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

Re: [amsat-bb] Carrier on 145.8 NORCAL
by Douglas Tabor 15 Apr '16

15 Apr '16

One of the ‘offenders’ in my area of “expensive last mile internet” is PoE where local ISPs may be using indoor grade UTP between their radio internet transceivers and the point of power injections. UTP acts like an antenna and power from dirty imported wall worts (switching power supplies) is very dirty (spectrally speaking.) Had my ISP replace my UTP with STP and problem went away. However, when dealing with weak signals, the noise can be blocks/miles away and pretty broad spectrum. Doug, N6UA

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ISS SSTV Received
by Alfred Watts 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

Captured attached ISS SSTV image 4/13/16 on 22:13 UTC pass (17.9 deg) from Albuquerque (DM65rd). Captured using MSSTV Engine (sstveng ver 1.06) running in HRD / DM780 ver. 6.3.0.448 SATPC32 ver 12.8b for Doppler control (probably not needed - AFC worked well) Windows 10 Radio: IC-9100 SignaLink USB MFJ 2 m / 70 cm vertical antenna at 6 ft. The signal was very strong except for several static bursts near the middle. The ISS xmitter came on early in the pass, transmitted one image and went off Al AF5VH Alfred C. Watts e-mail: awatts44(a)comcast.net <mailto:awatts44@comcast.net>

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Flex 5000a FM tone issues
by Jeff 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

I’m working my way through setting up my Flex 5000 for satellites. I’m very happy with the performance on the linear bird’s , but having some issues with AO-85, and SO-50. After getting some bad audio reports on SO-50 yesterday I tried to work the problem out with someone on a local repeater who was familiar with my voice. After a few minutes it became very clear that it was a CTCSS tone issue as simplex performance was excellent. I thought about this a minute and came to the realization that there might be a TX filter in play, and discovered, yes it was set to a default of 150 to 2700. Obliviously not FM values. So just before the last pass of AO-85 I quickly built an FM RPTR filter of 50 to 4k and saved it. It worked a bit better on the pass but I still had obvious issues. Anyone have any ideas what the issue might be? I’m thinking a tone level issue, but after goggling I found issues with CTCSS was too HIGH of a level. Any suggestions welcome... 73 Jeff kb2m

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Upcoming ARISS contact with USA Science and Engineering Festival, Washington, D.C
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at USA Science and Engineering Festival, Washington, D.C on 16 Apr. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:19 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 OR4ISS and IK1SLD. The contact should be audible over Italy 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. Boys & Girls Clubs of America's vision is ambitious: to assure success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate high school prepared for their future. For 155 years, BGCA's proven track record of changing and saving kids' lives has been woven into the fabric of what makes our nation great. Today, some 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million kids in nearly every congressional district - from rural communities to urban neighborhoods, from public schools to public housing units, on nearly 500 U.S. military installations, and throughout our country's Native lands. We are redefining the opportunity equation for kids across our country. We are preparing Globally Competitive Graduates through our Great Futures Campaign STEM strategy. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What inspired you to become an astronaut? 2. What kind of training did you receive to become an astronaut? What were the hardest parts of it? 3. What do you do in space when you are not working? 4. How is sleeping in space different than sleeping in your bed? I read that you have to be strapped into your bunk during missions. 5. When you get off a boat, sometimes your legs are really wobbly, does this happen when you come home from space? Do you have to readjust to the heaviness of gravity? 6. On Earth, we get regular check-ups to make sure we are healthy and fit for school or athletics. In space, do you monitor your health, like blood pressure? If so, are the machines that are used altered in any way for space flight? 7. We saw online that some of you are conducting research on headaches in space. Are headaches worse in space? Do people get more of them? 8. Do you use 3D printing in space? We have heard that you can print parts to repair things that break. 9. Do things go wrong on the Space Station? What do you do to prevent that from happening? 10. How does new technology modernize today's space flight in comparison to early explorations? Does it change how data is collected, or allow for better quality photographs? 11. How would you compare communication with your family compared to how Apollo astronauts communicated with their families? How has technology changed it? 12. What are some of the problems or challenges with space? travel for someone who is not physically fit? How does NASA ensure you are ready to go into space? 13. We have teams to work on our robots, solar cars, and other projects. How is being on the ISS like being on a team? 14 Do the astronauts ever get mad at each other? 15. We love Space Movies! Which movies are most accurate? What parts are totally unrealistic in most movies? 16. How long does it take to get to Mars and do you think there will be anyone living there, like astronauts or scientists, in our lifetime? 17. What was the scariest thing that has happened to you while on the Space Station or while blasting off? 18. While flying over Washington DC, can you see any of the monuments? 19. When do you think the general public will be able to take a space trip? How soon do you think it might be a normal thing to do? 20. What are some of your concerns for having untrained people fly into space? 21. Have you seen anything that makes you think there might be space aliens? 22. How many days of supplies do you always keep in reserve? 23. If there were a one way mission to Mars, would you try to be on that crew? 24. What did you do as a kid that helped you prepare to be an astronaut? Anything that you now can see was essential? 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. St Richards Catholic College, Bexhill on Sea, UK, direct via GB4SRC The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-04-18 14:56:06 UTC 2. STEM Trajectory Initiative with Albuquerque Public Schools, Albuquerque New Mexico, direct via NM5HD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-22 17:32:37 UTC 3. Wellesley House School, Broadstairs, Kent, UK, direct via GB1WHS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-04-23 12:10:50 UTC 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), and the 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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ISS SSTV
by Ed Cunningham 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

