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More On JAXA's Epsilon Launch
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

http://innerspace.net/2013/09/13/japans-epsilon-poised-for-second-attempt/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Pending Launches
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

Some results from Falcon 9 engine test: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/13/anomalies-falcon-9-static-firing/ Antares rollout: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/13/antares-rolled-launch-pad-wallops/ Second attempt to launch JAXA's Epsilon: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/13/jaxa-launch-epsilon-rocket-saturday/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Gravitational Constant Now Larger
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/353215/description/Notorious_Big… This doesn't appear to affect how spacecraft trajectories are determined. I guess our satellites will stay in orbit as they always have. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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OT: Ray Dolby, RIP
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2013/09/12/arts-dolby-ray-dead.html According to: http://vu3pen.blogspot.ca/2012/11/famous-ham-radio-operators-and-their.html two of his brothers and a sister-in law were hams. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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BLUEsat Mode J AX.25 Microsat ready for launch
by M5AKA 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

BLUEsat, a 13 kg microsatellite, built by students at the University of New South Wales, Australia is complete and is now looking for a launch. http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/13/australias-bluesat-ready-for-launch/ ---- 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 ----

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Quite a ride for the little fellow
by Thomas Doyle 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

Just when you think you have seen it all. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/national-international/Reports-Frog-Caugh… W9KE Tom Doyle

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More On Voyager 1 Leaving The Solar System
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

http://moonandback.com/2013/09/12/voyager-reaches-interstellar-space/ http://www.americaspace.com/?p=42443 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Falcon 9 Engine Test
by B J 13 Sep '13

13 Sep '13

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/falcon-9-v1-1-hot-fire-ahead-cassiop… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Voyager 1 Now In Interstellar Space
by B J 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/353199/description/At_last_Voyag… http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20130912.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20130912f.html More about this on the podcast at: http://c778316.r16.cf2.rackcdn.com/SciencePodcast_130913.mp3 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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More On Stowaway Space Critters
by B J 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

http://www.americaspace.com/?p=42432 A number of years ago, a space shuttle launch was postponed because of a woodpecker was punching a hole in the external tank insulation. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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SpaceX Launch May Slip Again
by B J 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/09/12/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-launch-appro… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: A0 40 replacement
by William Leijenaar 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

Hi AMSATs, Commercial satellites were very expensive... but we hams find a way to get our own satellite, for much cheaper price. Launches are very expensive now... but maybe there is a way we can do it cheaper ourselves (or with help from rocketeers) ? (Ofcourse not aiming for AO40 size... maybe starting with pico-sat first.. and use rocket body as antenna to save on that...). Just some idea 73 de PE1RAH, William

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Re: IARU coordinated frequencies for LitSat-1
by nx9b＠comcast.net 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

Did anyone else notice that the transponder downlink frequency is exactly on the center frequency of FO-29's uplink or that the Packet downlink was on the SO-50 uplink (without the 67Hz tone)?? Seems like this wasn't very well 'coordin ated'. I hope those freq's were misprints.

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(no subject)
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 12 Sep '13

12 Sep '13

D Star Amsat users net tonight at 01;00 UTC on REF 60 B 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

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SpaceX Mission Status
by B J 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/status.html This page is updated once in a while. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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IARU coordinated frequencies for LitSat-1
by M5AKA 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

LitSat-1 amateur radio frequencies announced http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/11/litsat-1-amateur-radio-frequencies-announced/ Also on the AMSAT-UK site: CubeSats in the Press http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/10/cubesats-in-the-press/ B-11 and B-12 Pico Balloons Break World Duration Record http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/09/b-11-and-b-12-pico-balloons-break-world-dura… ---- 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 ----

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Beacon experiment - signed photocards
by andy thomas 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

I've just received two handsome signed photocardss from Cosmonaut Roman Romanenko via Tsniimash to commemmorate the Shadow Beacon experiment early this year! They're on the front of my website. Many thanks to Valentin and friends on the Experiment! andy G0SFJ http://www.andythomas.eu

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Re: Ham TV
by Stefan Wagener 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

Thanks Gaston, I am glad that testing is progressing and succesful. For the actual commisioning and ISS testing it would be very helpful if signals from the ISS are not just limted to the European window but test signals are also transmitted across NA. We have a number of folks getting stations ready in the US and Canada. I hope that this option can be discussed with ESA, NASA ISS operation. 73, Stefan, VE4NSA On Wed, Sep 11, 2013 at 5:52 AM, Gaston BERTELS <gaston.bertels(a)skynet.be>wrote: > HamTV Bulletin 2 - September 10, 2013 > > Ham Video - EST and Simulations > > Ham Video Commissioning preparation is progressing. An EST (Experiment > Sequence Test) has been performed 28-29 August and Simulations tests were > done 5-6 September 2013. > > The EST consisted of a series of tests, mainly of the ground segment. For > the Commissioning, the VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) station of > the Italian Space Agency (ASI), located near Matera, southern Italy, will > be used for receiving the DATV signals from the ISS. For the EST, the > IK1SLD ground station, situated at Casale Monferrato, northern Italy was > used. IK1SLD is one of the ARISS telebridge stations, fully equiped for VHF > and UHF. It was recently upgraded for S-band with a 1.2m dish, feed, > downconverter and precision tracking motors. > > For the EST, a very low power transmitter, installed in the shack, > generated signals on the Ham Video frequencies, transmitting a DATV > recording at 1.3 and 2.0 MS/s and FEC ½. The DATV signal was received and > decoded by the IK1SLD station and webstreamed to the BATC server. See > British Amateur Television Club http://batc.tv/ Members Streams. > > B.USOC (Belgian User Support and Operations Center – ESA) conducted > operations. B.USOC and EAC (European Astronaut Center – Cologne, Germany) > specialists operated from Livorno at Kayser Itallia's laboratory, where a > Ham Video unit, the so-called EBB (Elegant BreadBox), is operational. > Parties involved were interconnected per teleconference. At Casale > Monferrato, Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD and Piero Tognolatti I0KPT produced, > received and webstreamed the signals in the different configurations as > requested by B.USOC. ESA and ARISS observers participated to the EST > teleconference. After debriefing, the EST was declared successful. > > Simulations were done differently. B.USOC supervised from their offices in > Brussels and ARISS responsibles Piero Tognolatti I0KPT and Jean Pierre > Courjaud F6DZP operated from home. The simulations were done in the > Columbus mockup at EAC, where a non operational Ham Video model is > installed. This box is used for astronaut training on Ham Video. A KuPS > power supply was also used, as well as a camera similar to the one onboard > Columbus in space. Ham Video transmissions were simulated in the different > configurations (frequencies and symbol rates). A view of operations in the > Columbus mockup was webstreamed to the participants. ARISS operators > simulated reception as if thery were at the Matera ground station, taking > into account expected timing between AOS and LOS. They signaled AOS and > requested “crew“ at EAC to transmit in different configurations, according > a pre-determined scenario. At LOS, the test stopped and results were > commented. > > Four “passes” were simulated this way, using both ARISS antennas. An > important goal of the simulations was to check the efficiency of > communications between ground and “crew”. Commands were initiated by ARISS > operators (supposedly from Matera), received at B.USOC, relayed to the > Columbus Control Center at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and uplinked to > “crew” by EUROCOM. The European ISS Control Center is called Col-CC and its > spacecraft communicator's call sign is EUROCOM. The Simulations were > conducted successfully and lessons were learned for gaining time on > transmitting commands. This is important considering the limited 8 minutes > contact time during real Commissioning. > > ARISS proposed to use our VHF uplink capabilities to “crew” for the > Commissioning. This was not acceptable with regard to ESA's commissioning > protocol. > > Presently, ISS pass predictions for Matera are computed for several weeks > starting mid October, The Matera VLBI activities are to be taken into > account for determining usable passes. Four passes will be needed to > fullfil the Commissioning requirements. > > Ham Video Commissioning activities will be decided by ESA and NASA ISS > Operations. Hopefully the Commissioning will be planned during Expedition > 37. We will keep you informed. > > 73, > Gaston Bertels – ON4WF > ARISS-Europe chairman > > > PS: Ham TV Bulletins are available at www.ariss-eu.org > > ______________________________**_________________ > 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<http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb> >

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More On Inflatable CubeSat Antenna
by B J 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/11/mit-researchers-test-inflatable-cube… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Deep Impact Spacecraft Lost?
by B J 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1309/10deepimpact/ http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-275 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Details Of Antares/Cygnus Flight
by B J 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/11/overview-cygnus-mission-iss/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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CAT: A Thruster for Interplanetary CubeSats on Kickstarter
by Adrian Engele 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

I saw this on Kickstarter. Looks like a great concept but the team did not reach they funding goals by August 5th. Curious to see if they can get other funding from somewhere else to test this concept. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/597141632/cat-a-thruster-for-interplane… 73, Adrian AA5UK

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Yaesu g 5500 elevation rotator
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 11 Sep '13

11 Sep '13

The 500 pot on the Yaesu g5500 elevation rotator failed. Does some on the list have a replacement part number and source preferable a USA source? Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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Soyuz Landing This Evening
by JoAnne Maenpaa 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Soyuz landing this evening USA time (September 10): http://spaceflightnow.com/station/exp36/130910prelanding/#.Ui-qN3-z6So Watching the undocking on NASA TV media channel ... going on right now. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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NASA To Televise Antares/Cygnus Launch
by B J 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/september/nasa-tv-coverage-set-for-orbital-s… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Manual needed for Houston Tracker IV
by Steve B 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Does anyone have a manual for the Houston Tracker IV track box? This vintage controller was used for C-band satellite pointing from a few years ago. Steve Bell KJ7OG -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter. SPAMfighter has removed 49 of my spam emails to date. Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len Do you have a slow PC? Try a Free scan http://www.spamfighter.com/SLOW-PCfighter?cid=sigen

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Lost QSLs
by DJ Nise 10 Sep '13

