AMSAT-BB June 2015

144 participants
244 discussions

EQUiSat Optical Beacon CubeSat
by Trevor . 17 Oct '18

17 Oct '18

Students at the Ivy League Brown University are developing an amateur radio satellite EQUiSat that will carry a Xenon Flash Tube (XFT) subsystem to act as an Optical Beacon that should be visible to the unaided eye of observers on Earth. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10635 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAK-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

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LVB Tracker USB serial port driver for Windows 7 x64?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 22 Dec '16

22 Dec '16

Has anyone located a driver for the LVB Tracker internal USB to serial port adapter on Windows 7 x64? If not, has anyone reverted to the serial port connection on LVB Tracker and used an external USB to serial port adapter successfully with SatPC32 on Windows 7 x64? I have an Edgeport multiple USB to serial port that has drivers for Windows 7 x64 that I will use if I have to. I would prefer using the LVB Tracker with its USB to serial adapter if someone has another solution. 73, Bill NJ1H

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AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010
by Mark L. Hammond 01 Jul '16

01 Jul '16

Hi All, Here is a quick AO-16 update. On Sunday I turned AO-16 long enough to get some telemetry packets. The satellite would remain on for less than one minute after being commanded on. A quick test of the "bent pipe" voice mode repeater was successful. . The "hardware watchdog timer problem" is still evident; as expected, spacecraft temperatures are insufficient to keep the transmitter ON (needs to be above 15 deg C). Orbit projections suggest that satellite illumination conditions will not result in increased temperatures for nearly 10 years. Command stations do periodically turn AO-16 "ON" to check on its condition and see if the hardware timer problem has "automagically" fixed itself (which in not anticipated, but who knows...). AO-16 telemetry 3 Oct 2010 1838 utc PACSAT MBL Telemetry Decoder Ver. 1.3 (c) Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN =============================================================================== (average values) +10V Battery Bus : 0.00 V Battery Charge Reg : 0.55 mA Base Temp : 9.07 °C PSK RF Out : 1.90 W +5V RX Bus : 4.87 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8.49 V +10V RX Bus : 11.24 V Here is another teaser :) Several months ago I commanded the AO-16 S-band transmitter ON; it too remains functional (albeit weak), and was received by me, Drew KO4MA, and Alan WA4SCA. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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CAPE-2 heard in France
by Jean-Pierre Godet 25 Sep '15

25 Sep '15

Dear friends from University of loisiana in Lafayette, Your bird was heard in the North of France when flying over Oran (Algeria), orbit number 204, especially the CW beacon (on 145.823 MHz +- Doppler) between 12:12:52 and 12:13:06 UTC, content was "EUL CAPE 2 OR UF231". The signal was somewhat chirpy, but it's exactly the sound which the real lover of CW like above all. Really ! :-) http://f5yg.pagesperso-orange.fr/forum/CAPE-2_orb204_03dec2013.mp3 The signal to noise ratio is not too good because I'm using an old AM/FM scanner from the 80s heterodyned by my medium wave homebrew transmitter fitted with a 456.9 Xtal. The antenna was a vertical half-wave inside the attic. The next orbit, number 205, was heard too, with the CW beacon affected at that time by a hoarse voice and suffering from a strong fadding. So I'm not absolutly sure, poor lonesome telegraphist, of my human decoding, "M5UL CAPE 2 ÜR 5045", something like that. It was over the East coast of Spain, between 12:12:52 and 12:13:06 : http://f5yg.pagesperso-orange.fr/forum/CAPE-2_orb205_03dec2013.mp3 Congratulation to the Cajun Advanced Picosat Experiment team from France ! Jean-Pierre F5YG -- Powered by Linux (Slackware 10.0 - kernel 2.4.26)

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Re: [amsat-bb] Handheld for LEO satellites?
by Steve Kristoff 11 Jul '15

