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

Re: [amsat-bb] Spectacular Photo of the ISS (pixel)
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

> this potographer had a few-seconds' window to capture the ISS against the moon: > http://www.cnet.com/news/stunning-photo-catches-the-iss-in-transit-over-th e-full-moon/#ftag=CAD590a51e The ISS appears big because it is close to us. I was curious to see what it would look like if it was in orbit around the moon. Turns out, it would be one-tenth the size of even a single pixel. I edited the image to show this: http://aprs.org/ISS-moon-picture.png Bob, WB4APR

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

>> ... At the time I got started I was influenced by an article on the web titled "Work FM Satellites with your HT!" advocating that all I needed was a single handheld and a tape measure antenna ... Wow. I take that as a compliment ... >> ... I notice that the article has been since updated to include "Ideally, we should be working the satellites in full duplex mode, where we can simultaneously listen to the downlink as we are transmitting." Thank you for clarifying this. Then I am teaching it correctly. Whew. Clint

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Joe 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

I have a 12 foot tape here that when coiled up is less than a inch in diameter MAX, Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/4/2015 1:31 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > A 10m dipole is almost 17 feet long. You could fit it in a cubesat, > but where are the batteries, transmitter, receiver, IHU, etc going to go? > > NO-83 and NO-84 have 10m uplinks that use a 72' wire antenna for > reception. That depends on the ground station to supply a bit more > uplink power. With a cubesat, you don't have adequate power to > overcome a poor downlink antenna. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:22 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net <mailto:[email protected]>> > wrote: > > tape measure dipole worked in the past. > Joe WB9SBD > > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 7/4/2015 1:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> Because of the difficulty of putting an adequate antenna for a >> 10m downlink on a cubesat. >> >> 73. >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> Why don't they have mode "A" anymore? even the single channel >> FM could be mode a true? >> >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> On 7/4/2015 12:48 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>> Well, you are partially right. With OSCAR 6 and 7 and their strong ten >>> meter downlinks, it was just a matter of adding two meter transmit >>> capability to an HF station. Now it does take a little more work to >>> receive and transmit at VHF and UHF with SSB or CW and the prevalence >>> of man-made noise on VHF and UHF these days generally requires a beam. >>> >>> I am quite certain that many of the people that worked OSCARs, 6, 7, >>> 8, and the RS birds never graduated from Mode A. Just like many of the >>> FM satellite users never graduate from FM. >>> >>> People tend to think it's more difficult than it is. I've made over >>> 2,000 linear transponder contacts with nothing more than two Yaesu >>> FT-817s (for a few hundred of those I used an Icom IC-R10 receiver) >>> and an Arrow antenna handheld. >>> >>> The radios for operating via a linear transponder are widely available >>> and inexpensive. A Yaesu FT-100, FT-817, FT-857, FT-897, FT-991 or an >>> Icom IC-706MkII(g), Icom IC-7000, or any of those plus a FUNcube >>> dongle and computer to receive the downlink are all the radio you need >>> and an Arrow or Elk antenna will get you going. >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Joe<nss(a)mwt.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Funny how a linear bird is a technical challenge, wow, as a novice in 1975 I >>>> listened to Oscar 6 & 7 all the time. and once up graded used them also all >>>> the time. Sad to think that 1970's technology is high tech to anyone. >>>> Joe WB9SBD >>>> Sig >>>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>>> Idle Tyme >>>> Idle-Tyme.com >>>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>>> >>>> On 7/4/2015 12:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>>>> Michael, >>>>> >>>>> The idea is to get people hooked on satellite operating and then have >>>>> them "graduate" to more challenging aspects of satellite operating. >>>>> >>>>> AMSAT is, of course, working on projects that be more of a technical >>>>> challenge than FM satellites, like Fox-1E with a linear transponder >>>>> and the geosynchronous P4B project. >>>>> >>>>> 73, >>>>> >>>>> Paul, N8HM >>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:02 PM, Michael<Mat_62(a)charter.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Once again I feel the need to say that we have gone in the wrong >>>>>> direction >>>>>> by trying to convince everyone how easy a "sat" is to work with a >>>>>> handheld >>>>>> antenna. I got into satellite communication because of the technical >>>>>> challenge involved, not by how "easy it was". >>>>>> This whole half or full duplex issue is a symptom of "dumbing down" >>>>>> There >>>>>> should never be any question on it. Full duplex should ALWAYS be used. >>>>>> 73, >>>>>> Michael, W4HIJ >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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 viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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 viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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] Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Joe 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

