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

Technical Handbook for Satellite Monitoring - available for cost of shipping!
by Michelle Thompson 23 Jul '19

23 Jul '19

I have an extra copy of the 2017 edition of Roland Proesch's Technical Handbook for Satellite Monitoring and I would like to give it away! Just setting shipping and it can be yours. Here's a link to the 2017 version's table of contents: http://frequencymanager.de/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Technical-Handbook-fo… Available from now through Monday. If multiple people interested, will pick someone at random! I enjoy and use this book and want to find it a new home. -Michelle W5NYV

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PSAT2 in DTMF Grid uplink mode. Digi is off.
by Robert Bruninga 22 Jul '19

22 Jul '19

PSAT2 is now in DTMF Grid uplink mode. See user guide http://aprs.org/psat2.html The DIGI is off, The APRS-to-Voice is off PSK31 and SSTV remain on. Uplink for DTMF is now 145.9800 Please, unless you can track Doppler on the uplink to within 500 Hz, DO NOT even try DTMF except the middle 60 seconds of any given pass. Lower pass the better. Otherwise the Doppler will kill the 4 second transmission and you will only be QRMing everyone else with no chance of success for yourself. This is going to be hard due to the narrowband receiver. Again, TX only with radio set to BNARROBAND FM. Otherwise, It will NEVER work. Bob, WB4aPR

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Direwolf for CAS-4 telemetry decoding
by Hans BX2ABT 22 Jul '19

22 Jul '19

A hint for people who want to use Direwolf instead of UZ7HO's soundmodem. I finally worked out why I wasn't having success with decoding telemetry from CAS-4AB: for decoding 4800 baud signals you need the K9NG/G3RUH baseband and that needs a special setting in the Direwolf config file, namely in the modem entry. Normally the modem entry looks like this.... MODEM 4800 Change it to the following and it works.... MODEM 4800 0:0 This info can be found in section 9.2.2 "Radio channel -Modem configuration , general form" of the Direwolf user guide. You can find the complete config file and screenshots of the decoding process on my website: BX2ABT.com Next step is to decode telemetry from the XiWang sats. They are using 9600 baud and from what I understand the GOMX-1 baseband. Not sure what the difference is with G3RUH, so any hint on reading material to start grokking this stuff is apperiated. 73 de Hans BX2ABT

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"Moon Day? special events.
by tjschuessler＠verizon.net 22 Jul '19

22 Jul '19

I hope everyone who worked at special events commemorating Apollo 11's historic mission had a great time this weekend. Those involved with our event at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas had a great time introducing hundreds of people to some basic aspects of satellites, and specifically Amateur Radio in space. Thanks to all who helped, Mac Cody, AE5PH (FM satellite passes), Jay Cox, KG5BZW, Virginia Smith, NV5F, Tim Staley, K5TGS, Doug Quagliana, KA2UPW and Dave Buchanan, W5TRX (with wife Leah) for giving their day to represent AMSAT. Thanks as well to the Dallas Amateur Radio Club (Our display neighbors) for their assistance. Also thanks to Alan Johnston, KU2Y for his contribution in loaning the Fox Engineering model and Cubesat Simulator for this event. Both items are great eye catchers at venues like this. 73 Tom Schuessler, N5HYP EM12ms

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ANS-202 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 21 Jul '19

