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10Mhz ocxo
by Andy Brian 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hi, I bought 10mhz OCXO Trimble from ebay and I can't find any datasheet so I'm looking how to connect the pins VFC Vref and if this OCXO is good enough for 10Mhz reference for transverters maybe (like db6nt, demi). Can I leave pins VFC and Vref not connected? Any helps very welcome, thanks, regards AB

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PCSAT NO-44
by Rick Kowalewski 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Hi all, I'm trying to digipeat through NO-44 but to no avail. Using a Kenwood TM-D700 on 145.825MHz and ARISS,W3ADO-1 as the path. I've tried different paths and still no go. I see stations in Japan show up on http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi only minutes after a pass over Australia. So I'm thinking if they can, why can't I. Do I need any other settings? 73, Rick VK6XLR

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Re: Good mobile antennas to use
by Andrew Glasbrenner 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Neither are going to be very good on the FM sats, comparatively. You might make a few Qs per pass. If you are going to go to the trouble of going somewhere to make contacts, why not take a small UHF beam like the CJU or the UHF part of an Arrow? With that on the downlink, and a whip on the uplink, you can work horizon to horizon! My last trip, to Oklahoma, I used a IC-207 and 1/4wave magmount for the uplink, and FT-817 and CJU for the downlink. This afternoon it was the FT-857 and 1/2 Comet up, and a $40 Baofeng UV-3R HT and 4 element UHF arrow for the downlink. Both are horizon to horizon setups when parked, and holding the UHF out the window. If you can only work while in motion and driving, well, nevermind, LOL. A 1/4 wave would probably be as best as you can do then, without going to something like one of the quadrifilars from antennas.us online. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: John Geiger <aa5jg(a)fidmail.com> >Sent: Sep 14, 2011 6:28 PM >To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Good mobile antennas to use > >I am looking to get on the FM satellites while mobile and activate some >different grids. Can anyone recommend a good mag mount dual band antenna to >use for satellite work? Does the MFJ 1/4 wave mag mount antenna do pretty >good on the sats? I am guessing a 1/4 wave will cover more of the pass than >a 5/8 wave would. > >73s John AA5JG >_______________________________________________ >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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2500 Watts on 10.14 GHz?
by Bob Bruninga 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

We just got a 2500 Watt phased array transmitter and antenna that can put out up to 4 several hundred watt solid state beams at 10.14 GHz. The prospects are tingling, but since it takes a full rack of equipment within a few feet of it, one would have to have a top floor room. And then , it only covers about 120 degrees. Best I can think of is FMTV and beam it from the ground to illuminate the top of the nearby 600 foot antenna tower and then let that SPLASH in all directions for county wide X band Ham TV. But it is completely wasting the instantaneous steerable beams. Oh, we got it junk. No one knows how they steered the beams and there is no software. But no one in this area has anything on X band. I'm not offering it to anyone, it is Government equipment, just trying to come up with ideas other than a perfect example of a RADHAZ sterilizer. The antenna is 2' square Sigh... Bob, Wb4APR

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Good mobile antennas to use
by John Geiger 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

I am looking to get on the FM satellites while mobile and activate some different grids. Can anyone recommend a good mag mount dual band antenna to use for satellite work? Does the MFJ 1/4 wave mag mount antenna do pretty good on the sats? I am guessing a 1/4 wave will cover more of the pass than a 5/8 wave would. 73s John AA5JG

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AO-7 record (almost)
by Bob- W7LRD 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Hello AO-7 fans Just worked OH5LK in KP30on from CN87wk, near Seattle, Wa., that's 7692km. I believe the record is 7766km, but whose keeping track <grin>. So you N. European stations keep listening to your LOS. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: AO-7 record (almost)
by n0jy＠lavabit.com 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

Good work, Bob! Jerry N0JY > > > > Hello AO-7 fans > > Just worked OH5LK in KP30on from CN87wk, near Seattle, Wa., that's > 7692km.Â I believe the record is 7766km, but whose keeping track > <grin>.Â So you N. European stations keep listening to your LOS. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > _______________________________________________ > 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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New Launch System Announced By NASA
by B J 14 Sep '11

14 Sep '11

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/sep/HQ_11-301_SLS_Decision.html http://www.onorbit.com/node/3831 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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FN85 K8BL/VE Operation
by John Papay 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

Bob, K8BL will be in FN85 at the Bay of Fundy (where the highest tides are) on Wednesday afternoon, all day Thursday and part of Friday. He will likely operate AO-27 and AO-51 with possible SO-50 passes. This is a very rare grid so be sure to work him and give him some space to work others. Today he operated from FN64 on the AO27 and AO-51 passes at 1838z and 1913z respectively. Look for him on AO51 at 2051z, maybe in another grid. John Papay john(a)papays.com

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KC0YBM/9 EN45
by Chris Meyers 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

I will be in EN45 Thursday afternoon (9/15) and hope to work the following passes: SO-50 19:04-19:18 AO-27 19:30- AO-51 19:36-19:46 SO-50 20:45-21:00 AO-27 21:02- AO-51 21:12-21:26 KC0YBM Chris

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San Jose Symposium
by Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

Greetings All! For those of you who are seriously thinking about attending the AMSAT Symposium in San Jose this year and also need to book flight reservations, I suggest you do so quickly. It seems air fares for early November are creeping ever upward, with a subsequent diminishing availability of "good" departure and arrival times into and out of San Jose. Between the time I first looked at a round trip fare from Detroit to San Jose, the fare had climbed nearly $100 and my preferred flight times were already sold out. If you have already decided to attend, I suggest you book your tickets NOW (while you still can get your choice of flights) and without also paying a last minute premium. 73, Keith Baker KB1SF / VA3KSF

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TAPR President, N7HPR on Ham Nation Broadcast
by Mark Thompson 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

TAPR President, N7HPR Discusses ARISSat-1, TAPR & DCC on Ham Nation http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation/16 Guests: Steve Bible, N7HPR and George Thomas, W5JDX

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SO-50 tonight
by n0jy＠lavabit.com 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

I will be giving a satellite presentation to the Parker County (TX) Amateur Radio Club tonight, and it looks like we'll have a shot at SO-50 for some contacts. It's low in the west, but we'll give it a try with max el 9 degrees about 23:17UTC. If you work me please give a shout out to the club members listening, and your QTH (city, state). Thanks! 73, Jerry NØJY

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PACIFICON 2011 Sat Shows
by Clint Bradford 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

A case of "Watch what you ask for - it may occur ... " (grin) At last year's PACIFICON Convention in San Ramon, 54 attendees crammed into a room that was set up for 44 for my "How to Work the Sats With Your HT" presentation. In an after-convention wrap-up session, I tossed out the idea of doing the presentation twice, back-to-back, in order to accommodate more folks ... Well, PACIFICON took me up on that. Heck, I didn't even think they were listening ... (grin) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting "How to Work the FM Ham Satellites With Your HT" presentation - twice - at PACIFICON 2011 in Santa Clara on Saturday, October 15. We had a great time last year - with a full conference room and several passes that we worked. I'll be making my presentation from 11AM-noon and 1-2PM. We have tentative passes of AO-27, AO-51, and ARISSat-1 (hopefully!) - Watch for posters near the check-in area for exact times. Download the tutorial and programming charts from ... http://www.work-sat.com And I always encourage pre-presentation inquiries. Send email to clint(a)clintbradford.com - or call me at 909-241-7666. See you in Santa Clara! PACIFICON's Web site is http://www.pacificon.org . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Anchorage HamFest
by Clint Bradford 13 Sep '11

13 Sep '11

AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting his ‘Working Amateur Satellites With Your HT’ session at the Anchorage Amateur Radio Club annual hamfest on September 17, 2011. ALL are welcome to attend! Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 2PM ADT Kincaid Park - Modern Chalet building 9401 Raspberry Anchorage, AK 99502 Attendees should download Clint’s four-page tutorial and radio programming data from … http://www.work-sat.com … and Clint welcomes pre-presentation questions. Call him at 909-241-7666, or send email to … clint(a)clintbradford.com Clint Bradford, K6LCS /end/

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Successful Radio Merit Badge class and Satellite demo, National Scouting Museum
by Tom Schuessler 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

Many thanks to K8YSE, KX9X, WA4HFN, NE5BO, ND9M, K4FEG, KT3L, N9AMW, AA0SV, K5OE, N8MS, N2VYT and VE2RCN for making the AO-51 2108Z pass of AO-51 a memorable one for the Scouts and parents who participated. I got them to yell out our EM12 grid square for most of the contacts. It was a great topper to a great day. For those of you who worked it and those who did not, catch K8YSE's recording at http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html. Look for K2BSA/5 near the top of the list . near the top of the recordings listing. I had a non-licensed guy tracking the satellite via smart phone as I was tracking it with the arrow and afterwards some really excited parents. Hoping some of them come back to the Museum on October 15th for our participation in Jamboree On the Air. Again, thanks for the calls. Work some Scouts when you hear them. It is a great investment in the future. K2BSA/5 will again be active on October 15th for JOTA so see you then. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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ARISSat-1 KURSK frames all zeros
by Ronald G. Parsons 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

On the just concluded pass of ARISSat, all the KURSK frames I copied were all zeros (except for the header). Is there a problem or a change? Ron W5RKN

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NW2C 911- SPECIAL EVENT STATION
by Peter Portanova 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

