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

AO-92's 1.2 GHz uplink, last Sunday
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

Hi! I have been busy this week, and haven't been able to finish this sooner. Better late than never... Having the 1.2 GHz uplink active on AO-92 last Sunday was fun! I tried to work 4 different passes, heard myself on one of the two morning passes, and worked stations on the two passes in the evening. It was fun to dust off a radio and some antennas for the uplink, and end up with a few QSOs by the end of the evening. The first of the 4 passes was a nice 25-degree pass Sunday morning at 1638 UTC. To avoid the houses and other things around my house, I went to a city park on the DM33/DM43 grid boundary. This was my setup: TX: Alinco DJ-G7T @ 1W, Diamond RH951S 2m/70cm/23cm whip (on Diamond BNCJ-SMAP adapter) RX: Kenwood TH-D74, Elk Antennas handheld 2m/70cm log periodic The 145.880 MHz downlink was easy to hear, of course, but I never heard myself through the satellite. Between using an omni antenna on my uplink and playing whack-a-mole trying to find the right uplink frequency, I was a spectator. With the next pass 90 minutes away, I went home to regroup. Before the second pass, I went looking through some boxes for more stuff I could use for the L-band uplink. I found a very old Comet CY-1205 5-element Yagi for the 1.2 GHz band. This antenna has a BNC connector on the bottom of the driven element, and was originally sold in two versions (BNC and TNC connectors) to be compatible with the radios available in the early 1990s. The listed gain for the CY-1205 is 11.0 dBi, which was an improvement over the 5.5 dBi gain for the Diamond RH951S whip used earlier. Gain figures aside, a directional antenna should be a better performer than an omni antenna for satellite work - even a directional antenna sitting on top of the radio. The last pass for the morning was at 1812 UTC, to the west. It was lower, with maximum elevation of 14.4 degrees. I went outside with a slightly different setup... TX: Alinco DJ-G7T @ 1W, Comet CY-1205 5-element Yagi (on Diamond BNCJ-SMAP adapter) RX: Kenwood TH-D74, MFJ-1717 2m/70cm long duckie For a few minutes, there was no activity on the downlink, and I heard the voice ID followed by more static. Around 1817 UTC, I heard the downlink come on, and Tom N6NUG in San Diego appeared. Now I was trying to find a combination of uplink frequency and antenna orientation to hear my signals through AO-92. I finally did, around 1818 UTC when the satellite was just under 14 degrees elevation. By that point N6NUG was nowhere to be heard. I heard later that N6NUG's 1.2 GHz setup was for terrestrial operation, and he wasn't able to catch up with the satellite after the point I heard him. I was able to get through a couple of times, and this gave me encouragement for at least one of the two passes coming up in the evening. For the evening, I saw a couple of passes - a shallow 7-degree pass at 0314 UTC, followed by a 61.4 degree pass around 0445 UTC. From home, I didn't think the 7- degree pass would be a good one to try. I drove to a rest area along I-17 about 50 miles north of Phoenix, a location I use for low eastern passes. One problem there - all parking spaces at the south end of the rest area, the highest part of that location, were occupied. I think people, and especially truck drivers, were taking a break for the end of the Super Bowl game. I have never seen that rest area that full of cars and trucks, and went back to I-17. Ten miles further north, there is a junction for the AZ-69 highway to Prescott. I did not go up AZ-69, instead parking in a large lot on the east side of the freeway behind a McDonald's near the interchange. This spot, in grid DM34wh, turned out to be a good spot. For the evening passes, I used the following setup: TX: Alinco DJ-G7T @ 1W, Comet CY-1205 5-element Yagi (on Diamond BNCJ-SMAP adapter) RX: Kenwood TH-D74, Elk Antennas handheld 2m/70cm log periodic I recorded these passes using the audio recorder function in the TH-D74, which stores the audio as WAV files with the time (hour/minute/second) the recording started in the file name - helpful to know when in each pass different events happened. The first pass at 0314 UTC was very low to the east. I thought it would clear the hills east of the freeway, and I was able to hear the downlink about 30 to 40 seconds after the predicted AOS time. I heard a few stations, and I started trying to get through. A couple of minutes into the pass, I was able to hear myself. Glenn AA5PK in west Texas also heard me, and gave me a quick call. At this point, AO-92 was almost at the midpoint of the pass, with elevation around 6 degrees. I was getting through! Jeff WB8RJY in Michigan also heard me, and gave me a call. Now the satellite was at its highest, just under 7 degrees elevation. Alan WA4SCA also called me, but I was not able to get back to him before LOS. >From comments I saw online during the day, it was apparent that the nominal uplink frequency was higher than the published 1267.350 MHz. Most reports placed it about 8 kHz or so higher than that. With my DJ-G7T and its 5 kHz tuning, I went with 1267.360 MHz as the nominal uplink, and that helped to get through. For the last pass of the evening at 0445 UTC, things started out well. I heard Jerry N0JY initially. Between tuning and twisting my HT/antenna combination, I wasn't able to get lined up in time for a QSO with him. I was eventually able to get through, and after a few minutes Greg KO6TH in northern California appeared. We started to chat slowly, mainly due to my need to tune and move the radio around to get each transmission through the satellite. During this time, AD5MT in southern California appeared. I made a quick QSO with AD5MT, but KO6TH wasn't able to do that. No other stations showed up during the pass, which allowed KO6TH and me to call out our uplink frequencies and the satellite's elevation on its way to LOS. I put the audio, pictures, and other files related to all of this in a couple of folders in my Dropbox space at http://dropbox.wd9ewk.net/ . Files from the two morning passes are available in the "20180204-AO92" folder, and files from the two evening passes are available in the "20180205-AO92" folder. Each of those folders has a PDF file with a 2008 article from CQ VHF magazine by Kent Britain WA5VJB for smaller 1.2 GHz Yagis with 4, 6, or 10 elements. The 4-element Yagi might be enough with a 1W HT to use the AO-92 1.2 GHz uplink. Since I was able to get through with a 5-element Yagi, it seems like the 6- and 10-element versions in the article should be good options for 1.2 GHz and AO-92. Looking forward to more time to use 1.2 GHz... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

