October 2017 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Fw: AO73 Mode change
by Graham Shirville 11 Jun '19

11 Jun '19

Hi folks, AO73/FUNcube is now in amateur mode for the weekend with the transponder on! Please see below for all FUNcube mission info 73s Graham G3VZV and the FUNcube team. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FUNcube frequencies and other details ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AO-73 FUNcube-1 The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends (from pm Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7. When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During holidays, eg Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe activated for extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are usually made on Friday evenings (UTC) The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Lower temperatures give higher freqs!) FUNcube-2 (aka FUNcube on UKube) The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1 Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the main On Board Computer (OBC). The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit). The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.080 - 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.930 - 145.950 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low temperatures give higher freqs!) EO79 FUNcube-3 Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7 and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future months as a result of experience. The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.0723-435.0473 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.946-145.971 MHz USB Further detailed info on EO79 transponder frequencies is at: https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/10/eo79-funcube-3-transponder-commences-regula… EO88/Nayif-1/FUNcube-5 EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder is operational when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. The transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.045 – 435.015 MHz LSB (inverting) Downlink: 145.960-145.990 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.940MHz All FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are very grateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, The Netherlands. _______________________________________________ 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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EQUiSat Optical Beacon CubeSat
by Trevor . 17 Oct '18

17 Oct '18

Students at the Ivy League Brown University are developing an amateur radio satellite EQUiSat that will carry a Xenon Flash Tube (XFT) subsystem to act as an Optical Beacon that should be visible to the unaided eye of observers on Earth. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10635 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAK-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

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Using 1.2Ghz
by Todd 04 Apr '18

04 Apr '18

Thinking about adding the 1.2Ghz module for my 9100. Prices have dropped a little and units will start become harder to find once production ends. Anybody using this band? I read it's used as a uplink frequency for some satellites. Any input appreciated.ToddAL7PX

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Outernet L-Band now carries AMSAT and ARISS weekly bulletins
by Robert Bruninga 17 Mar '18

17 Mar '18

The Outernet L-band feed is now carrying a condensed version of the AMSAT and ARISS weekly news files. (Global Geosat coverage except for Northern Alaska)... Receivers are simple: http://aprs.org/outnet.html For ARISS, I manually added a 2 char grid square to each school listed in the school schedule and am asking the outernet folks to parse out that location info and plot a 1200 km footprint on their weather globe showing where people can tune in the ARISS contacts. Then their RTL-SDR dongle could then actually be retuned to hear the contact. Just an idea... Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dani EA4GPZ Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 7:36 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] New Outernet L-Band service... >> I hope someday a service like this will be available >> from an AMSAT geostationary service. > I'm pretty confident that the guys at AMSAT-DL are capable > of doing this much better on the upcoming EsHail'2 > than what Outernet is currently doing on Inmarsat... > They already have in mind a "DVB-S beacon"... broadcast > from the ground station at Qatar ... carrying videos > about Ham radio and Ham radio events on this signal. > What is more, if you have equipment to operate EsHail'2 on SSB, > it's more or less easy to use either the narrowband transponder > or the wideband transponder to transmit an Outernet-type signal > through EsHail'2, so anyone can have a go with this. > Outernet uses 4200baud BPSK and half of the bitrate is spent for FEC. > You can use a bit less bitrate to get a signal that will even pass > through a conventional 2.7kHz SSB filter and you can use less > bits for FEC to get increased data throughput (but more SNR required). > Dani EA4GPZ.

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Special AMSAT Membership Offer for RadFxSat..download issue
by Jack Strother 15 Nov '17

15 Nov '17

Hi Paul, I have already left a note to the webmaster, no reply yet. I tried to download from the link in the receipt e-mail, and a message comes back saying that I have no downloads available. I have not down loaded squat, yet. Thanks in advance, for any help on this. I am so excited about the launch.. Jack KD9ERA

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Turnstile Antenna Design
by vk4tec＠tech-software.net 06 Nov '17

06 Nov '17

http://59.167.159.165/satreporter/turnstile.pdf

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FUNcube-1 weekend operations
by Graham Shirville 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

Hi All, FUNcube-1 AO73 is now in full time transponder mode for the weekend. Have FUN with the bird 73 Graham G3VZV

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SatPC32
by Joe Pereira 02 Nov '17

