- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Antenna direction calibration
by Rodney Waln 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

hi, well i will through my $0.2 in, for my home station to get as accurate as i can, i listen for a satellite beacon on one of the SSB's set the radio to track and satpc32 to track, have a radio or wireless mic and take an ht to the roof with me,when i hear the cw tone that sounds ok i am set. then fine tune things from there, mind you i am at a 10* handicap do to thre hills around me, so it takes a few tries, i also do it almost the same way for or portable, but you get the idea, the FM sat's are point and shoot, Rodney kc0zhf

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UKube-1 linear transponder CubeSat may launch October
by M5AKA 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

BBC News is reporting that the UK Space Agency's first CubeSat UKube-1, being built by Clyde Space in Glasgow, may launch in late October 2013. Clyde Space Senior Systems Engineer Steve Greenland will be giving a presentation on UKube-1 to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium which takes place July 20-21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK. The Colloquium is open to all but for those unable to attend the event all 18 presentations including UKube-1 should be streamed live to the web. Further information on UKube-1 at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/18/ukube-1-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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New Radio
by Vincenzo Mone 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

Hi to the list, as I cannot find the piece for my TS-790E as it is discontinued, I am thinking that it is time to change my radio. Anybody can suggest me on that has already enclosed 2m, 7cm and 23cm. Also it will be wonderful if is already ready to RX and TX 9600 baud and 38k4 baud Without to modify it by myself. Any suggestion will be really appreciated 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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D STAR AMSAT users net tonight
by damon runion 18 Jul '13

18 Jul '13

https://sites.google.com/site/memphisdstar/d-satellite-amsat-net If you do not have a d star radio or dv dongle ,you can still checkin using drats , The down load is on the above link .Tonights net will be informal and open to all satellite and grid chasers. Thanks Damon WA4HFN 5in em55

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Ham Radio Workshop held at Satellite Event
by M5AKA 17 Jul '13

17 Jul '13

Good to see amateur radio involvement at the recent Small Satellite Developers Workshop http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/17/ham-radio-workshop-held-at-satellite-event/ Other stories on the web: Earn Your Radio Merit Badge - K2BSA ISS contact Saturday http://radiofrequencyinternational.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/space-station-s… STRATODEAN High Altitude Balloon talk on Saturday to be web streamed http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/17/team-stratodean-high-altitude-balloon-talk/ ---- 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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Space Track TLE Retriever 2 Error Message
by Rick Walter 17 Jul '13

17 Jul '13

Just tried to download new Keplerian elements with Space Track TLE Retriever 2 provided by CelesTrack and got an error message saying I should check credentials. Anyone else getting this message? Don't know if they are down or if I have a problem. I have been getting the latest Keps from them for at least 15 years. Rick WB3CSY -- Sent from Rick's gmail account

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Registration required for Colloquium SSTL visit
by M5AKA 17 Jul '13

17 Jul '13

As part of this weekendsAMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Guildford, UK there will be two opportunities to visit the satellite facilities at the Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) Kepler building. The tour will only be available to those who have registered for it in advance. The closing date for registration is 1100 GMT Thursday. Further details at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/16/registration-needed-for-sstl-kepler-visit/ For those unable to get to the Colloquium you can watch the presentations on Saturday and Sunday on the BATC Live Events page at http://batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=3 The schedule is at http://tinyurl.com/2013ColloquiumSchedule ---- 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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Help wanted on CP antenna design
by Phil Karn 17 Jul '13

17 Jul '13

I'm one of several adult mentors to a local high school ham club that's been designing and flying balloons. We are designing a high speed 70cm digital downlink for a future payload. One of my major concerns is frequency selective multipath fading in the 1 MHz bandwidth I plan to use as the balloon gets low on the horizon of the tracking station and the receiver begins to pick up a reflection off the ground. I think one of the simpler ways to deal with multipath is to use circular polarization on both ends. This automatically rejects all odd-order reflections (including the all-important 1st order reflection off the ground) as they have the opposite circularity sense to the direct signal and automatically be cancelled at the receiver. (CP was tried experimentally with analog TV broadcasting back in the 1970s as a means of reducing ghosting.) On the ground we'll just use a regular 70cm satellite antenna, but on the balloon I need a 70cm circularly polarized transmit antenna with a fairly wide (hemispherical) beamwidth that can maintain its circularity over as much of that as possible. I'm not an antenna guy, but my understanding tells me that a quadrifilar might be a good choice here. Any comments on this? Can anybody point me to some typical performance figures for these antennas? Again, I'm more interested in cross-polarization rejection than in absolute gain. I have plenty of link margin and I'm willing to sacrifice a few dB if necessary to get rid of those deep multipath fades. Thanks, Phil

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AmsatDroid Free
by David Johnson 17 Jul '13

17 Jul '13

Hi, For those of you that do not get automatic updates, the latest version 1.0.5 is now in the play store. Bug fixes and map drawing performance improvements. I also re-introduced the prediction calculation for the current pass. More details of the paid version at the AMSAT-UK colloquium this weekend. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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CQ-VHF Spring Edition CO6CBF Article
by Les Rayburn 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

CQ-VHF Magazine has elected to allow a free preview of the current issue (Spring 2013) highlighting an article by Hector, CO6CBF on operating satellites using a homebrew setup from Cuba. You can view the entire article at: http://www.cq-vhf.com/vhf_highlights/2013_vhf/2013_spring_vhf/2013_spring_v… Congratulations to Hector, who is an inspiration to all of us. And if you're not a CQ-VHF subscriber, you really should be. It's a great magazine, and very supportive of satellite operators. -- -- 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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LVB Tracker OLED upgrade availability update
by Alan 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

All, The blue OLED displays used in the updated LVB Tracker, introduced at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention, are currently on an 18 week back order with our suppliers. Green and amber OLED upgrades to older units are available through the AMSAT Store. Blue displays are expected to be available at a future date. 73s, Alan WA4SCA

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GO-32
by Vincenzo Mone 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

Hi to the list, anybody can confirm me if GO-32 is working? I am having a pass right now 13:15 UTC with a maximum elevation to 77 degrees. On the frequency 435.320 I can hear a strong signal that it seems to be at 9600 baud Because I can see the DCD led of my TNC flicking but it do not decode. The signal I hear is like an PSK signal. I am on FM mode. Please anybody can tell me if it is the GO-32 signal or it is a different signal that I hear? 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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Re^2: Re: Satellite at 1.2 GHZ
by Mineo Wakita 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

Yes, CO-65's 1.2GHz is still operational. It is usually scheduled for operation at 9600bps GMSK of Up=1267.600 and Down=437.475 on Saturday and Sunday of every weekend. The ground station has been publicity on the web at the end of each month that either Digipeater or Message_Box of CO-65 is it's to be operational. I am open to the public at the beginning of each month such as the following image on my blog. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/30701c65.png http://wakky.asablo.jp/blog/ However, because the equipment of ground station so not good, it is not operational on schedule. Since the operation of Degipeater on 31 Mar 2013, the state of digipeater off has continued. Even now, it has been done by the recovery of the equipment of ground station will continue and there is the information that was digipeater ON inter- mittently at weekends recently. 11:28-11:40UTC, 31 Mar 2013, Ele 70 SE-E-N, 1267.603/437.475MHz 9600bps http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/30331c65.png When Digipeater or Message_Box of CO-65 is turned on by the efforts of ground station, I will post the information immediately to the AMSAT-BB. JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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apogee prediction?
by Bob- W7LRD 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

Hello (again)...Is there a way (program) that one can predict when the apogee of a given satellite will favor a given grid square? Specifically FO29 varies from about 813 km to 1351km. One can potentially "stretch" the footprint when it is at apogee. 73 Bob W7LRD (sunny) Seattle

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Re: Satellite at 1.2 GHZ
by Mineo Wakita 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

1.2 GHz satellite is CO-65 (CUTE1.7+APDII), not CO-56. Uplink 1267.600MHz Downlink 437.475MHz, 9600bps GMSK http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ct17gmsk.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Re: Rotor in need of overhaul
by Jim Bennett 16 Jul '13

16 Jul '13

Just for every ones info, Norm doesn't do Yaesu. " yaesu prefers to handle their own service, you will have to contact them" From: Pete Rowe [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 7:50 PM To: Jim Bennett Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Rotor in need of overhaul Hi Jim You might check with Norm at: rotorservice.com He is a good guy and repairs many different rotors. Pete WA6WOA _____ From: Jim Bennett <jlb3nn(a)bellsouth.net> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2013 4:19 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Rotor in need of overhaul Has anyone got a reliable source to overhaul the Yaesu B5400 rotors? Or should I just replace with new? Or with the sats dying, should I even care to fix them? Thanks for any insite. Jim Ke4kol _______________________________________________ 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: [SPAM] TNC-220 jumper info?
by george abbott 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

On 7/15/2013 5:59 PM, Mike Nettles wrote: The jumper on my TAPR TNC may be marked for adjustment. > I know its an old tnc but does anyone have info on the jumper settings they > can scan and email to me? Or how the com port speed is set? If I can use it > to free up one of my newer tnc's for another use that would be great. > > > > Would be nice to locate newer firmware if possible. I have a burner, just > need the file. > > > > I ask here because most of the info I found on the net dealt with hams using > this tnc for Satellites. > > > > Thanks and 73, > > Mike kb5wbh > > _______________________________________________ > 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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TNC-220 jumper info?
by Mike Nettles 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

I know its an old tnc but does anyone have info on the jumper settings they can scan and email to me? Or how the com port speed is set? If I can use it to free up one of my newer tnc's for another use that would be great. Would be nice to locate newer firmware if possible. I have a burner, just need the file. I ask here because most of the info I found on the net dealt with hams using this tnc for Satellites. Thanks and 73, Mike kb5wbh

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US Towers TMM-433HD for sale
by David Reinhart 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

On the ground, heavy duty 33 ft. crank up tower with fold-over fixture. Ten ft. mast, four coax arms, inverted vee arm. Everything except anchor bolts. Pick up only in Holden, MA. Originally $2,500. Make offer. Contact Dave at wa6ilt(a)amsat.org.

