January 2018 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

WISP step by step guide by Steve Bible N7HPR ?
by christy hunter 05 Jan '18

05 Jan '18

hello All, 1ST Q. I noticed the Amsat - 2005-WISP guide pdf says there is a step by step guide in the appendix (by N7HPR). my copy obtained from the AMSAT/NA site, does not have that appendix guide. Anyone have a copy? (I also do not see the 'Known Problems file'. 2nd Q. can this program(set of programs) be used without using the satellite control module, but instead use SatPC32? e.g. just send messages to Falconsat3. thanks for any help. 73 Christy KB6LTY --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com

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Re: [amsat-bb] doppler shift
by Nick Hart 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Good points all, John. The challenge is that the day of this month's club meeting, which satellites are passing over aren't ideal. But, the sequence you suggest absolutely makes sense otherwise. We'll do our best wish the birds we get. 73! Nick ------ Original Message ------ Received: Thu, 04 Jan 2018 11:27:56 AM PST From: John Brier <johnbrier(a)gmail.com> To: Nick Hart <nickhart(a)usa.net>Cc: John <john(a)amber.org.uk>, AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] doppler shift Nobody asked me but I would just start with just listening and gradually adding more components to the mix. Listen to AO-91 on at least one pass because the downlink doesn't require much doppler tuning if at all, then try SO-50 and learn doppler tuning, add audio recording on another pass, add uplink capability towards the end. On Thu, Jan 4, 2018 at 2:15 PM, Nick Hart <nickhart(a)usa.net> wrote: > I'm glad you mentioned scouts, John. > > I counsel for the radio merit badge for our local scouts, and Elmer our local middle school's radio club. In the club last month, we completed tape measure yagis. And, for this month's radio club meeting, I was planning on having the kids working a couple of birds passing during the meeting time. > > I figured that with 10 kids, we could have them in teams for tracking, tuning, recording and operating under my supervision. I thought it would be good for them to try to do everything manually once for two reasons. One is to show that's it's doable on a minimum budget by a teenager. And, the other is so they'll have an appreciation of everything our more automated rig will do during our ARISS QSO in March. > > From your comments, I'm rethinking that strategy a bit. Do you think that's too much? > > 73! > > Nick > >> On Jan 4, 2018, at 9:57 AM, John <john(a)amber.org.uk> wrote: >> >> Hey now, don't shoot the messenger! The vast majority of my AMSAT >> demonstrations are done with groups of scouts of various ages, and the last >> thing they need to see is me focussing more on the radio than making sure >> they understand what's going on! >> >> If I've got a piece of software that can correct for doppler shift for me, >> and it can manage pointing my antennas in the right direction, then it >> leaves my focus available for the actual operating, and the explanations to >> the young people who could well be the next generation of amateur radio and >> AMSAT enthusiasts ;) I think that's a far better use of my resources than >> sitting there with my back to the people I'm supposed to be introducing to >> the hobby, and focussing on turning dials and pushing rotator controller >> buttons... >> >> John (XLX) >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of >> jim(a)k6ccc.org >> Sent: 04 January 2018 17:46 >> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] doppler shift >> >> >> >> Ya know, you could MANUALLY tune. It does work. In fact I strongly >> preferred manually tuning for doppler shift vs computer corrected. >> >> Jim >> K6CCC >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: "John" <john(a)amber.org.uk> >> Sent: Thursday, January 4, 2018 02:10 >> To: "'Dave L'" <kb0rfy(a)q.com>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] doppler shift >> >> >> >> Hi Dave, >> >> When you say your doppler is too far ahead or behind, do you actually mean >> your overall frequency, or do you mean your split distance? >> >> If you mean your overall frequency then that's really odd, as SatPC32 has >> always put me smack bang in the middle of the pass-band if using linears >> (with the correct locator set on login). If this isn't the case you can >> adjust it in the settings files, but it's generally calculated based on your >> locator and the Keplerian data you can download (and should be updating >> every time you open up the app). If, however, you mean your offset (ie >> finding your own downlink) then this is always a bit variable for me, but >> usually pretty close. >> >> SatPC32 does, in my experience, remember your offsets when you adjust them >> (in my case either with the + and - buttons, or the pot at the top right of >> the rig), so that next time you hit that satellite it keeps the same >> offsets. You may find your offset is slightly different on different passes, >> or you may find it's exact every time, but that's part of the fun with >> linears - finding yourself first! >> >> Hope that helps. >> >> 73, >> John (XLX) >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dave L >> Sent: 03 January 2018 23:32 >> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Subject: [amsat-bb] doppler shift >> >> I'm useing satpc and a Yaesu ft-847. >> >> Fm birds are not a problem. SSB I'm either to far ahead or behind. >> >> Any hints or advice would be appreciated. >> >> radio and ant are comp controled >> >> thanks >> >> dave >> >> kb0rfy >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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] WiSP Help File converted for use on Windows 10
by Alan 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Chris, There is a way to restore the functionality of old format help files. http://wa8lmf.net/miscinfo/RestoreWinhelp32.exe It adds old files, no longer supported, but does work up through WIN10, 32- and 64-bit. Works fine with WiSP. 73, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Chris <Thompson <Sent: Monday, January 01, 2018 17:49 PM <To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] WisP Help File converted for use on Windows 10 < <If you are using WISP and can not open the help file, then I decompiled and <compiled an HTML version. Unfortunately it does not link directly from the <help menus in the program, but you can read it and search for topics. If <anyone has a better solution then let me know. < <It is here for anyone that wants it: <http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/wisp.chm < <73 <Chris < <-- <Chris E. Thompson <chrisethompson(a)gmail.com <g0kla(a)arrl.net <_______________________________________________ <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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Problem using USB-to-Serial adapters with Windows 10 Laptop.
by Erich Eichmann 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Hello all, I want to use 2 FTDI USB-to-Serial converters (US232R and FT4232H) with my Laptop Acer Aspire with 64-bit Windows 10, Home edition. But the installation of the (latest) FTDI drivers fails. I tried automaic installaion via the Windows Device Manager and manual installation by running the .inf file. With both methodes I get the same Windows error message, saying that Windows found drivers for the device, but an error occured during installation, see screenshot. When I check the hardware for problems Windows says that there are no drivers installed for the US232R/ FT-4232H. With a Toshiba Laptop and a Cativa desktop PC, both also with 64-bit Windows 10 Home, the installation worked flawlessly and the adapter generates the virtual COM ports I googled for a solution but without success. There are more users who report the same error message with other USB-devices. There was a suggestion for Windows 7 to delete a file named InfCache.1. I can't test that, however, because Windows 10 doesn't provide that file, the content has been moved to the registry. The FTDI support suggested to first uninstall the drivers, but the problem remains. Has anyone else encountered the same problem and is there a solution? Many thanks for any support 73s, Erich, DK1TB

