- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Fwd: IC 970 D
by Edward R. Cole 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

Do not write me concerning the radio. Posted as a courtesy for KE2BP. It is listed on e-bay #110625397465 at $1300 >can you be so kind to share this information with your members? >I would rather see this radio go into the hands of a licensed ham >/enthusiast. > > >Marc, >KE2BP > > ><wlmailhtml:{1ABC1DBE-52A4-4EA7-B805-DC038C55C36B}mid://00000006/!x-usc:http…>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110625397465&ssPageName=… 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw*, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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R7000 Icom for sale
by Andrew Glasbrenner 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

Hi all, I have an Icom R7000 receiver for sale, that covers 25 to 2000 Mhz. The receiver is in good shape and has been in weekly use here for over a year. No accessories included. I currently use the R7000's IF output with an SDR-IQ to monitor satellite downlinks and during VHF contests. $400 plus exact shipping, Paypal preferred. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Two configurations of SatPC32 ?
by Richard Ferryman 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

I use SatPC32 configured for two FT-817 transceivers for cross band duplex working. One rig is on the 2m aerial and the other on the 70cm aerial with a transfer switch for V/U or U/V. I have to switch the configuration to one transceiver and reboot for in-band simplex such as packet on ISS. Is possible to have two installations of SatPC32 or two configuration settings so I can just boot the configuration I need - (one radio or two radios)? Richard (Dick) G4BBH

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Fwd: Next "HV satcom" Net
by Stuart Balanger 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

*Since this din't get onto the"ans-amsat weekly bullitin newletter, I am forwarding this to the "amsat-bb" group! 73,.Stu Ballinger (WA2BSS) PS Happy Holiday's to all! * ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stuart Balanger <wa2bss(a)gmail.com> Date: Tue, Dec 14, 2010 at 6:37 PM Subject: Next "HV satcom" Net To: ans-editor(a)amsat.org *The Next "HV Satcom" Net is Thursday December 23; @ 8PM (EST) )UTC -5); on a frequency of 146.970 MHZ; w/ a Echolink node of "N2EYH-L:(Net Sponser is: Mt.Beacon ARC More info: www.hvsatcom.org orE-Mail: wa2aqh@a msat.org 2 Hamfests next Spring: Saturday March 26; Orange Co.(NY) More info: www.ocarc-ny.org & Mt. Beacon ARC Hamfeste; Sunday April 10 (Dutchess Co.NY) Moreinfo: www.wr2abb.org/home/ Thanks,.& 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) *

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SO-67 repeater temporarily suspended
by Johann Lochner 19 Dec '10

19 Dec '10

Hi folks, Last week the flash boot memory of a CAN controller on Sumbandila was corrupted by a probable radiation event. It does not affect satellite health but prevents activation of the amateur radio repeater, as the particular script detects an anomaly and aborts. The same problem also occurred in October of 2009 and was corrected. However, the fix requires time consuming effort, which cannot be exerted immediately. SO-67 repeater activations are therefore suspended. We apologise for any disappointment and hope to return to normal operations somewhere in January. 73 de ZR1CBC, Johann.

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AO51 mode change
by Andrew Glasbrenner 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi All, I missed the mode change last night on AO51. I expect to be able to make the switch this afternoon. Sorry for the inconvenience. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone

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FW: [ans] ANS-353 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-353 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: * Straight Key Night * This month's satellite awards * XW-1 1 year anniversary * AMSAT-UK FUNcube Needs Help * ARISS Status December 13, 2010 * Satellite Shorts * Thanks for your support SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.01 Straight Key Night AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.01 STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR 2011 You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2011, conducted by AMSAT for radio amateurs throughout the world. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Dick Peacock, W2GFF, who died in 2010 aged 91. Dick was an active satellite operator in the 1970s and 1980s, mostly on CW and usually with a straight key. He was also active on 50 MHz and the HF bands, and could always be counted on for a kind word and a friendly QSO. There are no rules, no scoring and no logs required. Just operate CW on any OSCAR satellite, using a straight hand key, from 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC on 1 January 2011, working as many SKN stations as you can. In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, each participant is asked to nominate one of the operators worked for "Best Fist." It is not necessary that your nominee have the best fist of anyone you heard, just of those you worked. Please send your nomination to W2RS via email at w2rs(a)amsat.org. Those nominated will be recognized in an ANS bulletin to be publish- ed in early February, and in The AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.02 This month's satellite awards AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.02 Here are the awards that I have processed over the last month. This will be the last posting for 2010. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Alan Murray, Jr., N1ZWL Richard Lewis, KG6ZVC The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. Boris Lanca, 9A2GA #525 Paul Gagnon, N6MA #526 Rick Tejera, K7TEJ #527 Jim Bennett, KE4KOL #528 Tom Deeble, KA6SIP #529 Glenn Barr, WB0KFC #530 The following have earned the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Paul Gagnon, N6MA #158 The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement award Nick Kucij, KB1RVT #US157 Boris Lanca, 9A2GA #US158 Rick Tejera, K7TEJ #US159 Jim Bennett, KE4KOL #US160 Tom Deeble, KA6SIP #US161 Glenn Barr, WB0KFC #US162 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO [ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.03 XW-1 1 year anniversary AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.03 HOPE-OSCAR 68 HO-68 Commemorates First Anniversary This week AMSAT China noted the first anniversary of XW-1, also known as Hope-Oscar 68 HO-68 with an announcement from Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 at AMSAT-China. AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW remarked that HO-68 was a significant milestone for both amateur radio and AMSAT-China. Barry wrote, "We are very excited to see that HO-68 continues to operate in good health and that a new member of the AMSAT Inter- national family has established itself. Again, congratulations on a placing HO-68 in service and best wishes for the New Year." >From India, Secretary of the Upagrah Amateur Radio Club at the ISRO Satellite Centre, Mani, VU2WMY wrote, "Wishing XW 1 HO-68 'A Happy Birthday'. Our good wishes and greetings to HO-68 for a very long and healthy life to serve the Ham community World wide." Rick, K7TEJ said, "Many thanks thanks to you and Allan and the rest of your team for your efforts to make this great bird available to us. May HO-68 have a long life!" >From Alaska, Dale KL7XJ commented, "A very Happy Birthday to XW1, HO-68. A very good satellite to work!" Roland, PY4ZBZ reported good signals from HO-68 as he worked PY1AT, PY5LF and UT1FG/MM on his sea voyage in grid FF36. The latest HO-68 information and operating schedule can be found on-line at: http://www.camsat.cn/ [ANS thanks BD5RV/4, WD4ASW, VU2WMY, K7TEJ, KL7XJ, and PY4ZBZ for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.04 AMSAT-UK FUNcube Needs Help AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.04 AMSAT-UK FUNcube Help needed with educational outreach AMSAT-UK is looking for people in the educational field to help develop the educational outreach part of the FUNcube satellite project. AMSAT-UK's FUNcube is an educational satellite project with the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics. Additionally it features a 435 to 145 MHz Linear Transponder for SSB/CW operation for use outside school hours. It will support the many existing educational Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiatives including GB4FUN. The target audience consists of school pupils and young people gener- ally, FUNcube will feature a 145 MHz telemetry beacon that will pro- vide a strong signal for the pupils to receive. A simple FUNcube dongle SDR receiver has also been developed. This will connect to the USB port of a laptop to display telemetry and messages in an interesting way. The project commenced in October 2009 and it is anticipated that the satellite will be launched before the end of 2011. More information can be found at http://www.funcube.org.uk/ As the technical work on the satellite itself is now well underway, AMSAT-UK is now looking to develop the educational outreach part of the project. This will include the design and contents of the "ground station" laptop display, the best method of providing the information so that it relates to current curricula, and all the supporting infor- mation that will be needed by the teachers. As they have little current educational experience Amsat-UK need additional professional advice as to how to carry it forward. The FUNcube website now has details of the planned educational aspects of the project. See http://www.funcube.org.uk (see the "education out- reach" link). If you are in the educational field and have experience in curriculum matters then please consider helping AMSAT-UK with this. In the first instance please contact Richard G3RWL for further infor- mation via e-mail: g3rwl at amsat.org The latest FUNcube information can be found on-line at these pages: FUNcube website http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ FUNcube SDR Dongle http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/ FUNcube Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.05 ARISS Status December 13, 2010 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.05 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report December 13, 2010 1. AMSAT Covers ARISS Anniversary The AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-346) included an article on the tenth anniversary of ARISS. See: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2010/000468.html 2. Amateur Radio Newsline Reports on ARISS On December 10, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1739 ran two ARISS news items under its heading Ham Radio in Space. Covering ten years of contacts is the story, "ARISS Celebrates its 10th Anniversary." "ARISSat One Enroute to Moscow" talks about the satellite on its way to Russia for testing and launch. See: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt 3. Astronaut Training Status Astronaut Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC is scheduled for an ARISS introduction class on December 13. Marshburn is slated to fly with Expedition 34 in November 2012. [ANS thanks Carol,KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.06 Satellite Shorts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.06 Satellite Shorts From All Over + AMSAT's Keeper of the Keps, Ray Hoad WA5QGD advised that recent Cubesats launched from Kodiak have been added to the AMSAT KEP distribution: RAX - Cat # 37223 OOREOS - Cat # 37224 FASTSAT - Cat # 37225 FAST1 and FAST2 - Cat # 37227 (FAST1 and FAST2 have the same KEPs) For some reason, yet unknown, Spacetrack is not publishing the KEPs for the above satellites. Special thanks to Drew Glasbrenner (KO4MA) for helping find the location of the KEPs for the above satellites. + Boris, UA0QJ (Asiatic Russia) in grid PP42TA has been reported to be active on AO7 mode B. He has been operating CW so far. + Listen for Duane, K5VGU operating portable on the satellites from Kentucky grid EM67 mostly and possibly the Kentucky piece of EM68. Duane will be in the area December 22 through December 29. + Listen for Daniel, VO1DZX operating portable VO2 from Labrador (FO62) until December 31. Daniel reports that bad operating conditions and lack of transportation will probably keep him from working any addi- tional grids. The best time to find him will be on the late afternoon/ early evening AO51 passes as long as he can get on. Weekends will be a good time to catch him as well. + Congratulations to AMSAT's Samudra N3RDX on his selection to present a technical paper at the AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting in January 2011 in Orlando, Florida. His paper is: "A Broadband Multi-hop Network for Earth-Mars Communication using Multi-purpose Interplanetary Relay Satellites and Linear-Circular Commutating Chain Topology". + The next Hudson Valley Satcom Net will be on Thursday, December 23 at 8:00PM EST (UTC - 5). The net meets on the Mt. Beacon 146.970 MHZ re- peater and also on Echolink N2EYH-L node. More information is on-line at http://www.hvsatcom.org. + The December 10 edition of the UK Metro newspaper carried an article titled 'Celebrating great British science' which featured the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite. Read the article on page 25 of the Online edition of the Metro newspaper at http://e-edition.metro.co.uk/2010/12/10/?p=25 + Video of the spectacular night launch of the Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft with Expedition 26 crew members NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, Russian cosmonaut Dmitry Kondratyev, and European Space Agency astronaut Paolo Nespoli can be watched at: http://tinyurl.com/2be6w6k (UniverseToday.com) + More images, details on SpaceX's Dragon Flight are posted on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/34dj7gt (UniverseToday.com) + Northern winter is beginning in a special way. On December 21, the win- ter solstice, a lunar eclipse will be visible across all of North America. Full story at: http://tinyurl.com/285grxy (nasa.gov) [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-353.07 Thanks for your support AMSAT News Service Bulletin 353.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 19, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-353.07 Thank-You For Your Support - ARISSat-1 and FOX PayPal Widget Fundraising AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA noted this week that, "We are just about to cross the $1000 mark on our PayPal fundraiser, and along with the $710 raised from the Facebook campaign, we are making a dent in recovering the funds spent on ARISSat-1 and those funds that will be spent on FOX." Drew continued, "I want to thank those that donated, and those that took the time to add the widget to their webpages and QRZ profiles, and especially recognize two members who have excelled in creating exposure for our campaign. John Papay, K8YSE and Clint Bradford, K6LCS have pulled away from the pack in the number and amount of donations resulting from their copies of the widget, with $290 dollars raised between them. Gentlemen, thank you!" Beginning with the $1250 mark, we will be randomly picking a donor from every $250 increment to receive an item from the AMSAT store. We currently have two different hats, a nice luggage tag, or a desktop thermometer/clock set to choose from, all bearing the AMSAT name and logo. Drew hopes to announce our first recipient soon! In conclusion, Drew writes, "Thanks again, and if you'd like to donate to the campaign or share the widget to your own website, please visit http://www.amsat.org. The widget is on the front page below the ARISSat-1 news, and you can click on "Give" to donate, or "add to site" to receive the HTML code, or "supporters" to scroll through the statistics. I hope to soon see more familiar names scrolling across the widget soon, showing your support for AMSAT's next two satellites." Donations, memberships, and store purchases may also be made through the AMSAT store on the website, or by calling Martha at 1 888 322 6728. [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA VP Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA 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. Remember to track Santa bringing you all the Happy Christmas Wishes from all the AMSAT volunteers giving their Time so willingly. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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Still at DM31....
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi! It has been a nice day down here at "Gringo Pass", the collection of shops on the north side of the USA/Mexico border in Lukeville, Arizona. I have worked 9 passes as of the 2302 UTC AO-51 pass. I plan on working 3 more passes before 0100 UTC (FO-29 @ 0010 UTC, SO-50 @ 0020 UTC or whenever I stop working stations on FO-29, then AO-51 @ 0042 UTC). By that point, it will be dark down here and time to go home. I know my APRS track stopped about 20 miles/32km north of Lukeville, and I won't be back in range of that last digi until I go back there. My operating location is in DM31ov, about 50 yards/meters north of the border fence on the west side of AZ-85 - the same place I operated from on my other trip down here last year. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Satellites Follow ... Woodpeckers
by Clint Bradford 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