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Personalized CubeSats
by B J 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space-all-small-cheap-satellites-may-one-day… http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/07/15/cubesats-personalized-eyed-for-inter… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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AMSAT-UK Colloquium Programme
by David Johnson 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

Hi, I'm pleased to let you know that programme is now complete. However, If you are bursting to share some info with us, I might be able to squeeze in two more 20 minute presentations, one each on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq4J8y0gGRnkdG9uVks0Y3JJOGx4OD… 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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antenna direction calibration
by Bob- W7LRD 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

You'd think I would have this figured out by now. I never paid very close attention to exact antenna direction until now. I mean the satellite was always within the beam pattern. I tried the SuM part of Satpc32. I am thinking of trying some EME, and I looked up the boom of the yagi' and I was about 8* high and maybe 10* to the right of the moon, still probably within the half power point of the beams. This is where the obsessive part comes along, should I use the moon as the "grand phooba" of calibration? Or compass true/mag. I mean the moon is "pretty" consistent. As always the collective thoughts of this bb are never wrong. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: Antenna direction calibration
by John Fickes 15 Jul '13

15 Jul '13

Bob What I do ( and I'm not sure I'm right,but seems to work ) is to use the North star to calibrate. I live at 41.2* latitude, so if I crank my antennas to 41* elevation and point north 0* azimuth I should be pretty close. I also live at 1* magnetic declination, not much so I don't worry much about that. Now I don't do much EME as I don't have any power, but I've monitored EME and this seems to get me pretty close. I will also be glad to see what others do to calibrate. 73 John KC0BMF

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Ac0ra trip
by wyattdirks 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

Well just another four hours of driving till we get home. Well I am riding now but will drive the last stretch through Iowa. By the time we get home we will have been on the road for about 22.5 hours. Any way I just did the tally and I have 238 contacts in the log from 25 different grids and from 6 different states. A few of the high lights of the trips as far as sat ops go was working vo52 from two grids while mobile. For the First three minutes of the pass I was in dn91 then passed into dn90 and worked three station from each grid. Also at the last minute I decided to take and hour detour north off of i80 to the en01/00 gridline just north of grand island to work quite a few stations. And to all those who worked me on fo29 while I was mobile I am sorry for the weak signals. My half wave mobile whip got damaged early trip by a big bird at 80mph and it never worked right after that. For a while it didn't work at all but with some roadside repairs i got it working to get us through the trip. Also if you working me you might have noticed sometimes I signed mobile and sometimes I signed portable. Well this was for a reason that is quite obvious. When I signed my I was using my ft857 with halfwave mobile antenna for 2m and three el arrow for 70cm. Mostly was semi duplex while mobile but sometimes used the ft817 for rx. When I signed portable I was using the ft897/817 pair with an arrow antenna which performed flawlessly. Well all but my battery charger for the ft897 batteries stopped working which wasn't an issue because I had a back up 35amphr gelcel along. Charged everything while driving through inverter and once in the hotel room. If you want qsls for grids which I assume some will of you could send a sase with the contacts you want with the grid I was In writen on the card that would be good. It might take a little bit for cards to get back out as I might need to get some made. But it shouldn't take more then a month or two. Thanks to all who followed me along the trip! 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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D Star Amsat users net
by damon runion 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

I will start a net on D Star on 1 August(Thursday evenings) for Amsat users. It will be at 8:pm local Memphis,TN on REF 60 B in Nashville, TN. through the W4LET repeater in the Memphis area. If you have a D Star radio or a DV Dongle , please join in and share any info on grid trips you may be planning or info on someone that maybe planning one. If you have equipment for sale or if you are looking for something you may list it.Let's keep the rocket science off this net. I wish to support the use of the satellites. If anyone would like to be an alternate net controller , please contact me. I will be on each Thursday evening at 8:pm local time in an informal mode and on 1 August the net will be formal. Thanks WA4HFN EM55ab Damon Runion

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5 in em55 update
by damon runion 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

*In an effort to help increase interest in satellites, we have created a new award for working five (5) different hams in the EM55 grid or collect 5 5 in EM55 certificate holder numbers or a combination of numbers and em55 operators totaling 5* Thanks Damon WA4HFN EM55

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5 in EM55 update
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

In an effort to help increase interest in satellites, we have created a new award for working five (5) different hams in the EM55 grid or collect 5 5 in EM55 certificate holder numbers or a combination of numbers and em55 operators totaling 5

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Re: Satellite at 1.2 GHZ
by Andrew Glasbrenner 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

1.2 GHz is never a downlink band, only uplink. Right now I think CO-56 is the only satellite with a user-accessible 1.2 GHz uplink. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Vincenzo Mone <vimone(a)alice.it> >Sent: Jul 14, 2013 10:24 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite at 1.2 GHZ > >Hi to the list, >I would like to know if there is any active bird with a DL at 1.2GHz. >Thanks in advace > >Inviato da iPhone >_______________________________________________ >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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Satellite at 1.2 GHZ
by Vincenzo Mone 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

Hi to the list, I would like to know if there is any active bird with a DL at 1.2GHz. Thanks in advace Inviato da iPhone

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ANS-196 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-195 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: * 2013 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballot Mailing This Week * 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium This Week * 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference 26-28 July * The Whale's HTs Don't Have PL * Scotland Portable Satellite Operation in August * ARISS News * This Week in Space History SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-195.01 ANS-195 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 195.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 14, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-195.01 2013 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballot Mailing This Week This year there are eight candidates running for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors. The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as voting Board Members with two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will be non-voting Alternate Board Members with terms of one year. Please vote for no more than four candidates. Ballots will be mailed to members in good standing by July 15th, and must be returned to the AMSAT-NA office no later than the close of business on September 15th, 2013. If you have not received your ballot by August 1st, please contact the AMSAT Office. Ballots sent to members outside North America are automatically sent via air mail. It is suggested that they be returned the same way. AMSAT-NA Board candidates in alphabetical order by last name: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Alan Biddle, WA4SCA Steve Coy, K8UD Frank Griffin, K4FEG Mark Hammond, N8MH Brian Klofas, KF6ZEO JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM Tony Monteiro, AA2TX [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium This Week The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will start late afternoon on Friday, July 19 and will run through until the afternoon on Sunday, July 21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK. It will be preceded by a "Hands-on" CubeSat Workshop. This free workshop will take place at the nearby University of Surrey on Friday, July 19 and this will be followed, at the hotel, by the usual Colloquium "Beginners Session" in the late afternoon. It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will be launched later this year and the FUNcube team will be on hand to talk about the missions and the planned educational outreach. A full demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided. For those unable to attend it is planned to stream the presentations on the web to a global audience. The video streaming should be available on the Live Events section of the BATC website at http://batc.tv/ The Colloquium schedule (times in BST, GMT+1) can be seen at http://tinyurl.com/2013ColloquiumSchedule Further details and booking information at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference 26-28 July The 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference committee invites you to a full weekend of VHF/UHF activity the weekend of July 26th-through-July 28th. This 47th Annual Conference is being held at the Elk Grove Village Holiday Inn at 1000 Busse Rd located at the South-West corner Route 83 and Landwehr Road in Elk Grove Village. The activities begin Friday morning at 9AM with antenna range gain measurements and pre-amp noise figure measurement contests. Technical Programs are held Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. The detailed Agenda and full information can be found at; http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/index.html The Society is fortunate to be able to welcome noted VHF/UHF and 10 Ghz enthusiast Mr Dave Sumner K1ZZ, Chief Executive Officer of the ARRL to this year's conference as our Keynote Speaker. Please plan to attend Saturday's Banquet when you sign-up for the Conference. Registrations for the Banquet will close on Thursday the 18th of July so please take time now to reserve your dinner selection; http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/2013Registration.html The Forum Speakers and Topics for the 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference - Chicago/Elk Grove Village will include; James Kennedy, K6MIO(/KH6) Worldwide Es Propagation on 27-29 June 2012 Kent Britain, WA5VJB Unusual Antennas for Unusual Applications James Froemke, K0MHC Where have all the ROVERS gone Ed Krome, K9EK Building and Testing VHF/UHF Power Amps based on the Freescale LD-MOS Modules James Kennedy, K6MIO(/KH6) Solar Cycle Update Wayne Overbeck, N6NB Building a Tower Trailer for Roving (and Why!) Jon Platt, W0ZQ Gitchi Gami and the 2012 ARRL 10 GHz Contest Terry Price, W8ZN 1.5 kW Larcan 222 MHz Amplifier Keith Pugh, W5IU AMSAT and ARISS Update 2013 Al Ward, W5LUA Working Small Stations on 10 and 24 GHz EME with help of WSJT Gerald Johnson, K0CQ Multiple "mini"-topics (Antenna Modeling, Test "Tricks" to better your GHz signal, Soldering) Central States VHF Society Sponsored Activities and Awards - This will be s moderated session that will recognize the 2012-2013 States Above 50 MHz results, Reverse VUCC and the 2013 VHF & Up Spring Sprints. This session will extend into a discussion of the Future of the Spring VHF & Up Sprints. [ANS thanks Kermit, W9XA, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- The Whale's HTs don't have PL HamRadioNow episode 85, released July 9 features an interview with a pair of AMSAT VP's discussing AMSAT's Fox-1 Satellite. Getting a launch date for a new satellite even a date more than a year out is exciting at AMSAT. In this episode, we talk to a pair of AMSAT VP's. Tony Montiero AA2TX handles Engineering, and Mark Hammond N8MH does Education.We talk about what Fox-1 will do (an FM crossband repeater that will also relay data from onboard science experiments). And we learn how AMSAT must transition from a bunch of hams who put up satellites that we can talk through, to a provider of the physical platform and communications for educational experiments for school grades K thru Post-Grad.... that also has transponders and repeaters that hams can use. And the Whale's HTs? Well, you're just going to have to watch. http://arvideonews.com/hrn/HRN_Episode_0085.html [ANS thanks Gary Pearce KN4AQ and HamRadioNow for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Scotland Portable Satellite Operation in August Paul, 2E1EUB, will once again be active as 2M1EUB for 14 days beginning August 5th. He will be driving around Scotland for anyone looking for new grids or grids they have not worked yet. Activity will be on 160m, 80m, and the satellites (mostly AO-7 B/A mode), as well as 2m SSB. He does accept E-mails and will arrange skeds to work him at <2e1eub(a)amsat.org>. Check out QRZ.com under 2M1EUB for more info and updates. [ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful ARISS Contacts + A Successful contact was made between Scout Canada Jamboree, Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 16:31 UTC 2013-07-08 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via VK5ZAI. CJ'13 was a gathering of up to 6500 youth, leaders and volunteers in Sylvan Lake, Alberta from July 6-13. This wass the largest gathering of scouts in Canada. CJ'13 brought people from across the country and around the world together for the ultimate scouting experience. Scouts shared friendship and adventure while experiencing personal development that only a jamboree experience can bring. Scouts hiked near glaciers, dug for bones, learned about the challenges of space exploration, raided a castle, and dove for buried treasure. The week was one scouts will never forget! + A Successful contact was made between Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu', Rome, State of Vatican City and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign IRØISS. The contact began 12:36 UTC 2013-07-10 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was dirct via HV2VO. Created in 1869 through a generous initiative of the Salviati family, and donated to the Holy See in 1924, the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital is now a comprehensive children's polyclinic. In 1985, it has been formally recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health as "Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico" IRCCS (Research Hospital), and it is now one of the three Paediatric IRCCS in Italy, and the only one for Central and Southern Regions. The Hospital is a reference point in Italy and abroad and it is connected to the most important paediatric centres in Europe and the United States. Healthcare and research. Upcoming ARISS Contacts + Boy Scouts of America, 2013 National Jamboree, K2BSA, Mount Hope, WV, direct via K2BSA Contact is a go for: Sat 2013-07-20 15:34:46 UTC + Colegio Urugua, El Pinar, Uruguay, via LU8YY Contact is a go for: Sat 2013-07-20 19:05:21 UTC ARISS is requesting listener reports for the above contacts. Due to issues with the Kenwood radio that are not fully understood at present, the Ericsson radio is going to be used for these contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. [ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- This Week in Space History July 14 1965 Mariner 4 completes first successful flyby of Mars 1967 Surveyor 4 Launched 2008 MESSENGER first Mercury flybay July 15 1975 Apollo 18 Launched Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Last Apollo mission 2009 STS-127 Endeavour Launched June 16 1969 Apollo 11 Launched 2011 Dawn Spacecraft orbits Vesta June 17 1975 Apollo-Soyuz dock in orbit 1984 Soyuz T-12 Launched 100th human space flight June 18 1921 John Glenn Born 1966 Gemini X Launched 1980 India becomes 7th nation to launch its own satellite June 19 1967 Explorer 35 Launched 1985 NASA selects Christa McAuliffe as first private citizen to travel in space June 20 1969 First Humans Walk on Moon (Apollo 11) 1976 Viking 1 Lands on Mars 1999 Liberty Bell 7 capsule recovered from Atlantic Ocean after 28 years [ANS thanks The Planetary Society for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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Rotor in need of overhaul
by Jim Bennett 14 Jul '13

