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Re: Preamps and Arrows
by k6yk 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

The short answer is yes ! It works very good. Every portable operation I've done was with an Arrow and SP-432-VDG and two HT's. One to transmit, one to receive. I ran the preamp off a spare HT battery, 9.6 volts. Worked just great. Also have done some portable operating with a Heathkit HW-24 using the same preamp and Arrow. Running all of it from a 7 amp-hour gel cell. The battery would last a couple of days, just using it on passes and running 10 watts on transmit. If you aren't familiar with the Heathkit HW-24, it's a dual-band mobile radio, 10 watts or 1 watt on 2 meters and 440, full duplex with memories, etc. If you find one used, it's a great little radio. It will also do cross-band repeat and with a VERY simple mod will do full coverage way outside the ham bands if you like to listen to other services. And yes it has P.L. and also scans. What else? They were around $600 new but I've seen them for around $100 at times. I've had mine for about 20 years and it's still perking right along. 73, John, K6YK On Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:32:24 -0600 Tom Schuessler <tjschuessler(a)verizon.net> writes: > Has anyone used a preamplifier in a portable setup based on an Arrow > cross yagi? Concern is whether there is enough isolation on 70 cm > input from the 2m harmonics. ARR. Told me they would not recommend > this setup. What you all think? > > Thanks, > > Tom, N5HYP > -- > ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f47c802e3ee0177f1f5st02vuc

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QSL's for W5PFG/R EM13, 14, 16, 17
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

If you would like a paper QSL card for any of the EM13-17 grids I worked this week, please email me directly off-list and I will send you one. No SASE req'd. I will be uploading these to Logbook of the World over the weekend. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ?
by Bob Bruninga 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

Do you have a 10 meter (28 MHz) vertically polarized beam? We are working on a 28 MHz transatlantic Balloon with a CW transmitter on 10m using (of course) a vertical dipole. It will have no GPS, so tracking will be entirely by beam headings and some signal-strength assessment. Just wondering if anyone has a vertical beam. A horizontal beam will be useless for direction finding. All it will do is point to whatever is reflecting the energy into the strongest horizontal component... Hummh... Bob, WB4APR

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Re: Vega satellite video + Live Launch feed
by Trevor . 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

There's a new E-St@r video at http://www.uk.amsat.org/4992 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: Vega satellite video + Live Launch feed
by g.shirville＠btinternet.com 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

Uuum - most of the interviewees were Italian i think? 73 graham G3VZV -----Original message----- From: Stefan Wagener Sent: 08/02/2012, 10:37 To: Trevor . Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Vega satellite video + Live Launch feed Nice video. Love it when the French speak English :-) Stefan, VE4NSA On Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 4:18 AM, Trevor . <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > Video about the Vega satellites > http://www.uk.amsat.org/4476 > > Student Satellite Launch To Be Broadcast Live > http://www.uk.amsat.org/4460 > > 73 Trevor M5AKA > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ 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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SMA connectors
by JHBRTOO＠aol.com 24 Feb '12

24 Feb '12

Hi guys, My two cents worth- using an SMA to BNC adaptor does not address the mechanical problem of an antenna or a coax flexing the SMA chassis connector- especially the plastic HTs- I had to do a number on my VX5 which is a metal case HT. I'd suggest a pigtail SMA to BNC for connecting to a coax for mobile use (even then I tie the pigtail to the HT case with a rubber band or ??) As for the HT antenna all you can do is be careful or brace the antenna a bit. My 74 year old hands and eyes had quite a time repairing the broken center conductor to circuit board, not to mention just getting to the location. The SMA is a great RF connector for fixed-in-place applications. Nuff said

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Apology ...
by Clint Bradford 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

I apologize for not properly "trimming" that message regarding SMA adapters earlier today. Clint ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator?
by Phil Karn 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

On 2/23/12 12:30 PM, Len Revelle wrote: > My Hi-Q screwdriver antenna uses a resettable fuse that opens when the > drive hits top or bottom, takes a few minutes to reset after the current > subsides, and you save the motor. Seems the simplest fix to the rotor. Yes, it does. Do you know the rating of the fuse? Does it heat on its own, or is it attached thermally somehow to the motor?

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Re: SMA Adapters
by Clint Bradford 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

The BNC-to-SMA adapters from Stephen Gulyas are designed to absorb stress from cabling and "accidents." Details on the ANTENNAS page at ... Http://www.work-sat.com Clint K6LCS Sent from my iPod touch. On Feb 23, 2012, at 9:17, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Slightly OT: That's no moon! (Andrew Glasbrenner) > 2. Re: Slightly OT: That's no moon! (Lee Maisel) > 3. Re: Vega Satellite Deployments (PE0SAT) > 4. Disruption in AMSAT-BB, ANS, SAREX (Paul Williamson) > 5. two more Yuma Hamfest videos (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) > 6. Linux software TNC (KE7OSN) > 7. Fwd: Linux software TNC (Darren Long) > 8. Re: Linux software TNC (Miguel Barreiro) > 9. Re: Linux software TNC (Tony Langdon) > 10. Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator? (David Palmer KB5WIA) > 11. Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator? (Andrew Glasbrenner) > 12. Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator? (Dee) > 13. Re: Linux software TNC (Jonathan Guthrie) > 14. HT-D72a connector (Scott Smith) > 15. Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator? (WA6FWF) > 16. Re: HT-D72a connector (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) > 17. Re: HT-D72a connector (Scott Smith) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:08:45 -0500 (GMT-05:00)

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QSL Cards
by BobHerrell 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Hello all, I just returned from the post office where I mailed all the HI4/AJ5C Satellite contact QSL cards. Look for them in a few days. I know the post office is slowing down with all their consolidations of processing centers. It's crazy. We have a #1 rated processing center here in Harrison, but it is going to close and be consolidated with a below par processing center. It's your government at work! 73, Bob AJ5C

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SatPC32: Viewing satellites from different kep files at the same time?
by Bruce Robertson 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Hi, everyone -- During the fun surrounding the Vega launch, I made a new kep file for the experimental keps and loaded those birds into SatPC32. This got me wondering if my workflow is incorrect, or if I really do need to stop viewing the birds from nasa.all or amsat.txt when using this other file. Am I right in thinking that SatPC32 doesn't provide the ability to view at one time satellites whose paths are defined in two different kep files? 73, Bruce -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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Re: HT-D72a connector
by Scott Smith 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Tnx folks for the input, i have now ordered the Diamond SMA\BNC connector., 73 de VE6ITV Scott

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HT-D72a connector
by Scott Smith 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Hi folks, just updated my h/held to a HT-D72a as my FT530 as it’s getting on in age. I liked the BNC connector on the FT530 it was easy to connect to my mobile antenna, but the HT-D72a uses a flimsy SMA connector. does anyone used this radio as a mobile? what kind of connection to your mobile whip?. Any help appreciated. 73 de VE6ITV Scott

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Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator?
by Andrew Glasbrenner 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

-----Original Message----- >From: David Palmer KB5WIA <kb5wia(a)amsat.org> > >Question to the list: does anyone have a G5500 azimuth rotator with a >working motor available for parts? Or any other ideas for >replacement? > I successfully transplanted a G-450 motor into one of my 5500s after a similar occurrence. The used 450 was less than the motor from Yaesu parts, and I sold the control box and housing on Ebay for almost as much as I picked the whole thing up for. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Linux software TNC
by Tony Langdon 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

At 07:38 PM 2/23/2012, KE7OSN wrote: >I have a few Windows computers running the AGW Packet Engine as a Software >TNC. I would like to find something that provides similar functionality but >for Linux. I am hoping someone out there uses a Linux computer with a >software TNC for satellites, but if nothing else would like the find out >what people are using software or hardware. Linux has the software packet modems and AX.25 support in the kernel (though you usually have to reompile the kernel to access them on modern distros). I'm not sure how to setup Linux packet these days, as the howtos are very old. I recall experimenting with the Linux soundcard modem many years ago with a lot of success. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Linux software TNC
by KE7OSN 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

I have a few Windows computers running the AGW Packet Engine as a Software TNC. I would like to find something that provides similar functionality but for Linux. I am hoping someone out there uses a Linux computer with a software TNC for satellites, but if nothing else would like the find out what people are using software or hardware. 73 Anthony Odenthal KE7OSN President Amateur Radio Club at OSU

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Fwd: Linux software TNC
by Darren Long 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Sorry, usually fail to respond to lists themselves. Resent to list for completeness. Darren, G0HWW Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: > From: Darren Long <darren.long(a)mac.com> > Date: 23 February 2012 08:58:03 GMT > To: KE7OSN <ke7osn(a)arrl.net> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Linux software TNC > > Soundmodem works well for me at 1200 baud, have never tried 9600. It works nicely with a Signalink-USB sound card, > > Darren, G0HWW > > Sent from my iPad > > On 23 Feb 2012, at 08:38, KE7OSN <ke7osn(a)arrl.net> wrote: > >> I have a few Windows computers running the AGW Packet Engine as a Software >> TNC. I would like to find something that provides similar functionality but >> for Linux. I am hoping someone out there uses a Linux computer with a >> software TNC for satellites, but if nothing else would like the find out >> what people are using software or hardware. >> L >> >> 73 >> Anthony Odenthal >> KE7OSN >> President Amateur Radio Club at OSU >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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two more Yuma Hamfest videos
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

Hi! Last night, I made a video of an AO-7 pass I worked at the Yuma Hamfest on Friday (17 February) afternoon. Since I only had the satellite audio from that pass, I combined that with a series of photos and graphics to make a "movie" out of that. I also have a video that started at the end of that pass, when my "cameraman" Uriel XE2VAS/N2IY came over to my operating position outside the main hall. After the pass ended, I was answering questions from the crowd that had stuck around. Those videos are now posted online at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FPgM1jZxc8 (AO-7 pass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LiHxAbinwk (discussion after the pass) Like the other videos I mentioned in a -BB post yesterday: http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2012-February/040308.html these two videos were also made in 720p HD. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Disruption in AMSAT-BB, ANS, SAREX
by Paul Williamson 23 Feb '12

23 Feb '12

For reasons we don't fully understand, there was an outage in the AMSAT-BB, SAREX, and ANS mailing lists for the last day or two. I am not sure whether any messages were lost. I think the problem has been dealt with. If you're reading this message, then probably it has. 73 -Paul kb5mu(a)amsat.org

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MO-72 SW Update
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

Many of you may already know this, but for those who may not, there is a new version of MASAT-1 (MO-72) decoding software on their website at <http://cubesat.bme.hu/data/gsc/Masat1_GND_Client_20120220.zip> 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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K7UGA videos from Yuma AZ (17-19 February)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

