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

Re: [amsat-bb] Rotor Controllers
by AJ9N＠aol.com 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Another possibility and one that I also use is the LabJack U12/Piggyback combination (I also have the LVB). The Piggyback you will need to build since Nova no longer sells it. The plans may be found in one of the documents that you can get for SatPC32. The U12 can be found at https://labjack.com/products/u12. The Piggyback can be found at http://www.dk1tb.de/lj_piggyback.JPG. Hope this helps. 73, Charlie AJ9N One of the ARISS mentors I don't see the LVB being sold in the AMSAT store at the moment, so this might be an alternative for you. In a message dated 7/26/2015 5:05:47 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time, ve3nxk(a)gmail.com writes: Wanting to upgrade my ham computer from XP/P4 to something newer and faster. Have used Nova, AEA ST-1, and Yaesu G-5500 for ever. Have a nice HP quad core machine with W7, that I cannot get to work with the ST-1, says cannot initialize port. Tried a couple of other units with same results, so I suspect it has something to do with the newer parallel ports. So what am I missing ??? I would prefer to use a USB port of course, but cannot find any controllers now that are ready to go, or will work with Nova. I am trying to stay with Nova and the Yaesu G-5500 What is everyone else using these days? -- Bill Booth VE3NXK Sundridge ON, Canada 79.23.37 W x 45.46.18 N FN05ns Visit my weather WebCam at http://www.almaguin.com/wxcurrent/weather.html Organ and Tissue Donation - The Gift of Life Talk to your family. Your decision can make a difference. _______________________________________________ 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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P3E: Happy, but urging caution
by Robert McGwier 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Again, I caution. Until we have a contract, this is an opportunity. The most serious we have had since we launched AO-40 but a contract must be let to Virginia Tech by the USG to update the electronics and adapt the frame and components (remove the rocket and tanks), and get ready to use the VT ground station for operations along with AMSAT. I believe we will know before the 2017 fiscal year, but AMSAT's are ready to say yes as is VT. I love both of these guys Peter and Andrew. Be grateful after I get the USG to say yes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INlUCRmRhRk -- Bob McGwier Co-Founder and Technical Director, Federated Wireless, LLC Research Professor Virginia Tech Senior Member IEEE, Facebook: N4HYBob, ARS: N4HY Faculty Advisor Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Assn. (K4KDJ)

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Videos of P3E Announcement and FO-29 Satellite Demo
by M5AKA 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club and Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG these video are now available: Video of P3E Satellite Announcement http://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/26/video-of-p3e-satellite-announcement/ Satellite demonstration at AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium http://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/26/satellite-demonstration-at-amsat-uk-space-co… 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK ----

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Videos of P3E Announcement and FO-29 Satellite Demo
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

PD5LKM, No engine and tank is needed because the rocket will place it in a safe orbit with a safe pedigree, so no engine is needed. I believe reading somewhere is will carry the regular V/U transponder, and stuff in the GHZ's. 73's KE8AKW

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EO-80
by ingejack＠cox.net 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

I am travelling to Austria Germany and Northern Italy for 7 weeks and wondered if they have plans to turn on EO-80 in the near future ?? I understood that it would be turned on for ham use the middle of July but have heard nothing further. I was wondering if I should program in the frequencies for EO-80 or just leave the gear at home. Any information would be greatly appreciated Thanks JACK/KC7MG

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LOTW can be used for all AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

