AMSAT-BB November 2016

121 participants
195 discussions

Posted on QRZ
by Gerald Payton 27 Nov '16

27 Nov '16

This is posted on QRZ if anyone interested: http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/shack-clearing.545760/#post-4049505 73, Jerry AB5R

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Satellite Antennas for Sale
by Paul Andrews 27 Nov '16

27 Nov '16

Satellite Antennas for Sale - New and Assembled. Ready for local pickup or I can deliver within 100 miles. M2 - 2MCP22, 144-148 MHz, Circular Polarization M2 - 436CP42UG, 420-440 MHz, Circular Polarization 73 - Paul - W2HRO

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AMSAT Symposium at Sea
by Frank Westphal 27 Nov '16

27 Nov '16

I had a fantastic time at the AMSAT Symposium at Sea. I would go again next year if a cruise is offered. How about a cruise out of a Florida port. I learned a lot, had a great time meeting operators face to face that I had only talked to on the birds. Had fun in Progresso. Made a dozen QSO's from rare grids to make the operators who stayed home happy. I went to the Baltimore Symposium two years ago and spent at least as much money as the cruise trip all expenses included. I enjoyed the Baltimore trip, but there was more opportunity to get to know the other AMSAT members on the cruise and exchange ideas. A big thank you to Clayton, W5PFG, and his symposium committee and the AMSAT Board of Directors for believing in the idea and backing it. As far as furthering the fund raising for AMSAT the venue of the symposium has minimal impact on attracting additional dollars. I have to believe a symposium on a cruise ship costs AMSAT less that at a tradition hotel. Attracting additional members will of course increase the income. Getting hams exciting about working the satellites will increase membership. The funding model for most large dxpeditions is half from the operators going on the expedition and the other half from fundraising from the ham community and corporate sponsors. AMSAT is working on the corporate donors. If every AMSAT member was a member of the President's Club at what ever level they can afford that would sure help the deficit. No hobby is inexpensive. Have you checked on the cost of a golf membership lately. I for one think AMSAT is a terrific organization and hope the future is bright. Frank K6FW

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Great White North Grid Expedition - Sunday Schedule
by Ken Alexander 27 Nov '16

27 Nov '16

Today's activities got cut short due to snow. It started coming down heavy and I had a long drive so I cut out early. Tomorrow I make up for the lost day when the highway was closed. Schedule below. FN07 SO-50 13:31 FO-29 14:20 AO-73 14:25 EN97/98 & FN08 FO-29 16:03 AO-07 17:31 AO-85 17:33 AO-85 19:14 AO-07 19:20 AO-07 21:15 XW-2C 21:45 XW-2F 22:34 XW-2C 23:19 XW-2A 23:30 FN07 AO-73 01:23 AO-73 03:01 SO-50 03:47 Note: I will give priority to AO-85 at 1914 and miss part or all of AO-7 at 1920 if need be. There are some roads around the junction of the four grids that may allow me to cover three of them without moving around a lot. If it doesn't work out then I have to do some extra driving and will miss one or two of the passes in the middle group. However, this time I'll be able to post updates to Twitter so stay tuned. 73, Ken VE3HLS

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Re: AMSAT Symposium at Sea
by Edward R Cole 27 Nov '16