Hi! While I was in Yuma AZ over the weekend, I made videos of a few passes I worked as K7UGA. Three of the following links were from passes worked outside the main hall at the Yuma Hamfest on Friday or Saturday. The fourth video was of a VO-52 worked from the Yuma Territorial Prison on Sunday morning, after the hamfest closed. Thanks to Uriel XE2VAS/N2IY for working the camera for the hamfest videos. I was by myself for for the VO-52 pass, so the camera was on a tripod with my external speaker near the camera supplying the satellite audio. Here are those links.... SO-50 pass on Friday (17 February) morning at 1751 UTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKaIKgjuSMM AO-27 pass on Friday afternoon at 2032 UTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIA_VANTdpQ AO-27 pass on Saturday (18 February) afternoon at 2004 UTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiXTjgD5nD8 VO-52 pass on Sunday (19 February) morning at 1538 UTC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0AAB3A7Xy4 I worked an AO-7 pass Friday afternoon, but it was not recorded as a video. Only audio. There was a nice question-and-answer session after that pass that was captured on video. I plan to make a slideshow using photos from the hamfest and other graphics, and combine that with the AO-7 audio to upload tonight. I will also upload the video of the discussion after the pass. The VO-52 pass Sunday morning was the last pass I worked as K7UGA. I had previously uploaded the first pass I worked as K7UGA, an AO-7 pass on 13 February from my back yard in the Phoenix area, which is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=790OQThYtX0 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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K7UGA wrap-up
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Feb '12

21 Feb '12

Hi! Thanks to all the stations that worked the K7UGA special-event station in the past week, helping the Central Arizona DX Association in its commemoration of the Arizona statehood centennial. Between Tom NQ7R and me, we made 122 satellite QSOs. Tom, who worked satellites a long time ago and is coming back to them, worked a handful of passes I didn't work at the end of the week. He also worked a VO-52 pass I was on Sunday morning. I was able to get WD9EWK into the K7UGA log, when Tom worked me as K7UGA. :-) I was able to make at least one QSO on every pass I attempted as K7UGA, and there was one FM pass that saw 14 QSOs logged! Tom worked his passes from his home in Casa Grande AZ (grid DM42). For passes I worked at the start of the week through Thursday afternoon, I was operating from DM43 here in the Phoenix area. For the passes I worked Friday and Saturday, I was at the Yuma Hamfest. On Sunday morning, I parked next to the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park overlooking the Colorado River. Both Yuma sites are in grid DM22. Besides the satellite operating Tom and I did as K7UGA, other CADXA members activated the call on all HF bands along with 6m and 2m from locations all over Arizona. I even used the call from the AMSAT table inside the main hall at the Yuma hamfest Saturday morning on a cross-band repeater that flew with a high-altitude balloon. I made QSOs as K7UGA with a couple of stations outside the hall at the hamfest and two others in different parts of Arizona through that repeater. Initial reports show that K7UGA made over 6500 QSOs on all bands including the satellites during the past week. Whether you worked K7UGA on the satellites, on HF, or in both places, thanks to all who took the time to call K7UGA. It was a fun time working as K7UGA, especially hearing some of the (quick) stories related to the call's original holder, Barry Goldwater. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Dick Daniels' Memorial Service
by Martha 20 Feb '12

20 Feb '12

If you are planning to attend Dick Daniels' Memorial Service on Saturday, Please send me an email or phone call (301-589-6062) by Wednesday, February 22nd. -- 73- Martha

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Free Gulf Alpha Satellite Antenna
by guyjeanbraun＠comcast.net 20 Feb '12

20 Feb '12

Thank you for reading this message. I have a Gulf Alpha brand satellite antenna that I am no longer using. It is in good shape and free to someone willing to pick it up. I will not disassemble it for shipping. It is a circularly polarized dual band antenna.... 3 X 3 elements on 2 Mtrs and 5 X 5 elements on 432 MHZ. It served me well on both the FM and linear satellites for about two years. Please contact me off the list for further information. I live approximately 20 miles northwest of Baltimore City, MD. Guy Brauning N3SCR guyjeanbraun(a)comcast.net

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Re: 1962-02-20: Friendship 7
by B J 20 Feb '12

20 Feb '12

I remember someone I knew while I was in elementary school who, each time there was a launch (which were all televised back then), was conveniently sick on those days. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL On 2/20/12, kq6ea(a)verizon.net <kq6ea(a)verizon.net> wrote: > Yeah, my Mom called me in "sick" that day! > > 73, Jim KQ6EA > > > On 02/20/12, B J<va6bmj(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > http://www.cleveland.com/friendship-7/index.ssf/2012/02/friendship_7_john_g… > http://www.cleveland.com/friendship-7/index.ssf/2012/02/50_years_ago_john_g… > > This mission I definitely remember as it was news here in Canada. I > was able to watch coverage of it on TV as I happened to miss school > that day because I was ill (no, I didn't plan it that way, hi). > > 73s > > Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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1962-02-20: Friendship 7
by B J 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

http://www.cleveland.com/friendship-7/index.ssf/2012/02/friendship_7_john_g… http://www.cleveland.com/friendship-7/index.ssf/2012/02/50_years_ago_john_g… This mission I definitely remember as it was news here in Canada. I was able to watch coverage of it on TV as I happened to miss school that day because I was ill (no, I didn't plan it that way, hi). 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Vega launch video
by Greg Beat 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Near the end of this ASI provided video posted on SpaceFlightNow, you can see the launch of some of the Cubesats ! http://www.spaceflightnow.com/vega/vv01/onboard.html greg w9gb

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W5PFG/P EM14-16, 20-22 Feb 2012
by Clayton Coleman W5PFG 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

I've the opportunity to work from EM14, EM15, and EM16 this week. If these grids are on your wish list, email me off-BB. EM15 encompasses Oklahoma City and is not too rare. I have worked EM14-15 previously on other trips. FM satellites only, this trip. I'm working on adding a compact SSB station to my work-mobile soon. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Hawaii
by Kevin Deane 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Just worked NH7WN 6 degress, he said he was lookin for people on the linear birds for those needing HI, N8RO! Kevin KF7MYK

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ARISSat-1 GeoReferenced SSTV Images
by Joseph Armbruster 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Hi Everyone, I spent some time plotting the ARISSat-1 SSTV images geo-spatially. Let me know what you think! http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2012/02/arissat-1-sstv-images-geo-referenced.html Joseph Armbruster KJ4JIO

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Hawaii Trip March 22 - April 4th, 2012
by Adrian Engele 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Aloha fellow satellite operators, I am happy to announce that I will be traveling to Hawaii on March 21st and plan to stay on the Big Island and Oahu for two weeks. My trip is a primarily a scuba diving and sightseeing trip with my girlfriend, which means ham radio will be a secondary activity unlike my trip to Kauai in 2010 when I made a big effort to activate BL02 with mixed results. I will be bringing a limited amount of satellite gear as I am already loaded with HF equipment and Scuba gear. I will try to get on the satellites as often as my schedule permits within our vacation activities. My primary focus will be on FO-29, VO-52 and AO-7 Mode B passes. I may try to get on SO-50 and AO-27, but the passes on those satellites are short and I will be focusing less on those satellites. Here are the current travel plans: March 21st: Fly Chicago to LAX, LAX to Honolulu, Honolulu to Hilo; arrive late evening. March 22nd to March 25th: I will be South of Hilo in BK29nn by the water front. This will be the best time to work stations past central CONUS, perhaps as far East as Florida. Opportunities to work VE, KL and some RU/UA stations will also be possible. Contacts with Japan may be possible but I suspect I will have blockage from the Mauna Kea Volcano on the Western passes. I will know more once I am in Hilo. March 26th through April 1st: I will be in Kailua-Kona in BK29an at a local resort (March 26/28th) and I will be moving further North to BK29ao to a condo (March 29th/ April 1st). This will be the best opportunity to work Japan on FO-29. Based on some early pass evaluations, I see some slim opportunities of working Northern New Zealand and Eastern Australia (Brisbane/Gold Coast area) on AO-7. There may be some opportunities to work some West Coast stations on FO-29, VO-52 and AO-7 on higher elevation passes. There are two 13,000 ft. Volcanoes blocking the Eastern passes and this will create some logistical issues. There may be a small chance I can make it over BK19xp. April 2nd through April 4th: I will on Oahu Waikiki beach in BL11cg. I expect limited operating due to sightseeing activities and some blockage from the local mountain range. I have already had numerous sked requests. I cannot guarantee that I will be on a specific pass as this will be determined by my activities schedule, the weather and the anticipated pile-ups, as I am operating portable. I encourage you to stay tuned via AMSAT BB for schedule updates. I also recommend signing up to my Twitter feed @AA5UK. I will also be updating my QRZ.com page in the coming weeks with additional information. I know activities on satellite from KH6 have been low and there is great demand for Hawaii for WAS awards. Collectively we will work together and get as many contacts in our logs as possible. I highly encourage operators that are new to working the linear satellites to start learning to operate on SSB now. Please do not wait until the last minute to understand the subtleties of operating SSB. It takes some skill and technical knowhow to properly operate this mode. I plan to operate using SatPC but if needed I will operate Doppler manually. Once we get closer to my trip, I will post some additional information and operating suggestions that I have learned over many years of operating from Hawaii and the Cayman Islands. I encourage US and DX operators to send me a note (see email address at QRZ.com) so I know you need to work me for a WAS award or a DX contact. I also encourage any interested RU, ZL and VK stations to contact me directly should a try on AO-7 be of interest. I will make an effort to work Japan on FO-29 knowing the preferred local operating hours. Stay tuned for additional information in the coming weeks. Mahalo, Adrian AA5UK

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K7UGA update - Saturday evening
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Hi! As I just posted in another -BB message, I operated as K7UGA on one AO-27 pass this afternoon from the Yuma hamfest. This brought my QSO count as K7UGA on the satellites this week to 111. Over the past day or so, you may have heard another voice on the FM satellites and VO-52 as K7UGA. You would have been hearing Tom NQ7R. Tom used to work satellites many years ago, and is starting to try them again. Tom was operating from his home in central Arizona, in grid DM42. I will work one more pass from here in Yuma to wrap up my K7UGA activity. I will be on the VO-52 pass at 1536-1549 UTC (an eastern pass with maximum elevation of 71 degrees). After this pass, I am planning to have lunch with a bunch of friends in this area, before driving home in the mid-afternoon. It's been fun to operate using the former call of a famous ham this week, trying to extend the Central Arizona DX Association's Arizona statehood centennial commemoration to the satellites. In the brief QSOs on the FM birds, and some of the longer chats on the SSB birds, I've heard some comments from people who worked Barry Goldwater on HF - amateur bands, or the MARS frequencies - in the past. I never had the chance to work Barry on the radio, but it has been fun to hear them. If you wish to receive a K7UGA QSL card, please send your QSL request with an SASE to the K7UGA QSL manager, Bob K7BHM. You can see the K7UGA card at: http://www.qrz.com/db/k7uga 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Yuma Hamfest report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Feb '12

