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

cube sat model
by Bob- W7LRD 07 May '21

07 May '21

Hi All-Is there a cube sat model, mock up etc, available anywhere 73 Bob W7LRD

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AMSAT: RFI from LED bulbs?
by Robert Bruninga 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

I am hearing reports of RFI from these LED bulbs. Not just HF, but also VHF. If you can make any quantitative assessments of such RFI, please let me know. And the amazing thing is that at VHF you will never notice it because RFI is noise power and it is noise power that keeps a squelch CLOSED. Manuallly open the squelch and sometimes RFI will show full scale on the S meter yet not open the squelch. And on my radios, when the squelch is closed, the S meter is inactive and shows 0. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR

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TLEdoctor program to check for preliminary TLE data
by Jarda 06 Aug '19

06 Aug '19

The program can easily detect and fix the TLE preliminary data errors for working in satellite programs after launching the satellite in orbit The original version of the program released before launching Fox-1D works in Windows-7 and higher. Version that works in Windows XP is now added. The program name for Win-XP changes to TLEdoctor. Both programs can be downloaded at http://oscar.ok2gz.eu/fox1d.php 73 Jarda ok2gz --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Fw: AO73 Mode change
by Graham Shirville 11 Jun '19

11 Jun '19

Hi folks, AO73/FUNcube is now in amateur mode for the weekend with the transponder on! Please see below for all FUNcube mission info 73s Graham G3VZV and the FUNcube team. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FUNcube frequencies and other details ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ AO-73 FUNcube-1 The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends (from pm Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7. When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During holidays, eg Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe activated for extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are usually made on Friday evenings (UTC) The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Lower temperatures give higher freqs!) FUNcube-2 (aka FUNcube on UKube) The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1 Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the main On Board Computer (OBC). The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit). The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.080 - 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.930 - 145.950 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK (The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low temperatures give higher freqs!) EO79 FUNcube-3 Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7 and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future months as a result of experience. The nominal transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.0723-435.0473 MHz LSB (Inverting) Downlink: 145.946-145.971 MHz USB Further detailed info on EO79 transponder frequencies is at: https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/10/eo79-funcube-3-transponder-commences-regula… EO88/Nayif-1/FUNcube-5 EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder is operational when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. The transponder frequencies are: Uplink: 435.045 – 435.015 MHz LSB (inverting) Downlink: 145.960-145.990 MHz USB Telemetry Tx: 145.940MHz All FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are very grateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, The Netherlands. _______________________________________________ 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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KlaTrack [ Problem Saving Settings ]
by Les Rayburn 05 May '19

05 May '19

Several operators recommended the KlaTrack software tool for help with visualizing upcoming passes from amateur satellites. It seems like exactly what I’m looking for. Installed it on my Windows X, 64 bit machine without a problem. But I’m having trouble with saving the settings. When I make changes, such as entering my six digit grid square, or changing the theme, etc. Nothing changes on the display. Restarting the software has no effect. The installation instructions say that both Keps data and settings are stored in the “Home” directory and that you can also start the software using the command line. But that’s not very helpful. Any idea what I’m doing wrong? I’m sure it’s operator error. 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF Maylene, AL EM63nf AMSAT #38965, ARRL Life Member, CVHS Life Member, SVHF Member

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Re: [amsat-bb] Karl Janskey call sign
by Kevin M 02 May '19

02 May '19

Hi Jim, If you will forgive the correction, Reber's callsign was W9GFZ. And while it may be the same club in both places, the call is assigned to the club's address at the observatory in Socorro NM, not WV. (And that's PO Box 'O'... not PO Box 'zero' for anyone wondering like I did.) I screwed up the link in my previous message, but here it is again, hopefully it will work correctly this time: https://www.nrao.edu/whatisra/hist_ham.shtml -------------------------------------------------- Both Janski's and Reber's radio telescopes are on display at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, WV, the home of the world's largest steerable radio telescope. If you ever get near the area, a stop at the facility with its many telescopes and excellent visitor's center is a MUST.The observatory's radio club has been granted Reber's call, W9GVZ, They use it to commemorate radio astronomy in special events. I spent several summers as a physics teacher studying radio astronomy at Green Bank and was able to help operate W9GVZ during a special event at the dedication of the Robert Byrd Telescope in August, 2000. I have to tell you that Green Bank is quite a place. I get back there as often as I can!

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox -1B / AO-91 in trouble?
by Alan 02 May '19

02 May '19

Hans, Looks like if it IDs, the signal is normal and you get the usual 2 telemetry frames. If the transponder has been brought up, you get the odd signal, with a brief switch to DUV at the end, but no telemetry. The command staff have been notified. 73, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: Hans BX2ABT [mailto:[email protected]] <Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 01:14 AM <To: APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fox -1B / AO-91 in trouble? < <Hello Alan, < <Then you were luckier than I was. I couldn't get anything. Let's just <wait and see. < <73 de Hans < <BX2ABT < < <On 04/30/2019 01:34 PM, Alan wrote: <> Hans, <> <> Saw your post, and was able to catch part of a pass here. As you described. <> <> <> There were two periods where the audio switched to the normal DUV <rumble, <> and I got 2 frames each time. <> <> 73, <> <> Alan <> WA4SCA <> <> <> <-----Original Message----- <> <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of <Hans <> <BX2ABT via AMSAT-BB <> <Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2019 00:05 AM <> <To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <> <Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox -1B / AO-91 in trouble? <> < <> <Just had a good pass from Fox-1B, but it seems the bird is in trouble. <> <No telemetry and no voices heard, just weird noises. I put a screen shot <> <on my website: BX2ABT.com. Let's just hope a reset will cure this bird. <> <73 de Hans (BX2ABT) <> < <> <_______________________________________________ <> <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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <> <> <> <>

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Voice Recorders
by Robert Hynd 01 May '19

01 May '19

What voice recorders, currently available, are members using for their portable ops? Bob N5URL Sent from my iPhone

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Karl Janskey call sign
by Nick Pugh 01 May '19

01 May '19

Hello All Karl Jaskey is the father of radio astronomy . Was Karl Janskey a license amateur if so what was his call sign? Tnx nick de k5qxj

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Linear Transponder Up and Down link frequency calculator
by Wendy and Terry Osborne 01 May '19

01 May '19

Hi Folks, With the number of Linear Transponder Satellites that are operational or in the pipeline, I thought a simple program to convert uplink to downlink frequencies was worth writing. I’ve written one for Windows. You can find it here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4o375h6bygjxkzr/AABi9Ck9Wc6ODrhXwIVHxI-_a?dl=0 I’ve put the exe file and the same file in zip format. I have put all the current birds plus the ones that have launches pending. Just select the satellite of interest from the “Satellite” drop down menu, put your frequency into the text box and hit the Up or Dn calculate button. Let me know if you think this is useful. 73, Terry Osborne ZL2BAC

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