February 2019 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

The Space Race is On--and We're Behind...
by Les Rayburn 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

:-) After listening to the WebSDR of Oscar-100 for nearly 24 hours now, it’s easy to imagine how my parents must have felt on October 4, 1957 as Sputnik transmitted it’s “beep beep beep” message to the world. Everything had changed in an instant. A geostationary hamsat is a quantum leap forward—and I confess to feeling a twinge of disappointment that someone other than AMSAT-NA accomplished this feat first. As a teenager, I remember driving a friends brand new, 1974 Corvette Stingray. My first thought was “Man! I gotta get me one of these!” Color me jealous. 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member

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Setting up the D72 for ISS packet?
by Robert Bruninga 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Setting up the TH-D72 for ISS packet: Choose the APRS menu and set your CALLSIGN on the BASIC SET menu. Tune the radio BAND A to 145.825 with a good antenna and minimal coax loss. Turn on the TNC by pressing the TNC key to bring up the little tiny APRS12 lettering in the top of the screen. That’s all y ou need to start receiving ISS APRS packets. (I think) To transmit, you need to turn on your GPS **or** turn it off and manually enter your position using the POS key. Then when you want to transmit, hit the BCON key twice. Everyone, Did I miss anything in this minimal summary? Bob, WB4APR *From:* Gerald *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) corrected Bob, I have the Kenwood TH-D72A that comes with TNC, but have no idea how to use it. Even the manual is some what vague. Is there anyone on this site that may be able to help me with it? The HT has over 500 menus and I'm still trying to learn all of them. Thanks, Jerry...

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality?
by Matt Hornsby 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Just wanted to add to the dogpile about ISS APRS signal quality. Myself and others have noticed here in the Seattle area the same deafness since APRS came back online. We've tried on different th-d74s with arrow and elk antennas. I used to be able to reliably hit ISS on 5W with that setup. We've now seen that pumping 45 or 50 watts into one of those directional antennas is relatively successful, but 5W almost never works. Also, in the past, I've had no problem with my kenwood tm-d710 connected to a roof-mounted comet gp-3. 50 watts reliably worked to get digipeated at relatively low passes. Now, not so much. 73, Matt KS9O

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ISS APRS Signal Quality?
by Frank Karnauskas 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Is it me or does the APRS signal not sound as strong as it was before and is it not hearing quite as well? I am having a heck of a time pinging the digipeater and the signal seems to be down a bit. Could entirely be something on my end, but I would appreciate others' opinion. 73, Frank FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW N1UW(a)GOKARNS.com

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AO-100
by Michael A. Foster 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

How close are we in NA to having this capability? Pretty neat stuff. Thanks Michael –N8iup

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Everyone's Talking About It
by JoAnne K9JKM 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

