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Norms Rotor Repair
by Emily Clarke 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

In the process of getting the U-110 working (which temporarily seems to be the case) Mike KA2AEV sent me a link to a place called "Norms Rotor Repair" which I was previously unaware of. I thought it would be good to post it here for posterity. This isn't a commercial endorse, just pointing out a potential resource for folks. http://www.rotorservice.com/ 73, Emily --------------------------------- N1DID formerly W0EEC - CM87tm Support Project OSCAR - http://www.projectoscar.net

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Re: AO-51 back in mode J-FM (and VERY busy)
by Zachary Schrempp 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

Nope, the alligators are the ones that are transmitting without listening. I'm sure you're listening if you are making contacts! :) 73, Zach On 9/4/06, Tim Tapio <k4shf(a)k4shf.com> wrote: > Hope I'm not an alligator with my 15 watts into a discone <smile>. > > 73 de Tim, K4SHF > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On > Behalf Of Zachary Schrempp > Sent: Monday, September 04, 2006 6:40 PM > To: Ernie Howard > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; John Mock > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 back in mode J-FM (and VERY busy) > > I have noticed that most of the trouble seems to be powerful alligator > stations that cannot hear the downlink and boost their uplink power to > very high levels while calling long CQs. This wipes out those of us > trying to make contacts with HTs. > > On the whole I have found that regular satellite operators are very > courteous and keep their contacts short, allowing everybody a chance > to use the satellite. > > 73 - Zach KM7I > > On 9/4/06, Ernie Howard <w8eh-Ernie(a)cinci.rr.com> wrote: > > > > > > John Mock wrote: > > > While 'standing on the soapbox', i'd say that i'd like to encourge folks > to > > > use the high power mode to let stations who have trouble hearing SO-50 > or > > > AO-51 to work satellites and get started. I would hope that folks who > use > > > mode J-FM on a regular basis would use coastal/oceanic passes, or SO-50, > to > > > say hello to their friends and/or talk at length about the weather. > > > > > > Please don't send them over to SO-50 to 'talk at length'. Too much of that > > is observed sometimes on the weekends now. :) > > > > Part of the trouble that I observed with AO-51 is some stronger stations > > (without PL) or illegal cordless phones, are blanking out the uplink. I > had > > trouble after the switch to V/U. I usually run 2 watts to a CP KLM beam. > > Even with the rig boosted up to 45 watts, I couldn't overcome > > whatever/whoever was blanking out the sat most of the time. Out of two > > passes this morning, I made only one contact. Lots of stations on, but > only > > the strongest seemed to make it over whatever was blocking us. Strange > that > > I didn't have that trouble at all when it was in V/S mode earlier. > > > > Ernie W8EH > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > -- > Zachary Schrempp, KM7I > Ex KE7EYQ > AMSAT #36023 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > -- Zachary Schrempp, KM7I Ex KE7EYQ AMSAT #36023

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AO-51 back in mode J-FM (and VERY busy)
by John Mock 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

AO-51 is in high power mode J-FM this morning. I'm not sure if it's because it's a long weekend, in high power mode, or just off for awhile, but it was VERY crowded this morning. There were several interesting new or uncommon stations on, but they could not be worked at all QRP. I suspect they were having trouble as well. Eventually, folks did figure it out and paused to wait for a new/uncommon station to answer. It might be my own prejudices (as i haven't listened to the recording yet), but earlier in the pass, it seemed like it was mostly the 'regulars' working a few new-ish stations and each other. While 'standing on the soapbox', i'd say that i'd like to encourge folks to use the high power mode to let stations who have trouble hearing SO-50 or AO-51 to work satellites and get started. I would hope that folks who use mode J-FM on a regular basis would use coastal/oceanic passes, or SO-50, to say hello to their friends and/or talk at length about the weather. Alas, it is these conditions that discourage me from making my nantenna design widely available, as things are like this only discourage and frustrate new users, and easier access to mode J-FM might only make this worse. On the other hand, SO-50 has definitely seen more usage and interesting stations do pop up over the 'States, especially on transcontinental passes. So especially this week, give SO-50 a try, and try to show some restraint on AO-51 so new folks can take advantage of high power mode. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. I had mail to AMSAT-BB bounce this weekend, but retrying ten minutes later succeeded. You might try the same thing if your mail gets returned.

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Amateur Radio Awareness Day in Sacramento, CA
by Carl Schultz 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

Dear AMSAT members, A small announcement about our activity: On September 16th, 2006 North Hills Radio Club and others will sponsor: What is Amateur Radio (Day) in Southside park, 7th and T streets, Sacramento, CA. This is our effort for ARRL's Amateur Awareness Day on 9/16/06, during September 2006, National Preparedness Month. We will have several demonstrations of the various operating modes of Amateur radio, including satellite. While this is a club event, we are asking any operators that can visit or help operate, to please come by and do so. All clubs and Amateurs, and the public is invited. There will be the Red Cross emergency van, ARES/RACES, State OES, demonstrations of: HF, CW, IRLP, ATV, Satellite (handheld and larger antennas), HVY/UHF repeaters, Weak Signal operations. While not a designated Special Event Station, We will have K6IS (club call) will be on the air and special QSL cards will be sent to all stations worked on any mode or frequency. Of course there will be preparedness demonstrations and samples of home "go packs" for the public and for the Radio Amateur. More information at k6is.org Thanks, come on out if you are near here. 73, Carl, WF6J ---------------------- Carl Schultz, WF6J CM98io Sacramento wf6j(a)sbcglobal.net (916) 366-7408 North Hills Radio Club K6IS/r Trustee, ARRL AMSAT, SWOT 3465, WSWSS 588

