- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Lightning protection
by K5OE 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

K9STH wrote: > Sorry, but NFPA NEC (National Electrical Code) definitely requires that ALL > grounding electrodes MUST be connected together! There are VERY good reasons > for doing this... Yeah, this is a requirement that has vexed designers of complex electrical systems for years. One solution, generally meeting this requirement, is to go ahead an utilize separate ground rods and tie the rods together with a (large) grounding cable--usually pvc insulated cable for corrosion protection. In industrial installations these connections are often made so they can be disconnected in the event of differential currents flowing and causing problems with communication/signal systems. Much like K8BL's recommendations, I too have used #10 AWG for the ground from the rotor/mast to the ground rod, and hoped and prayed the lightning liked it (if ever needed). This is especially important for a non-earthed installation like a tripod on a roof. I have been fortunate to never having to find out... 73, Jerry, M0GOE

1 0

Lightning protection
by David Carr 17 Oct '13

17 Oct '13

Hi group, I have a new wooden outbuilding and am thinking of putting a rotator on the roof. What are the best practices for lightning protection for a setup like this? I'm not as worried about the equipment as I am the building catching on fire. There are some things inside that are very important to me. Thanks for the help, David KD5QGR

4 3

Need help with Kenpro KR600X Internal ring gear
by EC4TR Luis 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

Hi all, I have a set elevation-azimuth Kempro KR-5600B, for some time, the azimuth rotor broke down to me, namely the internal ring gear, is a very common part is the same for several models kempro, Yaesu and daiwa. The ring gear is marked as 7501-005 http://www.ure.es/media/kunena/attachments/8171/daiwadr7500engranajes.jpg Any help to locate part is welcome. 73's Luis EC4TR

1 0

FUNcube-1 has arrived in Russia
by Graham Shirville 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

The exciting news is that FUNcube-1 CubeSat is now en-route to the Yasny launch site. It was flown on a special flight from Rotterdam yesterday and it cleared through Russian customs this morning. Well before the launch date, Dashboard software, to decode and display the telemetry, will be made available for download, this will function on any windows pc or laptop using either a Dongle or a 2 metre SSB capable receiver. Additionally a set of pre-launch keps will also be distributed. This launch will carry more than ten spacecraft using the amateur satellite service and one of them will, itself, later deploy up to nine CubeSats and PocketCubes so there should be plenty of new signals to listen for after this launch More info about FUNcube and some pictures can be seen here www.funcube.org.uk best 73 Graham G3VZV

1 0

Re: Lightning protection
by jmfranke 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

The best practice varies from region to region. Omission of a single factor can negate any insurance claims, so the best practice is to hire the services of a licensed electrician who would be familiar with the local electrical code. The insurance company should be able to provide references. John WA4WDL -------------------------------------------------- From: "David Carr" <dc(a)dcarr.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2013 4:10 PM To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Lightning protection > Hi group, > > I have a new wooden outbuilding and am thinking of putting a rotator on > the roof. What are the best practices for lightning protection for a > setup like this? > > I'm not as worried about the equipment as I am the building catching on > fire. There are some things inside that are very important to me. > > Thanks for the help, > David KD5QGR > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

1 0

Re: Need help dismantling KR-500
by Gregory Beat 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

KenPro KR-500 User Manual Toyomura Electronics, Co. Ltd. http://www.comunicacio.net/eb3tc/esquemes/2009/kr-500_user_manual.pdf Disassembly and Repair of KR-500 Elevation Rotator Photos of Proper Steps http://www.pa3guo.com/kr500.html Yaesu purchased KenPro rotators from Toyomura Electronics in the 1990s. CONTACT your Yaesu UK office for Repair Parts (imported from Yaesu HQ in Japan). w9gb --- Sent from iPad 3

1 1

QB50 satellites apply for IARU frequency coordination
by M5AKA 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

QB50 satellites apply for IARU frequency coordination http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/13/qb50-satellites-apply-for-frequency-coordina… Also on the AMSAT-UK site: 50DollarSat PocketQube Satellite http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/16/50dollarsat-pocketqube-satellite/ CAMSAT DX Party October 19-28 http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/16/camsat-dx-party-october-19-28/ UK Amateur Radio Licence Review http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/15/ofcom-amateur-radio-licence-review/ UK High Altitude Balloon launch at BATC Convention http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/15/hab-launch-at-batc-convention/ UK Daily Mail Newspaper: PocketQube Satellites http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/12/daily-mail-newspaper-pocketqube-satellites/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

1 0

Need help dismantling KR-500
by Richard Limebear 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

Its been up on the mast 20+ years but still turns ok. I now have it off the mast and, before I sell it, I'd like to clean it up, replace the grease etc. Loosening the screws has been quite a journey, strong wrench and lots of blowlamp. Before I finally open it up I recall that someone had put dismantling instructions online somewhere but I can't find them; grateful for a pointer and/or other tips. Also which grease to use (USA greases are not available here in the UK). 73 Richard G3RWL

5 5

Re: UT1FG heard FO-29
by Andrew Glasbrenner 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

> >For those interested in such things, I clearly heard Yuri on FO-29 this evening for a minute or so, but couldn't make the QSO. PV8DX later told me he was in FF35. Now at anchor in FF46, offshore San Antonio, Chile, and in the log via AO-7. 73, Drew KO4MA

2 1

Symposium - VUCC/WAS card checking
by Bruce 16 Oct '13

16 Oct '13

I will be at the symposium friday, saturday and sunday (sunday is the trip to the uss texas so not much time). I can check anyone's cards for VUCC satellite or WAS satellite. Download, the application from the ARRL for vucc have a computer generated list in grid square order of your cards with grid in column 1 and callsign in column 2 (cards sorted in grid square order to match list, put multiple grid cards at the very end of the stack) for was have a computer generated list in alphabetical order by state in column 1 and callsign in column 2 (cards sorted in state order to match list, put multiple state cards at end of stack) have a payment for the arrl either by entering your credit card info on the application or have a check made out to the arrl for the appropriate fee. i will then check your cards and return them to you and send your application and payment to the arrl. find me near the table where martha will be. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (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

1 0

Re: [Part-L] CUSat and Falcon 9 R/B (2nd Stage) Los Angeles Sunday Evening Pass
by Bryce Salmi 15 Oct '13

15 Oct '13

Thanks to the Jan, PE0SAT <http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/>, for pointing out that AAUSAT3 has a CW beacon on 437.425MHZ and was directly north during the pass of CUSat Sunday night. I went back in time on my satellite tracking program (Linux) and sure enough the cubesat launched in February pumping out 1W CW was there! As you can see in the lower left “radar” display, AAUSAT3 and CUSat were close enough for my handheld antenna to easily pick both up. AAUSAT3 Radio Information http://www.space.aau.dk/aausat3/index.php?n=Ham.HAMAndRadioInfo Correct CW Decoding of Sunday’s Pass: OZ3CUB B7.4 T34 (EOM) Which meant that the battery voltage was 7.4V and temperature was 34C. Simple but fun! *GPredict Pass Screenshot:* http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10294137536/ Bryce Salmi KB1LQC

1 0

Skybox Imaging ready for SkySat launch
by M5AKA 15 Oct '13

15 Oct '13

This article reports that SkySat-1 has started its journey to Dombarovsky near Yasny in the Russian Federation for a November 21 launch. SkySat-2 is currently slated for a launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on February 20. http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/37671commercial-earth-observat… Both of these launches will also carry a number of Amateur Radio satellites, some with linear transponders. The Yasny launch should see the largest number of Amateur Radio satellites ever launched on a single rocket. I believe the total may be close to 20 (some of the satellites are themselves deploying other sats) so there should be plenty of signals to listen out for. http://amsat-uk.org/2012/05/25/italian-microsat-to-deploy-six-amateur-radio… 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

Re: Need help dismantling KR-500
by Richard Limebear 15 Oct '13

15 Oct '13

Thanks to all the kind folks who responded. All I need now are the product names of greases available in the UK 73 Richard G3RWL

1 0

CUSat and Falcon 9 R/B (2nd Stage) Los Angeles Sunday Evening Pass
by Bryce Salmi 15 Oct '13

15 Oct '13

Hey All, I figured I’d share some neat stuff I did over the weekend. I’m still working on getting a good satellite capability at my apartment but otherwise I am able to do some basic stuff. I noticed that there was a 89.6 degree elevation (about as straight overhead as they get) last night around 7:49PM, just after dusk. Below are some images and links. First is the output of my satellite tracking program and you can see on the map just how good the pass was as well as the “radar” view on the bottom right which is a polar map also indicating the amazing pass overhead. Below that is the 1200 baud APRS telemetry signal from what I believe was CUSat. The APRS was a bit lower than the beacon frequency but maybe I read the Cornell website incorrectly. The signal obviously had Doppler shift and 1 minute intervals of transmission as expected. The third image is of a CW beacon signal also from what I believe was CUSat which occurred extremely close to the CUSat beacon frequency and had obvious Doppler shift too as shown in the image (it’s moving left, lower in frequency as it moved away from me). I made my best attempt to decode the Morse Code (I’m a bit rusty, but I think I got it) and it appears to be telemetry? I was hoping for a callsign! If you would like to listen to this CW (Morse Code) beacon, I decoded the audio here <http://snd.sc/1hQ17II>. *** I've later found out that there is absolutely no CW beacon on CUSat from some coworkers who helped build CUSat in college*** The last two images are from AGI Satellite Toolkit and show the 3D view of the orbit as it went over LA. We’re pretty sure we actually saw Falcon 9 Stage 2 (Falcon 9 R/B) as it was leading CUSat and was a bright moving object in the sky just in-front of where we expected CUSat to be following the exact path. It was apparently bright enough to see in Redondo Beach, CA and the timing puts it in the correct spot to be illuminated by the sun at that altitude. Amazing Pass: http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10285812794/ APRS From CUSat (2.2W output): http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10285928525/ Some CW Beacon, Not CUSat...(Coworkers helped build CUSat, it has absolutely no CW capabilities) so this was some other bird... http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10285909706/ AGI Satellite Toolkit View of the Pass: http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10285812324/ AGI Satellite Toolkit View Neat Side View of the Orbit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/10286035693/ If anyone has any idea of the CW beacon and what it belongs to I'd love to hear it! I thought it might be Compass-1 (not even sure if it's stil alive, just same freq) but it was nowhere near LA during the pass. Bryce Salmi KB1LQC

1 0

UT1FG heard FO-29
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Oct '13

15 Oct '13

For those interested in such things, I clearly heard Yuri on FO-29 this evening for a minute or so, but couldn't make the QSO. PV8DX later told me he was in FF35. 73, Drew KO4MA

1 0

HamTV on the ISS Yahoo Group
by Stefan Wagener 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Hi folks, A Yahoo group specifically for HamTV on the ISS is active. Hopefully this will help everyone to get started on receiving DATV form the ISS. http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/HamTV See you in the group, 73, Stefan VE4NSA

