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

Station advice: coax
by Keith E. Brandt, WD9GET 20 Nov '18

20 Nov '18

There's been a lot of good station advice on the reflector recently that I've really appreciated. I'm slowly but surely building up my sat ground station. I've got my Yaesu G5400B connected and running and I've got an antenna plan. The next issue is running coax. What's the recommendation on coax runs? It looks like I'll have between 75 and 100 ft from the shack to the mount. I can envision running a separate line for 2m and 440, but is it also effective to use a diplexer at the antenna? Does that limit my ability to later add a mast-mounted preamp with power-over-coax? (I'll probably add preamp(s) at a later date) Is the ultraflex coax really necessary for hooking up around the rotator? I'm sure it's better, but is it really worth the extra cost? I certainly don't want to pay the high price for ultraflex for the full run, especially if I'm using two lines. Thoughts appreciated. 73, Keith -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Keith E. Brandt, MD, MPH /wd9get(a)amsat.org/ /Christianity and science are opposed… but only in the same sense as my thumb and forefinger are opposed- and between them I can grasp everything. /—Sir William Bragg (Nobel Prize for Physics- 1915) *This message transmitted with 100% recycled electrons

6 5

Doppler.sqf File Correction.
by E.Mike McCardel 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

In lieu of the earlier discussion concerning errors in the Doppler.SFQ information reported in this weeks ANS here is the corrected information. I hope. Copy and paste the following lines into the "Doppler.SQF" folder: FOX1-Cliff,145920.0,435300.0,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM U/V FOX1-Cliff,145920.0,1267300.0,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM L/V ESEO,145895.0,1263500.0,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM L/V K2SAT,435835.0,145980.0,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM V/U ExseedSat,145900.0,435340.0,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM U/V JY1SAT,1459865.0,435110.0,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,CW/SSB Transponder JY1SAT,145840,0,USB,USB,NOR,0,0,Beacon E. Michael McCardel, AA8EM, former KC8YLD Senior Editor for AMSAT News Service, Past VP Educational Relations for AMSAT-NA Have you donated to get your Fox-1 Challenge Coin Yet? http://www.amsat.org/?p=3275

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-11-19 17:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2018-11-19 17:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Templeton Academy International, Nainital, India, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact canceled: Wed 2018-11-21 08:00:30 UTC 36 deg (***) Cancelled due to logistical support problems at the event site, it will not be re-scheduled. (***) IMP Aerospace & Defence, Goffs, NS, Canada, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact is a go for: Sat 2018-11-24 19:05:09 UTC 50 deg Watch for live simulcast at http://www.ariotti.com and on YouTube at https://youtu.be/FtU9oQigifo Ecole Primaire Jean Jaurès et Arnaud, Troyes, France, telebridge via IK1SLD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Contact is go for: Tue 2018-11-27 16:28:57 UTC 34 deg (***) If you are interested in applying for an ARISS contact, please go to http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html The information below is from the ARISS webpage: International Space Station Astronauts are Calling CQ ARISS Students ARISS-US program’s education proposal window open Oct. 1 - Nov. 30, 2018 September 25, 2018: ARISS is seeking proposals beginning October 1, 2018 from US schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations (working individually or together) to host amateur radio contacts with an orbiting crew member aboard the International Space Station (ISS) between July 1 and December 30, 2019. Each year, ARISS provides tens of thousands of students with learning opportunities about space technologies, communications, and much more through the exploration of Amateur Radio and space. ARISS has been pleased of late, to be one of many possibilities of interest to educators during NASA’s A Year of Education on Station, which celebrates an almost 12-month presence of a teacher aboard the ISS. The ARISS program connects students to astronauts on the ISS through a partnership between NASA, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, the American Radio Relay League, other Amateur Radio global organizations and the worldwide space agencies. The program’s goal is to inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in Amateur Radio. Educators report regularly that student participation in the ARISS program stimulates interest in STEM subjects and STEM careers. One educator wrote, “Many of the middle school students who took part in and attended the ARISS contact have selected science courses in high school as a result of that contact.” Educators are setting up ham radio clubs in schools and learning centers because of students’ interest. ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed, exciting education plan. Students can learn about satellite communications, wireless technology, science research conducted on the ISS, radio science, and other STEM subjects. Students learn to use Amateur Radio to talk directly to an astronaut and ask their STEM-related questions. ARISS will help educational organizations locate Amateur Radio groups who can assist with equipment for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students. The proposal window opens October 1, 2018 and the proposal deadline is November 30, 2018. For proposal guidelines and forms and more details, visit: http://www.ariss.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact-in-the-us.html Proposal webinars for guidance and getting questions answered will be offered October 11 and October 23, 2018, both at 8 pm Eastern Time. Advance registration is necessary. To sign up, go to: ariss-proposal-webinar-fall-2018.eventbrite.com/ ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April. Please refer to details and the application form at www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts. Applications should be addressed by email to: school.selection.manager(a)ariss-eu.org ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia) Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator. For the application, click here. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) ****************************************************************************** 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: Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 135 Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 108 **************************************************************************** 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 2018-11-19 17:00 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 1277. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1221. 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: 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 2018-11-13 18:00 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. 56 on orbit Serena Aunon-Chancellor KG5TMT Alexander Gerst KF5ONO Sergei Propopev **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

ANS-322 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins SATPC32 FILES ERROR
by cchunter3＠mindspring.com 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

It looks like the SATPC32 frequency/DOPPLER files for the Sats listed have reversed the frequencies. 73 Christy KB6LTY