tape measure dipole worked in the past. Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/4/2015 1:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Because of the difficulty of putting an adequate antenna for a 10m > downlink on a cubesat. > > 73. > > Paul, N8HM > > On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net <mailto:[email protected]>> > wrote: > > Why don't they have mode "A" anymore? even the single channel FM > could be mode a true? > > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 7/4/2015 12:48 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> Well, you are partially right. With OSCAR 6 and 7 and their strong ten >> meter downlinks, it was just a matter of adding two meter transmit >> capability to an HF station. Now it does take a little more work to >> receive and transmit at VHF and UHF with SSB or CW and the prevalence >> of man-made noise on VHF and UHF these days generally requires a beam. >> >> I am quite certain that many of the people that worked OSCARs, 6, 7, >> 8, and the RS birds never graduated from Mode A. Just like many of the >> FM satellite users never graduate from FM. >> >> People tend to think it's more difficult than it is. I've made over >> 2,000 linear transponder contacts with nothing more than two Yaesu >> FT-817s (for a few hundred of those I used an Icom IC-R10 receiver) >> and an Arrow antenna handheld. >> >> The radios for operating via a linear transponder are widely available >> and inexpensive. A Yaesu FT-100, FT-817, FT-857, FT-897, FT-991 or an >> Icom IC-706MkII(g), Icom IC-7000, or any of those plus a FUNcube >> dongle and computer to receive the downlink are all the radio you need >> and an Arrow or Elk antenna will get you going. >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> >> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Joe<nss(a)mwt.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>> Funny how a linear bird is a technical challenge, wow, as a novice in 1975 I >>> listened to Oscar 6 & 7 all the time. and once up graded used them also all >>> the time. Sad to think that 1970's technology is high tech to anyone. >>> Joe WB9SBD >>> Sig >>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>> Idle Tyme >>> Idle-Tyme.com >>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>> >>> On 7/4/2015 12:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>>> Michael, >>>> >>>> The idea is to get people hooked on satellite operating and then have >>>> them "graduate" to more challenging aspects of satellite operating. >>>> >>>> AMSAT is, of course, working on projects that be more of a technical >>>> challenge than FM satellites, like Fox-1E with a linear transponder >>>> and the geosynchronous P4B project. >>>> >>>> 73, >>>> >>>> Paul, N8HM >>>> >>>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:02 PM, Michael<Mat_62(a)charter.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> Once again I feel the need to say that we have gone in the wrong >>>>> direction >>>>> by trying to convince everyone how easy a "sat" is to work with a >>>>> handheld >>>>> antenna. I got into satellite communication because of the technical >>>>> challenge involved, not by how "easy it was". >>>>> This whole half or full duplex issue is a symptom of "dumbing down" >>>>> There >>>>> should never be any question on it. Full duplex should ALWAYS be used. >>>>> 73, >>>>> Michael, W4HIJ >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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 viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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 viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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] Signal on 145.825 (CW?)
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

> I was hearing ... "sewing machine" on 145.825 MHz FM. ANS: AO-11. NEW QUESTION: Which one sends CW? I hear it in FM, but am on the other side of the lab and haven’t gotten across to switch to SSB to copy it. Been too busy. Bob

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

>> ... the quote that is purely out of context ... Pure nonsense. From the article ... "Working Fox-1A" "With a minimum power output of 400mW, Fox-1A should be easy to work with an ordinary VHF/UHF handheld transceiver and a dual-band handheld Yagi antenna. Most VHF/UHF handhelds can only communicate in "half duplex." This means they cannot receive simultaneously while transmitting. A half- duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better. A full duplex transceiver receives and transmits at the same time. This allows you to monitor the quality of your signal through the satellite so that you can make antenna and frequency adjustments as needed." My quotation of ... " ... a half-duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better ... " ... captures the "essence" properly. Clint Bradford

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Signal on 145.825
by Mark Johns 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

At about 16:15z this morning I was hearing a strong carrier with "sewing machine" modulation on 145.825 MHz FM. It wasn't 1200bps packet. ISS, PSAT, NO-44 and other usual suspects were nowhere nearby. It seemed to be passing to the south of my location in EN43. Can anyone tell me what this was? -- Mark D. Johns, KØMDJDecorah, Iowa USA EN43----------------------------------------------- "Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." ---Mark Twain

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

I was startled reading AA4KN's proclamation in his July, 2015 QST article that " ... a half-duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better ... " Gawd, if I had published that, I would have crosses burning on my front lawn. Confirming we should still be teaching that "Working FOX-1A in true, full duplex mode is preferred ... " - and suggesting methods to accomplish just that? Clint K6LCS

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Spectacular Photo of the ISS
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

While all the rest of us were watching Venus and Jupiter this week, this potographer had a few-seconds' window to capture the ISS against the moon: "The ISS only passed over the moon for 0.33 seconds as it shoots by quite quickly. Knowing the second it would pass I fired a 'burst' mode of exposures then crossed my fingers and hoped it would show up in review -- and it did!" ... http://www.cnet.com/news/stunning-photo-catches-the-iss-in-transit-over-the… It is now MY newest screensaver photograph ... Clint K6LCS

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My ft-736 meter lamp went dark, and scratchy pots.
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Anyone know off hand the voltage and current rating of the meter lamp in an FT-736 and hard it is to get too? Replacement source? When I have it apart I need to address scratchy pots issue too with the AF gain, squelch, RF gain, and mic gain. Anyone ever taken care of that? What cleaner to use? Thanks Happy 4th everyone. KB7ADL

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