14 Jul '13

Has anyone got a reliable source to overhaul the Yaesu B5400 rotors? Or should I just replace with new? Or with the sats dying, should I even care to fix them? Thanks for any insite. Jim Ke4kol

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AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2013 Programme Online
by David A B Johnson 13 Jul '13

13 Jul '13

Hi, As programme organiser, on behalf of the AMSAT-UK committee, I'm pleased to let the AMSAT community know that the programme is now online at: *http://tinyurl.com/pyey25w* Details of the event at: http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/ 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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AO7 Mode A
by K4FEG 13 Jul '13

13 Jul '13

AO7 is in Mode A during the 1309UTC pass over EM55aj84ta, just now. Signals had slight distortion in them, but CW and SSB was readable. I am not 100% sure if this is an indication of the end of the eclipse cycle and the return to daily mode switches. My predictions had shown more eclipses for at least 2 more weeks. Watch AO7 closely for Mode and possible switch times. The last Mode A over the USA was back on May 21 of this year. Stay Tuned folks! Frank; K4FEG EM55aj84ta

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SunSpace Announcement
by M5AKA 13 Jul '13

13 Jul '13

The South African Relay League (SARL) has issued a bulletin about the company SunSpace which developed out of the Stellenbosch University SUNSAT OSCAR-35 project and was responsible for building the SumbandilaSat OSCAR-67 satellite. See http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/13/new-home-for-sunspace-staff/ ---- 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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K2BSA/W4UOO-EM97 West Virginia FO-29 1500z 13July2013
by John Papay 13 Jul '13

13 Jul '13

W4UOO is operating as K2BSA from Beckley West Virginia EM97. West Virginia is a rare state on satellites. It's small and very mountainous and most places are down in the valleys such that they don't have a low horizon. I drove down to Beckley several years ago to hand out EM97. It was 300 miles one way. Now is your chance to work this grid and state. Mike was able to work down pretty low. This is a great opportunity. He was worked on FO-29. 73, John K8YSE

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Signal strengths of the two ISS ham radio stations
by M5AKA 12 Jul '13

12 Jul '13

Henk PA3GUO has produced an interesting video showing the the signals from the two amateur radio stations on the ISS, see http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/12/signal-strengths-of-the-two-iss-ham-radio-st… Also on the AMSAT-UK site: HamRadioNow Episode 85 Gary Pearce KN4AQ talks to Tony Montiero AA2TX (VP Engineering) and Mark Hammond N4MH (VP Education) about the new Fox-1 Satellite. http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/12/amsats-fox-1-ham-radio-cubesat/ July 13 Lift-off for LOHAN Balloon Rocket Test http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/10/july-13-lohan-balloon-rocket-test/ ---- 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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Fwd: Central States VHF Society Conference, Elk Grove Village, IL, 7/26-28
by Mark Thompson 12 Jul '13

12 Jul '13

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Kermit Carlson <w9xa(a)yahoo.com> To: Kermit Carlson W9XA <w9xa(a)yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 8:27 PM Subject: [frrl] 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference July 26-28 Greetings ! The 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference committee invites you to a full weekend of VHF/UHF activity the weekend of July 26th-through-July 28th. This 47th Annual Conference is being held at the Elk Grove Village Holiday Inn at 1000 Busse Rd located at the South-West corner Route 83 and Landwehr Road in Elk Grove Village. The activities begin Friday morning at 9AM with antenna range gain measurements and pre-amp noise figure measurement contests. Technical Programs are held Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. The detailed Agenda and full information can be found at; http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/index.html The Society is fortunate to be able to welcome noted VHF/UHF and 10 Ghz enthusiast Mr Dave Sumner K1ZZ, Chief Executive Officer of the ARRL to this year's conference as our Keynote Speaker. Please plan to attend Saturday's Banquet when you sign-up for the Conference. Registrations for the Banquet will close on Thursday the 18th of July so please take time now to reserve your dinner selection; http://www.csvhfs.org/2013conference/2013Registration.html The Forum Speakers and Topics for the 2013 Central States VHF Society Conference - Chicago/Elk Grove Village will include; James Kennedy, K6MIO(/KH6) Worldwide Es Propagation on 27-29 June 2012 Kent Britain, WA5VJB Unusual Antennas for Unusual Applications James Froemke, K0MHC Where have all the ROVERS gone? Ed Krome, K9EK Building and Testing VHF/UHF Power Amps based on the Freescale LD-MOS Modules James Kennedy, K6MIO(/KH6) Solar Cycle Update Wayne Overbeck, N6NB Building a Tower Trailer for Roving (and Why!) Jon Platt, W0ZQ Gitchi Gami and the 2012 ARRL 10 GHz Contest Terry Price, W8ZN 1.5 kW Larcan 222 MHz Amplifier Keith Pugh, W5IU AMSAT and ARISS Update 2013 Al Ward, W5LUA Working Small Stations on 10 and 24 GHz EME with help of WSJT Gerald Johnson, K0CQ Multiple "mini"-topics (Antenna Modeling, Test "Tricks" to better your GHz signal, Soldering) Central States VHF Society Sponsored Activities and Awards - This will be s moderated session that will recognize the 2012-2013 States Above 50 MHz results, Reverse VUCC and the 2013 VHF & Up Spring Sprints. This session will extend into a discussion of the Future of the Spring VHF & Up Sprints. We look forward to seeing you at the Conference ! 73, Kermit Carlson W9XA

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File audio 9k6 FSK
by Vincenzo Mone 11 Jul '13

11 Jul '13

Hi Folks, please anybody can tell me where can i find an audio file for 9k6 baud FSK? Is it the same as the old KO-23 KO-25 and UO-22? Thanks 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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OUYA Satellite Tracker Interest
by Joseph Armbruster 11 Jul '13

11 Jul '13

Everyone, I have NASA WorldWind running on the OUYA, see: http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2013/07/worldwind-on-ouya.html It wouldn't take much to turn this into a full-on satellite tracker app. If anyone is into Android or the OUYA and would like to exchange some ideas, please let me know. Joseph Armbruster

