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

Re: [amsat-bb] AO-92 L/v
by Andrew Glasbrenner 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Hi David, Mark is correct. We did several polls, and they all came back to keep it where it is. The results were 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 in the two polls AMSAT did on FB and Twitter. There are other factors at play, but Tuesday night L/v seems to be the clear majority preference. If ESEO is ever placed in amateur service, that will be an additional L band resource. Golf-TEE and Golf-1 will also have L band uplink capability with the 10GHz downlink. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond via AMSAT-BB Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 5:17 PM To: David Worboys <kg4zlb(a)icloud.com> Cc: AMSAT <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HEO Hi David, The L-band receiver setup is on a 24 hour timer (unless the satellite resets due to SAA or low battery voltage before the timer is up!). As I recall, we did a pretty good poll via social media (FB, Twitter if I recall) and Wednesday UTC was the top pick. Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] AMSAT Director and Command Station On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 4:54 PM David Worboys via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Following on from Patrick’s post (below), I just got home and checked > to find that the first AO-92 pass for me is at 23:13 edt tonight > which, as I have to get up at 3.15am for work, is a definite no-no! > > What is the reason for L/U to be only switched on for just a 24 hour > period and during the work week? Is it automatically switched back or > does the command station do it? If that latter, can it be left on for > say, 48 hours to give operators a better chance of working L band or > moved to a weekend slot? What with the non activity last week I think > its been about three weeks since the last time I could use Mode L and > whilst I appreciate that there are a lot of people who want to use > that mode, opening up the ability would give a greater number of operators the opportunity. > > If the 24 hour period is the maximum available to preserve the health > of the satellite then I understand but I would be interested in > knowing the rationale! > > Many thanks > > 73 > > David > KG4ZLB > > > > > > > On Jul 22, 2020, at 1:30 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via > AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > Hi Andrew! > > I am all for a variety of satellites. When we had AO-51 in the 2000s, > I found the pieces to work its V/S FM repeater as I started working > satellites. Doppler at 2.4 GHz made tuning those downlinks an almost > constant thing on those passes, but it was fun. We have the sort of > transponder you mentioned in your post with AO-92's L/V FM repeater > right now. We are only permitted to use the 1.2 GHz band for satellite > uplinks, not downlinks. > > Many satellite operators now have the 1.2 GHz uplink capability with > the IC-9700, but the only time AO-92 L/V is available appears to be > inconvenient for many who might want to try it right now (Tuesday > evenings and Wednesday mornings in North America). We were told that > the switch from a Sunday UTC activation (Saturday nights and Sunday > mornings in North America) last year was not going to be a permanent > change. I think there would be more new call signs heard on AO-92 L/V > with those IC-9700s and other radios, if that mode was available at a > more convenient time for those who have work or school commitments > during the week. It isn't like we lack V/U or U/V FM satellites right > now. > > 73! > > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ > Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK > > > > > > > > > > On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 4:46 PM Andrew Lazenby via AMSAT-BB < > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > > Hello EveryoneI recently joined Amsat because I felt like a bit of a > > hypocrite for complaining about things, and not doing my part to > > change them. One thing that does bug me is the HEO satellites having > > microwave uplinks and downlinks. I think that will greatly limit the > > clientele that will be able to use these. > > I have head many older hams gripe about LEO satellites and reflect > > back on how back in the day there would be passes up for hours! Many > > of them where using drifty transverters with terrible noise figures, > > turning antennas with tv rotators and no preamp! The argument that I > > have heard > to > > move to mircowave uplinks and downlinks is lower noise, but if it > > worked with them back then, then what's changed? > > Something else to consider is that the microwave spectrum is under > > fire from commercial interest more and more. Why not consider like a > > U/L or > L/U > > transponder? That would bring the envelope a little closer to where > > the average ham could operate with out investing in some serious > > equipment, while keeping the dream of HEO alive for the large > > percentage of > satellite > > operators, and not just a handful? > > Forgive me if Im wrong, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in the pot. > If > > we all would learn to work together as much as we fuss we would be > > making some tracks. Thanks everyone, Andrew N4LAZ > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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HEO
by Andrew Lazenby 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Hello EveryoneI recently joined Amsat because I felt like a bit of a hypocrite for complaining about things, and not doing my part to change them. One thing that does bug me is the HEO satellites having microwave uplinks and downlinks. I think that will greatly limit the clientele that will be able to use these. I have head many older hams gripe about LEO satellites and reflect back on how back in the day there would be passes up for hours! Many of them where using drifty transverters with terrible noise figures, turning antennas with tv rotators and no preamp! The argument that I have heard to move to mircowave uplinks and downlinks is lower noise, but if it worked with them back then, then what's changed? Something else to consider is that the microwave spectrum is under fire from commercial interest more and more. Why not consider like a U/L or L/U transponder? That would bring the envelope a little closer to where the average ham could operate with out investing in some serious equipment, while keeping the dream of HEO alive for the large percentage of satellite operators, and not just a handful? Forgive me if Im wrong, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in the pot. If we all would learn to work together as much as we fuss we would be making some tracks. Thanks everyone, Andrew N4LAZ Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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"Walking and chewing gum at the same time"
by David Reinhart 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

