April 2020 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

A Critique on Operations of the FM Birds
by Chris Hoffman 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

We all want and need more good operators on the FM Birds, and each pass is a severely-limited resource. Unfortunately, I am constantly bearing witness to operating practices which run counter to these facts. To promote more operators using the birds we have, so that they can give up new grid squares, and perhaps become more active down the road, and in order to build the AMSAT membership I offer the following: FOR *ALL* FM SATELLITE OPERATORS: Please update your personal/favored Best Practices Guide with your reflection upon the following suggestions... 1) *Record your audio for each pass* - If you are running portable: I'm in love with my little Sony voice recorder that has simultaneous audio in and out on 3.5mm jacks. - If you can run 50w, and/or high gain, you have zero excuses not to do so. 1b) When you are recording your passes, please *don't ask for callsign repeats*. - Just be sure the entire callsign was clear for the recording. - That repeat takes up an entire window for a new contact. 2) Keep your contact to *pass*ing *no more than the exchange (e.g. callsign and grid square)* - Even one extra transmission soaks valuable bird time needed for the next contact to start, ad provides no added benefit to the community. - e.g. There is no need to let the distant operator know you sent them a package. 3) *Don't repeat contacts*, even just to say 'hello.' - It soaks an entire contact window for someone else, and that person usually is not on the bird for every pass. - I have seen this, first-hand: hearing a conversation on a satellite crushes new operators (literally and figuratively). They were waiting for a window to make a contact on the only pass of the day, and hearing this provided an excellent excuse for the new operators give up, and abandon sat work entirely because they realize they may never be able to get to the 'level' of someone having that conversation, depriving the rest of us of future new contacts. 4) *Don't use 50w †* - I continually hear big-gun stations wind up crushing less-powerful operators trying to get into the bird -- many of whom are usually equipped with just a handheld and a handheld beam... and many of those are just trying to make their first contact via our 'smart space debris'. - This practice alsso keeps 'honest' 5-watt'ers from being able to score needed Grid Squares as the neelessly-stronger stations carelessly override our signals... [aherm] especially when acting contrary to Suggestion '3'. 5) *Use Full Duplex* - Out of consideration for others, please do not try to make a contact via the bird without a full-duplex radio and the ability to hear others on the satellite. - Good-quailty Full-duplex FM radios are cheap and available online for as little as $100, or new for $250 (DJ-G7). - By hearing your signal on the bird, you will begin to hear and understand that your signal may be stepping on other operators also trying to get in. - As soon as you hear yourself on top someone else, consult Suggestion 4, and make a decision about how needed your contact is. In Summary: *YOU DO NOT OWN THE BIRD* * - *If it's a blank passband... THAT'S A GOOD THING! Every blank second is an opportunity for a new station to make a call, which is what we want. - ASSUME that there is ALWAYS someone new on, usually with just an arrow/elk and their handheld, trying to make their first contact. VUCC wasn't earned in a day, but it shouldn't take 3 passes for one operator to make a single contact. I believe I may be re-sending some variation of this [message] each time I encounter more of the operating practices I've recently observed on AO-91/92 and SO-50 which sparked this Email*. † 47 CFR § 97.313 <https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/97.313> - '...minimum transmitter power necessary' * Flagrancy may earn an edited copy of these suggestions sent directly to you. Repeated Flagrancy may earn a shame-mail to the group. /ch KG6O atsin arrl dot net

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More ancient technology Sat Tracker board and software
by Stephan Greene 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

More cleaning shack. Sat Tracker board and software. Looks like parallel printer interface to PC and 8 pin DIN to a G5400/5500 rotator control box. Includes frequency tracker add-on software on 3.5 floppy disk and Instant-Track (DOS) on 5.25 floppy and CD. No capability to check if floppies are readable. InstantTrack will run on a Win10 system using DOSBOX. Email me direct if you want it. All sent as-is. 73 Steve KS1G <callsign> at amsat.org

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Anyone want a Kansas City Tracker manual?
by Stephan Greene 05 Apr '20

05 Apr '20

Found while cleaning out shack. LL Grace KCT v 2.43A instructions, June 2000. Excellent condition. Email me direct your mailing address if you want it. No I can't scan and email it. 73 Steve KS1G

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Kudos: WB4SON and the AMSAT Ambassador Program
by Ev Tupis 04 Apr '20

04 Apr '20

I can't thank AMSAT enough for providing the AMSAT Ambassador program. This morning, the Rochester VHF Group convened it's first "Spring Session" of 2020 ... online! AMSAT Ambassador Bob Beatty, WB4SON kept everyone both interested and engaged. He is an extremely personable, knowledgeable and fluent speaker; an excellent AMSAT resource. His professionalism was evident as he ran two "test flights" with us prior to the live, online meeting. Everything was assured to run smoothly. I strongly endorse the AMSAT Ambassador program and recommend clubs big-and-small take pause to look into it more deeply: https://www.amsat.org/ambassador/ While I'm certain that all AMSAT Ambassadors are well qualified, I can say for certainty that if you are lucky enough to get Bob's schedule to align with your clubs' then you are certain to have a successful event. Yours in the hobby, Ev Tupis, W2EV Chairman, Rochester VHF Group http://www.RVHFG.org Celebrating 71 years as the longest continuously active VHF oriented club in the known universe

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AMSAT Awards during Stay Home orders
by Bruce 04 Apr '20

