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

SatPC32 Won't Install - HELP!
by R.T.Liddy 15 Sep '15

15 Sep '15

I'm having a problem installing SatPC32 on my H/P Laptop whichruns Windows 7. The Install Wizard keeps giving me an Error saying I don't havesufficient privileges and I must be logged-in as Administrator. But,I AM the Administrator!!! HELP!! I'd hate to go on my upcoming Grid Trip without SatPC32!!! TNX, Bob K8BL

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-09-15 14:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 15 Sep '15

15 Sep '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-09-15 14:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM, direct via N5MMI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Wed 2015-09-16 15:48:50 UTC 43 deg **************************************************************************** ** Interested in hosting an ARISS contact? The window is now open from 2015-09-01 to 2015-11-01. These proposals will be for school contacts during the second half of 2016. Go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact or http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html for full details. To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged. These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday, September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. **************************************************************************** ** >From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 114 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 109 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-09-15 14:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 993. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 958. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-09-12 20:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Gennady Padalka RN3DT Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 44 on orbit Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Exp. 45 and Taxi on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Andreas Mogensen KG5GCZ Aidyn Aimbetov **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Sept 16 K4AMG
by Rich/wa4bue 15 Sep '15

15 Sep '15

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the K4AMG club is providing the IEEE Chapter at Old Dominion University an amateur radio, electronics, and wireless communications event on the lawn of the ODU student center. We will attempt some satellite passes and HF communications. Set up time will be at 8 am EST and tear down will be 5 pm EST. We hope to make a few contacts. Not knowing band conditions we will have to make on the spot band choices. We will have a CubeSat demo using the AMSAT Cube SAT simulator. If you contact us and want a QSL card our new mailing address is: K4AMG Memorial Amateur Radio Club, Inc. 5001 Garner Ave. Portsmouth, VA 23703 This is a trial operation exploring the possibility of reintroducing amateur radio at the university. Rich W4BUE Pres. K4AMG.org

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ARR preamp follow up
by Richard Lawn 14 Sep '15

14 Sep '15

i appreciate all the suggestions I received and owe you a follow up. After further diagnosis in the air and on the ground I can say with confidence that there is a problem with the relay switching when the preamp is powered through the coax. When it occasionally engages it works great and I had a string of QSOs on SO50 last night to prove it. I spoke with ARR on the phone today and they confirmed it's likely a relay problem and that I should return it for a new board or relay. I'm concerned that it wasn't diagnosed the first time I returned it just after buying it. And of course there are those multiple trips to the roof at age 66! For the time being I'm back on the air with my old, somewhat noisy Mirage. 73, Rick W2JAZ

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Re: [amsat-bb] [sarex] Upcoming ARISS contact with New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM
by John Brier 14 Sep '15