10 Sep '13

Hi everyone, I'm hoping the BB can help. I recently bought a new home. During the move, my wife asked me to bring a bag of trash out to our fire pit in the backyard. I burned the bag that night. The next morning, I checked for any hot coals, and realized that I was looking at a pile of QSL cards and my logbook that were reduced to ash! Almost all my cards from QSOs on AO-51, AO-27, SO-50, HO-68, and ISS were lost. I'd like to ask if anyone could go through their log, and see if my call sign pops up, and e-mail the info to me. I'm not looking for anything for free, and am doing this on the honor system. If a card is sent, I'll resend mine. (The W1 bureau is good too), or I can hope for a match on LoTW. Thank you & 73 - Paul KB1QYS

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SatPC32 to G5500 Touchscreen Interface
by PY5LF 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Hi Sharing some improvements made with automation parts on my SatPC32 rotor control. I just wrote the program. The PLC is from www.automationdirect.com and the interface is from www.redlion.net <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-i1d-oM_M&feature=c4-overview&list=UUCJOz Tz_VHCLltu6FYK--VA> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J-i1d-oM_M&feature=c4-overview&list=UUCJOzT z_VHCLltu6FYK--VA 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF

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Re: [Starcom-bb] DM90 or DM92
by Glenn AA5PK 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

If all goes as planned, I'll operate portable tomorrow (10 Sept) from DM92 on the SO-50 pass with my AOS of 1742Z. Next trip will be to DM90 for those who need that one also. 73 de Glenn AA5PK DM91

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Kenwood TM-V71A or DM-710 for Satellite Work
by Les Rayburn 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

Continuing on my thread with questions about mobile transceivers for use with FM satellites, I should have looked no further than my own shack. I have a Kenwood TM-V71 that is full duplex that I'm currently not using. Does anyone on the lists have any experience with this transceiver for satellite operation? I'm particularly interested in hearing how sensitive the receiver was with the satellites, or experiences using it for mobile satellite operation. The D710 with APRS functionality is an identical radio in terms of the RF hardware, so experiences with that radio would also be welcome. I'll be a passenger in my upcoming trip so no worries about my trying to operate a full-duplex radio while driving. (Ha, Ha) -- -- 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

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NASA School Contact on NASA-TV Now!
by Clint Bradford 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

RIGHT NOW - ISS Expedition 36 In-Flight Educational Event with the Riverside Preparatory High School in Oro Grande, CA - JSC. Go to NASA TV right now! Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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raspberry pi
by Bruce 09 Sep '13

09 Sep '13

i remember an article posted a few months back about using the raspberry pi for satellite work. just noticed it on sale at newegg.com for $55.99. do not know if it is a good price or not. thought i would pass the info on. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA0AT0TW4472 73...bruce i have no interest or business relationship with newegg. Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPhone

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Best Full Duplex Mobile FM Rig for Satellite Work?
by Les Rayburn 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

Even though we have only one FM bird active at the moment (two if you could ISS), I'd still like to get a good performing FM duplex transceiver for the truck, along with a good magnet mount antenna to use while in motion. My reasons for this are many but briefly: 1.) Can't invest in a full blown satellite transceiver for the mobile right now. 2.) Want to be able to work high elevation passes without the need to drag out anything or even stop. 3.) Have a work related road trip coming up that will take us from Alabama to Washington, DC, then on to Chicago, Phoenix, and finally Salt Lake City. This should take me through a lot of grids. While I hope to pack along the Arrow Antenna and a FT-857D/FT-817ND combo, I won't be able to stop for the majority of passes. A good mobile duplex FM rig would insure that I make at least the majority of SO-50 passes during the three week trip. Suggestions on either rig or antennas? -- -- 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

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Another SATPC32 Question-Icom 910H-FM Narrow Mode
by Les Rayburn 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

Thanks to all who answered my newbie question involving how to change the transmitted PL tone for SO-50. I got several great responses, including at least one person who sent me their edited file for my use. The amateur spirit is alive, well, and living on the birds! I've got a similar question regarding SATPC32 and SO-50. I've noticed that FM-narrow mode on the Icom IC-910H seems to deliver better reception of the satellite, and I'd like to change the settings in SATPC32 so that is automatically places the radio in FM-Narrow mode. Can someone guide me through how to make this change? Also, I notice that polarity seems to be a larger issue on this bird than on the linear SSB/CW birds. My antennas are fixed in the attic in elevation, and can only be rotated in azimuth. I also opted to slightly offset the 432 antennas from vertical polarization to more of an "in-between", which seemed to reduce local noise and be a good compromise setting for shifting antenna polarization on the satellite. Anything else I can be besides adding AZ/EL to help reception of SO-50? -- -- 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

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Congrats to WD4GXI for 5 in EM 55 award #47
by damon runion 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

for more info on this award look me up wa4hfn on qrz.com

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EL79 or surrounding grids next two days
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

I have business tomorrow afternoon in Panama City, so if there is interest I will be in EL79 from approximately 1400Z to 1700Z, and probably again in the evening. Look for me, most likely on SO-50 and FO-29, if you need the grid. On FO-29 I will be 20-30 Khz above the middle. Next week puts me in Gulf Breeze, FL and Albany, GA for those who need grids around those areas. 73, Drew KO4MA

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For Sale Mode J Desense Filter
by W7TYN 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

I have the following item for sale. Please respond to me off list if you are interested or need photo documentation: 1 ea. Original OSCAR Mode J Desense Filter . $20.00 $12.00 USPS Priority mail. I will give $10.00 donation to amsat in appreciation for all there help, when I was active on the "Birds". Uplink on 2 meters downlink on 70cm. This filter reduces the problem of the up link signal desensing the receiver. This filter has low insertion loss(typically less than 0.5dB in the 70 cm band)(This filter and good rejection (typically over 50 dB in the 2 meter band.) This filter should be inserted between the 70cm antenna and 70cm preamp. Transmitting through this filter is not recommended so it should be removed or bypassed before transmitting on 70cm. I fabricated this filter out of 3" copper pipe from a drawing and article in the AMSAT journal a number of years ago. A drawing appears in the 1980 ARRL Handbook. Silver and teflon trim coax fittings used on the input and output connections. W7TYN AMSAT # 3951

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2013 Symposium Tour Registration
by Alan 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

Hi, AMSAT has announced two great tours for the 2013 Symposium: The Battleship Texas, and the NASA Johnson Space Center. Both tours are open to all Symposium participants. However, due to the requirement for additional information for the JSC tour, the methods of booking tours are different. The Battleship Texas tour may be booked directly on the AMSAT Store: http://preview.tinyurl.com/lqw8o9x The details for the NASA JSC tour may be found on the AMSAT Store: http://preview.tinyurl.com/lr9e9cs However, it cannot be booked on the AMSAT Store due to the requirement for additional information. It must be booked directly with the AMSAT office. Information on how to do this, and the required information for non-US nationals, is included on the Store item. We regret the additional complications, and appreciate your understanding. 73s, Alan WA4SCA AMSAT Store Stock Boy

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Problem with a Tiny2
by Vincenzo Mone 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

Hi to the list, I own a PacComm Tiny2 with a 9600 G3RUH board to TX/RX the 9600 baud signals. I have a problem that when I go to switch it ON, I get the three LEDs ( STA CON and PWR ) lighted on permanently And it never light OFF. If I have the Terminal program loaded on the screen I can just see one character In the moment I switch the TNC ON. If I send the carriage return I can see the cursor going down but no communication. It seems that it does not complete the Switch ON routine. Please anybody can suggest me what happened and how to solve it? Thanks in advance. 73's de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************** ******* GSM +39 328 7110193 ******* ****** SMS +39 328 7110193 ****** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** *********************************

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Who says the amateur satellite hobby is dying?
by Paul Stoetzer 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

I was one ham's first satellite contact two nights ago on FO-29 and I was almost a ham's first satellite contact this evening on VO-52. Unfortunately, we couldn't get it done. Plus, I haven't been on the birds for very long myself. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

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Norton Sales Inc. in North Hollywood CA (Rocket Parts trip)
by Bryce Salmi 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

I thought some of you on the BB would get a kick out of this. My brother, a few friends from work, and I took a trip today out to Norton Sales Inc. in North Hollywood, CA. We kept hearing about the rocket engines and parts along with other aerospace stuff that you can buy there. While a good amount of it is truly "junk" and is in no shape to actually fly, there are a decent number of transducers and pipes that could be put to good use. The movie industry is their main customer for the props. Movies such as the avengers and Iron Man have used some of the parts. Sorry for the poor quality images, I used my camera phone. I ended up buying the Nike-I Missile UDMH can (unused/unopened which was particularly important) for $10 and is a neat part of history. Enjoy! http://www.flickr.com/photos/101448394@N02/sets/72157635431460204/ Bryce Salmi KB1LQC

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ANS-251 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 08 Sep '13

