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

G-5500 Controller Question
by Tony 29 Jul '15

29 Jul '15

All: I have an old Yaesu G-500A elevation rotator and a refurbished Yaesu G-1000 DXA azimuth rotator that I'd like to use with a G-5500 controller. I suspect the controller will work with the G-500A right out of the box, but I don't know about the G-1000 DXA. Any ideas? Tony

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g5400 AZ/EL control
by Michael J. Wolthuis 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

I have been out of the SAT new station construction for a while. I use a Uni_Trac on my station at home and have been for over 6 years. Now I am building a station for someone else. I need to control a g5400b. Is the LVB SatTracker from the Amsat store the way to go? Then use Sat32 to control the radio and the LVB? Any other ideas would be good, but this is for beginners and needs to be simple to put together and use. So, prefer not to use the Adrino solution. Thanks, Mike kb8zgl

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QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages (DOVE-17's speech?)
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

Yes, I sometimes go on the DD1US sounds from space page also, it has almost every satellite you can think of on there. Including UO-11 and UO-9'S digitalkers http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%202b.html . 73's KE8AKW

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TS790 radio control now working
by Scott Smith 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

Hi folks, I now have the satpc32 again controlling my TS790. I purchased a new usb/serial cable from the U.K. downloaded the drivers and it works fine. This cable is almost half the price of the other one which stopped working. It only cost 16., Tried it on Fo-29 and it does the job hi hi. 73 de Scott VE6ITV

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duplexer used as a filter
by kb2m＠arrl.net 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

I'm trying to setup a remote sat station and need help with a desence filter. I was using a Diamond MX72-n and was experiencing water intrusion. I then checked the archives and consulted the group and went to the recommended Comet CF-416. Guess what, I'm still getting water into the duplexer. I thought that it was more suited to outdoor service on the recommendation of the group. So, before I take apart one of the duplexers to attempt to waterproof, does anyone know of a duplexer that is designed for outdoor use on the tower? I really don't have the room for a 12 foot + crossboom, so I need to resolve the desence with the duplexer. Any suggestions from someone who has solved this? 73 Jeff kb2m

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Re: [amsat-bb] duplexer used as a filter
by Kevin M 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

> Resist any temptation to seal up every crack and crevice of the diplexer. > be sure to leave a weep hole or a small gap perhaps where your cables come in through the bottom so moisture can escape. Cannot agree with the above enough... You NEVER want to try and seal it up completely; mostly because you can't. (the block of epoxy being the exception) Warm day, heat beating down on it, cool rain comes, case temperature drops quickly, air inside will condense and suck a hole in your weather seal. Now you have moist air trapped inside... no weep holes. It's the same reason you never seal both ends of hollow feedline. Are you thinking of using preamps? Then I want to suggest you try TWO diplexers... one on each feedline before the preamps. The 'unused port' on each can be capped with a simple antenna connector and a 50 ohm 1/4 watt resistor across it. Now, need room for all that? How about a tactical gear case... I've found the black cases from MCM electronics (~$25) and antenna brackets at the hardware store (~$5): http://kb5wia.blogspot.com/2011/01/satellite-antennas-again.html http://n4ufosat.blogspot.com/2014/11/finally-got-nice-day-without-too-much.… It's just a suggestion... your mileage may vary, batteries not included, attempt at your own risk. =^) 73, Kevin N4UFO

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Re: [amsat-bb] LOTW can be used for all AMSAT Awards
by Kevin M 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

Don't know who 'in the world' (<-- pun!) would have suggested such a crazy thing, but very great news, Bruce! I sure would have liked to have been the first to submit an LotW app, but I just got #85 confirmed towards the Century award (thanks YV5FRD!) and still have a few more to go. =^) 73 and here's hoping your application inbox gets filled!!! =^D Kevin N4UFO --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

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Re: [amsat-bb] QIKCOM-2 SPoken Messages (DOVE-17's speech?)
by Robert Bruninga 28 Jul '15

28 Jul '15

Did DOVE OSCAR-17 ever say anything other than the “Hi, this is Dove in Space” as recorded here: http://www.dd1us.de/sounds/DO-17.mp3 That’s from a fantastic page I just found that has sounds from many satellites! http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%202c.html I’d like to put ananniversary copy of its best known announcement on QIKCOM I remember copying its telelmetry all the time, but I just don’t remember the voice. 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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Re: [amsat-bb] duplexer used as a filter
by Mike Ryan 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

I recommend taking some lessons from other gear that’s packaged for outdoor use. Like many outdoor preamps. Have a look at picture of these and you’ll see what I am getting at. Moisture comes from 2 places. From precipitation and from the air (condensation). I’ve use the following with great success. First the precipitation. Cover it like a “hat”. I use a piece of wide PVC or drainage pipe, though a plastic project box will do as well. I seal the top with a cap and leave the bottom open. All cables and connectors must come from the bottom for zero chance of water tricking in through a cable hole on the top or side or through the connectors. Also seal the connectors using some of the new vinyl coax wrap (love this stuff), electrical tape, or coax seal (though the latter can be a bear to cleanly remove later). What you're basically doing is affixing a “bucket” over the top of your diplexer. Now for condensation. Resist any temptation to seal up every crack and crevice of the diplexer. As long as there is any air inside, you will eventually get condensation due to temp and humidity changes. And it needs a way to get out when that happens. If you cover the bottom of your PVC pipe be sure to leave a weep hole or a small gap perhaps where your cables come in through the bottom so moisture can escape. The only perfect way around the condensation is to have no air at all inside the diplexer housing. Some companies use this approach for outdoor matchboxes and baluns where the whole thing is embedded in a block of epoxy. But before you try taking yours apart and using filler, epoxy, or silicone sealer to fill it up, let me tell you I’ve tried it and my diplexer just didn’t work well afterwards. I suffered added losses and and increased SWR. Perhaps gear just has to be designed for that from the ground up. Hope that helps. On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 8:38 PM, <kb2m(a)arrl.net> wrote: > I'm trying to setup a remote sat station and need help with a desence > filter. I was using a Diamond MX72-n and was experiencing water intrusion. > I then checked the archives and consulted the group and went to the > recommended Comet CF-416. Guess what, I'm still getting water into the > duplexer. I thought that it was more suited to outdoor service on the > recommendation of the group. So, before I take apart one of the duplexers to > attempt to waterproof, does anyone know of a duplexer that is designed for > outdoor use on the tower? I really don't have the room for a 12 foot + > crossboom, so I need to resolve the desence with the duplexer. Any > suggestions from someone who has solved this? > > > > 73 Jeff kb2m

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 27 Jul '15

27 Jul '15

It did not take long after the announcement that AMSAT would accept ARRL LOTW entries for Fraser, W3UTD, to submit 100% LOTW entries for the AMSAT Satellite Communication Achievement Award as well as the South Africa Satellite Communitcation Achievement Award. There have been several others that have included LOTW entries over the past few weeks while I was testing the idea. Next week, I will post more of the awards earned since my last post the other day, including Fraser's submission. 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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