An Idaho University team has been using a satellite-borne laser to try to predict in which part of a State forest the birds might be living. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11867165 Clint

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Still at DM31....
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi! It has been a nice day down here at "Gringo Pass", the collection of shops on the north side of the USA/Mexico border in Lukeville, Arizona. I have worked 9 passes as of the 2302 UTC AO-51 pass. I plan on working 3 more passes before 0100 UTC (FO-29 @ 0010 UTC, SO-50 @ 0020 UTC or whenever I stop working stations on FO-29, then AO-51 @ 0042 UTC). By that point, it will be dark down here and time to go home. I know my APRS track stopped about 20 miles/32km north of Lukeville, and I won't be back in range of that last digi until I go back there. My operating location is in DM31ov, about 50 yards/meters north of the border fence on the west side of AZ-85 - the same place I operated from on my other trip down here last year. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Is there software to decode packet without a TNC?
by PA3GUO 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi Rick See also my earlier post today, with the MixW example videos (http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/100day/msg88823.html). MixW is free downloadable (Truetty seems not) Henk, PA3GUO > Scott, > Yes, I meant a link to the software. Sorry if that wasn't clear. >>http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/truetty/ and >>http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/truetty.html.

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Just arrived @ DM31
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi! I just arrived at Lukeville AZ in DM31, and will be on VO52 @ 1657 UTC. APRS reception is spotty here, and so-so Internet access via cellular. Good weather after pre-sunrise rain up in Phoenix. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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KD8KSN/8 EN90/EM99 Tomorrow (Friday 17)
by Zachary Beougher 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Hi All! I will be operating portable from the EN90/EM99 gridline tomorrow afternoon from about 1800z-2045z. I know these are not rare grids, but I have spoken with a few of you that need them. I finally got a little break in school, so it sounded like a good time to make a road trip. Here are the passes I am planning to be on: HO68 – 1805z – 8* (This will be a good pass to work some of the far northwestern North American stations) AO27 – 1837z – 73* SO50 – 1850z – 13* AO27 – 2019z – 12* SO50 – 2030z – 81* If this is a new grid(s) for anyone, just send me an email, and as long as you are in the log, I will send you a card. No need for a return card. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Re: Is there software to decode packet without a TNC?
by Rick Tejera 18 Dec '10

18 Dec '10

Scott, Yes, I meant a link to the software. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Like you my station is an HT, homebrew antenna, & a digital recorder. I wondered if there was a way to do this with simple equipment. I'll have to give this a try. Sent from my iPod Rick Tejera Editor, SACnews Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org K7TEJ On Dec 18, 2010, at 7:49, "Scott Richardson" <scott(a)aves-specta.com> wrote: >> Is there a link? > > Rick, > > Do you mean to the bird or the software? Not to the bird; I'm using basic handhelds and no computer. Yes to the software at http://www.dxsoft.com/en/products/truetty/ and http://www.qsl.net/wm2u/truetty.html. > > Scott >

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More On Akatsuki Venus Probe
by B J 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20101218p2g00m0dm014000c.html http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T101217004031.htm 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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K0BAM road trip
by jim9251＠gmail.com 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

I'll be in DM58 this weekend for the following passes if anyone needs this grid: SATURDAY 12/18 - DM58 DELTA COUNTY COLORADO AO-27 1903z AO-51 2303z SO-50 2237z SUNDAY 12/19 - DM58 DELTA COUNTY COLORADO AO-27 2100z AO-51 2224z SO-50 2126z

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M-Squared Eggbeater woes
by George Henry 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

>From the ground, I can see that the fiberglass support rod for the loops on my 2-meter M2 Eggbeater has separated from the center housing, and the loops are now bobbing around in the wind. Before I even *think* about climbing up there to fix it or put something else in its place in the middle of a Chicago winter, can anyone provide any details on how the rod attaches to the housing? (photographs would be even better) It's been up there a while, and my memory of the construction has faded.... George, KA3HSW

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Is there software to decode packet without a TNC?
by vtnn43e＠comcast.net 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Is there software to decode packet without a TNC? I would like to decode transmissions from the satellites but don't have a need to transmit and was wondering if such a program exists. Zack N8FNR

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AO-27 website times wrong again
by George Henry 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

FYI: The AO-27 website schedule lister is behind the satellite's actual mode changes again, by about 23 minutes. Last time this happened, Mike Wyrick said it was due to the NTP client on the web server stopping. I have e-mailed him to let him know that there's a problem again. The Java schedule lister, however, is only behind by about 2 minutes at the present time. This is due to a cumulative error in the satellite clock. George, KA3HSW Java lister available at: http://sites.google.com/site/ao27satellitescheduler

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ARISSat-1 and FOX PayPal widget fundraising
by Andrew Glasbrenner 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Hi all, We are just about to cross the $1000 mark on our PayPal fundraiser, and along with the $710 raised from the Facebook campaign, we are making a dent in recovering the funds spent on ARISSat-1 and those funds that will be spent on FOX. I want to thank those that donated, and those that took the time to add the widget to their webpages and QRZ profiles, and especially recognize two members who have excelled in creating exposure for our campaign. John Papay, K8YSE and Clint Bradford, K6LCS have pulled away from the pack in the number and amount of donations resulting from their copies of the widget, with $290 dollars raised between them. Gentlemen, thank you! I've talked with Martha, and beginning with the $1250 mark, we will be randomly picking a donor from every $250 increment to receive an item from the AMSAT store. We currently have two different hats, a nice luggage tag, or a desktop thermometer/clock set to choose from, all bearing the AMSAT name and logo. I hope to announce our first recipient soon! Thanks again, and if you'd like to donate to the campaign or share the widget to your own website, please visit www.amsat.org. The widget is on the front page below the ARISSat-1 news, and you can click on "Give" to donate, or "add to site" to receive the HTML code, or "supporters" to scroll through the statistics. I hope to soon see more familiar names scrolling across the widget soon, showing your support for AMSAT's next two satellites. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations PS Donations, memberships, and store purchases may also be made through the AMSAT store on the website, or by calling Martha at 1 888 322 6728.

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MixW demo videos & mp3 for getting started
by PA3GUO 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

> Is there software to decode packet without a TNC? Hi Zack ! After you installed MixW, you can test it with a mp3 recording at my website: http://www.pa3guo.com/ooreos_26nov2010_pa3guo.mp3 This is a recent recording of 1200 baud packety from O/OREOS, one of the new satellites. MixW should decode and show them all on the screen. Simply replay the mp3 and see if MixW can decode it for you. Also I have 2 Youtube videos that demonstrate this on O/OREOS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Ka-RVpEHU (screen recording of MixW) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh6lH5vqw-Y (shows also DK3WN software) And finally, this is how MixW works on ISS packet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSFVTN2KKog All these YouTube videos are best viewed (full screen) in HD quality. Do you let us know your results ? Success ! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com -- Henk, PA3GUO

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Thanks to all for the replies! RE: Is there software to decode packet without a TNC?
by vtnn43e＠comcast.net 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Thanks to all for the replies. It is appreciated 73 Zack

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LVB Tracker
by H. Vordenbaum 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

LVB Tracker with KR-5400A Controller. EEPROM does not hold calibration after Controller is turned off for a while. Do I have to go thru the calibration procedure every time it is turned on? Am I missing something here? 73, Harvey K5HV

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Call For AMSAT Ideas Worth Stealing
by JoAnne Maenpaa 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Hello Everyone, In a recent ARRL Illinois Section Newsletter, Section Manager Tom Ciciora, KA9QPN listed several "Ideas Worth Stealing" which describes activities that have worked well for Illinois clubs and amateur radio operators. In keeping with the spirit, the idea of an "Idea Worth Stealing" is in itself worth stealing. Got that? This is a call for "AMSAT Ideas Worth Stealing" which we plan to include in the ANS bulletins when they pop up. Please send your "Idea Worth Stealing" to me: k9jkm(a)amsat.org -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