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funcube
by w6gmt＠bak.rr.com 11 Jul '13

11 Jul '13

Looking for Used Funcube plus for project involving tracking birds and animals at the Discovery Center where I volunteer. -- W6GMT BROCK THOMSEN MARCELL MN 56657 EN37EN

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Next Antares Launch
by B J 11 Jul '13

11 Jul '13

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/07/10/orbitals-cots-demonstration-mission-… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Back Issues of AMSAT Journal in PDF
by Les Rayburn 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Does AMSAT offer compilations (back issues) of the AMSAT Journal in PDF format on CD, similar to the way that the ARRL and other organizations do with their publications? I've been buying all the back issues I can find at hamfests and on Ebay, but it's slow going. If they are not available, I'd be willing to donate the labor to archive them into PDF format so that AMSAT could offer them for sale. My firm provides this service commercially to our clients (mainly in healthcare, who want to archive specialty publications for niche audiences). I'm sure my staff would enjoy taking a break from scanning endless issues of "Radiological Imaging Today" :-) -- -- 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

5 6

Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Motor Replacement
by Sion Chow Q. C. (9W2QC) 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Dear All, Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have a Yaesu G-5500 rotator that has a spoilt azimuth motor while the elevation motor works fine. Looking at the specifications published by Yaesu, the G-800 rotator seems to be very similar with the azimuth motor of the G-5500. Instead of purchasing a whole new set of G-5500 just to replace the spoilt azimuth motor (the control box is working and this has been verified with another working azimuth motor), I wonder if anyone has tried replacing the azimuth motor the G-800 instead? Will the G-5500 control box work with the G-800 motor, are there some modifications needed, or is this simply not possible? Any pointers will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. 73, Sion Chow Q. C., 9M2CQC, WQ2C

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Proton Launch Facility Operations To Be Examined
by B J 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/07/10/outside-experts-to-examine-khruniche… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: APRS & Twitter
by PA3GUO 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Hi Rizwan, First of all: we are all very interested in your CAPE-2 project. Would you be able to share some more information on CAPE-2 ? In case you involve radio-amateurs in capturing telemetry/data from your satellite you will have an huge increase in coverage, as we are spread across the entire globe. We do have the APRS system up-and-running, and NO-44 (PCSAT-1) and ISS-APRS data packets for example are monitored and automatically forwarded to the internet already. On messaging to twitter email: In case of a malfunction or wrong software setting the satellite may not be able to change its transmission pattern, when it is in space and cannot be reached anymore (e.g. up-link broken). Alternative would be to break it up in two steps: Step 1 Transmit a status in APRS format, and have that captured/received as regular packets. Here is for example how all the ISS data (real-time) looks like: http://www.ariss.net, and here is how NO-44 looks like: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi Step 2 Have a software program running that looks at the the received APRS telemetry, and derive from that a Twitter tweet (every hour, every day, ...). For example if the telemetry says: "CAPE 012000105" this could mean I am alive and battery voltage is 10.5 volt and temperature is 12 degrees Celsius. The tweet could be: "Hi this is CAPE-2 in space, I feel cold (12C) and my battery is good (10.5V)". Just a thought. Regarding APRS email: http://www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html explains how to do this. Here is an example on how this worked on ANDE-1: ANDE-1 digipeat: !T 12:26:38 PA3GUO-8>APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,PE1ITR::email :[email protected] Hi ROb !S 12:26:36 :email :[email protected] Hi ROb Here an example on how this worked on ISS: TNC settings an email to PE1ABC (pe1abc(a)spamsat.org) via ISS (RS0ISS-3): MYCALL PA3GUO-5 U APRS VIA RS0ISS-3 BEACON EVERY 1 BTEXT :EMAIL :[email protected] Hi there! The result (the email received by pe1abc): From: ksproul(a)rci.rutgers.edu Date: 25-02-2004 08:00 To: pe1abc(a)spamsat.org cc: Subject: APRS Message from PA3GUO-5 Hi there! Please let us know if this helped & success with CAPE-2! Henk, PA3GUO www.pa3guo.com >Greetings AMSAT! > I am one of the software engineers on the CAPE-2 Cubesat project at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I am interested in information on how to set up our satellite to tweet over APRS to a specific twitter account. For example: If i want our satellite to tweet once a day what our satellite's status is, and have it be posted to a CAPE-2 twitter account, how can i make this happen? We've seen other groups do it, and we are wondering how to replicate this. Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Rizwan Merchant Call Sign: KF5BNL

3 2

(no subject)
by B J 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

http://www.spacesafetymagazine.com/2013/07/10/proton-launch-failure-update-… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 1

APRS & Twitter
by Rizwan 'Drake' Merchant 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Greetings AMSAT! I am one of the software engineers on the CAPE-2 Cubesat project at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. I am interested in information on how to set up our satellite to tweet over APRS to a specific twitter account. For example: If i want our satellite to tweet once a day what our satellite's status is, and have it be posted to a CAPE-2 twitter account, how can i make this happen? We've seen other groups do it, and we are wondering how to replicate this. Thanks for your help! Sincerely, Rizwan Merchant Call Sign: KF5BNL

3 2

Alternative TLE / Satellite Info Source
by David A B Johnson 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Hi, There are many very worthy sources of TLE data and satellite catalogues. However, there is no user-defined source. I.e one where the user can: Categorise their own satellite types Choose from one of the many aliases for an individual satellite Have satellite channels / modes available for viewing Have individual / mixed schedules (constellations) available ... If there is any interest in creating such a service to the AMSAT/CubeSat community then I should be interested in discussing it. I should be particularly interested in API proposals from existing source providers. This will NOT be a commercial undertaking, any income will go to AMSAT worlwide. I am going to make a similar propsal at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in two weeks time. 73 Dave, G4DPZ AMSAT-UK AMSAT-NA

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Re: Kickstarter CubeSat Plasma Thruster
by Lowell White 09 Jul '13

09 Jul '13

Thanks for that, Trevor! I'll be glad to contribute. I just shared it on LinkedIn. Maybe if others will also share via their favorite social media we can get enough contributors to make it happen. 73 (all), Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 05:07:20 PM CDT From: M5AKA <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Kickstarter CubeSat Plasma Thruster > Radio amateurs at the University of Michigan plan to raise $200,000 on > Kickstarter to fund a Plasma Thruster CubeSat capable of propelling a 3U CubeSat into deep space at 1/1000th the cost of previous missions. > > See http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/09/radio-hams-kickstarter-cubesat-plasma-thrust… > > ---- > 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 > ---- > _______________________________________________ > 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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Kickstarter CubeSat Plasma Thruster
by M5AKA 09 Jul '13

09 Jul '13

Radio amateurs at the University of Michigan plan to raise $200,000 on Kickstarter to fund a Plasma Thruster CubeSat capable of propelling a 3U CubeSat into deep space at 1/1000th the cost of previous missions. See http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/09/radio-hams-kickstarter-cubesat-plasma-thrust… ---- 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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Re: Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Motor Replacement
by Andrew Glasbrenner 09 Jul '13

09 Jul '13

I put a G-450 motor into a 5500 case, but it's been a long time ago. It worked, and wasn't that difficult, but I can't offer anything more specific. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: "Sion Chow Q. C. (9W2QC)" <9w2qc(a)9w2qc.net> >Sent: Jul 9, 2013 12:41 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Motor Replacement > >Dear All, > >Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. > >I have a Yaesu G-5500 rotator that has a spoilt azimuth motor while >the elevation motor works fine. Looking at the specifications >published by Yaesu, the G-800 rotator seems to be very similar with >the azimuth motor of the G-5500. > >Instead of purchasing a whole new set of G-5500 just to replace the >spoilt azimuth motor (the control box is working and this has been >verified with another working azimuth motor), I wonder if anyone has >tried replacing the azimuth motor the G-800 instead? > >Will the G-5500 control box work with the G-800 motor, are there some >modifications needed, or is this simply not possible? Any pointers >will be greatly appreciated. > >Thank you. > >73, >Sion Chow Q. C., >9M2CQC, WQ2C > > >_______________________________________________ >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: Satellite at 9600 and more Baud
by Mark L. Hammond 09 Jul '13

09 Jul '13

Hi Enzo, Welcome back :) You can check satellite status and operational modes at DK3WN's website: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?page_id=29535 There are a few at 9600, but not many strong and continuous ones. Let us know your results! 73, Mark N8MH At 12:40 PM 7/8/2013 +0200, Vincenzo Mone wrote: >Hi to the list, >As I have re mounted my antennas after a long stop, >I cannot find anymore birds at 9600 or more baud. >Please anybody can tell me if there is at least 1 still alive that I can >test my equipment's >That are been stopped for a long time? >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 *** > ********************************* > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Satellite at 9600 and more Baud
by Vincenzo Mone 08 Jul '13

08 Jul '13

Hi to the list, As I have re mounted my antennas after a long stop, I cannot find anymore birds at 9600 or more baud. Please anybody can tell me if there is at least 1 still alive that I can test my equipment's That are been stopped for a long time? 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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AMSAT Droid on Kindle Fire.
by Tom Schuessler 07 Jul '13

07 Jul '13

I just discovered today that the AMSAT Droid App had been placed on the Amazon App store. I have used an installation of the earlier version HAMSAT Droid app and was not sure if the author would get the free version beyond Google Play. I gave it only the second review on the Amazon store, a 5. It works as advertised and the improvements that the author made, in preparation for the paid version are well received. The Map view now gives a big view to match the orientation of your device. A big improvement for me is the ability to use grid squares to set location on a device like the Kindle which is not natively location aware. The older version would not recognize the period used in Lon/Lat decimal notation. In the past, I had to go to another application to enter numbers with the . and then copy/Paste into Hamsat Droid. Glad to not have to do this anymore. Still the basic operation is pretty much the same but I am hoping that when he gets the paid version going on Google Play, it will ultimately migrate it's way onto other App stores like Amazon. I am very willing to pay the bucks to support a good programming effort. AMSAT Droid is a great app for basic satellite pass location. I use it often when working with Scout groups on Radio Merit Badge classes where we do a satellite contact. Keep up the good work. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 07 Jul '13