19 Feb '12

Hi! The Yuma Hamfest wrapped up this evening, after a full day with lots of people wandering around the Yuma County Fairgrounds site. This year's hamfest is also the 2012 ARRL Southwestern Division Convention, which brought more people in. The AMSAT table saw lots of traffic, especially with the model of the Fox-1 satellite on display along with flyers about the Fox project and getting started on the FM birds. The AMSAT table was inside the main hall, next to the large ARRL table. With all the people coming by the table, I did not work any passes in the morning. I was able to do one afternoon demonstration, on an AO-27 pass just after 2000 UTC. Thanks, as always, for all the QSOs! Please note that I am *not* the QSL manager for K7UGA satellite activity, but direct the QSL requests with SASE to K7BHM. One of the planned events for this hamfest was the launch of a high- altitude balloon carrying (among other payloads) an APRS transmitter and a 2m/70cm cross-band FM repeater. Due to uncooperative winds predicted for Yuma, which could have blown the balloon onto one of two military bombing ranges to the north or east of Yuma, or possibly south across the USA/Mexico border, the launch was moved north to the town of Quartzsite AZ. Instead of the crowds seeing the launch in person, a live video link was established from Quartzsite to a large screen in the main exhibit hall. Once the balloon was no longer visible on the video link, the exhibit hall switched over to showing a web site plotting the path of the satellite using APRS data. After the balloon was up to about 20000 feet/6100m, I could hear the 70cm downlink from the repeater. This repeater is essentially like SO-50 - 2m uplink with PL tone, 70cm downlink - but without having to deal with Doppler. I made a quick QSO through the repeater using my TH-D72A HT and a long duckie antenna from the AMSAT table in the main hall. After seeing that I was able to hear and be heard through that repeater, I changed antennas to my Elk log periodic, and proceeded to make a few more QSOs. These additional QSOs were made using the K7UGA call sign I have been using this week on the satellites, an added bonus for those around Arizona and a couple of hams outside the exhibit hall at the hamfest. The fact that I could hear, and work, the balloon's cross-band repeater surprised many in the main hall. Especially with the HT. After the balloon's approximately 2 1/2-hour flight, it crash-landed in the desert north of Interstate 10 between Quartzsite and Phoenix. As the recovery team drove up to the area where the balloon was laying, the crowds in the main hall were treated to another live video feed. We were able to see them find the balloon on the ground. Over the two days at Yuma, I (as K7UGA) worked 5 different satellite passes along with the repeater on the balloon this morning. Thanks again to the Yuma Amateur Radio Hamfest Organization - an actual non- profit corporation set up just to host this annual event. They had several drawings throughout the event - door prizes, a prize for simply registering for the hamfest, other prizes given out during the barbecue this evening, and 16 prizes in the grand prize drawing after the barbecue. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK (and one of the K7UGA satellite operators) http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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ANS-050 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-050 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * NASA Press Release for 3rd Round of Cubesat Space Mission Candidates * Dick Daniels (W4PUJ) - SK, 1932 - 2012 * AMSAT Awards Announcement & New Postal Rates Notice * AMSAT Preparations for Dayton Hamvention 2012 * Vega Launch Success - Cubesats Heard * MASAT-1 Designated MagyarSat-OSCAR-72 (MO-72) * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-050.01 ANS-050 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 050.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 19, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-050.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Press Release for 3rd Round of Cubesat Space Mission Candidates On February 14, 2012 NASA issued a press release officially listing AMSAT-NA and all of the other 32 small satellites selected to fly in 2013 and 2014 as auxiliary payloads. The proposed CubeSats come from universities across the country, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, NASA field centers and Depart- ment of Defense organizations. After launch, the satellites will conduct technology demonstrations, educational research or science missions. The selected spacecraft are eligible for flight after final negotiations and an opportunity for flight becomes available. The satellites come from the following organizations: -- Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio -- Air Force Research Lab, Wright-Patterson AFB -- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo -- Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. -- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge -- Montana State University, Bozeman -- Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (2 CubeSats) -- NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. -- NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. -- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in partnership with the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (2 CubeSats) -- NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla. -- The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, Silver Spring, Md. -- Saint Louis University, St. Louis -- Salish Kootenai College, Pablo, Mont. -- Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Ala. (2 CubeSats) -- Taylor University, Upland, Ind. -- University of Alabama, Huntsville -- University of California, Berkeley -- University of Colorado, Boulder (2 CubeSats) -- University of Hawaii, Manoa (3 CubeSats) -- University of Illinois, Urbana (2 CubeSats) -- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor -- University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D. -- University of Texas, Austin -- US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg Thirty-two CubeSat missions have been selected for launch in the previous two rounds of the CubeSat Launch Initiative. Eight CubeSat missions have been launched (including five selected via the CubeSat Launch Initiative) to date via the agency's Launch Services Program Educational Launch of Nanosatellite, or ELaNa, program. The full text of the NASA Press Release can be read on-line at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/feb/HQ_12-050_CubeSats.html SpaceDaily.com published a related story at: http://tinyurl.com/Cubesats For additional information on NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, visit: http://go.usa.gov/Qbf Please make your donation to AMSAT's Fox-1 Fund at: http://www.amsat.org [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Dick Daniels (W4PUJ) - SK, 1932 - 2012 By Jan A. King W3GEY/VK4GEY One of AMSAT's most important, admired and well loved members, Dick Daniels, W4PUJ, ex WA4DGU, died on February 14, 2012. He lost his battle with lung cancer, diagnosed only at Christmas time 2011. Dick achieved so much working for AMSAT that it is virtually impossible to enumerate his individual accomplishments. And we cannot overestimate the importance of his sustained support. Dick was many things to us but, among them he was our record keeper, photographic recorder, and the de facto AMSAT historian. So, his loss also represents the loss of many memories of the things we did and the places we've gone as an organization, which simply can't be recorded or kept except in a mind. So, our loss is huge! The records of our earlier spacecraft developments, starting with Australis-OSCAR-5 and continuing to pre- sent, amount to over 6,000 individual (non-duplicate) 35 mm slides. These have since been digitized. These were all kept and maintained by him. Many of the photos were his own. Dick was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 19, 1932. He received a BBA degree from the University of Cincinnati in Business Management in 1956 and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Graduate School in 1957. He joined NASA HQ in 1961 where he remained until his retirement in 1994. Dick became a licensed radio amateur in 1959. He was involved with the formation of AMSAT in 1970 and served on the AMSAT Board of Directors from 1992 to 2003. Dick was one of the initial AMSAT members and was Life Member 11. His first major contribution to amateur radio was his work to obtain per- mission from the NASA Administrator (then James Fletcher) and the NOAA Administrator (then Jack Townsend) for the launch of Australis- OSCAR-5. It was Dick who pushed our AMSAT letter proposal for the launch of AO-5 through the NASA and NOAA systems. Dick was also heav- ily involved in our efforts to license AO5 with the FCC. That was a much bigger deal back in 1970 than it is today. Few will appreciate the resistance we had within the system from the TIROS project office at NASA/GSFC and what had to be done to overcome it. Few will also remember the support we had from places we didn't expect, but, with Dick's help and all of us pushing - we were in "business" - the "business" of building satellites for free. Dick became AMSAT-NA's primary mechanical designer and technician, having helped design and then assemble just about every spacecraft structure we launched starting with AMSAT-OSCAR-6. At the beginning of the Phase-3 era it became clear that AMSAT needed to go into the propulsion business if we were going to get to higher orbits and Dick took on the role of chief propulsion expert, in addition to his mechanical technician duties. Dick and I installed the Thiokol solid propellant kick motor into the ill-fated Phase-3A satellite once it arrived in French Guiana and it was Dick, working with MBB who loaded the bi-propellant fuels (UDMH or AZ-50 and N2O4) on-board AO-10, AO-13 and AO-40 (all very dangerous compounds). Even though the rocket motor each time was pure German technology, Dick was the one we all trusted to handle the exacting task of propellant loading. He also developed, assembled and tested all of the PFAs (propellant flow assembly) units that controlled the fuel flow and pressurization of each of the propulsion systems. He also contributed significantly to their design details. The utilization of real, high performance propulsion systems on small satellites is still something no other small satellite organization other than AMSAT has successfully achieved. Few have even attempted to follow in our footsteps. We've had our difficulties with rocket motors (and what organization that has tried to use them has not?) but, at least AO-13 was perfect. No professional organization has ever done much better than the perform- ance of that propulsion system. And, in large measure, the success of that system can be credited to Dick Daniels. The other P3 satel- lites, at least had partially successful motor firings, except for Phase-3A which was lost due to a launch vehicle failure, hence we never had a chance to fire our solid rocket motor. Dick constructed the AO-6 2M/10M repeater (or transponder) designed by Perry Klein (W3PK) and Karl Meinzer (DJ4ZC). He also constructed the follow-on unit flown on AO-7. He assembled major portions of the receiver units forming both the command system and packet communica- tions system developed by Tom Clark (W3IWI) for the four Microsat spacecraft launched in 1990. Dick assembled so much hardware that if you were to look at each individual sub-assembly that he built or worked on - as they exist in our master photo set - and you viewed each slide for 10 seconds, it would take over an hour to view all of them! That is a lot of space flight hardware. Dick loved space flight, he loved the challenge represented by the amateur satellite program and he loved working with our many friends around the world. Together we accomplished something that will take years before others reproduce. More importantly, with Dick's huge support we actually created a new industry. Few lives can claim to have done that. The Small Satellite Industry is very alive and well and, as a sector of all space commerce it is now the fastest growing area. If Dick had not made his contributions, AMSAT would have had a very different history but, because of him and others who worked so hard to get things started, AMSAT is at the root of all of today's small satellite technology. This is a fact, not wishful thinking. Dick also loved nature and the outdoors. We spent many happy times hiking in the mountains of Virginia, using the "famous" Daniels "cabin" as a base camp. We had great times chasing butterflies and watching sea turtles in French Guiana. Dick has a wonderful family and even though AMSAT took a significant fraction of his free time his daughter Kathy and his son Robert are proud of his accomplish- ments. Like all AMSAT "widows" Jackie supported Dicks "hobby" with enthusiasm and never complained about her time alone when Dick was integrating AMSAT spacecraft on the night shift (sometimes at home and sometimes with me at the AMSAT lab). His family will miss him terribly as he was not just an average father and husband. Dick spent a lot of time working on the gantry level of many launch vehicles, installing AMSAT spacecraft on Delta and Ariane launchers and, as a NASA-HQ employee, he built more space flight hardware in his basement than anyone working for NASA in Washington, D.C. ever even saw in a lifetime. He loved life and he made his count. And he made a huge difference to the outcome of our hobby and our belief in what an individual can do in space. So, we've lost someone that meant a lot to us all and someone who will be impossible to replace. History may repeat itself but, it will be a long time before someone like Dick Daniels, with his uni- que set of skills comes our way again. So, W4PUJ is SK. This is a sad day for amateur radio and to the small satellite space commun- ity and even more for those of us who loved him. Dick, you made a difference and it will be a long time still before others reach where you have been. What you did wasn't just worthwhile - IT WAS FANTASTIC! I'll never forget our time working together! It was an amazing hobby, really! An amazing LIFE! Jan A. King, W3GEY/VK4GEY A memorial service will be held for Dick Daniels, W4PUJ on Saturday, February 25 at 1:00PM at Little Falls Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington VA 22207. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to: Capital Caring, 950 N Glebe Rd #500, Arlington VA 22203. This is the organization that provided hospice care for Dick. Donations in memory of Dick can also be made on-line: http://www.capitalcaring.org/donate-online E-mail messages of condolence sent to martha(a)amsat.org will be given to Dick's family. For those planning to attend Dick Daniels Memorial Service from out of the Washington DC area, a block of rooms has been reserved by the family. Reservations must be made by Tuesday at 4:00 PM EST. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/Daniels-AMSAT (Holiday Inn) [ANS thanks Jan King, W3GEY/VK4GEY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Awards Announcement & New Postal Rates Notice AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO says congrat- ulations are in order for our latest AMSAT Awards recipients. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO: + Ben Jacobs, KC9ROI The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award: + Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF, #547 + I Made Sudarsana SE, YB9AY, #548 The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award: + Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF, #US178 The following have earned their Robert W. Barbee, Jr. W4AMI Award: + Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF #76 + Jim Adams, K0BAM upgrade to 2,000 The following have earned their Robert W. Barbee, Jr. W4AMI 5000 Award: + Mariusz Kocot SQ9MES, #29 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Postage Rate Increase Drives New Cost of Awards: ------------------------------------------------ The AMSAT Awards web page (http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/awards/) will be updated with the new postage rate information. Please note that new U.S. Postage rates in effect January, 2012 now require en- velopes with stiffeners in them (as AMSAT Awards are packaged) to be sent as first class small packages. Postage is now $2.00 within the U.S. and $5.00 for overseas. [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Preparations for Dayton Hamvention 2012 AMSAT Vice-President of User Services, Gould Smith, WA4SXM says that planning is underway and the AMSAT Dayton team is busy preparing for our presence at the Hamvention, May 18-20, 2012. AMSAT will be found in the same booths (444-449) in Ball Arena, right across from the ARRL area and just inside the door from the Satel- lite Demonstration area. Plan to visit all of the AMSAT activities! + AMSAT satellite prototypes + AMSAT Thursday Night Get-together + AMSAT Forum planned for Saturday morning + AMSAT/TAPR Banquet AMSAT reserves a block of hotel rooms with priority given for those volunteering to work in the AMSAT booth for multiple 2 hour shifts during the Hamvention. More information will be released when this is finalized. Additional information via ANS and the AMSAT web site Dayton area will be updated soon. Keep an eye on: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2012/Dayton.php [ANS thanks Gould Smith, WA4SXM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Vega Launch Success - Cubesats Heard The European Space Agency Vega first flight was launched successfully on Monday, February 13 at 1000 UTC from the ESA Spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana. A YouTube video playback of the launch can be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/Vega-Launch Following the launch signals had been reported from AlmaSat-1, Goliat, Masat-1, PW-Sat, UniCubeSat and XaTcobeo by amateur radio operators around the world. Details of the satellite radio frequency and modulation type have been published on the web, see: http://www.amsat.org http://www.uk.amsat.org/4657 http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/esa9cubf.htm The Cubesats have received IARU Coordination for operation on the following frequencies: + AlmaSat-1 437.465 MHz 1200 bps FSK, 2407.850 MHz - E-St@r 437.445 MHz 1200 bps AFSK (no reception report) + Goliat 437.485 MHz 1200 bpx AFSK + Masat-1 437.345 MHz 625/1250 bps GFSK, CW + PW-Sat 145.900 MHz 1200 bps BPSK AX25, CW - Robusta 437.325 MHz 1200 bps FM (no reception report) + UniCubeSat 437.305 MHz 9600 bps FSK + XaTcobeo 437.365 MHz FFSK with AX.25 AMSAT-Francophone has posted a windows and linux version of a tele- metry decoder for the French student ROBUSTA amateur satellite at: http://www.amsat-f.org/site/spip.php?article24 When PW-Sat has finished its primary scientific mission it will be reconfigured as a 435/145 MHz FM to DSB transponder for general amateur radio communications. The FM to Double Sideband transponder was first pioneered by amateurs on the satellite AO-16. The Masat-1 satellite team have made available software to decode their 437.345 MHz GFSK telemetry data via a PC sound card. The soft- ware can be downloaded from: http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/foldi-allomas/kliens-szoftver/ XaTcobeo got a mention on Spanish TV news, see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdVt8P1gzfY (in Spanish) [ANS thanks the Vega Cubesat Teams, AMSAT-UK, and radio amateurs worldwide for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- MASAT-1 Designated MagyarSat-OSCAR-72 (MO-72) OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO reports, "Congratula- tions on the successful launch of the MaSat-1 Cubesat that the team at Budapest University of Technology and Economics have been respon- sible for designing, building and testing. Since you have met all of the requirements for being issued an OSCAR number, including coordination through IARU and requesting an OSCAR number, I, under authority vested in me by the President of AMSAT-NA, do hereby name MaSat-1 as MagyarSat-OSCAR-72 or MO-72." Bill concludes, "I, and all at AMSAT-NA wish MagyarSat-OSCAR-72 great success in fulfilling all of its mission objectives." [ANS thanks OSCAR Number Administrator Bill Tynan, W3XO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Congratulations to John Papay K8YSE for reaching 1006 confirmed grids for his satellite VUCC award! + Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO is working on an analysis of ARISSat-1 keplerian element data. He has posted his initial graphic plots of the data at: http://tinyurl.com/KJ4JIO-Analysis Joe plans to extend this analysis in the future to include correl- ation of orbit with temperature, eclipses, etc. + ARISS news is available on Twitter. The ARISS twitter account ARISS_status has just surpassed the 1000 followers mark. See: http://twitter.com/ARISS_status + Special John Glenn ARISS Contact with Perth, Australia to cele- brate the 50th Anniversary of "The City of Lights" will carried live via internet streaming, Monday, February 20 at 10:23 UTC: - EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) and *JK1ZRW* (277208) servers - IRLP Node 9010 Discovery Reflector + AMSAT-DL received a certificate of appreciation from Japan's UNITEC-1 flight to Venus together with AKATSUKI (Venus Climate Orbiter): http://tinyurl.com/UNITEC-Award (amsat.org). + Reminder that the QSL Manager for the K7UGA Barry Goldwater Special Event stations sponsored by CADXA is Bob Davies, K7BHM (qrz.com) with an SASE. A video showing K7UGA satellite operation has been posted by Patrick WD9EWK at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=790OQThYtX0 + Yuri, UT1FG/MM has been making satellite contacts in range of North America. John, K8YSE has prepared an excellent "working Yuri" pri- mer for those trying to make a contact with UT1FG/MM: http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html (scroll down about 1/4 way down the web page). + AMSAT Keeper of the Keps, Ray Hoad, WA5QGD says that SumbandilaSat (SO-67, Cat# 35870) has been added back into the Keplerian Element set distribution in light of published plans of recovery of SO-67 for amateur radio operation. + The 2012 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting dates have been set for Oct 26-28, 2012 at the Holiday Inn Orlando Airport. More details as they become available. + NASA and the American Physical Society have entered into a part- nership to share unique videos from the International Space Station with students, educators and science fans around the world. NASA astronaut Don Pettit will use everyday objects from Earth to demon- strate physics through the "Science off the Sphere" video series. Watch the first video at http://www.physicscentral.com/explore/sots/ (NASA Education Express) + Astronaut Nicole Stott posted an image of Egypt on her Twitter account: http://tinyurl.com/pyramids-from-ISS. If you can spot the Great Pyramids at Giza in this small image, you've pretty good eye- sight! Click the image for a larger version of the image if can't find them. (UniverseToday.com) + DX News Reports say that Gabon, TR, will be activated by Sebastien, F4EIH, who will be in Gabon for at least three years starting on 1 February. He plans to operate SSB, PSK31 and JT65 on the HF and VHF (EME and Satellite) bands. (425 DX News) + Enjoy the view out the window aboard the ISS as you fly over the US East Coast at night: http://tinyurl.com/ISS-Over-EastCoast. At the end of the video you can click on the icons to fly over other places. (UniverseToday.com) + Cornell/JA/MIT are organizing the 1st Interplanetary CubeSat Work- shop. The conference will be held at the end of May this year at MIT. Abstracts are now being accepted for technical talks. The event website describing keynote speakers, program details and other information can be accessed at: http://www.iCubeSat.org + Historical Note: 26 years ago on February 19, 1986 the Mir Space Station was launched. It was assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996. It was deorbited on March 21, 2001. [ANS thanks everyone 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 additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And, with that, please keep in mind the size of the universe: Light from the sun takes 8 minutes to reach you. When you look at the Andromeda galaxy the light you are seeing took 2.3 million years to reach you. If the sun were the size of a dot on an ordinary-sized letter 'i', then the nearest star would be 10 miles away. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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G=5400 S Scale
by Bob- W7LRD 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

