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

IRLP node interference to FO-29
by Kevin M 22 Mar '16

22 Mar '16

On today's 1915-1930z pass of FO-29, there was an FM signal coming over the transponder... really loud, S9 at times. I was able to tune in and listen to a net and caught the callsign of the station conducting the net who was in Houston. It was not necessarily his station and/or node that was the problem, the signal could have been coming from any number of nodes across the US that might have been connected. I am having limited success communicating with the individual who's callsign I heard. I got one reply from his phone in response to a message I sent through the IRLP website. He is apparently not getting any e-mails from me directly despite being the same e-mail address. I'm trying to confirm what reflector & channel(?) he was connected to and then see if there is any way to research with IRLP to find out what other nodes may have been connected at the time. You know, detective work. Does anyone have experience with this? with IRLP? Anyone know how to research the stations on the IRLP side of things or who to contact? Has anyone there been receptive in the past regarding resolution of interference with the sats? It's all very frustrating as I don't see any central point of contact on their website and not getting any more communication from the one guy I heard in Houston doesn't help either. I made every effort to be polite and respectful in my communications (honey versus vinegar), but with some people that just equates to a license to 'blow you off'. =^) Thanks in advance for any help... prefer replies off list. 73! Kevin N4UFO

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 22 Mar '16

22 Mar '16

Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** 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. **************************************************************************** *** 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: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IKØWGF with 116 **************************************************************************** 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 2016-03-22 16:00 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 1037. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. 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, Rhode Island, 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 2016-03-19 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. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H
by jeffory broughton 22 Mar '16

22 Mar '16

A while back I was looking for a ux 910 1.2 ghz module for my ic 910h to get ready for 3 new L band sats this year. I ended up with an extra one in its original box. Installed it in my 910 and it tested to factory specs. I decided I don't need an extra one sitting on the shelf.i am selling it for what I paid for it.It was not cheap,but close to what it sold for originally. $499 free ship. WB8RJY.JEFF 517 202 7862 cell jeff broughton

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Re; rover trips to nevada
by Kevin M 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

Thank you to those that sent me tips on who the 'other Nevada rover' might be. I have in fact found out who it is and we have had a very lengthy and productive chat. He lives in Nevada, has a motor home and has plans to take a weekend to go operate from a rare grid not terribly far from his home. He is not a new sat op, but 'grid roving' is a new aspect he is in the process figuring out. He has asked for my help on working out a few details as to gear, logging, etc. I am only too happy to assist. I will let him announce his own plans, as that is only polite, but I will say that if everything goes as planned, our schedules will not conflict. He should be operating the weekend BEFORE I arrive in Nevada, with him wrapping up the same day I cross the state line. =^) Hopefully between the two of us, we can work everyone that needs that grid (DM19). And hey, if he works everyone who presently needs it, I already have another spot I can go. =^D My only regret may be that I won't be home to work him myself... but I'm really glad he is going! Also, I will be operating with my portable gear as much as possible during April, in order to get well acquainted with my new gear and work out any bugs. If you hear me on, feel free to give me a holler. I might even work from a few nearby grids for anyone that needs them. Again, I will be posting info about my trip to a special QRZ page as well as sending out last minute updates on a special twitter account. Use the link: https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P or look up N4UFO/P on QRZ (must add the /P). The link to my twitter is there and you do not have to have a twitter account to watch it. I also plan to have APRS going during my trip and links will be on that page when ready to go. 73 to all and will be looking for all you grid chasers on the birds! Kevin N4UFO

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** 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. **************************************************************************** *** 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: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IKØWGF with 116 **************************************************************************** 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 2016-03-21 17:00 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 1037. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. 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, Rhode Island, 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 2016-03-19 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. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817
by Kevin M 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4 I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) 73, Kevin N4UFO

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Security Survey - Reminder
by Brandon Shirley 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

To whom it may concern, To whom it may concern, This is a reminder email for a Security Survey. I sent you this email because I thought you might have relevant experience in developing space software and hardware systems. I really need your participation. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Thanks. Please note that the link is anonymous, so you are getting this reminder even if you have already taken the survey. The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) Core Concepts Development Preferences Open Systems Architecture and Modularity Security <========= We are here ========= Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity Network V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s(a)aggiemail.usu.edu 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. This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s(a)aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb(a)usu.edu.