07 Jul '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-188 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: * Last Reminder for AMSAT Field Day Summary results * FITSAT-1 (NIWAKA) Decays * ISS Ham Radio Slow Scan TV active * Sending Your Own Spacecraft to the Moon * 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium starts July 19 * OPS-SAT opportunity for Radio Amateurs * Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting September 28th 2013 * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-188.01 ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 188.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE July 7, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-188.01 Last Reminder for AMSAT Field Day Summary results Just a quick reminder that you must have your AMSAT Field Day results received by me no later than Monday, July 8, 2013 at 23:59 PM Central Time. If I do not receive them, your group will not be listed in the AMSAT Field Day story in the journal and they will be mad at you. We have had 14 submissions so far, last year we had 19. I hope we beat that number. Even if your group made one contact, turn it in. That shows you participated in AMSAT Field Day and succeeded in the feat of getting through the mess to complete your contact. A lot of groups were unable to accomplish one. [ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO, kk5do at arrl dot net, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FITSAT-1 (NIWAKA) Decays FITSAT-1 (NIWAKA) decayed on 4th July 2013. The last signal was received by JA0CAW at 03:07(UT). I appreciate all hams who joined our experiments, helped our operations, and sent me many reports. I could make many friends in the world and enjoyed through FITSAT-1. Though FITSAT-1 became a shooting star, I am very happy now. Thank you very much again all Ham friends. Very Best 73, de Takushi -- Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG FITSAT-project Fukuoka Institute of Technology [ANS thanks Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS Ham Radio Slow Scan TV active The Slow Scan TV (SSTV) experiment on the International Space Station (ISS) was active on July 2-3, on 145.800 MHz FM The MAI-75 experiment worked very well producing some stunning images. 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. 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. MMSSTV http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php iOS SSTV App https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sstv/id387910013 For more on Slow Scan Television SSTV, see this article SSTV - The Basics http://www.essexham.co.uk/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/ [ANS thanks Trevor M5AKA and Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sending Your Own Spacecraft to the Moon A new project to give thousands of people the opportunity to design, build and launch personalised spacecraft and send them to the moon has begun. Now anyone can become a citizen space explorer and take part in a mission to send their own Pocket Spacecraft to the moon. At a cost of just GBP 99 (~EUR119/JPY15499/USD159), explorers who back the project will be able to personalise their own spacecraft by adding a picture or message direct from their favourite social media or game profile or create their own unique design. They can do this from their smartphone or web browser and will be able to monitor progress throughout their mission with their own Pocket Mission Control app. Users will be able to track the progress of their spacecraft as it is designed, built in the lab and travels through space. More technical explorers will be able to write software and even customise the on-board hardware enabling them to conduct their own unique experiments whether mapping the solar wind or playing laser tag - in space! Pocket Spacecraft are disks with flexible electronics, smaller than a CD and as thin as a piece of paper, that will be loaded into an Interplanetary CubeSat mothership to hitch a ride into space on a commercial rocket. The mothership will then set off to the moon and when it arrives many months later, the fleet of Pocket Spacecraft will be photographed as they are released to land on the moon to complete their mission. Anyone can take part in the mission via the crowd-funding site Kickstarter (search for ‘Pocket Spacecraft‘ or visit PocketSpacecraft.com ). Since launch in 2009, Kickstarter has raised more than $500 million for various projects from over 3 million individuals. Pocket Spacecraft only needs support from 2000 or more people to allow the mission to go ahead. The global team of scientists, engineers and designers behind Pocket Spacecraft have already created two dozen open space projects for the mission since 2009, supported by more than a hundred volunteers from twenty countries (and counting) led by co-ordinators in Europe (Bristol, UK) and America (Pasadena, CA, USA). Michael Johnson, founder of Pocket Spacecraft, co-created the first space mission funded on KickStarter (KickSat - due to be launched by NASA later this year), and influential workshops such as the Interplanetary CubeSat Workshop at MIT, and the Keck Institute for Space Studies Small Satellites: A Revolution in Space Science workshop at Caltech. “By backing this mission people will revolutionise space exploration and space science” enthuses Michael. “By democratising interplanetary space exploration we will create a generation of young explorers who can use the same affordable methods to explore Mars, Venus and beyond. We’re building tools so that one day every child will be able to send their own spacecraft on a robotic field trip in space”. The campaign will run for 60 days and end on August 26, 2013. Detailed information regarding the campaign is available on the KickStarter website: http://tinyurl.com/q8nbj6j MEDIA RELATIONS: media(a)PocketSpacecraft.com | PHONE +44 117 230 2060 / +1 626 768 2050 Helen White (Media Relations) helen(a)PocketSpacecraft.com Michael Johnson (Founder) michael(a)PocketSpacecraft.com Seth Jackson (Partnership enquiries) seth(a)PocketSpacecraft.com [ANS thanks Helen White for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium starts July 19 The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will start late afternoon on Friday, July 19 and will run through until the afternoon on Sunday, July 21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK. It will be preceded by a "Hands-on" CubeSat Workshop. This free workshop will take place at the nearby University of Surrey on Friday, July 19 and this will be followed, at the hotel, by the usual Colloquium "Beginners Session" in the late afternoon. The Holiday Inn, Guildford It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will be launched later this year and the FUNcube team will be on hand to talk about the missions and the planned educational outreach. A full demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided. Further details and booking information at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- OPS-SAT opportunity for Radio Amateurs The ESA OPS-SAT CubeSat provides a rare opportunity for testing new amateur radio software for use on a CubeSat actually in space. The 3U CubeSat has deployable solar arrays and plans to launch in 2016 into a Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Although the formal closing dates for expressions of interest from potential experimenters for this project has now closed, contact has been made with Dave Evans at ESA-ESOC who has confirmed that they would be very interested to receive proposals from an AMSAT team to develop a novel use of this spacecraft for amateur radio purposes. In addition to an X Band downlink and S Band uplinks and downlinks, the spacecraft will carry a simplex transceiver operating with 4k8/9k6 telemetry using GMSK on the 435 MHz band. It s understood that experimenters will have access to an onboard processor running Linux/Java at 500 to 800 MHz. The project is open to teams led by a group from any ESA member country (this includes Canada) and initial info is shown here although the detailed design is being rapidly iterated.. It is emphasised that this is a very open project which will require lots of interaction between the contributing groups. Bright ideas are needed from our software experts and If there is sufficient interest it may be possible to host a Skype conference about this opportunity during the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium over the weekend of July 20-21. It is not proposed that this should be an AMSAT-UK led project, but Graham Shirville G3VZV is happy to provide some initial coordination! OPS-SAT Evolving Software Technology for Spacecraft Operations http://tinyurl.com/nrlzsbg [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting September 28th 2013 On September 28th, 2013 there will be an amateur radio meeting (in Dutch: "Interessedag Amateursatellieten") held for everyone who is interested in amateur radio satellites. It will be held in Paasloo, in the Northern part of The Netherlands. We are very pleased to join this day with the annual VHF day held by the Dutch amateur radio society VERON. There will be a series of presentations concerning amateur radio satellites. Amongst others, the following topics will be included: a portable radio setup, the support radio amateurs provide give to the scientific community, beginners sessions, and last but not least, the latest news about two new satellites to be launched soon: the FUNcube- 1 and the Delfi-N3xT satellites (by their project representatives)! Besides these presentations, it is of course a great opportunity to meet other amateurs who are interested in satellites, and make plans for future meetings! While the main language will be Dutch (including the presentations), non-Dutch guests are of course welcome to join as well. If you need assistance with signing up, do not hesitate to ask either PA1IVO or PA3GUO (both callsign AT amsat.org) for help. The latest information about this event can be found on this webpage: http://ivok.home.xs4all.nl/other/SatDay2013.html (Dutch language with a summary in English) Ivo Klinkert, PA1IVO and Henk Hamoen, PA3GUO Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting 2013 [ANS thanks Henk PA3GUO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Successful ARISS Contacts + A Successful contact was made between Ruder Boskovic Technical School, Zagreb, Croatia and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 17:31 UTC 2013-06-26 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via 9A1A. Ruder Boskovic Technical School in Zagreb is a secondary school with more than a sixty year tradition. Even since it was founded in 1948, it has been one of the highest rated schools in northwestern part of Croatia,on the present county of Grad Zagreb. It was named in honour to famous Croatian 18th century mathematician, astronomer, physicist, philosopher and theologian Ruder Boskovic who was born in Dubrovnik. There are 44 classes divided in 4 grades and 4 school educational programs : IT technician, electronics technician, mechatronics technician and optician. There are approximately 1.100 students aged 15 to 19, and more then 110 professors. + A Successful contact was made between Scuola Secondaria 1° grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano, Italy and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign IRØISS. The contact began 11:50:23 UTC 2013-06-29 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was both dirct and telebridged because of the mountainous terrain around with the contact, starting with IK1SLD, then proceeding to IZ2WLC and finished back with IK1SLD. This school contact was in made in conjunction with the one from Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe. Scuola Secondaria 1° grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano, Italy The school is located in Capiago Intimiano, a small town in the north part of Italy, 7 km far from Como. Como and the surrounding area can be clearly seen from space due to the unique shape of Lario lake (like a Y upside down). It takes the name from "Arturo Toscanini", a famous musician and conductor lived across the end of 19th century and early 20th. There are 10 classes and the students are from 11 years old to 14. + A Successful contact was made between Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 11:50:23 UTC 2013-06-29 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was both dirct and telebridged because of the mountainous terrain around with the contact, starting with IK1SLD, then proceeding to IZ2WLC and finished back with IK1SLD. This school contact was in made in conjunction with the one from Scuola Secondaria 1° grado "Arturo Toscanini" Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy is a Local secondary school with students aged from 10 to 14. It's located in a building, built in 1950 by the government, originally used as a sanatorium converted into school in late 1970. Vercurago is a small town not far from Lecco, built on the shores of Garlate's lake (as it comes out of Lario lake and become Adda river). + A Successful contact was made between Association Intercultura Onlus, Frascati, Italy, and Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 17:02:30 UTC 2013-07-06 and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via W6SRJ. Intercultura is the Italian representative of AFS Intercultural Programs (New York), an international, no profit, voluntary based organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities and cultural exchange programs throughout more than 60 different countries in the world, involving every year 13,000 students and an equivalent number of families and schools. In Italy, Intercultura is a no profit organization (ONLUS) recognized by the Italian government, under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The professional staff of Intercultura is made by 40 people who work in the headquarters of Colle Val d’Elsa (Siena) or in the PR offices based in Milan and Rome. The 4,000 affiliated volunteers are organized in 140 local chapters and offer they voluntary work to promote international school based exchange programs. Upcoming ARISS Contacts + Scout Canada Jamboree, Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada, telebridge via VK5ZAI Contact is a go for: Mon 2013-07-08 16:31:11 UTC 36 deg + Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesu’, Rome, State of Vatican City, direct via HV2VO Contact is a go for: Wed 2013-07-10 12:36:28 UTC 66 deg ARISS is requesting listener reports for the above contacts. Due to issues with the Kenwood radio that are not fully understood at present, the Ericsson radio is going to be used for these contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. [ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + 432 and Above EME Newsletter The July issue of the free amateur radio 432 MHz and Above EME Newsletter is now available The newsletter can be downloaded in Word or PDF formats from http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html Previous newsletters are at http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm_arc.html [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] + G4HYG RELEASES NEW APRS MESSENGER ANDROID APP Chris Moulding, G4HYG, says that he has just released a new APRS app for Android phones and tablets. This so that radio amateurs can send APRS position beacons and messages from an Android equipped phone or tablet over a 3G or Wi-Fi link to the APRS-IS internet system. It can also link by Bluetooth to the new Bluetooth version of the APRS TNC Digi Tracker. G4HYG notes that there is a small charge for the app to help pay for the development tool licensing fee. More information on the web at tinyurl.com/aprs-android-app. (G4HYG) [ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline™ for the above information] + Google Project Loon Interference Concerns It has been reported that concerns have been raised with Google about the interference their 2400 MHz and 5800 MHz Project Loon balloons could cause, see http://tinyurl.com/m23fjqp [ANS thanks Trevor M5AKA and AMSAT-UK for the above information] + This Week in Space History July 7 1998 First Satellite Launched from Submarine 2003 Mars Rover Opportunity Launched June 8 1994 STS-65 Columbia Launched 2011 STS-135 Atlantis Launched - Final Shuttle Mission June 9 1945 White Sands Missle Range opened 1979 Voyager 2 flies past Jupiter June 10 1962 Telstar Launched allowing transatlantic TV Transmission 1992 Biotto spave craft flies past Comet Grigg-Skjellerup June 11 1962 NASA picks lunar orbit rendezvous method for lunar landings 1979 Skylab Re-enters Atmosphere June 12 2000 Zvezda Service Module Launched to ISS 2001 STS-104 Atlantis Launched June 13 1995 STS 70 Discovery Launched [ANS thanks The Planetary Society for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