1 0

Re: [wsjtgroup] Help with using a SignaLink with WSJT
by Ted 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Hi Dave, Having the same problem here. I did have the rx working a few days ago as I was able to adjust the rx db setting. Now, nothing works and the sound mixer is not seeing the program. Wonder if baud speed has anything to do with it. I’m running 57.6 for my HRD setup. Does WSJT need a slower rate? Also, in SpecJT, if I attempt to bring up ‘rx volume control’, I get a message : WSJT cannot access mixer input control on this platform. Please invoke system mixer directly.” (running win7) I’m running v9.5. Maybe I should go back to 9.0. I used to have it running on that version Frustrating 73 K7TRK From: wsjtgroup(a)yahoogroups.com [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave Garner Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013 5:02 AM To: wsjtgroup(a)yahoogroups.com Subject: [wsjtgroup] Help with using a SignaLink with WSJT Hello to the yahoo WSJT group, I am having trouble getting my new SignaLink to work with my WSJT program. I had been running WSJT on my Icom 756 Pro2 with the sound card in my PC but now have a new SignaLink with the UBS connection and with its built in sound card. My program is not "seeing" the SignaLink; no receive. The setup program looks like it is calling for input and output to change to 2 from what I was using. I tried changing it but still no go. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dave K4YRK EM75wv __._,_.___ <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJxbnRvNTFjBF9TAzk3M…> Reply via web post <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20Help%20with%20using%20a%20SignaLink%20with%20WSJT> Reply to sender <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re%3A%20Help%20with%20using%20a%20SignaLink%20with%20WSJT> Reply to group <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlMnZtcGphBF9TAzk3M…> Start a New Topic <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup/message/11857;_ylc=X3oDMTM2bmlwZGEz…> Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: · <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmcXVlc2ltBF9TAz…> New Members 8 <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wsjtgroup;_ylc=X3oDMTJlNmtzdnY3BF9TAzk3MzU5Nz…> Visit Your Group To unsubscribe, send an email to: wsjtgroup-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com WSJTGroup Homepage --> http://www.wsjtgroup.org/ <http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkMThjNW03BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzU3N…> Yahoo! Groups Switch to: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Change%20Delivery%20Format:%20Traditional> Text-Only, <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Email%20Delivery:%20Digest> Daily Digest • <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Unsubscribe> Unsubscribe • <http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/> Terms of Use • <mailto:[email protected]?subject=Feedback%20on%20the%20redesigned%20individual%20mail%20v1> Send us Feedback . <http://geo.yahoo.com/serv?s=97359714/grpId=5764254/grpspId=1705063108/msgId…> __,_._,___

2 1

Re: Theoretical Question
by Howie DeFelice 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Most commercial uplinks/downlinks are some form of synchronous data using some form of PSK modulation (BPSK , QPSK, 8PSK etc.) . The approximate data clock rate is known by the receiver. The receiver extracts clock information from the transmitted data stream to synchronize the receivers local clock using a form of phase lock loop. As long as the PLL can acquire and track the downlink clock information, the signal will stay locked and track the doppler change. - Howie AB2S

1 0

space weather
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

M-CLASS FLARE, EARTH-DIRECTED CME: October 13th began with an explosion on the sun. At 00:43 UT, sunspot AR1865 erupted, producing an M1-class solar flare and an Earth-directed CME. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the explosion's flash of extreme UV radiation: Check spaceweather.com Damon

1 0

2013 AMSAT-NA Symposium Presentations
by Alan 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Hi, The list of presentations for the 2013 AMSAT-NA Symposium has been released and may be found here: http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1564http:// 73s, Alan WA4SCA

1 0

Not receiving messages from the AMSA-BB
by i8cvs 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Hi Paul, KB5MU >From day 8 Oct 2013 at 15:01:01-0400 I am not receiving any message from AMSAT-BB The last message I have received is the following one : Re: A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno, george abbott Can you explain to me why ? Is actually AMSAT-BB down for us in Europe ? Thanks for replay. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

looking for person who posted the "Help Wanted" message
by Ron Settle 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Please contact me off list. 73 Ron WM9Q WM9Q(a)arrl.net

1 0

Not reveiving messages from the AMSA-BB
by i8cvs 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

Hi Paul, KB2MU >From day 8 Oct 2013 at 15:01:01-0400 I am not receiving any message from AMSAT-BB The last message I have received is the following one : Re: A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno, george abbott Can you explain to me why ? Is the AMSAT-BB down for us in Europe ? Thanks for replay. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

Fw: [DXMAPS] DXMAPS 2.6 now supports AIS
by i8cvs 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

----- Original Message ----- From: KB2WRD(a)AOL.COM To: DXMAPS(a)yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, October 14, 2013 12:40 AM Subject: Re: [DXMAPS] DXMAPS 2.6 now supports AIS Why are you sending me other peoples posts when I supposedly un subscribed to DXMAPS A while ago? Sincerely Rob K2WRD Hi Rob, K2WRD I have the same problem receiving a lot of spam from DXMAPS without any my request. To day I have unsubscribed but I don't know if this will be succesfull or not. What you suggest to do to solve the problem ? I suppose that many others AMSAT-BB users are receiving daily the same spam messages from DXMAPS Thanks for any suggestion 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

Theoretical Question
by Dave Marthouse 14 Oct '13

14 Oct '13

This isn't a question regarding amateur satellites but it is an interesting theoretical one to pose here and the same laws of physics apply. I know that the higher the frequency that is transmitted from a satellite the larger the Doppler shift will be. The Iridium satellites transmit at around 1.5gHZ. At that frequency I know the Doppler is large. How do they manage to keep the portable handsets on the ground locked to the signal? Are the handsets frequency agile to an extent? How do they achieve frequency lock so that the digital signals are decoded? Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

3 2

High Altitude APRS Balloon over Arabian Sea
by Mani [VU2WMY/KJ6LRS] 13 Oct '13

13 Oct '13

Dear Friends, I'm posting this mail on behalf of Mohan VU2MYH and his colleagues. This morning at 12:30 UT a balloon carrying APRS payload was launched from Hosakote near Bangalore South India. The call sign is VU2MYH and the balloon was tracked successfully since launch till now. But the balloon has unexpectedly into a very long flight and it is currently crossed the Indian coast line on the western side near udupi, a place near to Mangalore and it is still in flight. Though, I'm able to receive the signals till now, but it is not stable, probably due to low voltage for my MixW to decode the telemetry. The last recorded data in my Club station [VU2URC]ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore at 11:41:19 UT indicates the position 13.41.19 N/ 74.18.79 E at an altitude of 64763 feet [19744 meters]. It is very evident that we may not be able to recover the payload, but would like to request our friends if any sailing over Arabian Sea and stations located around east coast of Africa and west of India to listen on to APRS signals on 145.765 Mhz. If signals were heard, the following persons who are mobile since morning and tracking the balloon may kindly be contacted on: Sanjay: +91 888 569 8940 Prasad: +91 974 250 9781 73 de Mani [VU2WMY/KJ6LRS] Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

de K4AMG
by Rich/wa4bue 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

Thank you everyone for the FO 29 "Qs" with our club station - W4FOS. We were operating from the Chesapeake , VA 50th anniversary event. We have pulled up stakes as we have been flooded out by so much rain. God bless Rich W4BUE

1 0

Bob Twiggs' students - Skybox
by Gregory Beat 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

Space News story on SkySat-1 and SkySat-2 being shipped to Russia for upcoming launch. http://www.spacenews.com/article/civil-space/37671skybox-imagings-hopes-hig… "Skybox’s satellites weigh approximately 100 kilograms and are slightly larger than the miniature refrigerators often found in college dormitory rooms. Although the satellites dwarf the 1-kilogram cubesats many of the firm’s executives, including founders Berkenstock and Julian Mann, worked on in the Stanford laboratory — their professor at Stanford, Bob Twiggs, helped to invent the tiny spacecraft — the CubeSat approach is readily apparent at Skybox headquarters. The Skybox design team created satellites capable of gathering 1-meter resolution imagery while eschewing costly features that would raise the price of each satellite." == greg, w9gb

1 0

Chesapeake Water Way Festival de K4AMG
by Rich/wa4bue 12 Oct '13

12 Oct '13

Looking forward to "Qs" with you all today from FM16US. We will try to start early on Oct. !2. Official starting time is 1400 UTC until 2100 UTC. On Sunday 13 we start at 1600 - 2100 UTC. We have a few good passes on AO7, FO29, and VO52. SO50 is always iffy with the images in the TS 2000. Call sign will either be K4AMG or W4FOS. WX CONDX showers for this outside event. God Bless R W4BUE Pres K4AMG.org

1 0

Cornell CUSat Keps?
by Bryce Salmi 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Does anyone know the designator and/or keps for the recently launched CUSat? Maybe I should stick roughly with any of the keps for the recent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket body? My friend worked on CUSat and I'd really like to catch a pass of it and show him it operating in orbit! Thanks, Bryce KB1LQC

4 6

Office Closed
by Martha 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

The AMSAT Office will be closed on Monday, October 14th in observance of Columbus Day. -- 73- Martha

1 0

CO7WT (FL11) on SO-50 today at evening pass
by Pavel Milanes Costa 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Hi to all, I will be this evening on the 1845 local (2245z) pass of SO-50... Cheers and 73

1 0

Yaesu Rotor G5400B
by Les Rayburn 11 Oct '13

11 Oct '13

Picked up a like new Yaesu G5400B Az/El rotor and controller tonight from a friend. I'm thrilled to add to the station, but need some advice on how to best interface this rotor for computer control working with SATPC32. Any quirks, tricks, or other issues I should be aware of before installing? It's going inside the attic, so weatherproofing is a non-issue. As always, grateful for the advice. The satellite community is one of the most generous with sharing information, and as a newcomer I'm thankful. -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

9 8

D STAR AMSAT tonight
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 10 Oct '13

10 Oct '13

https://sites.google.com/site/memphisdstar/d-satellite-amsat-net D STAR AMSAT users net tonight @ 0100 utc on REF 58A (until REF 60B is repaired) Please join us. WA4HFN em55 Damon also check out http://www.starcommgroup.org/index.html GRID GORILLA and 5 in em55 news to come

1 0

Juno Flyby
by M5AKA 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Thanks to those in the JPL Juno team involved in organizing the Hi to Juno event. A video of students at Virginia Tech can be seen at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/09/radio-hams-say-hi-to-juno/ Also on the AMAT-UK site: World Space Week – UKSA Tim Peake Video http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/09/world-space-week-uksa-tim-peake-video/ STRaND-1 talk at RSGB Convention this Sunday http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/08/strand-1-talk-at-rsgb-convention-this-sunday/ Ofcom’s Paul Jarvis to speak at RSGB Convention http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/07/ofcoms-paul-jarvis-to-speak-at-rsgb-conventi… Raspberry Pi at RSGB Convention http://amsat-uk.org/2013/10/09/raspberry-pi-at-rsgb-convention/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

1 0

Say "HI" to Juno !
by Roland Zurmely 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

First "HI" registered on 10 meters band in Brazil: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/hijuno.htm 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

1 0

Office Closed
by Martha 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

The AMSAT Office will be closed tomorrow. We will reopen on Friday, October 11th at 10:00AM EDST -- 73- Martha

1 0

STAR COMM GROUP
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Check us out at http://www.starcommgroup.org/ We are planning a couple of satellite contest in the near future . Details are being worked out for Grid Gorillas and 5 in EM 55 . We need more activity on the birds and we are trying to help Thanks WA4HFN em55 Damon

3 2

Re: A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno
by george abbott 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

I found it. Thank you. > CC: aa5pk(a)suddenlink.net; w5qx-talk(a)lists.rimbachvets.org; starcom-bb(a)star-com.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > From: glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno > Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 15:19:34 -0400 > To: ka1ajf(a)cox.net > > Click "How do I participate" at the link, and it's all there. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Oct 8, 2013, at 3:01 PM, george abbott <ka1ajf(a)cox.net> wrote: > > > > What are the tx and receive frequencies. The link did not provide any useful information! > > > >> From: aa5pk(a)suddenlink.net > >> To: W5QX-Talk(a)lists.rimbachvets.org; starcom-BB(a)star-com.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > >> Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 13:12:12 -0500 > >> Subject: [amsat-bb] A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno > >> > >> Say "Hi" to Juno > >> > >> NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly past Earth on October 9, 2013 to receive a gravity assist from our planet, putting it on > >> course for Jupiter. To celebrate this event, the Juno mission is inviting amateur radio operators around the world to say > >> "HI" to Juno in a coordinated Morse Code message. Juno's radio & plasma wave experiment, called Waves, should be able to > >> detect the message if enough people participate. So please join in, and help spread the word to fellow amateur radio > >> enthusiasts! > >> > >> <http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno/> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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

