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

Periscope AO-73 Demo Tonight at 0155 UTC
by Paul Stoetzer 12 May '15

12 May '15

Good evening, As a test drive for Dayton, I will be demoing a pass of AO-73 tonight at 01:55 UTC via Periscope. Check my Twitter account (https://twitter.com/PRStoetzer) for the link about 5 minutes before the pass starts, or follow me on Periscope. This will be a short pass as the satellite will enter sunlight at 02:00:53 and the transponder will shut off. 73, Paul, N8HM

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Dayton Satellite Demos on Periscope
by Paul Stoetzer 12 May '15

12 May '15

Good evening, I plan to broadcast a few of the AMSAT satellite demos via Periscope. If you can't make it to Dayton, feel free to tune in and see the AMSAT demo station in action! Follow @PRStoetzer on Twitter and when the Periscope stream is live, a link to it will be tweeted (https://twitter.com/prstoetzer). I will try to remind everyone of specific passes that I will broadcast as we get closer to the date. This is, of course, dependent on adequate cell phone data service outside of Hara Arena. With that many people around, it may not be possible. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to livestream the AMSAT forum due to a lack of cell service inside the forum hall. I may also do Periscope streams of other things relevant to those interested in amateur satellites, so keep an eye on my Twitter account over the weekend. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

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Events of Interest at This Year's Hamvention
by E.Mike McCardel 12 May '15

