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

AO73 - FUNcube-1 mode change
by Graham Shirville 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Hi All, As usual, for the weekend, AO73 is now in continuous amateur mode with the transponder on. Have FUN with the bird 73 Graham G3VZV

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APRS balloon down in WV/MD/VA
by Robert Bruninga 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

The KC8UCH-11 Balloon is down in an area equidistant from Cumberland, MD, Haggerstown, MD and Winchester VA. And a few miles west of Martinsburg. It was launched in Canada and flew overnight. This was a long distance balloon, I doubt the launch crew will come down here looking for it. So, a great DF hunt opportunity. My guess at the landing coordinates are 39N 32.0' and 78W 11.5' And here is my plot of my prediction: http://aprs.org/balloon.png It was coming down going SE and headed right for a ridge line with the land elevation rising. So I think the prediction should be pretty good (except for whatever the wind was doing right on the ground as it was going up and over that ridge?) Bob, WB4APR

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AO-85 TLE's
by Joe Pereira 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Is there any reason why AO-85 is not listed in celestrak Norad elements amateur txt ?? Joe

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Icom W32A transmit below 440 for satellite work?
by Kevin M 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

"Or is it necessary to perform a hardware mod to get it to do so? If so, is there someone who has done the mod (successfully) who can provide documentation on what he did that worked?" There is a surface mount diode (D523) that needs to be removed to allow TX below 440 Mhz. Not the best documentation, but I followed this to modify mine: http://www.qsl.net/kf4tuz/icomhacks.html By the way, if you perform the RX modification on that page (just pushing some buttons, no soldering or even screwdrivers involved) and you are able to access the 800 Mhz band, then you have one of the units that should work full duplex on SO-50 well. If not, then you will likely find it's only semi duplex on SO-50, but fine on the U/v birds. 73 & GL, Kevin N4UFO

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-85 TLE's
by Richard Tejera 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Yes, it was launched with a classified DoD payload. The elements are provided to Satellites Owner (AMSAT) who then distributes them via the massacre element set. Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On June 8, 2018, at 03:19, Joe Pereira <joevk5ei(a)gmail.com> wrote: Is there any reason why AO-85 is not listed in celestrak Norad elements amateur txt ?? Joe _______________________________________________ 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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Icom W32A transmit below 440 for satellite work?
by David Jaffe 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Hi, New to the list. I have an Icom W32A HT (one of the 5-digit serial number ones, ca. 1998) and an Arrow antenna. I used them around 10 years ago for AO-27 and, after reading the recent QST article, thought I'd try some of the newer satellites. Much to my surprise, I can't seem to get the W32A to transmit below 440 MHz., so I can't use it on AO-85, AO-91, etc. I looked at the specs and, sure enough, it says that it transmits only about 440 MHz. Yet, a google search seems to indicate that this was a popular satellite radio. Is there some trick to getting it to transmit below 440? Or is it necessary to perform a hardware mod to get it to do so? If so, is there someone who has done the mod (successfully) who can provide documentation on what he did that worked? Thanks K6DAJ

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@018 Symposium
by w4upd 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Maybe I'm beating a dead horse, but there still is no indication of when and where the next symposium is going to be. Like some of us that are retired, we need to be able to plan especially for the expenses. Anyone have an idea or hint on the aforementioned activity? Reid, W4UPD

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Re: [amsat-bb] Doppler adjustment - easy to remember
by Richard Tejera 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Nice mnemonic there. Gonna have to remember that. Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On June 7, 2018, at 17:42, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: Regarding all the explanations on 'how to' adjust doppler... The 2m usually doesn't move enough to need much adjusting, maybe a small bit near LOS. Usually it's just the UHF that needs adjustment, whether it's the uplink or the downlink... So, it's simple if you remember this phrase I came up with: Adjust UHF UP when it's the UPLINK and DOWN when it's the DOWNLINK because TWO meters is TOO much to bother with. Hope that helps. 73, Kevin N4UFO _______________________________________________ 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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Doppler adjustment - easy to remember
by Kevin M 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Regarding all the explanations on 'how to' adjust doppler... The 2m usually doesn't move enough to need much adjusting, maybe a small bit near LOS. Usually it's just the UHF that needs adjustment, whether it's the uplink or the downlink... So, it's simple if you remember this phrase I came up with: Adjust UHF UP when it's the UPLINK and DOWN when it's the DOWNLINK because TWO meters is TOO much to bother with. Hope that helps. 73, Kevin N4UFO

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For Sale: UHF 10 MHz Wide 4 Pole Bandpass Filter (430 - 440 MHz), (Price Lowered)
by abowker＠bowkera.com 08 Jun '18

08 Jun '18

Having interference issues on UHF? Check out the following: DCI UHF 10 MHz Wide 4 Pole Bandpass Filter (Model: DCI-435-10C) UHF 10 MHz Wide 4 Pole Bandpass Filter (430 - 440 MHz) Ideal for US Satellite and weak signal. The design for this bandpass filter is four full quarter-wave linear resonators with aperture coupling. It comes with silver-Teflon - gold "N" connectors. The filters are the same height and width as the VHF models but are slightly heavier and deeper. The DCI-435-10C is used in European-Asian ITU Regions 1 and 3, and is also used in North America for weak signal, packet and other specialized communications. Connector Type: "N" silver-Teflon - gold https://www.ebay.com/itm/292595820721 Thanks and 73. Alan WA6DNR

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