AMSAT will now accept LOTW contacts for all of their awards. We had been trying to figure out a way to do this and it was actually quite simple as suggested by one of our members. Log into your LOTW account, click on "Your QSOs". Select the station you want to include for your AMSAT award. Click on "Details". Use a screen capture program or Windows Snipping tool and attach that screen shot. The information displayed contains both callsigns, the DXCC entity, the Grid Square, the time/date and mode for the contact. Everything we need for the contact to be accepted. This will make it easier for everyone to submit for AMSAT awards as they do not also have to get a hard copy QSL card for their LOTW contacts. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Re: [amsat-bb] QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages (Valid Contacts - DONE!)
by Robert Bruninga 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Frank K5HS (ex KR1ZAN) came up with an excellent suggestion. Simply add the revolving QSO number to the downlinked GRID report! Then we need only the QSL message so that both stations can QSL each others grid!... So the DTMF grid will come down now as: "Grid FM19 from WB4APR QSO number X." A reply DTMF QSL message from someone else will be "W3ADO says QSL QSO number _. Thanks for the contact". Done. And this is an elegant simple solution that fits and the CPU only has 8 bytes of program memory left! (but 12k of message memory left)... Bob, Wb4APR -----Original Message----- From: prstoetzer(a)gmail.com [mailto:prstoetzer@gmail.com] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 9:05 AM To: Robert Bruninga Cc: amsat bb Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages (Valid Contacts) Generally a QSO is considered to be an exchange of calls and one other piece of information - whether that's a signal report, grid square, serial number, name, etc. 73, Paul, N8HM On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:48 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: > Maybe what I really need to know, is whether a grid exchange is > required to constitute a valid satellite contact, or just an exchange of > calls? > > > > Bob > > > > *From:* Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga@usna.edu] > *Sent:* Sunday, July 26, 2015 4:12 PM > *To:* amsat bb > *Cc:* Robert Bruninga > *Subject:* Re: QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages > > > > AMSAT Armchair "contact" lawyers: > > Continuing with the DTMF message ideas. What kind of exchange "counts" > for satellite contacts? (where counting matters)? Does it really > have to be CQ... QSL... and then QSL ...? > > For the DTMF Voice system, we could have two more messages: > > " CQ Satellite, my number is *" (the satellite assigns the digit *) > > " QSL number _, my number is *" (station enters the _ in his reply) > > Usage would be: > > > > A station sends a DTMF uplink message "WB4APR says CQ Satellite my > number is X". > > A responding station sends "W3ADO says QSL number X, my number is Y" > > Finishing it off with "WB4APR says QSL number Y, my number is X. > > Another station joins in "W4XYZ says QSL number X, my number is Z > > and the reply could be "WB4APR says QSL Number Z, my number is X... > > WB4APR made two valid contacts with XYZ and ADO. > > In otherwords is that required for an exchange? The number for "My > number is *." is assigned sequencially for the pass, so that it is > unique. The QSL station always has to enter the number of the > matching station to which he is responding. > > Just a thought. Or does anyone give a hoot about counting satellite > "contacts"? > > Bob, Wb4APR > > > > On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 2:02 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > wrote: > > In addition to all of the numbered ARL messages, we have now > implemented all of these additional messages (as adjusted to fit) and > found it was trivial to include a "0-9" modifier in messages... > wherever a " _" appears. There is still some room. > > Remember, for the sender using DTMF the message and callsign always > fits into 16 digits from the DTMF keypad. The format is: > > CeMMxCCCCCCpppp# > > Where e is an emergency flag which, along with x, must be 9 if this is > a true emergency message otherwise it says "TEST ... " > Where MM is the message number (00 to 99) Where x is a numeric > modifier for messages with a "_" in them. > Where CCCCCC is the callsign in DTMF and pppp is the key position > codes for the 6 letters See http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html > > > Here are the new ones implemented. > > ------------------------ > W2JV suggested: “Greetings from AMSAT. Keeping ham radio in space > over 44 years”. > ------------------------ > WA1KAT suggested: > There is no cell service here. > Cell battery is dead. > Cell power charging is limited. > Radio power charging is limited. > Next contact time available in 90 minutes. (time of one full orbit) > Next contact time is tomorrow. > Contact me on _ Meter band. (interpret as 1=160, 2=2m, 3=30, 8=80, > etc) > -------------------------- > Bob added: > Demonstrating APRStt at Hamfest > Demonstrating APRStt to friends > I am on schedule. > I may be delayed _ hours > I may be delayed _ days > I may be early _ hours > I May be early _ days > I may quit early _ stops > I may go farther _ stops > We are camping and enjoying it greatly. > We are hiking and enjoying it greatly. > Call me on my cell. > Call my cell on the hour. > Please Send items number _. (1=Money,2= food, water, supplies, shoes, > sleeping bag, blanket,fuel) > We are operating on emergency power. > We are operating on solar power. > > Just thinkin... > Bob, WB4APR > > On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 11:11 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > wrote: > Inviting proposed standard messages for the next APRS Satellite: > > Our next QIKCOM-2 APRS satellite will accept 2 digit uplink DTMF > messages to be spoken on the downlink. We have already programmed all > of the ARRL standard radio grams and emergency messages. > But there is room for more. So think.... What kind of message would > you want to send (that is not included in the existing ones) from your > HT out in the wilderness. At a hamfest? or any other HAM Radio event or > opportunity. > Keep them simple and of the same order of length as the existing ones. > The existing ones are listed here: > http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 > But the implementation cannot include blanks for fill-in like the > regular ones. But any sentence that stands alone can work. > Just thought I'd open it up. Plenty of RAM and only 1 week before > delivery... > Serious considerations only. Thanks > Bob, WB4APR > _______________________________________________ > 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] QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages (Valid Contacts)
by Robert Bruninga 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Maybe what I really need to know, is whether a grid exchange is required to constitute a valid satellite contact, or just an exchange of calls? Bob *From:* Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga@usna.edu] *Sent:* Sunday, July 26, 2015 4:12 PM *To:* amsat bb *Cc:* Robert Bruninga *Subject:* Re: QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages AMSAT Armchair "contact" lawyers: Continuing with the DTMF message ideas. What kind of exchange "counts" for satellite contacts? (where counting matters)? Does it really have to be CQ... QSL... and then QSL ...? For the DTMF Voice system, we could have two more messages: " CQ Satellite, my number is *" (the satellite assigns the digit *) " QSL number _, my number is *" (station enters the _ in his reply) Usage would be: A station sends a DTMF uplink message "WB4APR says CQ Satellite my number is X". A responding station sends "W3ADO says QSL number X, my number is Y" Finishing it off with "WB4APR says QSL number Y, my number is X. Another station joins in "W4XYZ says QSL number X, my number is Z and the reply could be "WB4APR says QSL Number Z, my number is X... WB4APR made two valid contacts with XYZ and ADO. In otherwords is that required for an exchange? The number for "My number is *." is assigned sequencially for the pass, so that it is unique. The QSL station always has to enter the number of the matching station to which he is responding. Just a thought. Or does anyone give a hoot about counting satellite "contacts"? Bob, Wb4APR On Sun, Jul 26, 2015 at 2:02 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: In addition to all of the numbered ARL messages, we have now implemented all of these additional messages (as adjusted to fit) and found it was trivial to include a "0-9" modifier in messages... wherever a " _" appears. There is still some room. Remember, for the sender using DTMF the message and callsign always fits into 16 digits from the DTMF keypad. The format is: CeMMxCCCCCCpppp# Where e is an emergency flag which, along with x, must be 9 if this is a true emergency message otherwise it says "TEST ... " Where MM is the message number (00 to 99) Where x is a numeric modifier for messages with a "_" in them. Where CCCCCC is the callsign in DTMF and pppp is the key position codes for the 6 letters See http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html Here are the new ones implemented. ------------------------ W2JV suggested: “Greetings from AMSAT. Keeping ham radio in space over 44 years”. ------------------------ WA1KAT suggested: There is no cell service here. Cell battery is dead. Cell power charging is limited. Radio power charging is limited. Next contact time available in 90 minutes. (time of one full orbit) Next contact time is tomorrow. Contact me on _ Meter band. (interpret as 1=160, 2=2m, 3=30, 8=80, etc) -------------------------- Bob added: Demonstrating APRStt at Hamfest Demonstrating APRStt to friends I am on schedule. I may be delayed _ hours I may be delayed _ days I may be early _ hours I May be early _ days I may quit early _ stops I may go farther _ stops We are camping and enjoying it greatly. We are hiking and enjoying it greatly. Call me on my cell. Call my cell on the hour. Please Send items number _. (1=Money,2= food, water, supplies, shoes, sleeping bag, blanket,fuel) We are operating on emergency power. We are operating on solar power. Just thinkin... Bob, WB4APR On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 11:11 PM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: Inviting proposed standard messages for the next APRS Satellite: Our next QIKCOM-2 APRS satellite will accept 2 digit uplink DTMF messages to be spoken on the downlink. We have already programmed all of the ARRL standard radio grams and emergency messages. But there is room for more. So think.... What kind of message would you want to send (that is not included in the existing ones) from your HT out in the wilderness. At a hamfest? or any other HAM Radio event or opportunity. Keep them simple and of the same order of length as the existing ones. The existing ones are listed here: http://nts.ema.arrl.org/node/30 But the implementation cannot include blanks for fill-in like the regular ones. But any sentence that stands alone can work. Just thought I'd open it up. Plenty of RAM and only 1 week before delivery... Serious considerations only. Thanks Bob, WB4APR