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Hughes 1502938-0001 & 1500439-0113 Jupiter Radio Surplus
by Gregory Beat 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

I have noted Hughes Jupiter Radio surplus (NOS pkg), in large numbers, appearing from telecom/surplus dealers (and popping up on eBay, etc.). Hughes: 1502938-0001 & 1500439-0113 Some of these assemblies are selling as low as $15.00 (shipping, due to size/weight, costs more). Has anyone de-constructed or experimented with these Hughes units? I can’t cast an aluminum enclosure fir that price. Sadly, no current western hemisphere AMSAT satellite to adopt these for. Greg w9gb — My sister had this satellite system for Internet access (~18 months), before UpNet Wisconsin offered fixed 4G/LTE wireless service in 2017. http://www.upnetwi.com/ Sent from iPad Air

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PSAT2 preps for delivery (maybe June launch)
by Robert Bruninga 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

As of tonight, PSAT2 finally has some photos as it prepares for final testing in our long arduous 3 year campaign. http://aprs.org/psat2.html The Status is that the FCC still has not processed our 2 y ear pending API notice as an Amateur Satellite because they claim there is some Federal "mission". But they have not said what they perceive that Federal mission is? Maybe its because our undergraduate students are "DoD employees" even though the satellite is 100% Amateur Radio with four transponders including AX.25, DTMF, Voice Synthesizer, PSK31, SSTV and HF,VHF and UHF amateur bands built as an undergraduate senior engineering project purely for hands on education in the radio art. Even the construction used only surplus student senior project electronics from student bins and any purchases used non-DoD and no-federal GIFT funds. We have tried every argument in the book, but because the FCC is sensitized to some past abuses of some Federal Labs in crossing the line, we are being tossed into the same dirty bathwater. Oh well. We have 2 weeks to resolve this long going 2 year SNAFU with the FCC or lose this long awaited launch. Oh, and it is going up on the next SpaceX HEAVY launch.... Either to space or the ocean... or into the closet if the FCC does not act favorably Bob, WB4APR