4 3

More On Falcon 9 "Incident"
by B J 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=1604 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

3 3

Fwd: [sarex] Upcoming ARISS contact with S. K. Seri Suria, Bangsar, Selangor, Malaysia
by Sion Chow Q. C. 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Dear All, I am reforwarding this to the AMSAT-BB reflector in case anyone is interested in this contact. Sorry for the bandwidth. 73, Sion, 9M2CQC Begin forwarded message: > From: "Sion Chow Q. C." <9w2qc(a)9w2qc.net> > Date: October 9, 2013 3:46:22 PM GMT+08:00 > To: sarex(a)amsat.org > Cc: "Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY] Ransom" <kenneth.g.ransom(a)nasa.gov> > Bcc: Sangat Singh <sangatsingh(a)gmail.com>, Richard Everitt <g4zfe(a)g4zfe.com> > Subject: Re: [sarex] Upcoming ARISS contact with S. K. Seri Suria, Bangsar, Selangor, Malaysia > > Dear All, > > We are pleased to inform that interested parties will be able to join this contact via our live webcasting at: > > http://www.angkasa.gov.my/sites/default/files/artikel/attachment/program_te… > > Thank you. > > 73, > Sion Chow Q. C., > 9M2CQC, WQ2C, 9V1QC, JG1XHM, > ex: 9W2QC, AB3IO > > > > On Oct 8, 2013, at 2:40 AM, <n4csitwo(a)bellsouth.net> wrote: > >> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at S. K. Seri Suria, Bangsar, Selangor, Malaysia on 09 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 09:31 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and 9M2RPN. The contact should be audible over Malaysia and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. >> >> >> >> >> >> Our first ARISS contact was made in 2007 when, Malaysia's first Astronaut Shiekh Muzapher went on board ISS. We made 5 direct contacts when, some 80 school children to talked to him and asked questions. Since then it has become highly sought after yearly event which is tied up with the Prime Minister's Space Challenge Trophy. This year 2013 we would be making our 8th yearly contact. Since the schools do not have ground stations, they make use of Satellite Ground Station at National Planetarium established in 1995 under the call sign of 9M2RPN. The schools are the nurseries to produce future astronauts and space scientists. The forthcoming contact in October, 2013 provides the hands on experience and the seeding operation for tomorrow's space scientists. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: >> >> >> >> 1. How far do you have to go to escape gravity? >> >> 2. What is the escape velocity to reach ISS? >> >> 3. When you have achieved orbit what is the first thing that you do? >> >> 4. Is it hard to eat in space? >> >> 5. How does it feel to float in space? >> >> 6. How does one get treated in case of sudden sickness in space? >> >> 7. If there is air leak in ISS what emergency action would be taken? >> >> 8. Can you weigh yourself in weightlessness? >> >> 9. Do you sweat in space? >> >> 10. Can you grow seeds in space? >> >> 11. Can you see other satellites from the ISS? >> >> 12. What time zone do you observe in space? >> >> 13. How many sun rises and sun sets you see in space? >> >> 14. How often you get to speak to your families in space? >> >> 15. How is garbage disposed in space? >> >> 16. How do astronauts train for launch, orbit and reentry? >> >> 17. How would a candle burn in space? >> >> 18. Can you blow your nose in space? >> >> 19. If you sneeze in space do you float backwards? >> >> 20. Can you see stars in daytime when you are in space? >> >> >> >> >> >> PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: >> >> Sign up for the SAREX maillist at >> >> http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex >> >> >> >> Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the >> >> International Space Station (ARISS). >> >> >> >> To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status >> >> >> >> >> >> Next planned event(s): >> >> >> >> TBD >> >> >> >> ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. >> >> >> >> ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). >> >> >> >> Thank you & 73, >> >> David - AA4KN >> >> >> >> >> ---- >> Sent via sarex(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex >

2 1

A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno
by Glenn AA5PK 09 Oct '13

09 Oct '13

Say "Hi" to Juno NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly past Earth on October 9, 2013 to receive a gravity assist from our planet, putting it on course for Jupiter. To celebrate this event, the Juno mission is inviting amateur radio operators around the world to say "HI" to Juno in a coordinated Morse Code message. Juno's radio & plasma wave experiment, called Waves, should be able to detect the message if enough people participate. So please join in, and help spread the word to fellow amateur radio enthusiasts! <http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno/>

3 2

CT7ABD and RS0ISS over Portugal tonight
by Fabiano Moser 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

Hi, I had a nice voice QSO with the ESA Astronaut Luca Parmitano tonigh during a pass over Portugal, and thank him to share with us his experience. I have talk to 11 astronauts before, in more than 30 voice QSO´s, why I still came nervous over few QSO´s? :) Can sound funny but it´s my pleasure to share with you this moment: https://twitter.com/py5rx/status/387682319760257025/photo/1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKT8KTZuyJo best 73 Fabiano CT7ABD

1 0

Re: A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno
by george abbott 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

What are the tx and receive frequencies. The link did not provide any useful information! > From: aa5pk(a)suddenlink.net > To: W5QX-Talk(a)lists.rimbachvets.org; starcom-BB(a)star-com.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Tue, 8 Oct 2013 13:12:12 -0500 > Subject: [amsat-bb] A reminder - Say "Hi" to Juno > > Say "Hi" to Juno > > NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly past Earth on October 9, 2013 to receive a gravity assist from our planet, putting it on > course for Jupiter. To celebrate this event, the Juno mission is inviting amateur radio operators around the world to say > "HI" to Juno in a coordinated Morse Code message. Juno's radio & plasma wave experiment, called Waves, should be able to > detect the message if enough people participate. So please join in, and help spread the word to fellow amateur radio > enthusiasts! > > <http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno/> > > _______________________________________________ > 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

3 2

WD9EWK @ Kingman AZ Hamfest on Saturday (12 October 2013)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 08 Oct '13

08 Oct '13

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Mohave Amateur Radio Club's annual hamfest in Kingman, Arizona, this Saturday (12 October 2013). The hamfest will be at Centennial Park, on 3333 Harrison Street in Kingman. This park is along the north side of the I-40 freeway, between exits 51 (Stockton Hill Road) and 53 (Andy Devine Avenue/AZ-66). The hamfest is scheduled to run from 7am to 3pm (1400-2200 UTC). More information about the hamfest is available from: http://kingmanhamfest.com/ I plan to have WD9EWK on as many satellite passes as possible during the hamfest for on-air demonstrations of satellite operating. The hamfest site is in grid DM25xf, in Mohave County AZ. Please call WD9EWK if you hear me on a pass during the hamfest, and join in the demonstrations. Since Kingman is near a couple of grid boundaries, I plan on driving to one of those boundaries after the hamfest for some passes on Saturday afternoon and early evening (early Sunday, 13 October, UTC time) before driving home - if there are suitable passes at that time. The DM25/DM35 grid boundary is not too far from the hamfest site, running through the east side of Kingman. The DM24/DM25 grid boundary is about 20 miles/32km south of Kingman along I-40 heading toward California. I operated from both of these grid boundaries the last time I attended this hamfest in 2010, so I know these locations. I will have APRS running in my car, and should show up on the various APRS web sites as WD9EWK-9 as I am traveling around northwestern Arizona. As with the other hamfests I attend, I will upload all QSOs to Logbook of the World. If you would like to receive a QSL card for a QSO with WD9EWK on Saturday, please e-mail me with the QSO details. If you are in the log, you will get a card. No need to first send me a card or SASE/postage to receive my card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

2 3

WD9EWK @ Kingman AZ hamfest on Saturday (12 October)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 07 Oct '13

07 Oct '13

(Apologies in advance for a duplicate posting - my ISP is having e-mail issues now, not sure if my original e-mail will make it here) Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Mohave Amateur Radio Club's annual hamfest in Kingman, Arizona, this Saturday (12 October 2013). The hamfest will be at Centennial Park, on 3333 Harrison Street in Kingman. This park is along the north side of the I-40 freeway, between exits 51 (Stockton Hill Road) and 53 (Andy Devine Avenue/AZ-66). The hamfest is scheduled to run from 7am to 3pm (1400-2200 UTC). More information about the hamfest is available from: http://kingmanhamfest.com/ I plan to have WD9EWK on as many satellite passes as possible during the hamfest for on-air demonstrations of satellite operating. The hamfest site is in grid DM25xf, in Mohave County AZ. Please call WD9EWK if you hear me on a pass during the hamfest, and join in the demonstrations. Since Kingman is near a couple of grid boundaries, I plan on driving to one of those boundaries after the hamfest for some passes on Saturday afternoon and early evening (early Sunday, 13 October, UTC time) before driving home - if there are suitable passes at that time. The DM25/DM35 grid boundary is not too far from the hamfest site, running through the east side of Kingman. The DM24/DM25 grid boundary is about 20 miles/32km south of Kingman along I-40 heading toward California. I operated from both of these grid boundaries the last time I attended this hamfest in 2010, so I know these locations. I will have APRS running in my car, and should show up on the various APRS web sites as WD9EWK-9 as I am traveling around northwestern Arizona. As with the other hamfests I attend, I will upload all QSOs to Logbook of the World. If you would like to receive a QSL card for a QSO with WD9EWK on Saturday, please e-mail me with the QSO details. If you are in the log, you will get a card. No need to first send me a card or SASE/postage to receive my card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

School Club Roundup
by Paul Stoetzer 07 Oct '13

07 Oct '13

Any school club stations planning to be active on the satellites for the fall School Club Roundup (October 21st - 25th)? I know my alma mater (Michigan State University, W8SH) has the equipment, but I'm not sure it's been used in years or if anyone there knows how to use it. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

1 0

Time Is Running Out
by Martha 07 Oct '13

07 Oct '13

People - Time is running out to register at the hotel for the 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium. Cut off date for reservations is October 16th.Please check the AMSAT website (amsat.org) for more information. -- 73- Martha

1 0

LADEE In Lunar Orbit
by B J 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/131005loipreview/ I also read a posting on Hearsat mailing list which mentions that its S-band downlink has been detected. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

UT1FG/MM and PU0FNC on SO-50 #58016
by Roland Zurmely 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

QSO with Yuri UT1FG/MM in GE08, and Nilson PU0FNC in Fernando de Noronha Island, on the same pass of the SO-50 ! http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/SO50DX.wav 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

1 0

Fw: Fwd: AMSAT folks in Baltimore Philadelphia and NYC area?
by Farrell Winder 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

Attn: AMSAT Balloon followers! Bill Brown, WB8ELK who is a recognized pioneer in balloon carrying Amateur Radio equipment has launched a unique mylar balloon which is predicted to have a multiday flight parked at around 20,000 ft As of this AM. Oct 6, 2013 it is anticipated to be as Bill advises below: ( dl-FLdigi software is suggested for receiving and viewing data. It may be downloaded at http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:dl-fldigi) Bill's message: Can you alert the AMSAT folks to listen for the balloon anywhere between Washington DC and Boston just after sunrise? 433.880 MHz AM DominoEx16 should be the best frequency. - Bill WB8ELK Submitted by Farrell Winder, W8ZCF for Bill Brown.