Good Afternoon, I have been invited, WB2OQQ, to operate a portable satellite station on September 11th, using the call NW2C, at Historic Fort Totten, located in Bayside New York, only a few miles from ground zero. Fort Totten was one of many placed used in recovery and healing during 911. I will operate all FM satellite passes from 12 noon to 6pm EDT, 1600, -2200z. For those that make a confirmed satellite contact and wish to receive a Certificate of Confirmation, visit http://www.nw2c.org/911.html, for all the details, NW2C will also be operating on the general bands, check clusters for frequency updates. I look forward to demonstrating how our amateur satellites, can be utilized as another communications possibility in a crisis, let's put on a good show for the very special people that will be invited to this 911 event, thank you. 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 517
by Edwin M. "EMike" McCardel, KC8YLD 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

I would like to announce and congratulate, AMSAT member, Zack Beougher, KD8KSN (EN80) for being honored as ARRL Great Lakes' Division, Young Radio Amateur of the Year. This is great honor for Zack, and it speaks well for the future of AMSAT, having such a fine young man in our midst, Congratulations Zach! E. Michael McCardel, KC8YLD Ohio Section Affiliated Club Coordinator, ARRL NO CODE REQUIRED When All Else Fails... There's Amateur Radio Learn more via www.ARRL.org

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Yin and Yang
by Clint Bradford 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

I stayed up all night Friday preparing printouts and stuff for the ARRL SW Division Convention. Left the house at 6:30am - to get there for our first of five sat passes at 7:47am. Worked five passes in front of folks. Performed my sat show for 90 minutes in front of a standing-room-only group of eighty-two. It was a non-stop flurry of activity. Had a GREAT time. Voice gone ... "convention legs" (you know, those muscles behind your shins get really sore - muscles that you usually never know are there ... (grin)). Got home about 10pm. Checked email. Six messages from show attendees, thanking me for everything. I quickly scanned the AMSAT-BB, QRZ.com, and eHam.net - and found a reply to a message I had written in a thread last week that really set me off. Someone mentioned that ARISSat-1 was "crippled" and of no use ... I replied by listing its intended modes, and the fact that all is working pretty darned as expected. We've even taxed a battery that was only rated at 5 discharge-charge cycles ... "But it is all working," I wrote. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Not really...it has become a piece of space junk very quickly. Deploying without the correct antenna and a crappy battery is an example of where our space program has gone. A sat that is in faliure mode only days after deployment. Donate more to AMSAT, we might get another piece or two of space junk in orbit before the ISS falls out of orbit. /s/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Well, I THOUGHT I was going to bed quickly. No way was I going to let that go unanswered overnight: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >> ... it has become a piece of space junk very quickly ... I'll tell that to the 45 folks who witnessed/heard it this afternoon at the ARRL SW Division Convention in Torrance, CA. They will be so glad to be enlightened by your comment. They THOUGHT it was exciting hearing that 250mW signal and getting amped up about amateur sat comms this morning. But according to you, they are all wrong ... >> ... Deploying without the correct antenna ... Yet working marvelously - a true testament to those who built the satellite. >> ... and a crappy battery ... The battery is exactly what was planned for - and anyone knowledgeable with the project knew its limitations. It was subjected to a very different charging regimen - as opposed to its expected rating of "five" discharge-charge cycles. If anyone calls the battery aspect of this project a "failure" then they have no clue as to what they are talking about. The battery was designed for Russian spacesuits and EVAs - seemed OK for that type of work to those who are responsible for the lives of their Cosmonauts. >> ... is an example of where our space program has gone ... Uh, this is an amateur radio project - with a Russian educational project on board. Where does NASA - "our space program" fail? We deployed an experiment over a month ago that is to this hour working well. This was never meant to be a long-term project. I am responsible for AMSAT receiving $1175 so far for this project. I do not remember seeing your name on the list of donors. Please correct me if I am wrong. And if you are truly interested n the future of amateur satellites, I'd like to see you include AMSAT in your will next week, and donate a little toward the future projects that are in the works. OR, of course, you can just moan and complain mindlessly in public forums like this one. It's your choice. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I wasn't livid ... just irritated at the ignorance. Yes, I know that the battery started to deteriorate a little sooner than expected. But no one had subjected such a battery to what ARISSat-1 engineers were doing to it: MANY shallow charges daily. Just couple the YIN of excitedly working ARISSat-1 in front of a live audience and hearing people applaud the project - versus the YANG of this moronic post ... It was quite a day. And so it goes ... Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Finally
by Kevin Deane 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

Sorry about all the posts I was wondering what was going on. Looks like the one post finally went through about NEXT weekend. My little Werker batteries seem to be holding up great and will be testing Solar input/radio draw today. Is there something like more points for solar/portable stations? Or is that only for contests or somethin? I didnt think it would but I took some test pictures of the GPS and portable station came out good so that will be great for verifacation if needed for the DN Grids for next week. Its an older Garmin but I think it shows all the needed info. I bought a duplexer for the Yaesu 857 but am not sure which way the frequencies go for the SSB birds. Must not be transmitting on the right freq cause no one is responding to my calls on AO-7...:( Kevin KF7MYK

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SPECIAL 911 EVENT
by Peter Portanova 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

Good Morning, I have been invited, WB2OQQ, to operate a portable satellite station today September 11th, using the call NW2C, at Historic Fort Totten, located in Bayside New York, only a few miles from ground zero. Fort Totten was one of many placed used in recovery and healing during 911. I will operate all FM satellite passes from 12 noon to 6pm EDT, 1600, -2200z. For those that make a confirmed satellite contact and wish to receive a Certificate of Confirmation, visit http://www.nw2c.org/911.html, for all the details, NW2C will also be operating on the general bands, check clusters for frequency updates. I look forward to demonstrating the enjoyment amateur operators have using the satellites and it's potential as another communications possibility in a crisis, so let's put on a good show for the very special people that will be invited to this 911 event, thank you. 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com

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AMCON in Torrance, CA
by Clint Bradford 11 Sep '11

11 Sep '11

What a great day at the ARRL Southwestern Division Convention. We had five "tentative" passes of '27, 50, '51, and ARISSat-1. The first of two SO-50 passes (early in our morning) didn't materialize .. but it was before the convention really got sarted. EVERY OTHER PASS was magnificent - including about FOUR MINUTES SOLID of ARISSat-1 transmissions on its 2M downlink during a morning pass. AND - quite unexpectedly - ARISSat-1 was heard alongside us working AO-51 in the afternoon - they were both in the same "cone" area as we hardly needed to move our antennas from'51 to hear ARISSat-1. I had 82 attendees for my sat presentation. And many of the folks who worked the passes outside were not at the presentation. So "mini-presentations" were given all day. My voice is darned near gone ... But a great time was had by all. Clint, K6LCS