I put together an HEO station on the cheap. I even contributed an article to the Journal on how I did it. If you take your time, shop around, pick up some used gear, and do some work on your own, it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. One problem is we keep talking HEO vs LEO and we forget what used to be in between. The RS birds were very easy to work. They had a much lower Doppler shift than the FM birds and didn't even need a VHF antenna that was steerable in elevation, just azimuth; or even an egg beater with enough power. I used a G5RV and an ARR preamp in the shack along with my HF transceiver for receive. When I got my WAS OSCAR I worked my last state on an RS bird during a <1 minute pass! When I submitted my application for the award, I did some analysis and figured out that over 50% of contacts were on RS birds, mostly RS-10. At a couple of the Symposia I brought up the idea of a VHF/10m satellite built from two sets of multiple cubes, separated by the HF antenna made of spring steel, like measuring tape, with the VHF antennas at the end of one stack. The 10M transmitter in one stack, 2M receiver and control in the other, batteries in both, solar cells all over. Nobody was interested. If you walk to talk price barriers, list price on a new MFJ 2M SSB transceiver is $359, and a CW module is available, too. I used a used Kenwood 2M multimode rig to start with. I didn't contribute a fortune to AO-40, but I put in all I could afford a bit more besides. Not only was I terribly disappointed when it died, I was even more disappointed when everything but LEO seemed to vanish from our goals. Whoever is on the board, I want to see that back! David Reinhart, W4DSR (ex-WA6ILT)

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Is This AMSAT's Future?
by Joe Leikhim 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

There are a myriad of regional clubs that cater to weak signal operations from VHF into microwave bands. SBMS, SVHFS and FLWSS are some I am aware of. The technology for microwave experimentation is as older than ARRL itself. J.C. Bose 60 GHz experiments in the 1890s. I guess what I am saying is that there is no big leap to build or acquire microwave gear suitable for satellites. Perhaps some folks in the weak signal OPs are already AMSAT members or could be enticed. "I'd like to learn more about microwave ham radio. Bob W7OTJ" -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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Fw: HEO
by Robert Bankston 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Andrew, The great thing about AMSAT's GOLF program is the flexible capabilities of its communications payload. Providing options make us more inclusive, rather than forcing you to use a specific band or mode. GOLF-Tee will have a V/u transponder and an SDR-based experimental package to allow a 1 Mbps downlink in the 10 GHz band. https://www.amsat.org/greater-orbit-larger-footprint-an-introduction-to-the… I know you are already V/u capable, so that leaves only the 10GHz downlink 38BDU is absolutely correct. TV LNBs are a cheap entry point to receive X-band. Unfortunately, U.S. satellite TV frequencies are different then the rest of the World, so we have more of a challenge. We will have to purchase from overseas or find something locally. DirectTV's International World products look promising. Their DTV36LNB is capable of 10GHz RX, using a 436 MHz IF. The LNB is running about $10 USD and a companion 36" dish for $60. QO-100 has proven that Hams will always rise up and share or offer affordable communication alternatives. If there is a cheaper and better way of doing it, we will collectively find a way to do it. Robert, KE4AL