1 0

DANDE over Brazil
by Roland Zurmely 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/dande.htm 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

1 0

ANS-279 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-279 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. In this edition: * AMSAT SYMPOSIUM - Procrastinator ALERT!! * Space News in October CQ Magazine * Cubesat Spaceport Coming to Jacksonville, Florida * AMSAT-DL Satellite Symposium * Two Ham Astronauts Depart NASA * High altitude Ham Radio balloon to study comets * Amateur Satellites in World Radio Online * YURI UT1FG/MM ALERT! * AMSAT Journal Call for Articles * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-279.01 ANS-279 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 279.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE October 6, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-279.01 AMSAT SYMPOSIUM - Procrastinator ALERT!! The 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium & Annual General Meeting will be held November 1-3, 2013 at the Houston Marriott South at Hobby Airport Some important deadlines loom. The cutoff date for hotel reservations is Oct 16, 2013. Reservations for the Marriott at Hobby can be made at the following link http://tinyurl.com/kz26tk9 or by calling 713-943-7979 Ask For The AMSAT Block or Use the Code AMSAMSA Registration for the Symposium continues for $45.00 At the door registration is $55.00. Registration includes a copy of the Proceedings. Symposium Registration can be made at the AMSAT Store http://tinyurl.com/2013Symposium-Registration Don't forget the Saturday Evening Banquet, $45.00 and the Sunday morning Area Coordinators' Breakfast, $15.00 For the most up to date information visit the 2013 ASMAT Symposium website page. http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1555 [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Space News in October CQ Magazine The October, 2013 CQ Magazine includes news of interest to the amateur satellite world. Ham Radio News on page 2 reports on AMSAT's filing for clarification on the status of amateur satellites under new US Government regulations. VHF Plus columnist Joe Lynch, N6CL discusses the filing in more detail on page 89. Other news of amateur radio in space in this issue include: + News of the HamTV transmitter launched to the ISS is covered on page 88. + OSCAR 7 gets mention on page 2. + Video from the NASA Cubesat workshop on page 90. + The 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium in Houston is mentioned on page 91. [ANS thanks CQ Magazine for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cubesat Spaceport Coming to Jacksonville, Florida NASA awards first CubeSat-class launch services contract (30 September 2013) NASA has selected Generation Orbit Launch Services Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., to provide a CubeSat-class launch via the NASA Launch Services Enabling eXploration and Technology (NEXT) contract. NEXT is an element of a strategic initiative led by NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP), focused on assuring long-term launch services while also promoting the continued evolution of the U.S. commercial space launch market. The NEXT launch service will deliver three 3U-configuration CubeSats to a 264-mile orbit via a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)- licensed launch aboard Generation Orbit's GOLauncher 2 rocket in August 2016 from Cecil Field Spaceport in Jacksonville, Fla. NEXT is a pathfinder contract for future acquisitions of launch services for low-cost and/or high-risk tolerant payloads. It sets the groundwork for LSP to utilize different contracting strategies that tailor the spectrum of government insight and approval based on the risk tolerance of the spacecraft. The total cost value for the NEXT launch service is approximately $2.1 million. This new contract resulted from a competitive award set-aside for small businesses only. GOLauncher 2 will launch CubeSats as the primary payload via the NEXT contract due to their ability to tolerate the higher risk of a new nano-class rocket while also helping to provide additional opportunities for the many CubeSats awaiting launch opportunities under NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI). [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-DL Satellite Symposium The AMSAT-DL satellite symposium and AGM will be held in Bochum, Germany on Saturday, October 5, 2013. The AMSAT Deutschland Facebook page says “There will be certainly some exciting news!” The radome of the amateur radio facility at Bochum houses an impressive 20 metre dish antenna that was used to bounce amateur radio signals off the planet Venus. The AMSAT-DL Symposium lecture schedule Saturday 05.10.2013 10:15 – 10:30 Welcome 10:30 – 11:15 Stereo A / B status and Turbo Code introduction, experience report by Mario Lorenz, DL5MLO 11:15 – 11:45 Coffee break 11:45 – 12:15 Asteroid Defense by Wolfgang Wittholt, Fernuni Hagen 12:15 – 12:45 Space Generantion Advisory Council (SGAC) Small Satellite Project Group (SSPG) presentation and objectives by Dennis Mattes 12:45 – 14:00 Lunch break 14:00 Current and new projects / project progress / etc then an official part of the AGM with elections. AMSAT-DL event announcement http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-DL-Symposium AMSAT-DL http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-DL [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Two Ham Astronauts Depart NASA NASA astronauts Gregory E. Chamitoff, KD5PKZ and Ronald J. Garan KF5GPO are leaving the agency. Chamitoff is joining the faculty of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and the University of Sydney in Australia. Garan will work on a range of new entrepreneurial and humanitarian efforts. "Greg and Ron will certainly be missed by the Astronaut Office," said Bob Behnken, KE5GGX, NASA's chief astronaut. "Greg's passion for sharing the spaceflight experience will serve him well as he begins a new adventure in academia and continues to inspire the next generation of innovators and explorers. I'll miss Ron both as a contributor to our office and as a classmate. The entire office is grateful for their service to NASA." Chamitoff began his 18-year NASA career in 1995 as a space shuttle guidance and control officer in mission control at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston. He was selected as an astronaut in 1998. He flew in space twice, in 2008 as a flight engineer and science officer for Expeditions 17 and 18 aboard the International Space Station, and as a mission specialist during STS-134 in 2011, the penultimate shuttle mission. During his most recent mission, Chamitoff participated in two spacewalks to complete assembly of the International Space Station, taking part in the installation of the Alphamagnetic Spectrometer. He has spent more than 198 days in space. Garan, who joined the agency in 2000, is ending a 13-year NASA career that included more than 178 days in space and four spacewalks. Garan flew in space twice, first in 2008 as a space shuttle Discovery mission specialist on STS-124, and again in 2011 aboard the International Space Station as a flight engineer for Expeditions 27 and 28. Garan retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 2009 after 25 years of service. He has logged more than 5,000 flight hours in more than 30 aircraft types. He recently served within NASA’s Open Government Initiative. For Chamitoff's biography, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/gcruuu For Garan's biography, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/1998pSo For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov EDITOR's NOTE: Due the the U.S. Governmaent shut down the above links may not work until which time governmaent services are restored. [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- High altitude Ham Radio balloon to study comets An amateur radio balloon operating on 145.765 MHz will be launched on Sunday from Bangalore, India The National Institute of Amateur Radio, Hyderabad with Dhruva Space, India's first small satellite start-up, is supporting the Indian Institute of Astrophysics with its high altitude balloon campaign to study the comet ISON. The Helium filled balloon plans to launch on September 29, 2013 in the early morning from the Hoskote campus of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore. The payload will carry a 145.765 MHz APRS packet radio transmitter and a GPS GSM tracker, both of these are extremely important in keeping track of the balloon in flight, as it rises up to 40 km reaching the upper stratosphere. NIAR are extensively involved in the efforts of tracing and safely recovery of the payload. On the afternoon of September 29 there will be a presentation given on "Amateur Radio For High Altitude Ballooning” by Dhruva Space. Mr S.Ram Mohan, VU2MYH, Director, National Institute of Amateur Radio will speak on APRS technologies for tracking. National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) http://www.niar.org/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Satellites in WorldRadio Online The October issue of WorldRadio Online reports on the IARU's announcement that Fox-1 will operate in Mode U/V with a 435.180-MHz uplink and a 145.980 downlink. It also links to AMSAT on YouTube's video taken at the Dayton Hamvention. Other spories covered include a video link on operating via SO-50, and a report on the delivery of the HamTV transmitter to the ISS. WorldRadio Online is a pay for subscription service. [ANS thanks WorldRadio Online and CQ Communications, Inc. for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- YURI UT1FG/MM ALERT! Frank, K4FEG received an email from Yuri, UT1FG/mm from port in Uruguay. He will be leaving port today and he will be sailing SOUTH to go around the southern tip of South America and will be making port in Chile. He will be taking on loads in 4 ports in Chile before heading NORTH towards Panama. Here is the list of Ports of call for the "SILVER" the ships callsign is: 5BNC3. He is expected arrival at San Antonio, Chile is October 14, 2013. 1st port San Antonio/Chile - FF46 2nd port Las Ventanas/Chile - FF47 3rd port Coquimbo/Chile - FG40 4th port Punto Patache - FG49 [ANS thanks Frank, K4FEG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Journal Call for Articles The AMSAT Journal is continuously searching for news, articles, and photos related to all of the activities of amateur radio in space. In the past this has included satellite development, satellite history, ground stations, antennas, hardware devel- opment, software. We find that some items related to SDR, VHF, UHF, and microwave operating or roving are directly applicable to satellite operations. Educational outreach has been identified as a key area which AMSAT may use to leverage launch opportunities. The Journal welcomes news, photos, and articles of ARISS contacts, University research and development, and STEM programs. Amateur satellite operators have the gear and expertise to also receive interesting transmissions from non-amateur spacecraft and EME. Articles discussing how this is done are useful to our readers discovering they can do more with the station they have built. The deadlines for each AMSAT Journal, which is published six times per year, are: ISSUE DEADLINE --------------------- -------------- 1. January/February December 20 2. March/April February 20 3. May/June April 20 4. July/August June 20 5. September/October August 20 6. November/December October 20 Our editors will work with you to finalize your article for publi- cation. Please send the following: 1. Electronic copy of your article in any of the popular word pro- cessing formats (MS-Word, OpenOffice, plain-text Notepad, etc.) PDF files containing a custom layout with embedded graphics can- not be used. 2. Your text must be single column wide. You do not need to do any formatting to make it appear in the 3 column layout of the fin- ished magazine. We have to remove all your hard work of pre- formatting before publication so save yourself the problems of trying to get columns to line up, etc. 3. You may send a copy of your article with the photos where you recommend they appear with the text but this is not the version that will be published. This gives the editors some cues to maintain continuity with photos/captions and text. 4. We require a text-only copy your article. Embedded photos will not publish during the layout process. You can leave in a ref- erence in the text related to the photo associated with that point in your article as shown here: ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... (Insert Graphic 1234 here) Figure 2. Sample Lorem Ipsum Text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... 5. Send a separate text file with the captions to each of the graphics. 6. Send photos and graphics as separate files. Use as high resolu- tion pixel format as you can. The preferred graphic format for the Journal is JPG. The Journal can publish additional graphic formats including GIF, BMP, and PNG. Contact the editor before submitting these formats. Note that a photo which appears nicely on a web page does not publish well on the high resolution finished magazine product. Photos from digital cameras in mega-pixels work well. You do not need to compress or shrink the file for us. 7. If you use printed circuit board software or schematic drawing programs we can usually import a PDF copy of the diagram into the publishing software. Please do not send PDF formatted copies of the article however. 8. We can freely republish papers you have submitted to prior AMSAT Symposiums. If you have a good idea that you would like to get out the AMSAT Journal is an excellent way to expand your audience. We find that 200-300 copies of the Symposium Proceedings are dis- tributed. The AMSAT Journal reaches 4000 additional satellite operators. 9. If your article was previously published in another AMSAT organi- zation's Journal, or magazine (QST, CQ, CQ VHF, etc.) we will work with you to secure the permission to republish your work. Our Journal editors will be happy to work with you to assist getting your article published. We can help you develop an idea into a fin- ished article as well as a ready-to-print submission. Ask us via e-mail and we can get rolling with your article. During the preparation process it is quite likely that an editor working on the article might personally contact you with questions and suggestions. Those suggestions might include extra pictures or maybe additional references, keeping in mind that some readers might not have an extensive background on the topic being discussed. Send your articles and photo/graphics files as attachments to e-mail to journal(a)amsat.org. [ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Sarnelli De Donato Middle School, Polignano a Mare, Bari, Italy and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP, using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-09-21 10:03 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via W6SRJ. The ARISS Mentor was IKØWGF "Sarnelli De Donato" School is a middle school. It serves the educational needs of the town because it is the only middle school in town. It caters for boys and girls, aged 11-14. Located in one of the region's tourist areas, it is in the suburbs of the pleasant town of Polignano a Mare, in the south-east of the APULIA region, south-east of Italy. In its Curriculum the school focus on: Space Communication, Media Communication, the Environment, Science activities in lab. The school has a gym, an auditorium, a music room, two computer rooms, a new scientific laboratory, a video room, 22 classrooms. At present there are 526 students on roll and they attend the regular class daily, from 8.00 am to 1.00 pm. + A Successful contact was made between Collège de la Combraille, La Mouniaude À Chatelguyon, France, and Astronaut Luca Parmitano , KF5KDP, using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-09-28 08:39 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via VK5ZAI. The ARISS Mentors were ON4WF and F6ICS. "Combraille High school is located 4 hours south from Paris in beautiful Auvergne region. Our students aged 11-15 study non vocational subjects. Three foreign languages are taught : English, German an Spain. The school house has a scientific workshop. It focuses on the yearly launch of a sounding balloon in partnership with French Center for Space Studies (C.N.E.S.). The school has had an astronomy club for five years now. "We have night star gazing sessions, practice sun observations, take digital pictures of the sun and the stars, experiment measuring terrestrial meridian ( Eratosthenes experiment ), built a telescope (Newton type), participate in science fairs and exhibits, organize sessions for the public of the local area. Our school club has even sparked off the creation of a local club (Les Astronomes de la Combraille) We own and use: One DOBSON 250mm telescope, Two NEWTON 115 x 900 mm, One tracking 120 x 1000mm, One Herschel helioscope, One digital reflex camera, One CCD webcam." + A Successful contact was made between Polska Akademia Dzieci (Polish Academy of Kids), Gdansk, Poland, and Astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP using callsign NA1SS. The contact began Sat 2013-10- 05 11:37:33 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ "Language Laboratories, School of Genius (SG), is one of the first Language schools In Poland (est. in 1968). Till today it is a unique scientific and educational unit, where each student has individually designes programme of learning in a foreign language, including Astronomy, Neuropsychology and Robotics. Classes at SG are individually prepared for each student (including post- and prenatal teaching ). Individual programmes include updated ICT tools carefully adapted to the Ss' interest. Language is only the tool used to communicate. "The Project Polish Academy of Kids is the first university run by kids on an international scale, where Young Scientists can freely choose the field of scientific interest. Lecturers are from 6 to 2 years old and examine magnetic levitation, the missing links of vertebrates' evolution or dogs, cats and stick insects. They decide about the scope of research and we, adults, only help them with the technical aspects and show reliable sources of knowledge. We work under the patronage of Ministry of Science and Education, Patent Office, Ministry of Education, Jagiellonian University and many others. For more details visit website: akademiadzieci.edu.pl. Polish Academy of Kids was nominated the Science Populariser 2011 and 2012 in the contest organised by Science and Scholarship in Poland (Polish Press Agency and Ministry of Science and Higher Education) while the co-founders of Polish Academy of Kids were awarded the Pol-Cul prize for their contribution to children's development in Poland and wonthe award of distinction for the best voluntary initiative in Pomerania." Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Scuola Media Statale “Salvo D’Acquisto”, Cesano Maderno, Italy, telebridge via VK6MJ Contact is a go for: Mon 2013-10-07 07:48:49 UTC S. K. Seri Suria, Bangsar, Selangor, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Contact is a go for: Wed 2013-10-09 09:31:14 UTC Exp. 36/37 on orbit Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI Karen L. Nyberg Luca Parmitano KF5KDP Exp. 37/38 now on orbit. Welcome aboard! Oleg Kotov Sergey Ryazansky Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG [ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Alan, WA4SCA, reports that the AMSAT News Service is being picked up and redistributed by the Taiwan Amateur Satellite Association, TAMSAT. + The October issue od SatMagazine is now online http://preview.tinyurl.com/SatMagazine + NASA Mars mission escapes government shutdown, will launch NASA says it next mission to Mars has been cleared for takeoff amid fears the U.S. government shutdown could cause it to miss its launch window. See http://tinyurl.com/ANS279-Mars for full story [ANS thanks Mars Daily 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. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 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. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