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ANS-254 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-254 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: * Final Call for AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots * Registration Open for 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium 4-6 November 2011 * STRaND-1 Frequency Coordinated * Louis Varney G5RV Cup * KiwiSAT Students Win Grant * OSCAR-11 Report 01 September 2011 * 5.7 Metric Ton Satellite Uncontrolled Re-Entry Expected Soon * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 5 September 2011 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.01 Final Call for AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.01 Ballots for the AMSAT-North America 2011 Board of Directors election have been mailed to all members. To have your vote count you must return your ballot by mail to: AMSAT-NA 850 Sligo Ave #600 Silver Spring, MD, 20910 Ballots must arrive at the AMSAT Office by the close of business, September 15, 2011. Four director's terms expire this year: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Alan Biddle, WA4SCA Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Tony Monteiro, AA2TX Seven nominations have been received for the open seats. Listed alphabetically they are: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Alan Biddle, WA4SCA Steve Coy, K8UD Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Mark Hammond, N8MH Tony Monteiro, AA2TX Patrick E. Stoddard, WD9EWK Select no more than four candidates on your ballot. The four candi- dates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as full Board members for two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will be seated as alternate Board mem- bers for one year terms. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.02 Registration Open for 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium 4-6 November 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.02 AMSAT announces the 2011 AMSAT Space Symposium will be held on Friday, November 4th through Sunday, November 6th in San Jose, CA. Our annual gathering will feature: + Space Symposium with Amateur Satellite Presentations + Operating Techniques, News, & Plans from the Amateur Satellite World + Board of Directors Meeting open to AMSAT members (Nov. 3-4) + Meet Board Members and Officers + Annual General Membership Meeting + Annual Banquet-Keynote Speaker and Door Prizes The 2011 Symposium hotel and registration web pages are now available on the AMSAT web site. You may register for the Symposium and Annual Banquet at the AMSAT Store: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/SymposiumReg.php Visit the Symposium and Annual General Meeting web page for details and the latest information: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2011/index.php Symposium Registration including a copy of the Proceedings is: + $45 per person until September 19, 2011 + $50 per person starting September 20, 2011 + $55 per person at the door The Saturday evening banquet is $45 per person. The Sunday morning Area Coordinator's Breakfast is $15 per person. The hotel selected is the Wyndham San Jose, close to the airport. The AMSAT discount rate is $79.00+taxes per night. The reservation block code when calling the hotel directly is "AMSAT". The hotel telephone number is 408-453-6200. If you are making reservations on-line use 1031FSJAM for the group code. The direct link to the hotel web page is: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/SJCAP/main.wnt If you are planning to book a room on dates other than November 2, 3, 4, 5, you will have to call the hotel directly and ask for *in- house reservations*. You can get the $79 rate 3 days before and 3 days after the above dates but you cannot book the room on their website. Any problems, give Martha a call at the AMSAT Office: 301-589-6062. [ANS thanks the 2011 Symposium Committee for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.03 STRaND-1 Frequency Coordinated AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.03 The IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has recently agreed a frequency of 437.575 MHz for the UK CubeSat STRaND-1. It will carry a Smartphone and plans to have a UOSAT style speech synthesiser and a 9600 or 19200 bps AX.25 packet downlink. STRaND-1 is a 3U CubeSat measuring 30 by 10 by 10 cm and weighing 4 kg. Unlike previous CubeSats it will feature full 3-axis control with the attitude an orbit control system comprising a nano-magnetorquer, nano-reaction wheels, GPS receiver, 8 pulse plasma thrusters and a butane thruster. A six page article on STRaND-1 appeared in the Spring issue of OSCAR News available at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf The video of the presentation on the STRaND-1 Smartphone CubeSat given by Shaun Kenyon to the AMSAT-UK Colloquium is at http://www.batc.tv/vod/Strand.flv The PDF of the PowerPoint slides is at http://www.uk.amsat.org/wp-content/uploads/colloquium%202011/AMSAT-UK-STRaN… Presentation.pdf AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.04 Louis Varney G5RV Cup AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.04 The Louis Varney G5RV Cup for Space Communications has been awarded to Paul Robinson 2E1EUB by RSGB president Dave Wilson M00BW. The cup is awarded for advances in space communication and the presentation took place at the Telford Hamfest on Sunday, September 4. Paul was nominated by AMSAT-UK for his work promoting and encouraging the use of amateur radio satellites and perfecting the art of a portable ground station. Paul comments that he is privileged to have his call sign and name on the cup alongside some very famous call signs, some of which are no longer with us, he would like to thank AMSAT-UK and the RSGB for this award. AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information. A sample edition can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/on_193_final.pdf Join online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/09/05/louis-varney-g5rv-cup/ Paul is well known for his mobile 2M1EUB satellite operations in Interesting and wild locations such on an island off the Scottish Coast. Photos and additional information about Paul's rover and solar-powered station set-up can be seen on the 2E1EUB look up results on QRZ.com [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and RSGB for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.05 KiwiSAT Students Win Grant AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.05 Massey University engineering students have been awarded a grant to work on software for the Amateur Radio satellite KiwiSAT. Scoop reports that: Four fourth-year honours students and a Masters student from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at the Albany campus have been awarded a $7,500 grant from the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters' Radio Science Education Trust to develop the software. The micro satellite is the size of a basketball and will be launched from a Russian rocket in the northern hemisphere when the project is finished. KiwiSAT is being designed and built by a team of volunteers from New Zealand Radio Amateurs supported by Massey and various corporate sponsors. It will connect with amateur radio stations globally and will carry out experimental work in small satellite Attitude Determination and Control (ADAC) - a low cost control system that works through interaction with the Earth's magnetic field to position the satellite at a specific attitude. Read the full story at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/ED1108/S00164/ massey-students-create-space-satellite-software.htm KiwiSAT - Taking New Zealand into Space http://www.kiwisat.org/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARC news site for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.06 OSCAR-11 Report 01 September 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.06 This report covers the period from 27 April to 01 September 2011. The satellite has continued to operate in a very predictable way since the last report, and no changes have been observed. During this time the satellite has been heard reliably during its ten-day transmission periods. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from decoded telemetry frames. The easiest way to check whether OSCAR-11 is operational is to look at the General Satellite Status website http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php . You can also calculate the operating schedule from the last switch-off time, which was 26 August 2011 at 08:00 UTC (approx), using 10.35 days off followed by 10.35 days on. Reception reports have been received from David VE3SB, Jerry WB5LHD, Toby MM0TOB, Colin VK5HI and Lee M0HOK. Many thanks to all and those who posted to the status website. Although eclipses occur during every orbit, the evening passes over the UK were mostly clear of eclipses, owing to the longer hours of daylight during the Summer months. This resulted in stronger signals during the evening passes. However, as winter approaches eclipses will now start to affect the evening passes. The on-board clock continues to gain, 26 seconds during the current reporting period, and 83 seconds since regular transmissions started at the end of August 2010. There is however a large accumulated error of 308.54339 days slow. This was caused mainly by the clock stopping during eclipses, when there was also an unknown drain on the power supply. The units of the least significant digit correspond approximately to seconds (0.86 seconds actually). The VHF beacon frequency is 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry. The satellite is operating in the default mode, with a cycle time of 20.7 days. 10.35 days on followed by 10.35 days off. At the present time, while OSCAR-11 is operating in a predictable way, I no longer need direct reports or files by e-mail. However, could all listeners continue to enter their reports on the general satellite status website. This is a very convenient and easy to use facility, which shows the current status of all the amateur satellites, and is of use to everyone. Reports around the expected times of switch-on and switch-off are of special interest, especially for times 12:00 - 17:00 and 22:00 - 07:00 UTC, when the satellite is out-of-range in the UK . The URL is http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php A longer version of this report report is available on my website, and new listeners to OSCAR-11 should read this for further information. The URL is www.g3cwv.co.uk/oscar11.htm This page contains a links to the longer report, a short audio clip to help you identify the satellite and a file of the last telemetry received. The website also contains an archive of news & telemetry data which is updated from time to time, and details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is also software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT156.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace the x's by g3cwv) [ANS thanks Clive, G2CWV, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.07 5.7 Metric Ton Satellite Uncontrolled Re-Entry Expected Soon AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.07 Leonard David reported in his September 7 Space Insider Column on Space.com, "Huge Defunct Satellite to Plunge to Earth Soon, NASA Says". He wrote, "The huge Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled fall in late September or early October. Much of the spacecraft is expected to burn up during re-entry, but some pieces are expected to make it intact to the ground, NASA officials said." He further reported that NASA computer analysis showed that about 150 component types, including the parent body of the satellite, will demise during re-entry, and 12 types (26 counting multiple components) would endure the fiery fall to Earth. The analysis indicated a surviving mass of 1,170 pounds (532 kilograms) falling within a debris footprint length of some 500 miles (800 kilometers). The satellite is 35 feet long, 15 feet in diameter, and weighs 5.7 metric tons. It's operational orbit was at 375 miles inclined at 57 degrees to the equator. "The risk to public safety or property is extremely small, and safe- ty is NASA's top priority," noted a NASA website dedicated to the re- entry. There is a chance that pieces of debris from the satellite will crash in areas accessible to the public. According to NASA, on UARS re-entry day, "if you find something you think may be a piece of UARS, do not touch it. Contact a local law enforcement official for assistance." As of September 7 a NASA statement read, "It is too early to say exactly when UARS will re-enter and what geographic area may be affected, but NASA is watching the satellite closely and will keep you informed." The full story was published on September 7 on the Space.com site: http://www.space.com/12859-nasa-satellite-falling-space-debris-uars.html [ANS thanks Space.com for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.08 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.08 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.08 + Episode 16 of the internet TV show Ham Nation is available for down load at http://twit.tv/show/ham-nation/16. This week's show features Steve Bible, N7HPR talking about AMSAT & ARISsat-1 along with many other interesting ham radio topics. + Trevor, M5AKA forwarded a link from the BBC with news that the United Kingdom's first satellite launched on a UK built rocket 40 years ago will attempt to be reactivated. The Prospero space craft was launched by a Black Arrow rocket on October 28, 1971 from Launch Area 5B, Woomera. It operated on 137.560 MHz. Full story and pictures at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14783135 Additional information on the AMSAT-UK website: http://tinyurl.com/3dny3s4 Web based tracking for Prospero: http://www.n2yo.com/?s=5580 and at: http://www.vk3ukf.com/Space/GadgetSatProspero.htm + Congratulations to Rodney, KC0ZHF for earning his VUCC endorsement for grids 100-250. + The AO-27 website is temporarily down. The Java scheduler app will always be accurate to within 2 minutes (the cumulative error in the satellite's clock) as long as a new schedule hasn't been uploaded to the bird itself. While the latest files for the AO-27 schedule are on the webpage, the required data files for the Java app until the website is back up, have been placed on the Java scheduler down- load page http://sites.google.com/site/ao27satellitescheduler (George, KA3HSW) + An article regarding getting the FUNcube Dongle to run under linux can be found at: http://webshed.org/wiki/FUNcube-Dongle-Linux + NASA is giving the public the power to journey through the solar system using a new interactive Web-based tool. The "Eyes on the Solar System" interface combines video game technology and NASA data to create an environment for users to ride along with agency spacecraft and explore the cosmos. Screen graphics and information such as planet locations and spacecraft maneuvers use actual space mission data. Begin your ride at: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eyes/ + The Summer 2011 TAPR Packet Status Register newsletter is now available at http://www.tapr.org/psr + A.R.I. DX Bulletin No 1061 posted that 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 metres, 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, Informa- tion on satellite activity and and other details can be found at: http://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 everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-254.09 ARISS Status - 5 September 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 254.09 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 11, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-254.09 1. Vision Australia Contact Successful Students from Vision Australia in Enfield, New South Wales, Australia took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, August 29 via station WH6PN in Hawaii. On-orbit Astronaut Mike Fossum, KF5AQG answered 12 questions put to him by the youth before the ISS went over the horizon. Students were interested in the logistics of living in space as well as how astronauts stay in contact with friends and family during their missions. Vision Australia is a nonprofit agency that provides low vision and blindness services to the community in Australia. 2. Merritt Island Students Speak with Satoshi Furukawa On Tuesday, August 30, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between da Vinci Academy of Aerospace Technology students at Merritt Island High School in Florida and Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW on the ISS. Questions asked included those concerning the long term effects of microgravity on the human body and influences on Furukawa's decision to study in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). Florida Today ran a story on the event: http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108310317 3. EE Times, ARISSat Blog Another entry has been posted to the EE (Electronic Engineering) Times "Chips in Space" blog about amateur radio satellite ARISSat-1. This week the blog covers the "Design challenges, intrigue and solutions" of the project. See: http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-blogs/other/4219588/Chips-in-Space--Desi… challenges--intrigue-and-solutions [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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Free emergency generator
by Dave Guimont 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

I have a 1.5 KVA Honda generator that I will give to any ham club in the San Diego area....PICK UP ONLY. We used it at NORTH SHORES AMATEUR RADIO CLUB for many a field day! The generator is inoperative, but repairable... Let me know and I will call u back.. 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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SatPC32 setup
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

