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

Special Callsign 4A15DXXE
by Russ Kinner 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Some of you may have heard a unique callsign on the FM birds 4A15DXXE. It is Grupo DXXE 15th Anniversary Special Event Station which will be operating all year. They QSL via LotW only. More info: http://www.dxxe.org/4a15dxxe I worked them last night on AO-92. Rusty WA8ZID

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AMSAT Election
by Bruce 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Thank you to all the members that nominated me for the AMSAT Board of Directors which was way more than the minimum 5 required. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Bruce Paige, KK5DO. An AMSAT Life Member, I have been on the board multiple times since I became a life member in 1993. I have also been the AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards since 2001. Please take the time to make an informed decision in this year's election. My bio and passion for ham radio can be found at the links below. I encourage you to read my candidate statement at https://www.upwardtoheo.com/biographies/bruce-paige-kk5do I've also written some more information about why I'm running for the Board at https://www.upwardtoheo.com/updates/kk5dos-passion-for-ham-radio Former AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, explains why Mark, N8MH, Paul, N8MH, and I are the best choices in this election at https://www.upwardtoheo.com/updates/former-amsat-president-barry-baines-wd4… 73, Bruce, KK5DO

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New approach, in my blog
by Robert McGwier 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

I am going to be writing about my AMSAT board candidacy in my blog. Any corrections, please send them. If you are an AMSAT member, I would appreciate your vote. https://n4hy.blogspot.com/2020/07/amsat-bod-elections-2020.html -- Bob McGwier Founder, Federated Wireless, Inc Founder and Technical Advisor, HawkEye 360, Inc Adjunct Professor Virginia Tech Former Chief Scientist: The Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology Senior Member IEEE, Facebook: N4HYBob, ARS: N4HY

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Re: [amsat-bb] Candidate W4EB Inquiry
by Michael Tondee 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Some people who do volunteer or charity work for an organization or make contributions do so anonymously and without much fanfare. Recognition is not why they do it. They are content to work behind the scenes quietly and don't feel the need to shout from the rooftops LOOK AT ME! Still others, may not do anything besides pay dues for years and then feel some sort of personal call to action and start to speak out where they see change needed and then maybe they even run for office in said organization. I can't speak for W4EB and what his motivations are. Personally though, I've been quiet about the stagnation of this organization for years and voted with my wallet by not supporting it. That's changed and now I feel the need to speak out. I will say that all the candidates running are braver than I am because I would not care to subject myself to the type of veiled attacks you're making. The fact someone chooses not to play silly games of one upmanship with you speaks volumes alright. It shows of what good character they are and I hope the voters in the coming election realize that. It's too late for me to join and vote now but now I'm wishing I had. 73, Michael, W4HIJ Message: 7 Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 00:14:24 -0700 From: Clint Bradford<clintbradford(a)mac.com> To: AMSAT BB<amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Candidate WE4B Inquiry Message-ID:<CC800069-0D58-4C33-8609-2E5CE3CC236F(a)mac.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Thanks - your non-response speaks volumes. Clint Bradford K6LCS > On Jul 17, 2020, at 4:16 AM, Clint Bradford<clintbradford(a)mac.com> wrote: > > Candidate WE4B - please list for us the projects you have volunteered for > for AMSAT-NA. Specifically for AMSAT-NA - and not just general satellite > contacts. Say, for the past 10 years. > > Many thanks. > > Clint Bradford K6LCS

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Candidte WE4B Inquiry
by Clint Bradford 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Candidate WE4B - please list for us the projects you have volunteered for for AMSAT-NA. Specifically for AMSAT-NA - and not just general satellite contacts. Say, for the past 10 years. Many thanks. Clint Bradford K6LCS

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GOLF Equipment
by Clint Bradford 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

What is anticipated as a “starter” station to wotk the first GOLF satellite to be deployed? Clint Bradford K6LCS

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Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
by Clint Bradford 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Why are you comparing the legal expenditures with membership fees? Di you discover that membership fees were used in any manner for those expenses? If not, then why don’t we compare that amount with, say, Apples or Watermelons? > On Jul 17, 2020, at 12:46 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > >> Now we learn that the expenditure is over 16k. That is 363 memberships, if this retired engineer's math is correct.

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Websites Down ? amsat.org and parens.com
by Robert MacHale 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Am I the only one having trouble accessing these websites? If this is an attack against either group - I strongly disapprove of this type of hacking. Bruce - is everything okay? Robert MacHale. KE6BLR Ham Radio License. http://www.aprsat.com/predict . http://www.spaceCommunicator.club . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration

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request detailed system diagram for remoting a satellite station
by David J. Schmocker 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Hello, Does anyone have a detailed system diagram (or interconnect drawing) showing how they have remoted a satellite station please? Specifically which parts of the system require IP-addressable power on/off, etc. I am in the process of constructing a new satellite station for U/V linear use at Milwaukee Area Technical College (where I teach). Our Data Communication and Networking class introduces satellite technology which I plan to demonstrate live. Because the hours of access to the building are limited, and because we teach Data Communication and Networking from two campuses (but have Satellite station at only one), remoting this station would be desirable. I have an APC IP-addressable power strip (117vac) and some power relays if we need 220vac switched, an IC-9700, two high-power switchable LNAs (2m and 70cm), antennas (20 element RHCP for 2m and 16 Turn G3RUH Helix for 70cm), and a Yaesu 5500 rotor with Green Heron Az/El controller (I'll bring Heliax from home to get to the rooftop). Hopefully our city campus location is not overly noisy. I plan to construct the HEO-ready station as soon as I can be back on campus to do this. One specific area of concern: how to pass audio over internet. I've heard Skype and some other vehicles have problematic latency but I have yet to remote any station to use 'near real-time audio' for CW or SSB QSOs so I lack experience with this. The satellite computer (controlling antennas and managing Doppler) is a Mac mini running MacLoggerDX and MacDoppler software. If helpful, I have two surplus new Raspberry Pi 3s (new and unused) that could be repurposed for part of this if helpful. You'll be happy to know I've been reading the mail and I know to first listen and test so we Tx with minimum power. But as a satellite newby, I'm sure I'll need abundant guidance when we get QRV. Any detailed system diagrams (could be off-list directly to me) showing how you built and configured such a remote station satellite system would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very 73, Dave KJ9I KD9BOG (at work)

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Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
by Robert Bankston 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

In response to the OP <Why are you comparing the legal expenditures with membership fees?> The simple answer is THEY are trying to evoke anger in the electorate, so THEY can take control of AMSAT. Go back and read the intitial allegations in Michelle's and Patrick's "election edition" director reports. See how their lines of attack change each time the true facts are revealed. Their storyline has transformed from illegal expenditures to unwise expenditures. Now go back and read AMSAT's explanation of legal expenses. You will see that there were legitimate legal questions before the Board - question that were not sought by the AMSAT, but, either a necessary part of their mission or forced upon them by their accusers. Having to expend scarce recources on legal counsel is unfortunate, but a necessary part of entering into contractual obligations and providing a safe workplace for your volunteers. Robert, KE4AL

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