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

Yaesu rotor junkyard
by Andrew Glasbrenner 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

All, I've abandoned the Yaesu rotor az-el system for AlfaSpid, after 15 years of breaking az-el rotors. For the time I had a satellite or few that I had to actively command, I always kept a spare rotor system to swap out quickly. As a result of that, I have accumulated a large pile of rotors, each with some issue I never got around to fixing. I currently have three 5500 series, and one 5400, each with some unidentified or forgotten fault. I know on one I swapped out the motor in the azimuth rotor from a donor G450, and ran it for several more years until the elevation rotor froze. I'd really like to deliver this whole batch to someone at Dayton. A handy person with time could probably make at least three work again, and probably all four. You might get 1-2 from just swapping halves and control boxes around. Email me with an offer if interested. I'd prefer not to ship. I can take some photos this weekend. I might be interested in trades or partial trades as well. 73, Drew KO4MA

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EO-79 (QB50p1 / FUNcube-3) Transponder Tested
by Paul Stoetzer 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

Good news! Looking forward to it being available for us to use. http://funcube.org.uk/2015/04/30/another-funcube-transponder/ 73, Paul, N8HM

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Delfi-C3 7 years anniversary
by wouter weggelaar 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Dear all, Delfi-C3 has been in orbit 7 years and one day today! When we designed Delfi-C3, no-one would have dreamed it would last this long. The satellite still remains healthy and strong. We are delighted to still get the support of the ham radio community and in all those years there have been very few days where no telemetry was decoded and submitted. Thank you very much to those still decoding and sending in telemetry and also to those still signing up for new accounts. Delfi-C3 has been praised numerous times as the ideal example of a cooperation of radio amateurs and an university and the team is very proud of that. Together we have demonstrated the first successful Distributed Ground Station Network (DGSN) built around radio amateurs. We as a community can be very proud of this achievement! Without your continued support, this would not have been possible. 73s on behalf of the team, Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG ps: in the near future we may have to re-locate the data collection server and when this happens we will of course make sure to update AMSAT-BB on the progress

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AO 7
by Rich/wa4bue 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

I have lost track. What mode will AO 7 be in on Friday.

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UK to Martinique Island on FO-29 and AO-7b.
by Peter Atkins 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Hi All, ? Just to let you know that I made contact with Pierre FM5EP on 26 April 2015,probably the the first contact between these countries?on both FO-29 and AO7b satellites and?using SSB modes. ? 73s ? Peter ? G4DOL

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AO 73
by Rich/wa4bue 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

There was a AO 73 pass today at around 1400. Our computer seemed to align with our cell app today, but never heard AO 73. It was a great elevated pass. Rich W4BUE

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO 73 and SatPC32 program
by Alan 29 Apr '15

29 Apr '15

Rich, <The rotors track but the bird is over the Pacific Ocean and we are on theAtlantic Ocean. side - Virginia. Are you saying the antennas are pointing in the wrong direction? If so, do the antennas point in the same direction as the program says to point? 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Rich/wa4bue <Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2015 12:24 PM <To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] AO 73 and SATPAC program < <Kj4YKG has taken a good look at the our program. < <The program controls the other birds well, so the clock, locator , and all <are set properly. The TLE data is correct. < <The rotors track but the bird is over the Pacific Ocean and we are on the <Atlantic Ocean. side - Virginia. < <This only bird that has this problem. < <Help! < <R < <_______________________________________________ <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://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Space Is Hard - Soyuz Spinning
by Bryce Salmi 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

ISS and crew are fine, another reminder that space is hard. http://www.space.com/29241-glitch-russian-cargo-ship-spinning-out-of-contro…

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AO 73 Help needed
by Rich/wa4bue 28 Apr '15

28 Apr '15

Where can I get the correct KEPS for "AO 73"? Today at Great Bridge HS we wanted to listen to "AO 73" data transmissions. We are using our HP lap top to control our gear. Downloaded NOA Keps. They were wrong! With a cell phone and app we were able to manually track "AO 73" but using our AMSAT SATPAC program we could not. It was at least 1 hour behind. "AO 73" was very strong with dtat transmissions. All other SATS we track are great. Our Portable SATCOM station will be at Great Bridge HS for a couple of weeks. The electronics and media class will be using it. We are in class from 0845 - 1015 am EST. If we can catch a pass on any of the birds we would like to speak with you. The class is instructed by W4RMY. He is aided by members of the K4AMG club and members. Rich W4BUE Pres. K4AMG

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quick New Mexico satellite road trip on Saturday (2 May) afternoon
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 27 Apr '15

27 Apr '15

Hi again! After the hamfest in Sierra Vista, Arizona, on Saturday morning, I plan on a quick trip across the Arizona/New Mexico state line for a few hours of working from somewhere in grid DM52 in southwestern New Mexico or (probably) the DM52/DM62 grid boundary near Deming - almost 70 miles/112km east of the state line, along I-10. Since I was out in this area in late March, operating from the DM51/DM52 and DM52/DM53 grid boundaries in southeastern Arizona, this is an opportunity to put New Mexico on the satellites. If all goes well, I hope to make it to Deming so I can operate from (the edge of) the 78th different grid I have worked satellites from. As is the case in much of Arizona, APRS coverage is pretty good along I-10 in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. Using web sites like aprs.fi to see my location: http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 will hopefully be a good way to see if I am only in DM52, or if I have made it over to the DM52/DM62 boundary. When I'm not driving, I will also post updates to Twitter - even if I have poor data speeds on my mobile phone. My Twitter updates will be on my @WD9EWK feed, which is visible in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK I have only operated from New Mexico via satellite twice in the past; in October 2009 from the Arizona/New Mexico state line and about 5 miles/8km east of the state line; in May 2014 from Lordsburg, about 20 miles/32km east of the state line. All of these locations were only in grid DM52. Since I have to return home sometime late Saturday evening or early Sunday morning, I will not be able to go to other DM6x grids in New Mexico on this trip. All QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World after the road trip. If you would like a QSL card to confirm a contact, please e-mail me with the QSO details. If you are in my log, I will be happy to send you a QSL card. No need to first send me your QSL card and/or SASE. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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