14 Sep '15

Not sure this question is completely applicable without being rephrased: 17. How did you get prepared for the One Year Mission? What is it all about, and is it only testing for longer travel time or can it be used in some way here on earth in everyday life? Because Kornienko and Kelly are the two on that, and the callsign being used is NA1SS and only the Russian, Kornienko, has a license. John, KG4AKV On Sep 14, 2015 1:24 PM, "n4csitwo--- via SAREX" <sarex(a)amsat.org> wrote: > An International Space Station school contact has been planned with > participants at New Mexico Military Institute, Roswell, NM on 16 Sept. The > event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:48 UTC. It is recommended > that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time.The > duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The > contact will be direct between NA1SS and N5MMI. The contact should be > audible over New Mexico, U.S.A. and adjacent areas. Interested parties are > invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to > be conducted in English. > > > > > > About The NEW Mexico Military Institute > > Located in Roswell, New Mexico, the New Mexico Military Institute offers a > rich history and tradition of educating tomorrow's leaders through a > program of strong, challenging academics, leadership preparation, and > character development. Known as "The West Point of the West," NMMI remains > the only state-supported co-educational college preparatory high school and > junior college in the United States. Serving the educational needs of an > international student population, the Institute has an enrollment of > approximately 1,000 students who come from 43 states, the District of > Columbia, and 13 foreign nations. > > > > About Roswell > > Roswell is located in the southeast New Mexico and is the home of more > than 48,000 people. The major industries here are farming, dairying, > ranching, manufacturing, petroleum production, and, of course, tourism! > Roswell is well known for the "Roswell Incident", the alleged crash landing > of a UFO Northeast of town in 1947. Between 1930 and 1941 Roswell was the > home of Robert Goddard, considered the father of the liquid-fueled rocket. > Goddard's research and rocket flight testing in Roswell paved the way for > our current space program. > > > > > > > > 1. What is the most important discovery that has been made aboard the > > spacecraft, and what contribution has this discovery yielded for > mankind? > > 2. What noticeable geographical changes have you seen with your time at > the > > station? > > 3. If something was to break on the ISS, for example an airlock or other > key > > component of the space station, how would you go about fixing it? > > 4. How has being an astronaut changed your view on the world? > > 5. Since there are so many particles in space, how does NASA manage to > pilot > > probes, as well as the ISS, lengthy distances without colliding with > > those particles? > > 6. Being at a military school right now, I'm very far from home; I miss my > > parents and my own bed. What are some things that you miss when you are > > away from home, or what do you wish would be put into the ISS to > > make you less home sick? > > 7. In the case of an emergency, how is the evacuation process executed? > > 8. If an astronaut experiences an open flesh wound or medical emergency in > > space, then how are these injuries treated? > > 9. Since the Curiosity Rover has gone to Mars and the next step would be > to > > colonize Mars, how do you think the travel through space would affect > the > > astronauts both physically and mentally? > > 10. Is it possible to create artificial gravity in space? If it can be > made, > > then why isn't it used on the ISS? > > 11. Has NASA come up with any solution to the negative effects of long > term > > space flight on astronauts. > > 12. Why did NASA transition from astronauts being former pilots to a much > > more diverse community? > > 13. Are you able to see a difference in the color or in the currents of > the > > Pacific Ocean due to the changes in water temperature caused by such > > things as El Nino? > > 14. What is the coolest thing you've ever seen up there? > > 15. What do you do during your free time? > > 16. What is your typical daily schedule? > > 17. How did you get prepared for the One Year Mission? What is it all > about, > > and is it only testing for longer travel time or can it be used in > some > > way here on earth in everyday life? > > 18. How do astronauts weld in space? > > 19. What type of food do you eat in space? > > 20. How much weight/muscle can you expect to lose during your stay in > space? > > 21. What do the stresses and physical deficiencies feel like when up in > > space for such a long period. > > 22. What is the path to become an astronaut? > > 23. How do the experiments and everything you do in space affect our > > everyday life on earth? > > 24. Have you ever tried to drink water when it was floating in zero > gravity? > > > > > > > > > > PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: > > > > Sign up for the SAREX maillist at > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex > > > > Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the > > International Space Station (ARISS). > > > > To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status > > > > > > Next planned event(s): > > > > TBD > > > > ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the > volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the > world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, > ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA. > > > > ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of > Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the > International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first > hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' > interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the > ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ > > > > Thank you & 73, > > David - AA4KN > > > > > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > ---- > Sent via sarex(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. > Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex >

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Re: [amsat-bb] gating PSAT
by Sil 14 Sep '15

14 Sep '15

Thanks Mike. I am not bothered at all that my forwarded packets don't make it. I certainly don't need to find ways of getting them to APRS-IS faster, but thanks for the advice anyway. When I looked at the captured packets on APRS-IS, it seemed to me that mine were getting lost. I wondered if I had something set up wrongly. If other stations are getting the first packets in, that is great. If the APRS-IS didn't work this way, then I would see a list on the findu site of duplicate packets from various Sgates. Your reassurance is something of a relief. I am rebuilding much of my house and running an Sgate is a little awkward. It is good to know that it won't matter much if I stop because all other ZL and VK Sgate stations are copying the packets anyway. It's all good. Sil - ZL2CIA On 15/09/15 01:24, Mike Rupprecht wrote: > Hi Sil, > > well, that's the right one. The only chance to be the first one is a better > connection to your next APRS gateway. > Maybe you can check also an Australian Server. Simply try to ping the APRS > server around you and take the one with the fastest response time. > > ... or try to connect aunz.aprs2.net:14580 and see which is the suggested > server. > > 73 Mike > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: Sil [mailto:caleriffic@paradise.net.nz] > Gesendet: 14 September 2015 14:56 > An: Mike Rupprecht; 'Sil' > Betreff: Re: AW: [amsat-bb] gating PSAT > > Hi Mike. > > aprsnz.aprs2.net > > port 14580 > > > Sil - ZL2CIA > >> Hi Sil, >> >> which APRS-IS server do you use? >> >> 73 Mike >> DK3WN >> >> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >> Von: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] Im Auftrag von Sil >> Gesendet: 12 September 2015 01:03 >> An: AMSAT >> Betreff: [amsat-bb] gating PSAT >> >> Hi, >> >> I sometimes see received packets (like the one below) that show as >> gated to the net by my Sgate, but do not make it to findu >> (http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi). >> >> Is there anything I can do, change, alter, or configure, to increase >> the chances of the packet making it to the findu site? >> >> The gate is currently running on an old Windows machine and the gating >> is completed by UIView. >> >> Sil - ZL2CIA >> >> <Time and date is UT> >> 2015-Sep-11 22:18:12 PSAT-1>APOFF,ARISS,ZL2CIA,I: >> T#543,855,090,649,857,851,00011100 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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FT-847 Cat Cable
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 14 Sep '15