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My Ballot arrived - Now what? Something to consider.
by john＠papays.com 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

One of my ham radio friends asked me a few weeks ago, "What is going on with AMSAT?" It's nothing short of an all out civil war. And it is nasty and it's tearing us apart. With so many posts and so many twists and turns, it is hard to determine the root cause of the War. You have to stand way back to have any chance of finding out. If you take the time, the real issues becomes clear. The War on the amsat-bb seemed to subside a few days ago when members started talking about the ballots they were receiving in the mail. Maybe the thought was, if I just cast my vote, the problem will go away. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Patrick and Michelle are not on the ballot and they will still be on the Board after the election is over. My ballot and the candidate's statements arrived yesterday. And so did the oversize postcard sent out by 3 of the candidates. I read the statements and have been reading the candidate's comments on other social media platforms. Some of the candidates talked about some of the War issues. Some said they would like to see regular Board meetings. One candidate posted that he would cast the third vote required to demand General Board meetings be held regularly! That's about as bold as it gets in the candidate's statements. The same person promised to do some other things as well if elected; some helpful and some not, in my opinion. But at least he said them.. A while back, a member made a post about who he would vote for. He documented everyone's credentials, experience, past efforts with AMSAT along with comments about personal interactions, if any. Those are good things to consider. But what about the future? What issues does the candidate deem important and how does he or she plan to deal with them? To me. the most important issue for AMSAT is to find a way to bring our Civil War to an end. And that would include negotiating an agreement with all parties that will restore civility and respect for all members, a culture that is open to all ideas regardless of who is suggesting them, as much transparency as the law permits along with fiscal responsibility and accountability. For the past week I've pondered how to do this and came up with a plan that has a chance of working. But I'm not running for a Board position (and never will) so I will defer to the candidates to come up with their own ideas. I challenge each candidate to address the issue and detail a plan to deal with it. Forget the general statements. There are things that must happen for the War to end. And if someone with a high school education and few accomplishments can do it, all of you should be able to solve this problem with ease. My vote will go to the candidates with the best plans. I urge others to wait a bit before casting their votes. Let's see what happens! 73, John K8YSE

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ANS-204 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT Partners with UMaine's Wise-Net Lab to Develop Maine's First Small Satellite
by Paul Stoetzer 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-204 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. You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans In this edition: * AMSAT Partners with UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab to Develop Maine's First Small Satellite SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-204 ANS-204 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 204.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE July 22, 2020 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-204.01 AMSAT Partners with UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab to Develop Maine's First Small Satellite The University of Maine Wireless Sensing Laboratory (WiSe-Net Lab) and AMSAT have signed an agreement to collaborate on building and operating MESAT1, Maine’s first small satellite, to be launched in space in the next three years. MESAT1 is Maine's first CubeSat — one of 18 small research satellites selected by NASA to carry auxiliary payloads into space between 2021– 23. It is part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative that provides opportunities for nanosatellite science and technology payloads built by universities, schools and nonprofit organizations to ride share on space launches. UMaine’s WiSe-Net Lab, established in 2005, is involved in aerospace and space research. The lab was founded by Ali Abedi, KB1VJV, assistant vice president for research and director of the Center for Undergraduate Research. Lab researchers have developed the first wireless sensor network for NASA’s lunar habitation project and launched wireless leak-detection to the International Space station. The MESAT1 initiative will enable K–12 students and teachers in Maine to access space data for educational and research purposes, and encourage students to pursue STEM careers. AMSAT will provide a Linear Transponder Module (LTM) along with integration and operational support for MESAT1. AMSAT's LTM incorporates a VHF/UHF telemetry beacon, command receiver, and linear transponder. It will be available for radio amateurs worldwide to use when the satellite is commissioned. AMSAT President Clayton Coleman, W5PFG, celebrated the announcement. "This is a great day for AMSAT and UMaine's Wise-Net Lab. This partnership is a true win-win for both education and the amateur radio community. The collaborative effort under AMSAT's engineering and operations teams has once again succeeded to bring another opportunity to AMSAT." [ANS thanks AMSAT and UMaine's WiSe-Net Lab 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. President's Club donations may be made at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-PresClub. 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. Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/ 73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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Dual band cavity filter?
by Robert Bruninga 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