1 0

MAVEN, Falcon 9/SES, LADEE
by B J 06 Oct '13

06 Oct '13

Work resumes on MAVEN: http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av038/131003resumption/ Falcon 9 waiting for SES spacecraft: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/007/131005shipment/ LADEE about to enter lunar orbit: http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/ladee/131005loipreview/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

Re: Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Joe, I agree with Stefan's email below (VE4NSA). Set it up for LHCP. VO-52 seems very LHCP as well as AO7. I used LHCP on 2 meters and RHCP on 70 cm for years with good success. I recently added polarization switching to my old KLM. I didn't have success on the first try. Compared with my reference signal before and after, the project at first attenuated the signal. GL Mike (K9QHO) ------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 08:28:10 -0500 From: Stefan Wagener <wageners(a)gmail.com> To: Joe <nss(a)mwt.net> Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna Message-ID: <CAKu8kHBnxRL_WMKnSRQtS_d+4mpF_q+uAEKQwxT0ozz1vXUQfg(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 To make a long story short. Try it before you spend more money. It probably will be a good antenna for your attic. No water issues at that location. Set it up for LHCP and with the current satellites it will work most of the times just fine. Why pay big bucks for a "newer" one if this will work for you. 73, Stefan VE4NSA

1 0

Re: Digital QRM on FO-29 (DF opportunity!)
by Robert Bruninga 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Wow, a GREAT DF opportunity and exercise. The Doppler info is there to determine its location. Just plot the doppler and note the center point and draw a line of bearing through it. Combine with others and find the source. heh heh... though, complicated by having to subtract out your own... But we should develop these techniques. They are the basis of all of the original Search And Rescue satellite systems. In fact!!! Why not get a few hams in a few areas of the country to operate a CW carrier (at low power) at a known frequency in 4 corners of the US and let evreyone practice their techniques. This way, we learn how to do it on a known signal. Just a thought. Bob, WB4APR On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 4:51 PM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> wrote: > During two passes of FO-29 - at around 0120Z last night and around 1430Z > this morning, I've heard some QRM that sounds like a digital signal. I > confirmed that others heard it too and it wasn't local QRM, so it's > obviously being relayed by the satellite. Downlink is around 435.860 MHz (I > heard it around 435.865 last night as the satellite was approaching and > around 435.855 MHz this morning as the satellite was moving away), so the > signal is likely being transmitted around 145.940 MHz. > > Has anybody else heard it? Any ideas on what the source might be? > > 73, > > Paul Stoetzer, N8HM > Washington, DC > _______________________________________________ > 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

3 2

[Re: AMSAT-BB NF formula posting (amended)
by i8cvs 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Hi Ralph, W0RPK and All on the list. Unfortunately in my previous message i have taped few mistake but hopefully the following calculation are actually correct. I have rewrite the formula in another arithmetical form wich is easier to be used and not is corrupted or differently formatted sending it through BB NF = ( Vi x 10^-6 )^2 ) x 20 ) / (BW x S/N ) ) log ) x 10 ) + 174 dB 10 where: Vi = input signal in uV applied across the 50 ohm RX input BW = Bandwidth in Hz (2400 Hz for SSB) S/N = Signal to Noise ratio in power ratio The sensitivity for YAESU FT-726R of W0RPK in 2 meters is specified for 10 dB of (S+N)/N and not for 10 dB of S/N as required by the formula so that we must convert first (S+N)/N into S/N as follow. S + N S/N = ----------- - 1 = (10-1) = 9 in power ratio N Calculation of NF for sensitivity of 2 meters SSB/CW less than 0.15 uV for 10 dB (S+N)/N ........... we compute: NF = ( 0.15 x 10^-6)^2 ) x 20 ) / ( 2400 x 9 ) ) log ) x 10 ) + 174 = 7.18 dB dB 10 ____________________________________- The sensitivity for YAESU FT-726 R of W0RPK in 70 cm is specified for 12 dB of (S+N)/N and not for 10 dB of S/N as required by the formula so that we must convert first (S+N)/N into S/N as follow: S/N = ( S + N ) / N ) - 1 = 10^( 12/10) ) -1 = 15.84 - 1 = 14.84 in power ratio Calculation of NF for sensitivity of 70 cm SSB/CW less than 0.15 uV for a 12 dB (S+N)/N ratio.............. we compute: NF = (0.15 x 10^-6 )^2 ) x 20 ) / ( 2400 x 14.84 ) ) log ) x 10 ) +174 = 5.01 dB dB 10 CONCLUSION: 2 meters: Noise Figure NF = 7.18 dB 70 cm: Noise Figure NF = 5.01 dB The sensitivity voltage in 2 meters and 70 cm has the same value of 0.15 uV but in 70 cm 0.15 uV are specified for a 12 dB (S+N)/N ratio and not for a ratio of 10 dB (S+N)/N as in 2 meters and so it happens that the receiver is more sensitive in 70 cm Please note that the above formula is valid only for Vi = input signal in uV applied across the 50 ohm RX input. Unfortunately the manufacturers do not specify if Vi of the sensitivity specifications is the voltage that we read with the RF Signal Generator connected to the receiver input or if Vi is the voltage that we read over the Signal Generator with open output. This can generate ambiguity in calculating NF because measurement are made with a Signal Generator with 50 ohm impedance output connected to the receiver input wich impedance is as well 50 ohm so that the output voltage of the Signal Generator is divided in two equal parts across both the internal 50 ohm impedances. BTW many commercial receiver NF calculations are demonstrating that the value of NF match very well with the input voltage Vi so that we can assume that the manufacturers specifications are giving Vi as the voltage applied across the 50 ohm receiver input. The formulas where published into an old issue of the Ham Radio Magazine early about 1973 and I have to find it in my many papers after that I will send a copy to any one is interested to it. I use this formula very often and this numbars are burned into my brain HI HI ! Please Ralph let me know if your calculations match with the actual one ?! I hope this helps and if there is any question please let me know. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Wallio, W0RPK To: domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 4:48 PM Subject: AMSAT-BB NF formula posting Domenico -- Thanks for posting the NF formula. Your results for the ICOM IC-R10 cause me to reconsider what I have been estimating for my much older YAESU FT-726R. Specifications from the Yaesu Operating Manual: 2m SSB/CW Less than 0.15uV for 10dB (S+N)/N 70cm SSB/CW Less than 0.15uV for 12dB (S+N)/N I would like to make this calculation myself but I am having trouble duplicating your results probably due to uncertainties resulting from how the formula is formatted by AMSAT-BB. Perhaps you have a document source to suggest that will resolve these uncertainties. TNX es 73 de Ralph W0RPK