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Sara Lily and Emma
by PY5LF 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Hello Signal of FAST 1 and FAST 2 over Brazil : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU9j_42bB2I You can see the "girls" talking to each other after the third beacon transmission (7:30) . 73 PY5LF LUCIANO FABRICIO CURITIBA-PR-BRAZIL GG54JM <http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf> http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf <http://www.falautomation.com.br/> www.falautomation.com.br

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UO11
by PY5LF 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Hi Signal heard of UO11 today over GG54. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU6mF79zTls 73 PY5LF LUCIANO FABRICIO CURITIBA-PR-BRAZIL GG54JM

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Yaesu FTM-350
by Clint Bradford 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Within a couple hours of each other, I have been told that the Yaesu FTM-350 can NOT receive on 440 while simultaneously keying up on 2M (1) - and that it WILL do that (2). I thought calling Yaesu tech support for my answer would be sufficient. They haven't disappointed me in the past. I apologize if what I posted in the '350 is incorrect. I went to "the source" for the info. Clint, K6LCS SOURCES: (1) Personal call to Yaesu tech support Thursday. (2) Dave, W5DMT

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AO7 Post Script
by Edward R. Cole 17 Dec '10

17 Dec '10

Few more comments: Running 50w into the "Lindy" works the middle of the pass, OK on AO7-mode A. I need my 8-element 2m yagi to do better. Since the support tower is out of commission until spring, I could move the B5400 and 2m/70cm antennas to a tripod mounted mast that I have used temporarily when roving or other things. I could mount the UHF part of the Arrow and the 8-element M2 2m yagi for a low impact set up that would probably still work mode O/V and mode-A OK. I will think about setting this up in the next couple weeks. This would resemble my old satellite setup at the old house on the flat roof (in a minimalist fashion). I will not set up the 1268 loop-yagi or 33-inch dish (KISS). I could set up the 2.4GHz panel antenna with LNA and drake converter. I'm back! 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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Educate the Manufacturers
by Clint Bradford 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

>> ... but Kenyeacomco Model XYZ-123 claims it is "full-duplex" ... Several of us have tried for years to properly educate the manufacturers and marketing departments of ham radio transceivers. What they term "full-duplex" is usually a radio with two, independent VFOs - but the "sub-band" can NOT be monitored while we key up on the other. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Virgin Galactic's Plans For Orbital Spacecraft
by B J 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1012/16virgingalactic/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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A07-A #65,136
by Edward R. Cole 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

Heard you fine, Scott. Nice loud 559. MY signal with full was quite a bit lower and faded out the last ten minutes of the pass for some reason. Of course only PNW-CA-AK and Siberia in view. Took me some time to find myself - rusty! I started with SSB -oops! All I hear is CW. No problem but lost a couple more minutes getting set up. The sub-tune knob on the FT-847 tunes too slow to move very far. I swapped VFO's to speed that after I found myself several KHz low. There was a way to tune the Tx with the VFO, but I forgot how that goes. looks like there is a common window with Moscow western Russia, Finland and Sweden at the end of the pass. My guess without a yagi I will be limited to the center of the pass. Ready to try again on Saturday (Dec.19 0100 utc). Tnx I forgot how much fun this is! 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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Semantics, Continued
by Clint Bradford 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

>> ... can you name a specific manufacturer that claims their equipment is "Full Duplex" when it isn't ? MY definition of "full duplex" is met only by two or three individual RADIOS currently on the market. I was hoping there'd be little or no argument here - the AMSAT-BB - on this point. When AMSAT wants a radio to work the FM birds to be "full-duplex," the definition of "full duplex" is: Able to monitor 440 on one VFO while keying up on 2M on another. I know this to be true - 'cause Drew counters me every time I mention that it isn't mandatory to work the FM sats in full-duplex, but preferable. So ... Every manufacturer that claims "full duplex" to us SHOULD raise eyebrows. "Cross-band repeat" is not OUR definition of "full duplex," either. A unit that cross-bands doesn't necessarily allow the monitoring of the RX band while transmitting. Why is there ANY debate on this??? This has been AMSAT gospel since at least 1993 or 1994 when I started getting involved. Clint, K6LCS

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Re: FTM-350 - Semantics
by Clint Bradford 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

>> ... It cross-band repeats, which means it will receive on on band while transmitting on the other, doesn't it? But the AMSAT mantra for working the FM birds has been "work 'em full duplex, so you can monitor the downlink as you transmit." Being able to "cross-band repeat" does not necessarily include the ability to monitor the downlink on one band while keying up an another band. Clint

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fyi AO-7 mode switch
by Bob- W7LRD 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

FYI-AO-7 switched over from B to A at exactly 2324Z. Seems to keep fairly good time, for an old bucket of bolts! 73 Bob W7LRD

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Horizontal stacking distance question
by John Geiger 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

I know that when stacking antennas for different bands on the same mast, the general rule of thumb is to space them at least 1/2 of the boom length for the higher frequency antenna. Does this rule also hold true for stacking 2 antennas on a horizontal crossboom? If I want to put a 2m and 70cm yagi on the same crossboom, how far apart should they be spaced? 73s John AA5JG

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A07 Mode-A
by Edward R. Cole 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

After a very long absence I have been invited to try A07 on mode-A. Cognizant of the battery issue, I am asking some guidance: Regarding uplink transmitting power: I will be using my FT-847 with a Lindenblad for uplink, so with no antenna gain what is recommended for power. For reception I have two 10m antennas (3-elem triband yagi, or a J-pole); easily switched with a coax switch. no elevation of any antenna What is the condition of the 29.520 CW beacon? my directional array crashed in high winds Tuesday night so will only have the "Lindys U/V" and 10m antenna for sat use until spring. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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FTM-350 - Semantics
by Clint Bradford 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

>> ... He asked, if it would do V/U or U/V full duplex, and yes, it most certainly does. Not in what WE term, "full duplex," where we can monitor the sub-band while keying up the other for the FM birds. The '350 will NOT do that. If I answered his question wrong, I apologize. Clint, K6LCS

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Re: Will the FTM-350AR do full-duplex?
by Clint Bradford 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

No, not what WE call a "full-duplex" radio. But you can monitor the FMN broadcast band ion the left side, and have a ham freq on the right side. Clint, K6LCS

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Re: Horizontal stacking distance question
by Edward R. Cole 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

At 11:21 AM 12/16/2010, John Geiger wrote: >I know that when stacking antennas for different bands on the same mast, the >general rule of thumb is to space them at least 1/2 of the boom length for >the higher frequency antenna. Does this rule also hold true for stacking 2 >antennas on a horizontal crossboom? If I want to put a 2m and 70cm yagi on >the same crossboom, how far apart should they be spaced? > >73s John AA5JG John, For satellite use that is fine. I have my 2m and 70cm yagis separated 5-feet horizontally. The current setup (before high winds busted the mast) was with my 436CP42 mounted on a 4-foot vertical boom with 1268 loop yagi. The 70cm antenna is 18-foot long and loop yagi 12-foot long. This boom was mounted at right angles to the 5-foot elevation cross boom with a 8-element 2m yagi (vertical pol) at the other end of the cross boom. Not exactly conforming to the half-length rule. Normally, If you are stacking linear-pol antennas the stacking distance in the plane of polarization needs to be further apart than if stacked in the direction right angles to polarization (e.g. two horz pol antennas stacked horizontally need more separation to avoid interaction, whereas, it they are vertical pol antennas stacked horizontal you can stack them closer than the rule. If they are circular pol stacking there is no difference what direction stacking is done. 4 to 5 foot separation on the elevation cross-boom of a B5400 az-el is common for satellite. 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-1.4kw, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp not in service

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Re: AO-7 Scheduling page
by Bob- W7LRD 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

You're right Scott. I never checked that link out. What I have done in the past is either "float" a post on the AMSAT bb or try to track down the email address of the person I am trying to contact via AO-7. Some satellite contacts do require advance notice, especially when the footprint time is in seconds. I'm still trying to work JA. So any JA's reading this check out AO-7 mode A to CN87. 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Armstrong" <aa5am(a)arrl.net> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2010 12:02:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Scheduling page There is a link off of the AO-7 resource page for a logger for scheduling contacts but it doesn't work. Does anybody know of a real time/near time reflector for scheduling more specifically AO-7 contacts or even a general reflector covering all the satellites? Thanks in advance and 73, Scott AA5AM > From: kladuke1144(a)msn.com > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:55:37 -0700 > Subject: [amsat-bb] UA0QJ > > All, > > Boris, UA0QJ (Asiatic Russia) is active on AO7 mode B. He has been operating CW so far. He lists his qth as PP42TA in the online AO7 log. > > 73 > WC7V > Kerry > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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UA0QJ
by KERRY LA*DUKE 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

All, Boris, UA0QJ (Asiatic Russia) is active on AO7 mode B. He has been operating CW so far. He lists his qth as PP42TA in the online AO7 log. 73 WC7V Kerry

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Re: LU6QI Sked?
by Daniel Nick Kucij 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

He's good on QRZ, but here's the email he used when he replied to me: lu6quintas(a)gmail.com GL & Happy Holidays! 73 Nick KB1RVT

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LU6QI Sked?
by Daniel "Nick" Kucij 16 Dec '10

16 Dec '10

I received this query in an email from Luis, LU6QI. Perhaps someone is in a position to respond. > I am trying to attempt a qso with USA via AO7 or FO29. It could be > possible with some station from Florida, Do you know > who could be in conditions to make this try? > Best 73 de > --luis > LU6QI > ex LU6QI/W9-LQ16DX-LR6QI Happy Holidays! Nick KB1RVT

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Re RE: Clint
by Michael 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Thanks Rick ! I did have opportunity to see and go through a mock up ISS at Huntsville. I was chaperoning a young astronaughts group. They talked alot about the interior but not the design and the exterior. Mike N8GBU

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Will the FTM-350AR do full-duplex?
by Michael Pfeuffer 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Hi all, Time to shop for a new mobile rig for the car. The Yaesu FTM-350AR looks interesting, but I can't tell if it will do full-duplex for U/V and V/U modes. The product sheet on yaesu.com says "yes", but the operating manual is mute on the subject. Does anyone have experience with this rig? Thanks, --Mike WQ5C

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VE9EMS contact AO-51
by Denis Bourque 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

I did a contact on AO -51 tonight Dec 15, 20:00 utc with a American station and I did not have a pen or paper. I was wondering if you could send me a email for confirmation.