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RAIKO re-entry prediction
by Mineo Wakita 07 Jul '13

07 Jul '13

I try to calculate the altitude from the earth and Atmospheric re-entry prediction of RAIKO. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/raikopre.htm Thank you. JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Re: AO-7 Antenna Polarization
by edroth2006 07 Jul '13

07 Jul '13

I want to thank everyone who responded to my question both here on the BB and to me directly. They are: K8YSE, KQ6EA, W7LRD, WB2OQQ, KO4MA, and K9STH. It was interesting; there was consensus on the 70cm uplink being rhcp but really no consensus on what the 2m downlink polarization should be. I recently picked up some used crossed yagis and a rotator that I can use for elevation control so we'll see what I can put together that might perform better than my current "cheap yagis" at a fixed 15 degree elevation. Thanks again for the help. 73, Ed, K0NW From: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> To: edroth2006 <edroth2006(a)sbcglobal.net>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 Antenna Polarization Message-ID: <18497234.1372814703462.JavaMail.root(a)elwamui-rubis.atl.sa.earthlink.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 I dug out some old books including OSCAR: The Ham Radio Satellites by Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, and OSCAR Amateur Radio Satellites by Stratis Caramanolis, and the AMSAT Journal from December 1974. All three agree that in the Northern Hemisphere, AO-7 polarizations are as follows: Mode B uplink and downlink RHCP Mode A uplink LHCP Mode A downlink linear 435.1 beacon LHCP The turnstile is shared on both 2m and 70cm. I hope this clears things up some. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations -----Original Message----- > From: edroth2006<edroth2006(a)sbcglobal.net> > Sent: Jul 2, 2013 12:38 AM > To:[email protected] > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Antenna Polarization > > Can someone tell me what type and polarization the antennas are that are > currently in use on the AO-7 satellite? > I've done many searches and cannot find this information anywhere I have > looked. > Thanks and 73, > Ed, K0NW

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Solar Impulse flying up Jersey Coast NOW
by Robert Bruninga 06 Jul '13

06 Jul '13

Solar Impulse flying up Jersey Coast NOW (9 AM Saturday). Need an APRS operator to watch position on http://live.solarimpulse.com/ and then maintain an active object on APRS RF so that all mobiles can see the aircraft on their mobile radios and be able to lookup and see it. Its the size of a 747 wingspan but the mass of a volkswagon and completely solar powered. Use the OBJECT NAME of SOLAR1. Thanks, Bob, WB4APR

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Last Reminder for AMSAT Field Day Summary results
by Bruce 06 Jul '13

06 Jul '13

Just a quick reminder that you must have your AMSAT Field Day results received by me no later than Monday, July 8, 2013 at 23:59 PM Central Time. If I do not receive them, your group will not be listed in the AMSAT Field Day story in the journal and they will be mad at you. We have had 14 submissions so far, last year we had 19. I hope we beat that number. Even if your group made one contact, turn it in. That shows you participated in AMSAT Field Day and succeeded in the feat of getting through the mess to complete your contact. A lot of groups were unable to accomplish one. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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K2I DE sat trip
by Jeff KB2M 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

I'm sorry I didn't get to work everyone on SO-50 who called me this morning when I was in DE but I just wasn't hearing the bird as well as I would of liked to. I did work 3 of you, so I guess the trip was worth it. I was thinking of making the early morning passes tomorrow, but it is just too early for me to realistically think I could get there in time. I will be on at my summer home (with the good antennas in SNJ :-) ) for the rest of the event. I hope to work everyone from NJ as K2I..... 73 Jeff kb2m

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Re: Golden Packet 20 July gaps: Killington, VT and, Smokie Mountain!
by Wayne Estes 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

WB4APR wrote: Only two Mountains remaining to be covered for this historic event. Killington, Vermont and Clingman?s dome in the Great Smokies National Park. On Saturday, 20 July, Just drive up to the parking lots, set up a small mast to clear the cars with an Omni dual band vertical and play APRS (and other) Radios for 4 hours starting at noon. W9AE replies: If you put up a fixed mast in a popular parking lot in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it would likely take much less than 4 hours for a park ranger to tell you that you can't do that without a permit. In general, U.S. National Parks have a uniform policy of NEVER issuing permits for temporary radio stations. You could use antennas mounted on your vehicle, but the National Park Service does not tolerate ground-mounted "radio stations" in public places. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Golden Packet 20 July gaps: Killington, VT and Smokie Mountain!
by Robert Bruninga 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

Only two Mountains remaining to be covered for this historic event. Killington, Vermont and Clingman’s dome in the Great Smokies National Park. On Saturday, 20 July, Just drive up to the parking lots, set up a small mast to clear the cars with an Omni dual band vertical and play APRS (and other) Radios for 4 hours starting at noon. Ideally you have a D700, D710 or D72 APRS radio that can digipeate the special event packets. To understand the entire event, getting a live APRS packet from Georgia/Alabama to Maine/Canada see the main web page: http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html Sorry, Im having FTP problems so that page has not yet been fully updated to 2013 participants but you can see them here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AiYno6C9YkfGdHlkNHlVYUNyZEJ4S3… We must have all 14 mountain tops manned to complete the DX link. Thanks, WB4APR *From:* Robert Bruninga [mailto:[email protected]] *Sent:* Tuesday, July 02, 2013 11:32 PM *To:* amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; aprssig(a)tapr.org; aprs(a)yahoogroups.com *Cc:* bruninga(a)usna.edu *Subject:* Golden Packet 20 July gaps: NH, MA, NY, NC/TN We have an urgent need for Ham Packet Ops on mountain tops in New Hampshire, Mount Greylock, MA, Sams Point, NY, Clingmans Dome in the Smokie Mountains and Roan Mountain NC. This is a 4 hour event making our annual attempt at the Golden Packet, an APRS packet message from Maine to Georgia along the Appalachian Mountain Chain on Saturday 20 July. All you need is an APRS radio that can digipeat (D72, D700, D710) and a power source and antenna. (and Know how to operate it!) All of these sites are “drive up” except Sam’s point in New York. The attempt is from noon to 4 PM. Remember, Tim, KA1YBS has to begin in the dark to climb a full MILE straight up to get to the top of Mt Katahdin in Main and then get back down before sunset. Hence, the 4 hour window. This is our 4th annual attempt and last year we were successful except for only one broken link in NH. Will you be available to help make history? The Golden Packet was proposed back in the early 80’s. It has never been claimed since the rise of the Internet that has eclipsed all DX packet attempts. We will do this every year even beyond success. It is a good test of emergency long distance packet techniques. If you can activate one of the above 5 sites, please see detail links on this page for each site and learn all you can: http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html Think of this as Packet Radio FIELD DAY! These 14 sites have been well surveyed and we know the links will work, if everyone can get in place and KNOW how to operate their radio. Other secondary sites are also invited on Stone Mountain, GA, Lookout Mountain TN, and Huntsville Mountain Bob, WB4aPR