1 0

Re: AMSAT-BB NF formula posting
by i8cvs 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Hi Ralph, W0RPK I will write the formula in another arithmetical form: NF = ( Vi x 10^-6 )^2 ) x 20 ) / (BW x S/N ) ) log ) x 10 ) + 174 dB 10 where: Vi = input signal in uV applied over the 50 ohm RX input BW = Band Wide in Hz (2400 Hz for SSB) S/N = Signal to Noise ratio in power ratio = 10 Going to your YAESU FT-726 R the sensitivity is specified for 10 dB of (S+N)/N and not for 10 dB of S/N so that we must convert first (S+N)/N into S/N with the following formula: S + N S/N = ----------- - 1 = 10 log (10-1) = 9.54 in power ratio N 10 Calculating the sensitivity for 2 meters SSB/CW less than 0.15 uV for 10 dB (S+N)/N we have: NF = ( 0.15 x 10^-6)^2 ) x 20 ) / ( 2400 x 9.54 ) ) log ) x 10 ) + 174 = 6.9 dB dB 10 ____________________________________ Calculating the sensitivity for 70 cm SSB/CW less than 0.15 uV for 12 dB (S+N)/N we have: S + N S/N = ----------- - 1 = 10 log (15.84 -1) = 14.84 in power ratio N 10 NF = (0.15 x 10^-6 )^2 ) x 20 ) / ( 2400 x 14.84 ) ) log ) x 10 ) + 174 = 5.01 dB dB 10 CONCLUSION: The sensitivity in 2 meters and 70 cm is the same 0.15 uV but in 70 cm 0.15 uV are specified for 12 dB (S+N)/N and not 10 dB (S+N)/N as in 2 meters and so it happen that the receiver is more sensitive in 70 cm The formulas where published into an old issue of the Ham Radio Magazine early about 1973 and I have to find it in my many papers after that I will send a copy to you but I remember it very often ant this numbars are burned into my brain HI HI ! I hope this helps and if you have any question please let me know. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Wallio, W0RPK To: domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 4:48 PM Subject: AMSAT-BB NF formula posting Domenico -- Thanks for posting the NF formula. Your results for the ICOM IC-R10 cause me to reconsider what I have been estimating for my much older YAESU FT-726R. Specifications from the Yaesu Operating Manual: 2m SSB/CW Less than 0.15uV for 10dB (S+N)/N 70cm SSB/CW Less than 0.15uV for 12dB (S+N)/N I would like to make this calculation myself but I am having trouble duplicating your results probably due to uncertainties resulting from how the formula is formatted by AMSAT-BB. Perhaps you have a document source to suggest that will resolve these uncertainties. TNX es 73 de Ralph W0RPK

2 1

2m--> 10.7Mhz downconverter
by Andy Brian 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Hi, I need help to find any good design for the 2m to 10.7MHz downconverter which I'll try to use for presentation linear transverter. Please if you have any or point me to any good books where to find? Thanks for all answers, BR Andy

4 3

Re: Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna
by i8cvs 05 Oct '13

05 Oct '13

Hi Les, N1LF To built a polarization switching for a crossed yagi Cushcraft A144-10 T is unpractical because the antenna and the phasing harness are using PL connectors and the coax relays are normally supplied with N type connectors. You can't remove the PL connectors from the phasing harness because they are crimped over two 1/4 electrical length of RG-59/U and one 1/4 electrical lenght of RG-58/U so that cutting and removing the original PL connectors those 1/4 wavelengt lines will became shorter than 90 degrees. BTW you can rebuild a new phasing line using six N connectors for the phasing line, two N female N barrels connectors,a N type T connector and change the PL with N flanged female connectors over the gamma match arms of both dipoles. The cost for all N connectors and coax relay will be higher than the cost of a new modern crossed yagi available with switching polarization relay as new in the USA market. Since your antenna will be mounted inside your large attic and it will stay high and dry, I suggest you to connect your A144-10 T as originally designed connecting the phasing harness for RHCP or LHCP and stay happy with the compromise results obtined. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Rayburn" <les(a)highnoonfilm.com> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 5:57 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna > Domenico, > > Thank you for your wise advice. Unfortunately a new cross-polarized > antenna is not in the cards right now due to budget. > > Would it be possible and practical to build a polarization switching > relay for the antenna to allow me to rapidly switch between RHCP and LHCP? > > The connectors are not an issue, since it will be mounted inside my > large attic. It will stay high and dry. > > 73, > > Les N1LF > > > > > > > On 10/3/2013 10:39 PM, i8cvs wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Les Rayburn" <les(a)highnoonfilm.com> > > To: "AMSAT Mailing List" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; <starcom-bb(a)star-com.net> > > Sent: Friday, October 04, 2013 4:18 AM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna > > > > > >> I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T > >> "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select > >> left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous: > >> > >> 1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern > >> designs? > > Hi Les,N1LF from Domenico, i8CVS > > > > 1) I have used the A144-10T since 1973 and compared to modern > > type it works no so well because the phasing harness to switch > > polarizations uses crimped PL connectors and you get water and > > humidity into it. > >> 2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left > >> or right hand polarization? > > 2) To switch between RHCP and LHCP you must screw and unscrew > > by hand the phasing harness connectors and since the antenna is not > > equipped with a polarization switching relay you have not the time > > to switch polarization while operating the satellite. > >> 3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for? > >> > > 3) Do not use the above Cushcraft A144-20 T for the above reason. > > Buy a modern model of crossed yagi with polarization switching > > relay between RHCP to LHCP possibly from 2M > > > >> Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled > >> when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the > >> antenna. Good price too. > >> > >> > > I understand a good price because it is a old model of antenna > > wich designe is almost back 30 yars ago. BTW the aluminum is > > a good quality and witstand on the environment for many years. > > > >> -- > >> 73, > >> > >> Les Rayburn, N1LF > >> 121 Mayfair Park > >> Maylene, AL 35114 > >> EM63nf > >> > >> 6M VUCC #1712 > >> AMSAT #38965 > >> Grid Bandits #222 > >> Southeastern VHF Society > >> Central States VHF Society Life Member > >> Six Club #2484 > >> > >> Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light > > 73" de i8CVS Domenico > > > > >

1 0

Digital QRM on FO-29
by Paul Stoetzer 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

During two passes of FO-29 - at around 0120Z last night and around 1430Z this morning, I've heard some QRM that sounds like a digital signal. I confirmed that others heard it too and it wasn't local QRM, so it's obviously being relayed by the satellite. Downlink is around 435.860 MHz (I heard it around 435.865 last night as the satellite was approaching and around 435.855 MHz this morning as the satellite was moving away), so the signal is likely being transmitted around 145.940 MHz. Has anybody else heard it? Any ideas on what the source might be? 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

1 0

Oops
by Price, Brennan, N4QX 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

It appears I failed to correctly identify the pass times. Thanks to NJ1H for the alert. Sadly, we'll be in bulletin mode by the correct pass times. So no luck today, but Ishmael promises to activate 8P on his return. 73 de N4QX Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: bprice(a)arrl.org Date: Fri, 4 Oct 2013 16:17:51 To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Reply-To: bprice(a)arrl.org Subject: W1AW to be QRV for passes this afternoon A student in this year's USTTI/ARRL Amateur Radio Administration course (Ishmael, 8P6PE) has asked to engage in a satellite QSO. We're going to take advantage of the passes we have that work with the W1AW guest operating hours. We will try FO-29 at 1845z and VO-52 soon after at 1850z. The passes have max. elevation at 10 and 11 degrees, but we should be able to see the birds from the top of the relevant tower. Mode will be SSB, and while we can't promise to QSO with everyone, we welcome all who try. Thanks and 73, Brennan Price, N4QX/1 Chief Technology Officer, ARRL Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

3 2

W1AW to be QRV for passes this afternoon
by Price, Brennan, N4QX 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

A student in this year's USTTI/ARRL Amateur Radio Administration course (Ishmael, 8P6PE) has asked to engage in a satellite QSO. We're going to take advantage of the passes we have that work with the W1AW guest operating hours. We will try FO-29 at 1845z and VO-52 soon after at 1850z. The passes have max. elevation at 10 and 11 degrees, but we should be able to see the birds from the top of the relevant tower. Mode will be SSB, and while we can't promise to QSO with everyone, we welcome all who try. Thanks and 73, Brennan Price, N4QX/1 Chief Technology Officer, ARRL Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

1 0

Space Law, Space Debris
by B J 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

Putting something into space is more than just building and launching hardware: http://moonandback.com/2013/10/04/space-law-in-down-to-earth-english/ http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/10/04/space-debris/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" Antenna
by Les Rayburn 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

I just acquired a "new" in the-box, never assembled Crushcraft A144-10T "VHF Twist" antenna. It includes the cabling to allow the user to select left or right hand polarization. My questions are numerous: 1.) How is the performance on this antenna, compared to more modern designs? 2.) If I were going to install it inside my attic, should I chose left or right hand polarization? 3.) Any caveats or things to watch out for? Any information that could be provided would be great. I was thrilled when a friend stopped by and asked me if I'd be interested in the antenna. Good price too. -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

6 5

Stacking LEO and Terrestial antennas
by Dean Maluski 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

I have a pair of antennas, 440 and 2 meter LEO typical setup with G-5500 rotor and fiberglass horizontal boom. It is mounted about 18 inches above top of tower on vertical mast. I can probably push it up another 1.5 feet before having to add on to vertical mast. I would like to also hang a Cushcraft A3S a couple inches above top of tower on mast. I think the back of 2 meter antenna is about 5~6 feet that rotates downward when chasing LEO's. The reflector on A3S dimension is 7 feet horizontally from mast. I'm wondering if anyone has a setup similar to this and if there are is a negative impact of antenna proximity? I haven't bought the A3S yet. Want to be fairly comfortable this will work OK before I make the investment in the A3S HF Yagi.

1 0

AMSAT Broadband Preamp Specs
by Paul Stoetzer 04 Oct '13

04 Oct '13

I was curious - has anyone measured the noise figure and gain of the AMSAT Broadband Preamp? 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

4 8

AMSAT Journal Call for Articles
by JoAnne Maenpaa 03 Oct '13

03 Oct '13

The AMSAT Journal is continuously searching for news, articles, and photos related to all of the activities of amateur radio in space. In the past this has included satellite development, satellite history, ground stations, antennas, hardware devel- opment, software. We find that some items related to SDR, VHF, UHF, and microwave operating or roving are directly applicable to satellite operations. Educational outreach has been identified as a key area which AMSAT may use to leverage launch opportunities. The Journal welcomes news, photos, and articles of ARISS contacts, University research and development, and STEM programs. Amateur satellite operators have the gear and expertise to also receive interesting transmissions from non-amateur spacecraft and EME. Articles discussing how this is done are useful to our readers discovering they can do more with the station they have built. The deadlines for each AMSAT Journal, which is published six times per year, are: ISSUE DEADLINE --------------------- -------------- 1. January/February December 20 2. March/April February 20 3. May/June April 20 4. July/August June 20 5. September/October August 20 6. November/December October 20 Our editors will work with you to finalize your article for publi- cation. Please send the following: 1. Electronic copy of your article in any of the popular word pro- cessing formats (MS-Word, OpenOffice, plain-text Notepad, etc.) PDF files containing a custom layout with embedded graphics can- not be used. 2. Your text must be single column wide. You do not need to do any formatting to make it appear in the 3 column layout of the fin- ished magazine. We have to remove all your hard work of pre- formatting before publication so save yourself the problems of trying to get columns to line up, etc. 3. You may send a copy of your article with the photos where you recommend they appear with the text but this is not the version that will be published. This gives the editors some cues to maintain continuity with photos/captions and text. 4. We require a text-only copy your article. Embedded photos will not publish during the layout process. You can leave in a ref- erence in the text related to the photo associated with that point in your article as shown here: ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... (Insert Graphic 1234 here) Figure 2. Sample Lorem Ipsum Text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... text ... 5. Send a separate text file with the captions to each of the graphics. 6. Send photos and graphics as separate files. Use as high resolu- tion pixel format as you can. The preferred graphic format for the Journal is JPG. The Journal can publish additional graphic formats including GIF, BMP, and PNG. Contact the editor before submitting these formats. Note that a photo which appears nicely on a web page does not publish well on the high resolution finished magazine product. Photos from digital cameras in mega-pixels work well. You do not need to compress or shrink the file for us. 7. If you use printed circuit board software or schematic drawing programs we can usually import a PDF copy of the diagram into the publishing software. Please do not send PDF formatted copies of the article however. 8. We can freely republish papers you have submitted to prior AMSAT Symposiums. If you have a good idea that you would like to get out the AMSAT Journal is an excellent way to expand your audience. We find that 200-300 copies of the Symposium Proceedings are dis- tributed. The AMSAT Journal reaches 4000 additional satellite operators. 9. If your article was previously published in another AMSAT organi- zation's Journal, or magazine (QST, CQ, CQ VHF, etc.) we will work with you to secure the permission to republish your work. Our Journal editors will be happy to work with you to assist getting your article published. We can help you develop an idea into a fin- ished article as well as a ready-to-print submission. Ask us via e-mail and we can get rolling with your article. During the preparation process it is quite likely that an editor working on the article might personally contact you with questions and suggestions. Those suggestions might include extra pictures or maybe additional references, keeping in mind that some readers might not have an extensive background on the topic being discussed. Send your articles and photo/graphics files as attachments to e-mail to journal(a)amsat.org. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