04 Apr '20

So, you are sitting at home waiting to go back to work. You are working some of the passes of a satellite. Logging as you go. What are you going to do with all those contacts in your log? Easy… You apply for an AMSAT or ARRL award. The ARRL has Worked All States, DXCC and VUCC all with satellite endorsements. AMSAT has the Satellite Communicator Club for working your very first contact on a satellite. The easiest award to apply for. Go directly to the AMSAT Online store and purchase the award. In the comments enter the time/date, satellite and station worked. That’s it. No waiting for QSL cards, no waiting for LoTW confirmation. Then send me an email that you have paid for the award so I know there is one waiting to be processed. AMSAT has a few other awards. The AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award for working 20 different contacts in different US States, VE Call Areas and DXCC entities. Adding 40 more, you earn the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award and adding another 40 earns the AMSAT Century Award. Have you been keeping your log for a long time? You might already qualify for the AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award. This award is for 1,000 contacts with anyone over a satellite. Endorsements for each 1,000 up to 4,000 and a special certificate at 5,000. There is also the South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement award. This award is for 25 contacts through a LEO satellite. As we have no HEO satellites at this time and only one GEO satellite you are pretty much good on almost any satellite you work. And the final one, the AMSAT Rover award. A bit much to explain here. You can get information on all the AMSAT Awards at http://www.amsat.org click on Services and click on the word Awards. You can also click on each of the individual awards to get information on each. Submission is easy for the AMSAT awards. Scan your QSL cards or screen shot your LoTW for each contact. Place them in a ZIP file, Word Document, PDF document and email them to kk5do at amsat dot org. I will then take a look at your submission, complete my documentation and email you to go pay for the award/s at the AMSAT online store. Remember, all satellites are COVID-19 free and you should have no hesitation making a contact through one. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Member 2016-2020 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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PSAT-2/NO-104 status
by Tomáš Urbanec 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

Hi all, NO-104/PSAT2 status The 2m/APRS side of the sat is still non operating for the unknown reasons. Any change or any packet heard would be welcomed. The 435MHz side of the sat is still going strong. The PSK31 transponder is operating flawlessly with occasional activity seen over the US. If you are operating through transponder, you are asked to stay within 400-1000Hz of downlink frequency. Lower you can interfere with the tlm beacons and higher you will be wiped off by the SSTV signal. The orbit is elliptical with apogee position period approximately 34 days. The 435.350MHz downlink frequency is temperature dependent a bit so best reception with any kind of SDR, where in waterfall you can see actual downlink freq. The greatest offset is seen after eclipse when sat is coldest. The downlink is operating in Sun only, it switches off entering the eclipse and switches on coming from eclipse or after 30minute timer. The tlm beacons transmit every 4 minutes. The spectrum of the signal is narrow, so in SDR you can use just 2kHz bandwidth gaining SNR. Two minutes after tlm, the SSTV picture is transmitted in 4 minutes intervals also. For reception best bandwidth observed is around 9500Hz. Transmitted pictures are alternating prestored ones and pictures from camera memory stored on orbit. Reception is possible on high passes with good omni antenna using the LNA in the quiet environment. But for the passes till horizon, directional antenna and LNA is needed. We are still looking for any stations capable of regular downlink receptions with position between 40deg South and 40deg North. If you can make the receptions available in IQ format it would be greatly welcomed. Station capable of uplink in 29MHz to sat can be selected as commanding station and then can acquire pictures in real time or store them in sequence. So you can get pictures of your side of the globe, just contact us. Further info and contacts can be found at https://github.com/alpov/PSAT-2/blob/master/README.md Best regards Tomas OK2PNQ

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ISS Operating Schedule
by John Lutz 03 Apr '20

03 Apr '20

Does anyone know where information regarding the operating schedule for the ISS crew can be found? Regards, John, N9JL Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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Low-Power FM (broadcast band) Transmitter?
by Scott 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

I hope the group doesn't mind a non-ham question since we're all trying to help our communities in this difficult time. Can anyone recommend a low-power transmitter for broadcast on the commercial FM radio band? An LPFM license can be acquired asap, but the first order of business is finding some hardware. As you can imagine, church gatherings are out of the question so I've been asked to see if I can locate a "drive-in theater" type transmitter for short-range broadcasting to car radios. Interested in commercial products only; thanks but not something I want to build & be responsible for maintaining. Thanks very much a good wishes to all. -Scott, K4KDR

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Yaesu G-5500 question
by Bob Hammond 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

I have my M2 LEO antennas plus a WiMo 23cm helical antenna end-mounted on a fiberglass boom with the G-5500. I also placed a counterbalance lead weight opposite the antennas. I think I've asked this question before and if so I'm asking it again because, well, I CRS: How many of you with similar antennas and a G-5500 have NOT used a counterbalance? Any issues? Bob W7OTJ

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Question on 23cm WiMo Helix
by Thomas Schaefer 02 Apr '20

02 Apr '20

Reading the prior posts about the counterbalance, made me think again about adding the 23 cm helix antenna to my sat beams before they go up, but I wanted to check my thinking on this… There appears to be only one L band satellite, AO-92. That is an uplink. Given that, I obviously have no need for a preamp. But I also believe that I need not worry too much about using anything better than LMR-400. In checking the Times Microwave loss calculator, using LMR400 over a 50 foot run would lose 2.6 dB. Using LMR-600, would lose 1.7 dB. 7/8” hardline would be .8 dB. But given that the Helix has 13 dBd, that is over 100 watts at the antenna. Plenty AO-92. So while cable loss seems academic, are there any satellites in the works accessible from the US with an L band downlink? If not, it appears LMR-400 is just fine (even with a short loop of LMR-400 UF at the top for the rotor). Thanks, Tom Schaefer, NY4I Blog: www.ny4i.com Madeira Beach, FL (Grid: EL87ot)

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