08 Sep '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-251 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: * Mail your AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots TODAY * US Space Fence Shut Down * Say HI to Juno * Space Station Slow Scan TV Active * FUNcube-1 is in its Pod * 2013 AMSAT Symposium Tours Announced * CEPT Considers Use of 5830-5850 MHz Satellite Band * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-251.01 ANS-251 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 251.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE September 8, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-251.01 Mail your AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots TODAY A reminder that, if you haven't done so already, mail your Board of Director Ballots ASAP. All members in good standing should have received their ballots. In order for your ballott to be counted, it will need to be RECEIVED at the AMSAT office by September 15th. This year we have 8 candidates for 4 voting Board members and 2 non- voting Alternates. Your vote is especially important this year in selecting those who will help guide AMSAT-NA. If you have not submitted your ballot, please review the candidate biography and position statements you received, as well as the Minutes of the Board Meeting published in the May/June issue of the AMSAT Journal. Then make your voice heard by voting. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- US Space Fence Shut Down It is reported on SatWatch that the 216 MHz US Space Fence, used to detect orbital objects, was turned off on September 1, 2013 at 0000 UT. The Air Force Space Surveillance System (AFSSS), known as the Space Fence, is a U.S. government multistatic radar system built to detect orbital objects passing over the United States. There are three transmitter sites operating on 216.983, 216.97 and 216.99 MHz and six receiving stations. According to Wiki the system is understood to be capable of detecting a 10 cm object at an altitude of 30,000 km and makes 5 million satellite observations each month. Early in August Space News reported that: Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, “has directed that the Air Force Space Surveillance System be closed and all sites vacated” effective Oct. 1, the memo said. It seems appear the closure may have occurred earlier than initially reported. The reason for the shutdown has been reported as being because Federal Government expenditure is exceeding budget resulting in automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, however, a Space Review article suggests another reason http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2357/1 Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) officials say they have devised modified operating modes for the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Characterization System at Cavalier Air Force Station, N.D., and for the space surveillance radar at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., which allows the discontinuation of AFSSS operations while still maintaining solid space situational awareness. Air Force Space Surveillance System http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_Space_Surveillance_System Air Force Space Command to discontinue space surveillance system http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/466832/air- force-space-command-to-discontinue-space-surveillance-system.aspx Space News, August 6, 2013 http://www.spacenews.com/article/military-space/36655shelton-orders- shutdown-of-space-fence SatWatch http://www.satwatch.org/ High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) shuts down http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2013/haarp_facility_shuts_down.h tm [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Say HI to Juno NASA’s Juno mission is inviting amateur radio operators around the world to transmit a coordinated message on the 28 MHz band to the Juno spacecraft. 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 and plasma wave experiment, called Waves, should be able to detect the message if enough people participate. Juno will have a better chance of detecting the signal from many operators if the signal is spread out across the spectrum. The Juno Waves instrument is a broadband receiver, and the detector being used for this event has a band width of 1 MHz. It is better for detection of the signal to have a broadband signal coming in. For this experiment, the Juno team would like to ask those participating to spread out in frequency across the 10 meter band. They have supplied a table of suggested frequencies between 28 and 29 MHz, based on the last letter of your call. When the HFR receiver is tuned to 28MHz, the center frequency is 28.5 MHz. A 50 kHz high pass filter limits low frequencies hitting the detector, so the frequency table excludes 28.5 MHz ±50 kHz. The natural signals the team expect to measure at Jupiter will consist of a large number of discrete tones, so spreading the signals out in this manner is a good approximation to the signals Juno is expected to detect. But at Jupiter, they don’t expect to be able to decode CW in the telemetry! The 28 MHz band was chosen for this experiment for several reasons. The Waves instrument is sensitive to radio signals in all amateur bands below 40 MHz, but experience with the University of Iowa instruments on the Galileo and Cassini earth flybys shows significant shielding by the ionosphere at lower frequencies. As sad as it sounds, the team hope for lousy band conditions on October 9, so an appreciable fraction of the radiated energy escapes the ionosphere into space, and is not refracted back down to the ground somewhere else on the planet. Juno’s antenna consists of a pair of tapered 2.8 meter long titanium tubes, deployed from the bottom deck of the spacecraft under the +X solar array and magnetometer boom. A high impedance radiation resistant preamp sits at the base of the antenna and buffers the signals from 50 Hz to 45 MHz. The elements are deployed with an opening angle of about 120 degrees. Ten meters is above the resonant frequency of the antenna and NEC analysis indicates a lobe generally along the spin axis of the spacecraft. This will be good for detection on the inbound part of closest approach to Earth. The Waves instrument uses four receivers to cover the frequency range of 50 Hz to 41 MHz. Signals up to 3 MHz are bandpass filtered, sampled by A/D converters and FFT processed into spectra using a custom FFT processor developed by The University of Iowa under a grant from the Iowa Space Grant Consortium. The Juno team point out that All transmissions must follow local and national regulations. Please join in, and help spread the word to fellow amateur radio enthusiasts! NASA – Say “HI” to Juno! http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/hijuno/ See How do I participate ? for the frequency list. [ANS thanks AMSAT-BB and Glenn AA5PK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Space Station Slow Scan TV Active Dmitry Pashkov UB4UAD has posted two images that he received on 145.800 MHz FM from the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday, September 4, 2013. All you need to do to receive the SSTV pictures from the space station is to connected the audio output of a scanner or amateur rig via a simple interface to the soundcard on a Windows PC or an Apple iOS device, and tune in to 145.800 MHz FM. You can even receive pictures by holding an iPhone next to the radio’s loudspeaker. The ISS puts out a strong signal on 145.800 MHz FM and a 2m handheld with a 1/4 wave antenna will be enough to receive it. The FM transmission uses 5 kHz deviation which is standard in much of the world. Many FM rigs in the UK can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters so select the wider deviation. Handhelds all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard. On Windows PC’s the free application MMSSTV can be used to decode the signal, on Apple iOS devices you can use the SSTV app. The ISS Fan Club website will show you when the space station is in range. For more on Slow Scan Television SSTV, see this article SSTV – The Basics. How to be successful with the ISS Slow Scan Television (SSTV) imaging system http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtoisssstv.html Information on the MAI-75 SSTV experiment http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/researches/education-26.html IZ8BLY Vox Recoder, enables you to record the signals from the ISS on 145.800 MHz while you’re away at work http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/VoxRecorder/ For the latest status of amateur radio activity on the ISS and real time tracking see http://www.issfanclub.com/ ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) Blog and Gallery http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-1 is in its Pod The AMSAT FUNcube team are delighted to be able to announce that the FUNcube-1 CubeSat has now completed all its final testing and been placed into its launch POD. ZACUBE-1 prior to being shipped to the Netherlands - Image credit CPUT ZACUBE-1 prior to being shipped to the Netherlands – Image credit CPUT This work was completed during a three day programme at the premises of ISIS BV in Delft in the Netherlands and was finished, on time, late Wednesday afternoon on September 4, 2013. FUNcube-1 is actually the middle 1U CubeSat of three sharing a 3U ISIPOD. It is sharing the ISIPOD with ZACUBE-1 from South Africa and HiNCube from Norway. ZACube-1, in addition to carrying VHF and UHF communications equipment also has a 20 metre beacon which will operate on 14.099 MHz This ISIPOD, with the spacecraft inside, will be transported to Russia, early next month, for launch and will eventually be attached directly to the launch vehicle. FUNcube-1 carries a U/V linear transponder and the educational telemetry beacon using 1k2 BPSK for school outreach purposes. The current launch info has lift off scheduled for November 21st at 07:11:29 UT Full initial orbit details and TLE’s, together with decoding software will be made available over the next few weeks. FUNcube-1 communication subsystem: • 400 mW Inverting linear transponder for SSB and CW - Uplink 435.150 – 435.130 MHz - Downlink 145.950 – 145.970 MHz • 400 mW BPSK Telemetry 145.935 MHz ZACUBE-1 http://tinyurl.com/ANS-251-ZACUBE-1 HiNCube http://www.hincube.com/ A recent presentation about the FUNcube project by Graham Shirville G3VZV and Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG can be viewed online at http://www.batc.tv/streams/amsat1311 or downloaded from http://www.batc.tv/vod/Funcube1.flv A PDF of the slides from that presentation is here FUNcube_Colloquium2013a FUNcube information sheets: • FUNcube_Project Information_aug2013 • FUNcube_Educational_Outreach aug2013 FUNcube-1 http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-cubesat/ FUNcube Yahoo Group http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/ FUNcube website http://www.funcube.org.uk/ Some of the other satellites that may be on the same Dnepr launch vehicle are listed at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/08/22/dnepr-cubesat-launch/ AMSAT-UK on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 AMSAT-UK on Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK Join AMSAT-UK http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/category_9/Join-Amsat-UK.html [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 AMSAT Symposium Tours Announced AMSAT has arranged for two special tours as part of this year's Symposium. Battleship USS Texas BB-35 On Sunday there will be a tour of the Battleship Texas BB-35, the only surviving US Navy warship that served in both World Wars. It is currently opened to the public while undergoing extensive restoration to ready her for the 100th anniversary of her commissioning in 2014. A special tour has been arranged for AMSAT Symposium participants. Transportation will depart the Marriott at 1030, and the formal tour will be completed at 1400. Transportation will be available directly to Houston Hobby airport from the ship. There will be an optional lunch at a popular local restaurant followed by a return to the Marriott at 1600. Cost per person, not including the optional lunch, will be $20. Johnson Space Center and W5RRR JSC ARC On Monday there will be a tour of the NASA Johnson Space Center. The tour will include the Sonny Carter Neutral Buoyancy Lab and the Building 9 Training facility containing high fidelity full scale mockups of the International Space Station modules as well as the Soyuz spacecraft. The ISS tour will include special emphasis on the amateur radio stations on the ISS. The tour will also include the Building 30 historic mission control room as well as the current International Space Station control room, and s a visit to the JSC ARC station W5RRR. Transportation will depart the Marriott at 0800. On the return trip transportation will stop at Houston Hobby airport at 1415 before returning to the hotel. Cost per person will be $30. Details, registration and up to date information may be found on WWW.AMSAT.ORG [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CEPT Considers Use of 5830-5850 MHz Satellite Band The CEPT SE24 Short Range Devices meeting M72 took place in Vienna on August 26-27, 2013. The meeting discussed the use of the frequency bands 5350-5470 MHz and 5725-5925 MHz ('WAS/RLAN extension bands') for wireless access systems including radio local area networks (WAS/RLANs). Any use of Amateur Satellite Service downlink band of 5830-5850 MHz for this purpose would inevitably raise the noise floor making the weak satellite signals even harder to receive. Links to the CEPT documents are posted on the AMSAT-UK web page: http://tinyurl.com/ANS-251-CEPT [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Mill Springs Academy, Alpharetta, GA, USA and Astronaut Christopher J. Cassidy, KF5KDR, using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-09-04 14:15 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via KK4OVR.The ARISS Mentor for the contact was K4SQC. Mill Springs Academy is an accredited independent school with a college-prep program dedicated to the academic, physical and social growth of students who have not realized their full potential in a traditional classroom setting. Since 1981 we have been supporting student learning by raising expectations and developing self- motivation, while providing skills and values for life. The population consists of average to above average, students in grades 1-12, with learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder. Small classes and an individualized curriculum help them to capitalize on their strengths while learning coping strategies. Mill Springs offers a broad range of fine arts options, a variety of competitive sports, and an extended day program. In the summer months, summer school, summer camp and sport workshops are offered. Our 85-acre campus is nestled in the beautiful rolling hills and pasture land of Alpharetta. We can be found on Twitter (@millspringsacad), Facebook and Pinterest or on our website: www.millsprings.org Our school motto is Success In School. Success In Life. Joining in this ARISS Radio Contact were students and faculty from the Brandon Hall School. Brandon Hall is located in Dunwoody, another northern suburb of Atlanta. Brandon Hall's mission as a coeducational boarding and day school is to provide a challenging college preparatory experience immersed in technology. Also joining us were students from Crabapple Crossing Elementary, a nearby public school. + A Successful contact was made between Duluth Children's Museum, Duluth, MN, USA and Astronaut [ISSOP, CALLSIGN] using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-09-07 15:03 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via W0GKP. The Duluth Children's Museum is a place where children begin their lifelong exploration of an ever-expanding world. The mission of the Duluth Children's Museum is to spark children's curiosity. One of the first children's museums in the country, the Duluth Children's Museum opened in 1930 as a resource for teachers, schoolchildren and families to learn more about their world neighbors. The Duluth Children's Museum serves more than 80,000 children, caregivers and educators annually through its exhibition and education programs. The museum's primary constituency is children age three to eight and their families. The extended constituency is children birth to three and children eight to twelve and family members. Upcoming ARISS contacts + S.A.M.T. (Scuola Arti Mestieri Trevano), Canobbio, Switzerland, direct via HB9OK Contact is a go for: Mon 2013-09-09 07:17:03 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N, David, AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Clayton Started It! Clayton W5PFG started it - on the AMSAT-BB. Poetry, Haiku actually, lamenting there not being HEOs. It seems this meme may have a life of its own. Catch the fun and submit your own verse - Haiku or not on the AMSAT-BB. So far this editor's favorite is by Doug Phelps' K9DLP AM-SAT volunteers Working to keep us in space Thank you, job well done (Source: AMSAT-BB) + Move away from the center of the passband Drew KO4MA suggests moving away from the center of the passband while working the linear birds. Previous to SatPC32 being the ubiquitous way to operate the transponders, people tended to spread out much more on the linear sats. CW was generally in the lower third to maybe middle, and voice was often spread out over much more of the passband. Now...I love Sat PC32, and I like full Doppler tuning, but just because the program defaults to the middle of the passband doesn't mean everyone should operate within 10 KHz of there. See http://tinyurl.com/ANS-251-LinearOps Spread out and use the VFO! There's no reason to pile up like sardines in the middle. Maybe even (GASP) edit the doppler.sqf file to put you elsewhere in the passband to fine tune things at the start of the pass? Got a schedule, or operating from a rare grid? Let everyone know where to look (i.e. 25 khz up from the middle) and save yourself and others some QRM? Erich, DK1TB, offers this tip, if you want SatPC32 to start off the center of the passband of an SSB/CW satellite do the following: Run the program choose that satellite. Tune the radio to the start frequency you want - say 8 kHz above the center of the passband. Then click menu CAT > Change/Store Data File > RX/TX Freq. Data. From the next program start the program will start at the new downlink and uplink frequencies. (Source: AMSAT-BB) + It seems we are having problems with the mailing of the July/August Journal. It is indeed unfortunate to have the commendable efforts of the volunteer contributors and editorial staff to the AMSAT Journal be undone by problems at a PAID contractor. If you have not received your 2013 July/August AMSAT Journal via the postal mail please let the AMSAT office know via e-mail at martha(a)amsat.org. Source: Joanne K9JKM + Wouter, PA3WEG, has kindly created a unique video that shows the correct process for inserting three 1U CubeSats into their 3U ISIPOD. This is now available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3xT3SDlFUOg Source: Graham Shirbille via AMSAT-BB --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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

