5PK on AO-7, followed by Captain Yuri UT1FG/MM on FO-29 a few minutes later. There was a long gap until the next pass I could use for a demonstration, an AO-73 pass just after 9am (1600 UTC). No QSOs then, but it was easy to hear the downlink even with the pass having a maximum elevation of 5 degrees. The later AO-73 pass around 10.33am (1733 UTC) was much better. With a larger crowd than at 6am or 9am, I was able to work 4 different stations on this pass. Thanks to W5CBF in Texas, K6FW in California, KG5CCI in Arkansas, and WA5KBH in Louisiana for those contacts. It was a nice spread of stations, across much of the continental USA. Beyond the demonstrations, there was much interest in the upcoming Fox-1 satellites. Fox-1 is more than just Fox-1A that is scheduled for a late August launch, and it has been fun to talk up the 3 satellites that have launches, with possibly two more satellites that will follow later. This contributed to the numbers of books and frequency guides flying off the table. Thanks to the Arizona Amateur Radio Club for providing AMSAT a space at the hamfest, to the 6 stations worked during the demonstrations, and everyone who stopped by the AMSAT table on Saturday morning! 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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QSLing
by Bryan Green 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Since all have weighed in, I shall also. Four years ago I operated from a bunch of Caribbean countries on a cruise -- /MM, 8P6CM, J6/, V25CN, PJ7/, /KP2, and /KP4 -- Loads of fun. Lots of contacts. I had to research and purchase the correct GPS to properly document the locations. I had to make several phone calls, get copies of my license notarized, arrange for funds to be transferred to an offshore bank to pay a license fee, and file lots of paperwork to arrange the licenses and to arrange permission to operate on the ship. There was lots of interesting equipment to bring, with documentation to get it into the stricter countries and through the American TSA -- try bringing a disassembled Arrow Antenna through the airport. In 8P6 I actually had to hire a taxi to race me to the government office to pick up the license in time to operate just two precious passes before the ship left the dock. In PJ7, I had to take a picture with a somewhat tipsy policeman who was really curious about the equipment just seconds before another precious pass began. Crazy! After all that, I thought that QSLing would be about 20% of the work. Nope. QSLing was about 80% of the work. It took me more than a year to get it all done. I did make it much harder than it could have been, since I made individual cards for each grid square that reflected the theme of the country and location of the ocean for /MM. And, I took a long time to transcribe the contacts from the audio recordings. There were a LOT of contacts. I wanted to be sure that everyone got their contact! Let's just say that I am a very big fan of using phonetics. Now I understand and respect that 80% of the work is in the QSLing. And, I'll add that for me LotW makes QSLing more fun and gratifying -- but it is a little more work. I have sympathy for those who want their QSLs. And I have sympathy for those who QSL. It's a lot of work. And it's a lot of fun. :) 73! -- bag Bryan KL7CN/W6

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fwd: Final email.
by Doug - k4GKJ 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Odd how we must rely on the Internet to figure out if it's okay to request (or demand) a return qsl.... The Internet is changing how hams operate..... Am I the only one finding that comical? Is it laziness? Too cheap to buy a stamp? Or?? Why must the 'easy' way define the future of the hobby? Doesn't seem like our track record to me... I'm not against the Internet, or any of the wonderful programs catered to our hobby, but question how it's changing some habits and how others resist.... As another mentioned, it is very similar to the CW debate.... Until satellite ops, I never had a request for a qsl...... Nor did I have cards for such..... After a wave of request due to my satellite ops, I've ordered cards which have yet to arrive.... So please, if you have requested a card from me, no worries, you'll get one..... Just don't threaten please! I am much more of a 'rag chewer' than a 'contester'... I did satellite ops only to become proficient for an ARISS contact I was hosting for a school..... The large amount of cards sent with SASE's sent guilted me into ordering those cards (cheap ones, but enough to get the job done).... I am very sad to see how this subject began.... I hope those I mentor (or talk into joining the hobby) don't end up butting heads with the jerk's in our hobby, but every hobby and group has them..... Heck, to be honest, any group willing to have me as a member is a sure sign of a dysfunctional group right off the bat! (I can be a jerk too - just ask the wife!) But we really are shooting a dead horse here on this subject..... Cards on the way folks! Promise! Just give me time to get them in and prepared! Thanks! Doug K4GKJ Doug Bennight - K4GKJ 528-5772 -------- Original message -------- From: Patrick <flymooney(a)gmail.com> Date: 04/13/2015 8:39 PM (GMT-05:00) To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fwd: Final email. On 4/13/2015 12:44 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote: > First of all, define "timely manner". This is a very subjective standard, > and will differ based on the QSO/QSL scenario. > I understand completely. Like all disputes, this one is mainly based on miscommunication (or no communication) between the two parties. I think the best thing to do is post on QRZ (or wherever) an advisory along the lines of "I will QSL when I get time but I'm a very busy person so don't expect it inside of 6 months". :) I do think if someone is emailing you and getting frustrated, the best avenue to settle things is to either a) answer and explain or b) take care of whatever it is the complaint is about and get on with your life. In this case, personally, I'd just taken the two minutes to fill out the QSL and dropped it in the mail. If for anything, just so I didn't have to be bothered anymore. Sometimes sticking with your pride and making a point isn't the best way to handle things, even if you're 100% in the right. We're all hams and members of an extended "ham family". We need to be watching out for each other, doing whatever we can to help one another, and sticking together in order to ensure a firm stand against those people who don't have our best interests at heart. If that means sometimes I have to cut someone slack I don't particularly like, then so be it. I'll expect the same treatment when I fall short as well. :) Patrick K4PNR _______________________________________________ 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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Fwd: Final email.
by Andrew Glasbrenner 14 Apr '15