11 Jul '15

The Alinco DJ-G7 claims to be full-duplex capable. Anybody have thoughts on that radio? Steve AI9IN skristof(a)etczone.com On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 1:11 PM, D. Craig Fox <DFox(a)rwglaw.com> wrote: > All of the foregoing responses express valid approaches. One thing to keep > in mind if going the HT approach, is the long term reliability of the > radio. The fact that there are still so many Icoms, Kenwoods, Yaesus out > there is evidence of their long term reliability. Perhaps the inexpensive > Chinese radios will stand the test of time- maybe not. But for very little > more than the cost of two of the new cheap radios, you can have a full > duplex HT. As others have said, there is no real substitute for hearing > your downlink. I happen to like my full duplex Kenwood D7 because of its > on board TNC giving me the ability to communicate through the ISS > digipeater as I point my elk antenna while watching it go by. Way cool > experience. > > If you get really bitten by the sat bug like most of us, you will > eventually want a full duplex, all function transceiver to enable you to > work the linear (rd: low stress, high fun) satellites. Consider saving up > for that instead. > > Just my $.02 > > Craig > N6RSX > > > > NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential > information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, > or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to > the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and > immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or > disclosing the contents. Thank you. > _______________________________________________ > 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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AO73 mode change
by Graham Shirville 10 Jul '15

10 Jul '15

Hi All, Just to advise that FUNcube-1 AO73 has just (at approx 1905UTC) been commanded into continuous amateur mode for the holiday weekend. We expect to change it back to autonomous mode on Monday 6th evening. Have FUN! 73 Graham G3VZV

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AMSAT Bulletin Article KI4SBL
by Thomas Doyle 02 Jul '15

02 Jul '15

The latest AMSAT Bulletin Vol. 38 No. 3 was great. Quite a number of interesting articles. I found the CNCTRK article by KI4SBL particularly interesting. The modular, metal construction seems like a really good idea. Bob is very good on returning emails so let him know if you have any questions about his interesting system. In addition to CNCTRK there are a number of other portable rotors that have been around for a while (satnnogs, WRAPS and http://www.mobypicture.com/user/MeltdownCore/view/18165109 to name a few). Has anyone built and used any of these relatively new lightweight portable rotors. If you have any first hand experience with one or know of any others please let me know direct and/or on the board. tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-06-30 07:00 UTC
by EMike McCardel 30 Jun '15

30 Jun '15

From the SAREX Listserv Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-06-30 07:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Tulsa Community College, NE Campus, Tulsa, OK, direct via WD5AGO The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS/RSØISS or RSØISS/OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is TBD Contact is a go for: Wed 2015-07-01 15:59:17 UTC 20 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** From 2015-06-11 to 2015-07-24, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any school contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ** From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org oraj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 114 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 107 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-06-30 07:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 975. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 940. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-06-28 06:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Gennady Padalka RN3DT Scott Kelly Mikhail Korniyenko RN3BF **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors ---- Sent via sarex(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. Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings:http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex EMike McCardel, KC8YLD VP for Educational Relations AMSAT-NA Sent from my iPhone

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Preamps and Circular Polarization Switch.
by Jim Bennett 29 Jun '15

29 Jun '15

Hey guys. I just took a lighting strike the other day. Wipe out the big stick in the air. Also took out one preamp and possible a circular polarization switch on the sat antennas alone with both PCs that I had, a power supply, plus my network. The pair of KLM appear ok. So I am going to redo my tower layout. New coax(probably hard line), new preamps, new cp switch and new control cable to the preamps and CP switches. Rotor cables appear good, but will check to make sure. I put this system together about 20 years ago. So I am starting out fresh trying to find the stuff. Is Lanwear amps still available? If not, what is the next best. Are there any shelf available CP switches. The ones I have were on the antennas when purchased. And they appear home built. Any suggestions are appreciate. Jim Ke4kol

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Keps on Space Track
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 29 Jun '15

29 Jun '15

I am on the Space Track website and cannot find any Keps for either PSAT or BricSat. Where are you guys getting the Keps? I have used all these designations. PSAT (NO 84) = 90720 = ULTRASat 1 = 40654 = 2015-025D BRICSat (NO 83) = 90729 = ULTRASat 10 = 40655 = 2015-025E I find them but the Keps are blank. I've been using Space Track for all my Sat Keps and this is the first time I have had problems. 73, Carl W8KRF

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AMSAT-BB June 2015