27 Nov '16

Frank, Glad you enjoyed the symposium at sea. We would not have come as my wife is adverse to taking cruise ships, but the cost would be higher for us from Alaska (flying for two to Houston would be about $1600 on top of the cruise/symposium costs). I last attended Symposium in 2001 in Atlanta but was single then so costs nearly half what it costs for both of us. We attended SVHF Conference in Atlanta in 2014 and it cost about $2200 to attend. We combined the trip with visiting family in MI so the flight from Detroit only added $600 plus luggage charges. Anch-Detroit cost $1600. Plus hotels, meals, and taking the L from airport to hotel. Total vacation costs $4000 for 14-days. Had we signed up it would have been a disappointment having Cozumel dropped. But cruises are "out" as I said, before. Most of my post-AO-40 activity has been in eme and not satellite, but with possibility of new high altitude missions we may come back top satellite (helping out with P4/P5 design group in minor way). I am a mw enabled ham so looking forward to the new sats. In meantime have acquired a FT-736R and may get my AO-40 antennas back in use with current crop in the interim. Symposium is always scheduled in Oct. so possible conflict with ARRL EME Contest plus flying in winter conditions up here complicate attending. We will be starting to do extended travel with RV next summer in lower-48 so may hear from our sat-capable mobile (track us via APRS). But RV needs to arrive home by end of Sept. to avoid potential winter roads on northern end of the road. Travel season is Mid-may - end-Sept for Alaskans (and visitors). 73, Ed - KL7UW Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2016 23:14:53 -0800 From: Frank Westphal <k6fw1(a)verizon.net> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Symposium at Sea Message-ID: <bdc4d4cd-84de-2d37-8f6c-ae8db21f3c29(a)verizon.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed I had a fantastic time at the AMSAT Symposium at Sea. I would go again next year if a cruise is offered. How about a cruise out of a Florida port. I learned a lot, had a great time meeting operators face to face that I had only talked to on the birds. Had fun in Progresso. Made a dozen QSO's from rare grids to make the operators who stayed home happy. I went to the Baltimore Symposium two years ago and spent at least as much money as the cruise trip all expenses included. I enjoyed the Baltimore trip, but there was more opportunity to get to know the other AMSAT members on the cruise and exchange ideas. A big thank you to Clayton, W5PFG, and his symposium committee and the AMSAT Board of Directors for believing in the idea and backing it. As far as furthering the fund raising for AMSAT the venue of the symposium has minimal impact on attracting additional dollars. I have to believe a symposium on a cruise ship costs AMSAT less that at a tradition hotel. Attracting additional members will of course increase the income. Getting hams exciting about working the satellites will increase membership. The funding model for most large dxpeditions is half from the operators going on the expedition and the other half from fundraising from the ham community and corporate sponsors. AMSAT is working on the corporate donors. If every AMSAT member was a member of the President's Club at what ever level they can afford that would sure help the deficit. No hobby is inexpensive. Have you checked on the cost of a golf membership lately. I for one think AMSAT is a terrific organization and hope the future is bright. Frank K6FW 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag Business e-mail: dubususa(a)gmail.com

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EO79 telemetry
by skristof＠etczone.com 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Can the FunCube Dashboard that decodes the AO73 telemetry also decode the EO79 telemetry? I checked the AMSAT-UK website and didn't find an answer, but I may not have looked in the right spot. Steve AI9IN

