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BRAVO SERRIA
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

People .If you dont have anything better to do than RE to the HOBBY GET a LIFE guys . IT IS A HOBBY And all this BRAVO SERRIA needs to stop. The BBS is not a sounding block,use this service for new grids and related info. Get over it guys and PLEASE dont RE to this posting show some good operating here too WA4HFN

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...on the way to San Jose Repeaters
by James Luhn 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

I know that there are several repeaters in San Jose. Is there anyone in particular that AMSAT members will be using during the Symposium? I am looking so forward to meeting everyone, especially those who have been so kind to help me get up and running on the satellites. 73 & 88, -james W5AOO

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10 meter yagi??
by Kevin Deane 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

If I suspended a few directors in front of a 10 meter dipole with a reflector of course, would that work? Kevin KF7MYK

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[Re: Prospero] Commanding Error
by Roger Duthie 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

We had a problem with our end and couldn't command during this pass. If you'd have heard something, I'd have been surprised. We did manage to command during the later pass at around 1850 BST, though it was a low pass and we're not sure if we picked anything up. - Rr. PS., Attempting passes today at (in BST = UTC + 1): 25 Oct <http://www.heavens-above.com/Gtrack.aspx?Session=kebgfdallkbipfnbnjhopgbh&s…> 7.5 15:21:10 10 SSE 15:27:34 47 E 15:34:58 10 NNE 25 Oct <http://www.heavens-above.com/Gtrack.aspx?Session=kebgfdallkbipfnbnjhopgbh&s…> 8.1 17:05:33 10 SW 17:12:07 47 WNW 17:19:43 10 N

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HO-68
by Ted 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

If memory serves, a couple of months ago, one of the principles posted that they were trying to fix something but that it was coming back. Time for an official update from the HO-68 folks K7TRK

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ARRISAT and a fun afternoon on AO51
by James Luhn 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

I have been trying to use ARRISAT-1 for the past couple of days. Despite the fact it was almost directly overhead, I could not get my SSB signal through the transponder. I am using an IC-910 and arrow beam. I am fully aware of the antenna issue on the lady. Today I did not hear anything from the satellite. Has anyone been working through the satellite the past couple of day? Perhaps I have something wrong. The same rig and antenna works fine with the other satellites. With AO51, I run it at the minimum power which is probably about 5 watts. I had several pleasant exchanges on AO-51 today. The thrill has not worn off for me and I doubt it ever will. Yep, I have worked several before but it is always nice to say hi to an old or new friend. A big thank you to all involved who keep the old birds working. Most of us do not keep a rig as long as some of the still working birds have been flying. Too bad a service call cannot be made on the dormant ones. 73, -james W5AOO

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See and listen to SRMVU CW telemetry Beacon !
by Nader Omer 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

Hi SRMVU CW Telemetry Beacon vedio clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKtKELEQr2I 73's Nader

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There's no usable satellites
by Bato,Andras 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

Gentlemen, I have spent too much money on an FT-847! I had better to buy a well equipped HF transceiver instead! There is practically no usable satellites -except for AO-7 and VO-52. The problem is that you can find always the same stations on them. F2IL is in my log about 300 times... Spending money on FM satellites were made according to long term plans of IARU, ARRL and AMSAT which had been a dream of handling emergency traffic using hand-held equipment and antenna -as far as I know. Satellite activity is seriously declining! gl de ha6nn Andras

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n3ykf travel plans 10/27-10/30
by normn3ykf＠stny.rr.com 25 Oct '11

25 Oct '11

Hi all! I'll be helping my wife relocate this week. We'll start in FN22 and drive to EL89 taking three days to do it. Will work all ao-51/so-50 passes. If you're waiting for a card from my previous travels, I'll get them out after the trip. If you need one for an award (sooner!), drop me a note. Norm n3ykf

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Re: There's no usable satellites
by Tony Langdon 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

At 03:21 AM 10/25/2011, Jeff Welsh wrote: >Same here. If I hear a portable station in the FM pileup, most likely that's >the one I'll want to work before the others! Working the LEO portable and >handheld is quite a handful, literally and I admire that! Used to do it all the time, quite a lot of fun, and quite an impressive demonstration for lay people, when they see you pointing an antenna at some "random" part of the sky and can hear all those voices from interstate. :) Probably the most fun I've had working satellites was giving demonstrations at a hamfest. What made this so much fun was it was a team effort by several club members, where we had a couple outside rotating the antennas, while others were inside operating the radio. We did everything manually - antenna pointing, Doppler correction, the works. Worked both FM and SSB/CW birds with that setup, with a lot of success in an environment that turned out to be extremely demanding, from the coordination required, to the high ambient (acoustic) noise level at the operating position. Still, it was a heap of fun. :) 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Time is Running Out
by Martha 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

This is a reminder that 1 week from today, the on-line registration for the 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will close. If you are planning to attend the meeting, please register as soon as possible. After Monday, you will need to register at the hotel. -- 73- Martha

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Antennas For AO-7 Mode A
by B J 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

I'm looking for a suitable antenna that I can use to operate over AO-7 in mode A . The main requirement that it be hand-held. I've looked on the Internet and, so far, I haven't found any off-the-shelf antennas. I did, however, find several websites that have instructions for home-brew designs but none were specifically for mode A. One possibility that occurred to me is to combine 2 different types, such as an eggbeater for 2 m and a hand-held HF loop for 10 m. One drawback that I see for this arrangement is that it might be too big or too heavy for it to be practical as a hand-held unit. Does anyone know of a commercially available mode A antenna suitable for hand-held operation or know of a home-brew design for one? Thank you. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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satellite traffic
by jerry keeton 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

I have at times patiently awaited the pass of the ISS to work a different packet station only to miss the opportunity by the repeater being busy the entire pass by trying to deliver BBS mailbox messages to someone and that station never retrieves his mail . It's just one of those things We endure . I have been calling 2 HF traffic nets for several years and have attempted to pass traffic to someone in the same town as the message is to be passed to , only to have that station deny taking that traffic . Why would anyone check in to a" traffic net "and then refuse to handle local traffic ? Sometimes I just don't get it , but We hang in there regardless . 73's Jerry WB5LHD

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No AO-27 on last pass?
by Don Snider 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

Is my rig blown or did AO-27 not show up on the last pass? At 1:26PM Eastern. De N3MK FM27

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Prospero Commanded Pass Today
by Roger Duthie 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

AMSAT community - The Mullard team intend to attempt commanding to Prospero during the following pass: (entries are: date; mag; start time; el; az; max el time; max el; az; end time; end el; end az) 24 Oct <http://www.heavens-above.com/Gtrack.aspx?Session=kebgfdalljnnahdmapeidbkh&s…> 7.7 16:54:17 10 SSW 17:00:54 58 WNW 17:08:40 10 N Any listening on the downlink, and feedback on your observations, would be most appreciated. We may also try the later pass: 24 Oct <http://www.heavens-above.com/Gtrack.aspx?Session=kebgfdalljnnahdmapeidbkh&s…> 9.3 18:42:56 10 W 18:47:25 17 NW 18:52:14 10 N **** TIMES ARE IN BST (ie., UTC + 1) **** - Roger PS., I hope the copy-paste from heavens-above works.

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Re: There's no usable satellites
by Andrew Glasbrenner 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

Hi, Expect a ton of information to be presented at Symposium. I can assure you the Fox team is working very hard on the project design and hardware now, papers and presentations for Symposium, and also preparing proposals for low-cost launch opportunities that are due with a few weeks. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Thomas Schaefer <thomasmschaefer(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Oct 24, 2011 11:56 AM >To: "Bato,Andras" <bato(a)starjan.hu> >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: There's no usable satellites > >I suspended my project to install a satellite beam and rotor because of the state of affairs. I guess I can donate more money but it is hard when the web pages for the current projects do not seem to be updated as much (yes, I know…volunteers). Maybe someone can tell me… > >Are there updated, realistic timeframes posted on a website? >Is there a fund raising indicate to tell how close of far AMSAT is from their goal to launch the next satellite.? > >It appears people want to help. > >Case in point…the Project Fox website which was updated last on August 2011 states under the following under Project Status Updates: Watch this space as we progress. That's it. Not even the status updates that were given at Dayton. > >Is there no progress? If the project is simply waiting until enough seed money is collected, then would it be possible to show that target? Maybe indicate what has been collected this month, last month, and this year? How far do we have to go? What is the next milestone and what is it waiting upon to start/finish. > >I did see a number $800 on the logo where one can donate. Is that how much has been collected? > >Non-professional fund raising has ben going on for a long time. Having basic feedback mechanisms encourages people to give. If they see how their contribution will add to a milestone being started/finished, it helps. I know it takes time and resources to do this, but ultimately, the fund raising is a big part I presume. > >Now if I am wrong and the project is waiting for a grant or a free rocket ride to either bother, then let's see that status. > > >Note I read the Project Fox presentation given at Dayton and it did not mention funding targets except to state the obvious that launch costs have gone up. We need real numbers and to see how far it will take to get there. I think more people can rally around the project with some goals in mind. > >Regards, >

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Sunday US ARISSAT Pass
by Jeff Welsh 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

Did anyone notice the apparent reset of ARISSAT yesterday during it's mid-afternoon US pass? I was in the process of setting up for telemetry reception when the bird seemed to drop out completely and come back online about 1-2 minutes later. Just curious if it is a schedule rest period for the transmitters. --jeff N3QO

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Re: Why should we support AMSAT?
by Daniel Schultz 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

Stefan, I wasn't trying to diminish the students, but I have worked with a student satellite project where they literally took a chip maker's application note for a baby monitor or cordless telephone transmitter and made a satellite transmitter out of it, and it didn't work on orbit. I appreciate the students energy and enthusiasm, but in some cases they do have much to learn about RF. I also remember how valuable my amateur radio background was to me when I was an engineering student, when some of my classmates couldn't even read the color bands on a resistor and had no idea how the theory that we were studying was applied to real world applications. I am also concerned about whether the students are receiving the right kind of experience to prepare them for the aerospace industry. They get to make all the design decisions and direct their entire project, but when they are hired by Lockheed Martin or some other large aerospace company they will be doing mind numbing paperwork and will have little power to make engineering decisions, particularly on government contracts. I also know about this from years of experience. They also are not learning the political skills that they will need to have to survive in the corporate world, where career success depends more on how you suck up to authority than on your ability to design or build anything. I am not diminishing the students, I love the students and want them to succeed better than I did, but I have much experience, not all of it positive, that I feel I should share with them during their formative years. Dan ------ Original Message ------ Received: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:18:48 AM EDT From: Stefan Wagener <wageners(a)gmail.com> To: Daniel Schultz <n8fgv(a)usa.net>Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Why should we support AMSAT? > Hi Dan, > > You have some good points and your thoughts are appreciated. But why > are you diminishing the students efforts by making these statements: > > At least they are building, studying, learning and actually many times > successfully have an operational satellite. > > Thanks for reading. > > Stefan, VE4NSA

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Why should we support AMSAT?
by Daniel Schultz 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

> Why should we support AMSAT. I already have a cell phone. I could give you > my number. We could set up a conference call. Everyone can talk and listen > ...worldwide....and interrupt each other....for a lot less cost than > putting up our own satellite. Better yet... there is the > internet...Skype...complete with video. We can talk all over the world. > Why should we spend money on our own satellites when somebody else > has already paid the bill? No pile-ups,...Problem solved. :-)) > > KM9U...just a fellow amateur wondering why. ;-)) President Kennedy answered your question better than I can: "But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal?...... We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win" Now replace "We choose to go to the moon" with "We choose to design and build our own satellites" and all the rest of the words apply just as well to us, 50 years later. If you just want to make phone calls, you don't need to be a ham. Ham radio is for the one kid in 100 who wants to pry the lid off the box and see how the magic works. The amateur radio satellite community paved the way for all of the small satellites that came later. Amsat alumni founded many of the companies that are now active in the small satellite business, the same industry which has now bid up the price of secondary launches to a point where we can no longer afford to launch satellites by passing the hat and selling software and t-shirts at hamfests. Why support Fox? Fox will send a message to the CubeSat community that they should set their sights higher than that of building short lived beepsats that are considered successful if they transmit a signal for one day before going silent. The engineering needed to build a satellite for a 5 year or longer mission will be eye-opening to some of these groups. The RF system must be engineered for space flight, not adapted from data sheets and application notes that are better suited for baby monitors or garage door openers, or taking the plastic case off of a store bought handietalkie and hoping that it will perform on orbit. We can use the energy and enthusiasm of the student satellite builders, and they can learn from our 50 years of experience in satellite communications. FOX is a way for Amsat to show off our engineering prowess to the rest of the satellite world. Providing communications packages ready to drop into a new satellite could be our ticket in the future. If we can find a university or agency that wants to put their experiment into HEO but doesn't want the hassle of designing their communications system, that could be our ticket back to HEO. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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VUCC #223
by Stephen E. Belter 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