02 Nov '17

Does anyone know if it is possible to output a serial port signal when a satellite is in view. I would like to switch an external relay circuit when a particular satellite is in view. Regards Joe - VK5EI

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C# DDE code
by richard allen 01 Nov '17

01 Nov '17

Microsoft seems to be getting rid of DDE support. Does anyone have some C# or VB2017 DDE client code that can be built under Visual Studio 2017? Thanks, Richard W5SXD

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FO-29 transponder block diagram
by Dani EA4GPZ 01 Nov '17

01 Nov '17

Hi all, A few days ago I have transmitted and recorded a (low-power) FT8 signal through the FO-29 linear transponder to test some Doppler correction algorithms I'm developing (see http://destevez.net/2017/10/wsjt-x-and-linear-satellites-part-ii/) After Doppler correction, I'm left with a linear frequency drift both in my downlink signal and in the satellite CW beacon. However, the drift rate of my signal and the beacon are different. Specifically, my signal drifts 1.26 times faster than the beacon. I suspect that this drift is due to one of the local oscillators in FO-29. To understand this better, I need to look at a block diagram of the FO-29 linear transponder. The best I've found is this: http://www.jarl.org/English/5_Fuji/systeme.gif However, I need something similar to this: https://funcubetest2.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/funcube_rf_board_block_dia… Since I need to see the frequencies of all the local oscillators involved in the transponder and CW beacon. Is there a more detailed block diagram for FO-29 or does anyone know something about this information? 73, Dani EA4GPZ.

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Wisp Question
by Andrew Rich 31 Oct '17

31 Oct '17

Hello I have a good down link from Falconsat-3 Where do i get WISP ? Will WISP work with dire wolf ? That is my decoder Andrew

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Satreporter new features
by Andrew Rich 31 Oct '17

31 Oct '17

Hello Sat reporter has some new features “chat” so you can chat about if your hearing satellites and “manual entry” if you want to add something to the log Enjoy http://59.167.159.165/satreporter/index2.html <http://59.167.159.165/satreporter/index2.html> Andrew VK4TEC

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Image from K2MO recieved on Falconsat-3
by Roland Zurmely 31 Oct '17

31 Oct '17

with WiSP, VSP3 and Soundmodem0.19: <http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/falconsat.htm#d> 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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Re: [amsat-bb] M2 Driven element matching section
by Richard Lawn 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

Problem is solved! A friend and "elmer" who got me started in with sats years ago has one he took off when he changed to polarity switching. TNX to those who offered assistance. 73 Rick, W2JAZ

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M2 yagi problem
by Richard Lawn 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

I have a problem with my 70cm cir Pol yagi. A feed line got tangled in the antenna apparently when I moved the antennas from a high angle back to 0 degrees. A driver element was bent and nearly pulled completely out of the insulator and matching unit. I pushed it back in through the insulator but the analyzer shows no resonance at frequency. Is it possible to open up the small matching unit box and repair such a problem or am I destined to buy a new unit from M2? 73 Rick, W2JAZ -- Sent from Gmail Mobile

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Building a new system
by Roger 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

I'm in the process of assembling a new system dedicated to sats and the like. I have a decent steerable array, quality preamps, dedicated computers, and radio with panadapter. I'm focusing on telemetry, decoding, and other interesting downlinks. I am literate in Satpc32 and have it running already. I'm soliciting information or ideas that I can incorporate that might benefit the AMSAT community, recommendations for specific satellite software, uploads, etc. Thanks for your time. 73, Roger W7TZ CN83ia Grid Busters w7tz.webs.com

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RS0ISS Digipeater
by Alex Weimer 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

Thanks for the info on others also having problems with the ISS packet digipeater. Thanks to K4KDR and KG4AKV. this confirms that I am not the only one experiencing problems. I also noticed that once the sat is no longer approaching that I cannot get into the digipeater and have trouble hearing it ..Evidently it seems to be the ISS antenna is no longer accessible from my location ?? Thought it was just Me !!! 73 JACK-KC7MG

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QIKCOM-1 Summary
by Robert Bruninga 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