anyone want or need a South centered scale for a G-5400? I think it will also fit the 5500. I have a nice metal one I'll never use. Will mail it free to the best begger. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Fwd: Reservations Link
by Martha 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

For those people planning to attend Dick Daniels Memorial Service from out of the area, here is the link for a block of rooms reserved by the family. Reservations must be made by Tuesday at 4:00 PM. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dick Daniels <dickdaniels(a)verizon.net> Date: Sat, Feb 18, 2012 at 3:06 PM Subject: Fwd: Reservations Link To: Martha <Martha(a)amsat.org> -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Reservations Link Date: Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:51:25 -0800 From: Lilibeth T. Suico <lilibeth.suico(a)hiava.com> <lilibeth.suico(a)hiava.com> To: <dickdaniels(a)verizon.net> <dickdaniels(a)verizon.net> Dear Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, Here is the booking link for your upcoming group: * *Please click here*: Daniels Family Room Block<http://ichotelsgroup.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI&regionCode=1&loca…> *Instructions for this link are as follows**:* - *Double-click on the link and it will take you to our reservations webpage* - *Select your date of arrival and number of nights* - *Click on Check Availability* - *It will give you room choices available within the block* - *Proceed with reservations* If your guests experience any problems with our direct group booking link, there is another way to book their rooms within your group block, as follows: - Visit the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston website: www.holidayinn.com/washarlington<https://owad002.intermedia.net/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://owad002.in…> - Enter the dates when you would like to check-in and check-out - Enter the group code *(O61) *in the Group Code field Please forward this e-mail to all possible guests. This will allow them to easily secure their group room reservations online, take advantage of your special rate, and be identified as part of your group. Please let the guests know that if they want to arrive earlier or stay later than the dates you have blocked for the group, they need to contact us directly, and we will be happy to assist them. They can call 703-243-9808 ext 7107 and ask for Susana, Reservations Manager. Thank you so much, we truly appreciate your business. *Very Important:** Please, be sure to forward this email, not copy and paste the link, since this will disable it.* ** *Best regards,* *Lilibeth Suico* *Sales Manager * *Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston* *4610 N. Fairfax Dr.* *Arlington, VA 22203* *Hotel Line: 703-243-9800* *Direct Line: 703-243-9808 ext. 7113* *Fax. 703-243-0103* *Email: **lilibeth.suico(a)hiava.com* <lilibeth.suico(a)hiava.com> *visit our website at -* *www.holidayinn.com/washarlington*<http://www.holidayinn.com/washarlington> -- 73- Martha

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New England stations please help
by Mervyn Hecht 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Is anyone in New England (other than Mass) available for a schedule tomorrow (Sunday) on any bird? If so please email me at <mervynhecht(a)yahoo.com>.

