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

CNCTRK update
by Bob Freeman 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

Hello amsat-bb, Have updated my CNCTRK site with information on the Raspberry Pi version of the system -- these data are new since the article was published in the May/June issue of the Journal. Am still planning to build a short run of APS units in Q4 (if our travel expenses son't break the bank, that is). Have fun and keep up the good work. Bob KI4SBL

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Question about AMSAT BB
by Rick Walter 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

I know most of the AMSAT operation is done by volunteers. I also have wondered why some posts for satellite passes seem to be very close or even after the pass occurred. What is the average time between someone sending a post and when it actually appears on the BB? I sent a congratulatory message to the AMSAT team who produce the Journal as well as commenting on the content. I also mentioned getting my AMSAT Journal in the mail today to allow members to know it will be arriving soon. That post was sent at 2:46 PM EDT today.I BCC it to myself. It showed up in 5 seconds. Five hours later, I still do not see it listed on the AMSAT BB. I can see why some posts seem to be at the last minute before something happens that may be of interest to most of us. I'm not complaining, I just wonder if we need to post about 12 hours before something will actually happen. Thanks, Rick WB3CSY -- Sent from Rick's gmail account

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Re: [amsat-bb] Question about AMSAT BB
by njwater . 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

I receive a daily digest, but other than checking the archives, is there any real-time or near-real-time way to see new bb messages? Rob, KA2CZU ------------------------------ Rick mentioned: >* I BCC it to myself. It showed up in 5 seconds. Five hours *>* later, I still do not see it listed on the AMSAT BB. * OK, EMike rang a bell :-) The list won't duplicate messages. The settings assumed you already received the message with your BCC. Try it without the BCC on your next message and you should see your messages shortly afterward. There is a Mailman setting for NODUP for all subscribers. The timing of the message actually appearing for you also depends on local settings. I use MS-Office Outlook for my primary e-mail. My Outlook settings are to check for new mail every 300 seconds (5 minutes). So a message actually arriving would be sometime in that 5 minute window depending on the time in the receive window when I sent the message. I use Gmail on my Android tablet and it usually receives messages sooner mostly because it is not likely waiting for the 5 minute receive window as in my Outlook settings. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKMk9jkm at amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb> AMSAT VP User Services

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report rx NO-84
by LW8EXS 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

13:45 UTC 1:Fm PSAT-1 To APOFF Via ARISS <UI R Pid=F0 Len=50> [10:45:05R] !08 . N\058 . ES140/999/W3ADO s#014548,0z290 73s LW8EXS Mercedes ( Buenos Aires ) Argentina --- El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electrónico en busca de virus. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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PSAT PSK31 experimental software
by aflowers＠frontiernet.net 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

I put together an experimental program called DopplerPSK to compensate for the Doppler shift on the NO-84 (or NO-83) PSK31 uplink. In essence, its a PSK31 transmitter that is merged with an orbital propagator to cause your transmitted signal to drift exactly opposite to uplink Doppler effect. It does this in a phase-continuous correction so that you don't get errors due to discontinuous frequency adjustments from controlling a radio in discrete steps. In the case of PSAT and BricSat, it should cause your signal to stay at constant frequency in the satellite's uplink receiver, and thus you should get a stable frequency on the FM downlink as well. In turn, this means you should be able to use your favorite PSK31 demodulating software to copy the downlink since the frequency drift should stay well within the AFC tolerance of the software. Anyway, if there are any adventurous people who are set up to give this a go, I would be interested in seeing if it actually works. You can find a rough quick-start guide (which contains an explanation of how it works and what you need to get started) and the application package on the rather minimalist page here: http://www.frontiernet.net/~aflowers/dopplerpsk/dopplerpsk.html It's an experiment, so be prepared for disappointment. I am :-) Andy K0SM/2

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Notification of passes
by Skyler Fennell 25 Aug '15

