- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

ISS and Discovery - Final visible pass
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Hi all, Just had one of those rare opportunities with clear skies in the UK and a wonderful sighting to remember.. The ISS and shuttle Discovery were both very visible - now undocked and in transit west to east before going into eclipse 1924 hrs GMT Being the last opportunity to see the pair like this will be something that I will never forget. Happy landing Discovery, Good Luck and well done to all of the team that gave you such support. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA

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Re: Sat Programs for IPAQ ?
by Clint Bradford 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

>> ... sat tracker for PocketPC ... PocketSat for Pocket PC! http://www.bigfattail.com/software/pocketsatplus/ Clint, K6LCS

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SO67 Europe Schedule
by Hans 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Hi all Sorry about the website glitch. The correct page with the SO67 Europe and Africa schedule is now on the web at www.amsatsa.org.za <http://www.amsatsa.org.za/> 73 Hans

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SO-67 ON over Europe this week
by Ib Christoffersen 07 Mar '11

07 Mar '11

Hi all in Europe, This week it is on over Europe. I heard it this morning and again with AOS at 1645 UTC here in Copenhagen. The schedule will probably be on SA-AMSATs homepage shortly. http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ Until it is there assume it is on during European passes. Take a look at: http://oscar.dcarr.org/ AND please use normal FM modulation with the mike gain turned down until your downlink sounds good. Do not use the CTCSS tone. Have fun. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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Re: Antenna Analyzer
by Tom Clark 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

In addition to the other alternatives described by WA4SCA, Let me also suggest another nice VNA (Vector Network Analyzer) -- the Mini-VNA and Mini-VNA PRO made in Europe and available in the US from http://www.w4rt.com/ and Gigaparts (http://www.gigaparts.com/gpsales/1002/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZW4-MINI… <http://www.gigaparts.com/gpsales/1002/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZW4-MINI…> and http://www.gigaparts.com/gpsales/1002/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZW4-MINI… <http://www.gigaparts.com/gpsales/1002/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZW4-MINI…>). I got my Mini-VNA PRO last year at Dayton from W4RT and I find it to be a most interesting widget. It is a full 2-port VNA covering the entire 0.1-200 MHz range. It is intended to be used with a Windoze computer (my Lenovo Netbook is more than adequate) and normally connects via USB. The USB port provides DC power, either to run the unit or to charge its internal LiPO battery. It is battery powered and can also interface via a wireless Bluetooth serial port. One nifty thing here -- you can put the entire VNA at the feedpoint of an antenna (very useful with an HF wire), hoist it into the air and measure the intrinsic feedpoint impedance with NO cables attached, making all measurements using the wireless Bluetooth connection. Another useful additional function is that the PRO has two independent DDS generators, one associated with each port. They can be programmed to use as separate programmable test oscillators. The Mini-VNA and PRO are of German origin and marketed by Wimo: http://www.wimo.com/cgi-bin/verteiler.pl?url=instrumentation_e.html&p=miniv… <http://www.wimo.com/cgi-bin/verteiler.pl?url=instrumentation_e.html&p=miniv…>. There is a nice writeup on the original Mini-VNA in the British magazine Practical Wireless (http://www.wimo.com/download/testreport_minivna_practical_wireless-dec-07.p…) that describes use of the VNA. 73, Tom K3IO

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Re: Antenna Analyzer
by i8cvs 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

Hi Art, KC6UQH If you are satisfied with an antenna VSWR in the order of 1.5 : 1 then you don't need an antenna analyser but only a VSWR meter. An antenna analyser must be able to measure with accuracy the real part and the imaginary part of the impedance i.e. the resistive and the reactive part of the impedance Z = R +/- jX For example the same antenna VSWR of 1.5 : 1 can be obtained with an antenna impedance having the following values and all of them are laying over the same VSWR circle of the Smith Chart Z1 = 38+j13 ohm Z2 = 66+j16 ohm Z3 = 58- j20 ohm Z4 = 34- j0 ohm Since the same VSWR can be found over a VSWR circle then the values of the impedance giving the same VSWR are infinite values. The MFJ-269 analyser make acceptable R +/-jX measurements only up to 30 MHz but fail to measure accurate resistive and reactive part of the impedance above 30 MHz and in other words it is not a respectable antenna analyser. Why to wast money to buy an antenna analyser to measure wrong values of Z= R+/- jX if been happy with only the value of the VSWR you need only a VSWR meter ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Art McBride" <kc6uqh(a)cox.net> > To: "'i8cvs'" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it>; "'Pete Rowe'" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com>; > "'AMSAT BB'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "'Howard Kowall'" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 7:38 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > > Domenico, > > For most Amateur Radio work a VSWR of 1.5:1 is adequate. I personally have > never expected MFJ products to be in the League of Anristu, HP and Rohde > and Swartz. > MFJ is a yard stick, the others are a micrometers > Art, > KC6UQH > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of i8cvs > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 9:41 AM > To: Pete Rowe; AMSAT BB; Howard Kowall > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > Hi Pete, WA6WOA > > I do not recommend the MFJ-269 antenna analyser because it is very > inaccurate particularly on 435 MHz > I have compared the MFJ-269 with several professional network analysers > and I have found that at most the MFJ is usable up to 30 MHz maximum > because above 30 MHz the inaccuracy on the real part and the imaginary > part of the impedance reading becomes absolutely unacceptable. > > My MFJ-269 was purchased as new but connecting to it a professional > 50 ohm termination good up to 12 GHz the VSWR shown at 435 MHz > was 1.1 > > I have sent back my MFJ to the factory for inspecting and calibration but > I belive that the above instrument was a very bad affair for me and will > be a bad affair for all that intend to use the analyser above 30 MHz. > > Be happy with your MFJ-269 even if dreaming while sleeping I am sure that > my message made you suspect a wrong real part and a wrong imaginary part > on your impedance reading ! > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 4:45 PM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > > > > > Hi Howard > > I wouldn't be without my MFJ-269 analyzer. It is very accurate and a > > handy size. Highly recommended. (no, I don't own stock in MFJ) > > One word of caution: mine (and maybe there is something wrong with mine) > > draws some power from the batteries with the power switch OFF. So I take > > one of the batteries out when not in use. > > > > 73, > > Pete > > WA6WOA > > > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> wrote: > > > > From: Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Analyzer > > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 6:16 AM > > > > Hello to everyone > > I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough > > antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of > > all flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I > > guess what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 500mhz,nice to > > have computer interface but not a priority.I have seen a few on the > > internet but its nice to get some user input,rather then the sales > > pitches. > > Thanks to all who read and reply in advance > > Howard > > VE4ISP > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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Antenna Analyzer
by Howard Kowall 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

Hello to everyone I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of all flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I guess what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 500mhz,nice to have computer interface but not a priority.I have seen a few on the internet but its nice to get some user input,rather then the sales pitches. Thanks to all who read and reply in advance Howard VE4ISP

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Sat Programs for IPAQ ?
by Ted 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

I just ran across our 'retired' IPAQ Pocket PC (how far we have come, right?.) Anyway, is anyone aware of any programs that might work on this thing to at least display a sat track. I thought it might be useful if it were nailed to my Arrow or at least in a shirt pocket.. Any help appreciated Ted, K7TRK

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Re: Antenna Analyzer
by Clint Bradford 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

First, befriend a Motorola technician at your local Moto dealership - if you haven't already. And you really have two price-point options: about US$400 for an MFJ-269, or a true piece of bench service gear at about US$5000. If you get an MFJ-269, "use" your contact with a real service tech to "compare" results. There was an issue with QC on the MFJ-269 (SOURCE: Personal experience, as I sold them for a couple of years). So - if you get a good one - or one with consistent results, you'll really enjoy it. Clint, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 142
by Louis McFadin 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

Try an AEA VIA Echo. A lot more than the MFJ but worth it. Sent from my iPhone On Mar 6, 2011, at 15:00, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode (Mark L. Hammond) > 2. Re: Antenna Analyzer (Pete Rowe) > 3. AO7 on Mode A (John Geiger) > 4. SATPC32 ISS Showing weird operation (Marc Tessier - VE3TES) > 5. Re: Antenna Analyzer (i8cvs) > 6. Re: Antenna Analyzer (Art McBride) > 7. Re: Antenna Analyzer (Pete Rowe) > 8. Re: SATPC32 ISS Showing weird operation (Alan P. Biddle) > 9. Re: SATPC32 ISS Showing weird operation (Greg D.) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2011 10:08:14 -0500 > From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode > To: "Bob Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu>, <APBIDDLE(a)mailaps.org>, > "'Vincenzo Mone'" <vimone(a)alice.it>, "'Amsat - BBs'" > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <Fr8H1g00156cfur05r8HJ4(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > You can guess my answer... > > Yes :) > > We make every attempt to keep the digipeater ON when the BBS is on. In fact, I think the default from a full reload of the satellite is DIGI ON. > > > 73, > > Mark N8MH > > At 09:30 AM 3/6/2011 -0500, Bob Bruninga wrote: >> You can guess my question... >> Is UI digipeat enabled? >> >>> It is definitely harder to access on the L uplink >>> than on the rarely used V uplink, but it does work. >> >> Bob, WB4APR >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 07:45:06 -0800 (PST) > From: Pete Rowe <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Message-ID: <934887.34524.qm(a)web161211.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Hi Howard > I wouldn't be without my MFJ-269 analyzer.? It is very accurate and a handy size.? Highly recommended. (no, I don't own stock in MFJ) > One word of caution: mine (and maybe there is something wrong with mine) draws some power from the batteries with the power switch OFF. So I take one of the batteries out when not in use. > > 73, > Pete > WA6WOA > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> wrote: > > From: Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Analyzer > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 6:16 AM > > Hello to everyone > I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of all flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I guess what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 500mhz,nice to have computer interface but not a priority.I have seen a few on the internet but its nice to get some user input,rather then the sales pitches. > Thanks to all who read and reply in advance > Howard > VE4ISP > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 16:09:50 -0000 > From: "John Geiger" <aa5jg(a)fidmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO7 on Mode A > To: "Amsat-Bb@Amsat. Org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <0F53FE515CD94CF4B09A0FBA80DCE95D@acer61a4596bd3> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Has there been much activity on Mode A recently? > > 73s John AA5JG > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 12:21:24 -0500 > From: "Marc Tessier - VE3TES" <ve3tes(a)cogeco.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 ISS Showing weird operation > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <76D433D9E1B9470F923E1374E863F790@ve3tespag9ezp9> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hello group, after finally getting my SSB part of the station fully operational, I then moved on to getting my packet operations up and running , and with great success, one wee problem, I have noticed this when tracking the ISS, I am able to still digipeat off the station even long after it is supposed to be beyond the horizon according to my Satpc32 ISS software. My keps are up to date via the Satpc32 software, is there a error due to the large amount of mass now docked on the ISS? or have the keps not be uploaded in a timely fashion to the server I get my keps from?... > > Run down of my operation conditions here are as follows... > > Radio - Kenwood TS2000 > Software SATPC32 + Satpc32 ISS > PC - Dell P4 2.4Ghz CPU with internet connection > > Is there another method of getting my keps to show more accurate tracking of this big bird?... > > Regards, > > Marc Tessier - VE3TES > ve3tes(a)cogeco.ca > Grid FN25pa > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5930 (20110306) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 18:40:56 +0100 > From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > To: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com>, "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, > "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Message-ID: <000001cbdc25$e41875a0$0401a8c0@b3o7f1> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Hi Pete, WA6WOA > > I do not recommend the MFJ-269 antenna analyser because it is very > inaccurate particularly on 435 MHz > I have compared the MFJ-269 with several professional network analysers and > I have found that at most the MFJ is usable up to 30 MHz maximum because > above 30 MHz the inaccuracy on the real part and the imaginary part of the > impedance reading becomes absolutely unacceptable. > > My MFJ-269 was purchased as new but connecting to it a professional > 50 ohm termination good up to 12 GHz the VSWR shown at 435 MHz > was 1.1 > > I have sent back my MFJ to the factory for inspecting and calibration but I > belive that the above instrument was a very bad affair for me and will be a > bad affair for all that intend to use the analyser above 30 MHz. > > Be happy with your MFJ-269 even if dreaming while sleeping I am sure that > my message made you suspect a wrong real part and a wrong imaginary part > on your impedance reading ! > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 4:45 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > > Hi Howard > I wouldn't be without my MFJ-269 analyzer. It is very accurate and a handy > size. Highly recommended. (no, I don't own stock in MFJ) > One word of caution: mine (and maybe there is something wrong with mine) > draws some power from the batteries with the power switch OFF. So I take one > of the batteries out when not in use. > > 73, > Pete > WA6WOA > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> wrote: > > From: Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Analyzer > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 6:16 AM > > Hello to everyone > I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough > antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of all > flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I guess > what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 500mhz,nice to have > computer interface but not a priority.I have seen a few on the internet but > its nice to get some user input,rather then the sales pitches. > Thanks to all who read and reply in advance > Howard > VE4ISP > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 10:38:32 -0800 > From: "Art McBride" <kc6uqh(a)cox.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > To: "'i8cvs'" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it>, "'Pete Rowe'" > <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com>, "'AMSAT BB'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, "'Howard > Kowall'" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Message-ID: <D4644327646E4B25BA81B47CB6463BDB@KC6UQH> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Domenico, > > For most Amateur Radio work a VSWR of 1.5:1 is adequate. I personally have > never expected MFJ products to be in the League of Anristu, HP and Rohde and > Swartz. > MFJ is a yard stick, the others are a micrometers > Art, > KC6UQH > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of i8cvs > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 9:41 AM > To: Pete Rowe; AMSAT BB; Howard Kowall > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > Hi Pete, WA6WOA > > I do not recommend the MFJ-269 antenna analyser because it is very > inaccurate particularly on 435 MHz > I have compared the MFJ-269 with several professional network analysers and > I have found that at most the MFJ is usable up to 30 MHz maximum because > above 30 MHz the inaccuracy on the real part and the imaginary part of the > impedance reading becomes absolutely unacceptable. > > My MFJ-269 was purchased as new but connecting to it a professional > 50 ohm termination good up to 12 GHz the VSWR shown at 435 MHz > was 1.1 > > I have sent back my MFJ to the factory for inspecting and calibration but I > belive that the above instrument was a very bad affair for me and will be a > bad affair for all that intend to use the analyser above 30 MHz. > > Be happy with your MFJ-269 even if dreaming while sleeping I am sure that > my message made you suspect a wrong real part and a wrong imaginary part > on your impedance reading ! > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 4:45 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > > Hi Howard > I wouldn't be without my MFJ-269 analyzer. It is very accurate and a handy > size. Highly recommended. (no, I don't own stock in MFJ) > One word of caution: mine (and maybe there is something wrong with mine) > draws some power from the batteries with the power switch OFF. So I take one > of the batteries out when not in use. > > 73, > Pete > WA6WOA > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> wrote: > > From: Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Analyzer > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 6:16 AM > > Hello to everyone > I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough > antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of all > flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I guess > what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 500mhz,nice to have > computer interface but not a priority.I have seen a few on the internet but > its nice to get some user input,rather then the sales pitches. > Thanks to all who read and reply in advance > Howard > VE4ISP > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 5929 (20110305) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 5931 (20110306) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 10:45:27 -0800 (PST) > From: Pete Rowe <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca>, > i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Message-ID: <601661.85707.qm(a)web161218.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 > > Thanks Dominico > I have also compared my unit with an HP network analyzer and have found the readings to be quite acceptable for amateur work.?? Mine reads 1.0 :1 into a precision load up to 170 MHz.? Indeed, it reads 1.1:1 at UHF and that is just fine for my measurements. Rarely do I see an antenna match less than 1.1:1. > > 73, > Pete > > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> wrote: > > From: i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > To: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com>, "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 9:40 AM > > Hi Pete, WA6WOA > > I do not recommend the MFJ-269 antenna analyser because it is very > inaccurate particularly on 435 MHz > I have compared the MFJ-269 with several professional network analysers and > I have found that at most the MFJ is usable up to 30 MHz maximum because > above 30 MHz the inaccuracy on the real part and the imaginary part of the > impedance reading becomes absolutely unacceptable. > > My MFJ-269 was purchased as new but connecting to it a professional > 50 ohm termination good up to 12 GHz the VSWR shown at 435 MHz > was 1.1 > > I have sent back my MFJ to the factory for inspecting? and calibration but I > belive that the above instrument was a very bad affair for me and will be a > bad affair for all that intend to use the analyser above 30 MHz. > > Be happy with your MFJ-269 even if? dreaming while sleeping I am sure that > my message made you suspect a wrong real part and a wrong imaginary part > on your impedance reading ! > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pete Rowe" <ptrowe(a)yahoo.com> > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2011 4:45 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna Analyzer > > > Hi Howard > I wouldn't be without my MFJ-269 analyzer. It is very accurate and a handy > size. Highly recommended. (no, I don't own stock in MFJ) > One word of caution: mine (and maybe there is something wrong with mine) > draws some power from the batteries with the power switch OFF. So I take one > of the batteries out when not in use. > > 73, > Pete > WA6WOA > > --- On Sun, 3/6/11, Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> wrote: > > From: Howard Kowall <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb]? Antenna Analyzer > To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Sunday, March 6, 2011, 6:16 AM > > Hello to everyone > I am seriously thinking about buying an antenna analyzer,I build enough > antennas to justify buying one.I enjoy building HF,VHF,UHF antennas of all > flavors.The standard swr bridge is just not cutting it anymore.So I guess > what I am looking for is one that will do 3mhz to 50