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Fastrac Keps
by Tony 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

All, Not seeing FASTRAC keps on Celestrak. Where can I find the most recent data? Tony -K2MO

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K5VGU in EM67 ( possibly EM68 ) Next Week
by K5VGU Duane Vigue 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Heads up... I will be traveling to Kentucky next week ( 12/22 through 12/29 )...travel days will be 12/22 and 12/29...I will be in EM67 most of the remainder of this time-frame, but may venture a little further north to catch the Kentucky piece of EM68. Not exactly sure what passes I will be able to work, as of yet, but will try to make a few. For any contacts made during this PORTABLE work, please email me with contact details and I will QSL you ASAP. ( If we make contact and I don't hear from you, I will probably query you via email when I return home to Alabama) 73 to all. Duane, K5VGU Wetumpka, AL EM62wm ____________________________________________________________ How to Stay Asleep Cambridge Researchers have developed an all natural sleep aid just for you. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL3231/4d0914ed43fab6c3d12st04duc

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WD9EWK @ DM31 on Saturday (18 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Hi! Since it has been over 15 months since my first trip to operate from grid DM31 in southern Arizona, it's time to do it again. This time, it won't be in the summertime, and the weather should be decent for the day. I will drive to the same area where I worked from in 2009, in the small border town of Lukeville in Pima County, Arizona, probably at grid DM31ov. My tentative plans are for WD9EWK to work as many satellite passes as possible, starting with the HO-68 pass at 1751 UTC until local sunset around 0100 UTC. If I can get down there earlier, there could be additional morning passes. I should be able to work at least one FO-29 pass in the late afternoon, for those interested in satellite SSB activity. Lukeville is surrounded by the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument at the USA/Mexico border. I will most likely park at "Gringo Pass", a collection of shops with a fuel station and restaurant a few yards/meters north of the border crossing. There are too many hills around the highway north of Lukeville (AZ-85) at the DM31/DM32 grid boundary, so I won't worry about operating from up there. If anyone wants a satellite QSO from DM32, please e-mail me and we can make other plans for that to happen. The northeast corner of DM32 is less than an hour south of Phoenix, and I go down to the DM32/DM42 grid boundary occasionally to activate DM32 via satellite. As with my other trips where I work the satellites, there is no need to first send me a QSL card or SASE to get a WD9EWK DM31 QSL card. Just e-mail me with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will send out a card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Happy birthday to HO68
by Roland Zurmely 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

QSOs with PY1AT, PY5LF and UT1FG/MM in FF36 ! On FM repeater orbit #4807. 73 de Roland.

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Happy birthday to HO68
by Michael Chen 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

1 year anniversary. Happy Birthday, XW1! Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 AMSAT-China: http://www.camsat.cn ----------------------------------- Twitter: http://twitter.com/bd5rv Email: michael.bd5rv(a)gmail.com MSN: bd5rv(a)jsdxc.org Skype: michael-bd5rv

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No, Clint's Not Drinking ...
by Clint Bradford 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Q. Can the ISS astronauts see tonight's Geminid meteor shower? NASA: Yes - but they are orbiting at 250 miles above the Earth, and the meteors are at about 47 miles. So the astronauts on the ISS would have to look DOWN towards the Earth to see the meteor shower instead of up. I'm going to bed now ... (grin) Clint, K6LCS

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UHF Output Power On FT-847
by B J 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

I recently bought a second-hand FT-847 and something doesn't seem to be working properly. The power meter always reads 50 W whenever I key the mike. I thought that the output could be adjusted because 50 W into a satellite is excessive. Does anybody have any ideas on how I could reduce the UHF output power to 5 W? Thanks. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Here are the awards that I have processed over the last month. This will be the last posting for 2010. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Alan Murray, Jr., N1ZWL Richard Lewis, KG6ZVC The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. Boris Lanca, 9A2GA #525 Paul Gagnon, N6MA #526 Rick Tejera, K7TEJ #527 Jim Bennett, KE4KOL #528 Tom Deeble, KA6SIP #529 Glenn Barr, WB0KFC #530 The following have earned the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Paul Gagnon, N6MA #158 The following have earned the South Africa Satellite Communications Achievement award Nick Kucij, KB1RVT #US157 Boris Lanca, 9A2GA #US158 Rick Tejera, K7TEJ #US159 Jim Bennett, KE4KOL #US160 Tom Deeble, KA6SIP #US161 Glenn Barr, WB0KFC #US162 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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Re: Clint
by Michael 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

I wondered that on previous showers and NASA is quite relaxed about the situation. That being said I wonder what the ISS is made from to with stand a storm? Mike N8GBU

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MacLife - Flip 'Prompter
by Clint Bradford 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

MacLife Magazine brief article on my Flip 'Prompter project. It is an inexpensive, do-it-yurself "teleprompter" for those of us making videos with small camcorders. http://tinyurl.com/maclife-fp Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting in January, Orlando, FL
by Samudra Haque 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Hi, I have the privilege of presenting a technical paper at AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting in January 2011, which is being held in Orlando, FL. If any of you are also going to this conference, I hope to see you there! Please drop me a line, if you want to meet, and I will try to locate your whereabouts between January 4 and 7 inclusive. My paper title: A Broadband Multi-hop Network for Earth-Mars Communication using Multi-purpose Interplanetary Relay Satellites and Linear-Circular Commutating Chain Topology Session: "Space Exploration Vehicle and Mission Design and Mission Logistics" session on the 5th of January, 2011 73 de N3RDX Samudra Haque George Washington University

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Re: Yaesu FTM-10
by Clint Bradford 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Look at "Odd Splits" on page 42-ish of your owners manual ... YES, you can program RX on 440 and TX on 2M in one memory channel. Clint, K6LCS

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Yaesu FTM-10R
by John Geiger 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Has anyone used the Yaesu FTM-10R on the FM satellites? Just from looking at the manual it looks like storing the uplink and downlink frequencies in a memory might be difficult, but I could be wrong. 73s John AA5JG

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Geminids Tonight - Talk to NASA
by Clint Bradford 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Geminids peak TONIGHT! Astronomers consider it the best meteor shower of the year, with more than 100 meteors streaking through the night sky every hour. http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2010.html http://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/geminids2010.html

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4 DAYS LEFT - 1st IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and Cubesat Conference in Roma abstract deadline submission
by Group of Astrodynamics 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Dear all, this is a reminder of the deadline of the abstract submission for the 1st IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and Cubesat Conference which will be held in Roma on January 24-29, 2011. Submissions are due by December 18th, *next Saturday*. We inform you that we have also some space for the *poster session*. We remember you that early registration closes on January, 10th. *Next week the online registration service will be available*. Those who register before this date will have a discount on the quote. On site registration will be charged with 50 € more. An *exhibition area* is available for universities and companies. For further information please contact us at this email address. The conference is organized by GAUSS (Gruppo di Astrodinamica dell'Università degli Studi Sapienza - Group of Astrodynamics of Sapienza University), a team of professors, students and researchers from the School of Aerospace Engineering of Sapienza University of Roma. The Conference is supported by several authorities (the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the European Space Agency (ESA)), companies (Kosmotras), research centres (the Von Karman Institute (VKI), the Centro Ricerche Progetto San Marco) and universities (Sapienza Università di Roma, Morehead State University). Two days of the Conference will be entirely dedicated to the Winter Session of the Cubesat Workshop, for the first time in Europe. ESA scholarships for students who will present a work are available. For those interested, please follow the instructions on the website: ESA scholarships<http://www.gaussteam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=111&I…> We have reached an agreement with three hotels for the accommodation of the participants at very low prices. You can find all the information at the following link: Accommodation<http://www.gaussteam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&I…> Programme and further information can be found at www.gaussteam.com under the section 'events'. We hope to see you in Roma in January! -- Gruppo di Astrodinamica Università degli Studi Sapienza Via Salaria, 851 00138 Roma website: www.gaussteam.com tel. 0039 06 88346436

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Both UT FASTRAC Satellites Have Been Reset - New TLEs Are Available
by Andrew.MacAllister＠emerson.com 14 Dec '10

14 Dec '10

Yesterday, Monday, December 13th, both University of Texas FASTRAC satellites were successfully reset (rebooted). The goal now is to download GPS data from FAST1 and FAST2. New TLEs have been posted to the website http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/predictedorbi… Andy W5ACM

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Re: Dual Yaesu Rigs on SatPC32
by Howard Kowall 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

Hello to all Thanks to all who replied to my post Will try again to recal as from your emails Will let you know how I made out Thaks again Howard VE4ISP ----- Original Message ----- From: "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 7:09 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Dual Yaesu Rigs on SatPC32 > Sorry the rigs I am using are the following > FT817ND VHF / Ft897D UHF > Howard > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Howard Kowall" <hkowall(a)shaw.ca> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Sunday, December 12, 2010 6:54 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Dual Yaesu Rigs on SatPC32 > > >> Hello to all >> Trying to cal my dual rig control on SatPC32 V12.8a >> I adjust the receive cat till I hear my voice proper aprox -1.3 kHz on >> FO29 >> I reset it to 0 then adjust the cat for transmitter to +1.3kHz >> I click change/store data file button,then click uplink cal button >> I restart SatPC32 and try again on FO29 now I am out aprox -2.6khz >> Anyone else had any Issues,I read the Doppler.sqf file and the math is >> correct >> Hmm >> Thanks all who read and reply >> 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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Demonstrator Rotator Setup
by Clint Bradford 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

I have an inquiry from a gentleman who would like to show the "dramatic sight" of a computer-controlled small Yagi tracking a satellite while in a convention booth - but not necessarily a full-blown Yaesu G-5500. If I am not making sense, just ask ... (grin) He is thinking 12VDC, laptop, just a six-foot mast with an Arrow-like antenna, Ham Radio Deluxe(?), "smaller" radio like a FT-817ND)?) ... Brainstorming welcome! Many thanks. Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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ARRL sanctioned Palm Springs Hamfest
by Peter Reinzuch 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

*An invitation by: The Desert Radio Amateur Transmitting Society of Palm Springs* *The Desert RATS <http://desertrats.am/> ** * is inviting you and your groups members to attend "*Palm Springs Hamfest 2011*"... January 29. We would like your help in making this years event surpass the 600 attendee mark to beat last years event!~ Could you please forward the attached information sheet by e-mail to all your members… perhaps mention it on your NET… publish it in your Newsletter…list it on your Events Calendar…link our site on yours and mention it at your next couple of meetings! Helping us get the word out would really be great! The mild desert weather is perfect at that time of year. Make it a club outing! On air NETS are already a -buzz tell your pals. Our Swap Meet was a big draw last year as well, with over 40 vendors selling their wares. There is room for more so bring your stuff (no fee charged to sellers means better prices for you!) We have a consignment table with experienced Hams selling for you if you want us to sell your gear for a small fee.~~We almost sold out last year. Lest I forget, we have a gourmet food service at a bargain price. Raffles every hour. Our event as all about great deals in these tough times. This year we’ll have ICOM, Yaesu, HRO , DX Store, Byonics, RF Stuff, AMSAT, ARRL, Alpine Antennas and more...the list is getting longer ~~check our website for up to date announcements at http://desertrats.am Come join us for a fun Day with some great buying opportunities! It is worth the drive! Meet Gordon West, Clint Bradford " the Satellite Guy", Leo Meyers and all the ARRL guys from our Division. I look forward to seeing you at our 2nd annual *ARRL Sanctioned Palm Springs Hamfest * January 29, 2011 " The Desert RATS" WEB SITE: http://desertrats.am up to date current information http://desertrats.17.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=310 *Peter VE7REZ 760-318-0186 President* --- Desert Radio Amateur Transmitting Society of Palm Springs