14 Sep '15

Hello Everyone, Im looking for a Cat Cable for FT-847, for satpc32 doppler control, so I can focus more on the computer when decoding telemetry. If anyone could link that would be great! Thanks 73's Ke8akw Nick

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Survey on Core Concepts for Space Industry Software Development Practices and Attitudes
by Brandon Shirley 13 Sep '15

13 Sep '15

I am sending this survey out to the AMSAT mailing list because I believe it will reach technically minded individuals involved in varied aspects of the space industry. Survey: Core Concepts - https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8jp3RTKGUExYpQF You have received this email because of your interest in or involvement with the space industry. We greatly need your participation. Dr. Stephen Clyde & Brandon Shirley in the Department of Computer Science at Utah State University are conducting a set of surveys to find out more about software development practices and attitudes in the space industry, specifically flight, ground, and testing software. We are asking that anyone involved or that has been involved in software development that relates to space industry participate in this survey. The survey set is currently made of six surveys that will be distributed over the course of a few months. Each survey stands on its own: opting to not participate in one survey does not exclude you in any way from participating in any subsequent surveys. Likewise, participating in one survey does not obligate to you participate in any subsequent surveys. The surveys are as follows: 1) SISDPA : Core Concepts 2) SISDPA : Development Preferences 3) SISDPA : Open Systems Architecture and Modularity 4) SISDPA : Security 5) SISDPA : Network 6) SISDPA : Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity Note that the order above does not indicate order of distribution. You can you use the link below to access the "Core Concepts" survey. We greatly need your participation and your responses to the surveys will make a meaningful contribution to this research while allowing you an opportunity to reflect on you current software development practices and how these practices affect the projects on which you have and will work. This survey set will be used to determine the path of future research, as well as increase the body of knowledge that relates to software development practices and attitudes in the space industry. You can access the "Core Concepts" survey of the Space Industry Software Development Practices and Attitudes survey set using the following link: https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8jp3RTKGUExYpQF You can also copy and paste the following URL into your address bar if you prefer not to use the provided link: https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_8jp3RTKGUExYpQF See http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. If you have questions please direct them to Brandon Shirley, via email b.l.s(a)aggiemail.usu.edu, the LOI lists additional contact information. Once the survey set is closed, we will analyze the data, and generate results. We will seek publication of these results in a conference or journal. V/R, Brandon Shirley, MS Brandon.Shirley(a)sdl.usu.edu Mobile: (435) 994 - 9165

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ANS-256 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 13 Sep '15