I'm pleased to report that my ARRL Satellite VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC) certificate #223 has arrived. My VUCC application with 60 LoTW contacts was submitted on September 6th. My 74 QSL cards were checked by Patti, AF9H, a volunteer VHF Awards Manager in Illinois on September 9th. My award was printed on October 5th. My thanks to Patti and to Sharon at ARRL Headquarters for their help in getting the paperwork processed. I also want to thank all of the stations who helped me with my contacts, especially the stations who confirmed our contact with a QSL card or LoTW entry. If you haven't used Logbook of the World (LoTW) or if you haven't used it recently, I encourage you to try it. Getting confirmation of a contact within a few hours of the QSO is great! (The ARRL accepts LoTW contacts for VUCC and WAS; it does not accept eQSL or qrz.com logbook entries.) Special thanks go to these stations who have gone portable to give all of us the opportunity to work additional grids. (I'm now at 249 grids worked and 182 confirmed.) Here is my list of stations that I've worked from multiple grid locations: 13 - W5PFG Clayton 10 - ND9M Jim 10 - WD9EWK Patrick 7 - N0JE Gerry 6 - N3YKF Norm 6 - W5JYM Jim 6 - WC7V Kerry 5 - AC0RA Wyatt 5 - K5OE Jerry 5 - KB0RZD Gail 5 - KC0YBM Chris 5 - VA3OR Kevin 4 - K0BAM Jim 4 - KD0BJT Dan 4 - WA4NVM Damon 4 - WA5DA Wadhah 4 - WA5KBH George 3 - AA5CK Ted 3 - KD8CAO Doug 3 - KG6NUB Sawson 3 - NX9B Jeff 3 - XE1AY Ismael 2 - CO6CBF Hector 2 - K3NXH Chuck 2 - K8BL Bob 2 - K8YSE John 2 - KA6SIP Tom 2 - KB1RVT Nick 2 - KB2M Jeff 2 - KB5WIA Dave 2 - KD0JWY Rich 2 - KF7MYK Kevin 2 - KI6YAA Larry 2 - KL7R Dale 2 - KO4MA Drew 2 - VA3CIB Stephan 2 - W5MPC Mike 2 - W9EN John 2 - XE1AO Omar My point with this list is not only to thank these friends for their effort, but to also illustrate that there are a lot of people going the extra mile to improve their skills by operating away from their home QTH. 73 and I hope to work you on the birds! Steve N9IP --

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WD9EWK satellite activity on Saturday (22 October)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

Hi! Another Saturday not in the summertime, another Arizona hamfest, and another road trip to different parts of the state. Yesterday was a fun day, with perfect weather for the Old Pueblo Radio Club's hamfest in Tucson yesterday morning, followed by a few hours in southeastern Arizona working satellites from the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary, and a drive out to a different spot in the rarely-heard grid DM53 in eastern Arizona. Saturday morning at the hamfest was crowded. More people seemed to be out this year than at last year's hamfest. The parking lot used for the hamfest was full, if that's any gauge (it hasn't been, for the past few years since I started going to this hamfest). For the first time since I've been representing AMSAT at hamfests in almost 5 years, all of my satellite demonstrations were done on the SSB birds. With AO-51's pass times gradually moving earlier and earlier as the years have passed, and SO-50 not passing by in the morning except for one pass that overlapped an AO-7 pass, I made good use of both AO-7 and VO-52. AO-7 was in mode B, and that - along with the reliable VO-52 - made great impressions on the people watching. Thanks to the stations that called and worked me during the morning, and I apologize if I missed some of you on those passes. By 11am (1800 UTC), the hamfest was almost vacant. I packed up my stuff, stopped for a quick lunch down the street from the hamfest, then it was off to the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary just over an hour away from Tucson. I was able to get out there in time for the AO-27 pass around 2006 UTC, and have lots of time to spare. Working 5 passes (two each on AO-27 and AO-51, plus an AO-7 pass) while enjoying the Saturday afternoon in southeastern Arizona was enjoyable. Even the time between passes after updating my logbook doing nothing more than sitting back and listening to some music before the next pass. After the last AO-51 pass around 2330 UTC, I had almost 2 1/2 hours before the SO-50 pass I planned to work at the DM52ax/DM53aa grid boundary. As I was driving up toward DM53, I started poking around on my sat-nav system and noticed that I might be able to help a couple of other satellite operators work a very rare Arizona county via satellite and still be in grid DM53. Greenlee County, along Arizona's eastern border with New Mexico, is the smallest in population (less than 8000). Its county seat, Clifton, has about half of that - and a big copper mine. Most of the town is hemmed in by mountains, but I was able to find a dirt road off the main highway (US-191, the Coronado Trail - previously known as US-666) in grid DM53ia that kept me up higher than most of Clifton and have a better shot at working the two passes I planned for - SO-50 at 0155 UTC, followed by VO-52 at 0220 UTC. Once I heard SO-50, I was able to work stations from central Mexico and all across the USA in about 10 minutes. Many were happy with the DM53 QSO, and a few got the one Arizona county that had eluded them on the satellites. VO-52 a few minutes after the SO-50 pass was also good. I'm still working on my log for those two passes, but I was able to work stations from start to finish on each pass. A good way to wrap up the radio part of my quick road trip. After finishing up the radio operating, it was back in the truck for a drive home of almost 4 hours including a fuel stop. Including my drive to Tucson on Friday evening in advance of the hamfest, this was a 524-mile (843km) road trip and activity from 4 grids (hamfest was in grid DM42me, along with the DM5x grids activated after the hamfest). I looked at my APRS track for the trip, and I am happy to see that my entire trip was picked up by the APRS network out here. Lots of mountaintop digipeaters, and many APRS gateways to feed the APRS RF network into the Internet, here in Arizona. For those that missed out on working me in those grids, I will be back in Tucson for another hamfest in the spring (late March or early April, date hasn't been determined yet) and a hamfest in Sierra Vista (southeast of Tucson) in May. I take advantage of these events to visit the grids in southeastern Arizona that are rarely heard on the satellites, and I plan on doing it again for those two events next spring. If there are any county hunters that would like to hear Greenlee County on the birds again, I might be able to plan another road trip in that direction. Time to finish updating my log from last night, and then printing up more QSL cards.... and, yes, this was fun. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ P.S.: The Arizona Worked All Counties award is available for those who make contacts with all 15 Arizona counties. Contacts via satellite are specifically permitted. I have now been on the satellites from 14 of the 15 counties over the past few years, and Leo W7JPI is on from the county I have yet to operate from (Santa Cruz County). Information about this award is at: http://www.w7yrc.org/az-wac.htm

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Updated AMSAT Symposium schedule;
by Gould Smith 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

I have posted an update to the 2011 AMSAT Symposium schedule to include the list of presentations. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/SymposiumSchedule.php Looking forward to a great meeting and learning a great deal from this stellar list of presenters. 73, Gould

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Recycling Old Satellites
by B J 24 Oct '11

24 Oct '11

http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Releases/2011/10/20.aspx This is one way of dealing with orbital clutter. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Re: Knowledge
by Nigel A. Gunn, W8IFF/G8IFF 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

If it's a fact then it is not debatable. On 23/10/11 20:00, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > And I don't think anybody here is debating that very fact.

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 586
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

I think we are getting way off topic here. If you guys keep putting all your energies into the past, you'll miss the future. Nothing you say here, or do anywhere, is going to change anything. Let's get back to AMSAT and Satellites. How 'bout that ARISSAT-1, huh? Still going strong! 73, *Carl W8KRF* On 10/23/2011 12:38 PM, 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..." > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 01:07:42 -0400 > From: Joe Leikhim<rhyolite(a)nettally.com> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: knowledge required > Message-ID:<4EA3A11E.5020808(a)nettally.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Whats with these kids today, they can't drive a car unless it has automatic transmission. Don't get me going about these wimps and their "paddle shifters". If you can't drive stick shift and double clutch(without synchromesh), you should just stay home! > > --> SNIP<-- > > Just give up on trying to explain to some of these drivers! They will never understand what you, Peter and others on here are talking about... > > The way the US has "dumbed down" the drivers license requirements produced them... > > --> SNAP<-- >

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Re: knowledge required
by Joe Leikhim 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

I have to laugh whenever I hear that the Ham License was "dumbed down". Morse Code requires a skill (which I confess I lack), not knowledge. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT

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Re: SRMVU Question
by Mark L. Hammond 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

Charles, As of a few days ago, the SRMVU team seemed to support our notion that it's really Object D. Track it, and you'll see :) 73, Mark N8MH At 09:54 AM 10/23/2011 -0400, Charles Suprin wrote: >Hello, > > >Operators seem to be tracking SRMVU as Object D (Which should be 37841 >a.k.a. 11058D if I follow things correctly). However the TLE link for >it at <http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSAT_TLEs.txt> lists it as object >B/37839/11058B. > >What is the current preferred guess as to which object is SRMVU? > >Thanks. > >Charles >_______________________________________________ >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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Preamp Sale
by Richard Lawn 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

I have 2 used 70cm preamps for sale, one working and one not. Mirage KP-1 (working) in-shack w/manual ------$100 shipped ARR SP432VDG (not working & was damaged with too much RF which means its about a $22 repair from ARR) -----$50 shipped If I don't sell them soon I'll list them on eBay which I'd rather avoid. Rick W2JAZ

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SRMVU Question
by Charles Suprin 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

Hello, Operators seem to be tracking SRMVU as Object D (Which should be 37841 a.k.a. 11058D if I follow things correctly). However the TLE link for it at <http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSAT_TLEs.txt> lists it as object B/37839/11058B. What is the current preferred guess as to which object is SRMVU? Thanks. Charles

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Re: Prospero
by Roger Duthie 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

John On 20/10/11 09:31, John Ronan wrote: > On 19 Oct 2011, at 14:29, Roger Duthie wrote: > >> Some of you may have heard that a team in the UK are trying to re-contact and old British launched satellite for the anniversary of its launch (28th October 1971). >> >> We've been given a licence to transmit and will be testing our re-engineered ground-segment in the next fortnight. The passes we are going to concentrate on will be as far out west as possible, as to minimise QRM from Europe. Earth is a lot more EM noisy than it was in 1971. >> >> If anyone in the UK wants to try and tune in to the downlink, you can help ID any response we get from the old bird. The passes are summarised here: >> >> https://public.sheet.zoho.com/public/rjaduthie/prospero-passes-in-the-next-… >> >> There are other passes, though these are the ones which are out west. We'll see how we do. >> >> -Roger >> >> -- >> --- >> Roger J A Duthie >> m0rja >> > Hi, > > Is it just a recording you are after? or how do you suggest one tries to gather useful data? > > Regards > John > EI7IG Hi - A recording would be grand. We may have heard something on Friday, though we're still piecing together what we can expect. If recordings are made of the times when Prospero is to pass then we can get an idea of what everyone is hearing now. On Friday we listened to a complete pass and definitely heard something different when Prospero was in our vicinity. Whether this was coincidence with some QRM we don't know. As long as others aren't transmitting at the same time as us on the Prospero frequencies, we have a reasonable chance to apply the scientific method to be certain of what we're listening to. We probably won't make another attempt till Monday - and we will probably try the passes at around 1800. There is information on this on the AMSAT-UK site front page: this includes the passes we've marked out for definite attempts (we may try others) and there are some archived recordings of Prospero to compare to. - Rr. m0rja

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ARRISat-I over NA
by John Papay 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

It has been a while since we have had usable ARRISat-1 passes over the US. We are now starting to get daylight passes in the early evening so it's time to start having some fun with this bird again. Last evening around 2203UTC, ARRISat-1 had a great pass over the south and eastern US. After listening to the voice and copying a SSTV picture, I switched to the linear transponder. My downlink was stronger than I have ever heard before and it stayed in there for the rest of the pass. Unfortunately there was no one to work. It's amazing that this bird can hear anything on UHF with virtually no antenna. If you haven't worked much ssb or cw on ARRISat-1, now is the time to start trying again. We won't have this opportunity forever. 73, John K8YSE

