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Re: Satellite passes for open house TH. night
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 05 May '10

05 May '10

Sorry about the posting with the list of passes for 5/6 and 5/7, intended for UF listserv.but at least the AMSAT group can see how we use college satellite nights as an educational experience. Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL Gator ARC Faculty advisor.work us at W4DFU and get our new satellite QSL card! _____ From: Dr. Jay Garlitz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 6:17 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Cc: 'Dr. Jay Garlitz AA4FL'; fopalko(a)cox.net Subject: Satellite passes for open house TH. night The satellite passes below start 22:35 UTC (6:35 local time) Thursday night and follow until 10:16 pm local time. As you can see from the list below there are satellite passes of many different satellites and modes. This is a good evening to come by and learn how to use the satellites and the advantages/disadvantages of each mode. I hope to see you there! Dr. Jay, AA4FL AO-51 will be in the FM repeater mode J (2m up, 70cm down); Japanese satellite FO-29 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down); AO-7, satellite from 1974, mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down) or mode A (2m up, 10 SSB/CW down); Saudi satellite SO-50 Mode J (2m FM up, 70 cm down); HAMSAT Indian Satellite VO-52 inverting transponder mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down); New Chinese Satellite HO (Hope)-68 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down) WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11813 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 06.05.2010 FO-29 22:35 22:48 13 11 041 - 143 06.05.2010 AO-07 22:39 22:59 20 40 139 - 354 06.05.2010 SO-50 23:08 23:21 13 55 196 - 033 06.05.2010 AO-51 23:10 23:24 14 25 197 - 334 WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11814 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 07.05.2010 FO-29 00:19 00:36 17 71 010 - 199 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5200:28 00:29 01 00 066 - 048 07.05.2010 AO-07 00:32 00:52 20 36 188 - 334 07.05.2010 SO-50 00:50 01:01 11 12 254 - 007 07.05.2010 HO-68 01:18 01:35 17 25 128 - 359 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5201:57 02:09 12 50 155 - 355 07.05.2010 FO-29 02:06 02:16 10 08 341 - 260 __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5087 (20100505) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5087 (20100505) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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Satellite passes for open house TH. night
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 05 May '10

05 May '10

The satellite passes below start 22:35 UTC (6:35 local time) Thursday night and follow until 10:16 pm local time. As you can see from the list below there are satellite passes of many different satellites and modes. This is a good evening to come by and learn how to use the satellites and the advantages/disadvantages of each mode. I hope to see you there! Dr. Jay, AA4FL AO-51 will be in the FM repeater mode J (2m up, 70cm down); Japanese satellite FO-29 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down); AO-7, satellite from 1974, mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down) or mode A (2m up, 10 SSB/CW down); Saudi satellite SO-50 Mode J (2m FM up, 70 cm down); HAMSAT Indian Satellite VO-52 inverting transponder mode B (inverting 70cm SSB/CW up, 2m down); New Chinese Satellite HO (Hope)-68 - inverting linear transponder mode J (2m SSB/CW up, 70cm down) WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11813 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 06.05.2010 FO-29 22:35 22:48 13 11 041 - 143 06.05.2010 AO-07 22:39 22:59 20 40 139 - 354 06.05.2010 SO-50 23:08 23:21 13 55 196 - 033 06.05.2010 AO-51 23:10 23:24 14 25 197 - 334 WinAos QTH: -82.1/29.6 T#: 11814 Sat.: 7 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 07.05.2010 FO-29 00:19 00:36 17 71 010 - 199 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5200:28 00:29 01 00 066 - 048 07.05.2010 AO-07 00:32 00:52 20 36 188 - 334 07.05.2010 SO-50 00:50 01:01 11 12 254 - 007 07.05.2010 HO-68 01:18 01:35 17 25 128 - 359 07.05.2010 HAMSAT (VO-5201:57 02:09 12 50 155 - 355 07.05.2010 FO-29 02:06 02:16 10 08 341 - 260

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HAMSAT VO-52 Completes 5 Years
by Mani VU2WMY 05 May '10

05 May '10

Dear friends, HAMSAT VO-52 was launched on 05.05.05 from India by PSLV C6. Today, HAMSAT is entering into its 6th year after successfully completing five years of fruitful service in the orbit. On this great occasion, we all at 'Upagrah Amateur Radio Club' ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, India take pleasure in expressing our sincere thanks & gratitude to each & everyone in ISRO, who contributed to the success of 'HAMSAT'. Our good wishes & greetings to 'HAMSAt VO-52' to remain in orbit with good health for many more years and to provide the services as one of the 'most favorable satellite' among all of us. We wish 'HAMSAT VO-52 'A Happy Birthday'. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-2508 2054/2192/2537 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com

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First attempt with beam antennas. . .crap
by Jacob Tennant 05 May '10