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-01-04 09:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-01-04 09:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Higher National School of Computer Science and Systems Analysis (ENSIAS), Rabat, Morocco, telebridge via VK5ZAI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact was successful: Wed 2018-01-03 13:52:42 UTC 33 deg (***) Watch for live stream at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrHxxZ5pCvF-6I2O1-wgqQ/live **************************************************************************** ** 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. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood 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: Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 127 Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 100 **************************************************************************** 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 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2018-01-04 09:00 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 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1201. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1150. (***) 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, 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 2018-01-04 09:00 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. 53 on orbit Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Alexander Misurkin Joe Acaba KE5DAR Exp. 54 on orbit Scott Tingle KG5NZA Norishige Kanai Alexander Skvortsov **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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AO-91 contacts for KC7QR
by wa7eth＠frontier.com 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

I told a friend of mine, Bob, KC7QR about AO-91 and he gave it a try. He is in Jerome, Idaho and he attempted to make a couple of contacts today, Wednesday, Jan 3rd at approx 2109Z. He said someone from Arizona tried to contact him as well as another station in Illinois. If those stations could let me know, I will pass it along to Bob. I am a member of the Magic Valley Amateur Radio Club in Twin Falls, Idaho even though I am in Washington. I am trying to generate some activity in the Idaho area for some grid squares and it looks like the seed I planted is growing. Thanks for anyone who responds. 73'...Ed WA7ETH AMSAT 16226