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Next "HV Satcom" net!
by Stuart Balanger 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

*Hi all, The next "HV Satcom" net is Thursday Oct. 27 @ 8PM;EDT; 5PM;PDT; -4 UTC) on the 146.970 MHz. repeater, w/ an Echo link node of "N2EYH-L". More info.: www.hvsatcom.org or the host (Mt Beacon ARC): www.wr2abb.org/ 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) PS As you can see I am back on E-Mail, & did it myself! Also, (For Mt.Beacon ARC people), the next Mt.Beacon ARC "In Person" Meeting in Nov. 8 Po'k Gallaria (Community Room) 7PM (EST), Eff. 6 Nov. we "Fall Back" 1 Hr.! *

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knowledge required
by Dave Guimont 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

Hi Dom, Just give up on trying to explain to some of these new operators! They will never understand what you, Peter, and others on here are talking about.... The way the US has "dumbed down" the license requirements produced them... GO FOR P3E!!!! 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Re: knowledge required
by Joe Leikhim 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

Whats with these kids today, they can't drive a car unless it has automatic transmission. Don't get me going about these wimps and their "paddle shifters". If you can't drive stick shift and double clutch(without synchromesh), you should just stay home! --> SNIP<-- Just give up on trying to explain to some of these drivers! They will never understand what you, Peter and others on here are talking about... The way the US has "dumbed down" the drivers license requirements produced them... --> SNAP<-- -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida www.Leikhim.com JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446

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ANS-296 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-296 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: * AMSAT Symposium Weekend Quickly Approaching * FO-29 Eclipse Undervoltage Stops Operation * 4C1JPG Satellite Operation From 2011 Pan-American Games * FP DXpedition Plans Satellite Operation * AubieSat-1 Launch Includes Four Additional Satellites * Prospero to be reactivated on 137.560 MHz * SatPC32 Version 12.8b Available * ARISS Status - 17 October 2011 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.01 AMSAT Symposium Weekend Quickly Approaching AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.01 Time is quickly approaching for the upcoming AMSAT Symposium to be held November 4-6. This year's Symposium marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first amateur radio satellite into space. The Symposium is being held in San Jose, CA which is the home of Project OSCAR, the organization that built amateur radio's first satellite. As part of our commemoration, the ARRL is bringing an OSCAR 1 prototype which has been refurbished to help highlight this significant milestone. Our banquet speaker, Lance Ginner, K6GSJ was a member of the team that built OSCAR 1; he subsequently was involved with a number of follow-on amateur radio satellite projects. Lance's presentation promises to be a fascinating look at the early days of amateur radio in space as well as perhaps some lessons learned. Along with recognizing this significant milestone, the Symposium is an excellent opportunity to learn about the success of ARISSat-1 as well as AMSAT's latest project, Fox and the steps that we're taking to continue to keep amateur radio in space. There are some excellent presentations scheduled that will cover the gamut from satellite engineering to satellite operations to education outreach. This year's "Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting", which is provided to every Symposium attendee contains 21 papers and is over 250 pages in length. While not all papers will be presented, there are also several presentations scheduled to be presented where the material was not finished in time for publication. Along with the outstanding materials presented, Symposium offers a great opportunity to meet the AMSAT leadership (the Board of Directors members as well as Senior Officers), other satellite enthusiasts, and interact with our volunteers who are involved with our engineering projects. Symposium is both a presentation/educational opportunity as well as a social event. If you haven't yet registered for this year's Symposium, please consider joining us. Details on the Symposium and registering can be found at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/index.php Please note that deadline for taking advantage of the block or rooms that AMSAT has reserved expires on October 24, so time is indeed running out for making your arrangements. The last time that AMSAT held a Symposium in California was in 2006; this may be the best chance for AMSAT members and others living on the West Coast to participate in a Symposium and have direct interaction with the AMSAT leadership for some time. Hopefully, those of you living in the Bay Area will take full advantage of this opportunity. Alan Bowker, WA6DNR and his team have done a great job preparing for an outstanding weekend in San Jose. See ya in San Jose! Barry Baines, WD4ASW President-AMSAT [ANS thanks Barry, WD4ASW, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.02 FO-29 Eclipse Undervoltage Stops Operation AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.02 Information has been received that the FO-29 analog repeater is currently off the air. The eclipse periods have increased to the point exceeding 27% shadowing which causes an undervoltage fault to shut down the satellite. The FO-29 control station sent commands to reactivate the satellite during daytime passes over Japan between October 8-10. Also at the present time the control station was experiencing computer hardware problems which slowed progress. [ANS thanks Mineo, JE9PEL, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.03 4C1JPG Satellite Operation From 2011 Pan-American Games AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.03 Members of the "Radio Experimentadores de Occidente" radio club XE1TD will use the special Mexican call 4C1JPG during the 2011 Pan-American Games, currently taking place in Guadalajara. 4C1JPG ("Juegos Panamericanos Guadalajara", the Spanish translation of the event in that Mexican city) will be on 160m through 6m, as well as the satelltes through 30 October 2011. QSL cards will be available, as well as electronic confirmations in both LOTW and eQSL. More information about 4C1JPG, including the Mexican address of the 4C1JPG QSL manager, is available at: http://www.qrz.com/db/4C1JPG QSL via LoTW, by the Bureau or direct to XE1GZU: Luis Zepeda Hernandez, P.O. Box 5-273, Guadalajara, Jalisco 45042, Mexico. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #1032 for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.04 FP DXpedition Plans Satellite Operation AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.04 FP - Eric, KV1J and Jack, KV1E will be active as FP/KV1J and FP/KV1E from Miquelon Island (NA-032) from 25 October to 1 November. Plans are to operate SSB and RTTY, with some CW and PSK31, on 160-10 meters, plus 6m "if indications of openings". FP/KV1J will take part in the CQ WW DX SSB Contest (SOAB HP). QSL via home calls,direct or bureau, and LoTW, Information on satellite activity and and other details can be found at www.kv1j.com/fp/october11.html AO-51 (if available), AO-27, SO-50, SO-67, and HO-68. All FM mode, V/U. ANS thanks 425 DX NEWS DX Newsletter for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.05 AubieSat-1 Launch Includes Four Additional Satellites AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.05 The launch of Auburn University's AubieSat-1 satellite has been rescheduled to 28 October 2011 due to problems found during the system integration of the primary mission. A hydraulic system leak was detected and the cause was found to be a small crack in a hydraulic tube. A replacement tube was manufactured, installed, and retested. Also, a flexible fabric collar connecting two engine system exhaust ducts was found to be damaged following pressurized leak testing. The damaged fabric collar is being removed and replaced. EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS Spacecraft: NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project) Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920 Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch Date: Oct. 28, 2011 Launch Window: 2:48:01 a.m. - 2:57:11 a.m. PDT (9 min., 10 sec.) Orbital Altitude: 512 miles Note: This is the launch vehicle for AubieSat-1 and 4 other microsatellites Satellite: AubieSat-1 Downlink Freq: 437.475 MHz EIRP: .708W Modulation Scheme: Interrupted Continuous Wave (IWC) Protocol: Morse Code Baud Rate: 20wpm Satellite: DICE Downlink Freq: 465 MHz EIRP: -4.51dBW Modulation Scheme: OQPSK Protocol: CCSDS Baud Rate: Modulation data rate 1.5 megabit, Actual Tx bit rate 3.0 megabit Satellite: RAX-2 Downlink Freq: 437.345 MHz Modulation Scheme: GMSK Baud Rate: 9600 Satellite: M-Cubed (1) Downlink Freq: 437.485MHz EIRP: < 1W Modulation Scheme: FSK Protocol: AX.25 Baud Rate: 9600 Satellite: Explorer-1[PRIME] Flight Unit 2 Downlink Freq: 437.505 MHz EIRP: -0.7dBW Modulation Scheme: Non-Coherent FSK Protocol: KISS Custom Baud Rate: 1200 Additional spacecraft information can be found on the satellite websites listed below: M-Cubed: http://umcubed.org/ DICE: http://www.sdl.usu.edu/programs/dice Explorer-1[PRIME] http://ssel.montana.edu/e1p/ RAX-2: http://rax.engin.umich.edu/ AubieSat-1: http://space.auburn.edu/ AubieSat-1 is designed to transmit with a power of about 800 milliwatts on a frequency of 437.475 MHz, plus or minus Doppler correction. The beacon signal, along with telemetry, will be sent using A1A continuous wave Morse code at 20 words per minute. Additional telemetry from the on board science experiment will use CW transmissions up to 60 WPM. An internet Echolink conference group is also planned to begin one-half hour prior to launch and continue until about 30 minutes after confirmation of the first receipt of signals from the satellite. Information on the conference groups title will be distributed nearer to the launch for interested stations. Auburn's famous battle cry, "War Eagle," will be heard from space October 28 when it is transmitted to earth from a student-built satellite known as "AubieSat-1." Auburn University's web page includes a video about their mission: http://ocm.auburn.edu/featured_story/aubiesat.html Long-time AMSAT Member John Klingelhoeffer, WB4LNM serves as the Technical Advisor in Auburn University's Student Space Program. [ANS thanks the AubieSat-1 Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.06 Prospero to be reactivated on 137.560 MHz AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.06 Attempts are being made to reactivate Prospero, the United Kingdom's first satellite launched on a UK-built rocket, Black Arrow, on October 28, 197 and it is hoped Amateur Radio operators will be able to hear the signals. Roger Duthie M0RJA provides details of tests to be carried out over the next two weeks: Some of you may have heard that a team in the UK are trying to recontact an old British launched satellite for the anniversary of its launch (28th October 1971). We've been given a licence to transmit and will be testing our reengineered ground-segment in the next fortnight. The passes we are going to concentrate on will be as far out west as possible, as to minimise QRM from Europe. Earth is a lot more EM noisy than it was in 1971. If anyone wants to try and tune in to the downlink, you can help ID any response we get from the old bird. To avoid interference the downlink is only planned to be active when the satellite is in range of the United Kingdom. The passes are summarised here: https://public.sheet.zoho.com/public/rjaduthie/prospero-passes-in-the-next- fortnight There are other passes, though these are the ones which are out west. We'll see how we do. Roger J A Duthie M0RJA Email: rjad at mssl.ucl.ac.uk Prospero real-time oribtal tracking page http://www.vk3ukf.com/Space/GadgetSatProspero.htm Audio recordings of the 0.3 watt phase modulated signal with 2048 bit/s PCM from Prospero on 137.560 MHz can be heard on the Sounds from Space site of Matthias Bopp DD1US: http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%204.html Experiments on the Prospero satellite http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/09/08/experiments-on-the-prospero-satellite/ Plan to revive 1970s UK satellite on 137.560 MHz http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/09/05/1970s-uk-satellite-to-be-revived/ [ANS thanks Roger, M0RJA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.07 SatPC32 Version 12.8b Available AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.07 SatPC32 version 12.8b is available for download at http://www.dk1tb.de/downloadeng.htm The main SatPC32 program window now displays more information such as the date of the Keplerian elements file in use. Before upgrading your SatPC32 installation, be sure to use the new program (in the ZIP file) to backup your user configuration. The upgrade erases all previous user configurations, but the new program will restore your configurations after upgrading. The download is a demo version that requires users to enter their lat/lon each time the program is started. To make the program fully functional, enter your existing registration code or purchase a registration code from the AMSAT web site: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=Software DK1TB, the author of SatPC32 has donated the software to AMSAT. All sales of SatPC32 are used to support AMSAT. Here are the changes described in the What's New file: 1. SatPC32, SatPC32ISS, Wisat32 and SuM now support rotor control of the M2 RC-2800 rotor system. 2. The CAT control functions of SatPC32, SatPC32ISS and Wisat32 have been expanded. The programs now provide CAT control of the new Icom transceiver IC-9100. 3. The main windows of SatPC32 and SatPC32ISS have been slightly changed to make them clearer. With window size W3 the world map can be stretched (only SatPC32). 4. The accuracy of the rotor positions can now be adjusted for the particular rotor controller. SatPC32 therefore can output the rotor positions with 0, 1 or 2 decimals. Corrections of the antenna positions can automatically be saved. In previous versions that had to be done manually. 5. The tool 'DataBackup' has been added. The tool allows users to save the SatPC32 program data via mouse click and to restore them if necessary. After the program has been configured for the user's equipment the settings should be saved with 'DataBackup'. If problems occur later, the program can easily restore the working configuration. 6. The rotor interfaces IF-100, FODTrack, RifPC and KCT require the kerneldriver IOPort.SYS to be installed. Since it is a 32-bit driver it will not work on 64-bit Windows systems. On such systems the driver can cause error messages.To prevent such messages the driver can now optionally be deactivated. 7. SuM now outputs a DDE string with azimuth and elevation, that can be evaluated by client programs. Some demo files show how to program and configure the client. [ANS thanks Wayne Estes W9AE for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-296.08 ARISS Status - 17 October 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 296.08 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 23, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-296.08 1. Italian Students Hook Up with Astronaut Mike Fossum via ARISS Students from Istituto Superiore "G. Curcio," Ispica, Italy participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Friday, October 14 via telebridge station W6SRJ in California. Mike Fossum, KF5AQG answered 14 questions posed to him by the youth. He talked about what it is like to live in space, the problems encountered while working in microgravity and the experiments being conducted on the Space Station. The contact was integrated into the science curriculum covering astronomy. 2. Amateur Radio Club Contacts ISS On Saturday, October 15, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between the Amateur Radio Morioka Club located in Morioka, Japan and Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW on the ISS. Seventeen students were able to ask questions of the astronaut during the radio connection. Student participants were those who went through difficult times after the tsunami devastation on March 11. 3. Astronaut Participates in JOTA Astronaut Mike Fossum, KF5AQG participated in the Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event. Fossum, a scoutmaster, spoke with scouts from several states on Saturday, October 15. 4. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers McFadin Interview On October 14, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1783 included a story about an interview with Lou McFadin, W5DID in which he talks about his work at NASA, amateur radio and ham radio experiments in space. "Names in the News: Lew McFadin W5DID Interviewed by DXCoffee" may be viewed here: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt 5. Astronaut Training Status Two astronaut training sessions are planned for October 18. Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX will take part in a refresher course and Joe Acaba, KE5DAR is scheduled for a preflight session. Burbank is slated to fly with Expedition 29 in November 2011 and Acaba plans to fly with Expedition 31 in March 2012. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, 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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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Re: MAKE NOT BUY
by Zachary Beougher 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