05 May '10

Well as I should have expected my first attempt with the full size beam antennas did not turn out as good as I had hoped but it gave me reference point to work up from. Never heard anything on ISS repeater, but did hear a few people on SO-50 but still not good enough to make out any callsigns but signals were louder than before. One problem I found in tear down was that when my experimental antenna base mount turned it changed the up-tilt angle of the antennas from above 30 degrees to the west to 10 degrees to the east so my aiming was less than optimal as well as I was doing armstrong method for spinning them and had to run from deck to antenna and back as well as trying to make a qso if possible. Also experimentation base is only a 5 foot tall piece of mast, angles were eyeballed, I was tired. . . SO, I am hoping to get this setup somewhat perfected as I am getting the itch to take this dog & pony show up to my Field Day site with me as it is at 2600amsl so the horizon is almost always below me and should make for interesting fun as evening come around since I am running the 10 meter station and it will die early if the LEO's are active. See you on the air soon. . . Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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Antenna test
by Jacob Tennant 04 May '10

04 May '10

Well after some frantic construction last night and this evening I have got my old trusted Cushcraft 14810S and 719B mounted on a cross boom angled up apprx. 30 degrees and tilted to 45 degrees between H and V. I see from here ISS will be up in just a few minutes and SO-50 shortly thereafter so going to give them a try to see if I can (A) hear them better than before, and (B) Try to make my first ever satellite contact. Well, here goes nothing. . . Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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AO51 Changing the power
by PY5LF 04 May '10

04 May '10

Hello AO51 change the power many times during the last pass over south of Brazil . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=644Jm1_aoJ8 I think the power management already are working , right ? 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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Collapsible Fabric Antenna for Satellite Portable
by Trevor . 04 May '10

04 May '10

Diana Eng KC2UHB has developed an ingenious antenna for satellite working. See the MAKE: magazine article at http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/05/collapsible_fabric_yagi_antenna.ht… 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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Delaware on AO-51
by John Papay 04 May '10

04 May '10

WA3WUL has been working via AO-51 from Delaware recently. He seemed to hear very well and worked quite a few stations on this morning's pass at 1138z, 4 May 2010. According to QRZ.com he is just north of Wilmington and just inside the border about two miles from Concord Pike and Naamans Road where I operated from in July 2009. ND9M/P operated from several locations in Delaware prior to that and WD9EWK/P operated from Delaware during the AMSAT Symposium in the Fall of 2009. N3ZLL/M has operated in Delaware before and was worked via the ISS in February 2009. I am not aware of anyone else operating from Delaware over the past few years who actually lives there (until now). For those working towards their WAS, be sure to listen for WA3WUL. States that have activity now can become rare overnight. Wyoming was very common when NN6T lived there; when he moved there was no one on for some time. K7DRA became active and Wyoming was no problem. Lately I have not heard him and Wyoming is now becoming rare again. South Carolina was rare at one time. Now there are many operating from that state including the very active K4YYL. If you are working towards WAS, don't miss out on working WA3WUL if you still need Delaware. 73, John K8YSE

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AO-51 power management
by Thomas McGrane 04 May '10

04 May '10

Greetings from pat n2oeq Way to go andrew and all others involved in formulating and using the Echo power management software. A very significant improvement to utilize the available solar power. Please keep in mind, the possibility of more watts while in sushine if power management allows. I'm loosing lots of signal in the trees. I learned like others said, that the leaves really attenuate the weak signal. My sincerest thanks to all that made this big improvement possible. pat

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"High Q" CTCSS tones?
by Greg D. 04 May '10

04 May '10

Hi folks, I'm updating a small Predict client that I wrote. It's part of my station's automation for driving my Yaesu FT-736R under Linux. There's a table in the 736's manual for the various CTCSS tones, and I see there are 9 codes that are labeled "High Q". Some of the tones match others in the base table, some are unique. What are these "high Q" tones, and why would I want to use one or the other when there are duplicates? The manual tells me basically nothing, and a quick scan of the Web turned up the same. Thanks, Greg KO6TH _________________________________________________________________ The New Busy is not the old busy. Search, chat and e-mail from your inbox. http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:…

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Field Day
by Bruce 03 May '10

03 May '10

Wondering why all the hoopla about any of the satellites being in any mode. AMSAT receives only about 15 entries for field day. The rest must be doing only demos or making the one bonus contact. With hundreds of field day stations on the air we should have way more entries. 73...bruce Sent from my iPhone

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Power management software enabled
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 May '10

03 May '10

This evening I enabled the power management software on AO-51. If everything works right, the repeater should run at 1.01 watt while in sun, and 290 milliwatt while in eclipse and after exiting eclipse until the batteries recover to ~7.9 volts. Observations from the southern hemisphere while entering and leaving eclipse would be very helpful...we know it is getting used from the WOD files. I'll post a map where the satellite is being used soon. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Arecibo - EME day - Link to photos
by DAVID BIRD 03 May '10

