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

VUCC Awards for February 2017
by John Papay 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

Congratulations to the following satellite operators who were awarded endorsements for Satellite VUCC by the ARRL during the period 1Feb2017 thru 1Mar2017: WA4NVM-1413 KD8CAO-1200 W5PFG-982 N8RO-918 N7SFI-829 K4FEG-711 N8HM-608 N4UFO-601 KG5CCI-452 N9IP-417 K5ND-200 W7QL-180 W4DTA-151 AI6GS-136 N6RFM-107 There were 2 new VUCC awards: WI7P - 829 AK4WQ (EN34) - 106 The ARRL VUCC Award is the most prestigious and sought after award for satellite operators. The award is what inspires all of the roving activity here in the United States and around the world. A special thanks to all rovers who make the effort to operate away from home. The Central States VHF Society sponsors the reverse VUCC award for rovers who operate in 100 or more grids away from home. Some of our current rovers are already eligible or close to being eligible for this award. Recipients so far include N7SFI, N5AFV, ND9M and KD4ZGW. (as of 5July2016 www.csvhfs.org) 73, John K8YSE --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Grid Activation Report
by R.T.Liddy 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

SAT Grid Chasers, I've pretty much finished the Winter visit with my Daughter & Family in SE TX. The SAT Eqpt is mostly packed up for the next leg of the trip to visit my Brother in FL. >From 2/12-2/25, the results of my activity are as follows: - Operations = 22 - Sat's = 5 FO29-SO50-XW2F-XW2C-AO7 - Grids = 7 EL28/29/39 EM20/21/30/31 - QSO's = 171 - Unique Calls = 67 - DX Countries = 6 (+ 3 Water Grids) I'll be here in EM20vg through 3/4 in case someone has a desperate need for EL39 or EM20 (!) before I leave, i.e. NEW ONE! Otherwise, my next stop will be overnight in Biloxi, MS, EM50 on 3/5, then Live Oak, FL, EM80 on 3/6. We get to Venice, FL, EL87 for a couple weeks starting 3/7. For QSL info, see my page on QRZ.com. TNX/73/CUL, Bob K8BL

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I'm seking ISS digi contacts today on 1908 UTC pass for a video I'm making
by John Brier 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

$subject 73, John Brier KG4AKV

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Streaming Video Today Atlas 5 Launch
by JoAnne K9JKM 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

If you enjoy the roar of a rocket in the morning there will be streaming video of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight to deploy the NROL-79 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Coverage begins at 1730 UTC on http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/27/av068_journal/ Launch is planned for 1750 UTC. No amateur radio payload on this flight ... just smoke and flames. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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SatPC32 Fodtrack.exe driver with Windows 10
by vk1kw＠amsat.org 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

Hello All, Has anybody successfully used the SatPC32 Fodtrack.exe driver with Windows 10 32bit yet please? Regards Rob

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TS-2000 Strange behavior
by Kevin M 01 Mar '17

01 Mar '17

I stand corrected on that... and better educated. (Also helps me understand the way the transponder has acted at various times that didn't previously make sense to me.) I supposed it could be desense or some other reason that you don't hear yourself then, but hopefully understanding that you are HEARING it will move you down the road to figuring it out and making contacts. =^) Actually the PL tone on AO-85 just turns the repeater on. Once it's on, there's no tone required until it times out...that's why you hear the noise on the uplink. 73, Drew KO4MA > On Feb 28, 2017, at 5:11 PM, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote: > > Hi Mike, > I don't believe there is anything wrong with your receive... the 'static' you hear IS the AO-85 downlink. The transmitter is on and transmitting and the signal strength is going up and down due to 'tumbling', ploarity shifting, etc. The reason you hear static is that it's not like SO-50; instead of squelching when there is no signal, AO-85 simply rebroadcasts what it hears... which at the moment is 'nothing', SO it is passing the white noise from it's UHF receiver straight to the 2m transmitter. Eventually you heard a voice there at the end, so yes, you ARE hearing it. > If I read the TS-2000 manual correctly, your problem is that you have the PL tone set on the receive band... not the transmit band. The 'T' should be above the sub band display in other words. So since you are not transmitting the proper PL tone of 67.0 Hz, you are not able to hear yourself come through the transponder. See about fixing that and give it another try. And from experience, I'll suggest to double check that even after you get the 'T' on the correct band, verify that it's 67.0 Hz. =^) > 73, Kevin N4UFO

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Re: [amsat-bb] Baofeng Bf-f8
by Roy Dean 28 Feb '17

28 Feb '17

Phil, I started out last year using a BF-F8HP and UV-5R for full duplex operation, and sadly experienced desense every single time. Tried the BF as both Tx and Rx radio, desense occured in both. Even stuck band pass filters in the Rx radio feedline... no go. --Roy

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