12 May '15

Folks, Here is a list of Educational, Technical and Space Related events happening at Dayton's Hamvention over the weekend. Just in the event you might run out of things to do. Make sure you visit the AMSAT Booth, Booths 433-435 and 444-446 (Both sides of the aisle). This would be a great time to join AMSAT in this "YEAR OF THE FOX" EMike AMSAT Dinner @ Tickets Tickets Pub & Eatery, 7 West Main Street, Fairborn, OH 45324 The sixth annual AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) "Dinner at Tickets" party will be held Thursday at 1800 EDT at Tickets Pub & Eatery at 7 W. Main St, Fairborn, OH. Great selection of Greek and American food and great company! No program or speaker, just good conversation. Food can be ordered from the menu; drinks (beer, wine, sodas and iced tea) are available at the bar. Leave room for dessert; there's an in-house ice cream shop! Come as you are. Bring some friends and have a great time the night before Hamvention. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday 9:15-11:15 Room 1 TAPR Forum Moderator: Scotty Cowling, WA2DFI, past TAPR Director and past TAPR Vice President Speakers: Steve Bible, N7HPR, TAPR President Steve Ford, WB8IMY, QST Editor, Write for QST/QEX Bill Curtice, WA8APB, and Bob Dixon, W8ERD, Hamnet Mesh: Consider the Possibilities! High speed, digital, microwave mesh networks offer hams an exciting array of new communications possibilities supporting experimentation, remote sensing and control, and emergency communications. Mesh is the ultimate "experimenter's sandbox", serving as an ideal host for a wide variety of "maker" projects and applications. This presentation will introduce mesh, describing what it is, how it works, and how it's deployed. We will then address a variety of mesh applications, to include those hosted by Raspberry Pi and similar processors. Bryan Fields, W9CR, High Speed IP Radio A presentation on High-Speed IP radio with an emphasis on building regional highly available networks. Utilizing the same techniques which enable the Internet, Amateur Radio networks may be built; connecting projects to the Internet or other sites. These networks form a resilient backup to cable, DSL and phone commercial internet connections. Chris Testa, KD2BMH, Whitebox Project: New Charlie Prototype Come check out the third prototype of the Whitebox handheld SDR project. This is a software-defined transceiver that will be FCC-legal and can communicate using essentially any mode and protocol up to 1 MHz wide on frequencies between 50 and 1000 MHz. It pairs with your smartphone, and runs all Open Source Software on an embedded uClinux system. Mike Ossmann, Spectrum Monitoring with Software Defined Radio Many of the current crop of SDR platforms support a very wide range of operating frequencies covering more than a GHz of bandwidth, but most users of those platforms find themselves looking at waterfall displays showing a few MHz at most. Let's look at how we can use SDR to monitor activity over several GHz of spectrum and visualize the results over both short and long periods of time. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday 10:30-12:00 Room 3 Instructors' Forum Moderator: Carole Perry, WB2MGP The Instructors' Forum is designed to inform and share ideas with teachers, instructors and leaders of youth groups that incorporate Ham Radio in their programs with young adults. Speakers: EMike McCardel,KC8YLD, VP for Educational Relations AMSAT-NA, AMSAT Educational Outreach and New ARISS Proposal Guidelines An overview of educational outreach opportunities and activities available through AMSAT and its educational partners, including the ARRL and ARISS. Stan Reubenstein, WA6RNU, president emeritus of Radio Club of America and on the RCA Youth Activities Committee, International Efforts to Promote Youth in Ham Radio A discussion of the efforts in recruitment in different countries and motivations to keep young hams involved and engaged in radio. Ed Engleman, KG8CX, co-founder of Y.A.C.H.T. (Young Amateurs Communications Ham Team) program, Promoting Ham Radio to Youth in a Boys and Girls Club Setting and Creating and Maintaining Activity and Interest through an Echolink Youth Group and Net. All presenters will provide handouts for the audience members. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday 11:30-12:30 Room 1 APRS Speakers: Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, APRS Operating notes Byon Garrabrant, N6BG, Byonics Update Allen Lord, AF6OF, Microtrack Update Jason Rausch, KE4NYV, RPC Electronics Update Don Arnold, W6GPS, AVMAP G6 update Andrew Pavlin, KA2DDO, author of YAAC Bryan Hoyer, K7UDR, NW Digital Radio ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday 12:15-2:15 Room 2 Balloon Sat Moderators: Bill Brown, WB8ELK, & Doug Loughmille, W5BL Speakers: Bill Brown, WB8ELK, Miniature Trackers and Long Duration Flights Gene Swiech, WB9COY, Arizona Near Space Research Ballooning Brian Tanner, Spaceport Indiana STEM Activities Keith Kaiser, WA0TJT, Jurassic Pigs and Other Adventures in High Altitude Ballooning, Part 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Friday 12:15-1:15 Room 3 Hams in Space Speakers: Randy Schulze, KD0HKD, and Eddy Paul, KY0F You don't need 100W of transmit power nor expensive antenna arrays to work the FM amateur satellites! Many hams already have the necessary equipment to "work the birds." The Hams in Space Presentation will walk you through ALL the steps needed to successfully work ham satellites. An emphasis of "Keep it Simple" and "Have Fun" is stressed throughout. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday 9:15-12 Room 2 2015 Youth Forum (Note: AMSAT will be presenting Gould's Getting Started guide the presenters and a couple more for the Youth Drawing at this event) Moderator: Carole Perry, WB2MGP Come show support and join the fun by attending this forum that showcases our young, talented hams. Bring kids with you to inspire them by seeing role models having fun and being creative in ham radio activities. Lots of surprise guests will be stopping by. We will be having fabulous door prizes for adults and youth who are in attendance. Speakers: Tyler Hammond, KD8UAY, 13 years old, Contesting for Elementary Students Abbigail Wilson, KF5BEW, 18 years old, and Kendra Wilson, KF5FYS, 16 years old, Youth and the Future of Ham Radio Sam Case, KG7HBY, 11 years old, The Friday Night QSO Party Jesse Shulins, KB1YNK, 17 years old, Pneumatic Mast Systems for the Radio Amateur Faith Hannah Lea, WA4BBC, 10 years old, and Zechariah Lea, WX4TVJ, 12 years old, Experiences in Antenna Selection, Construction, and Use for VHF Applications Cameron Thurston, N8CAM, 16 years old, Contesting with N3FJP Software Saturday 11:15-1:30 Room 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------ AMSAT Forum Moderator: Alan Biddle, WA4SCA Speakers: Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA President, AMSAT Status Report will highlight recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of the challenges, accomplishments, and exciting projects of the organization. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight, ARISS Report 2015 will discuss ARISS development & operations on the International Space Station. Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT-NA Engineering Vice President, AMSAT-NA Fox Satellite Program will discuss the upcoming launches of four Fox spacecraft and exciting new engineering developments. Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA Operations Vice President, AMSAT Satellite Operations will discuss current satellites, as well as those planned for launch in the next year. Tom Clark, K3IO, AMSAT-NA President Emeritus, AMSAT's Skunk Works will discuss some innovated R&D items for future spacecraft. EMike McCardel, KC8YLD, AMSAT-NA Educational Relations Vice President, Amateur Satellites, Education, and You! will discuss the resources and equipment which supports the educational goals of AMSAT-NA. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday 12-1 Room 3 Fast Scan ATV Moderator: Art Towslee, WA8RMC, Introduction and Wrap-Up Speakers: Gordon West, WB6NOA, Life After the P.C. Analog Tx/Rx Mel Whitten, K0PFX, Getting started in Digital Amateur Television Dr. Al Torres, KP4AQI, VSWR: Why It Does Not Mean As Much As You Think (For ATVers) Mike Collis, WA6SVT, ATV in Southern California, Overview ------------------------------------------------------------------ Saturday 1:45-3:00 Room 5 ARRL Forum ARRL is honored to welcome NASA Astronaut Edward Michael "Mike" Fincke (Colonel, US Air Force, retired) as our guest to Hamvention. Mike holds an Amateur Radio license, call sign KE5AIT, and operated ham radio equipment from aboard the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 9 and 18 crews -- making radio contacts with students, teachers, and the general Amateur Radio community. In June 2004, Mike delighted many radio amateurs by making contacts during ARRL Field Day. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of ARRL, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA, and other international space agencies and international Amateur Radio organizations around the world. This forum is sponsored by ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Special Guest Edward Michael "Mike" Fincke, KE5AIT - NASA Astronaut ARRL is honored to welcome NASA Astronaut Edward Michael "Mike" Fincke (Colonel, US Air Force, retired) as our guest to Hamvention (R). Mike holds an Amateur Radio license, call sign KE5AIT, and operated ham radio equipment from aboard the International Space Station as part of the Expedition 9 and 18 crews -- making radio contacts with students, teachers, and the general Amateur Radio community. In June 2004, Mike delighted many radio amateurs by making contacts during ARRL Field Day. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of ARRL, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), NASA, and other international space agencies and international Amateur Radio organizations around the world. You can meet and greet Mike in the ARRL exhibit area (times and locations will be posted). Mike has also been confirmed as a Hamvention (R) forum speaker ------------------------------------------------------------------ Sunday 10:30-11:30 Room 3 Engaging Youth in Ham Radio through Informal Education Opportunities (Note that ARRL's Teachers Institute is a close ally and partner of AMSAT Education) Moderator: Larry Kendall, K6NDL, Instructor, ARRL's Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology Larry Kendall, K6NDL, is an Instructor for ARRL's Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) -- an outreach program that sponsors professional development seminars for educators, motivating teachers and schools to use radio electronics and related technologies to inspire students studying Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Larry has been an educator and curriculum developer since 1981 and teaches middle school Technology and Robotics at Sitting Bull Academy in Apple Valley, California. Before becoming a TI Instructor, Larry participated in ARRL's TI-1, TI-2: Space in the Classroom, and TI-2: Remote Sensing workshops. Larry will share some best practices and resources, including experiences from participating in Scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) through his involvement as a board member of the Victor Valley Amateur Radio Club. This forum is sponsored by ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. ------------------------------------------------------------------ AMSAT: Amateur Satellite Demonstrations Fri, May 15,and May 16 Sat 9am - 4pm Sun, May 17, 9am - 11am Hara Arena Conference & Exhibition Center Door 1 Description Amateur Satellite operation demonstrations will be held outside the Ball Arena entrance. AMSAT will be demonstrating actual contacts with the operational amateur satellites every day. We especially want to invite youth to make a contact via an amateur satellite. All are invited to observe, participate and ask questions. Satellite pass times will be posted at the AMSAT booth (433-435, 444- 446) and in the demo area. ------------------------------------------------------------------ AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Fri, May 15, 6:30pm - 9:00pm Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4572 Presidential Way, Kettering, OH 45429 TICKETS MUST BE PURCHASED IN ADVANCE FROM AMSAT STORE The ninth annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held on Friday night, May 15, at 1830 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year's speaker will be Michael Ossmann, AD0NR, "Adventures of a Hacker Turned Ham" 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. Tickets ($35 each) must be purchased online in advance on the AMSAT website at www.amsat.org through the AMSAT Store tab. Tickets will not be sold at the Hamvention or at the door. Tickets purchased online may be collected at the AMSAT booth (433-435, 444-446). The Banquet will take place at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4572 Presidential Way, Kettering, OH 45429 (just south of Dayton). The cash bar will open at 1830 EDT, with the dinner commencing around 1900 EDT. ------------------------------------------------------------------ SPACE FEST Visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on May 15-16 for a multitude of exciting space-related activities! The museum and a number of partner organizations will offer hands-on activities for all ages, including special appearances by astronauts, a 5K fun run/walk and 1-mile kids' race, a star-gaze with telescopes, a chance to see the museum's Space Shuttle Exhibit, model rocket building and launching, and much more. Admission to most activities is FREE! More information, including a detailed schedule is available at www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/ spacefest.asp. E. Michael McCardel, KC8YLD V.P. for Educational Relations, AMSAT-NA Have you donated to get your Fox-1 Challenge Coin Yet? http://www.amsat.org/?p=3275