03 May '10

Hello to all, It was allot of fun taking part in EME day.Listening to Arecibo was a real blast.Me and Omer ad7dy built a home made 22 element yagi and it worked OK. It did allot better once we added a preamp.Brain n7bsc took some nice photos of the antenna.Just thought I would share.Link mc-arc.org 73 de kc7uss

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GP47 Activation
by Reid Crowe 03 May '10

03 May '10

My operation from Søndre Strøm (aka Sondrestrom, aka Kangerlussuaq) GP47pa will start sometime around Wednesday, May 5th. I will be traveling to Søndre Strøm tomorrow and will hopefully not fly the next day. I plan on being there a little less than two weeks. After that I will be returning to Thule FQ56. Be sure to sign up for my email list at <http://groups.google.com/group/ox-thule-2010> if you have not already done so. I will send out notices from here with planned times of operation. Also, a big thank you to everyone that I've worked. I'm just as excited to give out these grids as you are to receive them! Remember: I will need to have cards printed up when I get home so there may be some delay in my reply. I will QSL all cards sent with SASE, IRC or Greenstamp 100% don't worry! Thanks again everyone! Get the word out to everyone you know and invite those not on the birds, or in ham radio, into your station to make a few QSOs and show them how easy it is! 73, Reid N0RC

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College Satellite this Thursday evening
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 03 May '10

03 May '10

It's time for another College Satellite night! We hope to see you on the birds Thursday evening May 6th from 22:00 UTC to 0500 UTC (May 7). College Satellite nights are a monthly event held the first Thursday of the month. Mark your calendar and spread the word to college hams/club stations that you know! College club stations plan on being on birds AO51, SO50, AO7, VO52, HO-68 and more. Please give these stations a call and work them.they will identify their college club identity along with their call sign. 73, Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL Gator ARC Faculty Advisor at UF, W4DFU trustee www.gatorradio.org <http://www.gatorradio.org/>

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FT847 vs TS-2000
by John 03 May '10

03 May '10

I have owned the FT-847 for five years and tried the TS2000 extensively. Both are excellent rigs. The only downside I see with the TS2000 is the birdie. However, it has a more sensitive and quieter receiver, has an antenna tuner and dual receive. On the other hand, the FT847 is probably the most used and reliable sat radio, from my observations working other people on the sats. Probably because it came out first and can be bought a little cheaper, now. If I was starting over and had to choose, it would be REALLY tough to choose between them. I probably would go with the TS2000 because it is a little more refined, quieter, and has a few more features. But the FT847 is solid, I love the rig, and you would have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. You can't go wrong either way. The FT847 is great IF you get a newer one in really good condition. Some of the early runs had some problems. The TS2000 wins on bells and whistles. Man.I'm no help at all!

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Re: Antenna question continued
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 03 May '10

03 May '10

In a message dated 5/2/2010 6:46:20 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, k7trkradio(a)charter.net writes: > I already have plans for the beams I have to be setup here at the house I wish you the best of luck Jacob with your setup. I did quite a bit of outdoor operation with a handheld sat antenna which was fun (3 VHF elements & 7 UHF elements). Nice to be able to adjust elevation, azimuth, and polarization with just a twist of the wrist for best reception. Looking forward to hearing you on the birds. - - - I'm located near Charleston. Glad to see another West Virginian here on the list. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- Sat VUCC #125

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G-5500 Troubleshooting
by John Meeks 03 May '10

03 May '10

I need some help diagnosing my non operative g-5500 azimuth rotator. After a few no copy passes, I noticed the azimuth meter was not moving. Disconnecting my G232 interface, manual operation with the 5500 az switches produced no movement of either the meter or the antenna array. Elevation works fine. Swapping the cable connections on the back of the controller allowed the azimuth switches to operate the elevation rotator. I think this tells me the controller box is probably ok. The ele switches did not operate the az motor. So, either cable, connector or motor? Returned connectors to their original positions. Measuring impedance on the cables in the shack using pin 6 as the common gave me 4.6 ohms on both pins 4 and 5 on the elevation cable. The azimuth cable gave me 4.5 ohms from 6 to 5 and 6 to 4 was OPEN. So... could be the azimuth cable or connector. Braving high winds I climbed my tall roof mounted tripod and swapped cables from az to el and el to az. The az cable was now controlling the elevation motor no problem. Azimuth still non-operational. So have I eliminated all but the azimuth motor? Are there any other possibilities to consider before I dismantle the whole rooftop array? One more thing... Given that the cable tested OK, what does the open reading from 6 to 4 suggest? My reading of the schematic diagram is sketchy at best. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. John Meeks KC8ZFN

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Antenna question continued
by Jacob Tennant 02 May '10