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KH6
by Bob- W7LRD 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

For those looking for Hawaii, look for NH6Y. Quite active on the birds. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Inflatable Directional Antenna For CubeSats
by M5AKA 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

New dish antenna for CubeSats developed by Alessandra Babuscia and her team. http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/07/inflatable-antenna-could-give-cubesats-great… ---- 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 ----

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PacComm and Siskin surplus
by Gregory Beat 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

Twenty-five years ago, it was not uncommon to see Gwyn Reedy W1BEL(sk) of PacCom Inc or Phil Bridges G6DLJ of Siskin Electronics Ltd. promoting their amateur and commercial TNC and high-speed modem products == An amateur estate is being sold on eBay seller: c200fish Among the various PacCom/Siskin items are four PacCom Spirit-2 modems. I have no idea if the satellite modem is installed, since these were sold in various flavors/configurations. I think Mark Hammond, N8MH was using the Spirit-2 for his ground station. I have one if the earlier Sprint-2 (sat version) at my quiet station. greg, w9gb Sent from iPad 3

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Re: Rocket Launch Visible on East Coast Tonight
by Burns Fisher 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

I saw it way up here in New Hampshire! A great night. First the Red Sox trounce the Yankees *again*, then a few minutes later the launch visible on the internet, and then a few seconds after that a Minotaur visible above my back yard! Really cool! I wish the Fox launch would be visible from my yard like that. A few thousand miles off though... 73, Burns, W2BFJ Message: 7 > Date: Sat, 7 Sep 2013 03:54:06 +0000 > From: B J <va6bmj(a)gmail.com> > To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] LADEE On Its Way To The Moon > Message-ID: > <CAP7QzkO3ZKj= > EZvV-YL6voUu7NefHyq7FtgaotHNrUN8jGFNOw(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > The launch was smooth and orbital parameters appear to be nominal. > > 73s > > Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL > >

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More On LADEE's Launch
by B J 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

http://moonandback.com/2013/09/06/ladee-launches/ http://innerspace.net/2013/09/07/its-nominal-ladee-en-route-to-the-moon/ http://www.americaspace.com/?p=41923 http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/06/ladee-launched-moon/ http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/orbitals-minotaur-v-launch-ladee-mis… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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AMSAT Journal No Joy in EM63
by Les Rayburn 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

I too did not receive the latest issue of the AMSAT Journal as of yet. Thought it might just be me, so didn't want to complain. It is something to look forward to! Great job to Martha, Jo Anne, and everyone involved. The authors deserve a lot of thanks as well. -- -- 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

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FUNcube-1 POD Insertion World Premiere video
by Graham Shirville 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

Wouter, PA3WEG, has kindly created a unique video that shows the correct process for inserting three 1U CubeSats into their 3U ISIPOD. This is now available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3xT3SDlFUOg best 73 Graham

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LADEE On Its Way To The Moon
by B J 07 Sep '13

07 Sep '13

The launch was smooth and orbital parameters appear to be nominal. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: Latest Newsletter
by Rick Tejera 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Thanks JoAnne.. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org -----Original Message----- From: JoAnne Maenpaa [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 5:18 AM To: 'Rick Tejera'; 'James Luhn'; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: Latest Newsletter Hmmm, my July/August AMSAT Journal has not arrived either (even with the wrong name). Martha at the AMSAT Office handles circulation/mailing issues and she is our interface with vendors and contractors like the print shop. I've let her know that so far we're missing issues for K9JKM, K7TEJ, and W5AOO. If others are missing please let Martha know. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

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Rocket Launch Visible on East Coast Tonight
by Les Rayburn 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/MinotaurV/index.shtml Another Virginia launch of the Minotaur V rocket tonight from the facility in Virginia. The link above contains information on the vehicle, launch time, and detailed information about what to expect for viewers along the East Coast. -- -- 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

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IC-820H + SatPC32
by Erich Eichmann 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Hello, is there anybody on the list using an IC-820H with SatPC32, V. 12.8b? I don't have that radio and can't test it. A user of the IC-820H has an issue with the program.´The program sets the initial frequencies when he selects a satellite but doesn't update the frequencies for Doppler corrrection (he decreased the intervals in menu CAT already to 10 Hz). Many thanks for answers. 73s, Erich, DK1TB

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Re: Latest Newsletter
by Rick Tejera 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

You know, now that I think about it, I do recall the message about the mailing labels. It was said we should get the Journal, but the name would be different. Fact is I haven't gotten my copy. Were they mailed or was the mailing agent fixing the problem?? 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 James Luhn Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 8:26 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Latest Newsletter What is the status of the newsletter? The last one I received was May/June. Is it the latest one? I look so forward to getting the newsletter. It is like a letter from home. 73, -james W5AOO _______________________________________________ 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

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S band LEO Sat tracking
by michael luft 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

What kind of positioning accuracy can be expected form amateur PC Software and Antenna Rotators? Or, in other words: What kind of S band antenna ( gain or dimensions) is needed to track a S band LEO Sat? 73 Michael

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SATPC32 & Icom IC-910H Setting PL Tone Question
by Les Rayburn 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Happened to be up very late, trying to finish some work. My computer alerted me that SO-50 was rising, and even though it was 4AM, I thought I'd take a chance that someone might be on the bird. All efforts to raise the bird failed, even though it was a very high elevation pass. I realized that the bird had "timed out" and needed to be activated. Not something I was used to thinking about considering how busy SO-50 usually is. I searched in vain to try to figure out how SATPC32 was setting the 67.0 Hz PL tone. I figured I could modify that setting to make it transmit 74.4 Hz instead. But no joy. I know this can be set in the rig's menu, but I'd rather have a separate setting in SATPC32 for those rare passes when SO-50 is silent. Can someone walk me through how to edit the necessary file(s) and set this up? Thanks in advance from a night owl! -- -- 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