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Masat-1 heard at apogee
by Etienne Swart 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Heard good signals from Masat-1 at apogee today. 1533 UTC orbit # 73. No decoding available. Rig TS2000X and 6 element hand held yagi. 73's ZS6Y Etienne

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W4PUJ
by Martha 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of Dick Daniels, W4PUJ at 8:00 PM last night. More information to follow. -- 73- Martha

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Hawaii
by Kevin Deane 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Thank you all for the emails... AH6JA, NH7WN,WH6BIE are active and some others heading there as well... Kevin KF7MYK

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K7UGA report - Friday night
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Hi! Thanks to all who called and worked K7UGA on 4 different passes today - an SO50 pass, two AO27 passes, and an AO7 pass. There was a large Friday crowd at the Yuma hamfest, which is also the ARRL Southwestern Division Convention this year. An even larger crowd is expected tomorrow. I have to give a special thank-you to several members of Red Digital del Noroeste (Northwest Digital Network), a radio club based in Mexicali, Baja California, an hour west of Yuma. They have helped greatly with my demonstrations and manning the AMSAT table in the main hall. They will be back with me tomorrow. You can read more about this club at http://www.xe2dnn.org (use a site like http://translate.google.com/ if you don't read Spanish to translate the site) I hope to work several passes during the day tomorrow. Please call K7UGA if you hear me on those passes The hamfest ends at 5pm (0000 UTC) tomorrow afternoon, followed by a big barbecue dinner. :-) I also have more videos that I will post on YouTube in a few days from the hamfest. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Mexicali, Baja California http://www.wd9ewk.net/ (but without an XE permit for this trip)

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Hawaii
by Kevin Deane 18 Feb '12

18 Feb '12

Does anyone remember the guy thats active on the sats in HI I know about Harvey AH6JA I forgot to write down the other call.... Kevin KF7MYK

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ICOM IC-W32A and RT Systems Software
by Joe Leikhim 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

I am throwing out a shameless plug for this great software. I was at the Orlando Hamcation and eyed their booth and finally bought the software I so have needed to use my W32A properly. Entering anything into the W32A is tedious and a bother, while the software provides a spreadsheet entry mode. I love spreadsheets- really I do! Anyway, I am a bit picky so I found a quirky thing about the software and contacted Karin in support who got it sorted out and made me BETA TESTER! Bottom line, there is an upgrade on line at their website and you can access through the program. So if you already have the newer version with USB interface try it out. Let me know if anything broke, I may be responsible! But I think it is fine. If you have a W32A and don't have this SW you are glutton for punishment! -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT

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Re: Anyone on VO-52 around 00:15Z 2/18?
by K5OE 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Burns, It sounds like you had feedback into your receiver or headphones from your uplink signal. I have been fooled by this before as well (quite common, I suspect). It is more common for mode V/U than U/V, but always possible. Anyway, I'll listen for you on the 0225z pass and give you a shout if I hear you. 73, Jerry, K5OE

1 0

Anyone on VO-52 around 00:15Z 2/18?
by Burns Fisher 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

I'm sort of excited, sort of disappointed...I believe I FINALLY heard myself on a satellite! I have gotten my 70cm uplink antenna working and I'm pretty sure I could hear myself on VO-52 as it passed high over New England at about 7:15PM 2/17 EST, 00:15 2/18 UTC. But I'm a bit unsure. First, my voice seemed very distorted in the headphones. Of course it is hard to tell when you are talking! Second, I could not get any CW signal bounce. And finally there was NO ONE else that I could hear in the passband. So I'm just wondering if anyone else was hitting VO-52 about that time, or if anyone might have heard me (W2BFJ). Trying to clarify whether VO-52 is just not very busy or if I was not really hearing it after all! Thanks, Burns, W2BFJ

3 2

Isabel Island Dxpedition
by John Papay 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

The OPDX Bulletin 1050 is reporting that a team of 10 operators, from the Aguas- calientes Amateur Radio Club will activate Isabel Island using the callsign XF1AA. Ismael, XE1AY, is one of the operators and is active on the satellites. The planned dates are March 16th through the 21st. The grid appears to be DL71. If you should hear Ismael on the birds, please give him the airtime to work as many as he can. Good luck with the operation! 73, John K8YSE

1 0

Lotw
by BobHerrell 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi all, All my contacts for HI4/AJ5C have been uploaded to Lotw under that call. They have also been uploaded to Eqsl. Paper QSL's are due in next week and will have them out shortly thereafter. 73, Bob Herrell AJ5C

1 0

Re: Anyone in Europe copying PW-SAT
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi John, You have confirmed similar the same situation that I experience also today ( Friday ). I have listened and monitored some of the other sats in the group operating on UHF, they were OK on the keps. put out on the bbs as objects yesterday. So I expected PW -SAT to be in the same ball part. Nothing heard regret to say and it had been quite strong when I tracked it using my ELK antenna on previous days. Ken Eaton GW1FKY

1 0

Anyone in Europe copying PW-SAT
by John Heath 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi, Tried a afternoon pass today ( Friday) Listening for PW-SAT but nothing heard. I only have an omni + mast head pre-amp but expected to hear it. Using Hamscope I could decode the signal just after launch I may have the wrong keps, although I did listen for about 10 minutes on either side of the predictions. 73 John G7HIA

2 1

Office Closed
by Martha 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

The AMSAT Office will be closed on Monday February 20th in observance of Presidents' Day. -- 73- Martha

1 0

Looking for Help with High Altitude Weather balloon Launch in France
by Elizabeth Henriquez 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hello: My name is Liz Henriquez and I am with the US-based Project Aether high altitude balloon group. We have obtained funding to do launches in Europe this month and we are looking for the help with a launch in Northern France.. We are hoping you have information about permits, or perhaps you have a blanket clearance, as UKHAS does in the UK. We are looking to launch on February 28th. Please advise if you are able to assist us or who else we might contact. Thanks in advance for your help, Liz Henriquez www.projectaether.org

1 0

Correction
by Martha 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

In my announcement of Dick Daniel's Memorial Service, I named the church Little River Presbyterian Church. Please note that the church is *Little Falls Presbyterian Church.* It is located at 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington VA 22207. The service begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 25th. -- 73- Martha

1 0

MaSat-1 TLE
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

I just noticed that in the list of TLEs from Celestrak, there is a group called "vega launch" which has the satellites by name. The vega launch set has MaSat as object F, which is about 4 minutes ahead of object D that people seem to be using for MaSat-1. I haven't had a chance to check it out compared to actual aos times. I might also be experiencing a "before coffee" moment. Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X

1 0

ARISSat-1 Orbit / Telemetry Correlation
by Joseph Armbruster 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

I did some more work tonight on the telemetry data. http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2012/02/arissat-1-analysis-correlated-telemetry.… Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO

1 0

Re : ARISSAT and such presentation material ?
by Nitin Muttin 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi Andreas, You can find one such presentation created by the AMSAT INDIA Team for HAMFEST India 2011 and the PFD can be downloaded from http://amsatindia.org//presentations/HFI-2011/ . This contains information on the below topics. 1. Update on AI projects 2. Real time tracking of satellites and space objects 3. Working with LEO satellites 4. Telemetry decoding from Amateur Radio Satellites Let me know if this helps and I can forward you the PPT in which you can make changes as required. 73 Nitin [VU3TYG] Secretary, AMSAT INDIA

1 0

K7UGA update - Thursday evening
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

Hi! Today was a productive day on the radio. I worked two VO-52 passes in the morning, then SO-50 and AO-27 at midday (one pass on each FM satellite). K7UGA has now logged 69 satellite QSOs, not bad considering I could not be on for many daylight passes due to my day job earlier in the week. I have made at least one QSO on every pass I have attempted as K7UGA, and one FM pass had 12 QSOs. I will be at the hamfest in Yuma AZ tomorrow morning. From this point, I won't be able to post definite schedules for the passes I plan to work from there. I have printed out the pass times for the next couple of days, and will plan to work as many as possible if I have assistance to cover the AMSAT table inside the main hall at the hamfest. I will take a small table, my radio(s), antenna, and battery outside whenever I plan to do demonstrations. If I have enough help, I plan on having someone make a video of the demonstration passes. The hamfest officially opens at noon (1900 UTC) Friday, and at 8am (1500 UTC) on Saturday, running until 5pm (0000 UTC) each day. If you hear K7UGA on a pass, please give us a call. If it is an SSB pass, I will try to start out 10 kHz +/- above the center of the transponder. The hamfest site is in grid DM22qq. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Calexico, California http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

ARISSAT and such presentation material ?
by Andy Kellner 17 Feb '12

17 Feb '12

All, I have been asked to do a presentation at a high-school about satellite telemetry and LEO amateur satellites and such. I wonder if there is any material I could use out there such as power points or so with pretty diagrams and pictures ? Maybe even something about the latest batch of cubesats ? Thanks, Andreas - VK4HHH

1 0

MASAT-1 Telemetry Recieved
by Nitin Muttin 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

All, Recieved and decoded the telemetry during the 01:15 UTC pass on Feb 17th. The signals were very strong as it was a decending pass (Altitude 390 Kms). The tips provided by DK3WN on the TLE lottery helped :-) . I was using a eight element Yagi with only Azimuth Rotation. The screen shot of the decoded data can be found at http://www.vu3tyg.addr.com/Telemetry/MASAT-1/Screenshot/ 73 Nitin [VU3TYG]