I just added a new computer to the shack and have SatPC32 all set and running fine. My problem is that during setup, I chose 360 degrees for azimuth instead of 450 and can't change it now. When I go into the rotor setup menu, I can change everything else except for the max azimuth. I had this problem before and can't remember how I fixed it. Thanks, Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X

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Re: CO6CBF VUCC Award
by Wadhah Al-Tailji 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Congratulations, Hector! It's been fun making contacts with you (according to my logbook, we've made 16 contacts together). Now you need to work on the W4AMI Award (you're probably getting pretty close to that) ;) 73, Wadhah, WA5DA

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G5500 and LVB tracker interface
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

I agree 100% with Mark on all his points. I use LVB tracker with a G-5400B and switched to the MAX232 chip. I was experiencing very annoying RFI which I determined was coming from the LVB Tracker. Changing from USB to MAX232 all but eliminated the RFI. I still experience some RFI from the computer itself. I was using HRD Sat Tracker but was experiencing problems with Doppler correction. When I switched to SatPC, I am right on now. Once I learned all the nuances of the program, I find it to be the best of all I have tried and I have tried them all. BTW, I just experienced my best ever pass of ARISSat-1. I was able to copy 51 frames of telemetry and Kursk data. It was an 80 degree pass from the SW. The battery voltage seemed to be up a bit from past passes. Still no transponder QSOs however. Tried a few times without success. I wish I had my mast mounted pre-amps up there. Soon hopefully but probably not in time for ARISSat-1. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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Re: CO6CBF VUCC Award
by Rick Tejera 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Hector, congratulations. I'll be right behind you. I just have to find the time to get my cards checked. I've worked you a few times and enjoyed our QSO's, you're a good operator. 73 Sent from my iPod Rick Tejera Editor, SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org K7TEJ On Sep 9, 2011, at 11:42, "Hector Luis Martinez Sis" <hmartinez(a)ucf.edu.cu> wrote: > > > > > > I want to take a > minute to say thanks to the people who have helped me to discover the fantastic Ham > satellite world and who have worked me on Sat. I have spent a fantastic time on > Satellites. I really have enjoyed it. > > > > Yesterday, I > received the grid confirmation number 100 in LotW from KD8CAO, Doug. Now, I am able to > apply to the Satellite VUCC. It will be the first Satellite VUCC in my country, Cuba. > > > > Thanks a million for your help and the great QSOs > on Sats. > > > > See you soon on > the birds > > > > 73! > > > > Hector, CO6CBF > > > > EL92 > > > > > > > > > *************************************** > Genius is one per cent inspiration, > > and ninety-nine per cent > perspiration. > -- Thomas A. Edison > *************************************** > > > --- > Free the Cuban Five! > http://www.injusticia.cubaweb.cu/, http://www.antiterroristas.cu/ > Participe en Universidad 2012, del 13 al 17 de febrero de 2012. Habana, Cuba. > http://www.congresouniversidad.cu/ > Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana: http://www.ecured.cu/ > _______________________________________________ > 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: CO6CBF VUCC Award
by John Geiger 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Hi Hector, Congratulations on the award. It is always a pleasure to work you on the FM sats. Thanks for getting out your grid to many of us. Now to get the VUCC endorsements. 73s John AA5JG ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hector Luis Martinez Sis" <hmartinez(a)ucf.edu.cu> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 6:42 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] CO6CBF VUCC Award > > > > > > I want to take a > minute to say thanks to the people who have helped me to discover the > fantastic Ham > satellite world and who have worked me on Sat. I have spent a fantastic > time on > Satellites. I really have enjoyed it. > > > > Yesterday, I > received the grid confirmation number 100 in LotW from KD8CAO, Doug. Now, > I am able to > apply to the Satellite VUCC. It will be the first Satellite VUCC in my > country, Cuba. > > > > Thanks a million for your help and the great QSOs > on Sats. > > > > See you soon on > the birds > > > > 73! > > > > Hector, CO6CBF > > > > EL92 > > > > > > > > > *************************************** > Genius is one per cent inspiration, > > and ninety-nine per cent > perspiration. > -- Thomas A. Edison > *************************************** > > > --- > Free the Cuban Five! > http://www.injusticia.cubaweb.cu/, http://www.antiterroristas.cu/ > Participe en Universidad 2012, del 13 al 17 de febrero de 2012. Habana, > Cuba. > http://www.congresouniversidad.cu/ > Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana: http://www.ecured.cu/

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Launch Delays
by B J 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

GRAIL postponed again: http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/5385 Cause of Progress booster failure identified: http://www.spacetoday.net/Summary/5386 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

2 1

Fwd: 5 in em55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net To: "AMSAT" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, September 8, 2011 6:39:20 PM Subject: 5 in em55 Congrats to Merle AA4QE for award #029 5 in EM55 WA4HFN

1 0

(no subject)
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

test

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ARISSAat-1/RADIOSCAT-B SSTV Picture
by Farrell Winder 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

On Friday morning Sept 09, 2011 at 14:22 Z, Cincinnati, Ohio I copied a picture from ARISSat-1/RADIOSCAF-B that appears to have a very unusual pattern over the area of the Earth. It may be breaks in cloud cover but appears over a very large area of the Earth and has a somewhat repeated type of pattern. Did anyone else copy and what would be the interpretation? I will try to submit a copy on the ARISS SSTV Gallery. Farrell Winder, W8ZCF, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

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Re: AO-27 Site Down
by i8cvs 10 Sep '11

10 Sep '11

Hi Clint, K6LCS I am very concerned about AO-27 site has been down for about 2 weeks. This problem happens when there is only one control station able to manage a satellite. In my opinion AMRAD should create another control operator just in case like this. 73" de i8CVS Domenico > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Clint Bradford" <clintbradford(a)me.com> > To: "George Henry" <ka3hsw(a)att.net> > Cc: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 11:15 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-27 Site Down > > > > Chuck Wyrick is on vacation ... He'll be back for us next week. > > > > Clint > > > > > > On Sep 7, 2011, at 11:15 AM, George Henry wrote: > > > > The AO-27 site has been down for about 2 weeks. I e-mailed Mike Wyrick, > > but haven't heard anything back yet. > > > > > > Clint Bradford > > clintbradford(a)mac.com

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DL7VTX/EA8 on AO-51
by John Papay 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Jens, DL7VTX, is apparently operating portable in EA8. He was worked on AO-51 this afternoon. His signal wasn't very strong into the bird but he was hearing. Jens has operated from the Caribbean in the past, usually with an HT and a whip antenna. He likes to hike and takes the radio with him. No info on how long he might be there, but if you are on the East Coast and need EA8, listen for him. 73, John K8YSE

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Elko Trip NEXT Weekend
by Kevin Deane 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Sorry as usual I was not paying to much attention. NEXT weekend..... Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: [TM-D710/TM-V71] which gps works best indoors
by Jim Wright 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

To find the way to the pottie when having a senior moment??? :-) On 9/9/2011 2:53 PM, Jeff Moore wrote: > Who wants to know? > > Jeff -- KE7ACY > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "**"<stormcom3(a)gmail.com> > > Why the hell would you need a GPS indoors? > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TM-D710_TM-V71/ > > <*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > > <*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TM-D710_TM-V71/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > > <*> To change settings via email: > TM-D710_TM-V71-digest(a)yahoogroups.com > TM-D710_TM-V71-fullfeatured(a)yahoogroups.com > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > TM-D710_TM-V71-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

1 0

test
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

test

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AO-27 Site Down
by Clint Bradford 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

I was trying to confirm whether or not AO-27 was going to be ON for the 2141UTC pass on Saturday September 10 here in Southern California. But the AO27.org site has been unavailable. The AO-27 Java app shows OFF at 2037 UTS and not back ON until 2210 UTC ... Has the Java app been reliable in its predictions three days out? Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

5 4

Re: KD8KSN/M Ops 9/8
by Zachary Beougher 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

I forgot to mention that all QSOs will be in LoTW later this week under KD8KSN. I know I am forgetting something else, but I can’t think of it right now. Still trying to get back in the swing of things. ;-) Zack KD8KSN From: Zachary Beougher Sent: Friday, September 09, 2011 8:09 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: KD8KSN/M Ops 9/8 Hi All, For those of you who worked me while mobile in EN83 yesterday, I will be sending out cards Monday and no sase/request is needed. I was hoping to get on a few other passes from EN75/74/81, but my RX antenna was sandwiched between two canoes which was impeding my receive ability. I will be back through these same grids in December, and I am hoping to be a bit more successful then. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Fwd: 5 in em55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net To: "AMSAT" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, September 8, 2011 6:39:20 PM Subject: 5 in em55 Congrats to Merle AA4QE for award #029 5 in EM55 WA4HFN

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Images of Prospero Ground segment
by John Heath 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Hi, not sure if the -bb supports attachments but will give it a try. I have images of the control station complete with 1970's computers, and the receiving station. Nice picture of the antenna array which appears to be four crossed yagi's in a square, each one has 8 pairs of elements. 73 John G7HIA

4 3

KD8KSN/M Ops 9/8
by Zachary Beougher 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Hi All, For those of you who worked me while mobile in EN83 yesterday, I will be sending out cards Monday and no sase/request is needed. I was hoping to get on a few other passes from EN75/74/81, but my RX antenna was sandwiched between two canoes which was impeding my receive ability. I will be back through these same grids in December, and I am hoping to be a bit more successful then. 73! Zack KD8KSN

