October 2016 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Yaesu 5500 issues
by Jeff Griffin 11 Oct '16

11 Oct '16

When I got home last night I noticed an issue with azimuth control with my G-5500. When the control box is powered up the azimuth display goes to max scale. And the antenna turned all the way to the stop around 450 degrees. The elevation control is functioning normally. I of course removing the connection to the LVBT and tested the box and rotor in standalone mode. I did a quick check of the wiring out to the rotor and removed the plug all wiring appears to be ok. Anyone have any ideas on what is causing this problem? I'm leaving for my winter home tomorrow and if it turns out to be the control box I will bring it with me to fix otherwise it will have wait till I get back here for the Christmas holiday. If it's the rotor I will then have some time to take it down and work on.. 73 Jeff kb2m

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-10-11 05:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 11 Oct '16

11 Oct '16

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-10-11 05:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Stephen F. Austin Elementary School, Brazosport ISD, Jones Creek, Texas, telebridge via VK5ZAI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Takuya Onishi KF5LKS Contact was successful: Mon 2016-10-10 16:46:00 UTC 50 deg (***) University of Nebraska's Peter Kiewit Institute, Omaha NE, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-10-15 14:00:08 UTC 29 deg Howell L. Watkins Middle School, Palm Beach Gardens FL, direct via W4JKJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Takuya Onishi KF5LKS (***) Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-10-20 15:07:36 UTC 70 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** Call for Proposals Proposal Window September 1 – November 1, 2016 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is November 1, 2016. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. **************************************************************************** ** 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. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** 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: Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 123 Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 118 **************************************************************************** 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 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-10-11 05:30 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 1088. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1053. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. 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, South Dakota, 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 2016-10-11 05:30 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. 47 on orbit Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Aleksey Ovchinin Exp. 48 on orbit Anatoly Ivanishin Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Takuya Onishi KF5LKS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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NO-84 Voltage
by KO6TZ Bob 11 Oct '16

11 Oct '16

With the extended eclipse length, it seems that the battery voltage on NO-84 is slowly getting lower. The APRS digi has been APOFF for several days. Here is this evening's telemetry from the PSK-31 transmitter. KO6TZ Bob W3ADO-5 beacon B 001 34 33 468 167 +19 W3ADO-5 beacon B 002 31 41 438 158 +19 W3ADO-5 beacon B 003 37 37 459 165 +20 W3ADO-5 beacon B 004 15 48 413 151 +20 W3ADO-5 beacon B 005 21 50 405 149 +20 W3ADO-5 beacon B 006 31 40 448 161 +20 W3ADO-5 beacon B 007 37 34 463 166 +19

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AO-07 Spinning?
by Joe 10 Oct '16

10 Oct '16

I am assuming AO-07 is rotating. Does anyone now how fast? Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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NPOTA Activation of Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (TR03)
by Paul Stoetzer 10 Oct '16

10 Oct '16

Good morning, I'm planning a satellite activation of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (ARRL NPOTA designation TR03) this afternoon. I'll start out on FO-29 at 17:58 UTC, around 435.865 MHz +/-, and switch to SO-50 shortly after 18:08 UTC. 73, Paul, N8HM

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Rohde & Schwarz FSIQ 7 Service manual ?
by Paul 10 Oct '16

10 Oct '16

Hi Everyone, I wonder if someone might be able to help me find a service manual for an FSIQ 7 Spectrum / Signal analyzer. Mine has and intermittent fault where the LO goes out of lock. I haven't been able to find a repair / service manual on the net but maybe I haven't looked it the right place. Any help or guidance gratefully accepted ! Cheers & 73s Paul G4BBP

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AO-07
by Joe 09 Oct '16

09 Oct '16

I wonder if anyone has actually done any studies after all these years on propagation's through this bird. AO-07 I find it in the past couple weeks soo interesting on how varied the level of signal strengths can be on very similar passes. Where one pass, vs another are almost identical, yet one will be full of stations, and the next one all I hear is my own CQ. BUT... that difference can be all made by just who is actually on the air. BUT.... then take two passes that are almost identical, and ignore all the other people, and pay attention to just your own signal, where on this pass my sig is soo weak that 90% of the time I'm hearing nothing, then next pass that is very similar I am actually moving the S meter the signal is sooo strong. And in theroy, this is all Line Of Sight communications, the losses from one pass vs another should be the same. Yes polarity can be an issue, but I cant see it being the reason for the whole pass duration. Very Interesting! Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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C6AQD LOTW uploads
by Lee Ernstrom 09 Oct '16