14 Apr '15

Folks, I answer QSLs for my rover ops when I can, but everyone gets a card eventually. Generally it takes me a month or two. Harassing and threatening me by email doesn't help at all. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: Jeff Lamb <nx9b(a)comcast.net> > Date: April 13, 2015 at 8:27:28 AM EDT > To: "glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> > Subject: Final email. > > Drew, this is my final email to you about my QSL cards that I sent you an SASE for back in mid January. > You have refused to acknowledge any previous attempts to contact you about this problem. > If you do not acknowledge receipt of my correspondence, my next action will be in a much more public forum. > > You have plenty of time to work Yuri but you can't fill out my cards? > > I can tell you that I send out QSL cards to everyone I work from portable, usually at my own expense and upload all to LoTW. It's just the way it's supposed to be done. > > The ball is in your court but your time is running out. If I have not heard from you by week's end, this will go public and not in a flattering way. > > Your call. > > 73 de Jeff, NX9B, EM66sj >

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Fwd: Final email.
by Kevin M 13 Apr '15

13 Apr '15

Mama always used to say you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar... pretty odd behavior if you ask me.

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TAPR/AMSAT Joint Hamvention Banquet, Friday, 5/15 @ 630 pm
by Mark Thompson 13 Apr '15

13 Apr '15

http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=88&osCsid=oqrof… TAPR/AMSAT Joint Hamvention Banquet Join us at the Dayton Hamvention this year for the TAPR/AMSAT Banquet on Friday evening, 15 May. Doors open at 1830 for a cash bar, with buffet dinner served at 1900. This year's after dinner address will be: "Adventures of a Hacker Turned Ham" By Michael Ossmann, AD0NR Michael Ossmann, AD0NR, grew up as a computer nerd embracing the hacker ethos. Eventually Michael became very interested in the security of wireless systems such as remote keyless entry, garage door openers, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. He designed Ubertooth One, a Bluetooth sniffer that was successfully funded on Kickstarter. Not one to rest, Michael later designed and successfully funded HackRF One, an open source SDR platform that attracted the attention of the amateur radio community. Michael will talk about his unique perspective on the community as an outsider looking in, why he resisted getting a license for years, and why he finally decided to join. Michael will also share his thoughts on what it means to be a hacker, what it means to be a ham, and what amateur radio may look like in the decades to come. The dinner will be held at: Jefferson Room The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center 4548 Presidential Way Kettering, OH 45429 Reservations must be made in advance here. Tickets will not be sold at Dayton. Tickets purchased online may be picked up at the AMSAT booth (433-435, 444-446). Orders must be placed by 1800 EDT, Tuesday, May 12th. No exceptions. $35 per person

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SSTV ISS
by Gary E Killmer 12 Apr '15

12 Apr '15

Sent from my iPhone. Tried to copy a solid Signal from ISS on my IPhone but no pic. What format ISS using?

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