1 0

Elko Trip
by Kevin Deane 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Ok DN01 is out sorry. However DN20-21 meet right above Jim's property so those are definatly in for Sun & Mon I will be up early for the 51 passes for sure and the rest I will basicly hit every pass I can. I am not gonna try and figure out exact times, if you hear me then there you go. :) DN00 I will try whatever passes are left on Sat afternoon from Toulon Lake off I-80. DN10,11 Meet perfectly just outside Winnemucca where I-80 bends up a little there, but I am not sure what time we will be passing through. If any FM Sats are overhead you know I will make him stop so I will try 00,10,11 comin and goin. Good Luck to all, I always have fun anyway, so this should be good for everyone. Kevin KF7MYK

1 2

Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by jlv 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Ed: That is true. For my position MONTEVIDEO - URUGUAY Latitude: 34° 54' 38.2" S Longitude: 56° 11' 35.9" W Magnetic declination: 9° 34' WEST Declination is NEGATIVE Inclination: -39° 37' Magnetic field strength: 23116.9 nT regards Jose Luis Vila CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> To: "jlv" <jlv(a)fing.edu.uy> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > At 07:30 AM 9/8/2011, you wrote: >>True North >> >>tip: >> >>Look for the magnetic north with the compass, read their geographical >>coordinate in the GPS, >>use this webpage >>http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp >>and calculate the magnetic declination for their place. >>You will know where this the true north using the magnetic north + / - the >>degrees of magnetic declination. >> >>Jose Luis Vila >>CX2AN >>CX0CFI op. >> >>-----Mensaje original----- From: Luc Leblanc >>Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 10:07 AM >>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Magnetic North vs True North >> >>How i find my north! >> >>At noon always using standard time i pointed the beam in the direction of >>top tower pole shadow on the ground. Quite simple and accurate >>enough here. >> >>"-" >> >> >>Luc Leblanc VE2DWE >>Skype VE2DWE >>www.qsl.net/ve2dwe >>DSTAR urcall VE2DWE >>WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > thanks Jose, > > very useful as declination is moving +17min/year here > 17deg52min east > > I have old aviation maps of the region showing 26-deg declination. > > The sun shadow method works only if you know accurately what time solar > noon is. For our time zone it is 2202:52 utc (today) which corresponds to > 2:02:52 pm local time. So if you used the shadow at 12:00:00 local time > you would be off considerably from true north. Of course one hour is due > to daylight savings time which advances the clock one hour in summer and > the fact that our local time was permanently advanced by one hour for > political/business reasons (so we would only be +4 hours from EST in the > USA). > > This is the reason that one must know true north to orient a sundial. > > Sea navigators know they either need to know time precisely to "shoot the > sun" and find their location or know true north to determine the exact > time of meridian crossing at noon. > > > > 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 > ====================================== > BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com > EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-? > DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)gmail.com > ======================================

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Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by jlv 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Ed: That is true. For my position MONTEVIDEO - URUGUAY Latitude: 34° 54' 38.2" S Longitude: 56° 11' 35.9" W Magnetic declination: 9° 34' WEST Declination is NEGATIVE Inclination: -39° 37' Magnetic field strength: 23116.9 nT regards Jose Luis Vila CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> To: "jlv" <jlv(a)fing.edu.uy> Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > At 07:30 AM 9/8/2011, you wrote: >>True North >> >>tip: >> >>Look for the magnetic north with the compass, read their geographical >>coordinate in the GPS, >>use this webpage >>http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/Declination.jsp >>and calculate the magnetic declination for their place. >>You will know where this the true north using the magnetic north + / - the >>degrees of magnetic declination. >> >>Jose Luis Vila >>CX2AN >>CX0CFI op. >> >>-----Mensaje original----- From: Luc Leblanc >>Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2011 10:07 AM >>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Magnetic North vs True North >> >>How i find my north! >> >>At noon always using standard time i pointed the beam in the direction of >>top tower pole shadow on the ground. Quite simple and accurate >>enough here. >> >>"-" >> >> >>Luc Leblanc VE2DWE >>Skype VE2DWE >>www.qsl.net/ve2dwe >>DSTAR urcall VE2DWE >>WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > thanks Jose, > > very useful as declination is moving +17min/year here > 17deg52min east > > I have old aviation maps of the region showing 26-deg declination. > > The sun shadow method works only if you know accurately what time solar > noon is. For our time zone it is 2202:52 utc (today) which corresponds to > 2:02:52 pm local time. So if you used the shadow at 12:00:00 local time > you would be off considerably from true north. Of course one hour is due > to daylight savings time which advances the clock one hour in summer and > the fact that our local time was permanently advanced by one hour for > political/business reasons (so we would only be +4 hours from EST in the > USA). > > This is the reason that one must know true north to orient a sundial. > > Sea navigators know they either need to know time precisely to "shoot the > sun" and find their location or know true north to determine the exact > time of meridian crossing at noon. > > > > 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 > ====================================== > BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com > EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-? > DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)gmail.com > ======================================

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Massive Power Failure(s)?
by Clint Bradford 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Southern CA is suffering a major power failure ... the AMSAT.org Web site is down ... What am I going to do tonight??? Clint Bradford, K6LCS

1 0

G5500 and LVB tracker interface
by Chris Bloy 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hi Group, I have finally order the fibre glass pole from Moonraker of all places and am awaiting its replacement after being damaged in post! Anyway, I have also received and played with my new shiny LVB tracker to interface to the G5500 and have a couple of questions that may you guys could help me with! a) I have calibrated the rotator with the G5500 and it would appear at 0 degrees on the LVB tracker, the control box is at 0? If I use the controls on the control box it moves about 2 degree to the stop point. Is this normal or have I missed something as I have recalibrated several times! b) The tracker has a USB interface and uses a virtual serial port to communicate with, but it seems to disconnect quite a lot when using NOVA during the testing? c) What are the recommended settings for NOVA as I am not sure I understand them 100%! I know it uses the G232A command set and does control the rotator, but I am not sure I have set the interface section correctly.. Do I set the maximum azimuth to 450 and leave the azimuth setting to 0-360? Sorry for the questions, but I know how to use it once its been working, just never had to create all this from stratch. I have checked the archive on AMSAT-BB and not found much to help, although some hints to actually get the rotator talking did come from the group! Many Thanks, Chris Bloy - M0DQO

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

I am getting some requests for more Grids. We will be transmitting Sat, Sun, Mon not sure from where or when yet will post a better scheduale this evening. So Far DN 00,10,11,20 Hope to work in DN 21 maybe O1 Can only do FM Sats. Kevin KF7MYK

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Re: Magnetic North
by jlv 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hi Tom, another useful page http://www.n2yo.com/?s=5580 enjoy..!! jlv - CX2AN ----- Original Message ----- From: Tom Deeble To: jlv(a)fing.edu.uy Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2011 1:36 PM Subject: Magnetic North Jose, That's a very handy site. Thanks for the info on the AMSAT bb. 73's, Tom - KA6SIP

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Magnetic North vs True North
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

The earlier discussion on this topic caused me to think about my setup. I know the tracking programs use True North; my question: If my declination is 8 º 6' West, is my true north East or West of Magnetic North. I am currently setup to where my True North is 8º East of Magnetic North. I have looked a various sights on the Internet but I have always had a problem wrapping my thick brain around this topic. Thanks, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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K2BSA/5 at National Scouting Museum, Irving, Texas
by Tom Schuessler 08 Sep '11

08 Sep '11

Hello all, I will be leading a Radio Merit Badge class at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas, EM12, this Saturday, September 10th. We will be using K2BSA/5 as our active call for the day and I will attempt a low angle AO-27 pass with an AOS for me of 18:22 (+ for satellite turn on), an AO-51 pass with an AOS of 21:08 and maybe but not likely, a SO-50 pass at 21:44. Rig will be my Arrow antenna and the HT but maybe a small amplifier for a bit extra punch. There will be Scouts in tow observing and maybe throwing out the all-be-it not so rare EM 12 grid. Please help me out and pro-actively call for K2BSA/5. You will bring a level of excitement to the Scouts taking the class and maybe helping to spur further interest in our fine hobby. Also please look for us on the HF bands near the Scout frequencies and for those local in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, on the Irving 146.72 and the Cedar Hill 442.400 repeaters as we demonstrate Ham Radio to the Merit badge Scouts and other visitors to the National Scouting Museum. Schedules are welcome. 73 and hope to see you on the birds this Saturday. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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SO-67
by Helmuth Kump 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

I think this is new information...at least I haven't seen it yet. http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ under the heading of "Breaking News", says: SO67 SAFE BUT PROBLEMATIC The Ground Control Station Engineers at SunSpace in Stellenbosch are still working to restore SO67. SumbandilaSat developed a problem with the Power Distribution Unit, similar to what happened some time back. The other sub-systems are in a healthy state and SO67 is in no immediate danger . 73 Doc KT3L

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VUCC RULES
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

(e) Stations who claim to operate from more than one grid locator simultaneously (i.e., from the boundary between two grid locators or from the intersection of four grid locators) must be physically present in all locators to give multiple locator credit with a single contact. These stations should be prepared to validate their claim. For a mobile station, this means parking the vehicle exactly on the line or corner. For a portable station, this means that the total area occupied by the station's physical setup, including operating position(s), power source(s), and antenna(s), must occupy some portion of each of the two/four grid squares simultaneously. Operators of boundary/corner stations should be prepared to provide evidence of meeting the simultaneous occupation test if called upon to do so. Two photographs -- one showing the placement of the GPS receiver in the station setup, and a close-up legibly showing the GPS reading – are typically needed as evidence of compliance. Video footage showing an overview of the operating site and then, uncut and in real time, zooming in on the GPS display coordinates is even better (f) Grid boundary lines and grid corners must be established using a GPS receiver whose map datum is set to WGS84, the global default for current GPS receivers. The GPS receiver should be set to use WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) if so equipped, since this improves the error figure to as little as 5 feet. In no case may the GPS receiver show an error figure in excess of 20 feet. Any modern GPS receiver equipped with WAAS will easily meet this requirement, as will most older units without WAAS. 6. For VUCC awards on 50 through 1296 MHz and Satellite, all contacts must be made from locations no more than 200 km apart. For SHF awards, contacts must be made from a single location, defined as within a 300-meter diameter circle. SOOO I still dont see where it says I cannot OBTAIN a grid from down the street or whatever. The above says I can basicly make contacts 124 miles from my QTH. Right? Kevin KF7MYK