21 Jul '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-202 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT is proud to announce the relaunch of its AMSAT Ambassador Program * Watch for ISS, SSTV Activity * Nihon University Announces FO-99 US Operation Plan * FO-29 update from JARL * 2019 Mid-Year Fundraising Letter * 2019 37th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.01 ANS-202 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. July 21, 20198 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.01 AMSAT is proud to announce the relaunch of its AMSAT Ambassador Program The AMSAT Ambassador Program is an opportunity for AMSAT members to share what they've learned about amateur radio in space with others, and, in the process, help inspire the next generation of AMSAT'ers. AMSAT Ambassador Program Goals: - Educate other amateur radio operators and the general public on amateur radio in space related subjects. - Represent AMSAT by sharing enthusiasm for Amateur Radio in Space with others, whether at in-person events, practical demonstrations, online, or in written communications, and share AMSAT’s mission and vision. - Connect volunteers with potential members both in-person and online in a manner encouraging their affiliation by membership with AMSAT. - Offer personal mentoring and coaching to new enthusiasts either in-person or via online means such as email, chat, and social media. - Connect members and potential enthusiasts with proper resources at AMSAT when they seek more knowledge, volunteer to serve, or have concerns with the organization. Become an AMSAT Ambassador and do your part towards making this happen by informing people about the value of amateur radio in space and encouraging their support and involvement. Please visit the AMSAT Ambassador Program webpage for more information: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/ 73, Robert Bankston, KE4AL Vice-President, User Services, Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT, Director, AMSAT Ambassadors --------------------------------------------------------------------- Watch for ISS, SSTV Activity ARISS SSTV activity is planned for various times during the week of July 29 through Aug 4. As more specific dates and times are determined, they will be made available at the ARISS website ( www.ariss.org) and at the official ARISS facebook page at Amateur Radio On The International Space Station (ARISS). [ANS thanks Dave, AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ New 2019 AMSAT Apparel Now Available on the Web Didn't make it to Hamvention but you want the latest in AMSAT haberdashery? The new 2019 tee-shirts, polo shirts and hats are now available in the AMSAT online store. Browse the styles and sizes online and put your order in today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-apparel/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Nihon University Announces FO-99 US Operation Plan Place Operation Date AOS LOS Max El Washington DC Transponder July 27 02:28:43 02:39:53 35.08 Topeka, KS Transponder Aug 10 03:46:43 03:57:57 31.35 Denver, CO SSTV Aug 24 03:30:20 03:41:50 50.01 All times UTC Operation will be performed from 5 minutes before AOS to 5 minutes after LOS. Total operation time is about 20 min. The operation may be cancelled if uplink is not received. [ANS thanks Nihon University for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- FO-29 update from JARL "Analog transmitters of Fuji No. 3 (FO-29) have been suspended since July 9, 2019. Currently, we are doing situation grasp and information gathering, but we will inform you as soon as the situation is understood. If you have telemetry data after July 8th (UTC), please send it to the following address. [Transmission destination of telemetry data] oper (at) jarl.org Thank you for your cooperation in collecting information on "Fuji No. 3" of many users. JARL Secretariat Member Section Fuji 3 Telemetry Section" Source: https://www.hamlife.jp/2019/07/17/fo29-jas2-silent/ [ANS thanks hamlife.jp for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2019 Mid-Year Fundraising Letter The following funraising letter from AMSAT President Joe Spier, K6WAO, was recently mailed to all AMSAT members. Please consider a one-time or recurring donation today. Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) 10605 Concord St, #304 Kensington, MD 20895-2526 USA July 10, 2019 AMSAT Member, I am writing to provide an update to the membership on AMSAT's activities and invite everyone to our 50th Anniversary AMSAT Space Symposium and General Meeting, to be held October 18-20, 2019. For more details, go to https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/. I hope to see you there! It takes considerable volunteer effort and real dollars to keep Amateur Radio in Space™. AMSAT needs some important assistance in the areas of User Services and Engineering. If you would like to volunteer, please contact me at k6wao(a)amsat.org. You may also assist AMSAT by making a tax-deductible contribution. AMSAT has several fundraising needs. The daily operation of AMSAT is accomplished by donations to the General Fund. This fund is also used to fill other department needs. The other main department needs are the fund for GOLF (Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint) 3U CubeSats design/construction and ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station). AMSAT