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Re: LF Satellite
by Armando Mercado 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

Also see: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1973-039A ----- Original Message ----- From: Armando Mercado To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Monday, December 13, 2010 4:26 PM Subject: RE: LF Satellite In 1973, Explorer 49 was placed in orbit around the moon, It studied LF emissions from the sun, Jupiter and other solar system sources. See: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Explorer_… 73 Armando, N8IGJ

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Re: LF Satellite
by Armando Mercado 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

In 1973, Explorer 49 was placed in orbit around the moon, It studied LF emissions from the sun, Jupiter and other solar system sources. See: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/profile.cfm?Sort=Chron&MCode=Explorer_… 73 Armando, N8IGJ

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Re: Amateur Satellite Frequency Allocations (LF)
by Trevor . 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

--- On Mon, 13/12/10, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net> wrote: > Plus if it's listening to 135KHz and > re transmitting what it hears on 2 > or 70cm, it isn't transmitting on 135 so > what part is not legal? There's no problem with flying a receiver, it's Amateur Band transmitters you can't fly below 7MHz. Here's a question which hopefully someone can answer. The natural follow to having a receiver on 135kHz is as you say to retransmit it on 70cm. Such a system would in theory permit 2-way QSO's to be held via the sat. Now at what point does a monitoring receiver become a satellite Uplink ? 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: timing
by Wayne Estes 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

When you launch WinAOS, you have the opportunity to specify which Keps file to use. Make sure WinAOS uses the same "Source File" as SatPC32. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA

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UO-SAT 11 1515z 13dec2010
by John Marranca, Jr 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

This morning, at 1515, I copied UoSAT-11 at near S5 as it approached FN02ox. The bird still sounds great after all these years! Too bad AO-16 can't wake up like that! John KB2HSH

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Dual Yaesu Rigs on SatPC32
by Howard Kowall 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

Hello to all Trying to cal my dual rig control on SatPC32 V12.8a I adjust the receive cat till I hear my voice proper aprox -1.3 kHz on FO29 I reset it to 0 then adjust the cat for transmitter to +1.3kHz I click change/store data file button,then click uplink cal button I restart SatPC32 and try again on FO29 now I am out aprox -2.6khz Anyone else had any Issues,I read the Doppler.sqf file and the math is correct Hmm Thanks all who read and reply Howard VE4ISP

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VO1DZX/VO2 in FO62 (Labrador) Until Dec31
by Zachary Beougher 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

Hi All, Daniel, VO1DZX is operating portable VO2 from Labrador (FO62) until December 31. Daniel reports that bad operating conditions and lack of transportation will probably keep him from working any additional grids. The morning passes are too early and the early afternoon passes take place while he is still at work, so the best time to find him will be on the late afternoon/early evening AO51 passes as long as he can get on. Weekends will be a good time to catch him as well. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Re: Fwd: Alouette
by Andrew Squires 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Well done Alan , you should put your reply up on the BBS I am sure we will weed out a VE who will know the whole story !How were you tied to the Alouette program ? From memory we used to command and record the data from the satellites a few times a day on a regular schedule.I was working at Orroral valley at the time. cheers Andy vk3as On 13/12/2010, at 2:29 PM, Alan Cresswell wrote: > Hi, > > I also had a lot to do with these satellites and may still have the handbooks somewhere but it was a long time ago. > The series of satellites was the Alouette/ISIS series (Canadian, 4 satellites) and ISIS-2 had the most sophisticated VLF receiver (And topside sounder) on board. > Essentially an audio amplifier attached to an antenna, and there is certainly a lot of interesting “whistlers” etc almost continuously available. > Just another option I guess. > > 73 > Alan > ZL2BX > > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Andrew Squires > Sent: Monday, 13 December 2010 02:16 > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Fwd: Alouette > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > > From: Andrew Squires <asquires(a)bigpond.net.au> > > Date: 13 December 2010 1:14:50 PM AEDT > > To: kd2bd(a)yahoo.com > > Subject: Alouette > > > > John read with interest you posting on the Amsat board.I used to work for NASA in the 70's and we used to track a satellite called Alouette (spelling?).It was a Canadian satellite and officially listed as a top side sounder.It would listen to the VLF band and the sounds it recorded were amazing,sounds of lighting and the aurora etc.You may be able to find something via google? > > cheers Andy VK3AS > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 10.0.1170 / Virus Database: 426/3311 - Release Date: 12/12/10 >

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Fwd: Alouette
by Andrew Squires 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Begin forwarded message: > From: Andrew Squires <asquires(a)bigpond.net.au> > Date: 13 December 2010 1:14:50 PM AEDT > To: kd2bd(a)yahoo.com > Subject: Alouette > > John read with interest you posting on the Amsat board.I used to work for NASA in the 70's and we used to track a satellite called Alouette (spelling?).It was a Canadian satellite and officially listed as a top side sounder.It would listen to the VLF band and the sounds it recorded were amazing,sounds of lighting and the aurora etc.You may be able to find something via google? > cheers Andy VK3AS >

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Re: LF Satellite ideas?
by G. Beat 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Bob - I apoligize for the tardinesss of reply to your query. December is a busy time for me with projects finishing and planning for 2011 projects. I would suggest the University of Alaska's work with Red Sprites and Blue Jets. http://elf.gi.alaska.edu/ What are Red Sprites and Blue Jets? Red sprites and blue jets are upper atmospheric optical phenomena associated with thunderstorms that have only recently been documented using low light level television technology. The first images of a sprite were accidently obtained in 1989 (Franz et al. , 1990). Beginning in 1990, about twenty images have been obtained from the space shuttle (Vaughan et al. , 1992; Boeck et al. , 1994). Since then, video sequences of well over a thousand sprites have been captured. These include measurements from the ground ( Lyons, 1994; Winckler, 1995) and from aircraft (Sentman and Wescott, 1993; Sentman et al. , 1995 ). Numerous images have also been obtained from aircraft of blue jets ( Wescott et al. , 1995 ), also a previously unrecorded form of optical activity above thunderstorms. Blue jets appear to emerge directly from the tops of clouds and shoot upward in narrow cones through the stratosphere. Their upward speed has been measured to be about 100 km per second. Anecdotal reports of "rocket-like" and other optical emissions above thunderstorms go back more than a century (Lyons, 1994), and there have been several pilot reports of similar phenomena (Vaughan and Vonnegut, 1989). Possibly associated gamma ray bursts and TIPPS have also recently reported. Together, these phenomena suggest that thunderstorms exert a much greater influence on the middle and upper atmospheres than was previously suspected. ==== Specific to your VLF capabilities on this satellite ...... Look at the 1997 PhD disseration by Steve Cummer submitted to the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University: Lightning and Ionospheric Remote Sensing Using VLF/ELF Radio Atmospherics http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/publications/theses/cummerthesis.pdf at Stanford University: Lightning and Ionospheric Remote Sensing Using VLF/ELF Radio Atmospherics http://www-star.stanford.edu/~vlf/publications/theses/cummerthesis.pdf This research was supported by the Office of Naval Research through grants N00014-93-1-1201 and N00014-95-1-1095, by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research through grant F49620-97-1-0468, and by the Air Force Phillips Laboratory through grant F19628-96-C-0149. ==== That should get you started Bob. Greg w9gb ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:13:33 -0500 (EST) From: "Bob Bruninga " <bruninga(a)usna.edu> Subject: [amsat-bb] LF Satellite ideas? To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <20101211141333.AGV57516(a)msan1.usna.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Is 137 KHz possible from space? Our next Cubesat will have a 1100 meter long antenna (think tether satellite). It will ultimatelly be an electrodynamic tether but the first one will have NO ACTIVE ELECTRONICS connected to the tether. So I have asked them to make it 1100m long instead of a generic 1km tether to try to make it resonant in an amateur band. THe path loss at 137 KHz is 60 dB LESS than it is at 2 meters, so it shouldn't take much to communicate with an 1100m long antenna. I'm sorry I didnt think of this sooner, but I need a real SCIENCE justification for this. Maybe LF that low will never punch through the ionosphere, or maybe it will be completely absorbed. Can give good science on this idea? Bob, WB4APR ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Sat, 11 Dec 2010 14:13:33 -0500 (EST) From: "Bob Bruninga " <bruninga(a)usna.edu> Subject: [amsat-bb] LF Satellite ideas? To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <20101211141333.AGV57516(a)msan1.usna.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Is 137 KHz possible from space? Our next Cubesat will have a 1100 meter long antenna (think tether satellite). It will ultimatelly be an electrodynamic tether but the first one will have NO ACTIVE ELECTRONICS connected to the tether. So I have asked them to make it 1100m long instead of a generic 1km tether to try to make it resonant in an amateur band. THe path loss at 137 KHz is 60 dB LESS than it is at 2 meters, so it shouldn't take much to communicate with an 1100m long antenna. I'm sorry I didnt think of this sooner, but I need a real SCIENCE justification for this. Maybe LF that low will never punch through the ionosphere, or maybe it will be completely absorbed. Can give good science on this idea? Bob, WB4APR

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Re: Amateur Satellite Frequency Allocations (LF)
by Trevor . 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Hi Art, Thanks for the reply. --- On Sun, 12/12/10, W4ART Arthur Feller <afeller(a)ieee.org> wrote: > The general principle is that the amateur-satellite service has > frequency allocations in bands where the amateur service has frequency > allocations in all three ITU regions. I'm not so sure that's so. The amount of new Amateur Satellite Service spectrum allocated by ITU since the mid 1970's is ZERO but the Amateur Service world-wide has gained spectrum. > The only exceptions are in the bands 1260-1270 MHz and 5650-5670 MHz, > which are limited to the Earth-to-space direction, and 3400-3410 MHz, > which are available in Regions 2 and 3. See RR 5.282. As you say back in the 70's 1260 and 5650 MHz were made Earth to Space only. Does anyone know why this restriction was put in place ? Or even if the reason for this restriction still applies 35 years later ? > So, until broadcasters vacate 7100-7200 in Regions 1 and 3, the > amateur-satellite service won't have a frequency allocation. > Make sense?? No, an Amateur Satellite Service allocation at 7.1-7.2MHz is not on the agenda for the next WRC in 2012 and currently IARU has no plans to ever ask for one! See IARU spectrum requirements at: http://www.iaru.org/ac-09spec.pdf In it's entire history the IARU has not gained any ITU Primary Amateur Satellite allocations in the bands above 146 MHz. We have no Primary allocations above 146MHz until you get to 24GHz. While it is encouraging to see that IARU would like to see Amateur Satellite Service allocations at 50MHz and 3400MHz there are no other proposed Amateur Satellite Service allocations on its agenda. The ARRL is by far the largest financial donor to IARU and so carries the most clout. If ARRL isn't persuaded of the need for additional Amateur Satellite Service allocations they won't happen. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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LF Satellite ideas?
by Bob Bruninga 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Is 137 KHz possible from space? Our next Cubesat will have a 1100 meter long antenna (think tether satellite). It will ultimatelly be an electrodynamic tether but the first one will have NO ACTIVE ELECTRONICS connected to the tether. So I have asked them to make it 1100m long instead of a generic 1km tether to try to make it resonant in an amateur band. THe path loss at 137 KHz is 60 dB LESS than it is at 2 meters, so it shouldn't take much to communicate with an 1100m long antenna. I'm sorry I didnt think of this sooner, but I need a real SCIENCE justification for this. Maybe LF that low will never punch through the ionosphere, or maybe it will be completely absorbed. Can give good science on this idea? Bob, WB4APR