Here is the direct link if you can't find the GcmWin instructions page: http://kd8ksn.blogspot.com/p/gcmwin-instructions.html -----Original Message----- From: Zachary Beougher Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 8:35 PM To: Kevin Deane ; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] MAKE NOT BUY Kevin, Try GcmWin. I have instructions on my blog: http://kd8ksn.blogspot.com/ 73! Zack KD8KSN -----Original Message----- From: Kevin Deane Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 8:13 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] MAKE NOT BUY I wanted to Make one on a plotter printer thinga ma jig, not Buy one... Was hoping someone knew where to find something printable. Do people not Make things anymore? Kevin KF7MYK _______________________________________________ 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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MAKE NOT BUY
by Kevin Deane 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

I wanted to Make one on a plotter printer thinga ma jig, not Buy one... Was hoping someone knew where to find something printable. Do people not Make things anymore? Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: Grid Map
by Andrew Glasbrenner 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

This one is nice: http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Amateur-Radio-Map-of-North-America/ 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Kevin Deane <summit496(a)live.com> >Sent: Oct 22, 2011 7:34 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Grid Map > > >I am having a hard time finding a Grid Map that is bigger than the Icom one. > >I want to make a wall map and have Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Cuba showing as one map Grids/States. > >Thanks for any help. > >Kevin >KF7MYK > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Grid Map
by Kevin Deane 23 Oct '11

23 Oct '11

I am having a hard time finding a Grid Map that is bigger than the Icom one. I want to make a wall map and have Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Cuba showing as one map Grids/States. Thanks for any help. Kevin KF7MYK

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WD9EWK @ DM51/DM52 now
by Patrick STODDARD 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Hi! I am at the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary now, and plan to be on the upcoming AO-27 pass around 2007 UTC. I still plan to work the other 4 passes here as originally planned, before going to DM53 this evening on my way home. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Amateur Sats in 'The World of Amateur Radio'
by Trevor . 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Just been watching the 1970's video 'The World of Amateur Radio'. Amateur satellites get a brief mention near the end at 24:28 - saying they dream of the day when hams will be orbiting the earth in space stations and they see in the near future handheld rigs linked to satellites giving world wide communications. Watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CVnzNNSsdU 73 Trevor M5AKA

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New Sats
by Kevin Deane 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

With all these new sats that are not voice, I was thinking people would probly be more interested and get more invovled if there were something more than just decoding the telemetry like SEEDS II offers Qsl cards and secret words, stuff like that. Just thought I would throw that out there see what people think. :) Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released
by i8cvs 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Hi Peter,NH6VB I believe that Stefan,VE4NSA never worked or was listening on a HEO othervise he will be not in favour only on the Cubesat and I am sure he will pull also like me and many others for P3E To give Stefan a demonstration of what I am stating I have sent to all of you a WAV file 3 minutes long with a QSO via AO40 in wich we are three of us (IW2ERR-i5UXJ and i8CVS) talking like into a telephone without QSB or QRM and nice audio quality for hours much better than in 20 meters because we can interrupt each other at the same time. Sorry the QSO is in italian but it is sufficient to say that if Stefan ever worked a HEO he have missed a lot. Also sorry that my message to Peter,NH6VB including the WAV file bounced back to me. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stefan Wagener" <wageners(a)gmail.com> To: "nh6vb Scheller" <nh6vb(a)msn.com> Cc: <w9ae(a)charter.net>; "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 11:25 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released > Thanks, > > I am glad you favour HEOs. Good for you. At least the cubesat > community does not bash and discriminate against your favourite > satellite system. Any university and organization that puts up a > cubesat is a winner for me. They are fun, challenging and use the > spectrum. More power to them. I am glad AMSAT is moving along with > Fox. Feel free to support the HEOs. My money is on the Cubesats. > > Stefan, VE4NSA > > > > On Fri, Oct 21, 2011 at 4:12 PM, nh6vb Scheller <nh6vb(a)msn.com> wrote: > > Stefan, > > With all due respects, have you ever worked a HEO? > > I am not bashing cubesats, there is a place for them, as you say. > > But, have you ever worked a HEO? If not, you have missed a lot. > > De Peter, NH6VB > > > >> Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 15:17:03 -0500 > >> From: wageners(a)gmail.com > >> To: arskm9u(a)gmail.com > >> CC: w9ae(a)charter.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released > >> > >> Thank you!!!! > >> > >> I am so sick and tired of bashing the cubesat community. At least they > >> are putting satellites in orbit and they ARE licensed radio amateurs > >> with the same access to the spectrum as all of us! > >> > >> Stefan, VE4NSA

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Re: G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?
by Clive Wallis 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Hi Lynn, Many thanks for your comments. Good point, although the contacts are normally closed, and open when the motor over-runs. So the usual problem of poor contact wouldn't apply. However, it's possible that the contacts may have welded together. I think that to fully protect the motor it needs a controller to limit the time that current is supplied to the motor, to a safe value. A nice little PIC project! BTW I've recently had a problem with my central heating where a micro switch stuck in the ON position, leaving the boiler firing, when it should have been off. However, this was a normally open contact. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK On 16/10/2011 13:16, Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr) wrote: > I'm not familiar with rotors, actually, but micro switches that aren't > switched often (like only when you run the rotor to the stop, which I'm > assuming most people try to avoid) kind of limit the effectiveness of > "self-wiping" or "self-cleaning" contacts. I'm just comparing it > mentally with my doorbell button that needs a bunch of "vigorous > activations" (aka pounding on it) periodically to keep function on a > "push once, ring" basis. > > So, unless you make a habit of running the rotor to the stops, the > switches may not function when/if they ARE needed. > > Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32 >

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DataBackup issue with SatPC32 V. 12.8b
by Erich Eichmann 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Hello, the data file "Program.SQF" of SatPC32 v.12.8b includes the program names DataBackup and TimeSync. The previous versions of Program.SQF did not (by default). If you save your previous data with DataBackup and restore it after the installation of 12.8b the program will replace the new Program.SQF with the previous one without the new program names. To fix that add the program names DataBackup and/or TimeSync (without extensions) manually to the file Program.SQF. The file can be opened and edited from the SatPC32 menu "?", "Auxiliary files", "Program.SQF". It contains also the necessary hints. 73s, Erich, DK1TB

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I: Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released
by Francesco Grappi 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

Me too !! fast and easy update, thank you Erich DK1TB for your effort !! 73" Frank IW4DVZ -----Messaggio originale----- Da: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Per conto di Mark Hammond Inviato: venerdì 21 ottobre 2011 22.13 A: Wayne Estes; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Oggetto: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released I used data restore and it used the backup info! No need to reenter here going from a to b. -----Original Message----- From: Wayne Estes <w9ae(a)charter.net> Sent: October 21, 2011 3:24 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released WA4SCA wrote: You can run the update on a registered version, and it will be registered. A good idea to put the registration info in a safe place, just in case, though Martha can generate it for you. W9AE replies: I had to re-enter my registration code when upgrading from 12.8a to 12.8b. Previous SatPC32 upgrades did not require the registration code to be re-entered. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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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SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details
by Dinesh Cyanam 22 Oct '11

