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

For Sale 2m - 10m transverter
by Connie Dodson 25 Jun '15

25 Jun '15

I see the listing was Jan 2015. Is it still available? Connie w7cjd

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AO-7
by Joe 25 Jun '15

25 Jun '15

This has peaked my interest in this old bird. Is there a schedule someplace that I can view to know when it will be in mode "A"? Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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W5PFG/P DM81/82 short notice - op tonight
by Clayton Coleman 25 Jun '15

25 Jun '15

I'll try SO-50 at 0100 UTC tonight (25-June) from the DM81/82 line near Midland, TX. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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HRD and linear birds
by Ted 25 Jun '15

25 Jun '15

Hi Michael ...good points, however, the fact is that HRD does not perform the proper doppler adjustments. Does it look good? Does it integrate with your log book? Does it have a better graphical presentation? YES to all these questions. But, to prove to yourself the doppler problem, start HRD Sat program and SATPC32 in the same window. Make sure all keps are updated and apples are apples as they say. A radio hook up is not necessary. Now, pick the same sat in a pass that is good for your location. As it tracks, look at the data from SATPC32 and the data from HRD. You will see that the AZ is virtually the same. BUT Note the figures for range, altitude and elevation. You will Cleary see a huge difference. The graphic picture will look like the sat is in the same place but something is clearly not right with the HRD data. And, thus it does not tune the radio properly for linear use. For some reason, it worked great on the old FM birds like AO51, etc., but again, not with linear. I have personally discussed these issues with Rick Ruhl, the HRD co-owner. I believe they intend to fix the issue sometime in the future, but to date, they have concentrated on fixing and updating the basic program. It's an issue of priorities based on 'supply and demand' from the user base. Sat operation is a niche group, so they have put us at the back of the bus in terms of development. That is just the way it is. Also, HRD 's sat program DOES NOT work for the ISS (neither does SATPC32 but they have the ISS add on. What you can do, though, is take advantage of the great HRD graphic presentation to visually follow things and use SATPC32 to run your radio. If you have 2 screens or a TV in the shack, you can through the HRD picture to those for a full screen graphic presentation and thus have full screen SATPC on your main computer. Good luck in the journey and congrats on the 9100 73, Ted K7TRK -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Mvivona via AMSAT-BB Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 2:59 PM To: Paul Stoetzer Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; Vivona, Michael (CMG-Orlando) Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HRD and linear birds Paul, I am only giving my humble opinion here, but to answer your question of why I want to use HRD over SatPC32. After using both, my conclusions are that they are not even in the same class. HRD is a one stop full integrated software suite for everything a ham could ever need. Logbook with synchronized web call lookup, digital mode module, satellite module, mapping that visually shows all your logbook contacts, rig control, remote access, rotor control, dual radio sync, built in solar cycle progression, DX cluster window, built in calendar, fully configurable user layouts throughout the entire suite. SatPC32 is a satellite tracking program that has rig control via the sat window, and rotor control. It to me is quite clunky and has that old timey DOS look and feel. Please, I don't want this to turn into a pi$$ing match. I am just trying to be as true to myself as I can. Me being a life long systems administrator and programmer have watched the upward progression of HRD over the years and have been in awe with everything Simon has accomplished. If what I'm hearing is that I just have to use SatPC32 for linear birds, then so be it. At the same time I am also hearing from many users that they only use SatPC32 or HRD just to track, but actually run their rigs by hand for the Doppler offset. So, maybe it's a moot point, I don't know? I really want to thank you guys for all your input in making me a better operator. Michael Vivona KC4ZVA Sent from my iPad On Jun 24, 2015, at 5:14 PM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> wrote: Even if you were to test it at AES, I doubt they have adequate antennas (and, even more importantly, feedline) set up for decent satellite reception, so it may not make a good test. May I ask why you are so eager to use HRD for this purpose? An IC-9100 is probably the best satellite transceiver on the market and many hams use them very successfully as part of a fully computer controlled satellite station - with SatPC32. 73, Paul, N8HM On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 5:09 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > Repeated over a few high elevation passes, actually working stations. It may work for you. > > Don't get me wrong, I like HRD. I used it last night with my IC-910 to work 2m Eskip remotely while out of town. However, I don't know a single active transponder op that uses it successfully. I invite them to step forward and speak up. > > Myself, the response from HRD you got would give me significant pause. On the other hand the author of SatPC32 is an active participant here, and has provided outstanding, even custom, support. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jun 24, 2015, at 4:55 PM, Mvivona <Mvivona(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> >> Thanks Andrew, >> OK, so the test would be for me to wait for a pass of an SSB bird like FO-29. Let HRD take control of the transceiver, manually override till I hear my return. Then let HRD take over and see if it holds the Doppler offset lock for the entire pass. Is that the test Andrew? >> >> Michael Vivona >> Sent from my iPad >> >> On Jun 24, 2015, at 2:17 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: >> >> In my case, from hearing a dozen+ ops try it on the air. The tuning does not update the frequencies fast enough for use on SSB. In every case I've been involved with, switching to SatPC32 solved the problem. $45 for SatPC32 will make that $2500 radio sing on the transponders. >> >> 73, Drew KO4MA >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Jun 24, 2015, at 2:00 PM, Mvivona via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: >>> >>> I'm confused. How do you know it doesn't work if you don't know what the issue is? Just sayin'. >>> >>> Michael Vivona >>> Sent from my iPad >>> >>> On Jun 24, 2015, at 1:41 PM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> wrote: >>> >>> The automatic Doppler control does not work properly. I've never >>> tried it, so I'm not sure what the actual issue is. >>> >>> SatPC32 is the way to go for computer control on the linear transponders. >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >>> >>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2015 at 12:43 PM, Vivona, Michael (CMG-Orlando) >>> <michael.vivona(a)wftv.com> wrote: >>>> I am trying to get a clarification about using HamRadioDeluxe and linear birds. I have heard on several occasions that HRD and its associated satellite tracking module works fine for FM birds but not for linear birds. Can someone please clarify what the actual issue is? I currently have HRD version 6X and I am looking to purchase an IC9100 to mate it with. I have contacted the HRD support folks, but the answer I get is: "not sure, try it". Well, I don't have the IC9100 yet so I can't try it. >>>> I have permission from my local AES outlet store to connect up my laptop to one of there IC9100 before I buy it. So, I need to know what the actual problem is with HRD and linear birds so I can try it in person. >>>> I hope to get to the bottom of this once and for all.thanks in advance for anyone that wants to jump in on this. >>>> >>>> Michael Vivona >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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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PCSat pass
by TJ Campie 25 Jun '15