1 0

AMSAT Space Symposium
by Martha 03 Oct '13

03 Oct '13

If you are planning to attend this year's Space Symposium, please note that the deadline for hotel reservations is October 16th. For more information, check the website (amsat.org) -- 73- Martha

1 0

D STAR net tonight REF58A
by damon runion 03 Oct '13

03 Oct '13

D Star Amsat users net tonight at Please note a REF change 01;00 UTC on- --- REF 58 A ---------- Hope to see you there with news about grid trips new operators and things you may want to sell or buy Satellite news ? https://sites.google.com/site/memphisdstar/d-satellite-amsat-net Damon WA4HFN em55 Memphis, TN

1 0

Re: Pamphlets for General Public
by Stephan Greene 02 Oct '13

02 Oct '13

Paul: I do not have anything specific, I suggest looking for flyers prepared for Field Day and Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), as those are both non-ham general public audiences. Possibly something from ARES (either ARRL or local DC & VA). Some of the VHF rovers put ARES magnetic signs on their vehicles to put inquisitive officials into a better mindset. It's not just the local law enforcement types that look & wonder. I've gotten similar looks & weird questions from folks while operating HF bicycle portable in Northern VA. 73 Steve KS1G From: Paul Stoetzer > Date: Wed, 2 Oct 2013 09:55:38 -0400 > Subject: [amsat-bb] Pamphlets for General Public > Good morning, > > I was out in a nearby park seeking out a relatively clear northeastern > horizon for this morning's mid-Atlantic pass of FO-29 when I was approached > by the friendly Metropolitan Police Department. While they accepted my > explanation and went on their way, are there any available materials that > explain amateur satellites to the general public? All I've found so far is > materials explaining amateur satellites to other hams. I'd like to find > something that I can print out and keep in my bag to respond to any > questions, especially from law enforcement. I live a mile southwest of the > U. S. Capitol, so law enforcement around here tends to be a bit suspicious > of things that appear to be out of the norm. > > Thanks and 73, > > Paul Stoetzer, N8HM > Washington, DC >

1 0

Re: Pamphlets
by Clint Bradford 02 Oct '13

02 Oct '13

>> ... are there any available materials that explain amateur satellites to the general public? If you do not find anything in the next couple of days, I will put a handout together explaining what AMSAT-NA and the ARRL are for general public reading. Clint K6LCS 909-241-7666 - cell ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

1 0

pass predict.
by jerry keeton 02 Oct '13

02 Oct '13

James, In SatPC32 , click on " programs " Choose WinAos . You will be prompted to choose satellite and date and times for passes . Jerry WB5LHD

1 0

Pamphlets for General Public
by Paul Stoetzer 02 Oct '13

02 Oct '13

Good morning, I was out in a nearby park seeking out a relatively clear northeastern horizon for this morning's mid-Atlantic pass of FO-29 when I was approached by the friendly Metropolitan Police Department. While they accepted my explanation and went on their way, are there any available materials that explain amateur satellites to the general public? All I've found so far is materials explaining amateur satellites to other hams. I'd like to find something that I can print out and keep in my bag to respond to any questions, especially from law enforcement. I live a mile southwest of the U. S. Capitol, so law enforcement around here tends to be a bit suspicious of things that appear to be out of the norm. Thanks and 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

1 0

More On Falcon 9 Second Stage Anomaly
by B J 01 Oct '13

01 Oct '13

http://moonandback.com/2013/09/30/trouble-at-spacex-did-the-new-falcon-9-ex… http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=1595 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

4 5

Help with finding satellite passes for Oct.19
by James Luhn 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

Hey All, I am having a senior moment.....it is hell to get old. I am trying to pin down the passes of FO-29 for October 19. I know there is a place to simply plug in the date and voila, have what I need. Perhaps someone can help this old fart out and provide a link or directions. Yep, October 19 is JOTA and we plan to put Troop 123 on the satellite from Galveston Island State Park. We will use the call W5S. I just need to figure out when FO-29(and others) or perhaps even SO-50(provided we can get a word in...terrific that satellites are loved so much) come flying above us. Just trying to Be Prepared as the Boy Scout Motto says and do my good turn daily. On my honor I will do my best to make a satellite contact happen. 73, -james W5AOO

2 1

Falcon 9 Successfully Launched
by B J 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

All indications are that everything went as planned, though the video downlink was intermittent. Deployment of payloads has apparently started. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

5 7

UK Only: J-Beam 2m & 70cm beams
by richard limebear 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

Took my Phase-3 antennas down last week; won't be replacing them. J-beam doesn't seem to exist any more. 2m 9XY with RHCP/LHCP switching available to a good home and for a small exchange of funds. Needs gentle treatment (couple of slightly bent elements), buyer collects from Enfield (M-25 J-25). 70cm 12XY elements available for cost of postage only. Feedpoint innards rusty so useless as a full antenna. Az and el rotators too. Anyone interested ? email to the usual amsat.org address 73 Richard G3RWL

1 0

K4AMG Special Event Chesapeakke VA
by Rich/wa4bue 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

Good Morning all, K4AMG Memorial Amateur Radio Club will be manning a table along with the Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service (CARS) - W4CAR at the Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation's (GBB&WHF) 4th Annual Waterways Heritage Festival. This festival has also been designated as a City of Chesapeake's 50th Anniversary Signature Events. Celebrated yearly the second weekend of October, this distinguished festival brings together Chesapeake's rich historic waterways along with the preservation and education of fiber arts, heritage arts, traditional arts, fine arts, beautiful music, storytelling, food, and much more. The table is designed to educate the community on the role amateur radio has played in emergency and community communications. The table has also been designated one of the festival's Children Scavenger Hunt Quiz stations. The K4AMG club's SATCOM station will be set up to demonstrate satellite communications. Volunteers are needed for setup, operation of the SATCOM station and manning of the table, and for breakdown. The festival is a two day event on Saturday and Sunday, October 12th and 13th, 2013 at the Great Bridge Lock Park off of Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake, VA. Setup can begin at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, October 11, 2013. Security will be provided by the event coordinators for Friday and Saturday evenings. The table needs to be manned on Saturday, October 12, 2013 from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, October 13, 2013, from 12:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Breakdown of the site will occur immediately following the event. Contact Richard Siff, W4BUE at 757-485-3762 or email at richard.siff(a)verizon.net to sign up for this event. This event is a signature event for the City of Chesapeake 50th Anniversary and will provide an excellent opportunity to show off our club. VOLUNTEER NOW. Please look for us on favorable passes on AO7, FO 29, and VO52. SO 50 is iffy with the image on the TS 2000. The Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service W4CAR will be operating HF. God Bless Rich W4BUE Pres K4AMG.org

1 0

Satpc32 Storing Rx/Tx addreses
by carl creamer 30 Sep '13

30 Sep '13

I'm having an issue with having Satpc32 storing the Mode/Rx/Tx addresses. When I start the program, I store the correct settings for my Icom and it all works fine , but when I reboot and/or restart the Satpc32 later I have to go to the mode screen and reset the Mode/Rx/Tx addresses. Is this normal or is there a way to have them permanently stored? Thanks Carl

3 2

Re: Satpc32 Storing Rx/Tx addreses
by Alan 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

Carl, Perhaps someone with first hand experience will have a suggestion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: carl creamer [mailto:[email protected]] <Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2013 5:00 PM <To: APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Satpc32 Storing Rx/Tx addreses < <Thanks Alan: <Well for some reason it does not work for me. <My Radio is set as IC-821h which requires addresses of $4c $4c <When I open the the set up window after a restart the address <show up as $60 $60, which is for the 910h I believe so I <change it to setup/radio setup/addresses/$4c $4c/addresses OK <And then I do the mode/addresses $4c $4c save and store. Then <restart Satpc and both the Mode and setup addresses show up <again as $60 $60 and I have to change them to $4c $4c again . <So I must be doing something wrong , but I don't know what it is. <any suggestion? <Thanks <Carl < <________________________________ < <From: Alan <wa4sca(a)gmail.com> <To: 'carl creamer' <ccreame(a)pacbell.net>; AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <Cc: CC <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> <Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2013 2:33 PM <Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Satpc32 Storing Rx/Tx addreses < < <Carl, < <I don't use Icoms now, but I tried configuring for one. <Everything worked fine, and the values I set <were retained when I restarted the program. There is an <additional Addresses OK button to the left <which I needed to click, in addition to the usual Store. < <73s, < <Alan <WA4SCA < < <<-----Original Message----- <<From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org <<[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of carl creamer <<Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2013 2:10 PM <<To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <<Subject: [amsat-bb] Satpc32 Storing Rx/Tx addreses << <<I'm having an issue with having Satpc32 storing the Mode/Rx/Tx <<addresses. <<When I start the program, I store the correct settings for my <<Icom and it all works fine , but when I reboot and/or restart <<the Satpc32 later I have to go to the mode screen and reset <<the Mode/Rx/Tx addresses. <<Is this normal or is there a way to have them permanently stored? <<Thanks <<Carl <<_______________________________________________ <<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 << < < < < <

1 0

Flex-5000 "PA Info" Display Bug During Satellite Operation?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

I have been active on the satellites lately with my Flex-5000 using external transverters. PowerSDR version 2.6.4. I have noticed an error in the PA Info display, Ctrl-Shift-I, when I am in mode B and transmit is enabled. The Temp: will read very unusual temperatures, i.e. 572, intermittently for a moment. Values change, but seem to be repetitive. I have seen large negative F values also. The Voltage: also reads 0 briefly sometimes.The radio appears to function normally when this occurs. This occurs even if the TX Drive is set to 0. I am running SatPC32 V.12.8b to control the uplink and downlink frequencies using x10 Speed. The problem seems to only occur when CAT is enabled on SatPC32. This seems like a conflict between variables used by PowerSDR's CAT control and the PA Info routines. Is anyone else using a Flex-5000 seeing this? 73, Bill NJ1H

2 1

Re: Falcon 9 Successfully Launched
by Rick Tejera 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