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Astronaut autographs
by John Heath 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hi, Buzz Aldrin, Scott Carpenter, Ed Michel and Bruce Candless will be at the Autographica Event Radisson Edwardian Hotel Heathrow London 14-16th October 2011. When Buzz visted the National Space Centre in Leicester England a year or two ago he gave a lecture but did not sign autographs, as far as I know he rarely does. This is a good oportunity if you like that sort of thing. There is an admission charge and you have to pay Buzz and the others for their autographs. The small print on the advertisement says, guests apprance is subject to work commitments, guests may not be signing on both days, check the web site for details. See www.autographica.co.uk I have no personal or business connection with this event but I was very grateful to them bringing for creating the opportunity a few years ago to meet and get the autograhs of several Russian cosmonauts including Alexi Leonov and Valentina Tereshkova. Those are treasured memories. 73 John G7HIA

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DN 00,10,11,20
by Rodney Waln 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

i would not fret you can put them towards the rVUCC award?? that is my next goal, and be helping alot of people in the long run, Rodney kc0zhf

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thank you for the grids
by Rodney Waln 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

hi, all just checked the mailbox today and there was the Vucc endorsements for the the grids covering 100-250, i could not have done it without all of the people that give out grids and do grid expadetions in this country and others, again many thanks. Rodney kc0zhf WY Amsat area Coordinator

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DN 00,10,11,20
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

So much for that idea, I dont mind making myself look stupid. Oh well, at least somebody will get some new grids. :( Kevin KF7MYK

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Fast 2
by jerry keeton 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

(P 22:40 FAST2>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): F21001633 38263.461363903952.94 -3773326.54 +4430538.23 +0.00000 +0.00000 +0.00000+1372283286 017 017 014 018 027 09/07/2011 2240Z Jerry WB5LHD

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Looks like I will be passing though: DN00 DN10 DN11 DN20 I think someone was interested in DN10 there is a spot on I-80 where 10 & 11 meet. Now I want these Grids myself so I guess I have to work my brother 10 feet away to get them. Seems pretty lame to me but I suppose Rules are Rules. Kevin KF7MYK

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WD9EWK back on the satellites - soon...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hi! Due to a series of events over the past 3 weeks, I have had no time to work on the satellites. I've moved to a new QTH, one with a yard where I can work the satellites from. I won't have to go out to a park or parking lot to get on the satellites, unless I want to. I still plan on making occasional trips to the DM33/DM43 grid boundary in Phoenix, if there isn't much activity from the DM33 side of metro Phoenix. Since my mail goes to a PO box, that's one thing that will not change as a result of this move. I still have some packing to do at my apartment, and pulling things out of storage (including some items that have been packed away since my last move a few years back), so the moving process probably won't be finished until later this month. Once things settle down, I will start operating from the back yard. I'm not able to install antennas on the house, but I can look at using tripods for antennas in the yard. I will also have time to do more with the computer and my radios, and possibly get my FT-817NDs working with SatPC32. I'm looking forward to spending more weeknights on the radio, since I won't have to drive somewhere to do that. Going out to hamfests and other parts of Arizona will also return to my schedule, starting with the first hamfest of the upcoming Arizona hamfest "season" in Tucson next month. One observation... it has been neat to see all the posts about ARISSat-1. It may not be in a high orbit, and its 70cm antenna is not what it should have been, but it has been fun to see the posts and look at the ARISSat-1 telemetry web page from time to time. I'm hoping to get things going at home to try the transponder again, something I was not successful at last month. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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NASA to Broadcast Soyuz Landing 09/15
by Clint Bradford 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Sep. 07, 2011 MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-188 NASA TV WILL BROADCAST SOYUZ LANDING ON SEPT. 15 HOUSTON -- NASA Television will broadcast the return to Earth of three crew members who have called the International Space Station (ISS) home for more than five months. On Sept. 15, Expedition 28 Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev, NASA Flight Engineer Ron Garan and off-going station Commander Andrey Borisenko will undock from the station's Poisk module to return to Earth in their Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft. They are set to land on the southern region steppe of Kazakhstan near the town of Dzhezkazgan at 11:01 p.m. CDT on Sept. 15 (10:01 a.m. local time, Sept. 16). Their return was delayed a week due to the Aug. 24 loss of the unmanned ISS Progress 44 cargo craft. Expedition 29 station Commander Mike Fossum of NASA, Russian Flight Engineer Sergei Volkov and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa will remain aboard the complex to conduct research until their planned return to Earth in mid-November. The schedule to launch three new Expedition 29 crew members, NASA Flight Engineer Dan Burbank, Soyuz Commander Anton Shkaplerov and Russian Flight Engineer Anatoly Ivanishin, is under review as NASA and its international partners assess the readiness to resume Soyuz launches. The full schedule of the Expedition 28 Soyuz TMA-21 hatch closure, undocking and landing coverage is below. All times are CDT. Wednesday, Sept. 14 4:40 p.m. - Expedition 28-29 change of command ceremony (Borisenko hands over station command to Fossum) Thursday, Sept. 15 4 p.m. -¬ Soyuz TMA-21 crew farewells and hatch closure (hatch closure scheduled at 4:35 p.m.) 7:15 p.m. - Undocking coverage (undocking scheduled at 7:37 p.m.) 9:30 p.m. - Deorbit burn and landing coverage (Deorbit burn scheduled at 10:06 p.m., landing in Kazakhstan scheduled at 11:01 p.m.) Friday, Sept. 16 2 a.m. - Video File of the landing and post-landing activities (repeated at 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.) 11 a.m. - Video File of the landing and post-landing activities that includes post-landing interview with Garan and the cosmonauts' return to Chkalovsky Airfield near Star City, Russia For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station -end- Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

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Magnetic North vs True North/ARISSat-1
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Thanks to all who responded. I was doing the right thing. Another dilemma was whether to orient the antenna to True North and not make any corrections in software or set it to Magnetic North and do the declination adjustment with the rotor software. Six of one, half dozen of the other. Right now I have it oriented to True North. But, like Pete said: For the work we do, a few degrees off one way or the other will not stop the show. BTW, I have noticed somewhat of a deterioration in the signal strength of ARISSat-1. I have not been able to copy any of the telemetry for the past several passes. I have copied a few of the SSTV pix and FM Voice, but even they seem noisier. Doesn't help that I have a power substation a few blocks away that obviously needs to have some of the insulators replaced. I called the power company and asked that they check things out. We'll see if they respond. Keep em flyin' *Carl W8KRF*

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EM35 this weekend
by Rick - WA4NVM 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Hi All, I will make my annual trip to Mt. Nebo, AR for the Sept VHF contest. I will use our contest call NE5BO from Thursday afternoon (9-8-2011) until Monday morning (9-12-2011) If you work me and need a card from EM35, just send me an email with the information, and I will send you a QSL next week. Also, there will be other operators in our group using their own call. So, there's no reason you can't mark that grid off your list. Also, Frank K4FEG will be on another mountain top operating from EM24. FM birds only. Good luck, Rick WA4NVM

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Elko
by Kevin Deane 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Going to Elko this weekend and plan on hitting all the grids along I-80. I will bring all my brothers equipment so it should be alot better than when I went to So Cal. I will be taking pictures of GPS cooridinates and radio/antenna setup at each stop. I think that makes it official??? Will post more info tonight and am open to any suggestions. Thanks also to all the recent ISS Digi contacts been fun! Kevin KF7MYK

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EN85 Activation by VE3HZQ
by John Papay 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

Patric, VE3HZQ, announced on the air that he would be operating from EN85 on Wednesday, 14September2011. This is a fairly rare grid spanning the US and Canada. He has been active recently from his home grid, EN96. 73, John K8YSE

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Re: ARISSatTLM under Wine?
by Guy Mallery 07 Sep '11

07 Sep '11

> Date: Mon, 5 Sep 2011 20:49:52 -0700 > From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISSatTLM under Wine? > Message-ID: <BLU133-W13504FBB09F771D8BA572DA91C0(a)phx.gbl> > > > Has anyone had any success running ARISSatTLM on Linux under Wine? > > It seems to install ok (I'm using Crossover Office), but when I launch it I see the briefest glimpse of a telemetry screen, and > then it goes away (exits or crashes). No log files that I can find for what it didn't like. > > If it matters, I'm running OpenSuSE 11.1 / KDE 3.5 on a 3.2 GHz Pentium-4 HT. > > Thanks, > > Greg KO6TH Howdy, Looks fine (under wine) with Ubuntu LTS. Also looks like one of those cygwin runtime module deals. GL 73, Guy - W6MSU

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Attending the ARRL SW Div Convention Saturday?
by Clint Bradford 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