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AO7 on Mode A
by John Geiger 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

Has there been much activity on Mode A recently? 73s John AA5JG

1 0

AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode
by Vincenzo Mone 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

Hi Folks, I am trying the bird on: 9k6 BBS and Telemetry. Does it work? With the MSPE I can just receive numbers like: B:44253341 What does it mean? I am trying to request the DIR on 1268.700 MHz, but I do not get any response. On the upper side of the MSPE program often I can read: Frames Heard from PACB-1 I am asking this because I would like to see if my system still works. Is there any other Bird that I can use the 1.2 GHz Band? Any help will be really appreciated Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** *************************************** 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************** ******* GSM +39 338 9749786 ******* ****** SMS +39 338 9749786 ****** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** *********************************

4 3

Logbook software?
by Bryan Green 06 Mar '11

06 Mar '11

What's the favorite logbook software for satellite work? I've asked a few prolific ops privately but am curious in public. It seems to me that the usual suspects for HF work are not adequate for the roving grid hoppers among us. The one thing it seems software could do nicely is automate the (now possible) LotW upload and reconciliation. I'm not much of a Linux desktop user, but I do use both Mac and Windows. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance, and obligatory apologies to the OTs for repeating a question. :) Bryan Green KL7CN Usually /W6 in CM98fn 408-836-7279

4 3

TS2000 and satpc
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Has anyone experienced the TS 2000 Tone jumping to 1750Hz while using SAT PC? WA4HFN Damon

2 1

Shuttle launch from a nearby airliner
by Rick Tejera 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Thought some might find this interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_USPTmYXM Sent from my iPod Rick Tejera Editor, SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org K7TEJ

3 2

ANS-065 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-065 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: * AO-51 Configuration Plans Still Affected by Eclipses * ARISSat-1 to be Activated Aboard ISS on April 12 * AMSAT Heading For Dayton Hamvention * NASA Glory Satellite and Three CubeSats Lost Vandenberg Launch Failure * Pakistan Developing Student CubeSat Projects * Satellite Shorts From All Over * NASA, Make Magazine Announce Competition to Fly Student Experiments SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.01 AO-51 Configuration Plans Still Affected by Eclipses AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.01 AO-51 Command Station, Mark Hammond, N8MH reported that AO-51 is nearing the end of eclipse periods. Analysis of telemetry from the satellite shows that AO-51 is still not experiencing full sunlight, most likely due to spacecraft orientation and sun angle. On-board temperatures are climbing and the Command Team continues to monitor and tweak various power management parameters to take advantage of the solar power that is available. Helpful reports from users (about the transmitters turning OFF) and telemetry confirm that AO-51 is still seeing a few minutes of "dark- ness" every orbit. AO-51 was configured for "normal operational mode" on March 3, and will remain in this configuration until further notice. That includes the V/U repeater the Packet BBS with L-band uplink: AO-51 Schedule as of March 3: Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud The Packet BBS will be open for use, but the Command Team asks for your cooperation (by standing by and not entering the queue) if you share the footprint with a command station (most often on the East coast of the US). Should conditions improve, there will be an attempt support some S-band operations--but for now that seems unlikely. The latest AO-51 status and configuration news will be posted on the amsat-bb and on the AO-51 Control Team News web page at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php [ANS thanks Mark Hammond, N8MH for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.02 ARISSat-1 to be Activated Aboard ISS on April 12 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.02 The ARISSat-1 satellite, presently still inside the ISS, will be turned on and use an external antenna on 12 April 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight. AMSAT will support this event and issue certificates to those stations reporting reception of the ARISSat-1 signals. Roscosmos has announced that the satellite will be deployed into orbit during the next EVA in July of this year. Latest ARISSat-1 News http://www.arissat1.org/v3/ Get your color ARISSat-1 Frequency Guide here. http://tinyurl.com/4t497t2 (AMSAT web) ARISSat-1 Presentation Slides (~1MB) http://tinyurl.com/4n4pzkm (AMSAT web) SouthGate streaming videos about the April 12 Yuri's Night plus links to more resources can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/49jnbg2 (SouthGate ARC) [ANS thanks the ARISSat-1 Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.03 AMSAT Heading For Dayton Hamvention AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.03 The 2011 Dayton Hamvention will be held this year May 20-22. This year featured AMSAT attractions include: + Operational ARISSat-1 Prototype + Astronaut Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, will be attending as a special guest of the ARRL and AMSAT. Doug will visit the AMSAT booth on both Friday and Saturday. + AMSAT theme for 2011 is "Providing Education Through Amateur Satellites" The latest AMSAT at Hamvention news will always be posted at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2011/Dayton.php This is the 60th year of the Dayton Hamvention, sponsored by DARA (Dayton Amateur Radio Association). As has been the case for the many years the Hamvention will be at the Hara Arena Complex on the north side of Dayton. Further information on Hamvention 2011, including advance ticket sales and motel accommodations, can be found at http://www.hamvention.org. AMSAT will occupy the same booths (444-449) in Ball Arena, right across from the ARRL area and just inside the door from the Satel- lite Demonstration area. Plan to visit all of the AMSAT activities! AMSAT Activities at Dayton -------------------------- AMSAT has planned a number of great activities during Hamvention. There will also be a number of new offerings at the AMSAT booth as well as Specials, follow the link for Booth Activities to see them. The AMSAT theme for 2011 is "Providing Education Through Amateur Satellites". We will have multiple exhibits of the new AMSAT satel- lites on display. ARISSat-1 --------- ARISSat has been completed and is in orbit waiting for the July, 2011 EVA to deploy it into orbit. We will have on display an operational prototype. Tune your HT to 145.950 MHz to hear the FM beacon. AMSAT Thursday Night Get-together --------------------------------- We will be at Tickets Pub & Eatery this year. The menu is great and a nice change of pace. Check it out at TicketsPub.com AMSAT Forum ----------- The AMSAT Forum will be on Saturday May 21. AMSAT/TAPR Banquet ------------------ The fifth annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be Friday night May 20 at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center. The speaker for the event has not been finalized. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Go to the Dayton Banquet 2011 link: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2011/Banquet.php to find information about reservations and additional information. AMSAT Hotel ----------- AMSAT has only a few rooms left in the reserved block at the Country Inn & Suites in Fairborn, OH. Please contact Martha at the AMSAT office for room price and availability during Hamvention. Priority for rooms will be given to those volunteering to work in the AMSAT booth for multiple 2 hour shifts during Hamvention. The phone number for the AMSAT office is 301-589-6062. Other hotels in the immediate area of the Country inn & Suites include the Fairfield Inn, Ramada Inn, Hampton Inn, Fairborn Holiday Inn, Red Roof Inn and the Homewood Suites if additional accommodations are needed. [ANS thanks Gould Smith, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.04 NASA Glory Satellite and Three CubeSats Lost Vandenberg Launch Failure AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.04 NASA announced on Friday that the March 4 launch from Vandenberg AFB of a Taurus XL rocket carrying the Glory Satellite Mission and three student cubesats from the University of Kentucky, University of Mon- tana, and University of Colorado failed to reach orbit. Telemetry indicated the fairing, the protective shell atop the Taurus XL rocket, did not separate as expected about three minutes after launch. + Glory was a new NASA Earth-observing satellite intended to improve our understanding of how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. + KySat-1, University of Kentucky was designed to bring satellite command, control, and communications into Kentucky classrooms using mobile and portable stations. + Explorer-1 [Prime], University of Montana was designed to make space weather observations of the Van Allen Radiation Belts. + Hermes, University of Colorado was designed to test high speed communications from small satellites. The NASA Press Release can be found on-line at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/mar/HQ_11-050_N0_Glory.html A news item of this launch failure is also available from the UniverseToday.com website at: http://tinyurl.com/5rf3b7g See also: http://tinyurl.com/63htzgr (National Journal with streaming video) http://tinyurl.com/4uvne77 (Lompoc Record news coverage) http://tinyurl.com/4ksdare (LA Times) http://spaceflightnow.com/taurus/glory/110304gloryfail/ http://tinyurl.com/6fntsfw (SpaceFlightNow.com streaming video) http://tinyurl.com/6c46mt5 (NASA Press conference on SpaceFlightNow) [ANS thanks NASA and the news websites cited above for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.05 Pakistan Developing Student CubeSat Projects AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.05 Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology (IST) has initiated a space program aimed at designing, building, launching and succesfully oper- ating a standard CubeSat. The program is led by Communication Systems Engineering (CSE) Depart- ment with support from Aeronautics & Astronautics as well as Materials Department. As a Space technology institute and research center, one of the objectives of IST is to design and develop miniature satellites for technology evaluation and in-orbit demonstration and to provide students with hands-on experience in space technologies, to meet the work force requirement for the national space program. Institute of Space Technology is the first academic institution of Pakistan to initiate the small satellite development program. New Pakistan Satellite ICube-1 Specifications include: Beacon 436.8475 MHz, CW, 100mW Downlink 437.490 MHz, FSK, AX.25, 1200bps, 600mW Uplink 145.835 MHz, FSK, AX.25, 1200bps Plans are for a launch in the 3rd quarter of 2011. Full information can be found on ICube-1 web pages: http://www.icube.org.pk/ Student Satellite Project http://www.ist.edu.pk/student_satellite.html Institute of Space Technology (IST) http://www.ist.edu.pk/ [ANS thanks Pakistan IST and SouthGate ARC News Site for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.06 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.06 + Happy 27th birthday this past week to Oscar 11 which was launched on March 1, 1984. Clive, G3CWV noted in his UO-11 report that the satellite wasn't transmitting on its birthday but did resume its AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry on 145.826 MHz on March 3. The satellite is now transmitting during eclipses, although signals are weaker at those times. This indicates that there is still some capacity remaining in the battery. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from de- coded telemetry frames. More information can be found on-line at: http://www.g3cwv.co.uk/oscar11.htm. + Congratulations to Scott N6PG on his first satellite contacts last week via AO-51 with W7JPI, and ND9M/mm, and K0VK. Scott was using a VX-8R and an Elk antenna. Scott has posted a video of the contact at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCs_eoIL1A + The Southeastern VHF Society has issued their last call for the 2011 SVHFS Conference Papers which need to be received by March 11. Please send to N2CEI, Steve Kostro at: SVHFS2011(a)downeastmicrowave.com. They also have one or two more presentation slots open so if you would like to make one; published paper not required. Contact Steve with your presentation also. Deadline for hotel reservations is March 29. A link for hotel reservations can be found on the confer- ence page at: http://www.svhfs.org. 15th annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Huntsville, Alabama on April 29th and 30th, 2011. + Alex OZ9AEC has produced three videos showing reception of weak 70cm Amateur Radio satellite signals using the AMSAT-UK FUNcube SDR Dongle. Alex used the FUNcube Dongle with a standard 8 ele Wimo X-yagi, preamp and ~40 meters of coax down to the shack to receive these satellite signals in the 70cm satellite segment 435-438MHz. The beacons run about 100mw output. Watch at: http://tinyurl.com/6f7hdag (SouthGate) + UniverseToday.com has posted a gallery of STS-133 launch photos at: http://tinyurl.com/6gvbuqc Also at UniverseToday.com are high reso- lution, pan-able images of the Space Shuttle: http://tinyurl.com/4fma9x8 Rick, K7TEJ posted this link to a video of the STS-133 launch that was captured from a passing airliner: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE_USPTmYXM + Bob, W7LRD plans to run a AMSAT information table at the Mike and Key Amateur Radio Club 30th Electronics Show and Fleamarket on Sat- urday, March 12, 2011 at Puyallup, Washington. Ticket Sales open at 8:00 AM; Doors open at 9:00 AM. + NASA has released a cool sound track of the sounds of thousands of cometary dust particles pelting Stardust-NExT as it flew past Comet Tempel at 9.8 km/sec, or 24,000 MPH. The audio was recorded by an instrument aboard the spacecraft called the Dust Flux Monitor which measures sound waves and electrical pulses from dust impacts. Listen at: http://tinyurl.com/5rorrou (UniverseToday.com) [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-065.07 NASA, Make Magazine Announce Competition to Fly Student Experiments AMSAT News Service Bulletin 065.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-065.07 In a press release titled, "NASA Launches 2011 Nationwide Technology Space Competition for Education", NASA says it's Emerging Commercial Space Office (ECSO) is teaming with Make Magazine, and Teachers in Space to help develop spaceflight kits that high school teachers and students can build and fly on suborbital flights. The NASA/Make competition is designed to inspire curiosity and create interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among classroom teachers and their students. Contenders will be invit- ed to submit ideas, concepts and prototypes for kits that teachers and students can build for future spaceflights. Competition rules are simple. Kits should use components that are likely to be available at most high schools, and submitted experi- ments must be self-contained and fit in a standard Cubesat container. To make kits accessible to students nationwide, part of the challenge is to be able to build these kits for under $100, the kind of funds that could be raised by a school bake sale. The first experiment kits to be selected will fly aboard the Excelsior STEM mission, a commercial unmanned suborbital mission sponsored by Teachers in Space and scheduled to fly in 2011. Experiment kits for the Excelsior STEM mission will be assembled by teachers at a Suborb- ital Flight Experiment Workshop to be held August 1-5, 2011 at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's AERO Institute in Palmdale, Calif. The full NASA Press Release can be found on-line at: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/news/releases/2011/11-14AR.html Make Magazine says more details about the challenge, including rules, prizes, etc., will be coming soon. If you'd like to participate in the MAKE Space Challenge, get on the mailing list! They will notify you the details for challenge have been finalized and when the application process opens. You can sign up for the Space Challenge mailing list at: http://blog.makezine.com/space [ANS thanks NASA and Make Magazine for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And, with that please keep in mind that you realize you are getting old when your body begins to make the same noises as your coffee maker. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

