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

Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Unattended Beacon Theory (UBT) - PROVE ME WRONG!
by Clayton Coleman 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

My faith in hams making live contacts via ISS packet was restored! N0BBD and K5UBQ answered me and exchanged information. 73 Clayton W5PFG On 4/18/2016 21:11, Jerry Buxton wrote: > Well? I didn't join in because that would have upset the experiment > since I'm not usually on there anyway. So what happened? > > Jerry Buxton, NØJY

8 11

Rotating PVC on Elk Antenna
by Lance Homer 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

A week or so ago I asked about mounting the Arrow Antenna on something other than the very end of it. I appreciated all of the great responses. In the end, I decided to go with the Elk because I found it on eBay and could save some money. The pvc tubing the previous owner used is difficult to turn and I'd like to correct that. I tried Googling to see if simply sanding the inner pipe a bit would help but I didn't get any results on that search. What have you done to make it so that the tubing is a easy to adjust from horizontal to vertical but still is tight enough not to shift on its own? Thanks, -Lance / K7LQH

1 0

AO-73/FUNcube mode change
by Jim Heck 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

Hi Folks, I have just set AO-73/FUNcube into permanent transponder mode. Plan, as usual, is to switch it back to education mode on Sunday PM UTC. Enjoy the transponder and have a FUN weekend. 73s Jim G3WGM

1 0

Newbie here
by Jason Rearick 22 Apr '16

22 Apr '16

Hello to the group. New to working the birds and enjoying it very much here in FM18. Jason N3YUG

1 0

microwave reflector?
by Ed K9EK 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

Hi all: A lot of us subscribe to both AMSAT and the Microwave reflectors... the latter of which seems to have disappeared. I knew Tom was having some issues with his provider, but it appears that "microwave" is off line. Test and subscribe both bounce. Anybody have any idea what happened or if it still alive? Thanks and 73 Ed K9EK

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-04-21 05:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 21 Apr '16

21 Apr '16

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-04-21 05:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: 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 83 deg Saratov, Russia, direct via TBD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP (***) Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-04-23 09:06 UTC (***) 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 62 deg Watch for HamTV coverage St. Petersburg, Russia, direct via TBD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is TBD (***) Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-04-23 10:41 UTC (***) Republic of Chuvashia, direct via TBD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP (***) Contact is a go for Sun 2016-04-23 09:50 UTC (***) The Derby High School, Bury, UK, direct via GB1DHS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-04-25 12:02:27 UTC 49 deg Istituto Comprensivo Statale “Diego Valeri”, Campolongo Maggiore, Italy, direct via IZ3YRA The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-29 08:34:08 UTC 64 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now closed. The window was 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 of future proposal windows. **************************************************************************** ** 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 117 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 2016-04-21 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 1045. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1010. 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 2016-04-18 19:00 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 Exp. 47 on orbit Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Aleksey Ovchinin **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons
by Richard Tejera 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

