AMSAT-BB October 2020

102 participants
152 discussions

Trouble with MMSSTV
by Steve Kristoff 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

I've been trying to use MMSSTV to receive the ISS pics, but I'm having problems. I think the problem is with syncing. I can see that I am receiving strips of various colors, but they are not lined up to make a coherent picture. I downloaded the latest version of MMSSTV yesterday so that's up-to-date. I'm using SDR# to decode the signal from a dongle. The output of SDR# is to the input of VBCable and the input to MMSSTV is from the output of VBCable. Once I've downloaded the picture I can hit the "fix slant" and "fix sync" button and the picture straightens out some but still not enough to see the details. The op system is Windows 10. I've read through the MMSSTV help and can't find a fix.I must be missing a setting somewhere. If anyone has ideas to share on how to fix this, I'd appreciate your help! (Is there a better SSTV decode program?) Steve AI9IN

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ISS Crossband repeat mode off, packet digipeat on
by John Brier 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

https://twitter.com/RF2Space/status/1313830101344161792 https://twitter.com/RF2Space/status/1313869679614545920 73, John Brier KG4AKV

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox Telemetry antenna?
by David Worboys 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

As long as I reading this correctly, the new 5500DC control box will not work with the older rotators - been there, done that! David KG4ZLB On Oct 7, 2020, at 10:13 AM, Jeff via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: 2.. As I'm going to try and repair the Yaesu control box, I'm almost positive that the transformer is burned out. If not available I might consider buying a new control box. I'm thinking that the new 5500DC will work with the older rotors?

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Re: [amsat-bb] Unusual ISS SSTV signal
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

At 02:51 AM 10/7/2020 +0000, you wrote: >A local told me the ISS repeater was on the air. Is that possible in >conjunction with the SSTV? > >73, >Gary "Joe" kk0sd I haven't been doing any sstv decoding, but on a number of passes I've heard voice conversations under the sstv. KB7ADL

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Re: [amsat-bb] Unusual ISS SSTV signal
by John Brier 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

Two active. SSTV is in Russian service module. New radio doing crossband is in Columbus module. On Tue, Oct 6, 2020, 23:26 Greg D <ko6th.greg(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Possibly, but the interference isn't at the audio level; it sounds more > like an FM double to me. > > How many ham stations do they have up there? > > Greg KO6TH > > > John Brier wrote: > > Reports suggest two SSTV transmissions at same time. > > https://twitter.com/bobbylittle/status/1313665745734324225?s=19 > > Crossband is totally diff setup in diff ISS modules. > > 73, John Brier KG4AKV > > On Tue, Oct 6, 2020, 23:04 Greg D via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > >> That was my first thought, but I'm presuming they're running from >> separate power sources, and using separate antennas, in different >> modules of the Station. If anything, the interference would be the >> reverse, with the SSTV desensing the x-band repeater's uplink. >> >> Also, my audio sounds rather different from Loren's, so perhaps >> different (or degrading) situations? >> >> Greg KO6TH >> >> >> Gary wrote: >> > A local told me the ISS repeater was on the air. Is that possible in >> conjunction with the SSTV? >> > >> > 73, >> > Gary "Joe" kk0sd >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Greg D via >> AMSAT-BB >> > Sent: Tuesday, October 6, 2020 9:38 PM >> > To: Loren M. Lang <penguin359(a)gmail.com>; AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Unusual ISS SSTV signal >> > >> > I just heard something even weirder here during the just-completed >> 02:04z pass here in CM98. 3 images during the pass, the first two totally >> wiped out. The third started off just fine, then the interference started >> in. >> > >> > I captured the screen and audio for the second and 3rd images here: >> > >> > >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/jzlp9jzs4k29sy1/ISS%20SSTV%20Pass3-2020-10-06_19.… >> > >> > I'm no where near where Loren is, so it's unlikely to be local. This >> is with the same equipment and setup as two passes yesterday, which were >> totally clean. The 8pm (PDT) pass yesterday was recorded for our local >> club, and can be viewed here: >> > >> > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_SkJ8_mtA4 >> > >> > Thoughts? >> > >> > Greg KO6TH >> > >> > >> > Loren M. Lang via AMSAT-BB wrote: >> >> During one of the SSTV transmissions today, I heard an unusual signal >> >> overlaid on top of the regular SSTV signal. It started just after the >> >> original SSTV signal, and was initially quite strong, but eventually >> >> lost out to the regular SSTV signal. It sounds similar to SSTV, but >> >> not quite the same. This started at 2020-10-06 02:54:32Z. You can hear >> it here: >> >> >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/abcizkoly8rn1ij/funny-sstv-signal.mp3?dl=0 >> >> >> >> You can see the waterfall during the initial decode here: >> >> >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxmy4rhruiit84v/funny-sstv-signal.png?dl=0 >> >> >> >> It does look like a separate signal on top of the original SSTV signal >> >> and it looks more centered on 145.800 MHz than the Doppler shifted ISS >> >> transmission which makes me thing it might be terrestrial, but I have >> >> no idea where it would be coming from. It definitely looks like it was >> >> targeting 145.8 and it sounds SSTV-like. The signal poped in several >> >> more times as can be seen in this waterfall: >> >> >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/gwh4h4b1d8qtnbv/funny-sstv-signal2.png?dl=0 >> >> >> >> Any ideas what this came from? >> >> >> >> Here's the image I received during that pass: >> >> >> >> https://www.dropbox.com/s/j11wj6yo9s2ceg9/sstv-202010060311.png?dl=0 >> >> >> >> I do have the raw baseband signal if anyone's interested. >> >> >> >> -Loren >> >> K7IW >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> 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 >> > _______________________________________________ >> > 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 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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Unusual ISS SSTV signal
by Loren M. Lang 07 Oct '20