1 0

SSB
by Kevin Deane 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

I did not mean for my sarcasim to be insulting, I gather they must go hand in hand, my opologies... So I did find a hombrew 2-meter all band in the 1999 QST, Sept,Oct,Nov... called the DSP-10. A little more than I was looking for and I think it was discontinued. Several hundred were sold. http://www.proaxis.com/~boblark/dsp10.htm Goes to show it can be done. Roger I think said something about a downconverter, I do have an old 10-meter maybe that will work. Still would like to make a 2-meter and a 70cm SSB radio probly have to be two kits. Still searching I have sent like 20 e-mails to kit stores we shall see. Any more ideas would be great! Did I curb the sarcastic remarks? Oh that was one wasnt it...LOL Kevin

5 4

Re: R: AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode
by Mark L. Hammond 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Hi Enzo, Either TNC should work, but I would give the advantage to the Paccomm for AO-51. 73, Mark N8MH At 07:33 PM 3/5/2011 +0100, Vincenzo Mone wrote: >Hi Mark, >Thanks for your help. >I will try on the next Pass ( That will be tomorrow for me ). >I have checked in the wisp setup and I have already set how you said: >PECHO-11 for Broadcast and PECH-12 for BBS callsigns. >As TNC I am using Paccomm Tiny-2 with a NB96 card. >I have also a TNC3S. >Do you think that the TNC3S is better than the Paccomm Tiny-2 with a NB96 >card? >Thanks > >73 de Enzo IK8OZV >EasyLog 5 BetaTester >EasyLog PDA BetaTester >WinBollet BetaTester >D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania >Skype: ik8ozv8520 > > > > > ********************************** > ******* GSM +39 338 9749786 ******* > ****** SMS +39 338 9749786 ****** > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** > ********************************* > >> -----Messaggio originale----- >> Da: Mark L. Hammond [mailto:[email protected]] >> Inviato: sabato 5 marzo 2011 15.52 >> A: Vincenzo Mone; Amsat - BBs >> Oggetto: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode >> >> Hello Enzo, >> >> Yes, the 9k6 BBS is operational and working. >> >> Please adjust your uplink freqency (try UP and DOWN in 500 Hz or 1 kHz >> steps) and see if that helps. Most users report that a high gain antenna >with >> 10-50 Watts power at the antenna for the L-band uplink results in success. >> >> I find 1268.705 works best for me, sometimes even .708. >> >> Also please check your AO-51 setup in Wisp/Satellite Setup. Broadcast >> Callsign must be PECHO-11 and BBS Callsign must be PECHO-12. >> >> There is no other active/functional BBS bird at 9k6, nor any with 1.2 GHz >> uplinks. >> >> Also---what TNC are you using for 9k6? I found out many years ago that >AO- >> 51 does not like the transmitted signal from my TAPR EVM56k DSP unit, so >it >> rarely if ever heard me. >> >> 73, >> >> Mark N8MH >> >> At 02:52 PM 3/5/2011 +0100, Vincenzo Mone wrote: >> >Hi Folks, >> >I am trying the bird on: >> >9k6 BBS and Telemetry. >> >Does it work? >> >With the MSPE I can just receive numbers like: >> > >> >B:44253341 >> > >> >What does it mean? >> >I am trying to request the DIR on 1268.700 MHz, but I do not get any >> >response. >> >On the upper side of the MSPE program often I can read: >> > >> > Frames Heard from PACB-1 >> > >> >I am asking this because I would like to see if my system still works. >> >Is there any other Bird that I can use the 1.2 GHz Band? >> >Any help will be really appreciated >> >Thanks in advance. >> > >> >73 de Enzo IK8OZV >> >EasyLog 5 BetaTester >> >EasyLog PDA BetaTester >> >WinBollet BetaTester >> >D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania >> >Skype: ik8ozv8520 >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > *************************************** >> > ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** >> > ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** >> > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** >> > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** >> > *************************************** >> > >> > >> >73 de Enzo IK8OZV >> >EasyLog 5 BetaTester >> >EasyLog PDA BetaTester >> >WinBollet BetaTester >> >D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania >> >Skype: ik8ozv8520 >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > ********************************** >> > ******* GSM +39 338 9749786 ******* >> > ****** SMS +39 338 9749786 ****** >> > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** >> > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** >> > ********************************* >> > >> > >> >_______________________________________________ >> >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the >> author. >> >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0

KIT
by Kevin Deane 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Is there another forum, because obviously everyone here just buys everything and maybe have forgotten what this hobby is all about! I know there is a kit out there for a receiver and or a SSB converter. 2-meter/70cm SSB receiver. I heard there was an article in QST so it must exist. I am young, enthusiastic, and have lots of time, any help would be great. :) Kevin KF7MYK

6 5

OSCAR-11 Report
by Clive Wallis 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

OSCAR-11 REPORT 04 March 2011 OSCAR-11 celebrated it's 27th birthday on 01 March! It was designed, built and launched within a period of six months, using commercially available 'off the shelf' components (COTS). Once again, congratulations to Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO, his team at the University of Surrey and groups of radio amateurs who also contributed to the project. Unfortunately, the satellite wasn't transmitting on its birthday, but resumed transmissions, three days later. This report covers the period from 31 January to 04 March 2011. During this time the satellite has been heard from 10 to 21 February and from 03 March 2011. It is expected to switch-off again 13 March until 23 March. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from decoded telemetry frames. The satellite is now transmitting during eclipses, although signals are weaker at those times. This indicates that there is still some capacity remaining in the battery. The on-board clock is now very stable. It gained *** seconds during the current reporting period. The VHF beacon frequency is 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry 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, to 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:U2RPT154.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace the x's by g3cwv)

1 0

Re: AO-51 and L/U PacSat BBS Mode
by Mark L. Hammond 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Hello Enzo, Yes, the 9k6 BBS is operational and working. Please adjust your uplink freqency (try UP and DOWN in 500 Hz or 1 kHz steps) and see if that helps. Most users report that a high gain antenna with 10-50 Watts power at the antenna for the L-band uplink results in success. I find 1268.705 works best for me, sometimes even .708. Also please check your AO-51 setup in Wisp/Satellite Setup. Broadcast Callsign must be PECHO-11 and BBS Callsign must be PECHO-12. There is no other active/functional BBS bird at 9k6, nor any with 1.2 GHz uplinks. Also---what TNC are you using for 9k6? I found out many years ago that AO-51 does not like the transmitted signal from my TAPR EVM56k DSP unit, so it rarely if ever heard me. 73, Mark N8MH At 02:52 PM 3/5/2011 +0100, Vincenzo Mone wrote: >Hi Folks, >I am trying the bird on: >9k6 BBS and Telemetry. >Does it work? >With the MSPE I can just receive numbers like: > >B:44253341 > >What does it mean? >I am trying to request the DIR on 1268.700 MHz, but I do not get any >response. >On the upper side of the MSPE program often I can read: > > Frames Heard from PACB-1 > >I am asking this because I would like to see if my system still works. >Is there any other Bird that I can use the 1.2 GHz Band? >Any help will be really appreciated >Thanks in advance. > >73 de Enzo IK8OZV >EasyLog 5 BetaTester >EasyLog PDA BetaTester >WinBollet BetaTester >D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania >Skype: ik8ozv8520 > > > > > *************************************** > ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** > ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** > *************************************** > > >73 de Enzo IK8OZV >EasyLog 5 BetaTester >EasyLog PDA BetaTester >WinBollet BetaTester >D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania >Skype: ik8ozv8520 > > > > > ********************************** > ******* GSM +39 338 9749786 ******* > ****** SMS +39 338 9749786 ****** > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** > ********************************* > > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0

Hi
by Greg D. 05 Mar '11

05 Mar '11

Hey i put all my effort into this http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cnbc7&btnI=1

1 0

first contact
by Dave Guimont 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Scott and the first contact..... Congrats Scott......you'll be making many more... Made my first one in July of 1980 on O7, and made several more on O7 when she came back a few years ago!! Not sure if you were the one that asked about homebrew equipment, but here is a site with a lot of the junk I've cobbled together to make operating a little more convenient. http://cid-1973adc8c1d3207c.skydrive.live.com/summary.aspx?sa=140581470 I've been licensed for over 60 years, but have done nothing else but hamsats for the last 30.... Will be glad to answer questions on any of it, if I can help... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

1 0

Re: FM SSB Receiver Kit
by Roger Kolakowski 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

On 3/4/2011 6:34 PM, Roger Kolakowski wrote: > A SDR is a Software defined radio that uses your computer to do all the > things that are not RF dertermined...very expensive > > a downconverter or converter is a simple front end that receives the > signal on 435 or 145 mhz and converts it to usually 10 meters where you > feed it into your existing radio...relatively cheap > Homemade > homepage.eircom.net/~ei9gq/*vhf*_conv.html > Commercial > http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php?285840-VHF-UHF-Satellite-Equipment > > has this for example: > Microwave Modules MMC 435-28 Receiving converter. > 435Mhz to hf 28mhz down converter for satellite work. Still in the > original packaging. It has never been opened or installed. > Asking $125.00 and will ship by USPS priority mail > > Roger > WA1KAT > > > > > Kevin Deane wrote: >> I have a Yaesu 857 but can not afford another allbander, so I thought >> I could just build a little receiver, cant be that hard. >> >> Dunno what an sdr is or a downconverter?