If you are attending the ARRL SW Division Convention in Torrance this Saturday ... AND if you've been thinking of purchasing either an Elk 2M/440L5 Log Periodic, an Arrow 146/437-10WBP, or Premier AL-800 ... Then have I got a couple deals for you! In conjunction with Ham Radio Outlet - Anaheim, mention "K6LCS Sat Special" at the HRO booth at the show, and get a couple bucks off the show price on the AL-800 and/or the Arrow ... and an impressive price of $82.95 for the Elk! AND THERE'S MORE! Bring your receipt from the purchase of a Yaesu FT-60R that you purchased from the fine folks at the HRO booth on Saturday to me - and the first four who do so will be handed a Smiley 270A antenna! I will be at the show from 7:30AM to dinner time on Saturday. Find me working the sats from the parking structure at the times posted all over the event. Or see me right before, during, or after my satellite show in Suites 9-11 which begins at Noon. Go ahead and interrupt the session - I only have FOUR of these great antennas to give away! Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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Re: UPDATE: DELFI C3 Close Approach Message
by Peter Portanova 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hello, An updated close approach message. 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 3:24 PM Subject: UPDATE: DELFI C3 Close Approach Message > Sir/Ma'am, > > The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has updated a > predicted conjunction between DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) and SCC# 33312. > > Primary Object: DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) > Secondary Object: SCC# 33312 > Time of Closest Approach: 07 SEP 2011 16:57 UTC > > Overall miss distance: 664 meters > Radial (dU) miss distance: 47 meters > In-Track (dV) miss distance: 650 meters > Cross-track (dW) miss distance: 134 meters > > Primary Radial Error (U): 13 meters > Primary In-track Error (V): 188 meters > Primary Cross-track Error (W): 7 meters > > Secondary Radial Error (U): 6 meters > Secondary In-track Error (V): 37 meters > Secondary Cross-track Error (W): 2 meters

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Invitation to connect on LinkedIn
by Joseph Armbruster via LinkedIn 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

LinkedIn ------------ Joseph Armbruster requested to add you as a connection on LinkedIn: ------------------------------------------ Robert, I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Joseph Accept invitation from Joseph Armbruster http://www.linkedin.com/e/nue9k3-gs9oigh0-38/uZZS51qQ8vtoSwf-G8aUdsIbren2oL… View invitation from Joseph Armbruster http://www.linkedin.com/e/nue9k3-gs9oigh0-38/uZZS51qQ8vtoSwf-G8aUdsIbren2oL… -- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

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Re: Magnetic North vs True North
by i8cvs 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

----- Original Message ----- > From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus(a)mcn.net> > To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2011 11:02 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Magnetic North vs True North > > > Hi domenico, > > I've always used the north star (Polaris) to set my rotor to true North or > "near" true North, and at 45.8 degrees N Lat it's easy to use the north > star to double check rotor elevation too. It's not 100% accurate. To be > 100% you might need some sort of astronomical almanac, but my antennas are > really low gain so accuracy for me isn't a problem. But I like to be > close, even so. > > 73 KB7ADL > Hi Vince, KB7ADL I too have always used the Polaris and found this procedure very satisfactory for the accuracy and backlash of the gears in our amateur rotator for VHF and UHF antennas. For the S band at 2400 MHz and a 1.2 meter dish to calibrate the Azimuth and Elevation I use the Sun Noise but the rotators have negligible backlash and the position readout can estimate +/- 0.25° Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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ISS digi activity
by Jeremy Bomkamp 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Seems to be a lot more QSO's going on any more. I guess we can blame KF7MYK for some of his posts months ago, thanks Kevin. I did get QSL cards from Brad, N5LUL and Josh W9HT, and had a lot of packet QSO's in the past couple months through the ISS including a couple with Kevin, it has been fun -- AB9RU

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ARISSat-1 KEDR Award
by Roland Zurmely 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I am very happy! I received my certificate for SSTV ! http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/arissat.htm#m 73 de Roland.

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ARISSat observations
by Jack Colson 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I have noticed on a number of daytime passes over the Southern US that the satellite is ON at AOS but within a minute or so switches off, NO FM, CW beacon or BPSK. Is this what is considered normal and I did not interpert the operation scheme correctly. Secondly, I have been sending in telemetry reports, should we hear that they are accepted ? 73 Jack, W3TMZ

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Info on Prospero
by John Heath 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hi, Looked to see what I had on Prospero from the previous attempts to hear it. This might be of interest. I only have this fragment, not the entire paper, or section 4.4 more's the pity. 73 John G7HIA Accession Number : AD0734634 Title : Orbital Operations Handbook for the X3 Satellite. Descriptive Note : Technical rept., Corporate Author : ROYAL AIRCRAFT ESTABLISHMENT FARNBOROUGH (ENGLAND) Personal Author(s) : Adams,V. W. Report Date : AUG 1971 Pagination or Media Count : 63 Abstract : The X3 satellite, the first technological spacecraft in the British National Space Programme, is scheduled to be launched on a Black Arrow vehicle in late 1971. The spacecraft carries experiments to investigate performance of solar cells, characteristics of thermal surfaces, micrometeoroid flux and performance in orbit of a hybrid electronics package: section 4.4 gives details. In addition newly developed data, telemetry, telecommand and power system will be tested in orbit. The micrometeoroid flux experiment has been contributed by the University of Birmingham, England. (Author)

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More On Apollo Landing Site Pictures
by B J 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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New Views - Apollo Landing Sites
by Clint Bradford 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

RELEASE: 11-289 NASA SPACECRAFT IMAGES OFFER SHARPER VIEWS OF APOLLO LANDING SITES GREENBELT, Md. -- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. Images show the twists and turns of the paths made when the astronauts explored the lunar surface. At the Apollo 17 site, the tracks laid down by the lunar rover are clearly visible, along with the last foot trails left on the moon. The images also show where the astronauts placed some of the scientific instruments that provided the first insight into the moon's environment and interior. "We can retrace the astronauts' steps with greater clarity to see where they took lunar samples," said Noah Petro, a lunar geologist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., who is a member of the LRO project science team. All three images show distinct trails left in the moon's thin soil when the astronauts exited the lunar modules and explored on foot. In the Apollo 17 image, the foot trails, including the last path made on the moon by humans, are easily distinguished from the dual tracks left by the lunar rover, which remains parked east of the lander. "The new low-altitude Narrow Angle Camera images sharpen our view of the moon's surface," said Arizona State University researcher Mark Robinson, principal investigator for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). "A great example is the sharpness of the rover tracks at the Apollo 17 site. In previous images the rover tracks were visible, but now they are sharp parallel lines on the surface." At each site, trails also run to the west of the landers, where the astronauts placed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) to monitor the moon's environment and interior. This equipment was a key part of every Apollo mission. It provided the first insights into the moon's internal structure, measurements of the lunar surface pressure and the composition of its atmosphere. Apollo 11 carried a simpler version of the science package. One of the details that shows up is a bright L-shape in the Apollo 12 image. It marks the locations of cables running from ALSEP's central station to two of its instruments. Although the cables are much too small for direct viewing, they show up because they reflect light very well. The higher resolution of these images is possible because of adjustments made to LRO's orbit, which is slightly oval-shaped or elliptical. "Without changing the average altitude, we made the orbit more elliptical, so the lowest part of the orbit is on the sunlit side of the moon," said Goddard's John Keller, deputy LRO project scientist. "This put LRO in a perfect position to take these new pictures of the surface." The maneuver lowered LRO from its usual altitude of approximately 31 miles (50 kilometers) to an altitude that dipped as low as nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) as it passed over the moon's surface. The spacecraft has remained in this orbit for 28 days, long enough for the moon to completely rotate. This allows full coverage of the surface by LROC's Wide Angle Camera. The cycle ends today when the spacecraft will be returned to its 31-mile orbit. "These images remind us of our fantastic Apollo history and beckon us to continue to move forward in exploration of our solar system," said Jim Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. LRO was built and managed by Goddard. Initial research was funded by the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. In September 2010, after a one-year successful exploration mission, the mission turned its attention from exploration objectives to scientific research in NASA's Science Mission Directorate. To learn more about LRO, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/lro -end- Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

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Is Prospero still TX'ing?
by John Heath 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Is Prospero still transmitting? Sometime ago, I think in 2007 the BBC TV program Coast was on the Isle of White where there had been a test stand for rocket testing. They talked about Prospero and had a short piece with some people trying to hear it with a small yagi. Apologies but the memory is a bit hazy. Subsequently I spent quite a few hours listening for it with a tower mounted 5el X yagi, an up to date set of keps, and an FT847 - after several days, nothing heard. 73 John G7HIA

2 1

6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina
by i8cvs 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hi All, Just for curiosity please look at this 6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina ! http://sinocom.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=2124&d=1302278111 The left capacitor is encapsulated in original conditions while the right capacitor has been decapsulated. Info received from my friend Paolo, IW2HEU 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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Re: Is Prospero still TX'ing?
by Trevor . 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Although funding to command the satellite ceased in 1996 the Prospero real-time oribtal tracking page says it was heard in 2006. http://www.vk3ukf.com/Space/GadgetSatProspero.htm I would image now the Mullard Space Science Laboratory in Surrey are attempting to command the satellite again the 137.560 MHz beacon would become operational if enough of the satellite is still working. Given the 40th anniversary of this historic UK spacecraft takes place in October I would expect the media would be very interested if any amateur succeeded in receiving it in the coming weeks. Audio recordings of the 0.3 watt phase modulated signal with PCM at 2048 bit/s from Prospero on 137.560 MHz can be heard on the Sounds from Space website of Matthias Bopp DD1US http://www.dd1us.de/spacesounds%204.html Bernhard VA6BMJ says that there's an item about Prospero in the Space Boffins podcast: http://audioboo.fm/boos/431009-space-boffins-podcast2 73 Trevor M5AKA

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ARISSat-1 status message
by Richard Ferryman 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I use ARISSatTLM to decode and forward data from ARISSat-1. Usually the 'mode' shows HIGH POWER or LOW POWER but today I saw at least one frame showing EMERGENCY although a later frame was back to LOW POWER Can anyone tell me the conditions that trigger this EMERGENCY mode and what changes to operation take place in this mode. Dick G4BBH