has had success in the launch of AO-92 (Fox-1D) in January of 2018 and the launch of AO-95 (Fox-1Cliff) in December of 2018. AO-95 achieved orbit and the beacon functions properly, unfortunately the satellite's receiver is not operational. AMSAT Engineering and Operations are trying to determine the cause of the issue. AMSAT partnered with Spaceflight Inc. by contracting and paying for these launches. Fundraising for Fox series satellites have not yet recouped this expenditure, so donations are still being accepted. AMSAT is expecting the launch of RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E), our partnership with Vanderbilt University, by no earlier than the end of summer. RadFxSat- 2 will launch on the ELaNa XX mission, on Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne, and carry an AMSAT V/u linear transponder and radiation experiments for Vanderbilt University. AMSAT is also partnering with several universities to fly this linear transponder on their CubeSats. The first of these will fly on HuskySat-1, from the Husky Satellite Lab at the University of Washington, later this year. AMSAT has been selected for two CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) opportunities for GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1. GOLF's 3U spaceframe is being designed with versatility to add mission specific radios, power supplies, and experiments. A series of GOLF CubeSats will provide better coverage and a greater footprint will allow more coverage by fewer satellites. GOLF also allows AMSAT to continue and expand partnerships with universities, NASA and others. GOLF will also provide for additional experimental payloads such as GPS, satellite interlinking, and others. Your donations help AMSAT keep GOLF-TEE and GOLF-1 on schedule. The first GOLF CubeSat, GOLF-TEE, will jump start the GOLF program with a launch to LEO as early as 2020. GOLF-TEE will use Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) and an experimental 5 GHz /10 GHz software defined radio transponder. AMSAT will benefit by gaining knowledge as well as hardware for future missions. GOLF-TEE also provides an opportunity to fly projects that have been developed by AMSAT's Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology (ASCENT) "skunk works" program. GOLF-TEE will carry a Fox-1E design V/u linear transponder and new RadFx (Radiation Effects) experiment like that in AO-85 for Vanderbilt University, but testing FinFET technology. GOLF-1 will aim for higher LEO orbit as the first official "Greater Orbit, Larger Footprint" AMSAT CubeSat. Launch is targeted for 2020- 2021. You may make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT at https://www.amsat.org/donate/. As of this writing, the ARISS FundRazr has raised $33,250 of the $150,000 for critical amateur radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS to enable students to talk to astronauts in space via amateur radio. ARISS is in critical need of this infrastructure update. Through your donations ARISS seeks the following upgrades: * Next Generation radio system will support easier radio mode transition, to enable new, exciting capabilities for hams, students and the general public including: * New amateur radio communication and experimentation capabilities, including an enhanced voice repeater and updated digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities * Slow Scan TV (picture up and downlinks) in both the US and Russian segments of ISS * New multi-voltage power supply (MVPS) will support present and future radio capabilities and allow wireless experiments to be conducted ARISS is building 10 Next Generation Radio Systems to support our development, on-orbit operations, training and long-term maintenance. This includes units on-orbit (2 units--1 unit each in US and Russian segment), flight spares (2 units), training (3 units), testing (1 unit) and ground-based maintenance & troubleshooting (2 units). ARISS has kicked off a FundRazr campaign for this initiative. The project is scheduled for delivery by the end of this year. AMSAT is also working with our ARISS partners to develop an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting project. You may make a one time or recurring donation to ARISS by clicking the ARISS Donations button at https://www.amsat.org/donate or directly to the FundRazr at https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen. Help Keep Amateur Radio in Space™ Thanks! Joe Spier, K6WAO President, AMSAT [ANS thanks Joe K6WAO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2019 37th AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Please join us for the 2019 AMSAT 50th Anniversary Symposium, to be held in the Washington, DC Metro Area on October 18, 19, and 20, 2019. The Symposium venue will be the Hilton Arlington, located in the heart of the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA. The Hilton Arlington is located at 950 North Stafford Street, Arlington, Virginia, 22203, USA TEL: +1-703-528-6000 and the reservation code is AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation). Connected to the Ballston Metro Station, the hotel offers easy and effortless access to Washington DC's top tourist destinations like the National Mall, Smithsonian Museums and historic monuments. The hotel is six miles from Reagan National Airport and the National Mall. There