02 May '10

OK so to continue my antenna question further, I have seen plans for the K5OE Eggbeater antenns, dual moxons for LEO's, as well as the EZ-Lindenblad antennas for small satellite antennas. Of these what is the general consensus as to the better of them? I am looking for something small and easy to setup for Field Day, portable operation where a dual beams and rotator setup would be cumbersome to use. I already have plans for the beams I have to be setup here at the house. Thank you everyone for indulging my curiousity... Jacob Tennant - K8JWT

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Keyspan Acquired by TrippLite
by Clint Bradford 02 May '10

02 May '10

>> ... as I can tell they DO NOT have a Windows 7 driver for the KeySpan ... Keyspan seemed optimistic when they were acquired in May, 2008 by TrippLite: "We at Keyspan have created a strong brand name associated with high quality products," said Mike Ridenhour, Keyspan President. "We're pleased that Tripp Lite will continue providing Keyspan's customers with the reliable products they expect, world-class service and support and unmatched channel loyalty. The combination of the Tripp Lite and Keyspan brands under the umbrella of Tripp Lite will provide increased efficiency by streamlining production, distribution and shipping." I have no idea if the Keyspan development team is still working on their old product line or not. Clint, K6LCS

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Re: Hardware or software problems?
by Larry Gerhardstein 02 May '10

02 May '10

Glenn, Where do you see this? I went to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx and entered Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Immediately came up "You are not eligible to download Windows XP Mode. You must have Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, or Ultimate to run Windows XP Mode. To upgrade visit Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade <http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/windows-anytime-upgrade>. " Clicked in there. Upgrades are $200 and more. 73, Larry W7IN On 5/1/2010 9:10 PM, Glenn AA5PK wrote: > It's a free download compatible with Home Premium 32- and 64-bit. > > Just a thought. > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Gerhardstein" > <gerhardstein(a)montana.com> > To: "Glenn AA5PK" <aa5pk(a)suddenlink.net> > Cc: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2010 8:11 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Hardware or software problems? > > >> I have Windows 7 Home Premium. I believe I would need to upgrade to >> something different in order to run XP virtual. If the $20 PCI card >> works, that is cheaper. >> >> Larry >> >> On 5/1/2010 6:50 PM, Glenn AA5PK wrote: >>> Larry, >>> >>> If you still suspect it's an OS issue, downloading XP Mode for >>> Windows 7 may solve the problem. >>> >>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx >>> >>> It may be worth having in any case. >>> >>> Glenn AA5PK >>> >> >

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ISS packet mode
by Bob Bruninga 02 May '10

02 May '10

>> wouldn't the path be rs0iss-4? When you look at what others are using, you may see a lot of RS0ISS-4* but do not be fooled. Remember, that when a user uses any of the GENERIC paths on the uplink, that the ISS does callsign-substitution before digipeating on the downlink. So you will see everyone with RS0ISS-4* in the dowlink even though they used ARISS, or APRSAT, or whatever on the uplink. And you cannot tell what they used! But, If they use WIDEn-N on the uplink, then it will NOT do callsign substitution and will only come back as WIDEn-N MINUS 1. AND those packets will NOT SHOW UP ON ANY ARISS web page, because there is no way for the global APRS system to know that it went via the ISS. All of the other APRS satellites, PCSAT, PCSAT2, ANDE and RAFT all responded to the ARISS and APRSAT aliases, and that is the beauty of the system. Whichever satelltie digpeated, would substite its call so the global APRS system could see what satellite digipeated it. Unfortunately, in its degraded-state, PCSAT1 only recognizes ARISS when it is recoverd. All the rest of the time, it ONLY responds to VIA W3ADO-1. Hope that helps. Bob, Wb4APR Bob, WB4APR

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Uni_trac help - S-BAND AO-51,2nd radio
by Michae J. Wolthuis 02 May '10

02 May '10

I am hoping someone in the group can help me with a problem I am having. I installed my AO-51 S-Band setup and added a 2nd radio on the 2nd port of the Uni_trac which works fine when Uni_trac is doing the controlling. I have setup AO-51 and AO-51 second profile. One is for standard mode and one for S-Band mode. I use Nova via DDE to control Uni_trac, which works great except that when I select the second Uni_Trac profile Nova reverts Uni_trac to the AO-51 U/V profile. Anyone know what I mean and/or how to fix it? I want Nova to do the controlling, but I want it to do it for when the SAT is in S-Band without changing the freqs in Nova. Maybe there is a way in Nova to setup another satellite for the changed parameters when AO-51 changes modes and somehow select that? Like an AO-51(2) or something? Thanks for any advice, Mike Kb8zgl

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FO-29 Solar Array Current Graph
by Mineo Wakita 02 May '10

02 May '10

I put a nice report about FO-29 Solar Current which Frank wrote on my_HP. Thank you. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/fo29sola.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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AMSAT Wants to Publish Your Amateur Satellite News and Projects
by JoAnne Maenpaa 02 May '10