1 1

MASAT packet uploads working
by John Heath 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Hi, Just had an e-mail from the Masat team confirming receipt of my telemetry packets via their masat client software. Before I started I installed the latest version of Java as recomeneded ( I already had an earlier version on the PC). Running on an oldish PC under XP and the standard Windows anti virus and firewall + Malwarbytes anti Malware. Everything worked fine, no error messages or firewall issues. Hope this helps. 73 John G7HIA

1 0

Re: Masat website update - 'packets received' now working.
by Mark L. Hammond 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Well, I still don't have it forwarding packets, according to their webpage. What is the delay from time of packets submitted to posted on the web? Seconds/minutes/hours? Looking harder here, but it sure looks like Windows firewall is set to allow JAVA to do it's thing... Bruce, how did you tell Win7 firewall to use JAVA? Did it pop up a security window for you to enable traffice? I don't remember seeing that, but this isn't the first JAVA thing I've done...Win7 firewall settings show java.exe and javaw.exe enabled for both TCP and UDP traffic. Bleh. Mark N8MH At 08:20 AM 2/16/2012 -0400, Bruce Robertson wrote: >I sent packets yesterday with this email address, and then registered >in the evening. This morning I see that it has retrospectively counted >those packets to my new account! The only authorization I had to do >with the software was to tell my Win7 firewall that java could connect >to the internet on my behalf. > >So the system seems quite robust (not to mention pleasing to the eye). > >73, Bruce >VE9QRP > > > >On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 10:36 PM, Mark L. Hammond ><marklhammond(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Okay, I had a brain failure here (least I think so...) >> >> I used my gmail address to register my station on the webpage, but used my amsat address when the program started. I registered online weeks ago, so when the registration page came up, I didn't even consider that it was supposed to "match" to the website registration page. >> >> Will know tomorrow, but that has to be my problem. >> >> Makes sense...another "duh" moment :) >> >> 73, >> >> Mark N8MH >> >> At 05:13 PM 2/15/2012 -0500, Mark L. Hammond wrote: >>>FYI: I have sent a couple hundred packets in, and they don't show... >>> >>>Mark N8MH >>> >>>On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Andy Kellner <hawat1(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >>>> Looks like the Masat team updated / fixed their website, too. >>>> Now when you go to the 'track our satellite' section, it actually shows the position >>>> of the satellite and - more importantly - the 'Packets Received' from each registered >>>> >>>> Amateur station ! So now you can check if the packet upload is actually working. >>>> >>>> http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/ >>>> >>>> >>>> Good stuff. Nicely Done, Masat team. >>>> >>>> Andreas - VK4HHH >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> 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 >>> >>> >>> >>>-- >>>Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > >-- >http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

4 7

Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 79
by Matty Cunningham 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Hi folks, Regarding the 10m balloon tracking: There's some interesting vertical 'Moxon' antenna designs here:- http://www.moxonantennaproject.com/ If you can get hold of a fibreglass pole then it wouldn't be so difficult to build a vertical - possibly even use wood, There's even a very handy 'Moxon Generator', link here:- http://www.moxonantennaproject.com/design.htm Some of the builders report great DX if used near sea level, however I guess this wouldn't be so good for tracking balloons as they have a low radiation angle, you would probably get a better angle for the balloon if you were away from the sea. The antennas have a good F/B ratio, but a wide beamwidth, so again this may make it more difficult for 'accurate' direction finding, but I'm sure would give a general idea of the direction. What could be awesome is a series of GPS locked SDR receivers at known locations, on the RX frequency (with vertical antennas) - if you could pull all the data together from the different RX's, this might be able to get a good fix on the balloon. Regards Matty MD0MAN -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 8:00 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 79 Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to amsat-bb(a)amsat.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org You can reach the person managing the list at amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Dick Daniels (Martha) 2. Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? (Roger) 3. Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? (John Magliacane) 4. Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? (Bob Bruninga) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:02:11 -0500 From: Martha <martha(a)amsat.org> To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Board of Directors <bod(a)amsat.org>, AMSAT Officers <officers(a)amsat.org>, Jan King <jking(a)eclipticenterprises.com> Cc: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org, Mark Kanawati <mark(a)spacequest.com>, Tak Okamoto <ja2pki(a)jamsat.or.jp> Subject: [amsat-bb] Dick Daniels Message-ID: <CAPk0USwORY5LmbSsyuLfZJeY8Cm=3nK1mntNcut+4Wv-Zvoo_A(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 A memorial service will be held for Dick Daniels, W4PUJ on Saturday, February 25th at 1:00PM . The location is the Little River Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington VA 22207. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to: Capital Caring, 950 N Glebe Rd #500, Arlington VA 22203. This is the organization that provided hospice care for Dick. -- 73- Martha ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:39:48 -0500 From: Roger <Rogerkola(a)aol.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? Message-ID: <4F3D3154.5030403(a)aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed CB uses vertical beams...the difficulty is that they have to have a non metallic mounting pole extending into the beam or be end mounted (think torque) With enough planning I'm sure enough hams could chase something up and use empty Stationmaster radomes, fiberglass poles or even schedule 80 pipe to get something up. Roger WA1KAT On 2/16/2012 12:18 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote: > Do you have a 10 meter (28 MHz) vertically polarized beam? > > We are working on a 28 MHz transatlantic Balloon with a CW transmitter on > 10m using (of course) a vertical dipole. > > It will have no GPS, so tracking will be entirely by beam headings and > some signal-strength assessment. > > Just wondering if anyone has a vertical beam. > > A horizontal beam will be useless for direction finding. All it will do > is point to whatever is reflecting the energy into the strongest > horizontal component... > > Hummh... > Bob, WB4APR > _______________________________________________ > 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 ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:37:43 -0800 (PST) From: John Magliacane <kd2bd(a)yahoo.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? Message-ID: <1329421063.8122.YahooMailClassic(a)web161402.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii --- On Thu, 2/16/12, Roger <Rogerkola(a)aol.com> wrote: > CB uses vertical beams...the difficulty is that they have to have > a non metallic mounting pole extending into the beam or be end > mounted (think torque) The mounting pole may contribute some capacitive or inductive loading effects on the elements adjacent to it, but a smart antenna designer can modify the antenna's element lengths to compensate for these effects. The pole itself will have a negligible effect on antenna performance, unless it happens to be resonant (or very close to resonant) at the operating frequency. Otherwise, it's essentially transparent. > On 2/16/2012 12:18 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote: > > Just wondering if anyone has a vertical beam. If the signal is strong enough (and/or the receiver sensitive enough), an electrically small loop antenna can be used for 28 MHz radio direction finding purposes. A vertically oriented loop will respond to vertically polarized RF. (In reality, it's responding to the horizontally polarized H-field). The ARRL Handbooks and Antenna Books have carried designs regarding 28 MHz RDF antenna for many decades. 73, de John, KD2BD ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:51:06 -0500 From: "Bob Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: "'Joe'" <nss(a)mwt.net>, <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: TransAtlantic Balloon on 28 MHz ? Message-ID: <050b01ccece4$52829550$f787bff0$@edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >> Just wondering if anyone has a vertical beam. >> A horizontal beam [for this vertical balloon signal] will be >> useless for direction finding.... > That is only true when receiving the signal > via direct line of sight propagation. The transmitter is only 10 milliwatts, so we only expect line-of-sight contact. So that is why I was assuming we'd need a reasonable polarization match. But who knows... maybe we will get some good OTH signals.? The altitude will not be super high though, (like in the ionosphere).. Bob, WB4APR ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 79 ***************************************

1 0

Any interest in a auto Doppler PC board?
by Peter Sils 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Is anyone interested in receiving an unpopulated PC board for automatic Doppler correction for FSK/FM satellites? I have the unpopulated (bare) PC board and documentation from Mike G6GEJ (of muTek). This was made for the FT736R but will work with any receiver with a logic up/down frequency control input. This is free for the asking, all I ask is you cover the postage. Any interest please email me. TNX & 73 Peter KD0AA

1 0

"Letters"
by Martha 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Please note that all email messages of condolence will be given to Dick's family. -- 73- Martha

1 0

Dick Daniels
by Martha 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

A memorial service will be held for Dick Daniels, W4PUJ on Saturday, February 25th at 1:00PM . The location is the Little River Presbyterian Church, 6025 Little Falls Rd, Arlington VA 22207. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to: Capital Caring, 950 N Glebe Rd #500, Arlington VA 22203. This is the organization that provided hospice care for Dick. -- 73- Martha

1 0

HVSATCOMNETFEB16@8PMEASTERNOn
by cotejaune2＠aol.com 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

It is time again for the HVSATCOM GROUPNET.Please join us for the Net on Echolink N2EYH-L and the MtBeacon ARC Repeater @ 146.970 pl100.All the cool people.will be there.73/Gary WA2AQH-Tom KC2DTQ

1 0

Masat-1 - Object E
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

I just went to the Masat-1 Website and see that they are now using Object E keps (38081), so I will try them during the next pass. 73 -- *Carl W8KRF*

1 0

Masat-1 (Object D)
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

During the 02/16/2012 1138UTC pass here at EN91ck, I used Object D and was right on. Object C AOS and LOS was off by a minute or more although that is what the Masat-1 website is using. I still have no local indication that my packets are being uploaded, but I am showing 97 packets received on the website. Of course, my logs show many more than that. This is fun. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

1 0

Re: Masat website update - 'packets received' now working.
by Mark L. Hammond 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Okay, I had a brain failure here (least I think so...) I used my gmail address to register my station on the webpage, but used my amsat address when the program started. I registered online weeks ago, so when the registration page came up, I didn't even consider that it was supposed to "match" to the website registration page. Will know tomorrow, but that has to be my problem. Makes sense...another "duh" moment :) 73, Mark N8MH At 05:13 PM 2/15/2012 -0500, Mark L. Hammond wrote: >FYI: I have sent a couple hundred packets in, and they don't show... > >Mark N8MH > >On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:54 PM, Andy Kellner <hawat1(a)yahoo.com> wrote: >> Looks like the Masat team updated / fixed their website, too. >> Now when you go to the 'track our satellite' section, it actually shows the position >> of the satellite and - more importantly - the 'Packets Received' from each registered >> >> Amateur station ! So now you can check if the packet upload is actually working. >> >> http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/ >> >> >> Good stuff. Nicely Done, Masat team. >> >> Andreas - VK4HHH >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > > >-- >Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

2 1

Last packet in MaSat Sequence ?
by Andy Kellner 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

I wonder if somebody has any clue what that very last packet in the MaSat - 1 sequence could be ? The single packet which gets transmitted at the end of the sequence, before the 10 seconds or so of silence and the beginning of the CW. It never decodes with the software, even in excellent signal conditions. So I think the decoder doesn't understand it, or can not/want not to show its contents. Some kind of checksum ? Signal calibration ? Hidden Telemetry data ? Message to E.T. ? Just curious. And yes, 006D has my vote. Andreas - VK4HHH