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Re: Sat Tracker iPod touch
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

I am a fan of PocketSat ... Once you use it, you'll appreciate it. It is not inexpensive at $25. As a matter of fact, of the 150+ apps I have on my iPod touch, it is actually the most expensive app I have acquired. But I have been with this program since the Palm version was released. You get excellent product support from the author and a support YahooGroup for questions. It painlessly downloads the AMSAT Keplerian data (or others) and I consider PocketSat the ULTIMATE n satellite tracking software for this platform. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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first satellite contact for N6PG
by Scott Rights 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

since attachments aren't allowed, I've made an unlisted youtube video of the first contact for the group. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foCs_eoIL1A 73's Scott

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by K5OE 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Like most things on the bb, this is not a new topic. Several years ago, on the first cruise I took out of Galveston, TX, I followed (exactly) the advice from Allen, N5AFV, on his various web articles. You can get a good overview here and links to more details as well: http://www.qsl.net/n5afv/cruise.html Allen has been there and done that and I had nothing but success in following his recommendations. I had the license and the ship's permission--no problem. I have another cruise planned April 11-17 (listen for me on AO-51), but remember my first cruise "experience" like it was yesterday: EL60 27.08.2007 1358 N5ZNL 27.08.2007 1358 N5AFU 27.08.2007 1359 W7JPI 27.08.2007 1400 W0SAT 27.08.2007 1402 XE1KW EL51 28.08.2007 1320 N5AFV 28.08.2007 1321 N3YZ EL45 29.08.2007 1418 WA2EHL 29.08.2007 1419 W7JPI 29.08.2007 1419 W0SAT 29.08.2007 1420 N7JK 29.08.2007 1420 KE5CWC 29.08.2007 1421 XE1KW 29.08.2007 1422 N5ZNL I used an FT-51R and an AL-800 antenna. I plan to take an Arrow this time :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by John Heath 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

I didn't expect to be contributing to this thread, but Bob WB4APR's posting suggested another idea. Permission to operate is always at the discretion of the captain or master of the vessel. But how about keeping a list of operations from cruise ships with the first three items on Bob's list together with dates, name of vessel, name of cruise company. That way anyone wishing to do this has a precident for the captain. There may be less reason to say no if the captain knows its been done before and the vessel didn't sink or all the navigation aids crash. Worth noting that with all of the automated comms and navigation on cruise ships these days there probably isn't a wireless operator, so no potentialy friendly professional to put a in a good word. Just a thought. 73 all John G7HIA ________________________________ From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, 1 March, 2011 22:11:02 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises > I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something. > Wouldn't it be much easier to say ... > that you must check with the ships > Captain and/or communications officer Yes, exactly the point. But that is no where near good enough advice. So that we don’t have to address this for each 4000 of us that might eventually take a cruise and have piecemeal responses from a dozen different people offering portions of the answer that then we have to assemble each time from a dozen emails, the AMSAT web page should also address these points (and more). The web page should also suggest: 1) In your (1 page or less) written request to the captain include: 2) What frequencies and bands and power level 3) Description of your antenna and power source 4) Copy of your license 5) Copy of appropriate language in ITU Radio Rules 6) Copy of appropriate language in Maritime Law 7) Copy of whatever else. Lets nail down the above list once and for all, post it. And then we don’t have to hash it everytime with only pieces of the answer coming in from a dozen different folks, but one answer that accumulates all that info in one place. Something like that is what I was proposing. Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: Donald Jacob [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 4:41 PM To: Bob Bruninga Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something. Wouldn't it be much easier to say (on web page or what ever since this topic has been address MANY MANY times) that you must check with the ships Captain and/or communications officer. Forget FCC or any other nation's communications authority, since once at sea the ship is totally under the authority of the Captain -- Maritime Law. Just seems much more logical to me than beating a dead horse! 73 Don WB5EKU On Tue, Mar 1, 2011 at 12:51 PM, Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: > OK, the web page could say: > > 1) "The following have written policy prohibiting all "radio" operations... > <big list> > > 2) "The following have written policy prohibiting "amateur radio" operations > <big list> > > 3) "On the following lines no one has yet found a written prohibition, but > the captian of the ship should always be informed as to any radio operation > (usually via the Comm officer). > Good luck. > <list> > > 4) In all categories above. There are known examples of individuals > obtaining permission. These cruise lines AND ships have supported amateur > operations. > > * Then each amateur that has been successful should submit a simple sentence > of what he did (May request his call be removed before posting on the web > page so he is not burdened by continuously answering the same question for > the next 20 years.) But properly formatting your sentence to answer all the > proper questions in the first place will usually avoid that kind of bother. > Examples: > > Wrote letter advance to ____. Got written permission > Asked Bursar on arrival to speak to commo... Got permission > Slipped note under door of comm. shack with my cabin number.. got > permission... etc.. > > Etc... > > Bob > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: n0jy(a)lavabit.com [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 1:17 PM > To: Bob Bruninga > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Ham Radios on Cruises > > For what it's worth, you may not be as forward as I am... > > On our last cruise (in 2008) I just took my HT and Arrow with me, called > the Purser and asked to speak with the Radio Officer for permission to > operate. I believe it was the next day that I spoke with them and > described what I was using and what bands, they gave me permission and I > went to work making satellite contacts. > > At that time, their primary concern was power, frequency, and whether my > antenna would bother any other passengers. Princess Cruise Lines. > > 73, > Jerry > NØJY > >> Can we nail down all the cruise ships that prohibit it and those that >> allow >> it into a single document. Then provide a link to it on the AMSAT web >> page? >> >> This topic comes up over and over, and someday when I retire, I too am >> going >> to want to go on cruise, AND take ham radio along, and so I too will be >> asking this question. >> >> So this is a good INFO topic that we need to collectively nail down, and >> then get it permanently posted on the AMSAT web page... >> >> Thanks... >> Then we can UPDATE it as new info comes in (everyone write their cruise >> ship >> and indicate you're not taking their cruise if you cannot bring your >> radio)... >> >> Bob > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0

FM SSB Receiver Kit
by Kevin Deane 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

So my new trip is building a receiver for the SSB birds!!! How about that! Does anyone know where I can order a kit??? Kevin KF7MYK

2 1

Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk andHT?
by K5OE 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Bryan, I built a cheap (about $17 as I recall) little Ramsey UHF preamp in a small enclosure with a 9 V battery rubber-banded to the Arrow boom, but found the Arrow had so much gain at 70 cm, even AO-27 was workable at the horizon. I used an external MFJ diplexer in lieu of the Arrow built-in-handle diplexer to protect the preamp from RF on transmit (worked fine, BTW). If you don't find you can hear that well, take a look at your coax and connectors between the antenna and the rig for unusual losses. I occasionally see the ARR non-relay preamps going on ebay for under $50 as well, and one of those with a double-ended BNC connector would bolt right onto the Arrow driven element connector. 73, Jerry, K5OE > Does anyone have a recommendation for a UHF preamp suitable for use with an > HT and an Arrow? I always wish I had one when I listen for SO-50... it seems > like it ought to be inline with BNC connectors and battery powered to > maintain portability... > Thanks in advance! > Bryan Green KL7CN > Usually /W6 in CM98fn 408-836-7279

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Bad news for Kysat-1
by Bruce Robertson 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

NASA TV is reporting that the rocket's fairing did not separate, and therefore it will not have enough velocity to enter orbit. So sorry for all working on this interesting project. 73, Bruce VE9QRP -- http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com

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Icom 910/9600bps
by CU2JX Pedro 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Hello to all Any one uses the icom 910 with 9600bps tnc, how toconnect the rig to tnc Best 73! Pedro Cruz -cu2jx

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Glory Fails
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Launch failure ... fairing did not deploy ... not sufficient speed to maintain ... launch failure. Clint

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Glory Fails
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Gawd, it was beautiful as we watched it cruise down the CA coast. Launch failure ... fairing did not deploy ... not sufficient speed to maintain ... launch failure. Clint

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KYSat-1 Keps
by charlie Cantrill 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

--------------------------------------------------Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2011 14:15:00 -0500 From: Dave Webb KB1PVH <kb1pvh(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] KySat-1 To: AMSAT -BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <AANLkTimYtaDN3GaVwo5ih4Oy_t5pXHyf5ckeEt7J8Y+V(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I just tried using the TLEs off of the KySat-1 page, but couldn't get them to work, nothing showed up. http://ssl.engineering.uky.edu/missions/orbital/kysat1/operations/ Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was wondering too if it was the checksum. When the web page was created, the keps got pasted wrong. Use the Keps from the cubesat.org page, they work.http://www.cubesat.org/ 1 99999U 00000 11063.43259919 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000 2 99999 97.9564 8.4412 0007658 67.0214 113.6793 14.77265551000000If this copy does not work, go to the cubesat.org page. Charlie CantrillKI4RDT

3 3

44 Million HP
by Clint Bradford 04 Mar '11

04 Mar '11

Great camera footage from last month's Shuttle launch. One camera is mounted on an Solid Rocket Booster. At 2:28, it separates ... and you watch it splash back into the ocean. The next camera was mounted watching one leading edge of the Shuttle's wing. Grab a cup of coffee ... http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=68551231 Clint

2 1

SO-67
by Rick Tejera 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Has anyone heard from SO-67 after the reports of not hearing it earlier this week? Sent from my iPod Rick Tejera Editor, SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org K7TEJ

3 3

Taurus - Glory launch streaming video and countdown timer
by charlie Cantrill 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

This is cool. Don't know if I want to get up at 0500 to watch it though but folks over the pond can sleep late and still catch it live. http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/index-vafb.html Charlie KI4RDT

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FS: Arrow 146-4S
by Bill Gillenwater 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Going to offer this here before putting on QTH.com Arrow 146-4S solid element antenna with "N" connector. New, in the shipping bag. I ordered before I found another set of antennas. There is about a month backlog to get antennas from Arrow, busy place. These sell for $60 plus shipping and handling of $15. I will sell for $60 shipped to US only. Paypal or USPS money order. 73 Bill K3SV

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ELaNa Launch IRC chat
by charlie Cantrill 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Courtesy of cubesat.org:http://www.cubesat.org/index.php/collaborate/ground-operators -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The CubeSat IRC channel is the place to be on launch day. Typically, amateur radio operators and developers from around the globe will collaborate their tracking efforts here and share tips and discoveries as new satellites are heard for the first time.If you would like to join in the fun, point your favorite IRC client to:irc.freenode.net#cubesatWe suggest setting your nickname to something that identifies yourself individually, as well as a note to what organization you are from, if any. For example, "Org_Name_CALLSIGN".See you there!"----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Charlie CantrillKI4RDT

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Correction for typo in date - Greater Houston Hamfest Satellite Demo
by Allen F. Mattis 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

This coming Saturday, March 5, 2011, the Greater Houston Hamfest will be held. This is the second largest hamfest in Texas and the organizers are expecting over 1,000 attendees. The Houston AMSAT group will have a full suite of activities including an AMSAT booth, a technical presentation, and a satellite demo. Please listen for us on the 9:28 AM CST (15:28 UTC) pass of SO-50 on Saturday, March 5th. We will be using the call sign KK5W. Allen N5AFV

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HudsonValleySatcomGroupNet Tonigtht 3/3 at 8PM EST On Echolink N2EYH-L 429079
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Sorry for the short notice for the Net tonight at 8 PM on echolink N2EYH-L node 429079..Please join us for the net.Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary wa2aqh

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Greater Houston Hamfest Satellite Demo
by Allen F. Mattis 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

This coming Saturday, March 5, 23011, the Greater Houston Hamfest will be held. This is the second largest hamfest in Texas and the organizers are expecting over 1,000 attendees. The Houston AMSAT group will have a full suite of activities including an AMSAT booth, a technical presentation, and a satellite demo. Please listen for us on the 9:28 AM CST (15:28 UTC) pass of SO-50 on Saturday, March 5th. We will be using the call sign KK5W. Allen N5AFV

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Re: AMSAT Fox News
by Trevor . 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Hi Tony, That's great news. Are you able to say what the power budget overhead is in having an SDX transponder? The most efficient SDX I'd heard of still consumed some 310mw more than an analog linear transponder which for a conventional 1U CubeSat is 310mw too many. SDX on a CubeSat with deployable solar panels paves the way to using far higher speed telemetry downlinks than we currently achieve in a 20kHz B/W. 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Thu, 3/3/11, Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx(a)comcast.net> wrote: > From: Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx(a)comcast.net> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Fox News > To: m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Thursday, 3 March, 2011, 0:51 > Hi Trevor, > > The AMSAT Fox CubeSat bus will include both an analog FM > transponder and a software defined transponder (SDX.) For > the > Fox mission, we intend to program the SDX for high > performance > digital modes for our command and telemetry channels but > the > SDX could be programmed for almost anything including a > linear > or packet transponder on a follow up mission. > > 73, > Tony AA2TX > AMSAT VP Engineering > > --- > At 06:01 PM 3/2/2011, Trevor . wrote: > >Under the section "AMSAT-Fox planned features include" > > > >It says > > > >"AMSAT's flexible, CubeSat compatible software defined > transponder > >is a new approach providing a robust and reliable radio > link for > >future CubeSats allowing university teams to > concentrate on their > >scientific objectives." > > > >Now although listed under "AMSAT-Fox planned features" > that bullet > >point doesn't have the key word Fox in it. > > > >Can someone clarify if the FM transponder on Fox will > be SDX or if > >that's an aspiration for later CubeSats ? > > > >73 Trevor M5AKA > >

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Re: PVC
by Mike1234 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

To add to the thread I have a friend who has a semi repair shop. He has run PVC through out the shop for compressed air. He puts 150 psi through the PVC for air tools. I have played with PVC for a 2mtr mast. It worked pretty well. I want to use it in smaller sections for my satellite antennas which I don't to put up very high until I learn about the whole operation then I will place it on a roof with better material. I have the Yaesu 5500 rotor and that thing to me is heavy to lug around. Once it is on a roof with better materials it stays there until something breaks. I hope this helps. Mike N8GBU

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RADAR QRM on FO-29 video on YouTube
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPSvVEjrTzY This is just a short video of the severe RADAR QRM I had today while trying to work FO-29. This is about as bad as I've ever seen it here in Central Florida. Please ignore my son coughing in the background (he's getting better fast), along with one of my male cockatiels crooning to the female one. :-) 73, Drew KO4MA

5 4

Re: Kysat keps
by G0MRF＠aol.com 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

I just hope NORAD release the official post launch keps via celestrack. Unlike the last Alaska launch. Never did get to the bottom of why that decision was made. Hopefully not a trend. David G0MRF In a message dated 03/03/2011 21:10:54 GMT Standard Time, summit496(a)live.com writes: Just by looking at the keps you can tell they are wrong, compare with another sat you can tell. I couldnt get it to work either. Is there anyone here who can help? Kevin KF7MYK