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timing
by Jack Barbera 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Thanks everyone for getting back to me! I did go thru and check the settings for both program and they look good. There are two areas that could be the culprits ,if the WinAos is a sperate program how do I up date the keps? the second area is that I am 205 mtrs about sea level and could not find where to set in the WinAos program if it is necessary/. thanks for any help Jack WA1ZDV

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ANS-346 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-346 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: * ARISS Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Student Conversations with ISS Astronauts * SpaceX Falcon 9 Mission Successful - Deploys Cubesats * December AO-51 Schedule Features VHF BBS Test, SKN, Dual SU Downlink * AMSAT-UK FUNcube Documents On-Line * Remembering Lost UNITEC-1 - Japan's Akatsuki Problem at Venus Encounter * Writing Opportunities for Amateur Radio in Space * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.01 ARISS Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Student Conversations with ISS Astronauts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.01 On 21 December 2000, astronaut William Shepherd turned from his usual activities aboard the newly occupied International Space Station (ISS). Floating over to a "ham" radio attached to a station bulkhead, he called the Burbank School in Burbank, Illinois and was soon talking with 14 enthusiastic students from grades 1-8. This month, amateur radio operators world-wide celebrate the tenth anniversary of this first school contact from ISS. Since that first contact, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) volunteers have conducted 565 successful contacts in 40 countries, allowing thousands of students to share the excitement of those first 14. Moreover, tens of thousands of students, faculty, and parents have participated by planning and attending these events. ARISS contacts have prompted countless students to seriously consider pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers, including becoming an astronaut. Educational programs and amateur radio clubs established at participating schools continue to inspire students long after the contact has ended. The use of amateur radio in space began in 1983 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) flew on 28 shuttle missions, proving the educational and crew morale benefits of ham radio. Ham radio also proved popular with the cosmonauts aboard space station Mir. The value of amateur radio in space was so apparent to NASA and the Russian Space Agency that the ARISS radio became the first experiment to be activated on ISS. ARISS is a volunteer program that inspires students the world over to pursue STEM careers by providing amateur radio communications opportunities with the International Space Station (ISS) on-orbit crew. Students learn about life on board the ISS and explore Earth from space through science and math activities. ARISS provides opportunities for the school community (students, teachers, families, and local residents) to become more aware of the substantial benefits of human spaceflight and the exploration and discovery that occur on spaceflight journeys while learning about technology and amateur radio. ARISS is an international working group comprising delegations from 9 countries, including several countries in Europe as well as Japan, Russia, Canada, and the USA. The organization is run by volunteers from national amateur radio organizations and international AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) organizations in each member country. ARISS team members in each country work with their respective space agencies (ESA, NASA, JAXA, CSA, and the Russian Space Agency). In the USA, ARISS works with the NASA Teaching From Space program. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.02 SpaceX Falcon 9 Mission Successful - Deploys Cubesats AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.02 SpaceX launched the Dragon spacecraft from Florida on a two-orbit test flight Wednesday, December 8 and the company brought the auto- mated capsule back to Earth less than three-and-a-half hours later. A video of the Falcon 9 liftoff can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi9ljTW3GEQ Liftoff photos from pad cameras can be viewed at: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/remotes/ SpaceFlightNow.com's Photo Gallery of the launch can be viwed at: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/press/ Photos of the Dragon parachute landing in the Pacific can be viewed at: http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/002/splashdown/ During the flight four cubesats were deployed from the "trunk" section of the Dragon spacecraft. At press time the function of two of the cubesats have been identified. The University of Southern California's (USC) CAERUS cubesat was deployed SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. CAERUS is part of the "MAYFLOWER" Next Generation Technology CubeSat that is a joint effort with Northrop Grumman NOVAWORKS group. CAERUS is licensed by the FCC in the Experimental Service. It also has an amateur callsign and a downlink in the 70cm band: Call Sign: KJ6FIX Downlink Frequency: 437.600 MHz (not coordinated by IARU) Beacon Output Power: 900mW Modulation Type: AFSK, 1200 baud TLE: Updated on website, right after launch. The CAERUS website is at: http://tinyurl.com/37w8map. The beacon data can also be translated with the jar applet provided on this website. The second cubesat identifed aboard the Falcon X launch was the US Army SMDC-ONE nanosatellite mission which is a store and for- ward satellite. The primary objective of the first flight wass to receive data from a ground transmitter and relay that data to a ground station. The technology is planned to be expanded to build a number of identical satellites and deploy them together into Low Earth Orbit to simulate enhanced tactical communications capability. [ANS thanks Omair A. Rahman at the University of Southern California, SpaceDaily.com, and SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.03 December AO-51 Schedule Features VHF BBS Test, SKN, Dual SU Downlink AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.03 AMSAT-NA VP Operations Drew KO4MA says the December 2010 AO-51 schedule has been released. Some of the dates of mode changes may move a day or so according to command station availability. Note the 2m up BBS test beginning December 12. Beginning on December 17 a dual downlink of UHF and S-band will be available. AO-51 will feature its CW up, FM down mode for Straight Key Night. At the end of December we go back into eclipses for a LONG time, so the overall power budget will shrink, and the command team will reinstate the new PL mode, and the satellite will likely be off in eclipse. December 12 (late UTC) ---------------------- FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM (no PL tone) Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 Baud PBBS Operations, V/U Uplink: 145.860 MHz FM at 9600 baud Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM at 9600 baud December 17 (late UTC) ---------------------- FM Repeater, V/SU Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM (no PL tone) Downlinks: 2401.200 MHz FM *and* 435.300 MHz FM (at low power!) December 22 (late UTC) ---------------------- FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM (no PL tone) Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 Baud PBBS Operations, L/U Uplink: 1268.705 MHz FM at 9600 baud Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM at 9600 baud December 30 (late UTC) ---------------------- CW/FM Repeater, V/U For Straight Key Night Uplink: 145.880 MHz CW Downlink: 435.300 MHz CW over FM 9k6 Baud Telemetry Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM at 9600 baud As always, keep up with the latest AO-51 Control Team news at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.04 AMSAT-UK FUNcube Documents On-Line AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.04 AMSAT-UK says they intend to publish as many of the working documents as possible for their FUNcube satellite and the first two documents are now available. The Mission Requirements Specification and the PA Board Specification can be downloaded from: http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/ Pictures and videos from the recent FUNcube developers meeting at Martlesham are at: http://funcube.org.uk/working-meetings/cubesat-mtg-1314-nov-2010/ The UK Space Agency is proposing to use the AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards as part of its innovative new CubeSat UKube-1 slated for launch in December 2011. The United Kingdom Space Agency website now includes some more details of the UKube-1, a 3U CubeSat (10 * 10 * 30cm) project. See: http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/20084.aspx The baseline design for this satellite includes a set of FUNcube boards to provide the educational outreach for the project. AMSAT-UK are presently discussing the precise details of this arrangement with the UKube-1 project team. This development will enable a much higher level service to be provided for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) outreach to schools than would be possible with just a single spacecraft. An information pack is provided by the UK Space Agency is at http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/assets/ZIP/CubesatAOpayload.zip BBC report on UKube: http://tinyurl.com/2w3rgyc (bbc.co.uk site) FUNcube website http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA, AMSAT-UK, and the SouthGate ARC News for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.05 Remembering Lost UNITEC-1 - Japan's Akatsuki Problem at Venus Encounter AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.05 UniverseToday reported that Japan's first Venus space probe has arrived at the planet but encountered problems while attempting orbit insertion and went into safe mode. It took longer than expected (an hour and a half) to regain communications after a known 22 minute blackout with the Akatsuki spacecraft, and apparently controllers are still trying to ascertain the spacecraft's orbit. They have regained some radio communi- cations. Telemetry analysis confirmed the spacecraft was in safe mode. The planned orbit for Akatsuki ranged between 300 and 80,000 kilometers (186 to 49,600 miles), looking for signs of lightning and active volcan- oes. Once communications were restored JAXA was able to determine that the probe's High Gain Antenna is working and telemetry from the spacecraft is back to normal function as is full control and stabilization. AKATSUKI is in a Sun circular orbit after not reaching Venus orbit. Read the UniverseToday story at: http://tinyurl.com/2cfgw5p and at: http://tinyurl.com/2vvl8yd (SpaceCoalition.com) The May 21, 2010 Akatsuki launch also carried the UNITEC-1 amateur radio satellite with the callsign of JQ1ZUN. Its 5840.000 MHz, 4.8W beacon was initially copied from low earth orbit but the signal was lost days later. UNITEC-1 would have become the world's first university satellite which went beyond Lunar orbit. [ANS thanks UniverseToday for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.06 Writing Opportunities for Amateur Radio in Space AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.06 IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and Cubesats ------------------------------------------------------------- The December 18 deadline for abstract submissions for the 1st IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and Cubesat Conference is rapidly approaching. This conference will be held in Rome on January 24-29, 2011. Early registration closes on January, 10th. Those who register before this date will have a discount rate. Full information is posted at: http://www.gaussteam.com under the "Events" tab. Call for papers for 2011 SA AMSAT Space Symposium ------------------------------------------------- The 2011 SA AMSAT Space Symposium will be held in Gauteng on Saturday 26 March 2011 at Vodaworld in Midrand. This is the first call for pap- ers. Authors are invited to submit a synopsis in a MSWord document not exceeding 300 words. The synopsis should be mailed to: saamsat(a)intekom.co.za (with Space Symposium 2011 in the subject line). The theme of the conference is Innovation in Space Communication. Clos- ing date for paper proposals and a synopsis is 20 January 2011. For more details visit: http://www.amsatsa.org.za. Call for Papers: 15th Annual SEVHF Society Conference ----------------------------------------------------- The Southeastern VHF Society is calling for the submission of papers and presentations for the upcoming 15th annual Southeastern VHF Soc- iety Conference to be held in Huntsville, Alabama on April 29th and 30th, 2011. Papers and presentations are solicited on both the tech- nical and operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio. Contact Steve Kostro, (e-mail: SVHFS2011 AT downeastmicrowave DOT com) by January 8th, 2011 if you wish to make a presentation or submit your paper. Deadline for the submission of papers is March 11, 2011. For further information and updates about the conference please go to: http://www.svhfs.org Call for Papers: 45th Central States VHF Society Conference ----------------------------------------------------------- The Central States VHF Society is hosting their 45th Conference July 29-30, 2011 in Irving Texas. They are currently looking for papers relating to amateur radio above 50 MHz. Anticipated topics include: Design and build of VHF thru microwave equipment, VHF DXPeditions, Antenna Design, Weak Signal Reception Techniques. Deadline for papers is May 1, 2011. Papers should be sent to: Kent Britain <wa5vjb(a)flash.net> [ANS thanks the IAA, SA AMSAT, and Robin Midgett K4IDC 2011 Conference Program Co-Chair, SVHFS; Chuck Clark, AF8Z for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-346.07 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 346.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 12, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-346.07 + For those who collect archived publications here is a link to a recently posted digitized copy of the 1985 1296/2304 MHz Conference which has evolved into the Microwave Update MUD Conference. Thanks to the work of Brian, WA1ZMS, these proceedings have been digitized and can be downloaded in 7 sections from http://www.wa5vjb.com in the Reference Section. + The AMSAT India newsletter is back after a long break and will be published every month. A softcopy of the newsletter can be found at: http://amsatindia.org/Newsletter/AMSATINDIA-News-Dec2010.pdf Archives are at http://amsatindia.org/Newsletter/ (via Nitin, VU3TYG, Secretary, AMSAT India) + AMSAT-ZL's Fred Kennedy, ZL1BYP says the KiwiSAT team is in need of a small quantity supply source of space quality thermally conductive epoxy for KiwiSAT. They will need probably less than 10 grams total over the last few months of KiwiSAT construction. Minimum order quan- tities have been quoted as 100 tubes and this amount is not needed nor can be afforded. Contact Fred at: fredk(a)kcbbs.gen.nz if you can help. + Henk, PA3GUO has posted a YouTube video (HD) that features the O/OREOS satellite from launch to telemetry reception and decode, including DK3WN's Softwar and Mission control upload: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh6lH5vqw-Y Henk also has a video of the 'bare' telemetry stream at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4Ka-RVpEHU O/OREOS audio recording: http://www.pa3guo.com/OOREOS_PA3GUO.mp3 FASTRAC/FAST1 audio recording: http://www.pa3guo.com/FAST1_PA3GUO.mp3 (Henk says you can use MixW with your MP3 your player to decode the telemetry.) + Roland PY4ZBZ reports that Yuri UT1FG/MM, has been active at sea from the vessel M/V "MOTTLER", on SO-50, FO-29 and HO68, in the squares: GG85, GG54, GE06, FD37, FD29, FE82, FE81, FE20 and FE21, from Rio de Janeiro to Chili via the Strait of Magellan. + UniverseToday.com declares, "What a view!" A photograph taken by one of the astronauts on the International Space Station shows several snow-covered volcanoes on Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. See: http://tinyurl.com/24ccnz4 + The Nanosail-D nanosatellite may have failed to eject from FASTSAT. NASA had planned to eject Nanosail-D from its cannister on December 6. Initial telemetry indicated that ejection was successful. It also now appears that the solar sail may not have unfurled. NASA continues to investigate. The NanoSail-D amateur radio beacon will transmit a one- half second data signal every 5 seconds on 437.270 MHz if it becomes active. The satellite will operate primarily on battery power because of the short duration of the mission. + The next crew arriving at the International Space Station on December 17 includes two radio amateurs: US astronaut Catherine Coleman, KC5ZTH, and the European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that please keep in mind that upon receiving his invitation to his radio club's Christmas Party the ham decided it was time to get spruced up. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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Power connector for Landwehr preamp?
by Bill Dzurilla 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Anyone know of a source for the 5-pin male power connector for a Landwehr preamp? 73, Bill NZ5N