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AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

Hi! I had an AMSAT table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" hamfest, held in a church parking lot yesterday (Saturday, 19 March) morning. This hamfest is one of the 3 major hamfests for the Phoenix area in the non-summer season, and the good weather helped to bring the crowds out. Lots of buyers and sellers, and lots of interest in AMSAT and amateur satellites. With the launches of AO-85 and the 9 Chinese amateur satellites in the past 6 months, many hams are taking a closer look at this part of the hobby. For some, the recent launches and projects currently in the pipeline are bringing some back to the satellites. Along with talking about satellites, many copies of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" flew off my AMSAT table. Demonstrations, whether at 6am (1300 UTC) or 11am (1800 UTC), had nice crowds. It was nice to have AO-85 available during the morning, as SO-50 was not passing by during the morning. I also had 4 other satellites that were used for demonstrations - AO-73, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F. The three XW-2 satellites were passing by in the first couple of hours, and AO-73 and AO-85 came by later in the morning. For all of these passes, I used my SDRplay SDR receiver for the downlinks, connected to an 8-inch Windows10 tablet and HDSDR software running on the tablet. As I have seen at other recent events, using an SDR receiver makes for more conversations - and not just in the context of working satellites. With all of these satellites employing a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink, I didn't have to worry so much about the sunlight making the tablet's LCD panel unreadable. Once I set my downlink frequency on the tablet, and for AO-85 activate AFC in HDSDR to track the downlink, I only had to worry about using the wheel on a Bluetooth mouse for fine-tuning. Despite some QRM in the area of the hamfest site, northeast of a nearby airport, the SDRplay did a decent job hearing all of these downlinks. For AO-73 and AO-85, I was able to play back the RF recordings I made with HDSDR later at home, so I could upload telemetry to each satellite's telemetry server from those passes. By the way, HDSDR's recordings do a much better job picking up AO-73 telemetry than I ever saw when I used the FUNcube Dashboard to directly receive the telemetry and then upload the data to the FUNcube data warehouse server. Same thing for copying AO-85 telemetry - HDSDR's RF recordings do better for capturing the data than I saw when using the FoxTelem software to directly control my FUNcube Dongle Pro+. For those who worked WD9EWK during those demonstrations - THANK YOU! The demonstrations make a positive impression on this part of the hobby for the crowds. My mockup of the AO-85 satellite - a 4-inch cube of wood, with two whips representing the antennas coming out of two sides - also helps to reinforce that small satellites can do more than "beep" in orbit. AO-73 and AO-85, in particular, are great examples of what we can do with small satellites. I have uploaded my log to Logbook of the World from these demonstrations, and am happy to send QSL cards to anyone who would like one for QSOs during the hamfest (just e-mail me with the QSO details - no need to send me a card and self-addressed stamped envelope). Thanks again, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface?
by Dennis Pitts 21 Mar '16

21 Mar '16

Just returned back to the Sats in November (have not been on the since the Oscar 13 days). I see things have changed a lot. Seems like I am now trying to catch up. At the moment I am using fixed elevation antennas, but would like to have computer control of the azimuth to help out and/or see if that is better than me trying to control manually. I would like to know if SatPC32 will work with the MDS RC1-Y (DCU-1 protocol) to accomplish control of the azimuth rotor (Yaesu G-800SA)? Thanks for any info or help, Dennis KK4CF

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FT-847 Problems
by Richard Lawn 20 Mar '16

20 Mar '16

Make sure you are using a Null modem serial cable not a straight through cable. 9600 baud and it should work. If you still have problems try a USB to serial adapter that uses the FTDI chip set. Rick, W2JAZ

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