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R: Re: R: Re: ISS SSTV Active on 145.800Mhz
by Claudio Ariotti, IK1SLD 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Hello, I know TM-D710 not replace the D700 but it is used for SSTV MAI-75 Experiment. D710 does not have the microphone but it is connected directly to the SSTV system. D700 mic isn't compatible with D710. D700 is used for contact with school in Russia. Anyone has any other news? 73' Claudio IK1SLD Sent by Mobile DroidM5AKA <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> ha scritto:Can anyone confirm if all ISS transmissions from the Russian Service Module are now using the new Kenwood TM-D710 which was sent up to replace the D700 ? I missed any mention of the new rig being commissioned. 73 Trevor M5AKA ________________________________ From: Fabiano Moser <fabianomoser(a)gmail.com> To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, 5 September 2013, 11:57 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: R: Re: ISS SSTV Active on 145.800Mhz Hi, SSTV active with problems, PTT was activated but no audio, then after 20seconds± the audio started and goes out before the end of image. PTT still ON without audio till LOS. On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 10:22 AM, Claudio Ariotti, IK1SLD < claudio(a)ariotti.com> wrote: > > > Hi Jan, about your comment I read on your web, the Luca Parmitano don't use > the Kenwood TM-D710, this radio is used by Russian crew. > The MAI-75 Experiment is a Russian experiment and the crew activates it > when > Moscow has AOS, so we lost 50% of the pass. > Luca only use the Ericsson radio in the Columbus module. > > 73 Claudio IK1SLD > > > -----Messaggio originale----- > Da: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Per > conto > di PE0SAT | Amateur Radio > Inviato: giovedì 5 settembre 2013 10:35 > A: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Oggetto: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS SSTV Active on 145.800Mhz > > Hi Cor, > > Via this link: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/2013/iss-sstv-reception/ you can > download the SSTV images I received yesterday. > > > 73 Jan PE0SAT > > On 04-09-2013 20:47, Cor . wrote: > > Hello All, > > > > Several ISS SSTV images are received from several ground stations. > > See ISS SSTV images and info: > > http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.nl/ > > http://www.dk3wn.info/satblog.shtml > > > > I asume the Russian ISS crew have sended 4 different SSTV images > > today. > > If someone have received other images please send them to > > me via e-mail (see my QRZ.com page). > > > > Tommorow Sept. 5 between 09:00 and 10:40 UTC last day of the event. > > > > > > 73's Cor PD0RKC > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > -- > With regards PE0SAT > Internet web-page http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/ > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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

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Re: ISS SSTV Active on 145.800Mhz
by Cor . 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Hello All, Several ISS SSTV images are received from several ground stations. See ISS SSTV images and info: http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.nl/ http://www.dk3wn.info/satblog.shtml I asume the Russian ISS crew have sended 4 different SSTV images today. If someone have received other images please send them to me via e-mail (see my QRZ.com page). Tommorow Sept. 5 between 09:00 and 10:40 UTC last day of the event. 73's Cor PD0RKC

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Latest Newsletter
by James Luhn 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

What is the status of the newsletter? The last one I received was May/June. Is it the latest one? I look so forward to getting the newsletter. It is like a letter from home. 73, -james W5AOO

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N8RO/P in EN76
by Les Rayburn 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Ron, N8RO I've managed to work two new grids today, including EN76. Both on FO-29, but I'm sure Ron has also been active on SO-50---so if you're chasing grids be sure to listen for him. Can't thank him enough for activating these grids. Also had a long QSO last night on FO-29 with Ron, W5RKN and discussed his upcoming amateur rocket launch. Ron is going for his Level 3 Certification Flight, which is a big deal indeed. I'm a BAR (Born Again Rocketeer) who grew up flying Centuri model rockets. It was fascinating to hear about Ron's efforts. Best of luck to him on the upcoming flight, or as we say in the film business, "Break a Leg!". Meet the most interesting people on the birds! -- -- 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

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Re: Path to HEO
by Samudra Haque 06 Sep '13

06 Sep '13

Hello, Perhaps my recent work may stimulate discussion in this thread, though it has not been proven in Space yet, but ... my George Washington University MAE dept. micropropulsion subsystems for small spacecraft was highlighted in the September 3 issue of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences newsletter. If you have the time, please see the following web video that shows the first ever firing of three simultaneous microthrusters. These subsystems were developed under Dr. Michael Keidar, and are products of the GWU Micro-Propulsion and Nanotechnology Lab. It should play well in all web browsers, PC, Mac or Mobile. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzYYl-b0DOFWZ1U0RFBYdU93NW8/edit?usp=sharing Thrust range is 1-50 uNs (impulse-bits, variable, programmable) per channel. Different clustering/arraying/firing sequences possible. Available 2013. Looking for a ride to Space for qualification to higher TRL. We are at TRL5+ now. 73 de Samudra/N3RDX newsletter excerpt: *The Micro-propulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MpNL),* led by* Prof. Michael Keidar (MAE), *participated in the 27th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites, held August 10-15 in Logan, UT. *MAE doctoral student Samudra Haque p*resented dual operational prototype hardware examples of his research focus,* “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (µCAT) Subsystem for In-space Propulsion of Small Satellites,” *and explained to audiences its applicability for space missions and its technology readiness level for testing in the 2013 GWU/NASA Ames Research Center investigative project, “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster PhoneSat Experiment.” *Micro-propulsion and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MpNL) *students have successfully completed, for the first time ever, a full integration and testing of a prototype 3-channel Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster (µCAT) subsystem at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). This was specifically engineered for the ARC Center Innovation Fund 2013 award project, “Micro-Cathode Arc Thruster PhoneSat Experiment.” The project was intended to explore the viability of enabling the innovative Google Nexus SmartPhone-powered series of small spacecraft to have full attitude and orbit correction capabilities. Three of these spacecraft were flown and operated in space in April 2013 onboard the Antares launcher by Orbital Sciences from Wallops Flight Facility, VA. On Fri, May 3, 2013 at 1:56 PM, M5AKA <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > Can't remember if the links on the work of N1BCD were posted earlier: > > Video of presentation at > http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/22959312/highlight/267762 > > Slides > > http://icubesat.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/icubesat-org-2012-c-1-1-_presen… > > IARU Coordination > http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/formal_detail.php?serialnum=305 > > 73 Trevor M5AKA > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

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A0 40 replacement (PSK31-Best of FM and Linear!)
by Robert Bruninga 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

> As long as AMSAT-NA needs to concentrate on... Cubesats... > I would really like to see the pursuit of linear transponders... > on them instead of single-channel FM repeaters. We can have the best of BOTH FM and Linear! > But we used to use a ucc1 in the navy to receive messages. > http://www.virhistory.com/navy/rtty-mux-ucc1.htm > It would allow us to receive something like 16 or 32 separate traffic channels on one frequency. We have that now in PSK31. Up to 30 channels in a single audio channel. So the ideal AMSAT transponder is a linear receiver (on 28.120 MHz) and an FM downlink of that single channel on UHF. This has the advantage of 30 individual linear uplinks to share amongst everyone, and the advantage of FM downlink so that everyone gets the same waterfall without added Doppler. It's a win/win. And it is FULL duplex so that everyone can transmit simultaneously and everyone can receive everyone simultaneously. What more fun can that be!!! See the design: http://aprs.org/psk31uplink2.html And it all fits on a single 3.4" circuit board. Easy to fit in any Cubesat. Two such flight ready boards are ready by the Brno University in the CZECH Republic. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: AO-40 Replacement
by Rob 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

I miss linear transponders .... I grew up with the early RS birds particularly RS-6 and RS-8 .... I was only a "kid" in college ... If you're looking for EASY ENTRY .... MODE A ROCKS! That said .. I never bother with the FM birds .... tried once and it's was just a barrage of callsigns and grids .... I've been sticking with FO-29 and VO52 ... I need to give AO7 a try Also ..... if anyone is looking for a great transponder module for a cube sat ... look no further than the work of PE1RAH .... his transponder fits in a "cube" and is already flight proven .... High elliptical orbit satellites are cool .... harder to work ..... more transmit power ... receive preamps ... probably not entry level stuff ... I'd a rather see a couple LEO linear transponders rather than ONE HEO ... --> Rob, KA2PBT

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Another Delay For Next SpaceX Launch
by B J 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

http://innerspace.net/2013/09/05/spacex-launch-update/ Meanwhile, SpaceShipTwo finishes another powered test flight: http://moonandback.com/2013/09/05/spaceshiptwo-completes-second-powered-fli… http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/09/05/spaceshiptwo-completes-powered-fligh… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: A0 40 replacement
by Zach Leffke 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

Just throwing this out there: 1. University cubesats tend to want to occupy amateur satellite service spectrum for their science missions, V/U is common. 2. Most *science* missions are only designed to last a few years, but the orbits will last a while longer. 3. How many science missions have been completed, but the spacecraft is still in orbit and occupying amateur spectrum? (I don't know the answer but I suspect it's a decent number, probably out of single digits and into double digits, see http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/CSLI_selections.html to get an idea of the number of cubesats going up from universities, note the number of "in work") 4. What if those university spacecraft carried Software Defined Radio technology as their primary method for delivering their mission data to the ground? 5. What if upon completion of their mission the universities turned over control of the spacecraft to AMSAT. 6. AMSAT then reconfigures the spacecraft such that the SDRs are now used for voice or data relay (FM, Linear, packet, whatever). 7. Now all of a sudden, hams don't have to wait for a new spacecraft to get built and find a launch. Birds already in orbit, that are using Amateur Spectrum, now all of a sudden are providing a service to the Amateur community. Personally, I'm glad the universities are using Amateur Radio spectrum for their science missions. I view the skies as a "target rich environment" even if all I can do is listen to these birds. However, it would be nice if the birds occupying amateur spectrum actually provided a service to the amateur community. But what if the SDX that flew on ARISSat, or the one that will be developed for the Future of the Fox series could be "sold" (or given) to the university cubesat community as a radio capable of being used to deliver science data? Their science mission concludes, control is turned over to AMSAT, the radios are reconfigured, and they become transponder birds for the ham community. At the rate that these spacecraft are going up, even if we nab only 10% of the spacecraft listed on the link above and convince them to fly SDRs that can be reconfigured, that's roughly 9 satellites that over time become useable by the ham community as voice/data transponders. We don't have to build them, we don't have to find a launch, we don't have to do anything but wait until the science mission is over and then play. Will the spacecraft be of the same quality of what comes out of AMSAT? Maybe, maybe not, but even if one only lasts a year as an FM or Linear Transponder, I'd take it, and use it. Granted, who knows what the orbits would be, so a replacement for AO-40? Probably not. But would the Amateur Satellite community accept maybe instead of 1 really long pass from a HEO bird, maybe in that same time frame 10 or 20 or maybe even 50 passes from multiple lower birds (I made these numbers up, no idea what the actual numbers would be)? Granted, there is a LOT that would go into making this idea possible. We'd have to have an SDR the universities are willing to use, probably one with flight history (cough, Fox-2, cough). We'd have to have someone go around to the Universities and "sell it" to the Principal Investigators that our radio will work for them (technical issues aside, maybe they get a little PR by adding support for the Amateur community onto their list of mission objectives). If they agree to fly the radio, and then turn over control, we need to be capable of supporting those spacecraft from an Operational point of view when the time comes. We would need to have some sort of "filter" such that if they drive the heck out of their spacecraft to the point that it is nearly dead when their science mission concludes we have the option to reject taking the spacecraft over. Etc. Etc. Etc. There's a lot of "what ifs" up there, but my favorite "what if" to think about is: what if the 89 satellites on that link above were capable of supporting amateur use at the conclusion of their science missions (Fox-1 is on that list, so ok 88 satellites)? 89 satellites + what AMSAT has and is still putting up? Can't make a contact during field day on an FM bird because of crowding, no problem, you have 5 other satellites to choose from and try. My second favorite "what if" to think about is: what if the university cubesats occupying amateur spectrum actually provided a service to the amateur community? A traditional replacement of AO-40? No. Effectively reproducing the similar amounts of access time and capabilities of AO-40? Maybe. Like I said, just throwing the idea out there... -Zach, KJ4QLP