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Update for the Collège Michel Lotte, Le Palais, France ARISS contact on Nov. 28, 2016
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Live audio will be made available for the upcoming ARISS contact with Collège Michel Lotte, Le Palais, France on 28 Nov. at http://radio-belleile.fr/contact-iss-michel-lotte-2016/ . (sound only, the video will be recorded and available later) Dave, AA4KN ARISS PR --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Collège Michel Lotte, Le Palais, France
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Collège Michel Lotte, Le Palais, France on 28 Nov. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:38 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 LU1CGB. The contact should be audible over portions of Argentina and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in French. Belle-Ile-en-mer (Belle Isle) is a French island off the coast of Brittany in the département of Morbihan, and the largest of Brittany's islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The island measures 17 km by 9 km, and the main port is Le Palais. Michel LOTTE Junior High School is a small insular state school. It's thus isolated and in charge of training 160 pupils aged between 11 and 15 (6th grade to 9th grade), all living in the island. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Est-ce que le décollage depuis la Terre est difficile? 2. Quelles sensations avez-vous eu en quittant la Terre? 3. Quel est votre rôle dans la station? 4. L'apesanteur est-elle fatigante? 5. Que faites-vous pendant votre temps libre? 6. Combien de temps dormez-vous en moyenne? 7. Rêvez-vous dans l'espace? 8. Quelles sont vos activités préférées? 9. A votre retour, accepteriez-vous de venir nous rencontrer à Belle-Ile? 10. Qui fera les 4 EVA (Sorties extra-véhiculaires)? 11. Comment communiquez-vous avec votre famille? 12. Qu'avez-vous comme risques à sortir à l'extérieur de la station lors des EVA (Sorties extra-véhiculaires)? 13. Comment vous soignez-vous si vous tombez malade? 14. Comment votre corps réagit-il dans l'espace? 15. Quelle quantité de nourriture avez-vous emporté pour six mois? 16. Faut-il beaucoup d'entraînement pour se préparer afin d'aller dans l'espace? 17. Qu'est-ce qui vous plaît le plus dans l'espace? 18. Comment faites-vous pour recycler vos déchets? 19. Comment vous procurez-vous de l'eau potable? 20. Combien de temps mettez-vous pour redescendre sur Terre? Translation: 1. Is the taking off from the earth difficult? 2. What did you feel when you left the earth? 3. What's your role on board the station? 4. Is weightlessness exhausting? 5. What do you do on your spare time? 6. For how long do you usually sleep? 7. In space, do you dream? 8. What are your favorite activities? 9. After you come back, would you accept to come visit us in Belle-Ile? 10. Who will do the four extra-vehicular activities (EVA)? 11. How do you communicate with your family? 12. What dangers do you face when you are outside the space station during the EVA? 13. How do you heal when you are sick? 14. How does your body react in space? 15. How much food have you brought for the next six months? 16. Do you need a lot of practicing to go to space? 17. What do you prefer in space? 18. How do you recycle your rubbish? 19. How do you get drinkable water? 20. How long does it take to get back to earth? 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): TBD 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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AMSAT Symposium
by Clint Bradford 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Well - good evening to you, too, Pablo. >> When's the last time you attended a symposium? Ummm, never? I just love it when truly ignorant statements are made - as if the writer knew anything about what they are talking about. I attended an AMSAT Symposium when it was in San Jose, CA. I also accumulated one of the finest assemblage of raffle prizes AMSAT-NA has ever seen when I was prize coordinator for their symposium a couple years ago. Got a plaque signed by the AMSAT prez for that effort. I know exactly what a cruise costs. I know precisely what it costs to put on events. I orchestrated a city-wide event for Riverside, CA (population 300K) that had about 7,000 attendees. From parking to logistics to communications to placing a repeater atop a local hill to working with each and every vendor - I know what it takes. I also worked with the publicity director for a large regional newspaper. I have also been involved with several 501(c)(3) organizations with their fundraising and grant writing projects. I also orchestrated an ARISS contact for my City of Jurupa Valley - earning FRONT PAGE WITH COLOR PHOTOS coverage in California’s sixth-largest daily newspaper. Along with NPR interviews, coverage by other video outlets, video highlighted on the Bob Heil / Gordon West Ham Nation mediacast - I did it all for our students. So you have no idea who I am or what I have done. Yet you spout your venom ... A group in financial problems holding an annual event on a cruise. If you do not see how horrible that looks - from a public relations and marketing aspect - then you are either naive or just plain ignorant. I acknowledged on the AMSAT-BB list that you made good points. You are welcome. How I am “self-promoting” myself - actually “promoting working the birds” has proven effective. I am approached monthly by conventions, groups, municipalities, clubs - to find out more about working the FM birds. In that aspect - “spending the word” - I am tremendously successful. >> … Barbed wire is not an effective material for constructing antennas … Tell that to the Boy Scouts who used that barbed wire antenna to speak to an astronaut who was aboard the ISS at the time. YOU are just one of a handful that, apparently, just don’t get it. Working a couple of the FM birds is not something one needs to put a lot of money in to. Is using barbed wire the same as spending $500+ and using an M2 2MCP28? Nope. DOES IT WORK FOR THIS? ABSOLUTELY. >> … you act like it should work for everyone in every situation … Bovine excrement. Can one make an effective 2M/440 antenna and work a bird or three? Absolutely. >> … I'm thankful this season that you are not a professional educator in any school system … Sorry to disappoint you - but I still volunteer for NASA and am earned my registered ARRL instructor position. Clint Bradford K6LCS PS By the way, I don’t see any posts from you suggesting tactics to “save” AMSAT-NA from its current financial problems. At least a few of us are … But not you …

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Great White North Grid Expedition Schedule for Saturday
by Ken Alexander 26 Nov '16

26 Nov '16

Val-d'Or QC is colder and snowier than everywhere else I've been. This is where the grid activations are really going to be weather dependent. First of all, I'm afraid I have to sacrifice FN17. It's in the wrong direction and the distances are too great. Tomorrow will be all about FN09, FN18 and FN19. To be efficient, I will try to operate from grid boundaries, specifically FN18/FN19 and then FN09/FN19 a little later. Hopefully, I can park on the side of the highway without getting in the way. If you look at it on a map, the highway (Hwy 109 north from FN18at) connects civilization with...well, very very little! Traffic should be very light. I have a long drive to my next hotel tomorrow evening, so I am finishing up with the AO-7's pass at 2021. I hope I have this right...AO-7 will be in Mode B tomorrow? If not, there won't be much to do. SO-50 isn't positioned well. The only opportunity we have tomorrow is at 1305. I was hoping to do better for the FM-only ops. That's just the way it is. 26.11.2016 SO-50 13:05 26.11.2016 AO-73 14:06 26.11.2016 FO-29 15:14 26.11.2016 EO-79 15:39 26.11.2016 FO-29 17:00 26.11.2016 AO-07 18:28 26.11.2016 AO-85 18:49 26.11.2016 AO-07 20:21 As always, keep following me on Twitter @ve3hls for updates...although, once I'm up there I'll be well out of cellphone range. 73, Ken VE3HLS

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AMSAT-BB November 2016