Years ago I was out telescoping with my astronomy club at a spot about 50 miles west of Phoenix. Just about an hour or so after sunset, we saw this iridescent orange pillar rising in the west. A Delta with a full complement of Solid boosters had just launched. We were able to follow it long after the solids cut out as the sun illuminated the exhaust plume from the main engines. Staging was quite obvious. A Spectacular sight, for sure 73 Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Jerzycke Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2013 10:43 To: B J Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Falcon 9 Successfully Launched Naw, not really. Kinda looked like somebody a few blocks away lit off a firework. If you didn't know what it was, you wouldn't have looked twice at it. Now a NIGHT LAUNCH from VAFB is really something to see! Jim

1 0

Re: Phase 3
by MLengruesser＠aol.com 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

Hi Dan, OSCAR-10 (P3-B) used the same 400N engine as OSCAR-13 (P3-C) and OSCAR-40 (P3-D). For P3-E we have a 200N motor from EADS Astrium, the same one which is used on the European ATV... I was AMSAT P3-A (planned to be OSCAR-9) which used a solid propellant apogee kick-motor. It's under the water near the cost of french Guiana.. RIP You can find an very good article here: http://www.ka9q.net/AMSAT-Tech-Journal-2.pdf See page 8..15 Rest assured, the PFA and propulsion system was qualified according to highest commercial standards by commercial companies. Thus in no way there would be any risk to the launcher or other payloads. This also includes several levels of safety borders in the hardware design and in the software. The launch agencies have there own specialized personal to review all the details... Without that, nobody would have launched any of the P3 satellites !!! What happened to AO-40 later on after orbit injection and after activating the systems is a completely different matter and did not present any risk to the launcher at any time! Michael R. Lengruesser, DD5ER AMSAT-DL e.V. -- International Satellites for Communication, Science and Education -- mlengruesser(a)amsat-dl.org http://www.amsat-dl.org In einer eMail vom 22.09.2013 21:07:08 Westeuropäische Sommerzeit schreibt n8fgv(a)usa.net: >>The apogee motors for OSCAR-10,and OSCAR-13 were solid propellant >>400 Newton trust motors donated to AMSAT-DL by the Messerschmitt Aerospace >>Company in Germany. Only Phase 3A had a solid fuel motor. AO-10 and AO-13 had liquid fuel bi-propellent motors the same as AO-40. No matter how well designed they are, they still have the potential to blow up the entire launch stack if something goes wrong. Since Dick Daniels is no longer with us, the knowledge has been lost and we will not be launching any more of these in the future. Dan Schultz N8FGV _______________________________________________ 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

4 4

Cygnus Docked At ISS
by B J 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/09/29/cygnus-captured-by-the-iss/ http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/cygnus-second-attempt-berth-iss/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

CASSIOPE's Foldable Antennas
by Bryce Salmi 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

I was watching the Canadian Space Agencies BROLL video of the CASSIOPE satellite due to launch in a few days and noticed a neat antenna. The video link below starts at the appropriate point in the video (feel free to watch the whole video too). For what looks like it is essentially steel tape measure metal... that's quite an intense antenna and deployment! I'm used to seeing these on cubesats and other small satellites but this is very neat to see too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WGD4cWnpcto#t=245 Bryce KB1LQC

3 9

Help wanted
by Anthony Monteiro 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

Dear Friends, The AMSAT Fox-1 satellite project is in need of an analog circuit engineer to work on our power system. If interested in volunteering, please send me an email with your phone number or Skype and some good times to call you. Note that due to ITAR constraints, you must be a US citizen or have a green card to work on our satellite projects. Thank you and 73, Tony AA2TX

1 0

Falcon 9 launch timeline
by Mineo Wakita 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

Falcon 9 v1.1, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California Falcon 9 countdown timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/countdowntimeline.html Falcon 9 launch timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/launchtimeline.html Falcon 9 launch live http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/status.html Press Kit released by SpaceX http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/UpgradedF9DemoMission_PressKit.pdf JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

1 0

Satellite Explorer Pro iOS app
by Rick Walter 29 Sep '13

29 Sep '13

I use the Satellite Explorer Pro iphone/iPad app. It did work very well on both devices. After the ios7 upgrade, it still works on the iPhone 5 but on my ipad2, the height and max el boxes as well as the data they would contain disappeared. When I open the app on the iPad, I briefly see the boxes and data, then they are gone in a blink of the eye. I tried to find out a way to contact the author with no luck. I hope Thomas Doyle is a ham and monitors this reflector. Anyone else notice the same problem? The settings on both devices are the same. I still chuckle when I see the new Windows commercial bashing the Apple iPad. I have all their devices but agree with the commercial. "Do you think I still look pretty?" Rick -WB3CSY Sent from Rick's iPad2

1 0

ISShamTV
by Robert C. Campbell 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

I am having difficulty getting the software drivers and programs set up properly for my Technotrend S2-1600 PCI and High Sierra down converter. Most everything is ready with the exception of the software/hardware playing nice and my lack of ability to figure it all out. This has been a bigger build than I anticipated and honestly...I am over my head. Is there anyone in the continental US who is at this stage or has over come these problems that can provide assistance? I have left a note on the software developers web in Europe but they work a different sift then we do. Please feel free to contact me at: kb3pmr(a)gmail.com. Also there seems to be a call for participation from our friends on the other side of the pond yet no real contact details. Your input requested. I am still looking for the ISShamTV for dummies had book. Bob

1 0

September 29 NASA TV Cygnus Arrival at ISS
by JoAnne Maenpaa 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

Here is another news item that is best sent now rather than waiting for the news cycle. NASA TV will televise the arrival and docking of Cygnus at the International Space Station. The schedule (as of now) is: Sunday, September 29 08:30 UTC (4:30 a.m. EDT: Cygnus rendezvous, grapple and berthing coverage begins on NASA Television. 11:15 UTC (7:15 a.m. EDT): Grapple of Cygnus by International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm 13:15 UTC (9:15 a.m. EDT): Cygnus berthing to Earth-facing port of Harmony node begins 17:00 UTC (1 p.m. EDT): Cygnus Post-Capture News Conference -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

1 0

Re: CASSIOPE's Foldable Antennas
by Mark L. Hammond 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

Didn't AMSAT people invent this method/technique? Tape measure antennas on satellites? 73, Mark N8MH At 04:12 AM 9/28/2013 +0000, B J wrote: >On 9/28/13, Bryce Salmi <bstguitarist(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> I was watching the Canadian Space Agencies BROLL video of the CASSIOPE >> satellite due to launch in a few days and noticed a neat antenna. The video >> link below starts at the appropriate point in the video (feel free to watch >> the whole video too). For what looks like it is essentially steel tape >> measure metal... that's quite an intense antenna and deployment! I'm used >> to seeing these on cubesats and other small satellites but this is very >> neat to see too. >> >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WGD4cWnpcto#t=245 > >It looks like it's the descendant of what was used on Canada's first >satellite, Alouette-1: > >http://www.spacenet.on.ca/data/pages/canada-in-space/alouette.html >http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/alouette.asp > >Many years ago, there was a documentary about the early days of >Canada's satellite program and I remember this was mentioned. >Unfortunately, I don't remember what the name was. > >73s > >Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL >_______________________________________________ >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

2 1

IARU Amateur Radio Spectrum Requirements
by M5AKA 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

A revised IARU spectrum requirements document is now available. http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/27/iaru-amateur-radio-spectrum-requirements/ Also on the AMSAT-UK site: IARU Administrative Council Meeting http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/26/iaru-administrative-council-meeting/ ISS Astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KDP discusses life in space on BBC World News http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/25/luca-parmitano-kf5kdp-on-bbc-world-news/ Indian High Altitude Balloon to Study Comets http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/28/high-altitude-balloon-to-study-comet-ison/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

1 0

Re: Helix matching
by Morizo Iseki 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

Please refer to my following website. http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~ia6m-isk/helix4.html (Japanese) de JH1CMP/JAMSAT , Morizo Iseki

1 0

CUSat-1/2 TLE?
by Mineo Wakita 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

Do you know the predictive TLE of CUSat-1/2 someone? http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cusat_12.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

1 0

Helix matching
by Robert Bruninga 28 Sep '13

28 Sep '13

Why don’t we see simple ¼ wave 75 ohm lines used as a first step in matching a 140 Ohm Helix to 50 ohms? The ¼ wave line would give an easy 112 ohms and then it shouldn’t be that hard to do a little additional construction matching to get to 140? (building a 2.4 GHz pop-out helix that compresses flat for launch) Bob, WB4APR

6 5

SATPC32 - amsat keps
by Mike Seguin 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

I noticed today that SATPC32 failed on downloading keps from AMSAT. I found the URL had changed to http://ww2.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasa.all (www was changed to ww2) Is this a permanent change? Maybe this was in response to the rebuild post hack? Mike -- 73, Mike, N1JEZ "A closed mouth gathers no feet"

6 7

FS- loaded Yaesu FT-736R
by Tim Goodrich 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

For sale is my Yaesu FT-736R. This rig is a gem and you'll be hard pressed to find a cleaner one that hasn't been stripped down to sell the parts individually at a higher price. Included is: Yaesu FT 736R with 6 meter, 2 meter, 1.25 meter, and 70cm band modules installed and all working at full power output FTS-8 CTCSS Tone Squelch Board Keyer-B Internal electronic iambic keyer XF-455MC 600 HZ CW filter KA6BFB CAT Control to use this with Ham Radio Deluxe (via FT-847 emulation) Hand Mic Power cord Rig is cosmetically a 9.5/10, as you can see in the pics at http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?407193-Yaesu-FT-736R-6-2-220-440-LOADED . The internal power supply functions perfectly, as does the front panel lighting. Price is $1300 and split shipping from 90503. Please email me using my qrz.com listed email address. Tim K6TW

1 0

CO6CBF to attend 2013 AMSAT Symposium in Houston
by Clayton Coleman 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

Are you looking for a good excuse to visit the 2013 AMSAT Symposium in Houston? It is with great pleasure that I announce the return of Hector Martinez, CO6CBF, to the AMSAT Symposium. Last year, Hector’s presentation on “Cuban style” satellite operation was well-received by the attendees. Don’t miss this year’s! Since his visit to Orlando, Hector has been busy in Cienfuegos completing his fundamental university studies. As the recipient of the “Gold Award,” he was honored for his diligence by the university’s rector. He now looks forward to continuing his education in a Master’s program. The AMSAT-NA Board of Directors has graciously extended Hector an invitation to the Symposium following his successful presentation in Orlando last year. This year’s process to obtain US visa approvals went smoothly and on schedule due to the guidance and experience of Patrick, WD9EWK. Hector’s travel expenses are guaranteed by private donations - not AMSAT-NA. If you wish to contribute please contact Clayton, w5pfg at arrl dot net. You may also contact W5PFG via postal mail at the FCC callbook-listed PO BOX. Clayton is Hector’s formal sponsor and coordinator for this year’s symposium visit. I wish to personally thank the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors and especially recognize Patrick, WD9EWK, for supporting Hector’s opportunity to present in Houston this year. 73 Clayton W5PFG

1 0

AMSAT 2013 Symposium commemorative shirt order deadline is October 1st!
by Alan 27 Sep '13

27 Sep '13

Hi, A reminder that the deadline for ordering 2013 Symposium commemorative shirts is October 1st. There shirts will be available for pickup at the Symposium, but cannot be ordered there, or on the AMSAT Store. More information, and a downloadable order form, can be found on the AMSAT web site: WWW.AMSAT.ORG 73s, Alan WA4SCA

1 0