It does, or do have most of the info already stored in the user phrases What I was looking for was sending the message to ALL. I would them in the message text past the appropriate user phrase (F key -->x, where x is the user phrase. There is a good pass tomorrow about 1130 mst/2830 UT. I'll take an early lunch and see if anyone answers. I'll be in DM43 73 Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On April 20, 2016, at 20:27, "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net> wrote: Rick, On my TH-D72A, there are a couple of options for sending a CQ call. First, a few settings need for the HT to be heard through the ISS or NO-84 packet digipeater... Status Text: I use message number 1 with TX rate 1/1, and I use "WD9EWK and VA7EWK" as the text. The TX rate determines how often this text is transmitted, and 1/1 means everytime your HT transmits your location, this text will also go out with that. You could use something like "CQ de K7TEJ" or something like that to draw attention to yourself. Since I use my HT on both the spaceborne digipeaters and the terrestrial APRS network, I don't normally want to have a CQ call in that text field. Sometimes I will replace the "and VA7EWK" with other text if I am at a hamfest or on a trip, or I'll turn it into something like "WD9EWK and VA7EWK - 2016 World Tour". :-) You can store up to 5 different status text messages, and then select different messages for different situations. You could have a CQ call in one, another message with something like your e-mail address or the repeater you're listening to in another, etc. I just use the first status text message, and change it as needed. TX Beacon: Method is Auto, Initial Interval is 1 minute. Packet Path: Type is Others, PATH is ARISS - this will work for the ISS and NO-84 when its 145.825 MHz digipeater is on, and then you can change the Type value to New-N when you are using the HT on the terrestrial APRS network instead of a spaceborne digipeater. You can either rely on the HT to beacon at that interval you set in the TX Beacon value, or you can press F followed by BCON (the 6 key) to send a beacon on demand. Or press BCON to remove BCON from the display, and then press BCON again to reenable the HT's beacon. An alternative to using the Status Text and TX Beacon to make your CQ calls would be to use an APRS message sent to ALL, and then type in a CQ call like "CQ de K7TEJ". You could just put something like "K7TEJ looking for a call", hoping a live operator in the footprint will pick up on something different coming from the digipeater. APRS messages are normally sent out once a minute over a 5-minute period, or you can go into the MSG (press the 4 key) menu and force an APRS message to be retransmitted on demand. This might be useful, if you see your HT transmit but don't see something like "My Message" or "My Message via ... " to indicate your HT heard the message being retransmitted by the spaceborne digipeater. I don't worry about an explicit CQ call when I work these digipeaters. I transmit my location and status text to show up on the digipeater, and then try to send APRS messages to other call signs I see on my HT's screen. I updated the instructions I have on my QRZ.com page on how I work the ISS and NO-84 digipeaters, asking stations to contact me via APRS messages when they see WD9EWK-9. Otherwise, freeform text sent from another station isn't shown or stored on the HT - just the call sign. Hope that helps. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 11:58 PM, Rick Tejera <saguaroastro(a)cox.net> wrote: > Patrick, > > When sending a CQ message, What call sign would you send to? I get how to > respond with user phrases or position comments, but how do you get that > first CQ out to whoever is listening? > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) _______________________________________________ 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

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons
by Rick Tejera 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

Patrick, When sending a CQ message, What call sign would you send to? I get how to respond with user phrases or position comments, but how do you get that first CQ out to whoever is listening? 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:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:13 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons Hi Mark! You can do a CQ over the ISS digipeater, or just send something like an APRS position packet or a packet with your position and a short comment. If you use APRS messages, you can use them to make QSOs. I just did that tonight for the first time in a few months, working two Texas stations with my TH-D72A HT and Elk log periodic from my driveway. Using the ariss.net wen site, I could see my packets and most of my two QSOs captured by Internet gateways, and a missed QSO with a California station. My TH-D72A will store and display APRS messages, but freeform twxt typed into a terminal program won't be displayed on my HT unless the text is formatted as an APRS message. For example, a station could type this and (if I receive it) have it displayed on my HT's screen and saved as a received APRS message: WD9EWK-9 :hello from (grid, city/state, etc.) On my HT, I'd see the call that sent this message, and the text following the space and colon that trail my call. This makes it easy for stations using the APRS-capable radios, as well as software like UISS, to make QSOs and both sides seeing the QSO happen. It tends to be rapid-fire, since you only have up to 10 minutes in an ISS pass, and there could be a lot of activity coming through the ISS digipeater - especially the further east you go in the continental USA. Passes that only touch the southwestern USA are really easy for the low-power stations (like me) to get through. I do OK on other passes that cover more of the country, even with only 5W. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 1:23 AM, Mark Lunday <mlunday(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: > <My first packet on an ISS pass always includes a CQ.> > > OK, call me ill-informed, I did not know you could do CQ and > keyboard-to-keyboard QSO's. I thought you could only send short messages. > Is that how you do it? The ISS pass is so fast... > > Mark Lunday, WD4ELG > _______________________________________________ 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

3 2

Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons
by Rick Tejera 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

