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

Re: [amsat-bb] OSCAR status page
by Joe Fitzgerald 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

On 7/9/2016 1:39 PM, Joe Fitzgerald wrote: > I'll see about picking up the metaphorical trash as soon as I get my > real life dishwasher fixed. > > Dishwasher fixed, flowers replanted and trash picked up. Thanks for your reports. 73 de KM1P Joe --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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YN2RP Ops
by Paul Stoetzer 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Rafael, YN2RP, worked several stations last night on the SO-50 pass around 0345Z from Somoto, Nicaragua (EK63). He also listened on an earlier AO-85 pass, but could not get in half duplex with his Yaesu VX-7R HT. I do not know what his plans for further ops are. He only has limited email access at his current location, but he has told me that evening passes are best for him. In addition to his HT, he also has a Yaesu FT-857 and may try to work FO-29 half duplex. If I get any further word on specific passes he plans to operate, I will pass it along to the BB. He will be in Nicaragua until July 22nd. 73, Paul, N8HM

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OSCAR status page
by Glenn Miller - AA5PK 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

I notice this morning that hovering over status reports on the table does nothing. Some change in the past day that caused that glitch? I tried both Firefox and ah... MS Edge. Same result. Glenn AA5PK

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New member with much to learn.
by Roger 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Hello to all, name here is Roger. I'm new to the BB with much to learn and often times many questions. I'm near retirement and continuing to assemble my station / shack, as I attempt to dabble in nearly every aspect of amateur radio on a shoestring budget, and so, at present, it's satellites. I'm fascinated with Rx more than Tx though I have the capability. I've put together an array of homebrew optimized 2m 6el and 70cm 5el (soon to be 12el) xpol yagis with tracking. I'm using the digital modded Orbit360 rotors with InstantTrack software. Also using SatPC32 for Cat control and Spectrum Lab to see what I can't otherwise hear. I'd really like to eliminate InstantTrack if I could find a software solution to drive the Obit360's using SatPC32 without building an additional interface. I am not a programmer by any means but I'm not computer illiterate either. One of the first questions I have has to do with antenna polarity. I designed my yagi's for what should be circular polarization, but I read a lot about polarity switches or relays, and then there's RH and LH circularity. It gets a bit confusing. Can someone either explain or point me to a good reference to help in my understanding of this? I want to make the best of what I have or make the changes necessary to do so. Thanks for your time and the BB. 73, Roger W7TZ CN83ia

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SO-50 demos from Nevada (DM16) today
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

Hi! Craig KL4E e-mailed me this morning, saying he will demonstrate satellite operating on a couple of SO-50 passes this afternoon at the emergency operations center in Pahrump, Nevada, in grid DM16. Look for KL4E on the SO-50 passes at 1929 and 2111 UTC today. There us a license test session going on there today, and there should be some new hams watching the demonstrations. If you hear KL4E, please give him a call. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Upcoming ARISS contact with ISS R&D Conference, San Diego, CA
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 09 Jul '16