are plenty of restaurants nearby. The Symposium will feature OSCAR Park - a display of satellites from throughout the history of amateur radio in space - paper presentations, and a banquet with speakers celebrating AMSAT's long history, and other events. The AMSAT Board of Directors Meeting will be held on October 16th and 17th at the same hotel. Two guided tours are available. On Sunday, October 20th a bus tour to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is available for $30 (max 35 people) and on Monday, October 21st, AMSAT President Joe Spier will lead a day tour to the National Mall via the Metro. So please plan on attending the 50th Anniversary Symposium - you will be glad you did and keep checking the AMSAT website for further updates and information. https://www.amsat.org/amsat-symposium/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations As of July 19, 2019 Remember to check out W3ZM On the Road for additional upcoming activations! Wyoming and Montana (DN62, DN63, DN64, DN65, DN54) July 20-27, 2019 RJ, WY7AA, will be roving in DN62 and DN63 for the 16:00-20:00 UTC FM passes, Sat. July 20th. On Sun. July 21st, he will work one pass only from DN65, SO-50 at 16:58 UTC. For the remainder of the week, RJ will be camping in DN64, working holiday style FM and linears, with one side trip during the week for a few FM passes from DN54. RJ will try to get word to Twitter when he plans to do so, but expects to be without Twitter for the trip, and likely out of cell phone range, as well. #unplugged St Lucia, (FK94) July 21 – August 3, 2019 Frank, K3TRM, will be operating as J6/K3TRM from Gros Islet, St. Lucia (FK94mb) between July 21 – August 3, 2019. Activity will be on 40-6M using SSB, CW, and Digital (RTTY & FT8) and satellite. More info available on Frank’s QRZ page: https://www.qrz.com/db/J6/K3TRM and Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/k3trm CY9 St. Paul Island (FN97) – July 31 to August 8, 2019 CY9C will be on St. Paul Island July 31st through August 8th. This is an all bands/mode dxpedition, with EME and Sats as well. More info available at http://cy9c.com/index.html. Florida Keys (EL95) August 4-11, 2019 Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from EL95 (Key Largo and Brickell Key) as KC3NSG, from August 4 to 11, 2019. FM and Linears. QSL via LoTW. Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates : https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT Washington Invasion (CN96/96 & DN06/07/17/17) – August 9-10, 2019 Casey, KI7UNJ, will be heading North to invade the State of Washington, August 9th and 10th. Keep an eye on Casey’s Twitter feed for specific pass announcements: https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ St Pierre et Miquelon (GN16) – August 10-18, 2019 A DXpedition is planned to St Pierre et Miquelon, August 10th through the 18th. The team will operate as T05M will from Ile aux Marins on 6-160m, but there is a possibility of some FM Satellites. Keep an eye on their website for updates: http://fp2019.net/ Santa Rosa Island, CA (CM93) – August 12-14, 2019 Ron, AD0DX, is heading back to Santa Rosa Island, August 12th -14th. When not distracted by the feathered-birds, Ron will be on FM and linear satellites as W6R. Keep an eye on Ron’s Twitter feed for updates at the dates get closer. https://twitter.com/ad0dx 6Y Jamaica (FK18) AUGUST 12-19, 2019 Philippe, EA4NF will be operating from JAMAICA (IOTA NA-097 – Grid FK18) in Satellite with the special call 6Y4NF from August 12 to 19, 2019. QRV Satellite in FM and SSB. QSL via LoTW. Keep an eye on Philippe’s Twitter feed for further updates : https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT. Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $33,250 raised or about 17% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + 2019-07-16 19:35 UTC between Cosmonaut Aleksey Ovchinin using ISS callsign RSØISS and About Gagarin From Space. Performing amateur radio communication session with the 8th International Aerospace School. U.N. Sultanova rep. Bashkortostan Aerospace School of. U.N. Sultanova summer camp, Kalinovka, Davlekanovsky, Russia Contact was direct via RZ9WWB. ARISS Mentor was Sergey RV3DR Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule 24th World Scout Jamboree, Summit Bechtel Scout Reserve, West Virginia, telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Drew Morgan KI5AAA Contact is go for: Sat 2019-07-27 18:27:56 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts From All Over + CAS-7B Launch July 25, 2019 Planned to launch CAS-7B at 05:00:00UTC on July 25, 2019, the launch vehicle Hyperbola-1 will run for 862.0206 seconds and then CAS-7B satellite will be deployed at 05:14:22.0206 CAS-7B(BP-1B) 1 99999U 19206.21831019 -.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00001 2 99999 042.7339 008.2068 0013606 285.8754 218.2911 15.94575754000011 [ANS thanks Alan, BA1DU for the above information] + Tweet from AMSAT-UK AMSAT-UK (@AmsatUK) tweeted at 2:28 PM on Fri, Jul 19, 2019: #Peru: Holders of the 100 watt Novice (Class C) #AmateurRadio license have been granted access to 144-146 MHz (previously just 146- 148) and the entire 70cm band. They are now permitted to use the Satellites https://t.co/lHMwcq0two#hamradio #hamr (https://twitter.com/AmsatUK/status/1152314187344990210?s=03) [ANS thanks @Amsat-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org