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Re: AO-40 Replacement
by Clint Bradford 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

>> ... launch opportunities are so rare that we ought to fly the most capable equipment we can on those rare occasions when we can get a launch ... Perhaps we should define, "most capable equipment." And we also need to define "bang for the buck." What should a ham satellite program offer to the amateur community? If bringing new hams into this aspect of the hobby is important, then we need another AO-51 - which was probably the greatest marketing tool ever seen in the amateur satellite community. Its ease of use was the cause of scores of media alerts and publicity for amateur radio. And most importantly, it got more people looking skyward and thinking they could work amateur satellites than any other project. Then there was the marvelous marketing surrounding ARISSat-1 ... What else should an amateur satellite program offer? Many here want satellites that are only accessible with an investment of many hundreds of dollars' worth of antenna systems and equipment. (Some would actually love it if Technicians weren't allowed - that's how extreme thinking is on this topic.) Is THAT what will move the hobby forward for the masses? IS there a "middle ground?" Sure is a polarized topic (pun intended). Some want the hobby and sat use to grow ... others want to exclude as many fellow hams as possible. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Say "Hi" To Juno (Callsign end's with "F")
by Les Rayburn 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

I reached out to JPL to ask what the desired frequency for this experiment would be if your amateur callsign ended in the letter "F". Here's the response: /Hi Les- What a strange thing for us to leave out! The omission will be corrected in our next update of the page this week. In the updated frequency table we will publish, F corresponds to 28.091 MHz. Thanks for your interest in this activity!/ Cheers, Preston Dyches Solar system & technology public engagement NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory MS 230-275 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena, CA 91109 -- -- 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

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D STAR AMsat users net
by damon runion 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

D Star Amsat users net tonight at 01;00 UTC on REF 60 B 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

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Re: SO-50
by Clint Bradford 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

>> ... As long as we have these self proclaimed Satellite Instructors neglecting the benefit of Full Duplex operation ... Who are these "instructors?" Seems that would be a much smaller "target audience" for us to educate. Every audience I have ever presented my sat show to (more than 73 shows, a few thousand attendees) have heard me state, "It is preferable to work the FM birds full-duplex, where you can monitor the downlink as you key your mic ... " - and I explain simple ways to accomplish that. Same "mantra" in a couple of CQ Magazine articles ... and during a Bob Heil / Gordon West "Ham Nation" segment ... same as I have written for Gordon West's licensing manuals ... Well, with just this one "easily-worked" bird (not counting the ISS) up there, now more than ever should we be stressing working duplex. But to be honest with you, after reading another thread yesterday regarding the "out of control" nature of SO-50, I had to see for myself what the "problem" was. So I worked a mediocre pass (about 25 degrees - and I only worked the first few minutes - BEFORE it was at its best elevation. I worked three states sitting on the grass out in the back yard with my demo setup of FT-60R and Arrow. (Don't tell anyone, but I did not work full duplex - I needed to see if I could experience the total failure to communicate that a couple others have written about. And try as I might, I couldn't fail ... After I made one call successfully, two others called me from around the country.) YES - it got a little chaotic. YES - there were cases of people stepping on others. But it was not as gruesome as some have written - not as bad as a Field Day or a special event weekend. Heck, it was a FEDERAL HOLIDAY in the U.S., and I had no problem working three states with 2 Watts during the beginning of a 25 degree pass. Are people getting into this aspect of the hobby with unrealistic expectations? And if they are, where are they getting their information about working the FM birds? Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666 - cell ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: A0 40 replacement - mode K cubesat?
by Ross Whenmouth 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

Hi, How feasible is it to fly a mode K (15m uplink, 10m downlink) linear transponder on a cubesat? I expect that retty much any ham with an HF transceiver would be able to work this bird, and I expect that due to the lower frequency, the footprint might be a bit larger than that of VHF/UHF bird in the same orbit and doppler shift would only be about 7% of that experienced on 70cm. The biggest problem that I see though is squeezing a somewhat efficient 10m antenna into a cubesat and deploying it by remote control once on orbit. (I think that the cubesat antenna should be optimised for TX performance, as cubesat TX EIRP capability is severely limited compared to the average HF transceiver). Would two 2.5m lengths of steel tape (the same stuff that tape measures are made out of) - mounted on opposing sides of the cubesat, be able to unroll in microgravity to form a generally straight 1/2 wave dipole with a low risk of tangling, snagging or kinking, etc? Alternately, what about using some sort of thin plastic tubing (something like dialysis tubing, but suited to the space environment?) with a wire inside it, and rolled up. Then, once on orbit, the tubing is inflated with self-expanding polyurethane foam, which will extend the tube (and the wire inside it). The foam will then harden, so future loss of gas pressure in the plastic tube (micrometeorites?) will not cause failure of the antenna? 73 ZL2WRW Ross Whenmouth

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Re: A0 40 replacement - mode K cubesat?
by Ross Whenmouth 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

Hi, How feasible is it to fly a mode K (15m uplink, 10m downlink) linear transponder on a cubesat? I expect that pretty much any ham with an HF transceiver would be able to work this bird, and I expect that due to the lower frequency, the footprint might be a bit larger than that of VHF/UHF bird in the same orbit and the Doppler shift would only be about 7% of that experienced on 70cm. The biggest problem that I see though is squeezing a somewhat efficient 10m antenna into a cubesat and deploying it by remote control once on orbit. (I think that the cubesat antenna should be optimised for TX performance, as cubesat TX EIRP capability is severely limited compared to the average HF transceiver). Would two 2.5m lengths of steel tape (the same stuff that tape measures are made out of) - mounted on opposing sides of the cubesat, be able to unroll in microgravity to form a generally straight 1/2 wave dipole with a low risk of tangling, snagging or kinking, etc? Alternately, what about using some sort of thin plastic tubing (something like dialysis tubing, but suited to the space environment?) with a wire inside it, and rolled up. Then, once on orbit, the tubing is inflated with self-expanding polyurethane foam, which will extend the tube (and the wire inside it). The foam will then harden, so future loss of gas pressure in the plastic tube (micrometeorites?) will not cause failure of the antenna? 73 ZL2WRW Ross Whenmouth

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Re: AO-40 Replacement
by Daniel Schultz 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

I know how much the FM satellites are loved by certain segments of the AMSAT community, and FOX-1 will serve that community beginning late next year. In addition, many universities are building 2 meter FM satellites as part of their aerospace engineering curriculum. The problem with the FM satellites is that only one station at a time can access them, during field day I listened to several passes and I did not hear one complete field day exchange during any of them. They are just too limited to serve as a pathway for growth for AMSAT. I have also read many recent posts regarding the late, great AO-40 and how much the long distance DX that it provided is missed. The S-band downlink for AO-40 performed well and was quite inexpensive for hams to acquire. It is simply a myth that microwave equipment and antennas represents a difficult entry path to amateur radio. In the event that AMSAT should find an opportunity to place a Cubesat into HEO, it will not be able to replace the performance of AO-40, but it could provide the long distance DX opportunities for those stations that are willing to make a modest investment in equipment. I am sorry that we cannot provide a HEO DX satellite that anybody can work with an HT and an Arrow antenna, but we are limited by the laws of physics, the size of the solar arrays, the antenna gain and the link budget from HEO. We can only fit so much stuff into the tiny little satellites that will be available to us in the future. If we build a small HEO satellite some people will be excluded from using it. We are not trying to exclude anybody but those are the facts of life as I see them. If you want a HEO DX satellite it is going to cost you some money to equip yourself to work the satellite with its limited power output and link budget. This is not because we want to exclude anybody, this is doing what we can with the launches that are going to be available to us in the future. I don't see the value of bringing new hams into the satellite hobby if they make a few QSO's and then grow tired of the limited capability of the LEO FM satellites. To attract and keep these hams we must provide something more challenging and more useful for communications. That doesn't make us elitist, but until somebody writes a $10 million dollar check to AMSAT, that is what we can do and it is better than disbanding the organization and giving up because we can't do magic on our shoestring budget. Dan Schultz N8FGV ------------------------ Original Message ------------------------ >What should a ham satellite program offer to the amateur community? >If bringing new hams into this aspect of the hobby is important, >then we need another AO-51 - which was probably the greatest marketing >tool ever seen in the amateur satellite community. Its ease of use >was the cause of scores of media alerts and publicity for amateur radio. >And most importantly, it got more people looking skyward and thinking >they could work amateur satellites than any other project. >Then there was the marvelous marketing surrounding ARISSat-1 ... >What else should an amateur satellite program offer? Many here want >satellites that are only accessible with an investment of many hundreds >of dollars' worth of antenna systems and equipment. (Some would actually >love it if Technicians weren't allowed - that's how extreme thinking is >on this topic.) Is THAT what will move the hobby forward for the masses? >IS there a "middle ground?" Sure is a polarized topic (pun intended). Some >want the hobby and sat use to grow ... others want to exclude as many fellow >hams as possible.