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I8CVS
by ANTHONY JAPHA 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Domenico, Wait till you see what's inside the 2200uf cap! 73, Tony, N2UN

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ARISSatTLM under Wine?
by Greg D. 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Has anyone had any success running ARISSatTLM on Linux under Wine? It seems to install ok (I'm using Crossover Office), but when I launch it I see the briefest glimpse of a telemetry screen, and then it goes away (exits or crashes). No log files that I can find for what it didn't like. If it matters, I'm running OpenSuSE 11.1 / KDE 3.5 on a 3.2 GHz Pentium-4 HT. Thanks, Greg KO6TH

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Fwd: TAPR PSR Summer 2011 Journal Now Available
by Mark Thompson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Stan Horzepa <stanzepa(a)sbcglobal.net> To: tapr-announce(a)tapr.org Sent: Monday, September 5, 2011 9:23 AM Subject: [tapr-announce] Summer 2011 TAPR PSR is now available Summer 2011 TAPR PSR is now available at http://www.tapr.org/psr Table of Contents of the Summer 2011, #116 issue of TAPR PSR: * President's Corner * Board of Directors Elections * DCC Schedules * Bible’s Blog * Digital ATV Yahoo Group * What’s With the ### ? * Hermes on YouTube * Time for More Time * TAPR at Dayton Hamvention * TAPR Board of Directors Meeting Minutes * Join TAPR on Twitter & Facebook * VK6APH Receives Award * APRS Supports Bicycle Riders Public Service Event * APRS Tactical Call Signs * Write Here! * Fixing A Little TAPR History * The Fine Print * Our Membership App By the way, the TAPR editorial staff is now accepting contributions for the next issue of PSR. October 15, 2011 is the deadline for submissions; send your submissions to wa1lou(a)tapr.org

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W4/G4DPZ
by David Johnson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Hi Folks, My wife and I will be in Orlando for 10 days from the 10th of September. I'm taking the Arrow and my TH-D7 so when we're not in the parks or Space Center, I hope that I'll catch you on one of the birds or one of the many Orlando repeaters. My thoughts are with my American friends and colleagues for 911. I was on a training course in SF, 10 years and due to the time difference across the USA, we awoke after it had happened and my European family had been watching it unfold for some time. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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Plan to revive 1970s UK satellite
by Trevor . 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

No not an Amateur Radio satellite but the United Kingdom's first satellite launched on a UK built rocket 40 years ago. The Prospero spacecraft was launched by a Black Arrow rocket on October 28, 1971 from Launch Area 5B, Woomera. Full story and pics at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14783135 73 Trevor M5AKA

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2E1EUB is awarded LOUIS VARNEY CUP(for space communication)
by Daniel "Nick" Kucij 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Congratulations on your award Paul! It's always fun to catch you when you're operating portable (2M1EUB) from some wild location on an island off the Scottish coast and also to often hear your familiar voice calling on AO-7 passes when you're comfortable back at home. The rover and solar-powered, station set-up photos on your QRZ pages are neat. Looking forward to another QSO soon. 73 Nick KB1RVT

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EI7KD on AO-51
by Daniel "Nick" Kucij 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

If you're in a location to work Ireland on AO-51, EI7KD, has been calling CQ on our first afternoon pass here in N.A. several times lately looking for trans-atlantic contacts. I'd not heard him on before. He's got a good signal. Give him a try! 73 Nick KB1RVT

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2E1EUB is awarded LOUIS VARNEY CUP(for space communication)
by paul robinson 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

2E1EUB was awarded yestered Sunday September 4th the Louis Varney cup at the Telford (uk) amature radio show,by RSGB president Dave Wilson (M00BW) Paul was nominated by amsat uk for his work promoting and encouraging the use of amature satellites and perfecting the art of a portable ground station. The cup was first awarded in 1956 and is for advances in space communication...Paul comments that he is privileged to have his call sign and name on the cup along side some very famous other call signs,some of which are no longer with us,he would like to thank amsat uk and the RSGB for this award.

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Road Trip canceled
by Jim Adams 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

My planned trip to DM57 today isn't working out, so I have to cancel. I'll try to get up there next weekend. Apologies. Jim Adams - K0BAM

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Exploring Space With Chip-Sized Micro Satellites
by Trevor . 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv9G2zzn1xI 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Fw: DELFI C3 Close Approach
by Peter Portanova 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Good Labor Day to all, FYI 73's Pete WB2OQQ www.massapequanyweather.com Subject: DELFI C3 Close Approach > Sir/Ma'am, > > The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has identified a > predicted conjunction between DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) and SCC# 33312. > > Primary Object: DELFI C3 (SCC# 32789) > Secondary Object: SCC# 33312 > Time of Closest Approach: 07 SEP 2011 16:57 UTC > > Overall miss distance: 891 meters > Radial (dU) miss distance: 60 meters > In-Track (dV) miss distance: 872 meters > Cross-track (dW) miss distance: 179 meters > > Primary Radial Error (U): 14 meters > Primary In-track Error (V): 662 meters > Primary Cross-track Error (W): 6 meters > > Secondary Radial Error (U): 2 meters > Secondary In-track Error (V): 111 meters > Secondary Cross-track Error (W): 2 meters

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Re: ARISSat-1 Reception Certificates
by Patrick Farcon 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Quick question for all. I submitted for voice telemetry and SSTV certificates at the same time. I received the SSTV certificate quite quickly but still awaiting the voice telemetry certificate. I am presuming perhaps that SSTV may not be as numerous as voice telemetry requests? I also finally was able to submit for the secret word certificate which was nice from a great pass yesterday afternoon. Enjoying the satellite while it is still usable and hope to try the transponder soon. 73, Pat N2VYT FN20un

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Satellite Activity Logger being Pulled?
by Ellis Foley 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Return Mail to wa1rks(a)yahoo.com Back In June Bob In NJ. the provider of all the "Logger" pages ( Which I understand he does out of pocket on his own) said that the Satellite logger page was not being used enough, and that to save space on the system his was going to pull it.This is something provided here in the gud old USA. sad to watch if fall to other entities.Hence the adage "Use it or lose it" my 2 cents worth. irreguardless of the particulars of the situation,it still remains to be lost,if not used. My 2 cents worth.

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IO-26
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

What is the status of IO-26? I heard the beacon 5-9 today. Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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Radio hams tune in to space airwaves
by Trevor . 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

John Heath G7HIA has written an article about amateur radio space communications for the October edition of the British Interplanetary Society magazine Spaceflight. The Spaceflight description says: "Radio amateurs have always been keen to exploit new means of communication and John Heath [G7HIA] provides a fascinating insight into how satellite technology has transformed the world of the radio ham soon after the launch of Sputnik right up to the present day." The article covers the FUNcube satellite, ARISSat, GB4FUN and the FUNcube Dongle SDR. You can buy the October edition of Spaceflight magazine via http://www.spaceflightmagazine.com/pages/latest-issue.html ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Good ARISSat-1 reception with rubber ducky in Eastern Canada
by Burns Fisher 04 Sep '11

04 Sep '11

I was visiting FN95 on my vacation; beautiful hilltop with about nearly 360 degree visibility. I first caught a 30-degree elevation using my F6A with stock rubber ducky. I had to twist it around a bit to find the right best orientation (horizontal this time) but I got a nice signal the entire pass. I hope I have recorded some SSTV that I can decode once I get back home. That will be cool! Next orbit (about 23:58Z Aug 29) it went directly overhead (or close). This time I happened to hit the greeting in English, which was clearly audible, although I did not get as much SSTV. I probably wasn't tweaking the doppler enough or getting the orientation right. Bonus: ISS came over 5 minutes later and I got to ooh and aaah our friends. Now that I have a few things that work, I can eliminate some of my sources of trouble at the home QTH, and hopefully get the signal back where I have the decoding software etc set up! Whoo-hoo! This is fun! And the telemetry sounds like the solar panels are holding up well even if the battery did not! Burns, W2BFJ

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5 in em55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 04 Sep '11

04 Sep '11

Congrats to Jim KE4KOL for award #28 5 in EM55 award will be mailed Tuesday WA4HFN Damon em55

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Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
by AJ9N＠aol.com 04 Sep '11

04 Sep '11

SatPC32 and Nova both support Flip mode directly. Just follow the instructions within the programs on how to do the set up. 73, Charlie AJ9N In a message dated 9/4/2011 1:28:05 P.M. Central Daylight Time, wa4ivm(a)amsat.org writes: I believe the G5400 is a 360 degree rotor control. If you are wanting to go from West through North to East, you will hit the stop. Two options come to mind. Put the stop at South, but this gives the same problem going from West to East though South. The second option is a program like FLIPANTS that turns the antenna on it's back and turns the Az control plus/minus 180 so that the stop is not a problem. Decide if the "through North" or "through South" will become a problem and make a choice, then use the software to overcome it. Flipants is a old DOS program, but I think you can find an equivalent available. Click below to go to download Flipants. http://www.mustbeart.com/software/flipants.html Good luck and I hope this helps solve some obstacles. 73, Jim WA4IVM ps: The G5500 rotator has a 450 degree travel and helps diminish this problem, but it will cost more $$$$. On 9/4/2011 1:15 PM, Joe Leikhim wrote: > Thanks to all who replied. When I last installed the rotator, I had a > free standing tower and I pored the foundation and mounting bolts such > that one leg was aligned true north. > > In this new case, the tower face will have to be against a wall and > that wall as I mentioned is +28 degrees from north. The consensus is > that the azimuth rotator case can be oriented in any direction and the > antenna's (and elevation rotator separation kit) be clamped to the top > of the rotator aligned to true north. What I can't sort out is if I > will hit a stop if I rotate full CW or CCW, before reaching the south > direction. The comments seem to imply I won't. > > Thanks. > _______________________________________________ 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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