02 May '10

Hello Everyone, This is a call for YOUR input about your amateur satellite projects, achievements, and on-the-air activities. All news is invited ... if you got something to work, an event is planned or have a new idea for research other amateur satellite operators will want to know about it! Since the AMSAT-BB serves best as a forum for questions and and answers and last minute announcements we offer two addi- tional venues for publication: 1. ANS - AMSAT News Service + Are you or your club planning a satellite activity? + Perhaps testing a transponder via a balloon launch? + Your university just got approval for a CubeSat? + You just made a 7000 km contact via LEO? + You just got state #50 ... or VUCC? + Is there going to be a satellite demo at your next hamfest? + AMSAT Officers and volunteers are invited to send their team's latest news and all the good things going on within AMSAT. + Area Coordinators are invited to tell us how you are getting the word out. Short term news will be sent via the AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins (ANS list). To get your message into an ANS bulletin just send an e-mail with the information to ans-editor(a)amsat.org. The deadline for the weekly bulletins is by Thursday evening of each week. The ANS editors will do the formatting ... all you need to do is send your e-mail! 2. The AMSAT Journal This bi-monthly publication by AMSAT-NA is one of the primary benefits of AMSAT membership. This print edition includes text, graphics, and photographs. The Journal staff welcomes technical input about your: + Satellite Station design + Satellite antenna projects + Satellite operations ... decoded telemetry and data showing operational trends + The Journal is an excellent place to publish your University's cubesat design + AMSAT Officers and volunteers are invited to write detailed updates about projects and AMSAT plans and project status. For the AMSAT Journal we need your articles provided as either plain text or MS-Word format. You do not need to worry about magazine column formatting since this will be done by our layout software prior to publication. Send photos and graphics as separate JPG files in as high resolution as you can save them in. Articles and items for the Journal are due by the 15th of the odd number months ... January, March, May, July, Sept- ember, November. Send your submissions to the AMSAT Journal to: journal(a)amsat.org I'll be glad to work with you to develop your ideas and assist you every step of the way in getting published via ANS or The AMSAT Journal. You can reach me at the e-mail address below. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Copy Editor, AMSAT Journal

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HO-68 Schedule - 02-09 May 2010
by Alan Kung 02 May '10

02 May '10

UTC: 02 May 2010 ================================ 17:20...Turn On--SSB/CW India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 18:05...Turn Off 18:50...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:35...Turn Off 23:15...Turn On--SSB/CW NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 24:00...Turn Off 03 May 2010 ================================ 01:05...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:21...Turn Off 02:05...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 02:50...Turn Off 18:55...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 19:40...Turn Off 04 May 2010 ================================ 00:00...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 00:45...Turn Off 01:45...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 02:30...Turn Off 02:40...Turn On--SSB/CW North Asia, East Asia, South Asia 02:55...Turn Off 10:55...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:40...Turn Off 16:50...Turn On--SSB/CW India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:35...Turn Off 18:35...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 19:20...Turn Off 05 May 2010 ================================= 02:24...Turn On--SSB/CW North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:39...Turn Off 10:40...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:25...Turn Off 13:20...Turn On--SSB/CW NA,South America,Europe 14:05...Turn Off 18:20...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 19:05...Turn Off 22:25...Turn On--SSB/CW NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 23:10...Turn Off 06 May 2010 ================================= 02:11...Turn On--SSB/CW North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:26...Turn Off 05:40...Turn On--SSB/CW NA,North Asia,Middle East, Europe,Africa 06:25...Turn Off 10:20...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 11:05...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:00...Turn Off 18:05...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 18:50...Turn Off 07 May 2010 ================================ 23:55...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 00:40...Turn Off 01:52...Turn On--SSB/CW North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:08...Turn Off 10:05...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:50...Turn Off 17:45...Turn On--SSB/CW India,Africa,Europe,NA 18:30...Turn Off 21:50...Turn On--SSB/CW NA,North Asia,Oceania 22:35...Turn Off 08 May 2010 ================================ 00:35...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 01:20...Turn Off 01:28...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:44...Turn Off 09:50...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 10:35...Turn Off 17:30...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 18:15...Turn Off 09 May 2010 ================================ 00:25...Turn On--SSB/CW South America,NA,North Asia 01:10...Turn Off 03:07...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:20...Turn Off 06:35...Turn On--SSB/CW North Asia,Europe,Africa 07:20...Turn Off 09:30...Turn On--SSB/CW Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:15...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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European Parliament ARISS Video
by Trevor . 02 May '10

02 May '10

Good video of the ARISS event at the European Parliament, April 27, on YouTube. See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2010/ariss_eu_video.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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Early Oscar and Martin Marietta
by Rich Dailey 02 May '10