22 Oct '11

SRMSAT, A cubesat developed by the students of SRM University, India will be launched on October 12th, 2011 along with the Megha Tropique satellite on the PSLV-C18 launch vehicle from ISRO's spaceport in Sriharikota, India. Payload Details: SRMSAT will monitor the green house gases in near infrared region (900nm - 1700nm). Launch Date and Time: October 12, 2011 0530 hrs UTC Telemetry down link and CW beacon on the same frequency: 437.425 MHz (10 dbm) (Telemetry decoding info will be posted soon) Preliminary TLEs from ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network): SRM 1 99999U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 2 99999 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 Website: http://srmsat.in All Radio Amateurs are requested to track SRMSAT and provide us with the reception reports via AMSAT-BB mailing list or via email to KC2YQJ <at> arrl.net 73 KC2YQJ Dinesh Cyanam Quoting, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org: > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-282.06 > India CubeSats For Launch on October 12 > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 282.06 > From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > October 9, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-282.06 > > India CubeSats For Launch on October 12 > > Two university cubesats JUGNU and SRMSAT are ready for launch from > ISRO's spaceport, Sriharikota, India on October 12. > > JUGNU was developed by a team of students and faculty at IIT Kanpur > and ISRO scientists to launch India's first Nano Satellite. The > satellite's mission includes: > > 1. Micro Imaging System > 2. GPS receiver for locating the position of satellite in the orbit > 3. MEMS based IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) > > Jugnu Frequencies: > CW Beacon - 437.275 (17dbm) > Pay load - 437.505 > > At press time no further information was available for SRMSAT other > than its payload down link and CW Beacon will transmit on 437.425 MHz > (10dbm) > > [ANS thanks Dinesh Cyanam, KC2YQJ; Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti, AB3OE > and Mani, VU2WMY for the above information] > > /EX > > SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-282.07 > ARISS Status - 3 October 2011 > > AMSAT News Service Bulletin 282.07 > From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. > October 9, 2011 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > BID: $ANS-282.07 > > > 1. School Contacts > > S. K. Sri Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia scheduled for an Amateur > Radio on > the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, October 3 at > 14:46 > UTC. Was successful. The school has been invited by the National Space > Agency > Satellite Ground Station (call sign 9M2RPN) to participate in the „Prime > Minister‚s > National Space Challenge Trophy 2011,‰ which has been an annual event > since > 2007, when Malaysian space participant, Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, > flew to > the ISS. The National Space Challenge involves a large number of > students and > encourages them to learn about space. The event receives extensive media > coverage from newspapers, radio and television. > > George Observatory, Needville, Texas scheduled for an Amateur Radio on > the > International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, October 8 at > 16:50 UTC > via telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii has been completed. Astronomy > Day is > put on each year by all the Astronomy clubs in the greater Houston area > in > conjunction with the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The event is > held at > the George Observatory in Brazos Bend State Park and draws 4000 > attendees > each year. The ARRL (American Radio Relay League) education and > technology > program will be used to prepare youth for the contact. A NASA booth > will be > set up and amateur astronomers and amateur radio operators will be > available > to discuss the ISS, space travel and forms of communication. > > 2. Lompoc High School Students Experience ARISS Contact > > On Thursday, September 29, students attending Lompoc High School in > Lompoc, > California connected with on-orbit astronaut Mike Fossum, KF5AQG via an > Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Fossum > fielded > over ten questions before the ISS went over the horizon. Students who > participated > in the contact are involved in Lompoc's STaRS (Space, Technology and > Robotics > Systems) Academy. The event highlighted students‚ studies covering > space > flight, the space environment, orbital motion, ground tracking, life > support > systems and rockets. The Santa Maria Times posted an article about the > experience: > http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/education/talking-to-an- > astronaut-in-space/article_b85f7212-eb40-11e0-a23f-001cc4c002e0.html > > 3. NASA Shares Kiroli Contact Audio > > Kiroli Elementary School students from West Monroe, Louisiana took part > in an ARISS contact with Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW on the International > Space Station on September 22. This was the first ARISS contact for > Louisianans. On Wednesday, September 28, NASA tweeted a link to the > contact audio and also provided a link to audio on its Web site. http:// > ia700705.us.archive.org/33/items/Expedition29/09-22-11_EXP29_HAM- > Radio-Pass.mp3 > > 4. Premier of Nunavut, Canada Promotes ARISS > > Eva Aariak, the Premier of the Territory of Nunavut, Canada, and > Minister > of Education, gave a talk about the importance of education, especially > in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) > > and how the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) > program makes learning interesting. See: http://www.youtube.com/ > watch?v=0jSroPPcXtM > > 5. Astronaut Training Status > > ESA Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been assigned callsign IZ0UDF. > Cristoforetti was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. > > 6. ARRL QST on ARISS > > The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) October QST had several items > related to ARISS, as follows: > > The "In Brief" column made mention of the deployment of ARISSat-1 from > the ISS on August 3. > > Then the "Happenings" column carried a 3/4-page article covering the > deployment in depth -- the article was titled, "Cosmonauts Deploy > ARISSat-1 from ISS". > > The "Media Hits" column featured the many hits that the ARISSat team g > ot, including national-level PR such as the UPI, International Business > Times, EETimes, NASA.gov, and Space. > > The same column also made mention of an article in the Press & > Sun-Bulletin > of Vestal, NY that highlighted Kopernik Observatory's summer science > Pegasus > program for kids. (Kopernik sponsored the Windsor Central District > schools' > ARISS contact.) The article talked about Kopernik hams who helped kids > make contact with ham satellites using the observatory's ham station. > > 7. ARRL Articles on ARISSat > > The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) posted two articles on ARISSat in > its > September 29 issue of the ARRL Letter. The first piece covers the survey > about > ARISSat operations. The second item is about the Chicken Little Contest > which > is being held to guess when ARISSat-1 will re-enter Earth‚s atmosphere. > Those > who wish to participate may enter one of three categories: students in > grades > K-8, students in grades 9-12 and adults. Submissions will be accepted > until > October 15, 2011 at 23:59:00 (UTC). > See: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2011-09-29 > > 8. AMSAT Italia Presents Plaques to Expedition 26/27 Crew Members > > During the post-flight tour of the MagISStra mission, AMSAT Italia > presented > plaques to ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and NASA astronaut Cady Coleman. > The inscriptions read: > > "in appreciation for the dedication so generously given by Catherine G. > Coleman, KC5ZTH to scientific education and science dissemination" > ESRIN - Frascati, 22 September 2011‰ > > "in apprezzamento dell'impegno profuso dal Socio d'Onore Paolo Nespoli, > IZØJPA a sostegno dell'educazione e della divulgazione scientifica" > ESRIN - > Frascati, 22 Settembre 2011‰ > > For photos, see: > http://www.flickr.com/photos/63976489@N07/sets/72157627756635934/ > > 9. EE Times - ARISSat Blog > > New entries have been made to the EE (Electronic Engineering) Times > „Chips in Space‰ blog about amateur radio satellite ARISSat-1. The > second > part of „Lessons Learned‰ may be found at this link: > http://www.eetimes.com/ > electronics-blogs/chips-in-space/4228027/Chips-in-Space--Lessons- > learned--Part-2- > > Current results from the survey held about ARISSat-1 operations may be > viewed here (the survey remains open): > http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-blogs/other/4228654/Chips-in-Space-- > Survey-Says- > > 10. Amateur Radio Newsline on ARISS > > The Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1781, posted on September 30, included > > a story on Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2011 which will be held over the > October 15 ˆ 16 weekend. The item mentions that ISS Astronaut Mike > Fossum, > KF5AQG is a scoutmaster and may be on the air over the weekend, if time > allows. „Ham Radio and Scouting: JOTA 2011 - October 15 ˆ 16,‰ may be > viewed at: > ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt > > [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, 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. > Sign up for the Symposium and get your reservations in ASAP to take > advantage > Of the early discounts offered. > > 73, > This week's ANS Editor, > Dee Interdonato, NB2F > Nb2f at amsat dot org > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2011 11:39:04 -0400 > From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> > To: pe0sat(a)vgnet.nl, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ARISSat-1 over Europe > Message-ID: <iff51h0054ltuWb05ff5HB(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hello Jan, > > Yes, the battery is dead. There are no transmissions when the satellite is in eclipse. Also, after ARISSat-1 re-enters sunlight, there is a 15 minute delay from a built in timer before transmissions begin. > > Here in the US, we don't currently have any useable windows! It's either in eclipse, or too close to it for the transmitter to come on overhead. > > The orbit will precess in the next couple of weeks and we'll again have some useable time. > > 73, > > Mark N8MH > > At 04:22 PM 10/9/2011 +0200, PE0SAT wrote: > > > >> Are there stations in Europe that receive ARISSat-1 telemetry or other >> data? I tryed last week and yesterday evening but nothing was received. >> >> Are the batteries completly drained and therefor no activity when the >> Sat is in the dark :-) >> >> >> 73 Jan PE0SAT >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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: 9 > Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2011 09:22:43 -0400 > From: Zac Manchester <fleet(a)kicksat.org> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in > space > Message-ID: > <CAKkXDTVprkw8mr1fdfVQORAVzjvymMdpdEthpTNECKPYDVf5Ag(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Hello, > > I'm launching a project in my spare time that some AMSAT members might > be interested in. I'm a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering at > Cornell, and I've been working on a ChipSat/Femtosatellite called > Sprite for the last several years. I want to launch a CubeSat full of > Sprites into low Earth orbit to demonstrate their viability in space. > I'm raising money to build the hardware via the Kickstarter website > (kicksat.org). Donors who sponsor a sprite will get to name it and > specify the text that it will transmit. A group or club can also > sponsor a fleet of Sprites together. > > I'm doing this to try to get more people involved in spaceflight. I > want to make it easy enough and cheap enough so that anyone can take > part. > > Please check out my page on Kickstarter for more information - kicksat.org > > Thanks, > Zac Manchester > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:50:48 +0100 > From: Clive Wallis <list1(a)g3cwv.co.uk> > To: amsat <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit? > Message-ID: <4E91D0E8.2030702(a)g3cwv.co.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > Many thanks Tim for your comments. From what you've said it sounds like > a faulty motor. In the ones you've repaired have you been able to > determine the cause of motor over heating? > > The problems I've had in the past have always been due to water getting > into the units. > > 73 Clive G3CWV > > Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK > > On 07/10/2011 18:50, Tim Cunningham wrote: >> The common failure of the motor windings is caused by heat which >> causes the enamel coated wire to breakdown. When the enamel breaks >> down an inner winding short results. >> >> I have successfully rewound motor windings on these rotators just to >> say it could be done, but it takes some work (not recommended). >> >> I have never seen one of these motors with an open winding. The >> failure mode on the 8 that I have repaired were always enamel >> insulation breakdown as a result of overheating. >> >> >> Tim - N8DEU >> >> >> Sent from my HTC Tilt? 2, a Windows? Mobile phone >> >> -----Original Message----- From: Clive Wallis<amsat-bb(a)g3cwv.co.uk> >> Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 11:35 AM To: >> amsat<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] G5500 Elevation Rotator >> Short Circuit? >> >> I wonder if this is a known fault. Recently the fuse on my G5500 >> blew. The problem seems to be a short on one of the motor >> circuits. >> >> Checking the DC resistance at the control end, the resistance of one >> winding is 1.2 ohms, whereas all the other windings are 4.6 ohms. >> >> I could understand a motor burning out and going open circuit, but >> a short circuit seems less likely. I'm wondering if it could be a >> short on the cable at the rotator end, where it is subject to much >> bending. There's about 15 metres of cable. >> >> Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Unfortunately, at the >> present time I'm not able to inspect the rotator. It's stuck in the >> horizontal position, so I will still be able to use the antenna for >> low elevation passes. >> >> 73 Clive G3CWV >> >> Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK >> _______________________________________________ Sent via >> AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not >> an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! Subscription settings: >> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ 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: 11 > Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:38:41 -0700 > From: Bill Ress <bill(a)hsmicrowave.com> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in > space > Message-ID: <4E91DC21.70205(a)hsmicrowave.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Interesting idea Zac, but I have a few questions. > > Will each Sprite have it's own frequency? > > Since these Sprites are operating in the Amateur satellite bands, how > will you license them? > > How will you handle the frequency coordination of these transmitters? > > Regards...Bill - N6GHz > > > > On 10/9/2011 6:22 AM, Zac Manchester wrote: >> Hello, >> >> I'm launching a project in my spare time that some AMSAT members might >> be interested in. I'm a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering at >> Cornell, and I've been working on a ChipSat/Femtosatellite called >> Sprite for the last several years. I want to launch a CubeSat full of >> Sprites into low Earth orbit to demonstrate their viability in space. >> I'm raising money to build the hardware via the Kickstarter website >> (kicksat.org). Donors who sponsor a sprite will get to name it and >> specify the text that it will transmit. A group or club can also >> sponsor a fleet of Sprites together. >> >> I'm doing this to try to get more people involved in spaceflight. I >> want to make it easy enough and cheap enough so that anyone can take >> part. >> >> Please check out my page on Kickstarter for more information - kicksat.org >> >> Thanks, >> Zac Manchester >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 558 > ****************************************

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Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released
by Mark Hammond 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

I used data restore and it used the backup info! No need to reenter here going from a to b. -----Original Message----- From: Wayne Estes <w9ae(a)charter.net> Sent: October 21, 2011 3:24 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released WA4SCA wrote: You can run the update on a registered version, and it will be registered. A good idea to put the registration info in a safe place, just in case, though Martha can generate it for you. W9AE replies: I had to re-enter my registration code when upgrading from 12.8a to 12.8b. Previous SatPC32 upgrades did not require the registration code to be re-entered. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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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FP/KV1J in GN17 25 Oct - 01 Nov
by KV1J 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

I will be returning to the island of Miquelon, grid GN17, next week. I will be operating mostly on the low bands but will have an Arrow 145/435 MHz antenna and an FT-817 to work the FM birds. As in the past, I will try to catch some passes when I take breaks and when the weather allows me to go outside. It is often cold, windy and raining or snowing. Also with the great band conditions on 12M and 10M I may have less breaks as in the past!! I will be traveling with FP/KV1E so there is a chance you might hear his call as well. If I do get a chance to get on from the island of Saint Pierre while traveling to and from Miquelon, I will be grid GN16. My web site for the trip is - http://www.kv1j.com/fp/october11.html 73, Eric KV1J FP/KV1J

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Re: SatPC32 version 12.8b is released
by Wayne Estes 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

WA4SCA wrote: You can run the update on a registered version, and it will be registered. A good idea to put the registration info in a safe place, just in case, though Martha can generate it for you. W9AE replies: I had to re-enter my registration code when upgrading from 12.8a to 12.8b. Previous SatPC32 upgrades did not require the registration code to be re-entered. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Orion Boilerplate Splashdown Test
by B J 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/mpcv-phase1-test1.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Any interest in working DM53 tomorrow evening?
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