13 Sep '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-256 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * Fox-1D To Share Falcon 9 Launch With Fox-1Cliff * Deadline Approaching For AMSAT Symposium Group Rate Rooms * On-line Information Sessions Aid ARISS Contact Proposal Preparation * V7 - Marshall Islands Satellite Activation * Pope's visit- 9-22-27 Special Event Operators needed * SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015 * QB50 CubeSats to be deployed from ISS * New AO-7 Distance Record SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.01 ANS-256 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 256.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. September 13, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-256.01 Fox-1D To Share Falcon 9 Launch With Fox-1Cliff In response to a breaking opportunity, AMSAT and Spaceflight, Inc. have arranged for Fox-1D to accompany Fox-1Cliff on the maiden flight of the SHERPA system on a SpaceX Falcon 9. Fox-1C was renamed Fox-1Cliff in honor of Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, who was a benefactor and long time supporter for AMSAT as well as an adviser/mentor for students building cubesats at Cal Poly. As a Fox-1 series, Fox-1D is identical to Fox-1Cliff, but with different frequencies and carrying the University of Iowa HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) radiation mapping experiment as a hosted payload. Fox-1D will provide additional selectable U/V or L/V repeater capabilities once in orbit, and will be capable of downlinking Earth images from the Virginia Tech camera experiment. Launch is currently planned for the first quarter of 2016. Additional donor support is needed to offset the costs associated with the launch of Fox-1D in addition to Fox-1Cliff. Please visit www.amsat.org to donate support this launch, and help keep amateur radio in space. http://www.amsat.org/?p=4478 [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Deadline Approaching For AMSAT Symposium Group Rate Rooms AMSAT office manager Martha reports that she has spoken with the Sales Manager at the Crowne Plaza in Dayton. As of September 9th there were 19 rooms left on Friday, October 16th and 20 on Saturday, October 17th. They cannot extend the cutoff date (Sept 17th at 3:00 PM) so hurry and make your reservations. Time is running out!!! [ANS thanks Martha for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- On-line Information Sessions Aid ARISS Contact Proposal Preparation ARISS-US is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact between July 1 - Dec. 31, 2016. Proposals are due Nov. 1, 2015. Informational sessions about ARISS and to help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS program coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are designed to provide more information regarding U.S. ARISS contacts and the proposal process, and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged. Informational sessions will be offered Sept. 17, 2015, at 4 p.m. EDT; Sept. 22, 2015, at 4 p.m. EDT, and Sept. 30, 2015, at 7 p.m. EDT. Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, visit http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. ARISS-US is offered through a partnership between NASA; the American Radio Relay League, or ARRL; and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT. ARISS was created and is managed by an international working group, including several countries in Europe as well as Japan, Russia, Canada, and the USA. [ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- Sept. 10, 2015 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- V7 - Marshall Islands Satellite Activation V7, MARSHALL ISLANDS (Update). A group of JA operators will be active from Majuro Island (OC-029) between September 24-28th. Operators are YL Mami/JP3AYQ (V73YL) and her husband Sanny/JJ3CIG (V73H), Team Leader Takio/JH3QFL (V73A) and Co-Leader Keizo "Kay"/JH3AZC (V7EME). Activity will be holiday style on 40-6 meters, satellite, EME, CW, SSB, RTTY and JT65A. Radios are a FT857 and FT847. Their antennas will be a homebrew 3 element full size beam (3 bands) and a SpiderBeam antenna (5 band). They will also have two Elecraft 500w amp for HF to use and 800w out station for EME. QSL all operators via their home callsigns, by the Bureau or direct (see QRZ.com for addresses). ADDED NOTES: * YL Mami, JP3AYQ, states (on QRZ.com), that her activity will be holiday style (she likes to scuba dive) on the HF bands using CW (be patient), SSB and the Digital mode (RTTY). Suggested frequencies are the IOTA frequencies, such as 14260, 14040, 21260 and 21040 kHz. QSL via JP3AYQ, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. Log will be uploaded to LoTW and ClubLog. She does have a Blog page at: http://jp3ayq.269g.net * Hiro, JJ3CIG/KH0YA, states (on QRZ.com), that he plans to operate on the JT65 mode. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by eQSL. * Kay, JH3AZC/W2AZ, informs OPDX that V73EME will try to operate on 2m EME (JT65B only) and V7A is now preparing to QRV on Satellite(FO29). He states, "It may be the first time operation for EME from V7 land (also Satellite? not sure). [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1230 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope's visit- 9-22-27 Special Event Operators needed Pope Francis will be visiting the US from September 22-27, operations will include all bands and modes. Four unique QSL cards will be available along with a certificate to mark this special and historic event, you can read more about this event on QRZ.com, WM3PEN. Satellite operators are being sought that might be available on some passes throughout the event that are based in NY/NJ, DC/Virginia and Philadelphia. If you are interested contact Peter, W2JV,PeteW2JV(a)verizon.net