02 May '10

This is an old, dusty Oscar history question, so anyone not interested in old, dusty questions - feel free to punch out here :-) Were there any Martin Marietta employees involved in the early Project Oscar days? Radio club participation perhaps? Any direct technical contribution, hardware or otherwise, by the company? I ask not as a current/former employee, just doing some historical research. Thanks, Rich, N8UX

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HO-68?
by Ron Overdrive 02 May '10

02 May '10

Just tried operating on HO-68 roughly an hour ago since the FM repeater was On and all heard was silence as I called CQ. Was anyone else on or is HO-68 having problems with the FM repeater? KC2WQW

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ANS-122 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 02 May '10

02 May '10

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-122 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 ******************************************************************** * The AMSAT team is preparing for the 2010 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT * * Booth and activities. For the latest information go to: * * http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2010/Dayton.php * * * * Please be advised that tickets for the AMSAT-TAPR banquet at * * Dayton will not be sold at the booth. * *All tickets must be purchased at the AMSAT store by Monday, 10 May* * http://www.amsat-na.com/store/item.php?id=100158 * ******************************************************************** In this edition: * Successful ARISS Contact With European School in European Parliament * H-IIA Rocket to Launch Four Cubesats * Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 on PSLV-C15 * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 26 April 2010 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-122.01 Successful ARISS Contact With European School in European Parliament AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 2, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-122.01 On Tuesday, April 27 students of the European School II, Brussels enjoyed a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Astronaut Tim Creamer, KC5WKI operating the Amateur Radio station NA1SS aboard the International Space Station. The ISS was over South America during the contact with Adrian Sinclair's ARISS Telebridge station LU1CGB in Buenos Aires providing a solid earth station link. Twelve students selected from the school completed the contact. ARISS Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF hosted the event at the European Parliament in Brussels as a feature of a cultural exhibition set up in collaboration with the International Amateur Radio Union, the European Space Agency and sponsored by MEP Birgit, Sippel, Germany. The IARU Exhibition's name is "European Amateur Radio Benefiting Society" with the theme of Emergency, Education and Space. Because of the high profile of the location of the event at the European Parliament Building in Brussels there was considerable opportunity to raise awareness through media coverage, especially with Brussels Euro- pean School's 'model' schooling for Europe. This chance to participate in an ARISS project was actively embraced by the Science faculty and it is here where the opportunities for cur- ricular integration are gaining momentum. In the 1st Year Secondary (typically aged 11) students study forces, gravity, weight and basic ideas about 'fields'. In the 2nd Year, studies of the Solar System, and well beyond, link directly to the Shuttle missions and the Inter- national Space Station. In Year 7 (the final Baccalaureate year, when most students are aged 18) the Physics section on 'Gravitational Fields' is mainly about the mechanics of planetary and satellite motion. Topics (and questions) are often presented within the context of NASA and ESA missions. Reporting from Brussels, Gaston wrote, "In the European School, located in a residential area of Brussels, a similar setup was provided and many students listened in to the event live. Later in the same afternoon, ISS crew members came to visit the exhibition. ISS Commander Frank De Winne, ON1DWN, Robert Thirsk, VA3CSA and Roman Romanenko, each one representing a different Space Agency participated in a live question and answer session with a group of students from the European School and from another school." ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participa- ting countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crew members onboard the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crew members on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). [ANS thanks ARISS Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF; David Jordan, AA4KN; and ARISS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-122.02 H-IIA Rocket to Launch Four Cubesats AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 2, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-122.02 Four CubeSats in Japan are planning to launch on 17 May 2010 together with PLANET-C which belongs to JAXA by H-IIA rocket. Launch date, 17 May 2010 Launch time, 21:44:14UTC Launch site, Tanegashima Space Center in Japan http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/03/20100303_h2af17_e.html http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Three of the CubeSats, Negai*", WASEDA-SAT2, KSAT, being launched by the H-IIA rocket on May 17 will be dropped off into a low earth orbit but UNITEC-1 will continue following the JAXA's Venus Climate Orbiter PLANET-C / AKATSUKI on its journey to Venus. UNITEC-1, NPO UNISEC (University Space Engineering Consortium) 5.840GHz, travel into deep space towards Venus http://www.unisec.jp/unitec-1/en/top.html Negai*", Soka University 437.305MHz CW, Packet 1200bps FSK AX.25 http://kuro.t.soka.ac.jp/main.html WASEDA-SAT2, Waseda University 437.485MHz CW(FM), PCM-FSK(FM) 9600bps http://www.miyashita.mmech.waseda.ac.jp/Waseda-Sat2/index.htm KSAT, Kagoshima University Uplink: S-band(2GHz, 10kbps), Downlink: Ku-band(13.275GHz, 10kbps/1Mbps) http://www.sci.kagoshima-u.ac.jp/~nishio/download/Ukaren2008Nishio.pdf [ANS thanks Mineo, JE9PEL, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-122.03 Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 on PSLV-C15 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 2, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-122.03 The Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) would like to announce the delivery of Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 (NLS-6) cluster payload to Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR), Andhra Pradesh, India, for launch on board PSLV-C15. PSLV-C15 will be launching from the First Launch Pad at SDSC-SHAR into 637 km sun-synchronous orbit with 10:30 Local-Time of Descending Node. NLS-6 shares this launch with Cartosat-2B primary, Alsat-2A co-primary, and STUDSAT auxiliary payload. NLS-6 is the 6th launch by SFL. The NLS-6 cluster comprises of two nanosatellite: AISSat-1 and TIsat-1. NLS-6 launch updates are being posted to http://www.utias-sfl.net/NLS-6/ About AISSat-1 ------------------------------ AISSat-1 is built by SFL for the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). It is intended to demonstrate a new maritime AIS receiver that has been developed by FFI. The AIS receiver will be used to monitor ship traffic in Norwegian waters. The design of AISSat-1 is based on SFL Generic Nanosatellite Bus (GNB). The spacecraft has a main structure measuring 20 cm by 20 cm by 20 cm and it is stabilized in three-axes using reaction wheels. It has a fixed 46 cm long VHF payload monopole antenna for the AIS receiver and four UHF uplink