1 0

ARISSat-1 Keplerian Elements Analysis - Eclipses and Elevation
by Joseph Armbruster 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

All, I did some work tonight calculating Eclipses and looking at differences in elevation. If you are interested in peer reviewing my calculations, please let me know and I will send you some files. http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2012/02/arissat-1-analysis-eclipses-and.html Enjoy! Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO

1 0

Yaesu G-5400 light
by Bob- W7LRD 16 Feb '12

16 Feb '12

Has anyone come up with a bulb, led, candle anything that will stop burning out in the control unit? 73 Bob W7LRD

3 2

Feb 16th Sat Demo
by Dale Hershberger 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

I am passing this on to the BBS. I know it is short notice but wanted to get it out. Craig (KL4E) will be working out of Anchorage on site and I will be at my home QTH approx 70 air miles south on the Kenai Peninsula. Hope to make contact with you.... These classes are put on by the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club. De KL7XJ AMSAT Area Coordinator Alaska Hello Everyone>>> As you can see from the message traffic below, we have been invited to deliver a special satellite technology briefing and demonstration to a group of Anchorage Police who have signed up for Amateur Radio training. The plan, as shown in red below is to attempt to make contacts on at least two passes on SO-50 during the class period on the evening of the 16th and to conduct classroom training between the appearances of the bird. We also plan to check into the Anchorage area ARES Net on both 2M voice and packet at 8 PM AST in the midst of all the other activities! If SO-50 is locally visible to you during the appropriate time frame, we would like to ask you to please come up on this FM LEO and provide our new hams with some contacts so that they'll gain some knowledge and appreciation of what AMSAT and our ham radio satellites are all about. Thank you so very much. Hope to hear you on the satellites really soon! Best of 73s, Craig, KL4E

1 0

Last Saturday's balloon
by Nigel A. Gunn, W8IFF/G8IFF 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

So what happened to the balloon launched in Texas last Saturday.? It seems to have disappeared around midnight Z Saturday night. de W8IFF

2 1

Dick Daniels
by Dave Guimont 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

So sorry to hear about Dick....we've all lost mostly a great friend. plus a great knowledge base... God Bless Dave 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

3 2

MASAT-1
by Bruce Robertson 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Had a blast collecting telemetry for MaSat-1 just now. I used object C, which was not correct for doppler. Judging by the point at which the signal ended on my clear horizon, I think it might be F or G. For those who are new to the software, I'd note that the strongest signal on the waterfall is the one that should be aligned approximately with the 575 Hz mark. It is quite tolerant of your being off by a 100 Hz or so, I'd say. I also think that the CW signal should be on the 1200 Hz mark (i.e., don't tune the CW to a typical CW tone, which is around 600 Hz). Does anyone know how close to the upper and lower marks I can set my filter on the TS-2000? 73, Bruce -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

3 4

Masat website update - 'packets received' now working.
by Andy Kellner 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Looks like the Masat team updated / fixed their website, too. Now when you go to the 'track our satellite' section, it actually shows the position of the satellite and - more importantly - the 'Packets Received' from each registered Amateur station ! So now you can check if the packet upload is actually working. http://cubesat.bme.hu/en/ Good stuff. Nicely Done, Masat team. Andreas - VK4HHH

2 1

MaSat Telemetry Software
by Andy Kellner 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

All, I got some answers from the team in Hungary and apparently the software is _in_deed_ automatically sending the packets to the server over there ! The 'offline' sign in the lower left corner has nothing to do with it: > Hi Andreas, > Thanks for the packets! > New TLE from Celestrak: > 2012-006C > 1 38079U 12006C 12045.91493796 .00003662 00000-0 10000-3 0 77 > 2 38079 69.4856 235.4820 0781498 42.5136 323.3856 14.05527418 208 > The automatic packet report works in background. > I checked the logs, and you sent us 561 packet online until now. > Regards, > Tibor Mezei Well there you go. Sent them 560 packets and didn't even know it :) And in another email: > Dear Andy, > Please try to use the telemetry softwares automatic packet sending. > It works for a lot of people. Actually the sign > "Offline" in the lower left corner of the telemetry window was shown > for a future improvement and shows something else. It is misleading, > so we will remove it in the next release. > Please answer to the ham(a)cubesat.bme.hu address where my colleague, > HA3PL Levi, who is more competent in these topics, will answer to your > further reports. > Sincerely, > Zsolt Várhegyi > Masat-1 Developer Team Still doesn't explain why the 'Server side logging' checkbox is unchecked _and_ grayed out. But I guess its all research software very much under development. Andreas - VK4HHH

1 0

Don't worry!
by Bato, Andras 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

I use Masat-1 decoder with a number of other stations all over the world. Please take a look into your folder where your decoder is installed. You may find files made daily like this: Masat-1_20120214.txt This sample contains a few frames from those I have received and decoded yesterday: PACKET 03 C6 03 19 C6 7B 00 00 3B 00 00 00 46 62 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 81d87f1ca520f3ec4bb16da39a689bb43d96a1d9 1329221453140 PACKET 04 C7 03 19 C3 70 0D 00 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 04 4F 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 1dcada218f5ce5cacf4642b70897f4e827a61412 1329221454984 PACKET 04 C8 03 1A AB 08 DB 08 80 08 1C 08 98 08 82 08 E6 FF F5 FF 34 00 E1 01 81 ED D4 F8 AD AD 00 00 7b9696597e5cceae99df54089978180fdfc1f3e7 1329221455968 The decoder software uploads this data to the Budapest command station automatically. The senders' countries are shown on http://cubesat.bme.hu/ and the callsigns can be found on http://www.ha5mrc.hu/hamsat/sats.html gl de ha6nn Andras

1 0

Re: Yaesu G-5400 light
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

At 06:26 PM 2/15/2012 +0000, Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> wrote: >Has anyone come up with a bulb, led, candle anything that will stop >burning out in the control unit? > >73 Bob W7LRD Hi Bob, I had the same issue so I replaced them with LEDS. Two over each meter. Did it a couple of years ago. No Burn outs. KB7ADL

1 0

K7UGA report - Wednesday morning
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi! I've planned my lunch today to coincide with the upcoming SO-50 pass at 1832-1845 UTC (a 27-degree pass, from my south to the northeast). That will be the only pass I can work as K7UGA during the daytime today. This evening, I am planning to make up for not being on last night and try two passes from home as K7UGA: VO-52 at 0252-0305 UTC (an overhead pass) SO-50 at 0310-0320 UTC (11-degree pass, from north to southeast) Tomorrow (Thursday, 16 February) morning will have some passes in the morning through midday that I should be able to work from home as K7UGA: VO-52 at 1444-1455 UTC (21-degree pass to my east) VO-52 at 1620-1632 UTC (26-degree pass to my west) SO-50 at 1900-1914 UTC (78-degree pass, from southwest to north) AO-27 at 1921-1928 UTC (13-degree pass to my east) Look for K7UGA around 145.910 MHz USB on the VO-52 downlink, but be ready to tune around if I am not there. If nobody is working me there, I will tune around and attempt to work anyone I hear on the transponder. After these passes, I plan to be on the road to the Yuma Hamfest, and may stop to work passes on FO-29 and possibly AO-7 in mode B late in the afternoon if I can safely get off the freeway. Then everything will focus on the Yuma Hamfest starting Friday at midday, although I may be able to work some mid- to late-morning passes before the hamfest officially opens. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK (K7UGA) http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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PWSat last night
by PY5LF 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi Signal of PWSat heard last night over SA , 1454km height , weak signal . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7oMoseJrfg 73 PY5LF LUCIANO FABRICIO Curitiba-PR-Brazil GG54jm <http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf> http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf

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Masat-1 Telemetry Data
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

I have been successful in copying both the CW and GFSK telemetry data and a log was generated but there is no indication as to whether it has been uploaded. Checking the website and each registered ham, I noted that they all say "0 packets received" so I must assumed that they are not automatically uploaded. Do we have to manually send the log files somewhere? If so, where? BTW, I am using 38079 (2012-006C) for Masat-1. I have not attempted to receive any of the others yet. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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PW-Sat signal heard & decoded over Taiwan
by Edward Chuang 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi all, Decoded PW-Sat signal during 10:39 - 10:42 UTC as following (using MixW) : 10:39 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:39 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:39 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:41 VOID///)-7>EARTH>I10,?,46 (1200 baud): LASH E -1 END. 10:41 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:41 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:41 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:41 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-10//('&$)$/)**""'-10/-6/$*"-2>EARTH>RR2,? 10:42 VOID//>EARTH>I10,?,44 (1199 baud): EPLOYMENT STATUS 0x01 0x00 E -1 END. 10:42 VOID//>EARTH>I10,?,54 (1200 baud): EMP 0x39 0x02 E -1 END. 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-6>EARTH>RR1,? 10:42 VOID/-10//('&$)$/)**""'-10/-6/$*"-2>EARTH>RR2,? 73 Edward / BX1AD -----

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K7UGA - rained out tonight
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Feb '12

15 Feb '12

Hi! Sorry for another wave-off. For the first time in a little while, rain hit the Phoenix area. I won't work any of the passes tonight, and - weather, and work, permitting - I am still planning to try SO-50 tomorrow around midday. Since I'm not working passes tonight, I may try to at least do one SO-50 pass in the evening (early Thursday, UTC). 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Fully automated mode now.
by Andy Kellner 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

So now with the NORAD TLEs out (doesn't really matter which one you choose, as long it is not 2012-006A and 2012-006B) I've switched my station into fully automatic MaSAT-1 tracking, doppler-correction, receive and decode mode. 4 hours left until first pass .. I 'll be sound asleep then. We'll see how it goes :) Andy - VK4HHH

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NASA Press Release Today
by JoAnne Maenpaa 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Hello Everyone, Here is a bit of good news that we can get out before the next ANS bulletin cycle. NASA issued a Press Release naming AMSAT and everyone else who qualified for the ELaNa launch program: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2012/feb/HQ_12-050_CubeSats.html The space press is also picking up on the news: http://tinyurl.com/Cubesats (SpaceDaily.com) -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Here are our latest AMSAT Awards recipients. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Ben Jacobs, KC9ROI The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF, #547 I Made Sudarsana SE, YB9AY, #548 The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement Award. Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF, #US178 The following have earned their Robert W. Barbee, Jr. W4AMI Award Hector Luis Martinez Sis, CO6CBF #76 Jim Adams, K0BAM upgrade to 2,000 The following have earned their Robert W. Barbee, Jr. W4AMI 5000 Award Mariusz Kocot SQ9MES, #29 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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K7UGA unable to work 1943 UTC SO-50 pass today
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Hi! Due to work-related matters, I will not be able to get out and work the 1943 UTC SO-50 pass as K7UGA that I planned to do. I apologize if you were hoping to hear K7UGA on that pass. At this point, there are no changes to my evening plans for K7UGA on the VO-52 passes and an SO-50 pass at 0420-0433 UTC tonight. I'm still planning to work a midday pass tomorrow, at 1832-1845 UTC on SO-50. I'm hoping there are no other complications at the office that would keep me from going out. Otherwise, my daytime operating will start on Thursday before I head out to the Yuma hamfest. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Norad TLE's Elements for VEGA Launch !
by Andy Kellner 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