09 Oct '16

Thanks to Matthew, K4FEM, for pointing out to me that he didn't show a confirmation for our FN52 QSO on October 6, 2016 I was able to discover that I hadn't uploaded those contacts. I have now uploaded 12 more from the time frame of 0213 to 0225 UTC. Also, thanks to Clayton, K5PFG, for noticing that I missed uploading our QSO of 10/02/16 when I was in FN61 because I had accidently hit the off button on my recorder. I just uploaded that too. If I missed anything else please let me know. Doc, C6AQD/MM (WA7HQD)

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Stephen F. Austin Elementary School, Brazosport ISD, Jones Creek, Texas
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 09 Oct '16

09 Oct '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School, Brazosport ISD, Jones Creek, Texas on 10 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:46 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 a telebridge between NA1SS and VK5ZAI. The contact should be audible over portions of Australia 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. Stephen F. Austin is a STEM academy located in Jones Creek, Texas on the Gulf Coast. It serves students in pre-kindergarten through the sixth grade. Its mission is to develop and empower the whole student with the capacity to excel in an ever-changing world. Its teachers believe that all children can learn, given the proper time and resources. Its ultimate goal is to nurture students into productive, prepared and highly functional citizens. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What dream or desire did you have that made you want to be an astronaut? 2. How long did you have to train before going to the ISS? 3. Is it more important to be physically or mentally prepared for outer space? 4. What happens if a crew member needs medical attention not available on the ISS? 5. What is the most challenging part about staying on the ISS? 6. What is the most important thing astronauts do to help the Earth? 7. What happens to your bones when you return to Earth? 8. What do you find most interesting about space? 9. What do you do if something, such as a meteorite, hits the ISS? 10. Does blood rush to your head when you are upside down, and how does it feel? 11. How does living and working in space affect your life upon returning home? 12. Do you ever get motion sickness with having less gravity in space? 13. Do you ever lose power on the ISS, and if so how do you regain it? 14. What kind of degrees do you have to have to be an astronaut? 15. How does your body react when you come back to Earth? 16. How do you shower on the ISS? 17. What happens if something malfunctions like the tracking system or radio on the ISS? 18. How does your job from the ISS continue once you return to Earth? 19. What is the coolest thing you have done in space? 20. What sensations do you notice when you first return to Earth? 21. What do you do in your spare time on the ISS? 22. What experiments do you do on the ISS? 23. How does NASA or other space agencies send satellites into space? 24. How many hours does it take for a satellite to orbit the Earth? 25. What's the longest time you can be in space before it hurts your body too much? 26. What are the different jobs you can do in space? 27. What is the point of going to the ISS? 28. Does the food you eat help your bones stay strong? 29. How do you collect samples of things in space and bring them back to Earth? 30. What kind of people make good astronauts? 31. Are there ever animals on the ISS? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: 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): 1. University of Nebraska's Peter Kiewit Institute, Omaha NE, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-10-15 14:00:08 UTC 29 deg About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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C6AQD/MM now QRT
by Lee Ernstrom 09 Oct '16

09 Oct '16

GM sat ops, I am now home in Utah and have just finished uploading all of my satellite QSOs to LoTW. If you use LoTW, and I hope you do, please remember that even though I signed C6AQD/MM on the air my uploads do not include the /MM. Many of you were probably wondering why I was a no show on some of juicy passes I was in. For instance, on the 0122 to 0145 UTC pass of SO-50 when I was in FN73 on October 3rd I thought I could operate from my deck, but then I realized that the pass started on the other side of the ship and behind me, so on that pass I only worked KB1RVT and KC1EXK. On the next pass from 0303 to 0315 UTC, however, I went topside and was able to work ten stations from FN73. Since this was a cruise that included my XYL and another couple the prearranged plans we had made it so that I missed operating from FN63 on 10/05/16 for the 0148 to 0201 UTC pass of SO-50. I was hoping to work FN51 and thought for sure it was going to happen because near the top third of the grid we were traveling at only 8 knots but by the time the sat passed over I noticed we had sped up considerably to 22 knots and were in FN50. Not only was that a disappointment for missing FN51 but my receiver went deaf and on the 1628 to 1640 UTC pass of SO-50 on 10/06/16 I only worked one station, KB1RVT, and he was very weak. On the next pass, 1808 to 1821 UTC, we were in FN60 and I heard absolutely nothing from the sat. That's when I concluded that I must have an open or a shorted coax cable. As a reminder, please upload my call as C6AQD without the /MM. Also, If you have already uploaded our QSO and LOTW doesn't show the contact credited to you then let me know via this email address lee.ernstrom(a)rcwilley.com and I will recheck my upload to make sure we match. For those of you who don't use LOTW and would like a paper QSL send me an email and I will get you one. No need for your card nor SASE, just send an email request. I made 50 contacts on this cruise from these grids: FN50, FN52, FN61, FN72, FN73 and FN84. I hope I made some of you happy :) Doc, C6AQD/MM (WA7HQD)

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