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

Re: [amsat-bb] [VHFcontesting] Waterproof diplexers
by ww8rr 19 Aug '15

19 Aug '15

Both the Diamond and Comet line of diplexers look weather resistant enough.I have used the Diamond type before and really pleased with insertion losses. RonWW8RR From my Samsung Galaxy S4 -------- Original message -------- From: John Geiger <af5cc2(a)gmail.com> Date: 08/18/2015 10:20 PM (GMT-05:00) To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, vhf contesting <vhfcontesting(a)contesting.com>, Chris Boone via VHF <vhf(a)w6yx.stanford.edu> Subject: [VHFcontesting] Waterproof diplexers Does anyone know of any waterproof diplexers that could be used to feed separate 2m and 70cm antennas with a single coax run? 73 John AF5CC _______________________________________________ VHFcontesting mailing list VHFcontesting(a)contesting.com http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/vhfcontesting

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Waterproof diplexers
by John Geiger 19 Aug '15

19 Aug '15

Does anyone know of any waterproof diplexers that could be used to feed separate 2m and 70cm antennas with a single coax run? 73 John AF5CC

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Extraordinary Night in Mission Viejo, CA
by Clint Bradford 19 Aug '15

19 Aug '15

It was a standing room-only crowd of more than 50 last night for my satellite presentation for the SOARA club in Mission Viejo, CA. But what made it truly unique was that 24 attendees passed their Technician tests right before the satellite show ... as well as a couple additional upgrade licenses! SOARA has a wonderful history in the region - and has also been a Special Service Club of the ARRL since 1975. I took a "poll" of how long the attending members have been hams, and there was literally hundreds and hundreds of years of experience present - all excited to welcome the new hams and assist in any aspect of the hobby that crops up. NUMEROUS plugs for the ARRL, AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK, and ARISS interspersed throughout the show. And - as always - the Q&A afterward was exciting. THANK YOU to SOARA for the invitation ... AND for weather that was about 20 degrees cooler than staying home tonight! (grin) Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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AO-73 - Evening transponder time increasing in Northern Hemisphere
by Paul Stoetzer 18 Aug '15

18 Aug '15

Good evening, As we're nearly two months pass the Summer Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, transponder time is increasing on evening passes over North America. Here in Washington, DC, on the 0155Z pass, I had 6 minutes and 10 seconds of pass time from AOS until the satellite entered sunlight and the transponder switched off. I heard and worked PV8DX at my AOS, but no other stations were heard. AO-73 is currently the only amateur satellite consistently available during regular evening hours, even if not for an entire pass, so let's hear some more activity! It's really quite an easy satellite to work with the strong downlink. 73, Paul, N8HM

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-73 - Evening transponder time increasing in Northern Hemisphere
by W M Willoughby 18 Aug '15

18 Aug '15

Thanks for the L band upconverter info, Jerry. When the time is right, I would probably like to ask one of the developers to write an article for the AMSAT Journal (I am helping Joanne as an Assistant Editor). So, please keep that in mind and let me know who might prepare such an article to inform our membership.

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-73 - Evening transponder time increasing in Northern Hemisphere
by W M Willoughby 18 Aug '15

18 Aug '15

Good info on AO-73 - maybe that will help get some more activity on the transponder. Relative to Nayif-1, I need to be thinking about an up-converter and an antenna for L band. Anyone have any recommendations?

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-73 - Evening transponder time increasing in Northern Hemisphere
by Paul Stoetzer 18 Aug '15

18 Aug '15

If you need more than 5 watts to hit 25 watts ERP (AMSAT-UK's recommended power), then feel free to up the output as needed! I find I can get in with no problems using 5 watts to the Arrow even down to a couple of degrees as long as there are no obstructions in the way (tree leaves love to suck up 70cm signals, a medium deciduous tree can attenuate 70cm signals by 10.5 dB, so feel free to compensate for this too if you're beaming into trees). Of course, I am using only 6' of LMR-240 and can switch polarity quickly as necessary as I'm holding the antenna. As far as the other FUNcube transponders - 2 of them are already flying (UKube-1 and EO-79 have the other two). They share the same design and likely exhibit the same frequency instability. As the satellites are different (within a 3U and 2U cubesat, respectively) the temperatures may stay a bit more stable, but we'll have to wait and see when they are made available for general use. FUNcube on Nayif-1 will have an improved design and should be more stable. FUNcube on ESEO will be an L/V FM transponder, so it will be different from the other four FUNcube units. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tuesday, August 18, 2015, W M Willoughby <redski(a)bellsouth.net> wrote: > Same story here, Michael. Manual tuning is the only way I ever hear my > signal, but then only above about 30 degrees elevation. I don't have the > same troubles on FO-29, etc. One problem I am in the process of fixing is > high loss feedlines. Since I am very cautious about using the recommended > low power, my EIRP is very low. But, the feedlines should be replaced soon > with LMR-400. I hope the other four Funcubes that are in the pipeline will > not be as peculiar as AO-73. > > _______________________________________________ > 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] AO-73 - Evening transponder time increasing in NorthernHemisphere
by W M Willoughby 18 Aug '15

18 Aug '15

Same story here, Michael. Manual tuning is the only way I ever hear my signal, but then only above about 30 degrees elevation. I don't have the same troubles on FO-29, etc. One problem I am in the process of fixing is high loss feedlines. Since I am very cautious about using the recommended low power, my EIRP is very low. But, the feedlines should be replaced soon with LMR-400. I hope the other four Funcubes that are in the pipeline will not be as peculiar as AO-73.

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Re: [amsat-bb] Activation of transponder on EO-79
by Fraser Bonnett 16 Aug '15

16 Aug '15

On a 60 degree pass at 15:20 UTC (Aug 16) I did manage to hear myself briefly. No contacts or other's heard though. Fraser, W3UTD --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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FUNcube-1 mode change
by Graham Shirville 16 Aug '15

16 Aug '15

Hi All, Just to confirm that FUNcube-1 was switched back to autonomous mode during its last pass over Europe at approx 20:58 UTC this evening 73 Graham G3VZV

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