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
by Nick Hart 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Absolutely agreed, Greg, We're just limited to what's passing over during the club meeting for the kids this month. We'll have one or two more club meetings between now and ARISS day. But, we adults who are working the event will have it dialed in by the time of the ARISS QSO. Thanks! Nick To: Nick Hart <nickhart(a)usa.net>Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status? Nick, If you want some practice ahead of the ARISS event (really good idea!), it might be a more relevant experience to get a few of the FM birds under your belt. AO-85, AO-91, SO-50. Perhaps track the ISS via Packet (when/if they get the packet station back on the air), to get a feel for that system. Also watch for any ARISS events that you can listen in on (for example, the telebridge contacts through W6SRJ in Santa Rosa). Some of the ground station operations, either direct or telebridge, have been documented on YouTube. Also worth a watch. As for AO-7, first look at the status logs on Amsat.org (http://www.amsat.org/status/); seems like it's pretty much been in Mode B (70cm up, 2m down), but that can change as the satellite's eclipse schedule changes over the course of the year. Otherwise, it is definitely a daylight-only bird (as seen by the satellite, not necessarily here on the ground). Best of luck for your contact, Greg KO6TH Nick Hart wrote: > Good afternoon, > > KK6ZLF in CM87. I am elmering a radio club at the local middle school, and we > have a scheduled ARISS QSO coming up in March. > > A week from tomorrow, we're going to try to do a few QSOs on the available > birds during the club meeting, 22 to 23:00 zulu. One of the passes is AO-7. I > saw on the AMSAT site that it is working strictly on solar power. But, this > should be a good daytime pass for us. > > Does anyone have any recent experience and advice for AO-7? > > Thanks, and 73! > > Nick > > KK6ZLF > > _______________________________________________ > 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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WD9EWK @ DM33/DM43, Friday (5 January 2018)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Hi! After today's quick run north of Phoenix to the DM34/DM44 grid boundary earlier today, I'm going to do another grid boundary run on Friday (5 January). This time, much closer to home, on the DM33/DM43 grid boundary in Phoenix. This will be in the city park I used for many years as my "home QTH" for working satellites, and I have been up there recently a few times. This will be my first visit to this grid boundary in 2018. If I can get to the park early enough, I might start with the FalconSat-3 pass at just after 1700 UTC. Otherwise, there is a western SO-50 pass just before 1800 UTC that I'll start on, or another FalconSat-3 pass at 1846 UTC that I might start with. From there, I also see passes on AO-91, AO-7, and - if I stay at the park into the mid-afternoon - AO-85. FM, SSB, and packet - just like I did today. For purposes of the new AMSAT rover award, this will be an activation for DM33 only, as I live in DM43. For everything else, it will be two grids on offer for each QSO I make there. I will post updates during the day to my @WD9EWK Twitter account. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. If anyone would like to receive a QSL card for a QSO made at the DM33/DM43 line, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. No need to send me a card or SASE first. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

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AO-7 status?
by Nick Hart 04 Jan '18

04 Jan '18

Good afternoon, KK6ZLF in CM87. I am elmering a radio club at the local middle school, and we have a scheduled ARISS QSO coming up in March. A week from tomorrow, we're going to try to do a few QSOs on the available birds during the club meeting, 22 to 23:00 zulu. One of the passes is AO-7. I saw on the AMSAT site that it is working strictly on solar power. But, this should be a good daytime pass for us. Does anyone have any recent experience and advice for AO-7? Thanks, and 73! Nick KK6ZLF

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CW Activity Day
by rsoifer1＠aol.com 03 Jan '18

03 Jan '18

Many thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's second annual CW Activity Day on OSCAR, held in memory of Pat Gowen, G3IOR. We didn't ask for logs to be submitted, so we obviously have no figures, but activity seemed up significantly from last year. I worked two all-time new stations (new for me, that is) on FO-29, as well as some old friends. CU on CW in 2018, and of course in AMSAT's third annual CW Activity Day, same time next year. 73 Ray W2RS

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