Many of us use dual band radios but when operating on mountains or hills we need a front end cavity filter. The DCI dual band helical filter is ideal but I just learned it is $530! I'm starting to visualize a cavity filter made out of a piece of aluminum drain pipe. With a capacitive screw at the top for tuning VHF and a smaller one about 1/3rd the way up for UHF. My theory is that the lower UHF capacitance will be at a UHF high-Z point and will tune the UHF nicely and the one at the top will tune the VHF nicely. Of course with very much interaction. Unfortunately for our annual Golden Packet Event, the 3rd harmonic of our APRS VHF operating frequency is at 432 and our use of APRS UHF talking freq at 445.925 is quite away away. Maybe if such a single cavity design could work, we could use the event's UHF voice coordination frequency closer to the 3rd harmonic to make the filter easier or possible to tune dual band (Though we night then also Desense voice with every packet). I want it to buildable from Home Depot and common tools. Wont be as good as the $530 DCI filter, but maybe close enough for our event. It wont be robust and it wont be quality, but might work for us AND amsat dual band operators in the field. my big assumption is that a 1/4 wave cavity filter will also work on its 3rd harmonic? We only need to knock down QRM to prevent desense. Anyone have cheaper than $530 solutions? Bob

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"Walking and chewing gun at the same time"
by Michael Tondee 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

So now the line is that an HEO or a GEO, besides being expensive to launch, will be difficult and expensive for the average ham to acquire the equipment for so we should just forget about it? Is that what I'm reading? The hams I once knew, never backed down from a technical challenge. By all accounts it wasn't exactly "easy" to build an AO-40 station but a whole bunch of hams managed to get it done. There was a time when generating and receiving an SSTV signal was an enormously involved process but somehow the early innovators in the field got it done. Now it's one of the more simple and inexpensive things to do. Hams have always overcome technical challenges. It's what we do, or we used to do it anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong but AMSAT used to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. We had AO-40 and a myriad of other sats with varying degrees of challenge to working them. I don't think anyone is saying that we should just abandon the so called "easy sat" concept. Far from it. If that's what you enjoy, then more power to you but there is a large number of people out here that want something more than that. We enjoy the challenge. It's what drew us to this side of the hobby in the first place. Why can't we do both? We used to do that back when I was an enthusiastic member of this organization and I think it can be done again. I wouldn't still be here on this list hoping and praying for a change in it's direction and a return to it's former glory and status if I didn't. 73, Michael W4HIJ

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"Walking and chewing gun at the same time"
by Joe Leikhim 22 Jul '20

22 Jul '20

YUP, WHAT HE SAID RIGHT THERE BELOW: "So now the line is that an HEO or a GEO, besides being expensive to launch, will be difficult and expensive for the average ham to acquire the equipment for so we should just forget about it? Is that what I'm reading? The hams I once knew, never backed down from a technical challenge. By all accounts it wasn't exactly "easy" to build an AO-40 station but a whole bunch of hams managed to get it done. There was a time when generating and receiving an SSTV signal was an enormously involved process but somehow the early innovators in the field got it done. Now it's one of the more simple and inexpensive things to do. Hams have always overcome technical challenges. It's what we do, or we used to do it anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong but AMSAT used to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. We had AO-40 and a myriad of other sats with varying degrees of challenge to working them. I don't think anyone is saying that we should just abandon the so called "easy sat" concept. Far from it. If that's what you enjoy, then more power to you but there is a large number of people out here that want something more than that. We enjoy the challenge. It's what drew us to this side of the hobby in the first place. Why can't we do both? We used to do that back when I was an enthusiastic member of this organization and I think it can be done again. I wouldn't still be here on this list hoping and praying for a change in it's direction and a return to it's former glory and status if I didn't. 73, Michael W4HIJ" -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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