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KYSAT-1 TLE errors ?
by PA3GUO 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Dave, Using Ryans LXS I see that (like so often) the TLEs do not have a correct checksum: Ryans XLS says it should be 1 99999U 00000 11063.43259919 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000 2 99999 97.9564 8.4412 0007658 67.0214 113.6793 14.77265551000005 And not as on their website: 1 99999U 00000 11063.43259919 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000 2 99999 97.9564 8.4412 0007658 67.0214 113.6793 14.77265551000000 Half of my SW here ignores the checksum, other half simply does not show the satellite. This is why I also had to correct the TLEs. Ps: feel free to double-check, I am not a TLE expert Henk, PA3GUO I just tried using the TLEs off of the KySat-1 page, but couldn't get them to work, nothing showed up. http://ssl.engineering.uky.edu/missions/orbital/kysat1/operations/ Dave - KB1PVH -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: Ryan Caron [mailto:[email protected]] Verzonden: zondag 26 december 2010 20:29 Aan: pa3guo(a)amsat.org CC: PA3GUO; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Onderwerp: Re: [amsat-bb] O/OREOS TLE errors ? Hank (and the -bb) Attached is the spreadsheet previously mentioned spreadsheet to fix TLEs checksums. I've rewritten it since what I was using was still a tedious operation and I didn't want to distribute that to the community. This should be much better, though you still need to remove any leading spaces in the lines. It appears that O/OREOS' TLEs on their website are OK now, possibly because SpaceTrack is publishing now. My apologies for not getting this out sooner; we'll have to wait for the next launch to try this out. During the fog-of-war in the days after launch, I find there are often multiple TLEs for the same satellite. In this case I like to change the IDs so I can have them all loaded in GPredict simultaneously. This spreadsheet will verify that the IDs are the same for both lines, and of course regenerate the checksums. This spreadsheet was created with OpenOffice 3.2.1, and I've exported it to Excel and checked it with MS Office XP and appears to work fine. Please let me know if there are any problems. Happy holidays and 73, Ryan KB1LKI On 11/30/10 11:33 AM, PA3GUO wrote: > Hi Ryan > > Thanks a lot for your detailed reply. > > Would you be so kind to share that spreadsheet (XLS?) with me ? > In the coming days I really need (well, would higly appreciate) to > have working TLEs - especially also for Nanosail. > > Best of course would be if the O/OREOS/Nanasail team could fix this > prior to posting them on the web :-) > > Thanks > Henk > > > ---- Ryan Caron<rcaron(a)gmail.com> schreef: >> The O/OREOS TLEs consistently do not have valid checksums (last digit >> of each line). I submitted a comment about this on their website but >> I have not heard back. The correct checksums are 2& 3, and not the >> 6& 5 that is listed. >> >> If, by the time you read this, the posted TLEs are not 6& 5, then >> the TLEs have been updated and you'll have to generate new checksums. >> The formula is a sum of all numerical characters on the line, >> including the line number, treating minus signs as a one and >> everything else (letters, >> +, spaces) as a 0. Then take modulus 10 of the sum (i.e. last digit >> +of >> the sum). Look it up on wikipedia for more details. >> >> I've made a spreadsheet to fix this, but it is still a manual >> operation for me (got to write a script at some point). Some programs >> disregard the the checksum, which is why HRD& the website still work >> and your tracking tool doesn't. Predict/GPredict, my tools of choice, >> require valid checksums, making proper TLEs a pet peeve of mine. I >> don't know what NOVA's up to. >> >> In terms of "swarm spread" (i.e. how small delta-V between spacecraft >> that shared the same ride, which in this case is just done by >> compressed springs, translates into spatial differences), 35 minutes >> of separation is pretty high for just 10 days after launch. With all >> the latest TLEs from the three websites, I show O/OREOS being 3.5 >> minutes ahead of RAX, and RAX being a 1.33 minutes ahead of FAST1/2. >> >> Ryan, KB1LKI >> >> On 11/30/10 4:54 AM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: >>> ------------------------------ >>> >>> Message: 4 >>> Date: Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:55:16 +0100 >>> From: PA3GUO<pa3guo(a)upcmail.nl> >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] O/OREOS TLE errors ? >>> To:[email protected] >>> Message-ID:<19767175.1291067716437.JavaMail.root(a)viefep21.chello.at> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >>> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> I keep on having troubles with the O/OREOS kepler sets. >>> RAX and the others are fine. >>> >>> With todays version (as from the O/OREOS dashboard on the web) >>> - NOVA gives O/OREOS just a bit behind RAX >>> - HamRadioDeluxe give O/OREOS 35 minutes behind RAX >>> - The O/OREOS web (dashboard graphic) shows O/OREOS 35 minutes >>> behind RAX >>> - My private antenna tracking tool does not recognize the keplerset >>> of O/OREOS >>> >>> Anyone else has experienced this (and maybe even a solution) ? >>> Henk >>> -- >>> Henk, PA3GUO >>> > > -- > Henk, PA3GUO >

1 0

Kysat keps
by Kevin Deane 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Just by looking at the keps you can tell they are wrong, compare with another sat you can tell. I couldnt get it to work either. Is there anyone here who can help? Kevin KF7MYK

1 0

April 12 - Yuri & ARISSat-1
by Clint Bradford 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Yes, we are all disappointed that the deployment of ARISSat-1 has been delayed - in direct violation of handshakes and written agreements. But that does not mean that we should ignore the historical event that April 12 is bringing us: the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's space walk. This is an opportunity for us. I have signed up with one organization to throw a little party at my house ... http://tinyurl.com/YURI-K6LCS We'll have exclusive videos to share with attendees (even one from Bill Nye, the Science Guy!), history to relate, and a tentative pass of the ISS here in Southern California at 9:41PM on the 12th to hopefully monitor ARISSat-1. The YurisNight.net people ( http://yurisnight.net/partylist/?partyid=1381 ) have put together quite a Web site. "We" can learn a lot by perusing their promotional materials and press/media releases. I would love for us to be thinking along the same lines for our future satellite announcements and launches. There's not a huge cost involved to put together such media alerts and promotional pieces. We DO have professional public relations people among us. As I read through the Sponsorship Kit and Media Kit on YurisNight.net, I envisioned how such materials would benefit AMSAT and our cause ... Our friends across the pond have put together another great Yuri resource - http://www.yurigagarin50.org/ SO, at least in the Bradford household in Mira Loma CA US, we are CELEBRATING on April 12. I will be sending my local newspapers a media alert on the ARISSat-1 project and Yuri's anniversary (one newspaper will print it - the other is a 50/50 proposition). I am using the date to promote AMSAT and ARISSat-1. There will be live video from our back yard transmitted to the planet via UStream if we are able to hear ARISSat-1 that evening. We ALL can "use" this date to promote everything we're here for: AMSAT, amateur radio, and the future of manned space travel. Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 http://www.work-sat.com

5 5

KySat-1
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

I just tried using the TLEs off of the KySat-1 page, but couldn't get them to work, nothing showed up. http://ssl.engineering.uky.edu/missions/orbital/kysat1/operations/ Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X

1 0

AMSAT Fox News
by JoAnne Maenpaa 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Hello Everyone, The http://www.amsat.org web page news has been updated to introduce AMSAT Fox. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

8 9

Broken Sats
by Kevin Deane 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

Does anyone moniter the sats that are broken to see if they come back to life? Like the RS-15 and now my fav HO-68 is broke now, thats the first one I talked on. Amsat says AO-7 semi operational but seems to work just fine. Anyway was wondering if there were any that have a glimmer of hope that I might moniter in my case of absolute bordation??? Kevin KF7MYK

6 5

Re: Ham Radios on Cuises
by Clint Bradford 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

>> ... the web page should also suggest ... So someone researches all the cruise lines, and creates this Web site. John Doe posts a story on how he was able to obtain permission to use ham gear on board - despite the "ham gear prohibited" policy. But Mark Jones can NOT get his equipment aboard on the same cruise line - for WHATEVER reason the cruise line states. You have NO RECOURSE. Like someone is going to say, "Well, the AMSAT Official Bulletin Board of Anecdotal Cruise Experiences Database" says I CAN bring my stuff on board ... The only result of that is embarrassment to whomever has published this "information." WHAT IS THE POINT of such a database? It can used for absolutely nothing that matters. There is NO CRUISE LINE that states, "Ham radio gear gladly accepted by all passengers." For OBVIOUS safety and security reasons, the written policies prohibit ham gear. There's so much happening in this hobby right now ... the U.S.' H.R. 607 proves we have not educated our elected officials as to what we accomplish on a daily basis on the air ... we have the 50th anniversary of manned space flight just a few weeks away ... we have the activation of ARISSat-1 also on April 12 ... so many projects and topics that MATTER. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

5 4

Satellite Station for sale
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 03 Mar '11

03 Mar '11

I just saw these two ads on QTH.com http://swap.qth.com/search-results.php?keywords=ki4lnm&fieldtosearch=Call Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X

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Educational Launch of Nanosatellites Youtube video
by charlie Cantrill 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Here is a Youtube video describing the ELaNa mission which is piggybacked on the Glory Launch.ELaNa: Educational Launch of Nanosatellites - Catch a Ride with Gloryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYddpBvMOUo Charlie CantrillKI4RDT

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Re: PHONE4 & iTouch 4
by Clint Bradford 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Once you use PocketSat3 for the iPhone / iPod touch ... you'll never go back ... (grin) I have been using PocketSat since its old Palm days. It has yet to fail me ... or make an incorrect prediction. I have purchased many other programs ... and used the freebies. Several are capable - but for me, the true class of the bunch is PocketSat. http://www.pocketsat.com/products/ps3iphone.php Of the 67 iPhone/touch apps I have paid for (in addition to the 80+ freebies), PocketSat3 was the most expensive. A whopping $24.95. But I have enjoyed the experience ... a YahooGroups support messagebase. QUICK answers from the author to all my weird support questions, when they arose. Painless, one-touch downloading of AMSAT Keplerian data (and other sat databases, too, if you'd like). Knowing that the author is a fellow ham who CARES about his programs - all that, to me, has been well worth the $25 investment. Again - there are a couple other titles out there for iPhone/iPod touch that work well. But they do not, IMHO, match the capabilities and power of PocketSat3. Just my opinion, of course. And I do not own stock in PocketSat3 (grin). Clint, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk and HT?
by k6yk 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

And I have run my SP432VDG on a spare HT battery many times, about 9 or 10 volts. 73, John, K6YK On Wed, 2 Mar 2011 18:17:35 -0500 Dave Webb KB1PVH <kb1pvh(a)gmail.com> writes: > Bryan, > > I have a SP432VDG from ARR, it was a great improvement. > http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page7.html > > Dave - KB1PVH > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X > On Mar 2, 2011 6:12 PM, "Bryan Green" <kl7cn.w6(a)gmail.com> wrote: > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ Mortgage Rates Hit 2.99% If you owe under $729k you probably qualify for Gov't Refi Programs http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d6ef9be37bab167c70st04vuc

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AMSAT-Fox?
by Clint Bradford 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

OK - I'll ask. Why is this satellite not named, "AMSAT-Foxtrot?" It was about 1956 that the U.S. military did away with "Fox" in lieu of "Foxtrot" for its phonetic alphabet. Even the English army did away with "Fox"over 50 years ago. The ITU and militaries cite the sixth letter of the phonetic alphabet as "Foxtrot." Whose phonetic alphabet do we use to name AMSAT satellites? Clint Bradford

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Re: AMSAT-Fox?
by Clint Bradford 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

>> ...You wouldn't really want us to call the satellite "Foxtrot" would you? As a marketing person, that could be a GREAT logo for the project ... In many areas, "senior citizens" are one of the largest demographic classification of people getting on the 'Net and increasing their connection speeds ... they're getting more "tech savvy" all the time ... How could it hurt "us" by having a "50's" logo for a project? I can see giving ham classes to seniors ... increasing the volume of my voice during talks ... (grin) Clint

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Re: Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk and HT?
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Bryan, I have a SP432VDG from ARR, it was a great improvement. http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page7.html Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X On Mar 2, 2011 6:12 PM, "Bryan Green" <kl7cn.w6(a)gmail.com> wrote:

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Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk and HT?
by Bryan Green 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Does anyone have a recommendation for a UHF preamp suitable for use with an HT and an Arrow? I always wish I had one when I listen for SO-50... it seems like it ought to be inline with BNC connectors and battery powered to maintain portability... Thanks in advance! Bryan Green KL7CN Usually /W6 in CM98fn 408-836-7279

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L Band antenna
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

I just got the 1.2ghz module for my 910, now I'm looking for suggestions on an antenna. Thanks, Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X

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Re: AMSAT-Fox? Satellite Naming Rights
by Bill Dzurilla 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Instead of having people make donations to pick a name, what about selling corporate naming rights? Corporations pay mega-millions for stadium naming rights, we have corporate names on other aeronautical objects (e.g., the Goodyear Blimp), and even schools are thinking about selling naming rights to raise money. Not sure how much a coporation would be willing to pay for naming rights on a ham satellite, but it has to be more than what AMSAT would raise by asking for donations. 73, Bill NZ5N > Alan, > > You said 'Willing to pay for it'. > > In my mind, this brings up an interesting fundraising > possibility. Of > course, this would revolve around how much the project > management and > engineering Cared about having their own pet-name for a > project. > > How about a "Pay to Name The Sat" drive, that could work > like this: > > - You take submissions for satellite names from anyone via > web-submission > * Restrictions on the allowable names would be > clearly defined during > submission!! > - The BOD or Lead Engineers would come together and choose > the top 5 > - Then you have a website, where people can donate N > dollars for the name > they like the most. > - Whichever name receives the most $'s by a certain date, > would be the name > that is chosen to fly! > > All proceeds to go the Amsat project. > > > Just a thought, > Joseph Armbruster

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Re-re-re-revised AO-51 schedule for March
by Mark L. Hammond 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

