AMSAT-BB August 2019

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Doppler.SQF files
by 73 Bob W7LRD 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

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Buoy & PicoBalloons on South Atlantic open seas
by Amsat Argentina 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

AMSAT-LU is testing a South Atlantic Sea Buoy and 2 PicoBallons transmiting WSPR+APRS, objectives are courses analysis and strength of winds and sea currents as well as HF/VHF propagation and APRS satellites operation. The Sea Buoy launch is planned for January 2020. Details/Pictures: http://amsat.org.ar?f=buoy WSPR live Track: http://lu7aa.org.ar/wspr.asp PicoBalloons forecast: http://lu7aa.org.ar/pronostico.asp >From now on transmitting on HF/VHF/Satellite at Buenos Aires. We appreciate your reception. 73, LU7AA, AMSAT Argentina | | Libre de virus. www.avg.com |

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode B Questions (difficulty getting in)
by Roy Dean 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

Yes. I know that a strong uplink can overpower the transponder, so I started on low power and worked my way all the way up to the high power setting with almost no difference (at least that I could see). Existing QSO's saw no issues whatsoever during my Tx'ing. We've got a 77deg pass here in less than an hour, I'll try and get a screen grab of the waterfall (maybe I'll record the whole passband). --Roy K3RLD > Do you see the other strong signals while you are transmitting as well? > 73, Drew KO4MA

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AO-7 Mode B Questions (difficulty getting in)
by Roy Dean 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

Hi all. I'm hoping for some suggestions to help me "get in" to AO-7 mode B. So far, my experience is as follows (on any pass, regardless of elevation): No matter what my output setting is on my IC-706MKIIG, I can only just barely get into the transponder. Even on a good day, when I am seeing multiple strong CW and SSB QSO's happening on the waterfall, my uplink can only just barely be seen, let alone heard. The 706MKIIG ouputs 20W on UHF, and checking with a wattmeter - it seems to be spot on (using FM - could SSB be performing differently?). I've hooked up my M2 UHF cross yagi to an SWR meter, and it comes in at less than 1.5. I can get into all the other linears with relative ease. My UHF crossed dipole is supposed to be RHCP (if I connected everything correctly), and I believe that the 70cm Rx antenna on AO-7 is also CP, correct? But is it RH or LH? And does anybody know of a RHCP UHF downlink on a satellite that I can use to to positively confirm my UHF cross yagi polarization? Any other suggestions welcome. FYI - I am using an RTL-SDR.com V3 dongle on receive, with GQRX controlled by Gpredict - this setup actually works pretty well for me on all the other linears, believe it or not! I am positive that this is NOT an Rx issue on my end because I can see other strong QSOs in the waterfall - just not my own. So I believe this is an issue with my Tx. --Roy K3RLD

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TO5M St. Pierre & Miquelon logs - recordings needed
by Schuette, Martin A 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

Hello sat ops, I've been helping Chris VO1IDX figure out his logs for his activation of St. Pierre & Miquelon. The currently entered logs are online at https://clublog.org/charts/?c=to5m Sadly Chris had some issues with his audio recorder while on, and also after getting back from, the island. So anyways, if you had a QSO with TO5M on SO-50, AO-85, AO-91, or AO-92, and your callsign is not listed in the log, please shoot VO1IDX an email. If you have a recording of any passes of these birds between August 13th and August 18th, where St. Pierre would have been in the footprint , shoot us both an email. 73, Marty Schuette N9EAT

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ADIF to gridmap program
by jeff griffin 24 Aug '19

24 Aug '19

I've decided to try and work on my Grids worked from this location. To do so I'm going to have to deal with the FM birds. I'm trying to keep this as painless as possible so I'm looking for an ADIF to gridsquare map program. A program that will input an ADIF file and map out what grids are needed and what are already worked graphically. A quick google shows there are several available, what one's are recommended ? Thanks for any useful input. 73 Jeff kb2m

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PSAT2 Anomaly?
by Robert Bruninga 23 Aug '19