09 Jul '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at ISS R&D Conference, San Diego, CA on 14 July. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:03 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 W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. This ARISS contact will be conducted with a consortium of schools attending the ISS R&D conference as part of STEM day. Descriptions of the schools participating in the contact are shown below. School: Lake Elementary School, Oceanside, CA Lake Elementary School opened in 1989 in southeastern Oceanside. A top priority continues to be the use of technology by students and staff to prepare children for 21st Century College and Career readiness. School: Community Montessori Charter School, Escondido , CA CMCS currently serves approximately 375 students in grades K-8. Students attend one of five resource centers located throughout San Diego county, and are on a Montessori home study program. School: Vista Magnet Middle School, Vista, CA Students will be literate, reflective and critical thinkers in all areas of interaction who transfer knowledge and embrace diversity within a global society. School: Monte Vista Elementary School, Vista, CA Our vision at Monte Vista Elementary is to ignite a love of learning and a sense of curiosity in all students. We will promote academic achievement through high expectations and develop problem solvers who are technologically proficient. School: Lilac School, Valley Center, CA The Lilac Learning Community shares a commitment to exploring, developing and differentiating deliberate, effective strategies and practices for learning in a dynamic environment of collaboration, inquiry and diversity. School: STAR Prep Academy, Los Angeles, CA The STAR PREP ACADEMY is an extraordinary private middle & high school for students who seek an individualized approach to learning, based on their desired areas of specialization. School: Westminster Christian School, Miami, FL Founded in 1961, Westminster is an independent, college-preparatory, coeducational Christian school serving 1,241 students from preschool through 12th grade. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What do astronauts dream about in space? 2. When you first landed on the ISS was it what you expected? 3. What is the most interesting thing that you have seen up in space that you wouldn't find here on Earth? 4. How do you feel in zero gravity? 5. What personal item did you bring with you when you left for the space station? 6. I've heard the view of Earth is amazing; can you describe some of the things you've seen? 7. I like astronaut ice cream. Do you actually eat food like that or do you have regular food? 8. When you get back what's the first food you would like to eat? 9. What do the other planets look like from the ISS?" 10. Some people feel small and insignificant when thinking about the vastness of space. How does it make you feel? 11. What is the protocol in case of a medical emergency? 12. What do you miss most on Earth (besides your family)? 13. What is your favorite way to exercise on the International Space Station? 14. What is the maximum capacity of people on the space station at any given time? 15. If mechanical problems happen aboard the International Space Station (ISS) what is your plan to fix it, or if so, abandon the Station. 16. Since you are in space for a long time, do you have any hobbies to pass the day? 17. Have any of the experimental insects on board ever escaped, and if so, how did you retrieve them? 18. Is there ever conflict between the astronauts since you're all in one place together? 19. Do you have Wifi? Internet? Netflix? 20. How different would it feel to be on the moon? 21. What is the most important part of the station in your opinion? 22. Is there anything you wish you would have known before you went to space? 23. I see astronauts wearing space suits only half the time. Why do you only wear them some of the time in space? 24. Do you ever take animals to space with you? 25. Do you ever get scared or miss your home? 26. What made you want to become an astronaut? 27. Does a "day" feel shorter without the visual reassurance of daylight and its absence? 28. What was your favorite science project that you have worked on during your time on the ISS? 29. Do you believe that there is life on another planet other than Earth? 30. Do all astronauts sleep at the same time or do you sleep on rotation? 31. What are the odds of mechanical or electrical problems happening to your equipment aboard the ISS? 32. Were you allowed to take any personal items on the spacecraft? 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. Frontiers of Flight Museum's "Moon Day 2016", Dallas TX, telebridge via W6SRJ. The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is go for: Sat 2016-07-16 15:54:09 UTC 88 deg 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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AO7
by PY5LF 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

Hi AO7 are passing over here now with a strange noise in 3 frequencies and a carrier in 145570. Never heard it before ... 73

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FUNcube-1 weekend mode
by Graham Shirville 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

Hi All, The FUNcube-1 transponder is now ON for the weekend 73 Graham G3VZV

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KO4MA in NPOTA NP26 on SO-50 at 1726 UTC
by Paul Stoetzer 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

KO4MA was just on FO-29 from NPOTA NP26 (Great Smoky Mountains National Park). He has not had cell service this morning, so was not able to notify anyone, but he will also try to be on the 1726 UTC SO-50 pass. 73, Paul, N8HM

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Terry Sterman and AES
by Jeff Griffin 08 Jul '16

08 Jul '16

As you probably heard by now AES is closing their doors end of this month. I will miss AES, not that I buy much stuff from them anymore, but in my travels over the years I visited all 5 of their locations, and have some fond memories of those visits. I had some time to read some of the nostalgic information posted today and ran into this.. https://www.aesham.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/terrysterman.pdf What's cool about this article is that in the last paragraphs satellite communications was mentioned in 1958! This blew me away.. 73 Jeff kb2m

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