4 3

FW: [Launch Alert] Launch Delayed
by Rick Tejera 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

FYI Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.W7TBC.org -----Original Message----- From: launch-alert-bounces(a)mailman.qth.net <launch-alert-bounces(a)mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Launch Alert Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 8:01 PM To: launch-alert(a)mailman.qth.net Subject: [Launch Alert] Launch Delayed Monday's launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg AFB has been delayed to allow SpaceX to conduct additional pre-flight inspections. A new launch date has not been announced. ______________________________________________________________ Launch-Alert mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/launch-alert Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Launch-Alert@mailman.qth.net Message delivered to saguaroastro(a)cox.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383
by Michael 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

I pretty much agree with Bob here. I got into sats for the challenge. I pretty much despise the term easy-sat. Easy isn't fun to me. To each their own I guess. I certainly can see it's value for emergency use, but day to day use would be boring IMO. No sense of accomplishment. Just my thoughts. 73, Michael, W4HIJ > -----Original Message----- > From: Bob- W7LRD > Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:17 PM > To: amsat-bb > Subject: [amsat-bb] an opinion > > Regarding the newest GEO. Once the GEO bird is in position and functioning, > we just fix our antennas to one spot, no doppler, no hunting the satellite > down, no planning for the next access time, or direction, no experimenting > with hardware or various antenna systems, no ongoing challenge. I got into > satellites many years ago because of the hunting, because of the difficulty > and challenge. This is the ultimate ?easy sat?. If one wants the easy sat > this is your baby. Yes once established one can ?work? lots of dx somewhat > analogous to a phone call. A highly elliptical orbit (AO40 sob sob) makes > one actually work, learn, experiment, and yes have fun. My opinion will no > doubt be different from others. No flames please, just a discussion. > _______________________________________________ --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com

2 2

Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383
by Michael 19 Nov '18

19 Nov '18

So I work out the kinks for however long that takes.... a week, a month, etc. Then it sits at the ready, only needing an occasional test. Any emergency or public service work I do is most likely going to be from here in the shack anyway. Not all of us are able to be out in the field, on the front lines anymore. While I have great respect for those who rush to the scenes of emergencies with "go box" in hand, it's not something I can do. I agree that it would be boring if we all wanted to do the same thing. Crowded too! I just feel that the hobby in general and the satellite end especially, puts too much emphasis on the "easy" part these days. Let's keep pushing the "challenge" part too. I just don't feel there is enough emphasis on that anymore. In all things, balance. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 11/17/2018 10:09 PM, Devin L. Ganger wrote: > Food for thought: it’s hard to use a service in an emergency if you > haven’t worked out the kinks when there is no pressure. > > People find challenge in all sorts of different aspects of the hobby. > Think of how boring it would be if we all wanted to do the same thing! > One ham’s challenge is another ham’s boredom — and that’s a feature, > not a bug. > > > -- > Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG) > email: devin(a)thecabal.org > web: Devin on Earth > cell: +1 425.239.2575 > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> on behalf of Michael > <mat_62(a)charter.net> > *Sent:* Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:55 PM > *To:* amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 13, Issue 383 > I pretty much agree with Bob here. I got into sats for the challenge. I > pretty much despise the term easy-sat. Easy isn't fun to me. To each > their own I guess. I certainly can see it's value for emergency use, but > day to day use would be boring IMO. No sense of accomplishment. Just my > thoughts. > > 73, > > Michael, W4HIJ > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Bob- W7LRD > > Sent: Saturday, November 17, 2018 5:17 PM > > To: amsat-bb > > Subject: [amsat-bb] an opinion > > > > Regarding the newest GEO. Once the GEO bird is in position and > functioning, > > we just fix our antennas to one spot, no doppler, no hunting the > satellite > > down, no planning for the next access time, or direction, no > experimenting > > with hardware or various antenna systems, no ongoing challenge. I > got into > > satellites many years ago because of the hunting, because of the > difficulty > > and challenge. This is the ultimate ?easy sat?. If one wants the > easy sat > > this is your baby. Yes once established one can ?work? lots of dx > somewhat > > analogous to a phone call. A highly elliptical orbit (AO40 sob sob) > makes > > one actually work, learn, experiment, and yes have fun. My opinion > will no > > doubt be different from others. No flames please, just a discussion. > > _______________________________________________ > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. > https://www.avg.com > > _______________________________________________ > 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 3

Fox Cliff-1 Launch time and vehicle
by Jeff Yanko 18 Nov '18

18 Nov '18

Hi all, Just wondering what time the Fox Cliff-1 launch is scheduled for from Vandenberg? Plus will NASA TV be carrying the launch feed live? 73, Jeff WB3JFS

4 3

Re: [amsat-bb] Beginner Sat's Leo's - Ask advise
by Richard Lawn 18 Nov '18

18 Nov '18

Honestly, all I use to great success at my vacation summer QTH is a regular dual band Arrow, not even the big one, and an AZ rotor. I made a mount so,I could angle he antenna permanently at about 30-40 degrees and I let Satpc32 software handle the rotation control. It worked very well considering until,I ended up buying a new G5500 for the home QTH and repaired the old 5400 for the lake house so now I use he same antenna but with AZ and EL control and that works extremely well? I’ve tried many antennas including a pair of M2 egg beaters which never worked that well for me. 73 Rick, W2JAZ -- Sent from Gmail Mobile

1 0

correction oops
by Bob- W7LRD 18 Nov '18

18 Nov '18

make that ao-92 for L band SQF file 73 Bob W7LRD

1 0