The QIKCOM-1 module was to be powered by 28 volts after the host spacecraft deployed its solar panels, charged its batteries and determined that power was nominal. Since QIKCOM-1 also had a completely separate QIKCOM-11 VHF beacon and separate antenna to come on over the USA too, and neither have been heard, we assume the module has not been powered up. Both the host and QKCOM-1 were delivered about two and a half years ago and spent most of that time stored on ISS awaiting deployment. We thank everyone who listened after the deployment on Friday, but since both transmitters are on common APRS frequencies, monitored routinely in USA and around the world we will surely see it anyway if it powers up. Since it was deployed from ISS to avoid re-contact later, then it will be in essentially the same orbit but going lower. And lower orbits go faster. Deployed at 0.3 m/s or about 1kph, my guess is it will gain about 20 seconds a week.in front of ISS AOS as a wild guess. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

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Yaesu FT-847 available
by na2x＠yahoo.com 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

I'm selling a Yaesu FT-847. I know it's a popular radio with satellite operators so I thought I'd offer it here first. Ship to USA only. If interested, contact me off list via E-mail at NA2X (at) yahoo (dot) com

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WD9EWK Nevada/Utah road trip (30 October-1 November)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

Hi! I know others have traversed much of Nevada in recent weeks, but I am planning to also do something like that over the next 2+ days. With the AMSAT Symposium wrapping up here in Reno, I plan on heading east along I-80 toward Utah on Monday morning. I hope to be able to activate some grids (DN00, DN10, DN11, DN20, DN21, DN30) before I stop for the night somewhere around the Nevada/Utah state line. Tuesday will see a return trip west across Nevada via US-93 and US-50, where I may be able to make stops at DM28 and a quick excursion to DM39 inside Utah, before hitting DM29 and DM19 on the westbound trip back to Reno. I might get on the air Wednesday morning before returning to the Reno airport for my flight home, probably from somewhere in DM09 one last time. It looks like APRS digipeaters cover much of I-80 and US-50 across Nevada, and I might show up as WD9EWK-9 on web sites like http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 as I drive around. I will also use my @WD9EWK Twitter account to send out updates. If you don't use Twitter, you can still view my tweets in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK I have already uploaded my logs to Logbook of the World from the past few days' operating around Reno and Lake Tahoe. I'll do the same for the QSOs logged in the next couple of days, but I might not get them into LOTW right after each pass. Please be patient with the LOTW uploads. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

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CM79
by Gabriel Zeifman 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

NJ7H QRV from CM79 in the morning first pass FO-29@1514Z last pass AO-85@1732Z 73, Gabe NJ7H/VE6NJH

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Problem getting into RS0ISS digipeater
by Alex Weimer 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

I am using AGW Packet engine and UISS to work both NO84 and RS0ISS however recently I have been having problems getting into the digipeater on the ISS. 25 watts of power and a 7 element M2 yagi. Is there a change in the packet modem on ISS or have they made some modifications that make it more difficult to access the satellite ?? Thank you JACK KC7MG

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VHF GAAAFET RF SWITCHED PREAMP FOR SALE
by jeffory broughton 29 Oct '17

29 Oct '17

Advanced Receiver Research MSP144VDG-160. 160 WATT .55 dB nf,24 dB gain,6 Months old Kept in a weather proof enclosure.like new.$225 FREE SHIPPING ! WB8RJY jeff jeff broughton

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Special AMSAT Membership Offer for RadFxSat Launch
by Paul Stoetzer 29 Oct '17

29 Oct '17

As part of the preparations for the launch of RadFxSat on November 10th, AMSAT is making our “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on RadFxSat! 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Secretary Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA)

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Re: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-D7A(G) For Sale
by Tucker McGuire 29 Oct '17

29 Oct '17

Thanks for the interest. Radio is sold now. Cheers & 73, Tucker W4FS On Oct 29, 2017 7:27 AM, <skristof(a)etczone.com> wrote: > If you still have the radio, I am definitely interested. Does it include a > manual? > > Steve AI9IN > > > > > On 2017-10-28 17:45, Tucker McGuire wrote: > > Hi all, > > Looking to sell my Kenwood TH-D7A(G) with 2 AA holders and SMA to BNC > adapter for use with arrow antenna, to raise funds for other stuff. Some > dings on the case but overall great condition. This rig works great full > duplex for our current FM transponder satellites. > > Asking $120 shipped. > > Cheers & 73, > Tucker > W4FS > _______________________________________________ > 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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