25 Jun '15

I heard a packet, didn't decode but that was it. And a 90 deg pass too! Tough cookie. Got a couple packets gated by ISS on the overlapping pass and sent a few messages to the stations heard but nothing got ACK'd. Next time! GL out there. 73, W0EA TJ ---- QRP ARCI #14612 | CW Ops #953 | SKCC #4593T NAQCC #3768 | Flying Pigs QRP #2254 http://W0EA.us *Because QRO is too easy (but sometimes required!)*

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HRD and linear birds
by Nicholas Mahr 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

Hello, Instead of fussing with automatic dopper control, I would honestly just do manual tuning, I think its superior to automatic, if you have alot of experience with manual tuning. I wouldent mess with HRD, Just use SatPC32... As for tracking I recemmend Nova For Windows, flawless 3D software! 73 KE8AKW

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Re: [amsat-bb] HRD and linear birds
by Fraser Bonnett 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

I have an IC-9100 and tried for quite a while to get it to work with the HRD. I do not want to disparage HRD at all, I use it for all my HF work, it's a fantastic suite of software. However, the Satellite part just isn't up to the same level that the rest of it is. From my tribulations with HRD and my IC-9100, I can say: 1. It works for tracking satellite beacons and NOAA weather sats just fine. Doppler correction works quite well 2. It doesn't support tones so you can't use it on SO-50 unless you edit the tone after HRD takes over the CAT, something I couldn't figure out 3. It could possibly work with linear transponders if you could figure out how to adjust the offsets. This is extremely difficult to do in HRD, and something I could never manage to get right. 4. Finally asking a question in the Satellite sub-forum on the support site never elicits any response, probably because no-one is using it. So, like everyone else suggested, I switched to SatPC32 and it works with the IC-9100 perfectly. 73, Fraser, W3UTD --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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AMSAT: 7th Annual Golden Packet Attempt 18 July 2015
by Robert Bruninga 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

AMSAT: Can’t get enough of the bugs at Field Day? Then take 3 weeks to recuperate and join us: The 7th annual attempt to do APRS contacts along the 2000 mile path along the Appalachians using 14 hops will be Saturday 18 July. Last year was the first end-to-end success. This year we plan a repeat, plus, DX branches off to other “trails” and into Canada will be considered. We still have some gaps in Commitments to the 14 main-line stations: AL. Huntsville - ? TN. Lookout Mtn - ? GA. Springer - Glenn, N4AZR TN. Clingman’s Dome - Larry, K4AEC NC. Roan Mtn - Dave, K4KWL VA. Comers Rock - Zack, KJ4LQP + VTARA VA. AO Mtn - ? VA. VA Mtn - ? MD. MD Mtns – Mike George PA. GD Hill – Bob, WB4APR PA. Camelback - ? NY. Sam’s Pt - ? MA. Greylock - WECA, WA1PLE MA. Equinox - ? VT. Mt-Wash - John, NT1I ME. Sugarloaf - John, WA1KLI ME. Katahden - ? We do –not- generally encourage other local digis as they QRM the DX packets which are vulnerable enough as it is. But we will consider branches going off at least 100 miles or to exciting places. We operate NOT on the national 144.39 APRS channel so that we avoid the wall-to-wall QRM. The event lasts a minimum of 4 hours starting at noon until success. See the web page: http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html Further we would like to ecnourage other groups across the USA to try to activate any of the other 50,000 linear miles of hiking trails in the USA such as the Pacific Coast Trail, and Intercontinental trails, or Lewis-and-Clark trail, Pony Express?, First Telegraph route to Calif, etc? Also don’t forget the same date/time is Scouting’s Operation On-Target where scouts and hams take to the mountain tops to try to make contact with signal mirrors. Team up with a group and show off ham radio. Bob, WB4APR