Hi! Earlier this week, I sent out a list of passes I plan on working from the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary in southeastern Arizona on Saturday (22 October) afternoon. Due to the long gap after the 2310 UTC AO-51 pass before more passes in the evening and my lack of interest in being in that area after dark, I do not plan on staying at DM51/DM52 into the evening. If I don't take the most direct route home (I-10 through Tucson back to Phoenix), I could stop at the DM52ax/DM53aa grid boundary (or just some place in the southwestern corner of DM53) for one or two passes in the evening (early Sunday morning, UTC time): SO-50 at 0155-0209 UTC VO-52 at 0220-0232 UTC For the VO-52 pass, I will try to start out around 145.910 MHz USB +/-. If I haven't worked anyone after a couple of minutes at that spot, I will tune around and try to work whoever happens to be on the transponder for the remainder of the pass. Since I still have a drive of over 3 hours from this part of DM53 back home, and it will be dark at those pass times, I cannot stay for anything after these two passes. If anyone has an interest in working me from somewhere in DM53 tomorrow night, please e-mail me directly. As I mentioned in my earlier post, I will have APRS running while on the road. I know it should have decent coverage in that area, based on past trips. Among other places online, you can follow my APRS call WD9EWK-9 at http://aprs.fi/wd9ewk-9 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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PW-Sat will carry a transponder
by Trevor . 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

The Polish satellite PW-Sat due to be launched into a 300 by 1500 km orbit will carry a 145 to 435 'AO-16 style' transponder. Further information at http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/10/21/pw-sat-to-launch-in-january/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- Join AMSAT-UK online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/ Free sample issue at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf

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An interesting DARPA project has been announced for satellites
by Lowell White 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

I am posting this information with hopes that the opportunity it may represent could be of help to AMSAT members as well as possibly to AMSAT at large. I'm not posting it to launch endless debates but to raise hopes that there is indeed a need for folks with our (collective) types of skills and potential to advance the technology (i.e. the state of the art) for Amateur purposes. Since commercial and/or government involvement (funding, etc) is often needed for new technologies to flourish prior to the technology designs, and even 'scraps and leftovers' being re-purposed for Amateur use, it seemed germane. Kind regards & 73, Lowell K9LDW ========== DARPA... Seeking Interested Performers For Phoenix Program... [SatNews] Innovators are now being sought for DARPA satellite servicing technology programs. More than $300 billion worth of satellites are estimated to be in the geosynchronous orbit (GEO—22,000 miles above the Earth). Many of these satellites have been retired due to normal end of useful life, obsolescence or failure; yet many still have valuable components, such as antennas, that could last much longer than the life of the satellite. When satellites in GEO “retire,” they are put into a GEO disposal or “graveyard” orbit. That graveyard potentially holds tens to more than a hundred retired satellites that have components that could be repurposed – with the willing knowledge and sanction of the satellite’s owner. Today, DoD deploys new, replacement satellites at high cost—one of the primary drivers of the high cost is the launch costs, which is dependent on the weight and volume of antennas. The repurposing of existing, retired antennas from the graveyard represents a potential for significant cost savings. DARPA’s Phoenix program seeks to develop technologies to cooperatively harvest and re-use valuable components from retired, nonworking satellites in GEO and demonstrate the ability to create new space systems at greatly reduced cost. “If this program is successful, space debris becomes space resource,” said DARPA Director, Regina E. Dugan. This concept will require diverse expertise from the international and nontraditional space communities. For example, today’s ground-based robotics systems allow surgeons to perform telesurgery on a patient thousands of miles away, and advanced remote imaging systems used for offshore drilling view the ocean floor thousands of feet underwater. These types of capabilities, if re-engineered for zero gravity, high-vacuum and harsh radiation, could be used in space to allow the repurposing of valuable antennas from retired GEO satellites. “Satellites in GEO are not designed to be disassembled or repaired, so it’s not a matter of simply removing some nuts and bolts,” said David Barnhart, DARPA program manager. “This requires new remote imaging and robotics technology and special tools to grip, cut, and modify complex systems, since existing joints are usually molded or welded. Another challenge is developing new remote operating procedures to hold two parts together so a third robotic ‘hand’ can join them with a third part, such as a fastener, all in zero gravity. For a person operating such robotics, the complexity is similar to trying to assemble via remote control multiple Legos at the same time while looking through a telescope.” To optimally use those repurposed assets, the Phoenix program will develop low-cost, scalable electronics and structural modules that would allow localized control and communication with each other and a master satellite, ala DARPA’s System F6, that together harnesses the repurposed antennas. Phoenix specifically seeks technologies for developing a new class of small “satlets,” or nanosatellites, which can be sent more economically to the GEO region through existing ride-along services with commercial satellite launches and then robotically attached to the antenna of a nonfunctional cooperating satellite to essentially create a new space system. The nanosatellites may leverage the technologies, infrastructure, protocols and architecture developed within the ongoing System F6 program. Technical expertise is sought to design a payload orbital delivery system, or PODS, to safely house the satlets when they are launched aboard a commercial satellite. A separate on-orbit “tender,” or satellite servicing station, is planned to be launched into GEO. Once the tender arrives on-orbit, the PODS would be released from its ride-along host and linked with the tender to become part of the satellite servicing station’s “tool belt.” The tender plans to be equipped with grasping mechanical arms and remote vision systems to remove components and satlets from the PODS using unique space tools to be developed in the program. Critical to the success of the Phoenix program is active participation from both U.S. and international communities involved in vital technical areas such as: -Radiation tolerant microelectronics and memory storage -Distributed wireless mobile platform solutions for ad hoc connectivity and control -Industrial electronic control systems -Terrestrial microminiature guidance and control measurement units -Industrial robotics end effectors and tool changeout mechanisms and techniques -Computer-assisted medical robotics microsurgical telepresence, tools and imaging -Remote underwater imaging/vision technologies used in the offshore oil and gas drilling industry -Terrestrial manufacturing of high volume microelectronics and computer data storage -Terrestrial thermal management design technology of electronic devices and systems -Low-cost industrial manufacturing of high-volume sheet metal and other structural materials -Additive manufacturing on various structural materials DARPA will host two upcoming industry days in November 2011 for interested performers. Source: http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi ###

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Galileo Satellite Launch - 1260 MHz
by Trevor . 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

Two Galileo satellites have been put into orbit from the Russian Soyuz launch facility at Kourou in the Caribbean. They will transmit a broadband signal across 1260-1300 MHz that will raise the noise floor. They may also raise questions regarding long-term Amateur access to 1260-1300 MHz if consumer devices using that Galileo downlink were to come into widespread use. About 6 years ago Peter G3LTF looked at the potential interference to Galileo From 23cm Amateur Radio operations, you can read his thoughts here: http://www.southgatearc.org/articles/galileo.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA

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SpaceX Passes Critical Design Milestone
by B J 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

http://www.spacex.com/press.php?page=20111020 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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AMSAT Symposium November 4-6 at San Jose, CA
by Barry A. Baines 21 Oct '11

21 Oct '11

Time is quickly approaching for the upcoming AMSAT Symposium to be held November 4-6. This year's Symposium marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first amateur radio satellite into space. The Symposium is being held in San Jose, CA which is the home of Project OSCAR, the organization that built amateur radio's first satellite. As part of our commemoration, the ARRL is bringing an OSCAR 1 prototype which has been refurbished to help highlight this significant milestone. Our banquet speaker, Lance Ginner, K6GSJ was a member of the team that built OSCAR 1; he subsequently was involved with a number of follow-on amateur radio satellite projects. Lance's presentation promises to be a fascinating look at the early days of amateur radio in space as well as perhaps some lessons learned. Along with recognizing this significant milestone, the Symposium is an excellent opportunity to learn about the success of ARISSat-1 as well as AMSAT's latest project, Fox and the steps that we're taking to continue to keep amateur radio in space. There are some excellent presentations scheduled that will cover the gamut from satellite engineering to satellite operations to education outreach. This year's "Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting", which is provided to every Symposium attendee contains 21 papers and is over 250 pages in length. While not all papers will be presented, there are also several presentations scheduled to be presented where the material was not finished in time for publication. Along with the outstanding materials presented, Symposium offers a great opportunity to meet the AMSAT leadership (the Board of Directors members as well as Senior Officers), other satellite enthusiasts, and interact with our volunteers who are involved with our engineering projects. Symposium is both a presentation/educational opportunity as well as a social event. If you haven't yet registered for this year's Symposium, please consider joining us. Details on the Symposium and registering can be found at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/index.php Please note that deadline for taking advantage of the block or rooms that AMSAT has reserved expires on October 24, so time is indeed running out for making your arrangements. The last time that AMSAT held a Symposium in California was in 2006; this may be the best chance for AMSAT members and others living on the West Coast to participate in a Symposium and have direct interaction with the AMSAT leadership for some time. Hopefully, those of you living in the Bay Area will take full advantage of this opportunity. Alan Bowker, WA6DNR and his team have done a great job preparing for an outstanding weekend in San Jose. See ya in San Jose! Barry Baines, WD4ASW President-AMSAT

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Berkeley Article
by Trevor . 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Article on WP4NXZ and the CINEMA CubeSat project at Berkely http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2011/10/03/students-building-satellite-thats… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Out of the Office
by Martha 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

I will be out of the office on Friday, October 21st. Back on Monday. -- 73- Martha

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GO-32
by Rick Elverum 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

I heard GO-32 today Using 9.6 k In kiss mode NTechSat-V4.2Ð @CÀ Œ` KB0VBZ IN COLORADO DM69 Rick I P.O.Box 784 Idaho Springs Colorado 80452

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FO-29 status now
by Mineo Wakita 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

The repair work of FO-29 is postponed now, because the personal computer of the control station to send a command breaks down. The control station performs work to repair it hard every day. JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Re: Prospero
by Trevor . 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

I've just received an email from Roger clarifying that Amateurs and listeners outside the UK are welcome to listen for the Prospero signals. To minimize interference they only plan to have the 137.560 MHz downlink active when in range of the UK but I believe the footprint may also cover Western Europe and East Coast USA and Canada. Test Passes https://public.sheet.zoho.com/public/rjaduthie/prospero-passes-in-the-next-… Prospero real-time oribtal tracking page http://www.vk3ukf.com/Space/GadgetSatProspero.htm AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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SO-50 over DM04 at 0400 UTC
by Bryan Herbert 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

I saw SO-50 was doing a pass tonight with a max elevation of 71 degrees and decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately I was in an area surrounded by buildings and only had a couple of minutes of clear audio but still managed to get in on my HT and whip, I would like to say thanks to the ham that returned my call, unfortunately it was at the end of my window and the only part of your call I could copy was NVF in DM04. On the next decent pass I'll be sure to be out in a wide open area like I usually am. Thanks again and 73, Bryan, KE6ZGP -- Bryan Herbert - KE6ZGP Newhall, CA. DM04RJ USA http://bryanherbert.com http://twitter.com/ke6zgp

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NASA delay in Aubiesat-1 Launch: Now delayed until 28 October
by John Klingelhoeffer 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT Oct. 19, 2011 Spacecraft: NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project) Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7920 Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. Launch Date: Oct. 28, 2011 Launch Window: 2:48:01 a.m. - 2:57:11 a.m. PDT (9 min., 10 sec.) Orbital Altitude: 512 miles The launch of the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base has been retargeted for Friday, Oct. 28. The postponement for at least 24 hours will allow time to complete the necessary engineering review before the payload fairing is installed around the spacecraft. Note: This is the LV for AubieSat-1 and 4 other microsatellites

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FO-29 and help with translation
by Andrew Glasbrenner 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Google doesn't do well translating Japanese. Do we have a Japanese speaker who could look at http://blog.goo.ne.jp/fo-29 and give us an update on the recovery prognosis? 73, Drew KO4MA

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Short Oscar Locator Video
by Thomas Doyle 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Here is a very short (< 2 min) video demonstrating the difference between standard tracking program graphical displays and the bright and beautiful Oscar Locator from the 80's. I actually find it easier to visualize what is happening with the Oscar Locator. Apologies to anyone living south of - 30 degrees latitude. I am very interested in getting a copy of any other vintage tracking maps anyone might be willing to share. Be sure to select 480p and full screen to fully appreciate the beauty of the Oscar Locator. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0QF6UNWWzU 73 W9KE tom ...