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XE2AT NEW GRIDS !!!!!!
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

Hi boys tomorrow Tuesday 5th I will fly to a little town close to the DL75/76 boundary. I will try if the pasangers are in time to be in both pass of AO51 1434 and 1612 UTC, cross your fingers :-) GL to all 73 de Al XE2AT Ps I have almost 15 QSLs to answer , sorry about delay but I have some problems with the printer, I will send back soon, be patience :-) my status is now 99.9 in answer the QSLs _________________________________________________________________ Platica con tus amigos en linea con MSN Messenger http://messenger.t1msn.com.mx/

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9k6 satellite signal source SO-33
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

I was playing around with my 9k6 digital equipment today, and found SO-33 is a pretty decent signal source when AO-51 and GO-32 are not around. Not much to see, but will serve in a pinch. SEDSAT-1 > TIME-1 :Uptime is 001/13:25:00 SEDSAT-1 > -1 SEDSAT-1 > TIME-1 :Uptime is 001/13:27:00 SEDSAT-1 > -1 [SAT-1 > j:|,-96: SEDSAT-1 > TIME-1 :Uptime is 001/13:28:00 SEDSAT-1 > -1 SEDSAT-1 > TIME-1 :Uptime is 001/13:29:00 SEDSAT-1 > -1 Z>wSAT-1 > @Sjx-64: SEDSAT-1 > TIME-1 :Uptime is 001/13:31:00 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT LM 2332

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IC-475 Repair Inquiry
by Roy 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

I am having a problem in the PLL section of my IC-475 radio. It doesn't appear to be the classical "bad trimmer capacitor" problem seen in a Google search for Icom Radios. In my case the 30.72mHz Reference Oscillator, Q17, is not operating. I would like to hear direct from anyone else having that problem. I would also like to find out how to access the Icom Service Bulletins/Notes for these radios. I used to be able to go directly to a library of these notes but they seem to have either walled them off from direct access or I am not searching in the right URLs now. -- Roy -- W0SL

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Miscopied call
by Tim Tapio 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

I had an N3 station call me this morng.I wrote down N3PQC in FN21 (PA). I either transposed letters or got the whole thing wrong.. Could the station please give me the correct call? I haven't been able to pick it out from the tape. Only my third contact. 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04

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(no subject)
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

Is ao27 back ?

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External sequencer with the IC-910H
by Stan,WA1ECF 04 Sep '06

04 Sep '06

Hello the NET: A sequencer is needed to properly transition the PA, IPA, transverter, transceiver, and preamplifier when going from RX to TX and TX to RX. The objective is to add a very short time delay to avoid sending QRO RF power into the preamplifier or into an open, just closing relay contact, like "hot switching" which significantly reduces contact life. I use my IC-706MK2 transceiver with a Lunar Link QRO amp for terrestrial modes. These techniques are applicable to any transceiver, PA, IPA preamp configuration. Just different microphone connectors are used. I apply the same techniques to the FT-847 and the FT-1000MP (IF rig). DEMI offers a sequencer kit at about 35$US, Advanced Receiver Research, SSB, JWM engineering, LNA technologies, W1GHZ, and others also offer non kit versions. The DEMI design uses relays with a 2 amp contact rating, others can be much less. All have their unique variations. I grab the microphone PTT line, before it gets to the radio, route it to the sequencer input, then take the sequenced outputs: DC power to the preamp and bypass RF relays, 2 each SPDT legal limit rated RF relays PTT, ground to TX, to the QRO PA, PTT, ground to TX, to the IPA (or transverter) PTT ground to TX, to the transceiver For RX to TX, preamp and transfer relay power is dropped, bypassing the preamplifier time delay ~ 250 milliseconds in the unmodified DEMI sequencer PA TX is enabled time delay, ~ 250 milliseconds IPA/transverter TX is enabled time delay, ~ 250 milliseconds transceiver TX is enabled for SSb , CW, FM, whatever modulation This timing constant, in the DEMI sequencer, is a RC network and can be modified for a faster time delay. For TX to RX, The sequence is reversed. Some sequencers simultaneously change all output states, without a sequenced delay. Most sequencers allow enough flexibility to configure PTT ground to TX, or PTT +V to TX Mostly with "dry"relay contact closures for a real 0.00V on grounding, unlike a solid state switch. I put the sequencer in a diecast box with a 4 pole multi position mechanical switch to route the sequencer outputs. pole #1 is for local indicator LEDS to show what band I am controlling. pole #2 for the preamp/bypass relay power pole #3 for the PA PTT control pole #4 for the IPA/transverter PTT control The transceiver PTT is always the same, and not switched. Your configuration may vary. Avoid any break in CW keying. always force TX mode (with a manual PTT switch), before using CW One switch position per band. Stan, W1LE FN41sr Cape Cod

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