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Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting September 28th 2013
by PA3GUO 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting September 28th 2013 On September 28th, 2013 there will be an amateur radio meeting (in Dutch: "Interessedag Amateursatellieten") held for everyone who is interested in amateur radio satellites. It will be held in Paasloo, in the Northern part of The Netherlands. We are very pleased to join this day with the annual VHF day held by the Dutch amateur radio society VERON. There will be a series of presentations concerning amateur radio satellites. Amongst others, the following topics will be included: a portable radio setup, the support radio amateurs provide give to the scientific community, beginners sessions, and last but not least, the latest news about two new satellites to be launched soon: the FUNcube-1 and the Delfi-N3xT satellites (by their project representatives)! Besides these presentations, it is of course a great opportunity to meet other amateurs who are interested in satellites, and make plans for future meetings! While the main language will be Dutch (including the presentations), non-Dutch guests are of course welcome to join as well. If you need assistance with signing up, do not hesitate to ask either PA1IVO or PA3GUO (both callsign AT amsat.org) for help. The latest information about this event can be found on this webpage: http://ivok.home.xs4all.nl/other/SatDay2013.html (Dutch language with a summary in English) Ivo Klinkert, PA1IVO and Henk Hamoen, PA3GUO Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite User Meeting 2013

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Satellite LookDown Software
by Jerry 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

I was fooling around today and tried to download the v1.25 version of Satellite Lookdown (I had use the v1.0 before just fine). When I unzipped the files and clicked on the .exe file all I get....now don't laugh....is a sound of someone knocking! I just can't find what I'm doing wrong. The author has no email address that I can find, so I'm hoping someone here can provide some assistance. Tnx & 73 Jerry France K7LY Lake Havasu City, AZ

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Google Project Loon Interference Concerns
by M5AKA 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

It has been reported that concerns have been raised with Google about the interference their 2400 MHz and 5800 MHz Project Loon balloons could cause, see http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/04/google-project-loon-interference-concerns/ ---- 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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Mailing list commands
by James Luhn 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

Can someone tell me how to access the amsat-bb command list. I am in digest mode at the moment. There are times when I would like to turn off digest mode. Thanks, 73, -james W5AOO

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Re: FITSAT-1 (NIWAKA) became a shooting star
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

Hi, I would also like add my congratulations to all concerned with the project - Fitsat-1 will be greatly missed it gave me great pleasure to follow its progress and the experiments that were part of a new experience with light. Thank you also for the way in which the information related its progress has been so very passed on by you and the teams. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat-UK Amsat NA

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FITSAT-1 (NIWAKA)
by tanaka＠fit.ac.jp 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

Dear Ham friends, FITSAT-1(NIWAKA) will soon decay. I appreciate if I could receive the last signal report. The beacon signal is 437.250MHz (CW). The last one will be useful to decide the decay position in the world. 73 de Takushi -- Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG FITSAT-project Fukuoka Institute of Technology

6 9

Fitsat-1: not heard 07:20 UTC (over Netherlands/Europe)
by PA3GUO 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

Did not copy Fitsat-1 during the 7:20 UTC pass (max 10 degrees elevation for me) over Europe. Orbit 4277 Henk, PA3GUO The Netherlands JO21RJ

2 1

AC0RA/m
by wyattdirks 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

Good morning This saturday the 6th I will be leaving on a trip to Yellowstone national park at 6utc. I will be head north to i90 then pretty much west over to the park. Hopefully by saturday evening about 3 utc sunday will be in Cody Wyoming for the night. Then for the whole week I will be going around the park and putting on grids as I have time. Ill try to do as many grids as I can but this isn't a grid trip so no promises. For the return trip I live leave out of the park to the south and catch i80 east. While mobile I will be able to operate fo29 vo52 and so50. I can try ao7 but I have never had luck getting in to ao7 from the mobile. When stationary I will be able to work ao7 with out a problem along with the other three sats. If you want more info on which grids I will be in and when just reply to this email and let me know. I can send updates on my progress of the trip but won't annoy the bb with such info. Also if there are any specific requests for grids I might be close to or going through I can try to activate those as well. Again just send me an email. I will be traveling through plenty of grids that I am sure some of you grid chasers need so keep an ear open throughout the week and I hope to give out some new grids. 73 Wyatt AC0RA

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Re: Call sign change
by Rodney Waln 04 Jul '13

04 Jul '13

congrats, did you get the upgrade in estes park colorado?? hihi, i was looking for you but we did not cross paths, Rodney kc0zhf DN71 ________________________________ Message: 10 Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2013 23:04:42 -0600 From: Jim Adams <jim9251(a)gmail.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Call sign change Message-ID: <CAD6RR8imMdgA_8VnWVadrEqbiyLwvTHt7E1BFoRGsCu7R3=yZw(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Miraculously I passed my Extra Class exam and my call sign is changed from K0BAM to AA0CW. Still in DM68 Ouray County Colorado. So if yall hear this new call on the sats er sat don't go crazy, it's just me. Jim Adams - AA0CW ------------------------------

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Re: amsat droid
by WCP 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

Thanks very much Dave! works just fine on my Pipo.... ----- Original Message ----- From: David Johnson To: WCP Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 12:32 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] amsat droid HI, Please find a attached a working copy of the APK, let me know if it's ok and then we can try to do a bit more investigation about why you are not seeing in on Google Play. 73 Dave On 30/06/2013 19:02, WCP wrote: No it is 4.1.1 Arm. If I search for "AMSATDroidfree" it does not see it in the play store. If I can find just the apk file I think I can install it. I had the same trouble with Echo link but was able to find the apk file and it works just fine on my PIPO tablet. My wife's Nexus 7 is no problem.

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FITsat-1 over California
by Pete Rowe 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

The satellite was loud here in San Jose, California and right on time with the latest keps from Space Track. I started to copy at 22:51z on 3 July 13. 73, Pete WA6WOA

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FITSAT-1 alive 1826Z
by Armando Mercado 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

FITSAT-1 heard 1819-1826Z. -Armando, N8IGJ

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fitsat-1
by Bob- W7LRD 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

are any of the "downloadable" keps on FITSAT-1 into Satpc32. accurate? When I download current keps the FITSAT-1 goes away from the folder where it was. simply confused (again) 73 Bob W7LRD

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Golden Packet 20 July gaps: NH, MA, NY, NC/TN
by Robert Bruninga 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

We have an urgent need for Ham Packet Ops on mountain tops in New Hampshire, Mount Greylock, MA, Sams Point, NY, Clingmans Dome in the Smokie Mountains and Roan Mountain NC. This is a 4 hour event making our annual attempt at the Golden Packet, an APRS packet message from Maine to Georgia along the Appalachian Mountain Chain on Saturday 20 July. All you need is an APRS radio that can digipeat (D72, D700, D710) and a power source and antenna. (and Know how to operate it!) All of these sites are “drive up” except Sam’s point in New York. The attempt is from noon to 4 PM. Remember, Tim, KA1YBS has to begin in the dark to climb a full MILE straight up to get to the top of Mt Katahdin in Main and then get back down before sunset. Hence, the 4 hour window. This is our 4th annual attempt and last year we were successful except for only one broken link in NH. Will you be available to help make history? The Golden Packet was proposed back in the early 80’s. It has never been claimed since the rise of the Internet that has eclipsed all DX packet attempts. We will do this every year even beyond success. It is a good test of emergency long distance packet techniques. If you can activate one of the above 5 sites, please see detail links on this page for each site and learn all you can: http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html Think of this as Packet Radio FIELD DAY! These 14 sites have been well surveyed and we know the links will work, if everyone can get in place and KNOW how to operate their radio. Other secondary sites are also invited on Stone Mountain, GA, Lookout Mountain TN, and Huntsville Mountain Bob, WB4aPR

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FITSAT-1 Alive 1654Z
by Armando Mercado 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

Just copied FITSAT-1. 7 deg. pass. Keps for orbit 4263 seems to work good. Next pass here at 1819Z 73 Armando N8IGJ

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FITSAT1 came over Texas still transmitting at 1344utc
by James Luhn 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

FITSAT-1 was heard over Texas (EL29) at 1344UTC (7/3/2013) Signal strength was changing considerably and it seemed the time between CW bursts was changing. Perhaps the signal strength changing simply caused me to miss part of the transmission. Maybe the satellite is tumbling. I updated my Keps but I have a feeling the numbers are changing and I actually did not have my beam pointed perfectly. I am sure I looked like a one-armed paper hanger while tuning everything on this pass. I also forgot to turn on my recorder (or I simply ran out of hands) for this pass. My next opportunity to hear FITSAT will be later today. 73, -james W5AOO

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FITSAT Still Alive over Texas
by James Luhn 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

FITSAT-1 was still transmitting over Texas (EL29) this morning. I first heard the signal at 1209UTC (7/3/2013) . Signal was strong and stable. I am using an IC-910 with M2 436CP30 antenna and Icom AG35 preamp. Antenna is on a Yaesu Az/El rotator. 73, -james W5AOO

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Call sign change
by Jim Adams 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