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Fwd: [VHF] FS: Kenwood TS-790A w/1.2 GHz Module -- also a Dentron MLA 2500 using two 3cx800A7s.
by Angelo Glorioso 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

Just in case someone is looking for a good radio for sat work. Angelo -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: [VHF] FS: Kenwood TS-790A w/1.2 GHz Module -- also a Dentron MLA 2500 using two 3cx800A7s. Date: Wed, 7 Feb 2018 21:27:01 -0500 From: Bart Jahnke via VHF <vhf(a)w6yx.stanford.edu><mailto:vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu> Reply-To: Bart Jahnke <bjahnke(a)gmail.com><mailto:bjahnke@gmail.com> To: VHF Reflector <vhf(a)w6yx.stanford.edu><mailto:vhf@w6yx.stanford.edu>, VHF Contesting <vhfcontesting(a)contesting.com><mailto:vhfcontesting@contesting.com> Folks, I have a Kenwood TS 790 a with 1296 module for sale. Also for sale is a Dentron MLA-2500 modified with two 3cx800A7s. See details on QTH.COM at: https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fswap.qth.… 73 Bart W9JJ _______________________________________________ VHF mailing list VHF(a)w6yx.stanford.edu<mailto:VHF@w6yx.stanford.edu> https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fw6yx.stan…

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Tracking errors with HRD Sat tracking
by Francis Geraci 08 Feb '18

08 Feb '18

I have noticed mention about issues with HRD Sat tracking. No "specific" problems were mentioned I have used HRD for may years, and know it pretty well. After the last few "updates", an upcoming sat pass in HRD, the pass over my QTH, is about 5 - 10 minutes later. I, also run SatPC32 at the same time, along with pass predictions from other Web sites. All of the predictions agree, except for HRD, reporting the pass later. I have missed many passes using HRD. When I switched to SatPC32, I started hearing passes. My "keps" are current, QTH is correct, time is correct, and all the "personal" information is correct in the HRD Logbook. I am "totally" stumped. Best toAll WB1FXX

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8 February 2018, report welcome for Spacecube & X-Cubesat :
by christophe.mcr 07 Feb '18

07 Feb '18

Hi Some test should be performed on Spacecube & X-Cubesat the 8 February 2018. - *Spacecube :* try to swich modulation from AFSK 1200 bps to GMSK 9600 bauds - *X-Cubesat* : keeps additional data ( AFSK 1200 bps ) The test should start at 12h30 UTC. Frequency : - *X-Cubesat : *ON01FR : 437.020 MHz - *Spacecube : *ON05FR : 436.880 MHz you can send your report to : *contact at amsat-f.org <http://amsat-f.org>* Additional information on http://site.amsat-f.org/2018/02/07/spacecube-x-cubesat-rapport-decoute-dema… Thanks for your help. Christophe

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skCUBE telemetry definitions
by Jim White 07 Feb '18

07 Feb '18

Can anyone point us to the telemetry decode coefficients/formulas for skCUBE? We are trying to help a high school intern at LASP figure out the values in the COMM packets which are sent every 30 seconds. He started out using those beacons to characterize the performance of the CU ground station in Fairbanks, AK, but now has moved on to trying to make sense of the data. The file he found online defines the source of the values in the packet but not how to turn the values into engineering values. Emails to the owners have not been answered. Any help appreciated. Jim, WD0E

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Falcon Heavy Launch Time
by B J 07 Feb '18