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ISS HamTV, yikes I am late
by Robert C. Campbell 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

Fantastic job Fabiano CT7ABD. Elmer's Wanted, I am ready to make the final connections to my station after months of hard work. So much hard work and U$D that I don't want to let the smoke out of the box inadvertently tho I am keeping the halon extinguisher handy.Seems a shame to go this far and be reluctant to plug it in. Equipment is as follows: HP AMD 64 Pavilion with windows vista business 2.4 meter dish mounted on 8 foot tower section, with az and el rotors and home brew 12 turn 2.4GHz helical at focal point. Model 2400 High Siera HamTV-Down Converter TBS-8920 PCI-DVB-S and S2 TV Tuner Card.......got the technotrend from Europe but had to send it back as it was defective. If this happens to you don't use US mail system. TBS-8920 is running on Media Portal - TVServer Software. Questions or settings: What DIsEQC, What KU-band..circular..universal..stacked..legacy...custom What override default lnb freq.... LOF1........mhz, LOF2 ....mhz What Switch LMBSw.......mhz Freqency ........mhz Symbol rate.... Polirization...none,h, v, or circular..left or right Inner FEC Rate....in fractions Pilot, on, off, not set, not defined Roll off... not set, not defined, .20, .25, .35 The DVB-S should also be able to power the down converter via the DISeQC but what one.. Simple a, simple b, Level 1aa, Level 1ab, Level 1ba, Level BB, or none Any help requested would be appreciated. If you must blast please off the amsat site..use KB3PMR(a)gmail.com. Show up and make it work and I will cook the steak. I would offer valuable gifts and prizes but but I need to save up for domestic abuse claims by being preoccupied with this for the last 4 month. Bob

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HEO satellite Haiku poem
by Clayton Coleman 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

AO-40 premature death Sob-sob Boo-hoo I want, I want, I want. (amateurish, I know) 73 Clayton W5PFG

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FUNcube-1 is in its POD
by Graham Shirville 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

The AMSAT FUNcube team are delighted to be able to announce that the FUNcube-1 CubeSat has now completed all its final testing and been placed into its launch POD. This work was completed during a three day programme at the premises of ISIS BV in Delft in the Netherlands and was finished, on time, late this afternoon. FUNcube-1 is actually the middle 1U CubeSat of three sharing a 3U ISIPOD. It is sharing the ISIPOD with ZACUBE-1 from South Africa and HINcube from Norway. ZACube-1, in addition to carrying VHF and UHF communications equipment also has a 20 metre beacon which will operate on 14.099MHz This ISIPOD, with the spacecraft inside, will be transported to Russia, early next month,for launch and will eventually be attached directly to the launch vehicle. FUNcube-1 carries a U/V linear transponder and the educational telemetry beacon using 1k2 BPSK for school outreach purposes. The current launch info has lift off scheduled for November 21st at 07:11:29 UTC Full intial orbit details and TLE’s, together with decoding sofwtare will be made available over the next few weeks best 73 Graham G3VZV – Wouter PA3WEG – Jim G3WGM

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Re: AO-40 Replacement
by Clint Bradford 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

>> ... launch opportunities are so rare that we ought to fly the most capable equipment we can on those rare occasions when we can get a launch ... Perhaps we should define, "most capable equipment." And we also need to define "bang for the buck." What should a ham satellite program offer to the amateur community? If bringing new hams into this aspect of the hobby is important, then we need another AO-51 - which was probably the greatest marketing tool ever seen in the amateur satellite community. Its ease of use was the cause of scores of media alerts and publicity for amateur radio. And most importantly, it got more people looking skyward and thinking they could work amateur satellites than any other project. Then there was the marvelous marketing surrounding ARISSat-1 ... What else should an amateur satellite program offer? Many here want satellites that are only accessible with an investment of many hundreds of dollars' worth of antenna systems and equipment. (Some would actually love it if Technicians weren't allowed - that's how extreme thinking is on this topic.) Is THAT what will move the hobby forward for the masses? IS there a "middle ground?" Sure is a polarized topic (pun intended). Some want the hobby and sat use to grow ... others want to exclude as many fellow hams as possible. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: AO-40 Replacement
by Clint Bradford 05 Sep '13

05 Sep '13

>> ... launch opportunities are so rare that we ought to fly the most capable equipment we can on those rare occasions when we can get a launch ... Perhaps we should define, "most capable equipment." And we also need to define "bang for the buck." What should a ham satellite program offer to the amateur community? If bringing new hams into this aspect of the hobby is important, then we need another AO-51 - which was probably the greatest marketing tool ever seen in the amateur satellite community. Its ease of use was the cause of scores of media alerts and publicity for amateur radio. And most importantly, it got more people looking skyward and thinking they could work amateur satellites than any other project. Then there was the marvelous marketing surrounding ARISSat-1 ... What else should an amateur satellite program offer? Many here want satellites that are only accessible with an investment of many hundreds of dollars' worth of antenna systems and equipment. (Some would actually love it if Technicians weren't allowed - that's how extreme thinking is on this topic.) Is THAT what will move the hobby forward for the masses? IS there a "middle ground?" Sure is a polarized topic (pun intended). Some want the hobby and sat use to grow ... others want to exclude as many fellow hams as possible. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Simon Brown - SDR-Radio v2.1 adds satellite support
by Matty Cunningham 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

Simon Brown, creator of the original Ham Radio Deluxe software has been busy with his SDR software. The latest console release 30th August, v2.1, build 1494 now has support for satellites, doppler shift is integrated, along with DDE rotator control, link to software here:- http://v2.sdr-radio.com/Download.aspx This works very well with both versions of the FunCube Dongle. Matty MD0MAN

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Re: FUNcube-1
by m1a1fan＠comcast.net 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

Congrats and good luck! Ryan / N9SOX At 18:52 04/09/2013, Graham Shirville wrote:>The AMSAT FUNcube team are delighted to be able >to announce that the FUNcube-1 CubeSat has now >completed all its final testing and been placed >into its launch POD. This work was completed >during a three day programme at the premises of >ISIS BV in Delft in the Netherlands and was >finished, on time, late this afternoon. >FUNcube-1 is actually the middle 1U CubeSat of >three sharing a 3U ISIPOD. It is sharing the >ISIPOD with ZACUBE-1 from South Africa and >HINcube from Norway. ZACube-1, in addition to >carrying VHF and UHF communications equipment >also has a 20 metre beacon which will operate on >14.099MHz This ISIPOD, with the spacecraft >inside, will be transported to Russia, early >next month,for launch and will eventually be >attached directly to the launch vehicle. >FUNcube-1 carries a U/V linear transponder and >the educational telemetry beacon using 1k2 BPSK >for school outreach purposes. The current launch >info has lift off scheduled for November 21st at >07:11:29 UTC Full intial orbit details and >TLEâ€™s, together with decoding sofwtare will be >made available over the next few weeks best 73 >Graham G3VZV  Wouter PA33WEG  Jim G3WGM >________________________________________________ >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

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UT1FG/MM QSL's
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

I received my Confirmations for Yuri's 1912/13 voyage today. That puts my confirmed total well over 800 Tom K8TL

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Slightly OT
by Glenn AA5PK 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '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/>

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ISS SSTV Active on 145.800 MHz
by M5AKA 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

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Best Available Information
by Clint Bradford 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

Just received an email message from one new to working the ham sats. Asked me why he was having trouble accessing / working Pegasus, TurkSat, and PW-Sat. Huh? A weird trio of birds - and as I offered resources to him like the Live OSCAR Status Page and others, I asked him why he was working this trio of birds. Well, he was using our own AMSAT "operational analog amateur satellites" publication. And sonofagun, in today's release, there they are: --------------------------------------------------- Part 1 (S1) - operational analog amateur satellites WSR 245 Part 1 09/02/2013 ... NEE-01 Pegasus ... TURKSAT-3USAT ... PW-Sat --------------------------------------------------- Why are these the first three listed in our official "operational analog amateur sats" reference guide? Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Field Day 2013 - Sats
by Clint Bradford 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

I thought that the Field Day rules (both ARRL and AMSAT rules) limited the number of contacts for each entrant/submission/club to one QSO per satellite. Was that correct? Would there be any point in a club making, say, 20 contacts on Field Day? Would additional points be available for a club making more than one QSO per bird? And as far as it is known, will the same sat rule be in effect for 2014? Thanks. Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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help G-5500
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

The pot on the elevation rotator has gone open. Does any on the list have a good replacement part and where to buy it. Thanks nick ARS K5QXJ EM30xa 30.1N 92.1W Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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UT1FG/MM in GF24
by Roland Zurmely 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

QSO with Yuri UT1FG/MM in GF24 near Montevideo on AO-7 mode B orbit #177.564. 73 de Roland in GH70un

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Re: US Space Fence Shut Down
by Joe Fitzgerald 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Gambling with a Space Fence: http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2357/1 -Joe KM1P

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Accidental Contacts
by Clint Bradford 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

>> ... Making a proper contact with them would be accidental ... That's one of the funniest lines I have heard in quite a while. Thanks. Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Speaking of SO-50, ARRL Poll
by Alan 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Hi, There is a poll which is loosely about what to do when HF propagation is bad. One of the questions is whether you have ever operated SO-50. http://www.arrl.org/news/new-quickstats-poll-now-available-on-arrl-website-… If you are a League member, have at it. 73s, Alan WA4SCA

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US Space Fence Shut Down
by M5AKA 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Isn't that the source of satellite near-miss information ? See http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/02/us-space-fence-shut-down/ ---- 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 ----

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Brown University CubeSat Article
by M5AKA 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

An article on the Brown CubeSat just been published at http://www.browndailyherald.com/2013/09/03/brown-cubesat-team-shoots-stars-… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Was So50, now center of the passband
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Let me clarify a little. Previous to SatPC32 being the ubiquitous way to operate the transponders, people tended to spread out much more on the linear sats. CW was generally in the lower third to maybe middle, and voice was often spread out over much more of the passband. Now...I love Sat PC32, and I like full Doppler tuning, but just because the program defaults to the middle of the passband doesn't mean everyone should operate within 10 KHz of there. See http://s139.photobucket.com/user/glasbrenner/media/radio/FO-29FDanotated.jp… Spread out and use the VFO! There's no reason to pile up like sardines in the middle. Maybe even (GASP) edit the doppler.sqf file to put you elsewhere in the passband to fine tune things at the start of the pass? Got a schedule, or operating from a rare grid? Let everyone know where to look (i.e. 25 khz up from the middle) and save yourself and others some QRM? 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: B J <va6bmj(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Sep 2, 2013 2:11 PM >To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: So50 > >On 9/2/13, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: >> Or just work the transponders (not the FM repeaters) and avoid the lids. >> That normally means being somewhere other than the exact middle of the >> passband. I have a few stations that I will absolutely not work until they >> clean up their operating style. Otherwise, I go out of my way to look for >> new ops. >> > >If I happen to hear a QSO in progress when I'm checking for my >downlink on, say, FO-29, I move further up into the band and continue. > I might miss some potential contacts but I'm not in anyone's way. > >73s > >Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL > ><snip> >_______________________________________________ >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