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Re: [amsat-bb] WinKeps - Smoothed Keps
by Clint Bradford 12 May '15

12 May '15

I think the only programs he offers are on his page at ... http://www.keplerian.com/ Clint K6LCS

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WinKeps - Smoothed Keps
by Fabio Azzarello IZ5XRC 12 May '15

12 May '15

Hello, I was reading again: http://www.keplerian.com/AO-10.html at the bottom of the page there's a reference to "WinKeps" sw program. Does anybody know if this sw is still around? I'm interested in smoothing keplerians for tracking/decay predictions. Thanks. best 73 Fabio iz5xrc

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Re: [amsat-bb] LOTW For Satellite Operators Tutorial
by Sean K. 12 May '15

12 May '15

Hi Mark- For satellite QSOs, you need to enter BOTH xmit and receive bands, since they are different. >From the presentation: "Logging QSOs made through the Amateur satellites is not much different than logging any other QSO on the air. The standard QSO information - callsign, date, time, band and mode are logged. But to receive proper credit for a satellite QSO, the log entry must also include the receive band, propagation mode ("satellite"), and the satellite name." Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X From: Mark Johns <mjohns166(a)yahoo.com> To: "kx9x(a)yahoo.com" <kx9x(a)yahoo.com>; "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 8:41 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] LOTW For Satellite Operators Tutorial | The PowerPoint on LoTW advises logging and uploading the receive (downlink) band. When I did this, I was regularly chastised and told that the correct procedure was to designate the transmit (uplink) band. So which is correct? -- Mark D. Johns, K0MDJ Decorah, Iowa USA EN43 At May 11, 2015, 14:09:00, Sean K. via AMSAT-BB wrote:Hi all- ARRL has provided a PowerPoint presentation on Logbook of The World focused on satellite operation in the ARRL Online Library. There is also an Intro to LoTW PowerPoint available. Both may be found at www.arrl.org/library, in the PowerPoint area. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X _______________________________________________ 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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FUNcube Data Warehouse Maintenance
by David Johnson 12 May '15

12 May '15

Hi, Just a quick heads up that we will be taking the warehouse offline for about 20 minutes between 16:00 and 16:30 UTC 13th May 2015 to do some maintenence on the database. If this is goint to cause you a problem, please shout.. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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Re: [amsat-bb] Digi QSO via ISS? (use >)
by Robert Bruninga 11 May '15