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Rotor Controllers
by Bill Booth 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Wanting to upgrade my ham computer from XP/P4 to something newer and faster. Have used Nova, AEA ST-1, and Yaesu G-5500 for ever. Have a nice HP quad core machine with W7, that I cannot get to work with the ST-1, says cannot initialize port. Tried a couple of other units with same results, so I suspect it has something to do with the newer parallel ports. So what am I missing ??? I would prefer to use a USB port of course, but cannot find any controllers now that are ready to go, or will work with Nova. I am trying to stay with Nova and the Yaesu G-5500 What is everyone else using these days? -- Bill Booth VE3NXK Sundridge ON, Canada 79.23.37 W x 45.46.18 N FN05ns Visit my weather WebCam at http://www.almaguin.com/wxcurrent/weather.html Organ and Tissue Donation - The Gift of Life Talk to your family. Your decision can make a difference.

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Invitation to the 3rd IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and CubeSat Workshop
by IAA Conference University Satellite 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

Dear All, I am glad to invite you to the *3rd IAA Conference on University Satellite Missions and CubeSat workshop*, sponsored by the International Academy of Astronautics <http://www.iaaweb.org/> and organized by G.A.U.S.S. Srl <http://www.gaussteam.com/>, that includes the *International Workshop on Lean Satellite Standardization*, organized by the Kyutech Institute <http://www.kyutech.ac.jp/english/>. Following the previous two successful editions of 2011 and 2013, this year’s Conference aims at providing relevant information on University satellites, opening an international forum on the CubeSat community topics. It is addressed to researchers, professors and students from all over the world. The *Call for Papers *is open! An exhibition space will give great visibility to companies too! *Booth rental* opportunities and *sponsorship packages* are available. The event will take place *from 30 November to 5 December 2015 in Rome* (Italy), in the prestigious Palazzo Rospigliosi <http://www.congressirospigliosi.it/en/location.html>, in the city centre. For more info, please visit: http://www.gaussteam.com/conferences/3rd -iaa-conference/ Best regards, Filippo Graziani President of GAUSS Srl ----- GAUSS Srl Group of Astrodynamics for the Use of Space Systems website <http://www.gaussteam.com/> facebook <https://www.facebook.com/GaussSrl?fref=ts> twitter <https://twitter.com/gaussteam> linkedin <https://www.linkedin.com/company/gauss-srl>

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