07 Feb '18

https://twitter.com/spacex Due to upper level wind conditions, estimated lift-off is now for 1920 UTC. Go Falcon Heavy! Go SpaceX! 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Where is my Roadster?
by Greg D 07 Feb '18

07 Feb '18

Hi folks, I understand one can't use traditional "Keps" for objects in a Solar orbit. How does one track the trans-asteroid belt Tesla Roadster, just launched by SpaceX? Anybody know what they are using for a downlink? Thanks, Greg KO6TH

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HRD Sat portion of HRD program
by Ted Krempa 07 Feb '18

07 Feb '18

Hi Mike, since I literally dragged you to this board, there are some things you will learn about this group. First, there is a lot of embedded (and IMHO, irrational) bias about the HRD Sat program that, as happens in human nature, just goes back to the urban legend status. Some folks are entrenched and there is no hope of changing that bias. There are new users that will take you at your word that you are working on the program and will be patient. Another category are folks that tried the program 6-7 years ago and have made the call that 'it just does not 'work'"...they can't tell you why or provide much useful input, "it just don't work because someone told me that 3 years ago". Another related category are the folks Rick pissed off. (enough said about the departed) So you challenge will be to find that new developer and as far as this resource, elicit some useful input from folks that are willing to use the program and provide some objective information to correct the issues. With that said, my view is that the issue primarily applies to the use of linear sats. I believe the program tracks the LEOS and the doppler correction makes the program useful. Whether or not it is spot on, is over my paygrade. I just know that I got my VUCC using HRD about 95% of the time and on LEO sats. As I have said before, run the HRD sat program side by side. The glaring diff I have seen is in altitude, not el or az. But, again above my no-code paygrade. So, bottom line with this Group...be patient. Most of them have forgotten your post of a couple of days ago outlining your commitment to resolve the software issues. I believe in your commitment. Some will complain if they were hung with a new rope... So, hang in there and keep asking specifics from the Group. I'm confident you can get it handled. 73, Ted K7TRK -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Michael Carper, Ph.D. via AMSAT-BB Sent: Monday, February 5, 2018 6:12 PM To: Frank Cc: Suryono Adisoemarta via AMSAT-BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Tracking errors with HRD Sat tracking Hmmm... is everyone else just on an old version or something? Mike, WA9PIE On Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 4:34 PM, Frank <k6fw1(a)verizon.net> wrote: > That is correct. > > Frank, K6FW > > > On 2/5/18 12:34 PM, Michael Carper, Ph.D. wrote: > > You're on the 787 release then? > > Mike, WA9PIE > > On Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 12:56 PM, Frank <k6fw1(a)verizon.net> wrote: > >> I run HRD Sat, SatPC32 and MacDoppler on my computer and all the AOS >> times match. I am running the latest release from September 2017 of >> HRD Sat. >> >> Frank >> K6FW >> >> >> On 2/5/18 9:16 AM, Michael Carper, Ph.D. via AMSAT-BB wrote: >> >>> As someone said previously, it's probably a math problem that got >>> buggered up somewhere along the way. >>> >>> We will get this fixed. >>> >>> Mike, WA9PIE >>> >>> On Mon, Feb 5, 2018 at 11:05 AM, Francis Geraci >>> <fgeraci14(a)gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>> I have noticed mention about issues with HRD Sat tracking. No "specific" >>>> problems were mentioned I have used HRD for may years, and know it >>>> pretty well. >>>> After the last few "updates", an upcoming sat pass in HRD, the pass >>>> over my QTH, is about 5 - 10 minutes later. >>>> I, also run SatPC32 at the same time, along with pass predictions >>>> from other Web sites. All of the predictions agree, except for HRD, >>>> reporting the pass later. I have missed many passes using HRD. >>>> When I switched to SatPC32, I started hearing passes. >>>> My "keps" are current, QTH is correct, time is correct, and all the >>>> "personal" information is correct in the HRD Logbook. I am "totally" >>>> stumped. >>>> Best toAll >>>> WB1FXX >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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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