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Prospero
by Roger Duthie 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

Some of you may have heard that a team in the UK are trying to re-contact and old British launched satellite for the anniversary of its launch (28th October 1971). We've been given a licence to transmit and will be testing our re-engineered ground-segment in the next fortnight. The passes we are going to concentrate on will be as far out west as possible, as to minimise QRM from Europe. Earth is a lot more EM noisy than it was in 1971. If anyone in the UK wants to try and tune in to the downlink, you can help ID any response we get from the old bird. The passes are summarised here: https://public.sheet.zoho.com/public/rjaduthie/prospero-passes-in-the-next-… There are other passes, though these are the ones which are out west. We'll see how we do. -Roger -- --- Roger J A Duthie m0rja

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cards from XE3DX went in the US mail today...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Hi! I received a pouch from David XE3DX with at least 20 stamped envelopes addressed to hams in the USA and Canada today. All of these envelopes were dropped in the box at my post office as soon as I opened the pouch, and should be leaving the Phoenix area tonight. Not all of those were for satellite hams, but I recognized the names/calls on some of the envelopes - K8YSE, WA4NVM, ND9M, N8MH, and K4MOA among them. I also had some loose cards for K5OE and a couple of other hams, which I will mail tomorrow. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by William Leijenaar 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Hi Steve, I don't agree that "the more people that get a taste of satellites, the better". AMSAT will then turn from quality into quantity, with a high risk that it will get out of control (RF wise and launch space wise) with so many small sat projects. Now everything is scattered into small satellites (mostly CubeSat) and the big satellites that can unite the international AMSAT community are pushed backwards into the big crowd. Every real AMSAT ham still knows about the AO10, AO13, AO40, FO20/29... even after they stopped working. I wonder how many will remember all those Cubes... I would more like to see that people get interrested in the technology and try to get there ham license because of interrest in technology. Nowadays a license is not really needed, just a dongle and software and you can say you are working on satellites. Nice for students to get "a taste from the small cookies", but not to "have a big meal when you get more hungry", as there is not many big food available (big satellites). I really support the idea to help newcommers, but in my opinion it is getting out of balance... (I believe due to the commercial and publicity value of those Cubes...) 73 de PE1RAH William Leijenaar >>William, I have wondered about this, too. >> >>I have come to think of these as seeds. Seeds that plant the idea of >>satellites in the heads of people and make them want larger, better >>(heo) systems. >> >>They won't last that long, so the idea of RF pollution isn't really >>there. And, if the sat sub-band can have a section devoted to these >>cube sats such that they aren't everywhere, even better. >> >>The more people that get a taste of satellites, the better. >> >>--STeve Andre' >>wb8wsf en72

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Did something change on AO-51??
by Jeff Lamb 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Is it just me or has something happened to the power level on AO-51 recently? Ever since Frank & Clayton (K4FEG & W5PFG) 'broke' it Monday evening on the 2130Z pass (just kidding guys), my receive audio has been 'scratchy' like I'm not getting enough signal into the receiver. Nothing has changed on my end and though I usually run mobile, I was sitting in a parking lot for that pass instead of driving down the road, I'm just curious if anything got changed during the reset. AO-51 has been my favorite satellite since I got started doing them 2 1/2 years ago and I cringe every time she 'goes down' knowing that we may never hear from her again. Jeff Lamb, NX9B (EM66) Notice: This email message, including any attachments, contains information belonging to Trinity Industries, Inc. and its business units. It has been sent solely for the use of the intended recipients and may be confidential, proprietary, copyrighted, and legally privileged. If you are not an intended recipient, please advise the sender of the error and permanently delete all copies of this email, including any copies that may reside in your deleted box. The unauthorized review, use, disclosure, distribution, or copying of this email or its contents is strictly prohibited.

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Informal ARISSat-1 Poll
by Clint Bradford 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

My informal "poll" of Web site visitors to ... http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/ARISSat-1.html ... were given a link to an informal ARISSat-1 poll: "Will You be Working ARISSat-1?" Almost 300 responded, able to choose multiple modes ... YES - Monitoring the FM voice announcements, 249 - 34.16% YES - SSTV, 132, - 18.11% YES - Transponder, linear, inverting - SSB/CW, 114 - 15.64% YES - Telemetry, 99 - 13.58% YES - Morse code beacon, BPSK-400, 66 - 9.05% YES - Morse code beacon, BPSK-1000, 66 - 9.05% No interest - sorry! - ONE, 0.41% Clint Bradford, K6LCS NOTE: The author of this message wishes to point out, in case it was not already embarassingly, ridiculously obvious, that the "poll" data is in no manner scientific in nature. Results are offered for entertainment purposes only.

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Re: Did something change on AO-51??
by Andrew Glasbrenner 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Not that I'm aware of. Ironically, I also have an email asking if the power was increased after that short telemetry session. Every pass now with 51 is a bonus. It should be inoperative by all measures with 2 of the 6 cells shorted. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations -----Original Message----- >From: Jeff Lamb <Jeff.Lamb(a)trin.net> >Sent: Oct 19, 2011 12:23 PM >To: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Did something change on AO-51?? > >Is it just me or has something happened to the power level on AO-51 recently? Ever since Frank & Clayton (K4FEG & W5PFG) 'broke' it Monday evening on the 2130Z pass (just kidding guys), my receive audio has been 'scratchy' like I'm not getting enough signal into the receiver. Nothing has changed on my end and though I usually run mobile, I was sitting in a parking lot for that pass instead of driving down the road, I'm just curious if anything got changed during the reset. >AO-51 has been my favorite satellite since I got started doing them 2 1/2 years ago and I cringe every time she 'goes down' knowing that we may never hear from her again. > >Jeff Lamb, >NX9B (EM66) > >Notice: This email message, including any attachments, contains >information belonging to Trinity Industries, Inc. and its business >units. It has been sent solely for the use of the intended >recipients and may be confidential, proprietary, copyrighted, and >legally privileged. If you are not an intended recipient, please >advise the sender of the error and permanently delete all copies of >this email, including any copies that may reside in your deleted >box. The unauthorized review, use, disclosure, distribution, or >copying of this email or its contents is strictly prohibited. >_______________________________________________ >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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cost HEO
by Bob- W7LRD 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

With the occasional conversations going on with leo, nano sat, GEO, cube sat, heo, etc. Just what does it cost to put these gizzmos up there? Who are the major players who do the putting? More and more countries and private companies are developing this capability. Competition is the cost equalizer. I mean what if North Korea said, "we can do that for for cheap". To save face would say NASA , "step up"? I, and we in the majority do not understand all the ramifications political and otherwise to be made in these decisions. I do know we (AMSAT) have some very smart and "well placed" people within the industry. I hear the term, "benevolent benefactor", "pool our visa cards", "get lottery tickets", etc. I have yet to see a "dig in our heels" concept and make it happen. There is not a specific answer to these questions and ideas. I feel it important to keep this carrot in front of our nose. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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SRMVU Recording 2011_10_19_1221UTC
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Another 7 degree pass at 1221UTC. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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Horyu-2
by Mineo Wakita 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/horyu2jp.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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SRMVU Recording 10-19-2011 1032UTC
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Recording of SRMVU (Object D) pass on 10-19-2011 1032UTC. Locator: EN91ck 7 degree max elevation pass. Setup: SatPC32 with LVB Tracker; G-5400B Az/El rotator; Kenwood TS-2000; Antenna M^2 436CP30; ARR MSP432VDG-160 Mast Mounted Preamp. I did notice a change in the change in the Temperature Status during the pass. Initially, it was P but changed to X at approximately the middle of the pass. All other parameters remained constant. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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SRMVU Keps?
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

This morning I initially used the lastest Keps for Object B and was able to copy the CW telemetry, however, at Object B's LOS, I was still copying the signal. I switched to Object D and was able to copy CW for another minute or so before LOS which corresponded with the Object D LOS. Hopefully, I will be home for the next pass and will use Object D for SRMVU. The telemetry I copied was SRMVU C Z Z P C C at EN91ck for the 0043UTC (approx) 7 degree pass. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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Re: Technical discussions on AMSAT-BB......"an endangered spec...
by G0MRF＠aol.com 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

and for the record, AMSAT-UK has a working design for a 29.45 receiver with 42dB of AGC, crystal filters for the passband, audio buffering / filtering with a bonus 10.7MHz I.F. output.- Just in case you want to add a TX up or downconverter for a linear transponder. - Downside is that although the board is small, it's not the cubesat format Thanks David G0MRF In a message dated 18/10/2011 17:59:20 GMT Standard Time, bruninga(a)usna.edu writes: > I'm curious, as someone who was involved in designing > a nanosatellite. What sort of payloads would be of > interest to the amateur community? The A#1 Killer AP is something we have tried twice on short li=ved missions and which we already have ready for our next mission, (but no launch opportunities) is a PSK-31 transponder.! It is really more than you first think: Please see: http://aprs.org/psk31uplink.html 1) Normal HF PSK-31 uplinks on 10 meters where the Doppler is 14 times less than on the typical UHF downlink. 2) VHF or UHF *FM* downlink. Notice FM. This means what EVERYONE see's on their waterfall is EXACTLY whateveryone else sees. Thus, everyone just jumps into the 3 KHz FM audio bandwidth wherever they see an empty spot and then can even see THEMSELVES full duplex because they are transmitting linear PSK-31 on the uplink on 28.120 while simultaneously seeing what everyone else is seeing on the VHF or UHF FM downlink. 3) Because you see what every one else sees, including yourself, you can SEE your good signal or your bad signal, AND you see how you are shifiting in Doppler and can correct for it. 4) AND because it is full duplex, you TX the entire pass in a steady stream while looking for QSOs in the downlink. We could have 20 to 30 SIMULTANEOUSE QSO's going on at the same time and even be talking to all at the same time. It is the ULTIMATE satellite transponder, because: 1) Full duplex 2) Minimal Doppler 3) You correct for your own Doppler 4) 20 to 30 simultaneous users 5) Free software, no hardware! 6) Vertical 10m antennas are IDEAL power-levelers. When overhead (and 10 dB closer) the signal arrives at the satellite 6 to 10 dB down due to the vertical antenna pattern. It's a win-win-win mission. Our attempt failed on PCSAT2 due to a broken antenna (pre-launch integrators and astronaut handling) and our attempt on RAFT failed due to not enough time available for the tests due to mission conflicts during a shor 5 month mission. Please someone do this. It is TRIVIAL to do. Just combhine a 28.120 PSK-31 receiver and a VHF or UHF FM transmitter. Done. Bob, Wb4APR On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 8:55 AM, i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> wrote: > Hi All, > > I do remember that when OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 were > alive and well this net on AMSAT-BB was full of technical messages > from W3IWI now K3IO ,G3RUH, G3WDG, ZL1AOX and many others > from wich it was possible to lern the radio technique particularly in the > field of RF and antennas. > > By the way actually with the prolification of Microsats,Nanosats and so on > the above people seems to be not anymore interested on satellite technical > discussions and they abandoned the net. > > Can anyone explain to me why ? > > Thanks for any answere. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > _______________________________________________ > 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 > -- Chintalagiri Shashank Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur http://blog.chintal.in _______________________________________________ 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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ARISSat received spectrum
by Roland Zurmely 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Today I copied the spectrum of signals received from ARISSat with an SDR-IQ (and homemade VHF / HFconverter ) and SpectraVue. The frequencies listed are the transmitted by satellite, and Doppler effectis clearly visible in the received signals, with higher frequencies at the beginning and lower at the end of the pass. The noise generated by linear transponder and the return of the transmission that I did in the UHF uplink are clearly visible. The CW-2 signal close to the 1kBPSK telemetry signalcan also be seen, as well as FM transmissions, switching between voice and SSTV. Please see here: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/arissat.htm#o 73 de Roland.