11 May '15

If packet stations simply put a ">" as the first character of their packet then they instantly become "APRS Sttus" messages and will show on the front panel of ALL APRS radios and handhelds. Without that, the packet is undefined and not displayed as being non-APRS. So packet stations desiring to be seen by most of the others on ISS, should remember that if they want to be seen by others begin with a">". Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 5:52 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Digi QSO via ISS? Sean (and others), That looks good. The initial "CQ" call could start with receiving a station's beacon containing the location or other text that is sent through the ISS digipeater. Sometimes I'll see only a signal report from the other station (59 or 599), since the location has already been received from a beacon packet with that information. This would be similar to sending only a "59" when working a DXpedition, where they really don't care to hear too much when making lots of QSOs. I don't normally send a CQ when on ISS passes (or, when it's behaving, NO-44 passes), but will enable a beacon with my position and my two call signs when I'm at the radio. By using APRS messaging instead of just typing free-form text, you will be able to make packet QSOs with stations that may only have radios like the Kenwood TH-D72A or TM-D710 (or their predecessors), as well as those using programs like UISS that speak APRS messaging, or simpler terminal programs that don't speak APRS messaging. These radios can receive the APRS messages, and - using the DTMF pads - send APRS messages. My TH-D72A will see the call of a station that sends me a free-form line of text like: WD9EWK-9 UR 599 (grid) but not the text. I might be able to see this packet on ariss.net, but that would not be receiving it on my radio, so no QSO. If that free-form text line includes a colon before the text: WD9EWK-9 :UR 599 (grid) (my call with -9, space, colon, then text) my TH-D72A would interpret that as an APRS message directed to me, from whoever sent it to me. The sender's call and a date/time stamp would be stored with the received message, and then I can view this message on the HT. From there, I can quickly send a reply without having to enter the other station's call. I'm typing out messages like we would on an old flip-style mobile phone, pressing the buttons repeatedly to get certain characters on the screen. This works, and provides a way to interact with other stations without the need for a computer or other device connected to the radio. I do not enable any automatic responses when I receive messages, other than the ACK responses if I receive an APRS message that expects one. Some will enable an automatic response that may say something like "Thanks, 73!", and I think the Kenwood radios will put an "AA:" before the response if it is generated by the radio and not the operator. Other than my position packets, I try not to add to the clutter from the unattended stations that squawk during every ISS pass. Whether I'm at home or on the road, using my Elk antenna or even a long telescoping whip, I find I can get through the ISS digipeater with my TH-D72A at just 5 watts. From Arizona, I have worked stations on the ISS as far away as Wisconsin, Indiana, and east Texas. On NO-44, I have worked stations from home as far as Mississippi. I am also working stations at hamfests or other demonstrations, and on my recent grid expeditions to Las Vegas and New Mexico. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:15 PM, Sean Kutzko via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > There needs to be an exchange of info and acknowledgement from both stations that reports were received on both ends. > > Kx9x: CQ KX9X > Kc0bmf: KX9X de KC0BMF EM29 > Kx9x: KC0BMF R FN31 > Kc0bmf: KX9X R 73 > Kx9x: 73 QRZ KX9X > > UISS software can handle this quite easily. > > That's my opinion, anyway. > > Sean KX9X > > Sent from Sean's iPad > > > >> On May 11, 2015, at 4:02 PM, John Fickes <kc0bmf(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Steve >> Sure you can. What are you using for software ? I use UISS and what >> I do is send call sign, some sort of signal report (it could be >> 59,599,grid or combination of report and grid ) and then a 73. I >> think as long as there is protocol similar to JT65 where the three >> things are sent and received in back and forth order, other stations >> call,a report and 73, this way your pretty sure there is someone on >> the other end and your not just getting someones automatic announcement. Hope to see you on. >> >> 73 John KC0BMF >> >> 1:16 Minutes:Greatest commercial EVER >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxU1ZhINaHk >> >> On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:16 PM, Steve Kristoff >> <skristof(a)etczone.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I apologize if this has been dealt with in a previous thread, but if >>> it was, I missed it. >>> Can we do a valid QSO by ISS digipeater? It seems to me that a >>> message directed from one station directly to another station with a >>> callsign, name and grid square and a directed reply in the same >>> format would constitute a valid QSO. >>> I'd like to hear other's thoughts. >>> Even it doesn't constitute an "official" QSO, I'd like to try it anyway. >>> I've been sending messages to specific stations on the Heard list >>> via the UISS software, but have never received a reply specifically addressed to me. >>> If anyone is interested in doing that, I will probably be on >>> Tuesday, May 12, around 1005 UTC and again around 1632 UTC. >>> >>> Steve Kristoff AI9IN >>> EM79ji >>> skristof(a)etczone.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [amsat-bb] Digi QSO via ISS?
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 11 May '15

