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

Re: [amsat-bb] Why 6 digit grid locator in Europe?
by Edward R Cole 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Note: that I read the digest of amsat-bb and normally only scan it lightly, so coming into this in mid-thread: I primarily work eme (144 since 1998 and 1296 only a couple years). So haven't done much satellite since demise of AO-40 (still getting system restored). I use JT65 on 2m-eme but not on HF so my experience is with on eme. 4-digit grid square was chosen by Joe Taylor-K1JT when writing JT65 as info traded in the contact as signal level is calculated and displayed by the program in dB below SNR=0 for a 2.5 KHz bw (std SSB bw). Therefore a signal report would be duplicative to the sw display. Eme hams do generally exchange signal level received when running digital modes but this manually added into the "73" report or included in QSL's. On CW-eme the TMO system is not used unless signals are very weak; most now just send RST via CW. TMO is used at "432 and up" while a shorter system of O/RO/RRR is used on 222 and down. JT65 is set up to send this report system. For terrestrial VHF contests (US) only 4-digit grid is exchanged. But most eme stations display and exchange 6-digit grids on QSL's and for more precise station location when using eme tracking programs. 73, Ed - KL7UW BP40iq 144-eme: 4x XP-20 + 1300W 1296-eme: 4.9m dish + 125w sat: 7-elem 2m yagi, 26-elem 435 x-yagi, patch for 2.4 GHz. Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:31:27 +0100 From: Dani EA4GPZ <daniel(a)destevez.net> To: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Why 6 digit grid locator in Europe? Message-ID: <56C7516F.8090404(a)destevez.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 El 18/02/16 a las 23:06, Peter Goodhall escribi?: > But I honestly don't feel that because on EME or M/S its just 4 > characters that it should mean a sudden switch, for EME/MS ... ...snip... >... which has > moved into HF with JT65 and JT9 before then apart from in a PSK brag > file you never really heard QRAs on HF. In fact it's not the case that they use 4 digit locators on EME. 4 digit locators are used in many JT modes just because there are some spare bits in the message format. I think that operators EME CW don't send locators ever. They have their own signal report system called TMO, where they send one of the letters T, M or O three times based on the amount of data they could copy. http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/g3sek_op_proc.pdf For MS there is signal report system based on the length an strength of the pings. http://www.g0che.co.uk/ms-procedure.php The thing is that in the US 4 digit locators are normally used for terrestrial VHF and such instead of 6 digit locators. In fact, 6 digit locators are almost unheard of and many operators won't know their 6 digit locator. I read recently a proposal of change to the rules of the IARU R1 50MHz contest regarding this matter. This contest currently requires that 6 digit locators are exchanged over the air. However, there is a problem that US operators will usually pass just 4 digit locators and it's difficult explain and get their 6 digit locator under marginal propagation conditions (the usual conditions in transatlantic 50MHz). > I'm not sure how long the 6 characters has been a thing on the > satellites in Europe, but in the 4 years I've been on it's certainly ...snip... > that its easily 50% of the time lost just to people probably not being > able to hear the satellite in the first place. I don't know either, but it's only the case in Europe. In the US they normally use 4 digit locators on satellites. I think that the difference in use comes from terrestrial VHF. The thing is that perhaps we as a community of satellite operators should decide what do we consider as a signal report or valid contact. As you said, the standard signal report doesn't make much sense for satellites. The report could be the locator, but I don't think this is such a good idea because it is not so easy to copy a 6 digit locator in poor conditions (in Europe the many different accents and languages don't help either). The report should be easier to copy. I agree that in good conditions you can send back and forth 6 digit locators real quick. However, in poor conditions, if you want to get them copied properly, you will probably have to repeat it several times and perhaps request a readback. The problem with any idea about changing the established customs is that the satellite community is quite big and spread out. Most of the operators don't read amsat-bb. By comparison, the EME and MS communities are smaller and the guys there tend to frequent the same mailing lists and webs for skeds. > Just my thoughts anyway and many thanks for the squares while you've > been on from the UK. Could you get IO95? I hear that's quite a rare grid. 73, Dani EA4GPZ. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubususa(a)gmail.com

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Just received UAH ARISS contact - much harder to rx than normal. Arrow antenna problem?
by John Brier 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

It took much longer into the pass to pick up a solid signal and when I got it, except for the top of the pass I had to aim the antenna perfectly to get the signal. The only thing differently about my setup today was I had the 70 cm elements installed on the boom too because I was using it to work SO-50 recently and didn't have time to take them off. Could this make the antenna less sensitive on 2 meters? Because that's what it felt like. Very dissapointing for me since I normally have no trouble getting the ISS from horizon to horizon. With that said it sounded like they got through all of their questions and Tim Kopra got to say goodbye. In his goodbye he repeated part of his answer to a question, saying one of the most important things to do to get space was to play nice with others. He said it wasn't important just in getting to space but also for life in general. A great message. Congrats to all involved in this succesful contact, but someone please tell me why it was so hard for me to receive! 73, John, KG4AKV in FM05

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ARISS QSO with Alabama
by skristof＠etczone.com 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Had good copy on the ISS side of the conversation with the school in Alabama. My location is southeastern Indiana, EM79jg. Steve Kristoff AI9IN

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Re: [amsat-bb] New AO7 Distance Record
by RSoifer1＠aol.com 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Congrats, guys! When he was active, Pat, G3IOR, made quite a few Mode B QSOs beyond normal range by using troposcatter into and out of the satellite. As you've proved, it still works! 73 Ray W2RS

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UAH SHC Successful
by johnnykludt＠earthlink.net 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

All, UAH SHC was successful with 18 questions answered. Very noisy at start but full quieting once beyond question 3. 73 round completed. All are very excited and happy! John K4SQCSent from my Verizon 4G LTE Smartphone.

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KM4IPF
by James Lea - WX4TV 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Thanks to everyone who worked hope on S0-50 just now. She is at ODU in Norfolk, Virginia doing demonstrations for kids who are coming to tour the engineering school. She will be back on FO 29 in just a little bit probably with the callsign K for AMG. Please forgive any typos Siri is typing this for me! James Lea Sent from my iPhone

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Decoding Chubusat1/2 telemetry
by J. Boyd (JR2TTS) 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

I'm of the understanding that the Chubusat-1/2 satellites that were just launched on Feb. 17 will be transmitting telemetry data in 9600 baud GMSK, in KISS protocol. With satellites in the past there have been programs written to decode and save this data in .kss format, but I can't seem to locate any such programs for the Chubusats. Does it require its own program, or is there a general one that would be used for this purpose? I have a brand spanking new FUNCube Dongle Pro+ and want to DECODE ALL THE THINGS! 73 -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo(a)msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C

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Good HamTv signal from ISS
by Fer 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Hello despite the low elevation pass ISS HamTv signal at 2395 Mhz was quite good, no audio https://www.dropbox.com/s/cnhm0d9hwhfaij6/ISS%20hamtv%2019feb16%20Tim_Peake… Preparing now the full video upload on youtube 73 Fer IW1DTU

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Gaasfet xistor
by jeffory broughton 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

I will bet a mfg1402 will work like a million bucks. Also check the 78l0 5 volt regulator. jeff broughton

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ChubuSat-3
by PY5LF 19 Feb '16

19 Feb '16

Very good signal of ChubuSat-3 over here . https://youtu.be/1rsLvcvvjCM 73

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