So much for advanced planning! AO-51 is still not experiencing full sunlight, most likely due to spacecraft orientation and sun angle. Therefore, we will change to "normal operational mode" on March 3, until further notice. That means we'll be continuing the V/U repeater at its current power level and activate the Packet BBS with L-band uplink. The Packet BBS will be open for use, but we ask for your cooperation (by standing by and not entering the queue) if you share the footprint with a command station (most often on the East coast of the US). Should conditions improve, we'll try to support some S-band operations--but for now that seems unlikely. March 3 (~1025 UTC) Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Mini-Grid Expedition CP29/CP39 Postponed
by John Boudreau 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

I have to postpone the trip as the road is closed today. Will try again soon, maybe on the 11th. Still looking at an overnight trip to CP79 next Tues/Wed. 73 John - VE8EV > -----Original Message----- > From: John Boudreau > Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2011 1:10 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Mini-Grid Expedition CP29/CP39 > > I'll be travelling tomorrow to Tuktoyaktuk, NT by ice road and intend to > be active from CP29 and CP39 as follows: > > GRID ON OFF SATELLITE > ================================= > CP29 19:10 19:20 SO-50 > CP39 20:46 20:52 AO-51 > CP39 20:52 21:00 SO-50 > CP39 21:29 21:30 AO-27 > CP29 22:23 22:32 AO-51 > CP29 22:32 22:41 SO-50 > > Coverage will be North America only, wherefore art thou HO-68? :( > > CP79 next Tuesday/Wednesday. > > 73 > John - VE8EV > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Belated Happy Birthday Oscar 11
by Rich Dailey 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

Oscar 11 launch date: Mar 1, 1984 I have a special place in my memory for Oscar 11. It was launched on the same day that my eldest daughter was born. Both have performed very well I think for the past 27 years. And last week mother and I were given the news that she (daughter, not UO-11) is expecting. So excuse the bandwidth - it's just my version of a happy dance. Rich, N8UX

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first satellite contact for N6PG
by Scott Rights 02 Mar '11

02 Mar '11

At 00:40 UTC on AO-51 I made my first contact with W7JPI... Number 2 was ND9M/mm and number three was K0VK.... let the fun begin! VX-8R and the Elk antenna.... 73's Scott N6PG IMG_1451

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consensus time
by Bob- W7LRD 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

I know thi s has been an old repeatable thread. I have a large fleamarket soon. I will be looking for a dual band FM mobile for satellites. What are we using lately. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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first satellite contact for N6PG
by Scott Rights 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

I made my first contact with AO-51 using a Yaseu VX-8R HT and the Elk antenna. Leo, W7JPI, said I should post a photo here... so here it is! Let the fun begin... 73's Scott

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ND9M/mm land ho
by KERRY LA*DUKE 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

All, Jim just sent “just spotted USA island/ USA land ho hi” Still in CM93 but happy to be home.

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by Clint Bradford 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

Yes, your cruise line (and others) specifically prohibits ham gear ... http://tinyurl.com/no-ham-rccl Personally, my wife and I found it difficult to find much spare time on our week-long cruise from Vancouver to Alaska ... Maybe because it was our first cruise ... I imagined relaxing and reclining on deck in a chaise lounge, reading ... that NEVER happened ... (grin) I would approach your travel agent. He/she know the right people to contact for such requests. Ours got some "magic" done for us, and we were very appreciative. Clint Bradford, K6LCS Cruise pics - http://tinyurl.com/k6lcs-cruise

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ND9M/MM: DM02 - No Deal
by Clary, James T, Civilian 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

Unfortunately, the ship's ETA schedule is a little too tight to allow for any deviation, and we will not be able to dip into DM02. It was worth a shot. We'll be in the San Diego vicinity (DM13) for roughly two weeks before taking off for Charleston, SC, by way of the Panama Canal. I'll see if our departure can pass through DM02 with a well timed pass. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid CM93

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Re: Ham Radios on Cruises
by Tony Langdon 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

At 08:41 AM 3/2/2011, Donald Jacob wrote: >I'm sorry, maybe I'm missing something. >Wouldn't it be much easier to say (on web page or what ever since this topic >has been address MANY MANY times) that you must check with the ships >Captain and/or communications officer. Forget FCC or any other >nation's communications >authority, since once at sea the ship is totally under the authority >of the Captain -- Maritime Law. Permission for both maritime and aeronautical operation used to be part of the Australian regulations exam (I remember studying it). I'm not sure if that is still the case these days. In any case, who you had to get permission to operate from depended on both where the ship was registered, and where it was at the time (i.e. territorial waters or international waters) you were to be operating, but in all cases, the captain had to give consent (in addition to the various national authorities involved), from what I recall. That was the common thread. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Re: fo-29
by i8cvs 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

Hi Kevin, I forgot to say that a transponder like that of FO-29 is made "inverting" in order to partially compensate and reduce the total doppler effect on the ground due for the uplink and the downlink frequencies because both dopplers subtracts each other into the transponder mixers during the up and down frequency conversion so that the resultant total doppler effect on the ground receiver is the difference between the uplink doppler and the downlink doppler. The reverse is through for a "non inverting" type transponder like for example the OSCAR-7 Mode-A transponder in wich you transmit USB in 2 meters and receive USB in 10 meters but the total doppler effect on the ground receiver is the sum of both dopplers. In the OSCAR-7 Mode-A the total doppler effect even if it is the sum of both dopplers is very low because the 2 meters uplink and 10 meters downlink frequencies are both relatively low so that the transponder can be made "non inverting" without considebable problems for the satellite user. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: Kevin Deane To: domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 4:43 AM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] fo-29 thanks!!! Kevin > From: domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it > To: summit496(a)live.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] fo-29 > Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 03:33:04 +0100 > > Hi Kevin, > > The transponder of FO-29 is inverting and to receive correctly in USB on 70 > cm you must transmit LSB in 2 meters. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kevin Deane" <summit496(a)live.com> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 3:07 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] fo-29 > > > > > > > > > > so I know you all will laugh at me but what inverting means lsb down usb > up is this correct > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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ND9M/MM Op Sked: DM02 - Maybe
by Clary, James T, Civilian 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

There is a chance - a chance, mind you - that my ship may drop down into DM02 tonight. This is a rare grid square for those looking to work all 488 grids in the Lower 48 states. If we get there, the most likely passes that I'll be on will be AO7 (if it's in Mode B) and VO52. AO7 - 02/0317Z VO52 - 02/0336Z No promises, but I'm hopeful. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid CM93

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SO-67 1 mar 0419 UT pass
by saguaroastro＠cox.net 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

All did anyone hear SO-67 on this pass? Nothing heard from DM33. 73 de Rick K7TEJ

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Mini-Grid Expedition CP29/CP39
by John Boudreau 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

I'll be travelling tomorrow to Tuktoyaktuk, NT by ice road and intend to be active from CP29 and CP39 as follows: GRID ON OFF SATELLITE ================================= CP29 19:10 19:20 SO-50 CP39 20:46 20:52 AO-51 CP39 20:52 21:00 SO-50 CP39 21:29 21:30 AO-27 CP29 22:23 22:32 AO-51 CP29 22:32 22:41 SO-50 Coverage will be North America only, wherefore art thou HO-68? :( CP79 next Tuesday/Wednesday. 73 John - VE8EV

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Radar interference
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

Drew et All I get the same interference from time to time here at EM30 Lafayette, La. I am told this is from ships moored in the Port of Baton Rouge some 50 miles away. I am told that this is a very old radar. I hear the signal strength go up and down on an interval of about 10 seconds and I assume that the antenna is rotating at about 6 RPM. nick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPSvVEjrTzY This is just a short video of the severe RADAR QRM I had today while trying to work FO-29. This is about as bad as I've ever seen it here in Central Florida. Please ignore my son coughing in the background (he's getting better fast), along with one of my male cockatiels crooning to the female one. :-) 73, Drew KO4MA Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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ND9M/MM Op Sked: 1 March
by Clary, James T, Civilian 01 Mar '11

01 Mar '11

We'll be pulling into our destination port area in DM13 on Wednesday morning. Our stay will be about 12 days before we take off for the Panama Canal and up to Charleston, SC. I probably won't be much, if at all, tomorrow night once we cross into DM03, a green stamp grid square. But I'll be keeping a close watch on the GPS on the chance that we dip just far enough south to cross into the rare DM02 grid square. (Our planned route takes us to within a very few miles of the line.) That grid is highly sought after by 6M buffs that chase the Fred Fish Award for working all 488 grids in the Lower 48 states. I don't have 6M with me during this trip, but there's plenty of interest from those who are looking for that grid in case a satellite equivalent of the award becomes available. Here's my planned list of passes and the expected grids for Tuesday, 1 March. SO67 - 01/1553Z - CM83 AO27 - 01/2010Z - CM93 AO7 - 02/0122Z - if in Mode B - CM93 or DM03 FO29 - 02/0145Z - CM93 or DM03 These passes occur during my work hours. I'll be on if possible. VO52 - 01/1645Z - CM83 SO67 - 01/1726Z - CM83 or CM93 VO52 - 01/1822Z - CM83 or CM93 AO27 - 01/2148Z - CM93 AO51 - 01/2254Z - CM93 AO7 - 01/2333Z - if in Mode B - CM93 FO29 - 01/2359Z - CM93 AO51 - 02/0032Z - CM93 I was on SO67 yesterday morning during the 28/1612Z pass, but there was no sign of the bird during last night's pass at 01/0420Z although the satellite's op sked that I received showed that it should have been QRV. I'll try SO67 Tuesday morning again though. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid CM83

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CAT control using the FT-736R
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

I'm using a Yaseu FT-736R and the W1GEE Prod. LCU3-Y1 Interface for Yaseu radios. I would like to control my G5500 rotors and at the same time, tune and compensate for Doppler using SATPC32 for ISS contacts. I'd appreciate anyone's inputs on how they set their system up. 73, Dave, AA4KN

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Glory and ELaNa sat launch tentative date Mar 4
by charlie Cantrill 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Nasa announced Glory to be launched no earlier than Friday, 4. The ELaNa (Education Launch of Nanosatellites) is hitching a ride to the A-train. "Orbital Sciences and NASA engineers are making good progress in troubleshooting the ground support equipment issue that caused the postponement of the Glory launch on Feb. 23. Launch will be no earlier than March 4."http://glory.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Charlie CantrillKI4RDT

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Canary Islands ARISS Contact
by JoAnne Maenpaa 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hello Everyone, This message arrived in the AMSAT News Service mailbox. I'm sending it out today because waiting for the weekend news cycle will make it late. ----- Dear AMSAT friends, Next Thursday 3rd of March at 14:17 UTC we will be performing the first ARISS contact ever performed from the Canary Islands. In order to commemorate this event we are going to provide HD broadcast of the event through our website http://www.isscontact.eu. We think this could be of interest for hams and fans of the ISS all around the world, so we would be very grateful if you could help us spread this information to as many people as possible. We would like to thank you also for all the excellent information available at your website, which has been of great help during the almost year and a half of preparation time needed for this contact. Kind regards, Javier Perez - EA8CRA/EG8ISS Contact Coordinator for the IDeTIC ARISS ISS Contact -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

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help with amp design
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hi All The CAPE team is design a 3.8 volt 2 watt amp and could use some help. If you can help please contact me. Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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AO-51 Schedule revised, updates--no S-band yet!
by Mark L. Hammond 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Hi All, Helpful reports from users (about the transmitters turning OFF) and telemetry confirm that AO-51 is still seeing a few minutes of "darkness" every orbit. There isn't sufficient sun to allow us to turn the S-mode transmitter on yet. Drats. The current mode will continue until either 1) we have clear telemetry and we can run a day of S-band -OR- 2) we make the mode change to normal (V/U voice repeater and L/U Pacsat BBS) on March 4. 73, Mark N8MH _______________________ AO-51 Revised schedule: Feb 28 Dual Voice Repeaters : Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink 435.150 MHz FM Mode change-To Be Determined! Mode V/S Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink 2401.200 MHz FM March 4 (~0945 UTC) Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud March 6 (~2115 UTC) Mode L/SU FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink1 2401.200 MHz FM Downlink2 435.300 MHz FM (low power) March 11 (~1000 UTC) [Eclipses return around March 12/13] Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz 9k6 baud

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fo-29
by Kevin Deane 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

so I know you all will laugh at me but what inverting means lsb down usb up is this correct

8 8

LAST Call for Papers: 15th Annual SVHFS Conference Huntsville, AL
by Robin Midgett 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Last call for the 2011 SVHFS Conference Papers. They are to be received by March 11th. Please send to N2CEI, Steve Kostro at SVHFS2011(a)downeastmicrowave.com. We have one or two more presentation slots open so if you would like to make one, (published paper not required! ) please contact Steve. So far we have some great material to be published and some informative presentation to be made but there is always room for more! Join in the fun, jot something down for the proceedings and put a simple 5-10 min. presentation together for us to see! Deadline for hotel reservations is March 29, at last report there were only a few rooms left in our block and there are a number of other functions scheduled for Huntsville during conference weekend. Don't get caught without a room. A link for hotel reservations can be found on the conference page at www.svhfs.org. The registration form will be posted on the same page soon. The Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and presentations for the upcoming 15th annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference to be held in Huntsville, Alabama on April 29th and 30th, 2011. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. Time slots for Presentations are limited but all papers will be considered. Some suggested areas of interest are: Transmitters Receivers Transverters RF Power Amplifiers RF Low Noise Pre Amplifiers Antennas Construction Projects Test Equipment And Station Accessories Station Design And Construction Contesting Roving DXpeditions EME Propagation (Sporadic E, Meteor Scatter, Troposphere Ducting, etc.) Digital Modes (WSJT, etc.) Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Software Defined Radio (SDR) Amateur Satellites Amateur Television In general papers and presentations on non weak signal related topics such as FM repeaters and packet will not be accepted but exceptions may be made if the topic is related to weak signal. For example, a paper or presentation on the use of APRS to track rovers during contests would be considered. The Technical committee this year is K4IDC, Robin Midgett and N2CEI, Steve Kostro. Contact Steve Kostro, SVHFS2011 AT downeastmicrowave DOT com as soon as possible if you wish to make a presentation. There is limited presentation time left in the schedule. Submissions for presentation at the conference should be in PowerPoint (.ppt) format, and delivered in person at the conference to Robin Midgett on either a USB memory stick or CDROM or posted for download on a web site of your choice. Notify or adress Robin with any other AVA questions at K4IDC AT Comcast DOT net. Papers may be submitted and published without presentation. Deadline for the submission of papers is March 11, 2011. All submissions for the proceedings should be in Microsoft Word (.doc). Pages are 8 and 1/2 by 11 inches with a 1 inch margin on the bottom and ¾ inch margin on the other three sides. All text, drawings, photos, etc. should be black and white only (no color). For further information and updates about the conference please go to www.svhfs.org Thank you, Robin Midgett K4IDC 2011 Conference Program Co-Chair, SVHFS