Miraculously I passed my Extra Class exam and my call sign is changed from K0BAM to AA0CW. Still in DM68 Ouray County Colorado. So if yall hear this new call on the sats er sat don't go crazy, it's just me. Jim Adams - AA0CW

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SO-50 commin up
by Kevin Deane 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

Anyone wanna try been away for a while... DM09 Kevin KF7MYK

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Birds from Colombia
by N0JY 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

Well, it was fun (and sometimes equally frustrating) while it lasted but it didn't last long enough. Had a good overhead pass of FO-29 tonight, but once that thing gets down below 40 degrees pointing toward the U.S. the noise gets to be a real PITA. I had on my best ears and some DSP but still couldn't get enough out of the buzzing and whistling to make a complete contact with but two stations. I hate that! Special thanks to Hector CO6CBF who was always on to let me test my doppler and get a signal report before the bird was AOS over the U.S. So it goes. I guess it will be a year before I get down here again, so I have some time and experience to put to use to see how I can make it better. Thanks to all who called, you made my days, just sorry I couldn't make all of yours. 73 Jerry HK5JY about to be N0JY again

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Re: AO-7 Antenna Polarization
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

I dug out some old books including OSCAR: The Ham Radio Satellites by Dave Ingram, K4TWJ, and OSCAR Amateur Radio Satellites by Stratis Caramanolis, and the AMSAT Journal from December 1974. All three agree that in the Northern Hemisphere, AO-7 polarizations are as follows: Mode B uplink and downlink RHCP Mode A uplink LHCP Mode A downlink linear 435.1 beacon LHCP The turnstile is shared on both 2m and 70cm. I hope this clears things up some. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations -----Original Message----- >From: edroth2006 <edroth2006(a)sbcglobal.net> >Sent: Jul 2, 2013 12:38 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Antenna Polarization > >Can someone tell me what type and polarization the antennas are that are >currently in use on the AO-7 satellite? >I've done many searches and cannot find this information anywhere I have >looked. >Thanks and 73, >Ed, K0NW >_______________________________________________ >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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Roving on the east coast
by Nestor Punales 03 Jul '13

03 Jul '13

I am not sure if this grids are active or not since I have not have the chance to work them yet, but I be portable and active on SO-50 only from 7/10/2013 till 7/15/2013. I be active on as many passes I can. If anyone need this grids can contact me via email my information is good in QRZ.com. 73 Nestor K6JTT DM22gt

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AO-7 Antenna Polarization
by edroth2006 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Can someone tell me what type and polarization the antennas are that are currently in use on the AO-7 satellite? I've done many searches and cannot find this information anywhere I have looked. Thanks and 73, Ed, K0NW

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FITSAT-1
by James Luhn 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

The satellite is very strong (20 over S9) over Texas at 2157 UTC, July 2, 2013. It must be getting a little closer!!! 73, -james W5AOO

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Office Closed
by Martha 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

The AMSAT office will be closed while I go on vacation with my family. It will reopen on Monday, July 8th. -- 73- Martha

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Ouch, ham tv iss
by Robert C. Campbell 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Ouch, just checked the price list for the KU LNC MKU LNC 23 TM ATV Converter mounted into water resistant case, in 2320 ... 2450 MHz, 1404 … 1534 MHz IF 216,00 € That is before shipping. If I don't buy litter for the cat in the ham shack this zone will soon become uninhabitable. That is before shipping from over there. Does anyone have options that are more reasonable for a LNC? I would really like to do this project but was a stretch to get just the PCI tuner card. If anyone has another option you may e-mail me off list. Not too technical please, I have not used a soldering iron except to do wood burning for wood crafts as a teenager. Will a US made universal work? In the end tho I would like to produce a quality product. Bob kb3pmr(a)gmail.com

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amsat droid free
by WCP 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

No it is 4.1.1 Arm. If I search for "AMSATDroidfree" it does not see it in the play store. If I can find just the apk file I think I can install it. I had the same trouble with Echo link but was able to find the apk file and it works just fine on my PIPO tablet. My wife's Nexus 7 is no problem (4.2.2) and my son's smart phone 4.0.0

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ISS SSTV Active 145.800 MHz
by M5AKA 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/07/02/iss-ham-radio-slow-scan-tv-active/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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K2M on SO50 13 colonies special event for PA - not able to be heard.
by transbets＠gmail.com 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

We suffered an epic fail on getting heard on this morning's 7:15 am pass of SO50. Using an HT and Arrow II. I heard K2A, K2J and K2D, but nobody was able to hear my call. My PL is correct and I hope that it is just the clouds and lousy weather. Will try again for this evening's pass if not rained out. Thank goodness for Richard K2M on the linear birds! If I am able to get my signal "out" please look for me on the higher passes. 73, Betsy (Elizabeth) WB3U

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Re: Fitsat-1
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Hi all, I was a bit late in setting up to monitor Fitsat-1 due to local QRM. However pleased to report that I received the satellite still quite strong over here in Wales -UK during a pass today ( Tuesday 2nd July 2013) at 1120 hrs GMT. Regards Ken Eaton GW1FKY

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Satellites Status
by Vincenzo Mone 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Hi Folks, it is a couple of years that I was off the satellite cause rifacing roof, I had to take of my aerials. Now after an intensive week of work I have re assembled the Antennas and the tower on the roof. I would like to test my work if all is done Ok. I went on the Amsat Satellite Status Web Page, but I see that the page is not present anymore. Also have noticed that the Amsat.org page is been changed. I could test just VO-52 SO-50 and the ISS. I would like to test the digital modes at 9k6 and 38k4 baud. As how I said before, please anybody can tell me which are the birds still alive and if there are any at 9k6 and 38k4 So I can test my equipment's? Any help will be really appreciated. 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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Proton-M Rocket Failure
by M5AKA 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

A Proton-M rocket failed this morning after launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. A reminder to us that launches can and do fail. It was carrying three Glonass satellites which I believe were planned, like the others, to operate across 1602.5625-1615.5 MHz and 1240-1260 MHz. Video of the launch failure and news report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23140665 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Fitsat-1
by PY5LF 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

Hi Nothing heard from Fisat-1 last two passes . 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm

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FO-29 success
by N0JY 02 Jul '13

02 Jul '13

That was a pretty good pass, given that I think I fried my preamp (enthusiasm should always be tempered with a checklist!) and I was aiming through the house here for the entire pass without the preamp then. I guess the chicken wire stucco didn't hurt as much as I thought it would have. Five stations in the log on that one, CO6CBF K4FEG K8YSE KB5AAB K4YYL the next pass about 03:10 UTC here will be another out the window pass although that is shooting over the mountains so LOS looks to be about 03:24 UTC here because of the mountains. I'll upload to LOTW after I return to the U.S. (and recover) later this week and make some QSLs if you want a paper one. 73! Jerry HK5JY

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OPS-SAT - A rare opportunity for testing new amateur radio software for use on a CubeSat actually in space.
by Graham Shirville 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

OPS-SAT is planned to be a 3U CubeSat with deployed solar arrays to be launched in 2016 into a low earth orbit. Although the formal closing dates for expressions of interest from potential experimenters for this project has now closed, contact has been made with Dave Evans at ESA-ESOC who has confirmed that they would be very interested to receive proposals from an AMSAT team to develop a novel use of this spacecraft for amateur radio purposes. In addition to an X Band downlink and S Band uplinks and downlinks, the spacecraft will carry a simplex transceiver operating with 4k8/9k6 telemetry using GMSK on the 435MHz band. It s understood that experimenters will have access to an onboard processor running Linux/Java at 500 to 800MHz. The project is open to teams led by a group from any ESA member country and initial info is shown here http://www.esa.int/About_Us/GSP/Wanted_ESA_seeks_innovators_for_orbiting_la… although the detailed design is being rapidly iterated. It is emphasised that this is a very open project which will require lots of interaction between the contributing groups. Bright ideas are needed from our software experts and If there is sufficient interest it may be possible to host a Skype conference about this opportunity during the AMSAT-UK Colloquium over the weekend of July 20/21st. It is not proposed that this should be an AMSAT-UK led project, but I would be happy to provide some initial coordination! 73 Graham G3VZV

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2M1EUB/P Road trip 5/Aug/13 new grids for the taking??
by paul robinson 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

Hi group any one interested email me....ill be driving around Scotland from 5/Aug for 14 days,any one looking for new grids or grids they have not worked yet,mail me arrange a sked and ill see what I can do...if im close ill try and work it. Ill post more near the time ..73 paul 2E1EUB/2M1EUB/P amsat uk amsat na RSGB

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E for Effort? From FJ13
by N0JY 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

Well, that was not nearly as productive as I had hoped! By the time I got some decent signals from the U.S., the elevation was taking me down back into the QRM from all of the city around me. I copied Frank, and tried to pull out one other who I heard as AA5VK but wasn't, sorry folks, the signals were just in the noise from the QRM even with the AMSAT broadband preamp. I see an email from Glenn AA5PK now, well if we do it again tomorrow at least my ears may have a better idea what your call is! Looking at opportunities tomorrow there is a nice AO-7 7/2 at 22:22 UTC here that covers a lot of the U.S., what mode will it be in? We have an SO-50 7/2 at 00:54 UTC here that catches the southeast U.S. before my LOS but I'm shooting through some buildings, maybe the lower orbit will make up for that. Then FO-29 again 7/2 at 03:10 UTC here that skims the top of the mountains to the west, which might be better than tonight because more of it is out the window rather than through part of the roof... it gets into the southern U.S. Thanks to all for trying this with me, I'll look for you again tomorrow night. Working portable is fun, but certainly more fun in a place where you can walk out in the park and do it! 73 Jerry HK5JY/N0JY

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...
by kq6ea＠verizon.net 01 Jul '13

01 Jul '13

http://www.nivelais.com/294537.php?ludjwehu ------------------------------ Sent using Verizon.net Mobile

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