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Technical discussions on AMSAT-BB......"an endangered species" ?
by i8cvs 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Hi All, I do remember that when OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 were alive and well this net on AMSAT-BB was full of technical messages from W3IWI now K3IO ,G3RUH, G3WDG, ZL1AOX and many others from wich it was possible to lern the radio technique particularly in the field of RF and antennas. By the way actually with the prolification of Microsats,Nanosats and so on the above people seems to be not anymore interested on satellite technical discussions and they abandoned the net. Can anyone explain to me why ? Thanks for any answere. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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War EAGLE and congrats to Auburn
by Robert McGwier 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

http://ocm.auburn.edu/featured_story/aubiesat.html -- Bob McGwier Facebook: N4HYBob ARS: N4HY

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post-hamfest travel plan for Saturday (22 October)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Hi! After receiving a few comments to my post last week about my trip to the hamfest in Tucson on Saturday (22 October), I have decided to go to the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary in southeastern Arizona after the hamfest. I should be there in time for the following passes: AO-51 2133 UTC AO-27 2147 UTC AO- 7 2220 UTC (should be in mode B for this pass) AO-51 2310 UTC Depending on when the hamfest wraps up in the morning, I *may* be able to get out to the grid boundary in time for the AO-27 pass at approximately 2007 UTC. No guarantees on that. I will run APRS as WD9EWK-9 while on the road after the hamfest. You will be able to see my location at http://aprs.fi/wd9ewk-9 among other places on the net. For the AO-7 pass, I tend to park around 145.960 MHz +/-. If I am not working anyone there, I will tune around and try to call anyone else who may be on the pass. I will miss not having FO-29 to work on this trip, but this AO-7 pass should cover most of North America for those wanting to work me in SSB. As with my other trips, and also for the hamfest passes Saturday morning, I will be happy to send out QSL cards. There's no need to first mail me a card - just e-mail me with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will drop a card in the mail. I will also upload all QSOs to the Logbook of the World system, once I am back home. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: PACIFICON a Blast!
by Clint Bradford 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

>> ... Glad I was able to work you during your demo. I hope I didn't sound too goofy. Wasn't that a fun day? All those Scout troops working the FM satellites ... It was GREAT! Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by William Leijenaar 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Hi AMSATs, I really wonder if this ever can and will be launched. AMSAT started with eperimental communication systems on the early oscars, and grown into highly complex satellites like AO-40, which was a real achievement for ham radio amateurs. However recent years there is a big trend on CubeSats, of which most are bleep-sats as they only send digital data (as cheap downlink ?). Luckily not all CubeSats are like that :o) At least these CubeSats are under some kind of control, and don't survive very long or can be switched off to minimize RF polution. When I see the idea of 100 chipsats that will all send digital RF signals I wonder where amateur satellite hobby will go into. I see these ChipSats more like RF polution and I believe you can better put your money and effort in designing a real communication satellite. I wonder what is the mission of these 100 chips ? (commercial ? publicity ?) Is there any technology thing we learn from this ? 73 de PE1RAH William Leijenaar

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Re: PACIFICON a Blast!
by Jim Adams 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Glad I was able to work you during your demo. I hope I didn't sound too goofy. Jim Adams - K0BAM

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4C1JPG on satellites - 14-30 October 2011
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

Hi! I saw this on another mailing list, and haven't seen any mention of it anywhere else, so here goes.... Members of the "Radio Experimentadores de Occidente" radio club XE1TD will use the special Mexican call 4C1JPG during the 2011 Pan-American Games, currently taking place in Guadalajara. 4C1JPG ("Juegos Panamericanos Guadalajara", the Spanish translation of the event in that Mexican city) will be on 160m through 6m, as well as the satelltes through 30 October 2011. QSL cards will be available, as well as electronic confirmations in both LOTW and eQSL. More information about 4C1JPG, including the Mexican address of the 4C1JPG QSL manager, is available at: http://www.qrz.com/db/4C1JPG By the way, for those who work that station - or any Mexican station - and would like to send SASEs instead of including a US dollar bill or IRC with your QSL request, I have lots of Mexican postage stamps. Using SASEs works a lot better when trying to send something to a Mexican ham. Please e-mail me directly if you would like to get some stamps for QSLing. Good luck and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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5 in EM55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Congrats to Don WA0SSN award #33 for 5 in em55 WA4HFN Damon em55

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Trevor . 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

--- On Mon, 17/10/11, William Leijenaar <pe1rah(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I see these ChipSats more like RF polution and I believe > you can better put your money and effort in designing a real > communication satellite. I think it will be a great acheivement to successfully deploy sats this small and successfully receive data from them. I do, however, share your concerns regarding long term RF pollution. In the case of KickSat this would be mitigated by the short lifetime before re-entry of a few days and I understand the total bandwidth occupied by all the 10 milliwatt ChipSat transmitters will be under 100 kHz. KickSat is not a problem but you can see how this technology can be built on in the future. Low cost swarms of satellitess can be a valuable scientific tool. When it moves to the commercial arena we won't want it in our bands. The QB50 project https://www.qb50.eu/ is proposing to launch a swarm of 50 2U CubeSats, see AMSAT-UK Colloquium presentation at http://www.batc.tv/vod/QB50.flv QB50 will have a significant spectrum requirement. I note that in the USA the NTIA is considering a paper proposing 10 MHz of UHF spectrum for small satellites, see http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/10/01/new-itu-service-for-cubesats-and-nanosat… Maybe that could be a solution to be problem ? Now you could say that if there's 10 MHz of spectrum between 400-2025 MHz going spare then the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Services could do with it ;-) The worrying thing is that some may consider our spectrum might fit the bill :-( 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Russian geostationary satellite locator - with AO-7, AO-27 and FO-29
by Thomas Doyle 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Andy Thomas G0SFJ posted a great web page for a vintage Russian geostationary satellite locator he was fortunate enough to buy at a flea market. I modified a program of mine to use the old school Russian IMMARSAT map as the basis for a polar projection satellite tracker. I am sure there are many other programs out there that do the same thing. Here are a few screen shots from yet another one. Even though the continents look a little funky the tracks actually came out quite close to SatPC32 tracks. It does take a little while to get used to the new look of the world. It is an equiangular projection so as you get farther away from the north pole things look larger. Who knew Australia was so large. http://www.tomdoyle.org/polarprojection/ http://sites.google.com/site/andythomasorg/Home/russian-geostationary http://www.bathurst1000.com.au/ Nothing to do with sats but it was a great race.

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PACIFICON a Blast!
by Clint Bradford 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

PACIFICON in Santa Clara was a blast! Had a great time. Arrived Friday mid-day - in plenty of time to work AO-51 at 4:30PM PDT. Saturday, of course, was non-stop fun. Gordo emcee'd breakfast. I gave my satellite show twice - right before and right after lunch. Standing room only group of 56 attendees for the first show. About 47 for the second show. Then we worked passes outside: A0-27 "showed up" mid-pass for us at about 245PM PDT. Then AO-51 again for a GREAT pass at about 3:53PM PDT. The event didn't formally get a request in to work Commander Fossom aboard the ISS for his 3:06AM PDT pass on early Saturday morning ... He worked a Scout group FIVE MINUTES before streaking across Santa Clara - but his radios were already turned OFF for a while. BUT our group of several kids/Scouts/parents/hotel security staff enjoyed a video I had set up on Fossum's NASA career, and we all had a great time - albeit 3 o'clock in the morning ... (grin) The PACIFICON organization is a first-class group. They treat their speakers well ... offer all aspects of the hobby to their attendees ... and gave it all to us in a comfortable venue (Santa Clara Marriott). They will be hosting the NATIONAL ARRL Convention next year! The organizers gave me a table right inside the front door of the exhibition hall - couldn't have asked for better placement. AMSAT Symposium flyers and sat sheets and more were handed out to attendees. More will be posted on my Work-Sat YahooGroup later this week. Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Re: Response to my request of information about EduSatfrom GAUSS team in Rome: Re: [CubeSat] Edusat operative or failure
by Fabio Azzarello 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Hello, just to add a bit of information... can refer to the following links: https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=112305 http://www.imtsrl.it/s_band.html Hope this helps, 73s Fabio IW8QKU/5

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Re: nanosatellite 2-way payload
by Andrew Glasbrenner 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Just about any radio system used for comms with the command station could be adapted to a two-way mission. Mass and power budget are the limiting factors in most cases. Which nanosatellite did you help design? 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations -----Original Message----- >From: Shashank Chintalagiri <shashank.chintalagiri(a)gmail.com> > >I'm curious, as someone who was involved in designing a nanosatellite. >What sort of payloads would be of interest to the amateur community? >When we started out, we did spend a fair bit of time looking for >payload, but most things to do with transponders seemed to be somewhat >unfeasible. >

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Re: Technical discussions on AMSAT-BB......"an endangered species" ?
by i8cvs 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Hi Bruce,KK5DO I agree completely with you ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce" <kk5do(a)amsat.org> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 5:49 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Technical discussions on AMSAT-BB......"an endangered species" ? maybe because you can work an fm leo with an ht and arrow antenna. you do not need to be technical to do that. i have not been on a satellite since ao40 died because there is no chalenge to me to work an fm satellite. i have given a few demos over the years but i much prefer rag chewing with someone in europe or asia than a 5 second grid square transfer. 73...bruce Sent from my iPhone On Oct 16, 2011, at 10:25 PM, "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> wrote: > Hi All, > > I do remember that when OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 were > alive and well this net on AMSAT-BB was full of technical messages > from W3IWI now K3IO ,G3RUH, G3WDG, ZL1AOX and many others > from wich it was possible to lern the radio technique particularly in the > field of RF and antennas. > > By the way actually with the prolification of Microsats,Nanosats and so on > the above people seems to be not anymore interested on satellite technical > discussions and they abandoned the net. > > Can anyone explain to me why ? > > Thanks for any answere. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: Jugnu (JNU)
by Shashank Chintalagiri 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Dinesh, thanks. For the record, the TLE we track with us that for object E. The frequency is 437.275 and TLE defined doppler. I'm in class right now, so can't look for the specific number. We heard it in 4 and 17 degree elevation passes, so when it is on, signal strength is probably not an issue. Our payload turns on whenever we command it to, and downlink is initiated from the ground. That is on a separate frequency, though, and we aren't doing it just yet while we try to understand the power situation. On 10/17/11, Dinesh Cyanam <dinesh(a)cyanam.net> wrote: > Hi Shashank, > FYI… Got this report today at 4:10 am IST. > Also, will your payload be turned on only over the Indian sub-continent or > all over the world? > > Regards > Dinesh > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: "PY5LF" <py5lf(a)falautomation.com.br> >> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: Jugnu (JNU) >> Date: October 16, 2011 6:41:40 PM EDT >> To: "'Dinesh Cyanam'" <dinesh(a)cyanam.net> >> >> Hello >> I heard JUGNU very strong today. >> 73 >> >> PY5LF >> LUCIANO FABRICIO >> Curitiba-PR-Brazil GG54jm >> http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf >> >> -----Mensagem original----- >> De: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Em nome >> de Dinesh Cyanam >> Enviada: domingo, 16 de outubro de 2011 20:17 >> Para: Amsat - BBs >> Assunto: [amsat-bb] Re: Jugnu (JNU) >> >> Yeah. I am wondering the same too. Heard no reports about Jugnu in the >> last >> 3 days. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > -- Chintalagiri Shashank Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur http://blog.chintal.in

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Jugnu (JNU)
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Has anyone heard Jugnu (JNU) in the last day or two. If so what frequency and what is the keps? Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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New Indian satellites
by Tom Schuessler 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Where is the best place to get current keps for these satellites?

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E1Pu2 & RAX2 downlink conflict?
by Ryan Caron 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

What frequencies are E1Pu2 and RAX2 using? Both are CubeSats aboard the NPP launch on October 27th, and both have the same IARU coordination - 437.505MHz, and both are 9k6. I haven't seen any frequencies from IARU, the mission websites, or this BB specifically associated with these reflights (RAX1 suffered from power problems on orbit, and E1P didn't make it to orbit due to the Taurus failure). Perhaps this has already been resolved since the mission websites indicate that E1P is on 437.505 (IARU allocation) but RAX1 used 437.100. But it is good to make sure! http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished.php http://rax.engin.umich.edu/?page_id=311 http://ssel.montana.edu/e1p/operations/ 73, KB1LKI

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Re: AO-27 pass at 2115 UTC over DM04
by Bryan Herbert 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Rick, Stephen, Thank you for the help. Patrick emailed me and confirmed the QSO. Next time I'll be sure to use the camcorder on my phone like I usually do, it's much more reliable. Thanks again and 73 -- Bryan Herbert - KE6ZGP Newhall, CA. DM04RJ USA http://bryanherbert.com http://twitter.com/ke6zgp

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Working HO-68
by Richard Lawn 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

Doing what I try to do every vacation which is try to spend a little time back on the birds. I've yet to have a QSO on HO-68. I hear the beacon just fine. But I just finished my 2nd pass from NJ and was unable to hear any signals let alone myself coming back on any mode. Did I misread the operating schedule or am I doing something wrong? MacDoppler told me there was a good pass to this part of the world are around 21:30 my time. Great beacon strength but nobody else was home. Rick W2JAZ

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AO-27 pass at 2115 UTC over DM04
by Bryan Herbert 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

My recorder failed during the pass and I cant remember the callsign of the station I worked. I want to say it began with WD9 and he was near Phoenix? If anyone knows or if the station I worked sees this please send me an email. 73 and TIA! -- Bryan Herbert - KE6ZGP Newhall, CA. DM04RJ USA http://bryanherbert.com http://twitter.com/ke6zgp

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