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ND9M/MM Op Sked - 28 Feb
by Clary, James T, Civilian 28 Feb '11

28 Feb '11

Here is my planned schedule for 28 Feb and the grids I expect to be in: AO27 - 28/2041Z - CM65 - approx turn on time AO51 - 01/0112Z - CM64 or CM74 AO7 - 01/0222Z - CM74 VO52 - 01/0320Z - CM74 SO67 - 01/0420Z - CM74 VO52 - 01/0453Z - CM74 FO29 - 01/1059Z - CM84 These passes occur during the business day. Now that we're approaching our West Coast destination in DM13, the ship's own op sked is ramping up, so these passes will be the first to go. I'll get in whatever passes I can. SO67 - 28/1612Z - CM54 VO52 - 28/1628Z - CM54 VO52 - 28/1803Z - CM54 or CM64 AO27 - 28/2222Z - CM64 - approx turn on time FO29 - 28/2311Z - CM64 AO51 - 28/2334Z - CM64 AO7 - 01/0032Z - CM64 - Likely 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Grid CM54

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SO67 For the Americas
by Hans 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

Hi all Schedule for this week 28 Feb - 6 March now on www.amsatsa.org.za <http://www.amsatsa.org.za/> Hans ZS6AKV SA AMSAT

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ND9M/MM: VO52 - CM45
by Clary, James T, Civilian 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

Sorry for the short notice, but last night when I wrote up my op sked for today, I overlooked a VO52 pass that will rise locally at 28/0436Z. I'll be in the center of the band from CM45. I'll post tomorrow's op sked later. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC

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Revised schedule AO-51 Feb-March 2011
by Mark L. Hammond 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

As suspected, we're changing the schedule (due to a lack of full sun and to support the school contacts previously arranged in Alaska). The current schedule is below. We may need to adjust again; changes will be communicated at the AO-51 website and here. AO-51 Mode Change Schedule February 21 (~2145 UTC) [Eclipses should end around Feb. 24/25] Dual Voice Repeaters : Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink 435.150 MHz FM March 1 (~1005 UTC) Mode V/S Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink 2401.200 MHz FM March 4 (~0945 UTC) Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud March 6 (~2115 UTC) Mode L/SU FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink1 2401.200 MHz FM Downlink2 435.300 MHz FM (low power) March 11 (~1000 UTC) [Eclipses return around March 12/13] Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz 9k6 baud As always, command stations may need to reconfigure modes in order to collect telemetry as needed. Remember that power management may be running, and the transmitter(s) will shut OFF during periods of eclipse and/or low battery voltage. 73, Mark N8MH AO-51 Command Team Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Cruise ship operation newbie questions
by Bryan Green 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

Hello, all: Semi-active OSCAR user Bryan Green KL7CN/W6 here. I'm going on a cruise ship in about a month leaving April 3 on Royal Caribbean's Adventure of the Seas, cruising from San Juan to Barbados and back via a bunch of island nations. I would love to emulate Allen N5AFV and operate maritime mobile from the ship and from ports of call. However, I am not as knowledgeable as I would like to be about how to go about this... properly. I am certain that I am too late to obtain reciprocal licenses, but perhaps there are some places where I could operate. I have read Allen N5AFV's excellent and very detailed articles and I will attempt to obtain what I can for licenses. I also have decent equipment for FM operations already. Does anyone have any very recent experience, and perhaps in particular with this cruise line? Royal Caribbean specifically calls out Amateur Radio gear as prohibited, but I expect that with the proper permission it would be possible... Thank you in advance for any information! In any case I will be able to operate in San Juan KP4 when we are not on the ship, so I'm excited about that! -- bag Bryan Green, op. KL7CN/W6 408-836-7279

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VUCC/DXCC Status and Fees
by John Papay 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

OPDX Bulletin Nr. 1000, edited by Tedd KB8NW and hosted on my website www.papays.com/opdx.html, is reporting some good news regarding VUCC and DXCC fees etc.: "DXCC NEWS (Awards Processing Update). The ARRL Awards-Blog page reports the following: "We are nearly done with processing all the 2010 DXCC applications. At this point we are reconciling hybrid applications and determining final disposition of applications with problems. It will take us about one more week to finish these tasks, at which time we will shut down the DXCC system so that the data for 2010 (Annual Listings and Honor Roll listings) can be tabulated. After we have the 2010 data, we will work with IT staff to incorporate the newest DXCC entities into LoTW and call for LoTW certificate requests from the PJ operations. VUCC paper applications from 2010 and the first few weeks of 2011 have been entered into the VUCC system, but not processed further. Those who submitted those applications, and have accounts in LoTW, can see that data inside their accounts. Link requests for VUCC have been processed where it was possible without manual intervention. There are approximately 60 link requests that will require further work at HQ. DXCC and VUCC fees are being evaluated. If the fees are changed (they will not be raised), the new rates will be applied to any applications received in 2011." 73, John K8YSE

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ND9M/MM Ops: 27 Feb
by Clary, James T, Civilian 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

We're progressing toward W6-land and should be there this coming Wednesday. North America is solidly within many footprints now, and a lot of contacts have been made. It's also surprising to me that several of the passes I've been on have had no other signals even though the footprint covered well into North America and I heard my downlinks quite easily. The seas have calmed considerably, but the winds have brought the wind chill down into the 30s. That makes for some mighty cold passes! Here's my planned op sked and the expected grid(s) for tomorrow, 27 Feb: FO29 - 27/1106Z - CM15 or CM25, possibly both during the same pass VO52 - 27/1745Z - CM25 AO27 - 27/2107Z - CM35 VO52 - 28/0305Z - Probably CM45 AO7 - 28/0324Z - Probably CM45 FO29 - 28/1013Z - CM54 These passes are during my business hours. I'll make them if I can. AO27 - 27/2246Z - CM35 - Approximate turn on time AO7 - 27/2343Z - CM35 - If in Mode B FO29 - 28/0004Z - CM35 AO51 - 28/0013Z - CM35 - will miss the first few minutes to be on FO29 AO7 - 28/0130Z - CM35 - This is a likely one, but I can't be sure. FO29 - 28/0149Z - CM35 - This is also a likely pass to make. Here's a "maybe" pass: VO52 - 27/1611Z - CM25 - It'll be low (4 degrees) and early here, which is why it's a maybe... CU on the birds! 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC

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Yuri's Night
by Clint Bradford 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

I will be hosting a "Yuri's Night" party at my house on April 12 ... How about "meeting" also on the AMSAT Conference on EchoLink for the event? We can keep the "politics" of the delayed ARISSat-1 deployment out of this ... and have a fun session. (I mean, it's going to be a celebration whether we get involved or not ... ) Anyone else organizing anything on the 'Net? The Web site cited in this weekend's AMSAT News looks like fun ... Roscosmos has announced that ARISSat-1, still inside the ISS will be turned on using an external antenna on Yuri's Night, April 12, 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight. AMSAT will support this event and issue certificates to those stations reporting reception of the ARISSat-1 signals. Yuri's Night is a global event with more information available online at: http://yurisnight.net/ Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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CQ EG8ISS 5 March ?
by andy thomas 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

Hi WLTM would like to meet EG8ISS next saturday on 20m if the station is still around? EG8ISS is a special event station commemorating ARISS contact so I'm not OT! 73 de andy G0SFJ

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FW: [ans] ANS-058 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 27 Feb '11