11 May '15

Sean (and others), That looks good. The initial "CQ" call could start with receiving a station's beacon containing the location or other text that is sent through the ISS digipeater. Sometimes I'll see only a signal report from the other station (59 or 599), since the location has already been received from a beacon packet with that information. This would be similar to sending only a "59" when working a DXpedition, where they really don't care to hear too much when making lots of QSOs. I don't normally send a CQ when on ISS passes (or, when it's behaving, NO-44 passes), but will enable a beacon with my position and my two call signs when I'm at the radio. By using APRS messaging instead of just typing free-form text, you will be able to make packet QSOs with stations that may only have radios like the Kenwood TH-D72A or TM-D710 (or their predecessors), as well as those using programs like UISS that speak APRS messaging, or simpler terminal programs that don't speak APRS messaging. These radios can receive the APRS messages, and - using the DTMF pads - send APRS messages. My TH-D72A will see the call of a station that sends me a free-form line of text like: WD9EWK-9 UR 599 (grid) but not the text. I might be able to see this packet on ariss.net, but that would not be receiving it on my radio, so no QSO. If that free-form text line includes a colon before the text: WD9EWK-9 :UR 599 (grid) (my call with -9, space, colon, then text) my TH-D72A would interpret that as an APRS message directed to me, from whoever sent it to me. The sender's call and a date/time stamp would be stored with the received message, and then I can view this message on the HT. From there, I can quickly send a reply without having to enter the other station's call. I'm typing out messages like we would on an old flip-style mobile phone, pressing the buttons repeatedly to get certain characters on the screen. This works, and provides a way to interact with other stations without the need for a computer or other device connected to the radio. I do not enable any automatic responses when I receive messages, other than the ACK responses if I receive an APRS message that expects one. Some will enable an automatic response that may say something like "Thanks, 73!", and I think the Kenwood radios will put an "AA:" before the response if it is generated by the radio and not the operator. Other than my position packets, I try not to add to the clutter from the unattended stations that squawk during every ISS pass. Whether I'm at home or on the road, using my Elk antenna or even a long telescoping whip, I find I can get through the ISS digipeater with my TH-D72A at just 5 watts. From Arizona, I have worked stations on the ISS as far away as Wisconsin, Indiana, and east Texas. On NO-44, I have worked stations from home as far as Mississippi. I am also working stations at hamfests or other demonstrations, and on my recent grid expeditions to Las Vegas and New Mexico. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:15 PM, Sean Kutzko via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > There needs to be an exchange of info and acknowledgement from both stations that reports were received on both ends. > > Kx9x: CQ KX9X > Kc0bmf: KX9X de KC0BMF EM29 > Kx9x: KC0BMF R FN31 > Kc0bmf: KX9X R 73 > Kx9x: 73 QRZ KX9X > > UISS software can handle this quite easily. > > That's my opinion, anyway. > > Sean KX9X > > Sent from Sean's iPad > > > >> On May 11, 2015, at 4:02 PM, John Fickes <kc0bmf(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Steve >> Sure you can. What are you using for software ? I use UISS and what I do >> is send call sign, some sort of signal report (it could be 59,599,grid or >> combination of report and grid ) and then a 73. I think as long as there >> is protocol similar to JT65 where the three things are sent and received in >> back and forth order, other stations call,a report and 73, this way your >> pretty sure there is someone on the other end and your not just getting >> someones automatic announcement. Hope to see you on. >> >> 73 John KC0BMF >> >> 1:16 Minutes:Greatest commercial EVER >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxU1ZhINaHk >> >> On Mon, May 11, 2015 at 2:16 PM, Steve Kristoff <skristof(a)etczone.com> >> wrote: >> >>> I apologize if this has been dealt with in a previous thread, but if it >>> was, I missed it. >>> Can we do a valid QSO by ISS digipeater? It seems to me that a message >>> directed from one station directly to another station with a callsign, name >>> and grid square and a directed reply in the same format would constitute a >>> valid QSO. >>> I'd like to hear other's thoughts. >>> Even it doesn't constitute an "official" QSO, I'd like to try it anyway. >>> I've been sending messages to specific stations on the Heard list via the >>> UISS software, but have never received a reply specifically addressed to me. >>> If anyone is interested in doing that, I will probably be on Tuesday, May >>> 12, around 1005 UTC and again around 1632 UTC. >>> >>> Steve Kristoff AI9IN >>> EM79ji >>> skristof(a)etczone.com >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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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Digi QSO via ISS?
by Steve Kristoff 11 May '15

11 May '15

I apologize if this has been dealt with in a previous thread, but if it was, I missed it. Can we do a valid QSO by ISS digipeater? It seems to me that a message directed from one station directly to another station with a callsign, name and grid square and a directed reply in the same format would constitute a valid QSO. I'd like to hear other's thoughts. Even it doesn't constitute an "official" QSO, I'd like to try it anyway. I've been sending messages to specific stations on the Heard list via the UISS software, but have never received a reply specifically addressed to me. If anyone is interested in doing that, I will probably be on Tuesday, May 12, around 1005 UTC and again around 1632 UTC. Steve Kristoff AI9IN EM79ji skristof(a)etczone.com

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