No names yet, but looking it at I would say 2012-006A is LARES and B is ALMASAT. C-J are the cubesats IMHO. Take your pick. 2012-006A 1 38077U 12006A 12045.34170990 .00075337 33376-5 11441-2 0 63 2 38077 69.5095 236.8571 0799714 45.5517 320.7952 14.12063853 121 2012-006B 1 38078U 12006B 12045.34630730 .00062068 00000-0 18138-2 0 45 2 38078 69.4882 236.7669 0775634 43.1211 322.7631 14.04418081 137 2012-006C 1 38079U 12006C 12045.34563505 .00003646 00000-0 10000-3 0 50 2 38079 69.4892 236.7638 0781145 43.1829 322.8098 14.05512214 125 2012-006D 1 38080U 12006D 12045.34576499 -.00000171 00000-0 00000+0 0 43 2 38080 69.4894 236.7650 0779813 43.1749 322.8467 14.05390632 121 2012-006E 1 38081U 12006E 12045.34576237 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 43 2 38081 69.4853 236.7588 0779430 43.1167 322.8527 14.05284925 120 2012-006F 1 38082U 12006F 12045.34582563 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 32 2 38082 69.4894 236.7668 0779831 43.1118 322.8601 14.05192436 124 2012-006G 1 38083U 12006G 12045.34579010 -.00000171 00000-0 00000+0 0 48 2 38083 69.4868 236.7618 0780170 43.1324 322.8589 14.05257909 120 2012-006H 1 38084U 12006H 12044.91874586 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 24 2 38084 69.4837 237.7229 0780017 43.6486 322.3757 14.05172992 63 2012-006J 1 38085U 12006J 12044.91875341 -.00000172 00000-0 00000+0 0 27 2 38085 69.4881 237.7235 0782167 43.6065 322.3957 14.05159457 64 Cheers, Andreas - VK4HHH

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MASAT Client question
by John Heath 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Hi, MASAT client working nicely, have captured a few frames this afternoon, but more by accident than judgement. The ARISSAT software was fairly tolerant of an off tune signal. How close do we need to hold the waterfall display to the frequency markers? If the MASAT team are watching the bb then congratulations. 73 John G7HIA

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VEGA Keps!! (?)
by Mark L. Hammond 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

I think they are here! They match closely with the pre-launch... Now the lottery begins! From: http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt 2012-006A 1 38077U 12006A 12045.34170990 .00075337 33376-5 11441-2 0 63 2 38077 69.5095 236.8571 0799714 45.5517 320.7952 14.12063853 121 2012-006B 1 38078U 12006B 12045.34630730 .00062068 00000-0 18138-2 0 45 2 38078 69.4882 236.7669 0775634 43.1211 322.7631 14.04418081 137 2012-006C 1 38079U 12006C 12045.34563505 .00003646 00000-0 10000-3 0 50 2 38079 69.4892 236.7638 0781145 43.1829 322.8098 14.05512214 125 2012-006D 1 38080U 12006D 12045.34576499 -.00000171 00000-0 00000+0 0 43 2 38080 69.4894 236.7650 0779813 43.1749 322.8467 14.05390632 121 2012-006E 1 38081U 12006E 12045.34576237 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 43 2 38081 69.4853 236.7588 0779430 43.1167 322.8527 14.05284925 120 2012-006F 1 38082U 12006F 12045.34582563 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 32 2 38082 69.4894 236.7668 0779831 43.1118 322.8601 14.05192436 124 2012-006G 1 38083U 12006G 12045.34579010 -.00000171 00000-0 00000+0 0 48 2 38083 69.4868 236.7618 0780170 43.1324 322.8589 14.05257909 120 2012-006H 1 38084U 12006H 12044.91874586 -.00000170 00000-0 00000+0 0 24 2 38084 69.4837 237.7229 0780017 43.6486 322.3757 14.05172992 63 2012-006J 1 38085U 12006J 12044.91875341 -.00000172 00000-0 00000+0 0 27 2 38085 69.4881 237.7235 0782167 43.6065 322.3957 14.05159457 64 73, Mark N8MH On Tue, Feb 14, 2012 at 8:55 AM, Simon Pack <simon(a)pack.demon.co.uk> wrote: > I was looking this morning as well, but couldn't find them. > Analyzing the doppler shift indicated the pass was 50s later than the > pre-launch TLE's indicated (for the 8:30 UTC pass over the UK) > I updated the pre-launch TLE (by adding 50s to the Epoch time, and > re-calculating the checksum) and the doppler correction on the following > pass was much better. > I guess the orbit may be slightly higher than predicted, resulting in a > fractionally longer orbital period. > 73s, Simon. G7WIQ > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark L. Hammond" > <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> > To: "Alan Cresswell" <alancresswell(a)xtra.co.nz>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2012 1:20 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: MaSat-1 > > > >> Anybody find the TLEs yet?? >> >> Using the pre-launch set this morning wasn't really great. It's amazing >> what 24 hours will do :) >> >> For example, this moring I could hear Masat-1 and XATCOBEO "below the >> horizon" according to the pre-launch set. So it's appearing later than >> predicited using this set. >> >> Mark N8MH >> >> At 09:52 AM 2/14/2012 +0000, Alan Cresswell wrote: >>> >>> Good 32 deg Masat-1 pass over ZL at 0911UT. >>> 373 frames decoded and good solid signals throughout the pass. >>> >>> 73 >>> Alan >>> ZL2BX >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: PW-Sat signals decoded @ ISIS
by Mark L. Hammond 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Congratulations, Wouter. Is there a client software for amateurs to collect and submit telemetry? If so, where can it be downloaded? Thanks, Mark N8MH At 05:41 PM 2/13/2012 +0100, wouter weggelaar wrote: >Hi All, > > >PW-Sat has been decoded using the ISIS GSKit on the first and 3rd pass >of PW-SAT over Delft. > >On the third pass we also connected SDR hardware to 70cm to listen for >the other cubes >A spectrum plot can be found at >http://www.pa3weg.nl/pa3weg/images/Spectrum_plot_PA3WEG_3rd_pass_1537UTC.jpg >and the recording of PW-SAT at >http://www.pa3weg.nl/pa3weg/recordings/PW-SAT%20recording%20PA3WEG%2013-02-… > >As you can imagine, all our engineers gathered around when they heard >familiar BPSK 1200 sounds ;) >http://www.pa3weg.nl/pa3weg/images/TrackingVEGA01.jpg >http://www.pa3weg.nl/pa3weg/images/TrackingVEGA02.jpg > >We have heard: >- PW-Sat >- MaSat-1 >- XatCobeo >- Probably AlmaSat > >Nothing heard from Goliat, Robusta and UniCubeSat > >Wouter Weggelaar >PA3WEG >ISIS RF Engineer >_______________________________________________ >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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keps for Vega launch
by Armando Mercado 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Hello, Objects 38077 - 38085 appear to be the Vega launch. No id's yet. Heard PW-Sat, 1340UTC just before LOS here. Nice and loud. 73 Armando, N8IGJ

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?MASat-1 heard
by Bruce Robertson 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Scanning for the new cubesats on a 5 deg. pass, I heard early in the pass a signal on 437.351 at 13:37UTC today. Since it sounded like GFSK and the frequency was right, I assume this was MASat-1. I also heard a CW signal on the 70cm band, but it didn't seem to be A1A, and none of the current crop seem to use a different CW keying scheme on 70cm. then I found a CW signal and manually tuned it for most of the rest of the pass, until I realized it was XI-V! Argh! 73, Bruce -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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MaSat-1
by Miroslav Kasal 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Hi OMs, MaSat-1 seems to me as great CubeSat. The signal during revn 5 was very strong at max elevation 12 degrees at me in Brno. Number of detected Packets was 74. The audio file: http://www.urel.feec.vutbr.cz/esl/files/Othact/masat1_rev5.wav Congrats Budapest Team! 73, Mirek OK2AQ

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ARISSat-1 Keplerian Element Analysis
by Joseph Armbruster 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Everyone, I started digging into the ARISSat-1 Keplerian Elements in more details. See some of my effort here: http://libjoe.blogspot.com/2012/02/arissat-1-keplerian-element-analysis.html Right now I am generating some basic plots but I wish to do much more with this, such as: - intersect this with the telemetry data - there are many ways to do this the first will be plotting temperature values along the line of orbit as the satellite entered / exited eclipse - maybe generate a few fly-by videos that show line-of-site to a particular station that was receiving telemetry / sstv at that particular time If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to share them. I am really excited right now because I am using my code and made my first correct plots this evening! If we knew (or could predict) the satellites orientation at a particular moment, I could drop in a model of ARISSat-1 into the scene and orient it correctly. I think this will be a great way to interactively visualize what happened during the satellites lifetime. Joseph Armbruster, KJ4JIO

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ESA Launched cubesats
by Etienne Swart (WACO) 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

I have noted that the cubes have a LO elliptical orbit. When reporting a signal, would it not be advisable to report altitude of the cube? I have very high passed over Johannesburg. 1300-1430 km's Can't wait to work the generic of AO16. 73's Etienne Note: This message is for the named person's use only. It may contain confidential, proprietary or legally privileged information. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by any mistransmission. If you receive this message in error, please immediately delete it and all copies of it from your system, destroy any hard copies of it and notify the sender. You must not, directly or indirectly, use, disclose, distribute, print, or copy any part of this message if you are not the intended recipient. VOLTEX (Pty)Ltd and any of its subsidiaries each reserve the right to monitor all e-mail communications through its networks. Any views expressed in this message are those of the individual sender, except where the message states otherwise and the sender is authorized to state them to be the views of any such entity. Thank You. ************************************************************************************ This footnote confirms that this email message has been scanned by PineApp Mail-SeCure for the presence of malicious code, vandals & computer viruses. ************************************************************************************

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XaTcobeo CubeSat on TV News
by Trevor . 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

XaTcobeo got a mention on TV news, see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdVt8P1gzfY (it's in Spanish) 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Xatcobeo Pass 0922utc 14th February
by Colin Hurst 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

CW only sending xatcobeo 8.24v -137dbm 33c Colin VK5HI.

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Any news on BLT-28 ?
by Michael Fletcher 14 Feb '12

14 Feb '12

Incredibly quiet on all forums, or am I missing something regardin BLT-28 ? http://www.w5acm.net/b28.html Michael OH2AUE

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