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APRS Satgate Antenna page (grouind planes)
by Robert Bruninga 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

Subject: RE: APRS Satgate Antenna page > One question,what constitutes a large ground plane? > Is it 12"or 12'? Is it a multiple of the vertical whip? Good question. Most people think that four 1/4 wave radials make a ground plane. But if you model a 1/4 wave vertical over 1/4 wave radials, all you get is the exact pattern of a DIPOLE. The radials are just providing a "groundplane" to complete the electrical part of the antenna and give a good match. They do not affect the pattern at all. I modeled verticals over 6' or larger ground planes and only found that you get the added "reflection" gain when the ground plane starts getting that big or more. I wish I had time to use EZNEC to show the added gain (skyward) versus the size of the ground plane. And how "radials" (above actual ground) have nothing to do with the "pattern". SO, the bigger the better. It should be worth 2 to 3 dB if you could make it very large... This is the page in question: http://aprs.org/aprs-satellite-igate-antennas.html This shows the very common misunderstandings of the term "ground plane". (As a MATCHING system with 1/4 wave radials, or as a true Ground reflector (infinite) Bob, WB4aPR On 6/19/2015 3:57 PM, Robert Bruninga via aprssig wrote: > Subject: APRS Satgate Antenna page > > Since the ideal APRS Satellite IGate OMNI antenna is exactly the > opposite of the typical terrestrial IGaate antenna, I prepared the > following WEB page: > > http://aprs.org/aprs-satellite-igate-antennas.html > > It shows how a vertical ¼ or ¾ wave VHF omni equals the performance of > a full OSCAR class array (over half the sky) but does it with no > moving parts. > It makes up for the weak-signal horizon part of the sky by there > simply being more omni-IGates. The APRS-IS cloud with all of its > IGates is probably one of the largest spatially distributed satellite > receiver system in the world (?). > > But with people used to the 10W transmitter on the ISS, just a few > IGates can capture just about every packet from the ISS horizon to > horizon on a whip. But with the 14 dB weaker signal from PSAT, we > need more SatGates to make up for their smaller skyprint. For the USA > we need more than a dozen such Omni-SATgates. > > To see the significance of the weaker downlink from PSAT, look at the > successful IGates on the http://pcsat.aprs.org page compared to the IGates > that hear the ISS packets on http://ariss.net Both are listening on > 145.825 and passing along every packet they hear. But only TRACKING > IGates or good vertical gain satgates hear PSAT. And since we want > these running 24/7/365, we do NOT expect people wearing out motors > when an omni will do fine (if we have enough). > > The page also shows how every SATgate with a HIGH and terrestrial type > antenna actually creates a DEADZONE around it, effectively blocking > any nearby user heaerd direct from appearing on any of the APRS-IS > cloud satellite web pages. Hence, Omni-satgate antennas should be low > to everything surrounding it w hile still seeing the sky above 30 degrees. > > If your TH-D7 HT is just sitting there, not in use 99% of the time, > then just hook it to a vertical whip and let it be an IGate. With the > low antenna it will also probably be safe from all weather lightening too. > Put > the UHF side on 435.350 and turn up the speaker. When PSAT PSK31 > comes into view, you can watch the PSK31 activity as a bonus! > > Bob, WB4APR > _______________________________________________ > aprssig mailing list > aprssig(a)tapr.org > http://www.tapr.org/mailman/listinfo/aprssig

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fair Price for Yaesu FT847
by Bill ACITO, W1PA 24 Jun '15

24 Jun '15

(Copied the list for everyone’s reference and benefit) http://www.supercontrol.de/cat/ft847faq/ft847faq.htm http://www.supercontrol.de/cat/ft847faq/page4.htm#catcontrol Only FT-847s starting with serial # 8G05xxxx, or earlier units that were sent back to Yaesu for retro-fit, will have bi-directional CAT. The “update” requires replacement of the main processer CPU chip (a high pin-count quad flat pack, not for the faint of heart); I would want to see the Yaesu receipt to confirm it was done. I was told that other updates were done at various points in the lineage (e.g. better power switch?), but I don’t have any details on that. I have a uni-directional-CAT 847; to his credit and my continued, sincere thanks, Erich (of SatPC32 fame) provided me a “special” .exe last year so I could use the radio with SatPC32. The limitation is that I must do all VFO, doppler, and mode control from the PC -- if I touch the radio, the PC does not recognize what I have done, and quickly overwrites the radio with what it is doing. Bill W1PA From: Dennis Griffin Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 10:10 AM To: Bill ACITO, W1PA Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fair Price for Yaesu FT847 Hi Bill, Is there a known cut-in s/n that would signify inclusion of this feature? Were there any other feature changes at the time of this change? If not, this change would only be of interest to those wanting to use CAT control with their FT-847, correct? 73 de Dennis KD7CAC Scottsdale, AZ

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