A local club member sent me this link. Even the SOTA people are talking about QO-100: http://reflector.sota.org.uk/t/eshail-2-now-operational/19529/13 -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) corrected
by Robert Bruninga 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Corrected email: I guess the fact that it is the same radio and just a new replacement TNC means that things should mostly be the same. But then again, nothing is ever exactly the same. Just the slightest difference in audio tone levels out of the new TNC could make a slight difference and for those who may have been on the good side of the "edge" might just get bumped over to the bad side of the edge. It was only a theory. Thanks to DAVE for clarifying what is new... Back under my rock... Bob -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank Karnauskas Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 10:42 AM To: 'AMSAT -BB' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) Bob, your guess would be more likely if the ground station was using an external TNC whereby the settings might have gotten mucked up somewhere along the way. But, I, for one, am using the same TH-D74 and the same TM-D710G I was using before. It's unlikely that both radios went weird at the same time. I really wish the problem was on my end. It's a lot easier to fix things on the ground than it is up there! 73, Frank FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW N1UW(a)GOKARNS.com 612-644-9174 -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Robert Bruninga Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 7:39 AM To: AMSAT -BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) Im gonna take a stab with zero current knowledge. Butover the years, one DIGI on ISS uses a radio and an external TNC with audio connections. The other digi on ISS used a Kenwood with internal TNC directly connected to the discriminator and modulator. One has a flat response and the other has the normal preemphasis and deemphasis. So if one transmits tones that are inbalanced, then one system does better than the other. And in fact, with just a few dB of inbalance in the wrong direction, no amount of RF power will correct that. It simply will not decode. You can hear this on terrestrial packet frequencies. Probably 80% of all the signals on the air "work" but have terribly misconfigured tones. People just hook'em'up and "it works" to the local digi, but they are not aware that it might not work at all in weak signal realm where tone settings must be ideal. On my mobile, I see some signals that are dead full quieting with all signal bars that do not decode, and then I see another kenwood with only 3 bars and noisy that does just fine. Tone balance is exteremely critical. Everyone should look at their tones on an oscope or at least listen to their tones compared to a good known signal. (Factory TNC in a k enwood). Though, when you listen to or look at "your " tones, the characteristics of the audio in that receiver can also have a skew. And, do NOT look at them one at a time. That tells you nothing. Since the speech circuits will adjust them to the same level usually... Look at the relative amplitudes of the two. You can fix them with the right capacitor either in series to improve the high tone, or in parallel to diminish the high tone. But the right cap must perfectly match the impedance of your particular set up. Bob, WB4aPR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Fernando Ramirez Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 9:43 PM To: walterh(a)k5wh.net Cc: AMSAT -BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? I have tried two different radios, an Icom IC-2820h and a Kenwood TM-V71A. No luck with the Icom at full power on a high elevation pass. Better luck with the Kenwood but only on higher passes and transmitting with 50w. Other operators have been able to get their packets digipeated with Kenwood APRS-Ready HTs, so it's kind of puzzling. I'm using a Mobilinkd TNC3. I have no problem hitting distant terrestrial digipeaters with both setups. 73 Fernando, NP4JV On Tue, Feb 12, 2019, 7:37 PM <walterh(a)k5wh.net> wrote: > I definitely have to agree with you. > > The signal does seem to be less than half of what it used to be, and I > have yet to hit it myself. When it used to be so easy. > > Not sure what has changed, but it's certainly not the same as it was > before the shut down several weeks ago. > > Walter/K5WH > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank > Karnauskas > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:19 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? > > Is it me or does the APRS signal not sound as strong as it was before > and is it not hearing quite as well? > > I am having a heck of a time pinging the digipeater and the signal > seems to be down a bit. > > Could entirely be something on my end, but I would appreciate others' > opinion. > > 73, > Frank > > FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW > N1UW(a)GOKARNS.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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?)
by Robert Bruninga 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Im gonna take a stab with zero current knowledge. Butover the years, one DIGI on ISS uses a radio and an external TNC with audio connections. The other digi on ISS used a Kenwood with internal TNC directly connected to the discriminator and modulator. One has a flat response and the other has the normal preemphasis and deemphasis. So if one transmits tones that are inbalanced, then one system does better than the other. And in fact, with just a few dB of inbalance in the wrong direction, no amount of RF power will correct that. It simply will not decode. You can hear this on terrestrial packet frequencies. Probably 80% of all the signals on the air "work" but have terribly misconfigured tones. People just hook'em'up and "it works" to the local digi, but they are not aware that it might not work at all in weak signal realm where tone settings must be ideal. On my mobile, I see some signals that are dead full quieting with all signal bars that do not decode, and then I see another kenwood with only 3 bars and noisy that does just fine. Tone balance is exteremely critical. Everyone should look at their tones on an oscope or at least listen to their tones compared to a good known signal. (Factory TNC in a k enwood). Though, when you listen to or look at "your " tones, the characteristics of the audio in that receiver can also have a skew. And, do NOT look at them one at a time. That tells you nothing. Since the speech circuits will adjust them to the same level usually... Look at the relative amplitudes of the two. You can fix them with the right capacitor either in series to improve the high tone, or in parallel to diminish the high tone. But the right cap must perfectly match the impedance of your particular set up. Bob, WB4aPR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Fernando Ramirez Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 9:43 PM To: walterh(a)k5wh.net Cc: AMSAT -BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? I have tried two different radios, an Icom IC-2820h and a Kenwood TM-V71A. No luck with the Icom at full power on a high elevation pass. Better luck with the Kenwood but only on higher passes and transmitting with 50w. Other operators have been able to get their packets digipeated with Kenwood APRS-Ready HTs, so it's kind of puzzling. I'm using a Mobilinkd TNC3. I have no problem hitting distant terrestrial digipeaters with both setups. 73 Fernando, NP4JV On Tue, Feb 12, 2019, 7:37 PM <walterh(a)k5wh.net> wrote: > I definitely have to agree with you. > > The signal does seem to be less than half of what it used to be, and I > have yet to hit it myself. When it used to be so easy. > > Not sure what has changed, but it's certainly not the same as it was > before the shut down several weeks ago. > > Walter/K5WH > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank > Karnauskas > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:19 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? > > Is it me or does the APRS signal not sound as strong as it was before > and is it not hearing quite as well? > > I am having a heck of a time pinging the digipeater and the signal > seems to be down a bit. > > Could entirely be something on my end, but I would appreciate others' > opinion. > > 73, > Frank > > FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW > N1UW(a)GOKARNS.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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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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WD9EWK @ DM31 tomorrow (14 February)...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Hi! On my way to the Yuma Hamfest which starts on Friday, I will make a detour to grid DM31 in southern Arizona once again tomorrow. I am only planning to work 4 passes from there: two on AO-92 (1647 & 1821 UTC), and two more on AO-91 (1800 & 1933 UTC). These 4 passes cover the continental USA, for those who may have missed my day-long trip to DM31 a couple of weekends ago. I am also hoping to pick up some new grids, so I can obtain a satellite VUCC award for operating from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument area (basically grids DM31 and DM32 in Arizona's Pima County). I currently have confirmed contacts with 99 different grids, from my trips to the national monument over the past 9+ years (25 of those came from my most-recent trip on 2 February). All QSOs made from DM31 tomorrow will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. If you would like a QSL card to confirm a contact with WD9EWK, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. No need to first send me a card or SASE to get my card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

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Fwd: Re: [UKMicrowaves] OSCAR-100
by Graham Shirville 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

A relay from the UK Microwave group with a request from the Chairman of BATC which is fully supported by AMSAT-UK of course. Please be patient. 73 Graham G3VZV -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] AR100 Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 01:57:19 -0800 From: Dave G8GKQ <dave.g8gkq(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: UKMicrowaves(a)groups.io To: UKMicrowaves(a)groups.io The Narrowband transponder has been switched on for testing this morning. Whilst there are some stations ignoring the request from AMSAT-DL to leave the transponder free for the testing activities, we request that other stations do not join in until the transponder is declared open for general use. However, the increased noise floor provides a good check that you are receiving OK. Dave, G8GKQ _._,_._,_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#47958) <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/message/47958> | Reply To Group <mailto:UKMicrowaves@groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BUKMicrowaves%5D%20AR100> | Reply To Sender <mailto:dave.g8gkq@gmail.com?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BUKMicrowaves%5D%20AR100> | Mute This Topic <https://groups.io/mt/29733212/439954> | New Topic <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/post> Your Subscription <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/editsub/439954> | Contact Group Owner <mailto:UKMicrowaves+owner@groups.io> | Unsubscribe <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/leave/3245739/1639649023/xyzzy> [graham(a)shirville.com] _._,_._,_

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