monopole antennas for the command receiver. The downlink in the S-Band. AISSat-1 has an overall dimension of 80 cm by 45 cm by 37 cm and an overall mass of 6.5 kg. AISSat-1 will be secured to the launch vehicle using the XPOD GNB separation system. AISSat-1 is not an amateur satellite and, as such, has coordinated appropriate frequencies. Its ground segment is located at Svalbard and its control centre is at FFI, near Oslo, Norway. More information on the spacecraft can be found at http://www.utias-sfl.net/nanosatellites/AISSat-1/ and http://www.spacecentre.no/?module=Articles;action=Article.publicShow;ID=513… About TIsat-1 ------------------------------ TIsat-1 is a 1 kg CubeSat of 10 cm by 10 cm by 10 cm and is built by students and staff at University of Applied Sciences of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). The primary mission objective is to involve students in systems engineering, development and test with a very challenging project and to provide students and staff at SUPSI with space mission knowledge. TIsat-1 will monitor the durability of material probes exposed to space environment, will test a micro electromechanical device and will validate the redundant, fault tolerant hardware and firmware design of the bus. Two monopole antennas (VHF and UHF) will be deployed after separation. Housekeeping and payload data will be communicated to the ground as orbital data profiles. TIsat-1 will be secured to the launch vehicle using the XPOD Single separation system. TIsat-1 communicates over amateur radio frequencies, as coordinated through the IARU, and they have been working with radio amateurs in Switzerland during the spacecraft's development. They have a Morse Code and data beacons. More information can be found at http://www.spacelab.dti.supsi.ch/tiSat1.html Future Launches by SFL ------------------------------ SFL has signed its 7th launch contract with ANTRIX for NLS-7 in late 2010/early 2011. NLS-7 will launch the twin-satellite CanX-4 and CanX-5 formation flying mission. SFL will be signing its 8th launch contract for NLS-8 momentarily, for the launch of two astronomy nanosatellites: BRITE-Austria (CanX-3A) and UniBRITE (CanX-3B). NLS-8 will also launch one partner spacecraft. In addition, SFL is under discussion for NLS-9, NLS-10, and NLS-11 launches in 2011/2012 time frame, and would like to extend an invitation to spacecraft developers world-wide to join our launches. For further information, please contact: Freddy M. Pranajaya Manager, Advanced Systems Group UTIAS Space Flight Laboratory 4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M3H 5T6 +1-416-667-7890 Voice +1-416-667-7799 Fax freddyp(a)utias-sfl.net http://www.utias-sfl.net/ [ANS thanks Daniel, VA3KKZ, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-122.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 2, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-122.04 + Hiroyuki, JG7PSJ will be QRV as JD1BMH from Chichijima, IOTA AS-031, from May 2 to 14. Activity is on 40 to 6 meters, and possibly 80 meters, using CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL to home call. In addition, Makoto, JI5RPT will be QRV as JD1BLY, also from Chichijima, from May 2 to 7. Activity will be on 40 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, digital modes and Satellites. QSL to home call. (via ARRL ARLD017 DX news) + Congratulations to Loren, K7CWQ, who just received his VUCC award - using a FT-60R and Arrow Sat antenna as his station. Well done, sir! + Also congratulations to KD0EM, Harold in EL98 Florida. On April 22 he worked W4AS for his first satellit contact via AO-27 FM. + Martha reminds us from AMSAT HQ that tickets for the AMSAT-TAPR banquet at Dayton will not be sold at the booth. All tickets must be purchased at the AMSAT store by Monday, 10 May: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/item.php?id=100158 Dr. Robert McGwier, N4HY, will be the Banquet speaker + Gavin, M1BXF reports the Camb-hams, the social side of the Cambridge Repeater Group (ex Pye telecoms group) will be active on FM and SSB satellites as GS3PYE/P from grid IO67nt on the Island of Harris Scotland between May 1st and May 15th. More information can found on their DXpedition webpage: http://dx.camb-hams.com/dx-peditions/harris-dxpedition-10/ + A video has been released that explains the design philosophy of the core power control unit of New Zealand's first Amateur Radio satel- lite KiwiSAT. In the video Hans Holtz ZL1HB and Andrew Cammell ZL1AVC explains the design and operation of the KiwiSAT central power con- trol system know as the Battery Control Regulator or BCR. Watch at: http://tinyurl.com/28ocp8h + The Radio Club Ushuaia LU8XW is planning an expedition to the City of Tolhuin, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the radio club. LU8XW will be active in SSB, CW, PSK, RTTY and Satellites, from 01:00 UTC May 22 until 03:00 UTC May 24. QSLs via WD9EWK and LoTW (IOTA SA 008) - (W.A.P. - W.A.C.A Ref ARG-23) All contacts on this expedition are all contacts are valid for Radio Club Ushuaia Permanent Diploma. Please sen dany questions or comments to lu8xw(a)lu8xw.com.ar Please visit our web www.lu8xw.com.ar Thanks! Pablo LU6XV SOURCE: 73 de Augusto HB9TZA / I2JJR - SRT [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-122.05 ARISS Status - 26 April 2010 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 122.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 2, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-122.05 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Nippon Boy Scout Amateur Radio Club in Mitaka-shi, Japan on Tuesday, May 4 at 15:09 UTC. The Japan Boy Scouts have an amateur radio club, JA1YSS and study amateur radio station operations. The boys look forward to speaking with JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, a former Boy Scout. The Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum (NASM) in Washington, D.C. has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Family Day, Saturday, May 8 at 17:01 UTC via VK4KHZ in Australia. The Education Division of NASM is recruiting the young people who will participate in the contact. Generally, Boy Scouts and other groups are involved with this activity. The Museum draws approximately 30,000 on this Saturday in May. 2. Caldwell-Dyson Speaks with Houston School via ARISS On Monday, April 19, Expedition 23 astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, KF5DBF participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students from Jessup Elementary School in Houston, Texas. The connection was made through telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Prior to the contact, ARISS was incorporated into science, math, and language arts classes and children prepared 20 questions for the astronaut. Caldwell-Dyson answered them all as a crowd, filling the school's gymnasium, listened in. Several newspapers also attended and covered the event. 3. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The monthly ARISS International Team teleconference was held on Tuesday, April 20. Topics of discussion included an update on the radio equipment for the Columbus Module and an ARISSat-1 status. Minutes have been posted. See: https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2010-04-20.htm 4. Astronaut Training Status On Monday, April 19, astronauts Kevin Ford and Shane Kimbrough received an overview of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, followed by a Basic Ops session with Kimbrough. Both astronauts are scheduled to fly on future ISS expeditions. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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Hardware or software problems?
by Larry Gerhardstein 02 May '10