for additional information. At this point Paul, N8HM has signed on as one operator in DC, the call sign will be K3P, Peter, W2JV, will be one NY operator as K2P, and it is hoped that we can add many more operators in the locations mentioned to have as many voices in space as we can. [ANS thanks Peter, W2JV, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015 At the request of the ARISS US Team, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO has announced that the SAREX reflector will be closed 1 November 2015, and its functions folded into the AMSAT-BB list. Frank explained that at one time operations from the Space Shuttle and the ISS were considered as sufficiently different from other satellite operations as to need separate forums for their respective interest communities. More recently, changes in the human spaceflight operations, the new generation of satellites, and the interests of the general AMSAT community have removed the reasons for this distinction. Frank explained that "The AMSAT membership, in general, has embraced all vehicles with amateur radio on-board that are operating in space on equal ground. They enjoy the SSTV events on ISS as well as a quick QSO on AO-7". He went on to note that "This past year my team has noticed that those on AMSAT-BB have missed out on some ARISS significant events. These include school contacts in their area that were only posted on SAREX." Moving all discussions to a common list will insure that ISS announcements as well as operational information will be available in one place. What does this mean to the current subscribers? If you are subscribed to both SAREX and AMSAT-BB, there is no need to take any action. You will cease to receive new postings on the SAREX list 1 November 2015. The SAREX archives will continue to be available for historical purposes. If you are not subscribed to AMSAT-BB and wish to continue to receive human spaceflight announcements, please go to http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo and subscribe to AMSAT-BB. Your existing SAREX subscription will not be automatically carried over since not everyone will wish to do so. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- QB50 CubeSats to be deployed from ISS It has been announced that the fifty CubeSat QB50 constellation should be shipped to the International Space Station (ISS) in July 2016 for subsequent deployment. It had been planned for them to be launched by Alcantara Cyclone Space, a joint venture between the governments of Ukraine and Brazil, but that option is not longer available. The AlbertaSat website reports on the 9th QB50 Workshop, held September 8, 2015 in Liège, Belgium. The CubeSats are now planned to be deployed from the ISS using the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) and the Nanoracks CubeSat Deployers. Eight NanoRacks deployers are installed on the Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP). Each deployer has a capacity of 6U and so can hold up to six 1U, three 2U or two 3U CubeSats. They are carried by Japanese Experiment Module-Remote Manipulator System (JEM-RMS). AlbertaSat provide an update on the QB50 precursor CubeSats P1/P2 which were launched in 2014. The first payload is working, and while it has been resetting, no damage appears to have occurred. It is possible that the second payload is damaged, but it is still functioning. Representatives from QB50 also took the time to clearly define their goals and specify the details of the project. The project aims to probe probe thermosphere with about 40 sensors which study atmospheric science. These sensors include the Langmuir Probes that will be on Ex Alta-1. 40 CubeSats will be fitted with one of these sensors. The other 10 CubeSats will have in-orbit demonstrations. QB50 project https://www.qb50.eu/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New AO-7 Distance Record On September 5, 2015 Dave Swanson KG5CCI completed a contact with Manuel EA5TT over a record breaking distance of 7947 km via the OSCAR 7 satellite operating in mode B (432/145 MHz). Dave, KG5CCI, reports: On Saturday, September 5, 2015 at 1812 UTC I made a scheduled contact with Manuel, EA5TT, using AO-7 Mode B, from the old US Forest Service Fire Tower on top of ‘Rich Mountain’ here in extreme western Arkansas. My 10 digit grid locator was EM24UQ01MU while Manuel is located in IM99SL48CX, in Valencia, Spain. This equates to 7947.381 km which we believe to be a new record for AO-7 Mode B. I fully plan on writing a more extensive post when I return from the holiday weekend, and I will likely make a proper video with commentary and data as well. I’ve made some really interesting observations when it comes to Satellite operating from places with great ‘Height Above Average Terrain’ and look forward to sharing this analysis with everyone. [ANS thanks Dave, KG5CCI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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ARR preamp problem
by Richard Lawn 12 Sep '15

12 Sep '15

I bought the mast mount RF switching version of the ARR 70cm preamp this summer with the idea of upgrading the stations both at home and the vacation station. I had them install the choke so I could power it through the coax. It worked maybe once and very well at the vacation station and then was deaf as a stump. Switching it inline made no difference one way or the other. I sent it back and they put it on the bench for hours and then returned it when they could find no problem. We came back recently to the home QTH before I could try it again. I just swapped it out for the old, but working Mirage preamp. Guess what....it is deaf! I'm powering it through the coax as always. What could I possibly be doing wrong or missing here? 73 Rick, W2JAZ

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