25 Aug '15

I have been very bad at making satellite contacts recently. The main reason is because they aren't at a specific time every day/week and I don't look for passes very often. When I do search for passes, I am busy during the pass or don't have enough time to prep for a pass in 10 minutes. In addition, I can only work FM, so there aren't many sats (like one) Has anybody ever found something to get notified when a pass is coming up (maybe in the next few hours or so) via text message or email or something else? Thanks, Skyler KD0WHB

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ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communications Conference), Chicago, October 9 - 11, 2015
by Mark Thompson 24 Aug '15

24 Aug '15

2015 ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communications Conference) DoubleTree HotelArlington Heights, IL October 9 - 11, 2015 The Digital Communication Conference is the premiere annual Digital Conference covering all Digital Modes & Techniques including Data, Voice & Television and SDR. The DCC has two full days of Technical presentations on Friday & Saturday, concurrent Introductory forums on Saturday, a Saturday night Banquet with a Guest Speaker and a Sunday morning Seminar deep dive into a technical subject. There are also Friday & Saturday Lunches and a Friday Night Social. Those who have submitted a Technical Paper to be included in the Conference Proceedings have priority to present a presentation during the Technical Forums, however if you didn't submit a technical paper and want to present a Technical or Introductory presentation please contact the TAPR Office at: https://www.tapr.org/inforequest.php The 2015 DCC will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Chicago northwest suburb of Arlington Heights not far from O'Hare airport with a free hotel shuttle to O'Hare. Be sure to register for the DCC and reserve your hotel room early. The DCC Early Bird Pre-Registration Discount ends on September 19th. DCC Registration is available at: http://www.tapr.org/dcc#registration The DCC Hotel Special Rate ends on September 15th. DCC Hotel Information is available at: http://www.tapr.org/dcc#hotel Look forward to your participation in the DCC.

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It wont be a satellite road trip, but.....
by Tom Schuessler 24 Aug '15

24 Aug '15

Hello all, My wife and I will be taking 5 days to drive a rental truck from DFW, North Texas to Boston to move daughter and new husband's stuff to their new home and law school. The type of truck and the logistics of the trip will not really work with casual satellite ops. Maybe someday. However, I would love to make terrestrial QSOs with some of you folks along the way as I will have a dual bander and a small antenna mounted to the truck. Would love to say hi on local repeaters along the way. Here is the route and rough projected time table. Friday, August 28th, Afternoon-evening. Dallas, Texarkana, Little Rock. Saturday, August 29th, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Elizabethtown, KY, Springfield KY. Sunday, August 30th, Springfield, KY, Lexington, KY, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland. Monday, August 31st, Erie, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Schenectady. Tuesday, September 1st Albany Springfield, Boston. There might be some schedule flex, especially the last two days but that should be close. Contact me off list via my n5hyp(a)yahoo.com email with Callsign, city, repeater/s PL and other pertinent information. Perhaps we can exchange more than just a Grid Square. What a concept. 73 de N5HYP Tom Schuessler n5hyp(a)yahoo.com

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SO-50 Yesterday at 1738Z
by James Lea - WX4TV 24 Aug '15

24 Aug '15

Did anyone record this pass? Hope worked a few stations from the beach in EL98 and there was an XE1 station that she worked at the end of the pass. The recording is covered up by someone on the beach coming up and asking what she was doing. I can’t make out the callsign. Thanks for everyone who bears with all of the kids as they learn how to be good operators! This pass was a great learning experience to explain how some people are lids and that it is illegal to key up your mic and whistle on the radio. The youngest wonders why someone would spend so much money and time to make a satellite station and then just try to jam people. She is very observant. 73, James - WX4TV

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Portable rotator
by Bill Attwood 24 Aug '15

24 Aug '15

Hi all, I posted a little too soon about my rotator "blog" on Friday - I've since cleaned up the post and added some high resolution pics (plus a short video). If you'd like to take another boo here's the link again: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=118737 It would be great to get some comments and thoughts (critical ones welcome!) in the Pi forum. 73, Bill VE6WK --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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