As I think about it, I suppose the same would work on the radio in an APRS Message? I'm willing to be corrected if not. 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:[email protected]] On Behalf Of skristof(a)etczone.com Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 5:13 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons In UISS, I just set the "To:" field to CQ. Essentially, the callsign is CQ. Steve AI9IN On 2016-04-20 19:58, Rick Tejera wrote: > Patrick, > > When sending a CQ message, What call sign would you send to? I get how to > respond with user phrases or position comments, but how do you get that > first CQ out to whoever is listening? > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.saguaroastro.org [1] > Thunderbird Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org [2] > 623-572-0713 > 623-203-4121 (cell) > SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick > STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) > Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:13 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons > > Hi Mark! > > You can do a CQ over the ISS digipeater, or just send something like > an APRS position packet or a packet with your position and a short > comment. If you use APRS messages, you can use them to make QSOs. > I just did that tonight for the first time in a few months, > working two Texas stations with my TH-D72A HT and Elk log periodic > from my driveway. Using the ariss.net wen site, I could see my > packets and most of my two QSOs captured by Internet gateways, > and a missed QSO with a California station. My TH-D72A will store > and display APRS messages, but freeform twxt typed into a terminal > program won't be displayed on my HT unless the text is formatted > as an APRS message. For example, a station could type this and (if I > receive it) have it displayed on my HT's screen and saved as a > received APRS message: > > WD9EWK-9 :hello from (grid, city/state, etc.) > > On my HT, I'd see the call that sent this message, and the text following > the space and colon that trail my call. This makes it easy for stations > using the APRS-capable radios, as well as software like UISS, to make > QSOs and both sides seeing the QSO happen. > > It tends to be rapid-fire, since you only have up to 10 minutes in > an ISS pass, and there could be a lot of activity coming through the > ISS digipeater - especially the further east you go in the continental > USA. Passes that only touch the southwestern USA are really easy > for the low-power stations (like me) to get through. I do OK on other > passes that cover more of the country, even with only 5W. > > 73! > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ [3] > Twitter: @WD9EWK > > On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 1:23 AM, Mark Lunday <mlunday(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: > >> <My first packet on an ISS pass always includes a CQ.> OK, call me ill-informed, I did not know you could do CQ and keyboard-to-keyboard QSO's. I thought you could only send short messages. Is that how you do it? The ISS pass is so fast... Mark Lunday, WD4ELG > > _______________________________________________ > 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 [4] > > _______________________________________________ > 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 [4] Links: ------ [1] http://www.saguaroastro.org [2] http://www.w7tbc.org [3] http://www.wd9ewk.net/ [4] 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

2 1

Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons
by Rick Tejera 20 Apr '16

20 Apr '16

Steve, I'm trying to do it from the D72A 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:[email protected]] On Behalf Of skristof(a)etczone.com Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 5:13 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons In UISS, I just set the "To:" field to CQ. Essentially, the callsign is CQ. Steve AI9IN On 2016-04-20 19:58, Rick Tejera wrote: > Patrick, > > When sending a CQ message, What call sign would you send to? I get how to > respond with user phrases or position comments, but how do you get that > first CQ out to whoever is listening? > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.saguaroastro.org [1] > Thunderbird Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org [2] > 623-572-0713 > 623-203-4121 (cell) > SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick > STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) > Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2016 9:13 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Beacons > > Hi Mark! > > You can do a CQ over the ISS digipeater, or just send something like > an APRS position packet or a packet with your position and a short > comment. If you use APRS messages, you can use them to make QSOs. > I just did that tonight for the first time in a few months, > working two Texas stations with my TH-D72A HT and Elk log periodic > from my driveway. Using the ariss.net wen site, I could see my > packets and most of my two QSOs captured by Internet gateways, > and a missed QSO with a California station. My TH-D72A will store > and display APRS messages, but freeform twxt typed into a terminal > program won't be displayed on my HT unless the text is formatted > as an APRS message. For example, a station could type this and (if I > receive it) have it displayed on my HT's screen and saved as a > received APRS message: > > WD9EWK-9 :hello from (grid, city/state, etc.) > > On my HT, I'd see the call that sent this message, and the text following > the space and colon that trail my call. This makes it easy for stations > using the APRS-capable radios, as well as software like UISS, to make > QSOs and both sides seeing the QSO happen. > > It tends to be rapid-fire, since you only have up to 10 minutes in > an ISS pass, and there could be a lot of activity coming through the > ISS digipeater - especially the further east you go in the continental > USA. Passes that only touch the southwestern USA are really easy > for the low-power stations (like me) to get through. I do OK on other > passes that cover more of the country, even with only 5W. > > 73! > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ [3] > Twitter: @WD9EWK > > On Wed, Apr 20, 2016 at 1:23 AM, Mark Lunday <mlunday(a)nc.rr.com> wrote: > >> <My first packet on an ISS pass always includes a CQ.> OK, call me ill-informed, I did not know you could do CQ and keyboard-to-keyboard QSO's. I thought you could only send short messages. Is that how you do it? The ISS pass is so fast... Mark Lunday, WD4ELG > > _______________________________________________ > 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 [4] > > _______________________________________________ > 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 [4] Links: ------ [1] http://www.saguaroastro.org [2] http://www.w7tbc.org [3] http://www.wd9ewk.net/ [4] 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

1 0