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G0KLA Tracker Updated
by Chris Thompson 20 Jul '19

20 Jul '19

I have posted a slightly updated version of the G0KLA Tracker program. The updates are minor but hopefully helpful to some. Download available here: http://www.g0kla.com/klatrack/index.php Changes include: * Support local keps files * Process keps files from other web locations correctly * Clearer behaviour when horizontal lines toggled * Default the past period to 30mins vs 0 mins Any comments welcome. 73 Chris -- Chris E. Thompson chrisethompson(a)gmail.com g0kla(a)arrl.net

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Re: [amsat-bb] W4A Special Event Station this weekend
by Roy Dean 20 Jul '19

20 Jul '19

Also note that N1KSC is on the birds. Just had a qso on SO-50! I guess I should have expected them, but still a very pleasant surprise on July 20th, 2019. --Roy K3RLD > W4A is up and running! Just worked them on the XW2F pass here in FM18 > (Maryland) @ 2210 on the 19th. First one in their log! Sounding good Tim! > 73 de Cal/N3CAL

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W4A Special Event Station this weekend
by Tim N8DEU 19 Jul '19

19 Jul '19

Listen for amateur radio station W4A, a special event station, operating on Amateur Radio Satellites and HF bands this weekend commemorating after 50 years of the landing of the "Eagle" and six hours later man walked on the moon. We will be operating inside the park from the US Space and Rocket Center grounds at Huntsville, Alabama. You never know who will be at the microphone at the satellite station as there will be several dignitaries onsite from the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs. This is an opportunity that does not happen often. Additional information can be discovered at: https://www.qrz.com/lookup/w4a Tim Cunningham - N8DEU

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Re: [amsat-bb] Anyone on EO-88?
by Roy Dean 19 Jul '19

19 Jul '19

> > If my remarks came across as “shaming,” I apologize. They were intended as > encouragement. Yes, FM is cheap and easy, but the level of operator skill > necessary to get QSOs on a crowded channel is daunting. The skills > necessary to put together a linear station are more on the technical side. > That’s a challenge, but it can be fun to get there. And I apologize for misunderstanding. I do agree that linears are way more challenging than FM (and I remember how frustrated I was when I couldn't make contacts with a couple of baofengs on SO-50!!!). The true shame is that all mode full duplex transceivers aren't more common! But having worked in the consumer electronics sector before, I understand that our tiny little market isn't likely to push the big manufacturers in that direction anytime soon. I can't blame them for not wanting to lose money on R&D and production tooling. :) --Roy K3RLD

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Re: [amsat-bb] Anyone on EO-88?
by Roy Dean 19 Jul '19

19 Jul '19

What I can't understand is that people continue to shame other hams for not operating on the linears. Having only just recently obtained the equipment necessary to work the linears (and then, only at the shack, my equipment is not portable in any way), I can say that it was not cheap nor easy to do. Working the FM birds is both far cheaper and easier, for sure. Those that are stuck on the FM birds are likely not doing it by choice. It's all they have. Please keep that in mind. --Roy K3RLD > EO-88 is in a low inclination orbit and so stays close to the equator. Many > of us in the northern part of the continental U.S. and Canada cannot access > it because it never passes far enough north for us to be in the footprint. > That said, it can sometimes be lonely on linear satellites on passes that > cover much of the continental U.S. I can’t understand why people would > prefer to step all over one another on a single channel FM bird rather than > spread out on a nice passband. Yes, the linears require a bit more effort, > technical skill, and possibly a > bit more of a monetary investment. But by finding some bargains on used > gear and learning a bit more about how things work, they are well within > reach of the average ham.

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