07 Oct '20

During one of the SSTV transmissions today, I heard an unusual signal overlaid on top of the regular SSTV signal. It started just after the original SSTV signal, and was initially quite strong, but eventually lost out to the regular SSTV signal. It sounds similar to SSTV, but not quite the same. This started at 2020-10-06 02:54:32Z. You can hear it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/abcizkoly8rn1ij/funny-sstv-signal.mp3?dl=0 You can see the waterfall during the initial decode here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxmy4rhruiit84v/funny-sstv-signal.png?dl=0 It does look like a separate signal on top of the original SSTV signal and it looks more centered on 145.800 MHz than the Doppler shifted ISS transmission which makes me thing it might be terrestrial, but I have no idea where it would be coming from. It definitely looks like it was targeting 145.8 and it sounds SSTV-like. The signal poped in several more times as can be seen in this waterfall: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gwh4h4b1d8qtnbv/funny-sstv-signal2.png?dl=0 Any ideas what this came from? Here's the image I received during that pass: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j11wj6yo9s2ceg9/sstv-202010060311.png?dl=0 I do have the raw baseband signal if anyone's interested. -Loren K7IW

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox Telemetry antenna?
by Kevin 06 Oct '20

06 Oct '20

Steve, I run the same antennas here, maybe something I do to my rotors make a difference. I clean and grease them with a marine grease, the old wire on the slider style pots have been replaced with the newer style closed back ones, I added thermal switches to the inside of the motors so if something snags they shutoff rather than burn up, an interesting note is that it looks like Yaesu had planned for a cutout as the pc board inside the motor has a spot where you move one wire and then there are two holes that line up perfectly with a spot to slip the cutout into the motor and solder to the board, I also Loctite the drive screws. For me when they do finally fail it is the pot that gets erratic, a new pot and re-grease and away they go. If yours were dying every 4-8 months I can see where spending the bucks for the Spid makes perfect sense, It's also possible you guys track way more sats than I do, with AO-92 going dark I only track 4 sats on a daily basis now. 73, Kevin WA7FWF On 10/6/2020 1:29 PM, Stephen E. Belter wrote: > Kevin, > > I'm in West Lafayette, Indiana, so no salt water. My antennas are M-squared medium size antennas, 2MCP14 and 436CP30 with polarity switches, so not overloaded. > > Mark N8MH, has had similar experience with his Yaesu's. Since he is a dedicated telemetry collector like you, and since he is a control operator for the Fox satellites, he replaces his rotors when they fail. He had a volunteer to repair his broken rotors, so I transported 6-8 rotors from his garage in North Carolina (not near salt water either) to Indiana. Half were elevation rotors, half were azimuth rotors. I thought I was just having bad luck until Mark shared his experience. > > The last time mine failed, it was the azimuth rotor. Pointing the Yagis south just above the horizon worked a little better (long term) than an omnidirectional antenna. Since it failed while I was on a 3 month trip, I couldn't replace the rotor. > > I still recommend the G5500 rotors for normal operators, but they may not be the best choice for 24x7x365 telemetry collection. (I'm glad they work for you in that mode.) I've since switched to an AlphaSpid rotor with a Green Heron controller. You can buy the AlphaSpid rotors without the controller (my recommendation for heavy duty use) and use a Green Heron instead. > > Still: YMMV > > 73, Steve N9IP

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Fox Telemetry antenna?
by Bob Hammond 06 Oct '20

06 Oct '20

I'm going to get set up to monitor Fox telemetry. For those of you who already do so, what antenna are you using? I'm set up with 2M, 70cm, and 23cm CP antennas on a G5500 rotator but I understand I can also use a fixed antenna such as a Lindenblad or quadrifilar. Suggestions? Bob W7OTJ

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Fox Telemetry antenna?
by Stephen DeVience 06 Oct '20

06 Oct '20

During my time in Chicago, I collected telemetry with a QFH (no preamp) that was actually designed for the NOAA satellites. It did an OK job but wasn't going to put me on top of the leaderboard. A Lindenblad would probably be better for the lower passes. You could probably make a phased array of either type if you wanted. -Stephen N8URE

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox Telemetry antenna?
by Kevin 06 Oct '20

06 Oct '20

Steve, What are you doing that is wearing it out in 4-8 months? overloaded? near the ocean with salt? something has to be wrong as mine go for years. 73 Kevin WA7FWF On 10/6/2020 10:21 AM, Stephen E. Belter via AMSAT-BB wrote: > Roy, > > In my experience, using the CP antennas with the G5500 will help you collect and decode about 4-6 times more packets than an omnidirectional antenna. > > But tracking the Fox satellites using the Yaesu rotors will wear out the rotors in 4-8 months. Replacement rotors are about $250 each (you won’t need to replace the controller). > > YMMV > > 73, Steve N9IP > -- > Steve Belter, seb(a)wintek.com > > >

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AMSAT-BB October 2020