Never tried SSTV before, managed to capture a picture from the 20:40 ISS pass over Phoenix AZ today. Solid copy using an Elk Dual Band, Ft-857D and RX-SST software. 73 Ed, N7EC

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Re: [amsat-bb] Carrier on 145.8 NORCAL
by Rick Tejera 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

Patrick, I too worked that pass from my office (Priest between University & Broadway (DM43ak for non Phoenicians). I, too, heard the tail end of on image and got the next one which like you indicated started just past mid pass. My image had a little noise toward the end, nothing a little polarity twisting on the elk took care of that. Gonna try the 2006 Local pa10 degree pass and then the 2142 lcl 61 degree pass. I think that would be the last passes before they deactivate it. 73 Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 6:02 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Carrier on 145.8 NORCAL Hi! My AOS on that pass was around 2211 UTC. I barely heard the end of one picture before a break. I copied one picture perfectly, starting at 2215 UTC. It was a 21-degree pass, and the picture I copied was around the middle of the pass. I tweeted the picture already, and will upload it to the ARISS SSTV picture archive shortly. I just got home a little bit ago, my first chance to take my recording from that pass and feed it into RX-SSTV on my tablet. I have been working an earlier shift at my office this week, which worked out perfectly for the afternoon ISS passes. I might try to catch one evening pass before going to bed tonight, but the 1100 UTC alarm is still hard to accept. Only two more days of that... :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 10:11 PM, Greg Stahlman <kj6ko(a)innercite.com> wrote: > Seems to be a dead carrier on 145.800 in Northern CA. Pointing about240 > degrees from my QTH in Placerville. > > > _______________________________________________ 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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Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2D
by Rick Tejera 14 Apr '16

14 Apr '16

This is the first I've heard of this one being turned on? Or am I late to the party? And thanks for the heads up on the ISS reboost this morning. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Sent: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 3:33 PM To: F1RRJ Cc: amsat-bb Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2D Good signals on the 2155 UTC pass over eastern North America, but only heard and worked WB8RJY. 73, Paul, N8HM On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 3:02 PM, F1RRJ <f1rrj(a)sfr.fr> wrote: > Hello All, > > I try this SAT this evening, it seems to work well but nobody on it, I was a > poor alone OM..... > > I'll try it this WE, I think It will have more activity on. > > 73s and good contacts on SAT. > Francis. > F1RRJ, JN09WA. > > -----Message d'origine----- > De : AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] De la part de Paul > Stoetzer > Envoyé : mercredi 13 avril 2016 17:08 > À : Andrew Glasbrenner > Cc : amsat-bb > Objet : Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2D > > On the AAR29 status page for XW-2F > (http://aar29.free.fr/sat/cas3f/cas3flog.php), the comments from > JA3FWT indicate that the transponder was on over Japan this morning > (he also reported it on the status page on that pass and the pass > after): > > 1220 2016-04-13 07:45:00 JA3FWT PM74UW CQ,CQ--- CQCQ AT XW-2D, NB/A TRPON > -ON- . > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Wed, Apr 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner > <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: >> >> >> Over at http://www.amsat.org/status/ I'm seeing reports, including those > from reliable ops, that XW-2D's transponder is now active. Any additional > reports here or on the status page would be appreciated. >> >> 73, Drew KO4MA >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ > 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 _______________________________________________ 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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W5PFG/p NPOTA RC14 and DM86/96 grid activation - 13/14 April
by Clayton Coleman 13 Apr '16

13 Apr '16

I'm going to attempt an ARRL NPOTA activation this evening from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (RC14.) My plan is to work the following satellite passes. All times UTC. XW-2F (2311-2319) XW-2C (2328-2337) XW-2D (2332-2341) <-- If transponder switched 'on' XW-2A (0018-0027) I will work one pass of SO-50 at 02:55 UTC from the DM86/DM96 grid line near Cactus, Texas. Clayton W5PFG/p DM95

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XW-2D
by Andrew Glasbrenner 13 Apr '16

13 Apr '16

Over at http://www.amsat.org/status/ I'm seeing reports, including those from reliable ops, that XW-2D's transponder is now active. Any additional reports here or on the status page would be appreciated. 73, Drew KO4MA

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2.4 GhZ sats
by Greg 13 Apr '16

13 Apr '16

Hi, Since the weather has been uncooperative for outdoor activities, I just finished a home brew project making a 2.4 ghz dish. My question: Are there any current active sats with a beacon in the 2.4 ghz amateur range? Thanks Greg N3MVF

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