27 Feb '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-058 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: * Electronic Nominating Procedures Announced for AMSAT-NA Elections * SA AMSAT Space Symposium on April 2, 2011 * SA-AMSAT Decides on UV Linear Transponder for Kletskous Payload * NASA ASSESSING NEW LAUNCH DATES FOR THE GLORY MISSION * Wide selection of Modes is scheduled for AO-51 * Satellite Shorts * ARRISS CONTACTS * Spectrum Management Bill Threatens 70cm Amateur Satellite Frequencies SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.01 Electronic Nominating Procedures Announced for AMSAT-NA Elections AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.01 AMSAT has in the past required written submission of nominating petitions for the Board of Directors, usually gathered at hamfests or other meetings, to be received at the AMSAT office no later than June 15th. This procedure will remain available, unchanged, and is the preferred method. However, in the decades since the founding of AMSAT, electronic com- munications, once limited to the few at government or other technical facilities, have become readily available. This has prompted a review of the nominating procedures used at comparable organizations. Beginning with 2011 AMSAT Board of Directors election, a supplemental method, using electronic submissions, will be available. This will be a two step process: 1. Preliminary nominating petitions may be made by FAX, PDF, or similar electronic means. As with the written version, this petition must be from one Member Society, or five AMSAT-NA members in good standing, and received at the AMSAT office by June 15th. This will allow nominations up to the last day to cover a last minute withdrawal or declaration of candidacy. 2. However, in accordance with the AMSAT Bylaws, there remains a requirement of a confirming written nominating petition. This must be received at the AMSAT office no later than 7 days after June 15th. In effect, by submitting a petition electronically, you extend the deadline for the written petition to be received by 7 days. Elec- tronic submissions without this second, written petition are not valid under the existing AMSAT Bylaws. More extensive changes, for instance to a fully electronic method, will require an amendment of the Bylaws. The addresses, FAX number, and requirements for submission will be provided in the formal call for nominations published in the AMSAT Journal. Alan Biddle WA4SCA AMSAT Corporate Secretary [ANS thanks AMSAT Corporate Secretary Alan Biddle, WA4SCA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.02 SA AMSAT Space Symposium on April 2, 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.02 SA AMSAT Space Symposium on April 2, 2011 The 2011 SA AMSAT Space Symposium will be held in Gauteng on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at Vodaworld, Midrand in South Africa. If you book before March 15 you receive a discount on the registration fee. Download the registration form from http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ Registration fee includes refreshments and lunch. Symposium Highlights: + Keynote Address: Sandile Malinga CEO of SANSA + RaDAR- Rapid Deployed Amateur Radio + SA AMSAT Satellite projects: SAiSAT KLETSkous + The African Space Institute: the first year of blood, sweat and space. + Cryogenic receiver systems for the KAT-7 and MeerKAT projects + The CHEETAH-1 CSLV-Moving Toward Independent Access to Space for South Africa + CPUT - Student Satellite projects [ANS thanks SA AMSAT for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.03 SA-AMSAT Decides on UV Linear Transponder for Kletskous Payload AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.03 SA-AMSAT Decides on UV Linear Transponder for Kletskous Payload SA-AMSAT has started the development of a Cubesat project. It has been named Project KLETSkous during its development phase. Once the satellite nears completion it is plannedto run a competition to decide on an applicable name for the satellite as was the case for SumbandilaSat. Project KLETSkous reflects nicely on the mission and functionality of the satellite: "Klets" is an Afrikaans work for talking a lot. We want the Southern African radio amateurs to talk and operate much more via satellite. "Kous" is the Afrikaans word for a sock. The transponder that is planned for the satellite can also be re- ferred to as a "bent-pipe" transponder, aligning the idea to the "sock". SA-AMSAT this week announced that the main payload on the KLETSkous CubeSat will be a linear UV transponder with a bandwidth of 20 kHz. The UV mode which is 70 cm uplink and 2 meter downlink was chosen in line with internationally recommended practice as it will mini- mize interference. The aim is to have it operating over Africa without the need of an access tone to open the transponder to give Amateurs with modest equipment easy access to the satellite. For the rest of the world where the Amateur population is denser, tone access will be required to reduce unwanted interference even on 70 cm uplinks. For educational purposes a beacon and parrot functionality may be highly desirable. Proposals for additional payloads will be consid- ered. It should however be remembered that the amount of available power is a limiting factor. Fundraising for the project has started in all earnest and radio amateurs are invited to make contributions to the fund. Visit http://www.amsatsa.org.za/KLETSkous.htm for bank details and more about the KLETSkous project. [ANS thanks SA AMSAT for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.04 NASA ASSESSING NEW LAUNCH DATES FOR THE GLORY MISSION AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.04 NASA ASSESSING NEW LAUNCH DATES FOR THE GLORY MISSION [Editor Note: This is the launch from Vandenberg AFB that includes the University of Kentucky, University of Montana, and University of Colorado cubesats announced in ANS-051.] WASHINGTON -- Preparations for the launch of NASA's Glory mission from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California have been suspended temporarily. Engineers continue to troubleshoot a malfunction in ground support equipment associated with the Taurus XL rocket. On Feb. 23, a false indication was received about the rocket's status after commands were sent approximately 15 minutes before launch to activate the Taurus. "We had an indication that a 'hold-fire' command was sent when indeed it had not," said Omar Baez, NASA launch director. The commands originated from the Vehicle Interface Control Console in the mobile launch support van stationed a few miles from the launch pad. The problem has not yet been isolated, and trouble- shooting continues. Managers are evaluating possible Glory launch opportunities in early to mid-March. "The Glory spacecraft is doing fine," reported Bryan Fafaul, Glory project manager from NASA's Goddard Space Flight in Greenbelt, Md. "We are continuing to slow charge the battery until we have a new launch date." The Glory satellite will be launched aboard a Taurus on a mission to improve our understanding of how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. Glory launch management is provided by NASA's Launch Service Program at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Orbital Sciences Corp. is providing the Taurus XL launch vehicle and is responsible for spacecraft operations. For status updates on the Glory launch, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/glory [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.05 Wide selection of modes is scheduled for AO-51 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.05 Here is the AO-51 schedule for the next few weeks. There is a little bit of something for everyone in here! Keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change due to power budget and/or telemetry downloading. AO-51 Mode Change Schedule(updated 2/27/11) February 21 (~2145 UTC) [Eclipses should end around Feb. 24/25] Dual Voice Repeaters : Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink 435.150 MHz FM March 1 (~1005 UTC) Mode V/S Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink 2401.200 MHz FM March 4 (~0945 UTC) Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud March 6 (~2115 UTC) Mode L/SU FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM Downlink1 2401.200 MHz FM Downlink2 435.300 MHz FM (low power) March 11 (~1000 UTC) [Eclipses return around March 12/13] Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink 435.300 MHz FM Mode L/U PacSat BBS Uplink: 1268.703 MHz 9k6 baud Downlink 435.150 MHz 9k6 baud As always, command stations may need to reconfigure modes in order to collect telemetry as needed. Remember that power management may be running, and the transmitter(s) will shut OFF during periods of eclipse and/or low battery voltage. 73, Mark N8MH AO-51 Command Team [ANS thanks Mark, N8MH & Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.06 Satellite Shorts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.06 Satellite Shorts From All Over + David Jordan AA4KN's excellent article on working ARISSat-1 that was published in the February, 2011 issue of QST magazine is available for download: http://tinyurl.com/work-arissat1 It is a 1.1MB .pdf document. (Thanks Clint, K6LCS) + Roscosmos has announced that ARISSat-1, still inside the ISS will be turned on using an external antenna on Yuri's Night, April 12, 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's first manned space flight. AMSAT will support this event and issue certificates to those stations reporting reception of the ARISSat-1 signals. Yuri's Night is a global event with more information available on-line at: http://yurisnight.net/ + Listen for possible satellite operation from the Camb-Hams DXpedition from the Isle of Arran (Grid IO75HO) between May 1-8, 2011. Their latest information can be found on-line at: http://dx.camb-hams.com/ + The next Hudson Valley Satcom Net date is Thursday, March 3 at 8PM EST (UTC-5) on the 146.970MHz Repeater (-600;Pl 100) and on the echolink node of N2EYH-L. More info: http://www.hvsatcom.org (Stu,WA2BSS) + The Florida AMSAT net is held every Thursday evening at 7:30pm Eastern Time (UTC-5). Many Florida repeaters are connected together for this net but others are welcome to join by using the AMSAT Echolink Confer- ence Node. Mike N4HHA is usually the moderator. Bring your questions and news items to share. (John K8YSE/4) + Several videos of the innovative KySat-1 CubeSat are available: http://tinyurl.com/4zodwy8 (SouthGateARC) + Movies of Comet Tempel 1 encounter by Stardust-NExT can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/4tnbwan (UniverseToday.com) [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.07 ARISS Contacts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 21, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.07 1. Upcoming School Contacts Preston North East Primary School in Preston, Victoria, Australia scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, February 22 at 08:04 UTC via telebridge station W5RRR in Houston was successful. Students in Grades 5 and 6 have been engaged in an integrated unit of work that focuses on Earth and the Solar System. The students have been learning why we are able to live on Earth and why other planets are not suitable to sustain human life. Nishibori Eizaburo Memorial Explorer Museum Radio Club, located in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, February 22 at 09:12 UTCwas also successful. The radio club is an independent club that will use the museum facilities for this event. Children are learning about the ISS mission and space science and it is hoped that the contact will pique student interest in science and space technology. 2. Successful ARISS Contacts Held Students from Matsubara High School, located in Matsubara, Osaka, Japan, experienced an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with U.S. astronaut Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH on Monday, February 14. The contact, which highlighted lessons on radios and the ISS, was attended by approximately 200 people. Media representatives from 3 newspapers, one radio station and 3 television stations, including NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) covered the event. On Thursday, February 17, students attending "Claudio Varalli," and "Salvador Allende" High Schools in Milano, Italy participated in an ARISS contact with ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA on the ISS. Telebridge station W5RRR in Houston handled the connection. Varalli, which has both a technical school and a secondary school that focuses on foreign languages, has a radio club station, IZ2SHS that is used to practice languages. "Salvador Allende" emphasizes three courses of study in science, humanities and accounting. More than 100 students, teachers and visitors attended the event and listened as Nespoli fielded 16 questions posed to him by the students. Regional and local media covered the contact, which was available on EchoLink and streamed on the Web. An ARISS contact was held between youth visiting Experiencing Learning, "Imparare Sperimentando," in San Quirino, Italy and on-orbit astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA on Saturday, February 19 via station LU8YY in Argentina. A crowd of approximately 400 people gathered at Imparare Sperimentando, an interactive exhibition that covers a wide variety of physics experiments and science, and watched as the students asked 16 questions of the astronaut. Regional and local media covered the event. The audio was fed into EchoLink and streaming video was provided by AMSAT-Italia. 3. Kentucky Standard Says ARISS Inspires Students to Study Science The Kentucky Standard Editorial Board printed an article about the recent ARISS - Foster Heights Elementary School contact, made possible with the help of Nelson County Area Technology Center students, and how this activity inspires children to learn more about science and technology. The story talks about how the radio contact fits in with President Barack Obama's recent State of the Union address on how the nation needs to encourage students to learn and excel, especially in math and science. See: http://www.kystandard.com/content/space-contact-may-increase-science-and-mat h-interest 4. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS International Team met for its monthly teleconference on Tuesday, February 15. Discussions included the upcoming ARISS-I face to face meeting, as well as status reports on Columbus Module projects and ARISSat-1 plans. Minutes have been posted to the ARISS Web site. https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2011-02-15.htm 5. AMSAT - ARISSat-1 Updates On February 20, the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-051) provided a status on ARISSat-1. Roscosmos has delayed the deployment of ARISSat-1 until the next Russian EVA scheduled in July. On April 12, the crew will connect the satellite, while still inside the ISS, to an external antenna and turn it on in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's first manned spaceflight. For more information, see: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2011/000488.html 6. ARRL - Doug Wheelock will be Guest at Dayton Hamvention The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) posted a story in its February 17 ARRL Letter about astronaut Doug Wheelock's plans to attend the Dayton Hamvention which will be held May 20-22, 2011. Wheelock will talk about his stay on the ISS, his contacts with school children and his many general contacts with hams. For the full story, "Astronaut Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, to Be Guest of ARRL and AMSAT at Hamvention,®" go to: http://www.arrl.org/news/astronaut-doug-wheelock-kf5boc-to-be-guest-of-arrl- and-amsat-at-hamvention 7. Astronaut Training Status Three astronauts were given the ARISS Basic Operations class this past week. Kevin Ford, KF5GPP (Expedition 33), Chris Cassidy (Expedition 35) and Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI (Expedition 32) all participated in the training sessions. 8. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISSat On February 18, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1749 posted the story, "Ham Radio in Space: ARISSat-1 Deployment Delayed until July." The story covers the recent events affecting the satellite. See: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-058.08 Spectrum Management Bill Threatens 70cm Amateur Satellite Frequencies AMSAT News Service Bulletin 058.08 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 27, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-058.08 Spectrum Management Bill Threatens 70cm Amateur Satellite Frequencies The ARRL and AMSAT are closely monitoring progress on a new bill HR-607, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011, introduced by Representative Peter King (R-NY-3), Chairman of the House Home- land Security Committee. At present the bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles telecommun- ications legislation. Several blocks of spectrum are proposed for auction. There are sev- eral bills in Congress providing for the allocation of the D-Block (758-763 and 788-793 MHz) for Public Safety use, and HR-607 is one of those. But HR-607 uniquely provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to commercial users, in order to offset the loss of revenue that would occur as the result of the allocation of the D-Block to Public Safety instead of commercial auction. The band of 420-440 MHz is listed among the bands to be reallocated for commercial auction within 10 years of passage of HR-607. A full article on this topic is posted on the ARRL web at: http://tinyurl.com/4prgouq (arrl.org) [ANS thanks the ARRL 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, Dee Interdonato, NB2F Nb2f at amsat dot org

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Possible delay for mode change Re: AO-51 schedule for February, March 2011
by Mark L. Hammond 26 Feb '11

26 Feb '11

It is very possible that the mode change on Feb 27 (to V/S) will be postponed. The satellite is still seeing periods of "eclipse" due to sun angle, etc. At this point we need full sun to operate in S-band, so the mode change is dependant upon telemetry showing that we are good to go. Things might work out, but my hunch is that we'll have to postpone a day or two. Updates will be posted here as things play out. 73, Mark N8MH >> -----Original Message----- >> From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond >> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 12:01 PM >> To: Amsat - BBs >> Cc: ao51-modes(a)amsat.org >> Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 schedule for February, March 2011 >> >> Hello All, >> >> Here is the AO-51 schedule for the next few weeks. There is a little >> bit of something for everyone in here! >> >> Keep in mind that the schedule is subject to change due to power >> budget and/or telemetry downloading. >> >> >> February 21 (~2145 UTC) [Eclipses should end around Feb. 24/25] >> >> Dual Voice Repeaters : >> Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM >> Downlink 435.300 MHz FM >> >> Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM >> Downlink 435.150 MHz FM >> >> >> February 27 (~2100 UTC) >> >> Mode V/S Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM >> Downlink 2401.200 MHz FM >> >> >> March 3 (~1030 UTC) >> >> Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM >> Downlink 435.300 MHz FM >> >> Mode L/U PacSat BBS >> Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FSK 9k6 baud >> Downlink 435.150 MHz FSK 9k6 baud >> >> >> March 6 (~2115 UTC) >> >> Mode L/SU FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 1268.703 MHz FM >> Downlink1 2401.200 MHz FM >> Downlink2 435.300 MHz FM (low power) >> >> >> March 11 (~1000 UTC) [Eclipses return around March 12/13] >> >> Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (no PL tone needed) >> Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM >> Downlink 435.300 MHz FM >> >> Mode L/U PacSat BBS >> Uplink: 1268.703 MHz 9k6 baud >> Downlink 435.150 MHz 9k6 baud >> >> >> As always, command stations may need to reconfigure modes in order to >> collect telemetry as needed. >> >> Remember that power management may be running, and the transmitter(s) will shut >> OFF during periods of eclipse and/or low battery voltage. >> >> 73, >> >> Mark N8MH >> AO-51 Command Team >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > > > >-- >Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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remix! G6LVB FCD and G0MRF Signal Generator--great combo!
by Mark L. Hammond 26 Feb '11

26 Feb '11

After a quick sell-out a few weeks back, I understand that the AMSAT-UK store now has more of these great signal generators by G0MRF in stock. It's a perfect mate for your G6LVB Funcube Dongle!! 73! Mark N8MH > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond > Sent: 16 January 2011 21:47 > To: amsat-bb; funcube(a)yahoogroups.co.uk > Subject: [amsat-bb] G6LVB FCD and G0MRF Signal Generator--great combo! > > Folks, > > If you have one of these: > > G6LVB FCD > http://www.funcubedongle.com/ > > You really ought to consider getting one of these: > > G0MRF Signal Generator > http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/article_6/2.4-GHz-Signal-Source-Kits-by- > G0MRF.html?shop_param=cid%3D8%26aid%3D6%26 > > (with some more details here: http://g0mrf.com/source2.htm ) > > > I have a signal source board from back in the AO-40 era with a crystal > at 96.019 MHz. It has proven very helpful as a continuos test signal > source for a wide range of frequencies for the FCD. Beats ker-chunking > local repeaters :) You can adjust various FCD parameters and see the > impact, etc. > > The current crystal (96.013 MHz) is just a bit different than mine > (96.019), but it would do the same thing... > > Harmonically, it works out like this: > > *note--if you have an antenna connected, keep in mind that fundamental > frequency is probably right near a STRONG local FM radio station ;) so > the noise floor might be quite high at 96.019 MHz! That one took me a > while to figure out... > > > Xtal Multiplier Output in MHz > 96.019 0.667 64.013 > 96.019 1.000 96.019 > 96.019 2.000 192.038 > 96.019 3.000 288.057 > 96.019 4.000 384.076 > 96.019 5.000 480.095 > 96.019 6.000 576.114 > 96.019 7.000 672.133 > 96.019 8.000 768.152 > 96.019 9.000 864.171 > 96.019 10.000 960.190 > 96.019 11.000 1056.209 > 96.019 12.000 1152.228 > 96.019 13.000 1248.247 > 96.019 14.000 1344.266 > 96.019 15.000 1440.285 > 96.019 16.000 1536.304 > 96.019 17.000 1632.323 > 96.019 18.000 1728.342 > 96.019 19.000 1824.361 > 96.019 20.000 1920.380 > 96.019 21.000 2016.399 > 96.019 22.000 2112.418 > 96.019 23.000 2208.437 > 96.019 24.000 2304.456 > 96.019 25.000 2400.475 > 96.019 26.000 2496.494 > >

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Shuttle Chasing ISS
by Clint Bradford 26 Feb '11

26 Feb '11

It appears (pun intended) that North America might be able to watch the Shuttle chase the ISS this evening. For Southern California ... times n PST tonight ... Aos: 2011/02/25 22:33:45 329.8 0.0 Max: 2011/02/25 22:38:24 37.4 13.4 Los: 2011/02/25 22:42:29 92.4 -0.0 Aos: 2011/02/26 00:08:42 308.0 0.1 Max: 2011/02/26 00:13:57 201.8 45.9 Los: 2011/02/26 00:18:32 144.8 -0.0 Anticipating it being even brighter than Sirius. Clint, K6LCS

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