23 Aug '19

The usual PSAT2 downlink stopped after 0809z today in a pass over SE USA. Ground Stations are fine because its sister, USNAP1, is still downlinking via the usual ground stations. Both downlinks visible on http://aprs.org/sats.html A cessation of our Amateur packet telemetry design has never happened in 18 years in space over 6 successful spacecraft other than the occasional low power crash which is fixed after the next eclipse on the next pass or so. But never a complete cessation. Since the UHF side is independent, we welcome folks to listen to the UHF downlink 435.350 +/- Doppler and verify if that is working. Remember, it must be in daylight for the SSTV downlink to be on. Fortunately we do have one report of an SSTV image at 1340z from Gustave LW2DTZ. If we have another confirmation that UHF has been heard, then we can rule out a possible collision with space debris. (we get notificaitons of near conjunctions passing within 500m about every day or so, but after 18 years we have come to ignore them. Maybe this one hit? And it was working so well! Bob, WB4APR

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Echostar 9 test cards
by KC9SGV 23 Aug '19

23 Aug '19

Some Echostar 9, 12 GHz TV channels and test cards are shown here. Scroll down. https://www.lyngsat.com/EchoStar-9-Galaxy-23.html KC9SGV Sent from my iPad

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Re: [amsat-bb] G-5500 az rotor failure
by k.swaggart＠charter.net 23 Aug '19

23 Aug '19

The problem turned out to be a loose setscrew at the motor. Easy fix, but took about four hours to reassemble the rotor so the limit switch was tripped correctly and then get the antennas reattached. Anyway, back in business. I took quite a few photos of the az rotor disassembly and I'll add them to my G5500 page within the next few days: http://www.ocrg.org/W7KKE/rotor/rotor.html 73, Ken, W7KKE From: k.swaggart(a)charter.net <k.swaggart(a)charter.net> Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 10:39 To: AMSAT-BB (amsat-bb(a)amsat.org) <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: G-5500 az rotor failure This morning I found my G-5500 will not move left or right. Not even a wiggle. Took some measurements and the wiring appears to be intact but I don't understand the 40 Vac readings when the rotor is connected to the control box. Here are my readings taken at the control box end of the wiring: Rotor connected to control box: Common (pin 6) to Left (pin 4) Press Left: 28 Vac Right: 40 Vac Common (pin 6) to Right (pin 5) Press Left: 40 Vac Right: 28 Vac Rotor disconnected. Measuring control box terminals: Pin 6 to 4 Press Left: 29.5 Vac Press right: 0 Pin 6 to 5 Press Left: 0 Press Right: 29.5 Vac Measuring rotor cable at control box, disconnected from box: 6 (brown) to 4 (blue) 5.3 Ohms 6 (brown) to 5 (orange) 5.3 Ohms 4 (blue) to 5 (orange) 8.9 Ohms Any suggestions before I pull the rotor off the mast? 73, Ken, W7KKE

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Re: [amsat-bb] Echostar 9 test cards
by Edward R Cole 23 Aug '19

23 Aug '19

Bob and all: A good source of info on using ku-band TVRO LNA's for ham use on 10-GHz is from several eme hams who use them. My guess the LNA's are broadbanded that requires no modification of tuned input ckts to operate at 10-GHz. Since you application may be on the original sat-TV band frequency they may perform optimally. I am not sure if they also downconvert to an IF. My experience was with C-band sat-TV which used LNB's to amplify 3400-3750 MHz and downconvert to 950-1400 MHz. GL with exploring ham use of Echostar-9. I have plans to build a 10-MHz eme station using my 1.8m surplus off-set feed sat-TV dish (used starting in 1996 in AK on Direct-TV). 73, Ed - KL7UW Not QRV for Leo sats Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2019 09:31:08 -0400 From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: AMSAT-BB <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Echostar 9 test cards Message-ID: <df6594fa700d9fd2b5645815a35c16f7(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" I actually am excited about the prospect of using LNA's from all these throw-away Dish network dishes for something. It's a great educational opportunity. I am happy to tune in anything that is interesting from a technical perspective and I really love making stuff from cast-off stuff. Bob, WB4APR 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubususa(a)gmail.com

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AMSAT-BB August 2019