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HO-68 Schedule 12-19 Dec 2010
by Alan Kung 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

UTC: 12 Dec 2010 ================================ 17:15...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 18:00...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA,East Asia,Oceania 19:45...Turn Off 20:30...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 21:15...Turn Off 23:10...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA,North Asia,East Asia, Oceania 23:55...Turn Off 13 Dec 2010 ================================ 02:47...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia, East Asia,South Asia 03:01...Turn Off 13:45...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA, South America 14:30...Turn Off 17:00...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:45...Turn Off 18:30...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:15...Turn Off 22:50...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA,East Asia,Oceania 23:35...Turn Off 14 Dec 2010 ================================= 02:40...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:55...Turn Off 10:45...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA,East Asia,Oceania 11:30...Turn Off 13:30...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe,NA,South America 14:15...Turn Off 16:40...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India, Africa,Europe,NA South America 17:25...Turn Off 18:30...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:15...Turn Off 19:55...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 20:40...Turn Off 15 Dec 2010 ================================= 00:25...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:10...Turn Off 02:18...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:34...Turn Off 12:43...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 12:57...Turn Off 13:10...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe,NA,South America 13:55...Turn Off 16:25...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,India,Middle East Europe,NA 17:10...Turn Off 18:15...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 19:00...Turn Off 19:40...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 20:25...Turn Off 16 Dec 2010 ================================ 00:05...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 00:50...Turn Off 02:01...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:17...Turn Off 14:45...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe, NA,South America 15:30...Turn Off 16:05...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Africa,Europe,NA 16:50...Turn Off 17:55...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Africa,Europe,NA 18:40...Turn Off 19:25...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 20:10...Turn Off 17 Dec 2010 ================================ 23:55...Turn On--FM/PACSAT NA,North Asia, Oceania 00:40...Turn Off 01:48...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:03...Turn Off 12:40...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe, NA,South America 13:25...Turn Off 17:40...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 18:25...Turn Off 19:20...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Africa,Europe,NA 20:05...Turn Off 20:55...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 21:40...Turn Off 18 Dec 2010 ================================ 23:30...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia, South Asia,Oceania 00:15...Turn Off 01:23...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia Oceania 01:38...Turn Off 14:10...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe,NA,South America 14:55...Turn Off 17:25...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 18:10...Turn Off 19:10...Turn On--FM/PACSAT India,Africa,Europe,NA 19:55...Turn Off 20:35...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Africa,Europe,NA 21:20...Turn Off 23:15...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia, South Asia,Oceania 24:00...Turn Off 19 Dec 2010 ================================ 01:12...Turn On--FM/PACSAT North Asia,East Asia,South Asia Oceania 01:20...Turn Off 13:55...Turn On--FM/PACSAT Europe,NA,South America 14:40...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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www.amsat.org.uk/iaru
by GRAHAM SHIRVILLE 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

Hi All, Apologies but the administrator of this website has advised me that it will be down for the next 2 or 3 days. This site is used to maintain the list of satellite projects which have requested frequency coordination from the IARU Panel. We expect normal service to be resumed shortly! 73 Graham G3VZV

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Press Coverage of AMSAT-UK FUNcube
by Trevor . 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

The December 10 edition of the UK Metro newspaper carried an article titled 'Celebrating great British science' which featured the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite. Read the article on page 25 of the Online edition of the Metro newspaper at http://e-edition.metro.co.uk/2010/12/10/?p=25 Click on the PDF icon for a permanent copy of the page. You can join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/ FUNcube website http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ FUNcube SDR Dongle http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/ AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information. Join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

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Re: LF Satellite ideas?
by G0MRF＠aol.com 12 Dec '10

12 Dec '10

In a message dated 12/12/2010 03:18:49 GMT Standard Time, bruninga(a)usna.edu writes: b) Connect a small CW transmitter on 137 KHz to the 1100m antenna and see if the LOFERS can hear it? But there is no ITU/IARU amateur satellite authorization there. But again, on-off keying of some electrons on a long ionosphereic tether would be a physics experiement, not comms. Sorry, no allocation at 137kHz. slippery slope, don't go there. How about a simple SDR receiver that feeds into the tlm? David G0MRF

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Update On Akatsuki
by B J 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/T101210005388.htm http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002821/ http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/topics/2010/1210.shtml 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Anyone from Europe received QSL from OX/N0RC pedition?
by Mika Siira 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

Hi folks, Just interested to know if any european sat operator who worked OX/N0RC have received a QSL from him. I am asking this because I have sent my card directly to him (SAE+greenstamp) over five months ago and despite e-mail notification still haven't got a card back. Mika, OH8MBN

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Re: LF Satellite ideas?
by Bob Bruninga 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

My initial 1100m long satllite antenna idea (with no knowledge of propogation possibility through the ionosphere) is: a) connect a product detector (SSB) receiver to the 1/2 wave 137 kHz satellite antenna and downlink the audio that it hears on the UHF FM downlink. Then anyone can hear the 137 KHz experimenters if the satellite does. USA Hams cannot transmit on the 137 KHz band. But no licensing of the LF uplink is needed since we are only "listening to an ionosphere experiment"... b) Connect a small CW transmitter on 137 KHz to the 1100m antenna and see if the LOFERS can hear it? But there is no ITU/IARU amateur satellite authorization there. But again, on-off keying of some electrons on a long ionosphereic tether would be a physics experiement, not comms. If such a link is possible, then people can transmit up on 145.825 MHz with normal PACKET, and the satellite will convert the packet message to CW on the 137 Khz downlink. The #1 question is whether 137 KHz will pass anything through the ionosphere? Maybe only straight up? I hoipe some real space-physics people can contribut knowledge here. Bob, WB4APR > > Is 137 KHz possible from space? > > Our next Cubesat will have a 1100 meter long > antenna (think tether satellite). It will > ultimatelly be an electrodynamic tether but the > first one will have NO ACTIVE ELECTRONICS > connected to the tether. > > So I have asked them to make it 1100m long instead > of a generic 1km tether to try to make it resonant > in an amateur band. THe path loss at 137 KHz is > 60 dB LESS than it is at 2 meters, so it shouldn't > take much to communicate with an 1100m long > antenna. > > I'm sorry I didnt think of this sooner, but I need > a real SCIENCE justification for this. Maybe LF > that low will never punch through the ionosphere, > or maybe it will be completely absorbed. Can give > good science on this idea? > > Bob, WB4APR > >

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Sat timing
by Jack Barbera 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

Need a little help as I have a problem with the timing between the count down window and the Win Aos window. There is a discrepancy of about 20 minutes with Win Aos running about 20 mins late. How do I correct this? Thanks Jack WA1ZDV

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celestrack not available?
by Luc Leblanc 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

Celestrak web site in off line as of 1630 UTC did anyone succeed to access the site as orbitron cannot perform his TLE'S update and the site himself is unavailable? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AMSAT Tenure Track PHD position?
by Bob Bruninga 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

I didnt even know it, but the Naval Academy has an opening (that closes very very soon) for a Tenure Track Professor in the AeroSpace department focusing on our small satellite program. I'd love to see someone with real hands on engineering experience. Again, PHD and competative research is required. I don't even know a web site, but I assume that USNA.EDU is a start. The solicitation may have just closed, though I heard it may be extended a few days. Good luck. I am NOT a professor and am not in the inner sanctum. Im just the engineer, so dont count on me. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: thd72a (Freqs)
by Bob Bruninga 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

