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

W4AMI Award
by Bruce 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

I have had a few questions and a bunch of submissions lately. I thought I would clear up some of the questions about this award. I have also updated the web page for the award with submission information. Just a little history, Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI, was a very prolific operator and in his honor this certificate was created and the first certificate was issued to him on June 27, 1994. He has since become an SK and his local club has taken over his call sign. The award was originally the W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award. The local club asked me not to use their call sign for the award. I changed the award to The Robert W. Barbee, Jr. W4AMI Satellite Operator Achievement Award. And here we are today, finally having issued over 100 certificates and over 30 of the 5,000 certificate. This award is for making 1,000 contacts with any station any time. You can say hello to your friend on every satellite on every pass every day and count those contacts. That being said, any contact you log counts. The award has endorsements for making 1,000 more contacts up to 4,000. Another 1,000 contacts will earn a special W4AMI 5,000 certificate. To submit for the award, please email me an extract from your log either in Microsoft Excel XLS(X) format or ADI(F) format. Either will work just fine. Then wait for me to get back to you notifying you to go online and make your payment. I need nothing from LoTW, confirmed contacts are not an issue, this award is for simply making a contact. 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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Re: [amsat-bb] Amsat Journal, Digital-only
by Mike Hoblinski 20 Apr '20

20 Apr '20

The Amsat-UK membership offers a membership that has both mail and digital opticion for their journal version. I live in the USA and am an Amsat-NA member but I enjoy reading other satellite news and stories. I receive their digital copy as soon as its put out. I can download it and save it for future reading and reference. They do put a water mark or reference on the first page to identify the person and source of the download. Having the Amsat Journal downloadable might be of interest to other people around the world that would like to see some of the fine articles in it. Maybe charge a fee per issue. Another plus for members could be online storage of back issues. I enjoy going back thru my stack of paper copies on a rainy day and always seem to find something I have missed or now want to try. Some members could opt for a digital only Journal maybe saving some costs and paper. Just my thoughts Mike Hoblinski N6IMF

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Re: [amsat-bb] Looking for CAS-4B Pass recording 20:57 UTC pass
by Jeff Johns 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

WH6E was on and he is in FL not HI. The first time I worked him the call surprised me as well. Jeff WE4B > On Apr 18, 2020, at 4:36 PM, Adrian Engele via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: >

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Looking for CAS-4B Pass recording 20:57 UTC pass
by Adrian Engele 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

I just worked the AO-7 pass (recording was OK) and the following CAS-4B pass but I forgot to turn on the recorder on the CAS-4B pass I copied a N9??P, W? and a WH6E?? Can someone please send a recording if they have it. Thank you! 73, Adrian AA5UK EN61

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AO-91 and CW
by Russ Kinner 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

Thanks guys, more curious than anything. I scanned thru the list and didn't see Max with 145.96 telemetry. Rusty

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VE8RAC on for WARD 12z-24z
by Ron VE8RT 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

with some breaks for meals and shopping I hope to be active on satellites for World Amateur Radio Day using the call sign VE8RAC. This will be on U/v satellites, linear and FM (making an effort to use best practices to reduce QRM), but not AO7 which is too fragile. QSLing will be through the Radio Amateurs of Canada www.rac.ca as this is there call sign not my own. A note about QSLing, for my own call sign, please keep in mind that US stamps on a SASE will not work here. If sending me a QSL through the mail a self addressed envelope is appreciated, and unless the demand gets too high I don't mind covering return postage. Otherwise unless I forget I'll return the SASE when I mail out my QSL card so that it may be used within the US. 73 Ron VE8RT, and for a few hours today only VE8RAC -- Ron VE8RT <ve8rt(a)yknwt.ca>

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Interesting news about on-orbit geostationary satellite maintenance
by Zach Metzinger 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

"For the first time ever, a robotic spacecraft caught an old satellite and extended its life" https://tinyurl.com/y7ta8qzr --- Zach N0ZGO

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Re: [amsat-bb] PO-101 did not seem to hear me
by Roy Dean 18 Apr '20

18 Apr '20

> > I just tried to make some QSOs on the PO-101 pass starting around 22:04Z > just a little bit ago. However, even though I could clearly hear the > satellite for nearly it's entire pass, I could not seem to make it in. I'm > not sure what wasn't configured right. This is my very first attempt with > this satellite PO-101 is very stubborn when it comes to uplink power. I've never tried below 10 watts, and even when I'm using 20 watts (which is now my standard with it), it sometimes "cuts out" in the middle of a qso. It may be even more difficult with just an HT and an Elk, which isn't all that great on 70cm to start with. YMMV. --Roy K3RLD

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PO-101 did not seem to hear me
by Loren M. Lang 17 Apr '20

17 Apr '20

I just tried to make some QSOs on the PO-101 pass starting around 22:04Z just a little bit ago. However, even though I could clearly hear the satellite for nearly it's entire pass, I could not seem to make it in. I'm not sure what wasn't configured right. This is my very first attempt with this satellite. I am using a Yaesu FT-3DR with an Elk Antenna. I had very clear audio for much of the pass which is usually the more difficult part from experience. On that pass, I heard: DN17 N6AJ DM05 KA7FVV K8YSE/7 DM43 WJ7WJ CN85 I'm not looking for LoTW confirmations, just if any of them heard me at all. I have five presets, all receive on 145.900 and transmit on 437.490, 437.495, 437.500, 437.505, and 437.510 MHz in that order. When pressing PTT, my radio showed the corresponding TX frequency and also TN 141.3 along with FM in the corner so I can't figure out what I was doing wrong especially during the peak when it should be close to being on frequency. I've been very successful with my set up on AO-91, AO-92, and SO-50 so it leaves me completely befuddled what I did wrong. Confused, Loren K7IW

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Telemetry on 145.96 MHz
by wizardofzid 16 Apr '20

16 Apr '20

I've heard a CW telemetry signal on 145.96 (AO-91 downlink frequency) 5-10 min. before the FM pass. It's a bit hard to copy CW on a FM receiver but I've heard it 3 times in the last 2 days. Seems to fade out prior to the AO-91 pass. I expect it is an analog bird but so far I haven't figured out which. Any guesses?Rusty, WA8ZIDSent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

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