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Re: SO-50
by Clint Bradford 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

>> ... I may be mistaken but wouldn't instances like this be viable candidates to notify an ARRL Official Observer about? Heck, let's call the FCC. Let's get some $5-10K fines daily issued for such illegal activity ... You gotta be kidding. For a decade now I have witnessed "problems" handled with phone calls and email mesages. There't no reason we cannot continue to take care of this aspect of this magnificent hobby in the same manner. But I fail to see a true definition of what the "problem" is. The "problem" seems to be, for some, the fact that they cannot take their children out in the back yard on a Saturday afternoon and be able to make contacts at will on an FM satellite. That is a care of unrealistic expectations - and not a "problem" for authorities to handle. Heck, I just went outside with 2 Watts - on a federal holiday in the U.S. - and worked three states within three minutes on a mediocre pass of SO-50. And that was BEFORE the satellite was half-way through its 25 or so degree pass. Yes, there's impolite ops, I am sure. But "Let's sic the feds on 'em!"??? We are better than that. We're communicators, for gawd's sake. Let's use our communications and public relations talents to maintain the hobby. It's worked in the past. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666 - cell

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ARRL/TAPR DCC Forum Schedule, Banquet Speaker & Sunday Seminar Announced
by Mark Thompson 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

2013 ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communication Conference) http://www.tapr.org/dcc Friday, 9/20 - Sunday, 9/22 Cedarbrook Lodge, Seattle, WA http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html/#hotel Preliminary DCC Technical & Introductory Forums Schedule On-Line at link below & attached: http://www.tapr.org/pdf/DCC_2013_Schedule.pdf ARRL/TAPR DCC Seattle Saturday Evening Banquet Speaker will be: Tom Van Baak Presenting “Passion and Precision: Adventures of a Time Nut” http://www.tapr.org/dcc#banquet ARRL/TAPR DCC Seattle Sunday Morning Seminar will be Conducted by Ron Frohne, KL7NA Presenting "Android Programming Tutorial" http://www.tapr.org/dcc#seminar On-line DCC Registration at: https://www.tapr.org/dccregistration.php The Early Bird Discount for DCC Pre-Registration has been extended to midnight Friday, September 13. Walk-ins will be welcome throughout the DCC, but the Early Bird Discount will no longer be applicable

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Re: So-50
by Kevin M 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

I tried that. And I can assure you both I was very polite. My first attempt was replied to with three words, all in caps and exclamation points. I took that as being yelled at. Then later when the person was 'speaking' to me again, I tried a second time with more better detail to very politely explain the issue. That attempt was then replied to with a long paranoid, accusatory diatribe about how I was being influenced and being used to do others' dirty work. (???) The diatribe ended with me being told they did not want to hear from me any further on the subject. - I used to work in public service (police/ambulance) and I have extended first hand experience with unstable individuals; you cannot reason with them, they are already convinced that they are correct. My point is, it's a good idea, but if they were 'open to suggestion' they would have likely asked in the first place. Now, that's not always the case, as I have also had someone else take my suggestion about reducing power levels and thank me for doing so and being nice about it! But the most egregious offenders tend to be the ones that don't take criticism well. - All I can say is good luck to everyone and I hope things get better on the sats. W7LRD said: the best we can do is to "politely" educate the alleged offenders, usually via email. W1MSG said: What we need to do is exactly what someone else said, shoot the offending station an e-mail and try to elmer them in operating procedures. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Control is the need of the fearful mind. Trust is the need of the courageous heart."

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Re: So50
by Kevin M 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

John, it's not just the west coast... There is one in the middle of the US that does about the same thing. On the linear birds, he calls over top of others who are already trying tomake a call. And he also tends to act like a 'grid traffic controller' on SO-50 with unnecessary chatter. Especially on SO-50, one needs to be as brief as possible and get off... it's common courtesy. Personally, I've quit the birds for a while... no need to put up with such nonsense, ham radio is supposed to be fun. I have some recently purchased antennas, preamps and an AZ-EL rotor in the closet. I was anxious to get them up this fall, but now I think I might wait until spring and see how things are. Maybe I will see you then. =^) Just wanted to let you know, it's not just you. Good luck on the weak signal work. As for me... I'm plan to work on some radials for new verticals and invest my time in chasing DX on HF and 160m. 73! N4UFO From: John - VE7JZ My daughter, who is a new ham has just given up on trying SO-50. 5 times now she has set up the station to work someone and the moment she unkeys, there is someone calling and not listening. We here, have a TS-2000 with az-el setup and 2 yagis with auto tracking. I totally agree with the comments here on this subject of wild west operations on SO-50. It is out of control. Here on the wet coast there is a WA6 ( wont say his call here ) every day that is constantly either ruining qso's or using way too much power and wiping out transponders completely. And if you call this LID, he either cannot hear you or ignores you and continues his ignorant disregard for other users so HE can get HIS contacts and to heck with anyone else. A constant and rather rude transponder HOG that is on almost every pass of every voice satellite. So as of today, we (my daughter and I) will go back to weak signal work and drop off satellite use until these LIDS either disappear or something. Our 2 cents worth. Everyone have a great day wherever you might be. 73. ------------------------------------------------------------------ "Control is the need of the fearful mind. Trust is the need of the courageous heart."

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Re: SO-50
by Clint Bradford 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

>> ... My daughter, who is a new ham has just given up on trying SO-50 ... That's really too bad. Maybe you and she got into this aspect of the hobby with different expectations: No, it is not going to be an "easy shot" when we just have this (and the ISS) as the only "easy-to-work" FM birds. But, then, working '51 was "busy" on the weekends and during "prime time" passes, too. Do not let her give up. This is a teachable moment! There are those who have manners on the airwaves ... and, unfortunately, there are those who lack manners (and REALLY unfortunately, many a time those without manners have the 100W setups ... ). Gotta go. I just finished talking to two distant states and a fellow ham here in California on a 20-degree pass of SO-50 - with a whopping 2W handheld. I need to enter my reception report on the LIVE OSCAR SATELLITE STATUS page ... YES, there were a lot of folks on the air on this pass. But if I can do it with minimal equipment on a busy day, surely you and your daughter can do it. Please do not let hew miss out on the excitement of working ham satellites! Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Re: So50
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

Or just work the transponders (not the FM repeaters) and avoid the lids. That normally means being somewhere other than the exact middle of the passband. I have a few stations that I will absolutely not work until they clean up their operating style. Otherwise, I go out of my way to look for new ops. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> >Sent: Sep 2, 2013 1:39 PM >To: ve7jz(a)yahoo.com >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: So50 > >Hi John...the LIDS will never disappear..there are many more waiting in the wings...the best we can do is to "politely" educate the alleged offenders, usually via email. >73 Bob W7LRD > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John - VE7JZ" <ve7jz(a)yahoo.com> >To: "Mat 62" <Mat_62(a)charter.net>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Sent: Monday, September 2, 2013 8:19:59 AM >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: So50 > >My daughter, who is a new ham has just given up on trying SO-50. 5 times now she has set up the station to work someone and the moment she unkeys, there is someone calling and not listening. We here, have a TS-2000 with az-el setup and 2 yagis with auto tracking. I totally agree with the comments here on this subject of wild west operations on SO-50. It is out of control. Here on the wet coast there is a WA6 ( wont say his call here ) every day that is constantly either ruining qso's or using way too much power and wiping out transponders completely. And if you call this LID, he either cannot hear you or ignores you and continues his ignorant disregard for other users so HE can get HIS contacts and to heck with anyone else. A constant and rather rude transponder HOG that is on almost every pass of every voice satellite. So as of today, we (my daughter and I) will go back to weak signal work and drop off satellite use until these LIDS either disappear or >something. Our 2 cents worth. Everyone have a great day wherever you might be. 73. Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad >_______________________________________________ >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

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So50
by wyattdirks 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

Today and quite a bit lately it seems So50 is becoming out of control. A few thing to consider when working So50 and the other birds. 1. Don't transmit if can't hear. Really so50 should sound like your local repeater its its not then you need a better rx antenna or maybe a preamp. 2. If you hear someone talking let them finish the qso before you call someone. Also if someone calls somebody don't call the same person before they even have the chance to answer the first guy. 3. Don't call people blindly if your interupting a qso. And don't continue to call the same person over and over if they aren't responding. Let people that are actually hearing the satellite make contacts. 4. Do work full duplex. If you can't hear when your transmitting you're likely cuasing interference. 5. Do enjoy so50 as it is the only fm satellite right now. 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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Re: Winterization project
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Sep '13

02 Sep '13

I was thinking Aguila Super Colibris, 20 grains of .22LR low noise, anti-squirrel CIWS. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Jeff Griffin <kb2m(a)comcast.net> >Sent: Sep 1, 2013 8:41 PM >To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Winterization project > >A 12 gauge full choke shotgun ? > > > >73 Jeff kb2m > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of Greg D >Sent: Sunday, September 1, 2013 6:52 PM >To: Amsat BB >Subject: [amsat-bb] Winterization project > > > >Hi all, > > > >As I reported on the 20m Amsat Net (14.282mhz Sundays 18:00z - 19:00z) this >morning, I noticed that my 2m antenna was listing slightly down-hill. >Suspecting that the boom attachment screws had come loose, my project for >the day was to go up on the roof and align and tighten them. > > > >The screws were a little loose. > > > >That's not why the antenna was drooping down. > > > >I discovered the real reason: Acorns. > > > >Apparently the local squirrels have been preparing for winter, such as it is >around here, and had stuffed about a dozen plump acorns into the open end of >the antenna boom. Besides their weight climbing out to the end, there was >also the remaining weight of the acorns. > > > >So, the antenna ends have been taped over, but that's not going to prevent >the squirrels from climbing out onto the antenna. > > > >Any suggestions on an effective squirrel deterrent? > > > >Greg KO6TH > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Sent via <mailto:[email protected]> 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> >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

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