> I see my position says 'bruce,hou.tx.' but > appended to the front of the message is 410.975 > and i cannot find that in the menus. That is the current frequnecy of your BAND B receiver and is what is all new about APRS since 2004. Knowing not only your location but what channel you are monitoring so that you can be contacted. (You can turn it off under the APRS menu). These radios can then tune to anyone's frequency just by pushing the QSY(TUNE) button. It sets up FREQ, TONE and shift automatically. That is also why the APRS network now puts out such FREQUENCY objects for the locally recommended voice repeater in any given area, so that visitors can see these on the front panel of their radios and instantly can contact locals with the push of one button. See www.aprs.org/localinfo.html Echolink and IRLP nodes are also identified this way, so the visitor instantly can be in contact anywhere on the planet. Then tie this all together with an Automatic Voice Relay System (AVRS), and we will have a HAM equivalent of a cell phone system. You just send an APRS message saying you want to voice QSO with CALLSIGN, and the network will set up the call, and make the instant QSY to the nearby Echolink, IRLP, WIRES or D-STAR node to complete the call. At least that is where we are headed... Please see www.aprs.org/avrs.html Oh, and AMSAT satellites can extend this connectivity anywhere on the planet. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: thd72a (voice alert)
by Bob Bruninga 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

> ... went outside and it did popup with one > person on the list when i hit beacon. The BCON button is your XMIT button, and what you hear and what goes into the list is independent of that. Rubber ducks suck. In Japan, hardly anyone uses VHF, so the rubber duck (in my opinion) is optimized for UHF... > just went outside....heard 5 stations in about 15 min. > do i have to have the radio on 144.39 to use aprs? Yes. Band A is usually left permanently on 144.39, and then the Band B can be used for VHF or UHF voice comms for normal ham radio. Since the radio is full duplex, then if your favorite voice repeaters are on UHF, then APRS can run without interruption on band A while you are talkin gon band B. But if band B is also on 2m voice, then when you are yacking, you are blocking your own receipt of APRS. And if you set the beacon to automatic transmit, then your voice band B receiver will be muted during those 1 sec xmissions. But do not turn down the volume on band A! Mute the packet racket instead by setting CTCSS 100. This way, you dont hear anything on band A, but it can still be used by anyone to give you a VOICE CALL on 144.39 PL 100. Its an-always-there contact capability no matter what you are doing with voice on band B. This is called VOICE-ALERT. A side benefit is that it also acts like a proximity detector. That is, if anyone else is running VOICE ALERT (CTCSS 100) then if they get within SIMPLEX range of you, then you will hear their packets once a minute or so, alerting you that someone is IN RANGE, and IS LISTENING on 144.39 with CTCSS 100 for a call! Please see www.aprs.org/VoiceAlert3.html Bob, WB4aPR >On 12/11/2010 10:13 AM, Bob Bruninga wrote: >>> oh, boy, got a thd72a.... I thought I would give >>> the aprs a try. I put my callsign in. but have >>> no idea what to do next. >> There are only a few more things you need to do to start viewing Ham radio around you: >> >> 1) Set Band A to 144.39 (in N.America) >> 2) Push the TNC key to turn on the TNC >> 3) Be sure you can hear packets (may need a good location or antennna) >> >> Then leave the radio on for 10 minutes. If your list does not begin to fill with everything going on around you in ham radio then wait 30 minutes and you should at least see what is going on in your region. (those are standard APRS refresh times). If APRS is working in your area as an information resource, then you should be able to see what is going on. >> >> Press the LIST button and you will see callsigns and local objects and frequencies. The list is 100 deep, but it is also 9 pages wide. Use the LEFT-RIGHT buttons on the joystick to navigagte the WIDTH of these pages, and use the UP/DN joystick buttons to go though the depth of the list. >> >> Oh, to make the list more visible, press and hold the LIST key. This will display 5 lines per screen, instead of 3. >> >> The STATION LIST is the left column of the columns below. If it is in 3-station mode it only shows calls. But if it is in 5 line mode, it also shows the station TYPE. But HOLDING the list key another second will add DATE heard. Here are all the other 9 pages (COLUMNS) of info per station: >> >> STN | TYPE |1st20|2nd20|ICON& |PWR/HGT|GAIN|LAT |PATH >> LIST|COMMNT|TEXT |TEXT |DIR/DST|CSE/SPD|DIR |LONG|LAST >> >> Hopefully, the default settings will set you up to basically begin receiving data out of the box. >> >> Oh, inorder for the radio to display the DIRECTION and DISTANCE to every item in the list, the radio has to know where it is. Either turn on the internal GPS with the [F] GPS key or enter a position by pressing the POS key. >> >> Now to TRANSMIT your APRS information, there are more decisions to make. TO me, the most important is to have the radio automatically insert your Band-B Voice frequency in your beacon, so people can see wat repeater or channel you are on. This is the APRS menu QSY(FREQ) setting. Set QSY-in-status to ON. >> >> You can set your beacon to AUTO if you are actually outdoors doing something, or just leave it on MANUAL since most of the time an HT in a pocket is not in an ideal antenna location to actually get out. When the HT is in the hand and can see the sky, then each press of the BCON button will transmit. If the local APRS digipeater hears you, the raido willl flash that info and also show you the digipeater that relayed you. >> >> But the fun is SEEING what else is going on. Us the list key and joystick for that. Oh, also, when on the LIST, you can press the MENU key and SORT the list by TIME, by CALL or by DISTANCE. These are very powerful! >> >> Bob, WB4APR >> > > >-- > >Bruce Paige, KK5DO > >AMSAT Director Contests and Awards > >ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE > >Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* >Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com >Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes > >Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News >http://www.arrl.org > >AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat >

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thd72a
by Bruce 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

oh, boy, got a thd72a. however, this is my first kenwood radio and i got it to turn on and figured out how to put it on a local repeater. that works. next i thought i would give the aprs a try. i have never used aprs before. i put my callsign in. but have no idea what to do next. the manual isn't really any help as i don't know what values need to go into the aprs fields or where to program in the aprs frequency. which i don't have either. i may have bit off more than i can chew with all the features of this radio. also, how do you set the time/date. looks like there is a place for it at the bottom of the screen but can't figure out what to punch to get it to do something. 73...bruce

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Re: [eu-amsat] Re: AO-51 December schedule
by Luc Leblanc 11 Dec '10

11 Dec '10

On 10 Dec 2010 at 23:05, Mike Rupprecht wrote: Date sent: Fri, 10 Dec 2010 23:05:07 +0100 From: Mike Rupprecht <mail(a)mike-rupprecht.de> Subject: AW: [eu-amsat] Re: [amsat-bb] AO-51 December schedule To: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com Copies to: lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca Send reply to: no_reply(a)yahoogroups.com > Hi Luc, > > > > I think until March 2011. See attached illumination graph for the next 60 > days. > > The black boxes are the eclipses. > > > > 73, Mike > > DK3WN > Thank's Mike Batteries charging condition seems to be less than optimal if they are unable to sustain those small daily eclipse period +- 15 minutes per hour! As per this in May 2010: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2010/ao51_use_in_eclipse.htm could be AO-51 should be put on a kind of scheduling like HO-68? or the satellite should be off for the early NA and SA morning pass as the satellite usage is very low. As per the Space Quest web page their listed batteries products is BAT-4 Matched NiCd Flight Batteries (per cell) i don't know how the memory effect is affecting them? By the way it seems finally that AO-51 was mainly commercially built! Another undisclosed (Or not too disclosed) facts from AMSAT-NA!!! Could be that's the path to follow the various AMSAT'S should work as general contractor this will have a very positive effect helping to get rid of some personal ego from some of those involved in the making of the amateur satellites ;) This naturally take in account an ego issue among the satellite builders! SpaceQuest's Contribution: The following Spacecraft products are implemented in the AO-51 bus: * Battery Charge Regulator (BCR) * UHF Hybrid Coupler (H-420) * Flight Batteries (BAT-4) * Integrated Flight Computer (IFC-1000) * Programmable Permanent Magnet and Controller (PM-13) * Triple Junction, GaAs Solar Panels Just check: http://www.spacequest.com/success/echo.php The Space Quest web page http://www.spacequest.com/about.php Batteries are not equal but UO-11 is still working after all those years! What happen with our actual batteries? Are they manufactured is some remote countries... P.S. Did anyone ever hear about the Programmable Permanent Magnet and Controller (PM-13)? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Possible Problems With NanoSail
by B J 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Satellite Earth Station for sale
by k0blt＠juno.com 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

Greetings, This is one posting I had hoped never to make. It appears that I'll not live long enough to see an HEO bird launched. It is with a heavy heart I list the following for sale. I am not listing any prices. I will discuss pricing on anything that is of interest to you or make me a "reasonable" offer. My land line phone no. is: 308-262-0439 Model No. AIDC-3033 2.4 Ghz Down Converter with a wall wart PS included. Down East Mocrowave Model 144-29 Transverter. (I fed 2.4 Ghz directly into the shack, down converted to 144 Mhz. with the AIDC and again with the 144-29 to 10 m. and used my HF rig (FT-920) as the satellite receiver.) Elevation Rotor: Ken Pro Model No. KR-500 with 50+ feet of control cable and control unit. (Old but it worked flawlessly until the day I took it down.) 3 Ft. Spun Aluminum Dish with Down East 2.4 Ghz. pre-amp attached. 19 Element 70 cm. Yagi: Cush Craft Model 719B 9913 low loss coax in various lengths of 50+ feet. The above equipment enabled me to work 1000+ QSOs and 93 entities via AO-40. Thanks and Happy Holidays to everyone. Frank, K0BLT K0BLT(a)JUNO.com ____________________________________________________________ DEAL OF THE YEAR: 2010 Honda Civic for $1,734.09 SPECIAL REPORT: High ticket items are being auctioned for an incredible 90% off! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4cfa8c1e1e0045b0d8bst05vuc

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Any CAERUS updates??
by Mark L. Hammond 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

I'm using the only set of TLE's I've seen so far, and have had to automated--nothing copied yet. Anybody hearing this bird or read any updates? -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Congrats to SpaceX
by G0MRF＠aol.com 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

In a message dated 09/12/2010 13:37:06 GMT Standard Time, APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET writes: According to a report I saw from the NSS, they also deployed 4 CubeSats. Not a useful orbit for us, but a sign of good things to come. Alan WA4SCA Hi Alan. If they waited until the second stage had been removed from LEO, those cubesats would have had an apogee of 11,000km A very nice orbit......if it could be circularised to avoid the radiation belts. Thanks David G0MRF

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AO-51 December schedule
by Andrew Glasbrenner 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php Some of the dates of mode changes may move a day or so according to command availability. Note the 2m up BBS test, and the CW up, FM down mode for Straight Key Night. At the end of the month we go back into eclipses for a LONG time, so the overall power budget will shrink, and we will reinstate the new PL mode, and the satellite will likely be off in eclipse. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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Re: Digital Voice Recorder
by Clint Bradford 10 Dec '10

10 Dec '10

Most of the SmartPhones out there have the capability of recording audio - I'd hate to see you go out and purchase a new unit when a $5-or-less application would do it for you! Clint, K6LCS

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