02 May '10

All, I feel like I'm no closer to a working sat station than I was one month ago. I have two computers to run SatPC32 on. Both are DELL Windows 7 Home Premium, one a desktop, the other a laptop. I have a Keyspan 4-port USB to RS232 box with optical isolators from CommFront connected to G-5500 and ICOM 910H interfaces. When I run SatPC32, I set up the COM ports and then enable R+ and C+. The computer then controls the xcvr and the rotors. After clicking on R and/or C a few times, or after clicking the transmit button on the ICOM, the computer crashes... Blue Screen, screen of death. IRQ_LESS_OR_EQUAL message. Both computers do the same thing. They crash after a short while. I've tried connecting the computer to an isolated power source, not part of the power company a.c. feeding my shack. This would be the generator in my RV. Same problem. SatPC32 ran for quite a time, but eventually the computer crashed. I have disconnected everything from the computer except for the USB going to the monitor, Keyspan box, mouse, and keyboard. Still same thing, computer crashes after awhile. The laptop crashes with only the Keyspan connected. I need expert advice again. I run SatPC32 as administrator; what about compatibility modes? What about critical o/s or driver upgrades or service packs? What about adding ferrite toroid to all wires going into and coming out of the computer? What about a power source isolator, like a UPS with a full-time inverter to get good isolated sinusoidal a.c. power to the computer and everything connected directly to it (like the monitor)? The Keyspan is USB powered. The good UPS's get expensive. Please reply on this BB (preferred) or to private email w7in(a)montana.com or call 406-826-7373. 73, Larry W7IN

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Re: Starter antennas
by kc8ran＠cox.net 01 May '10

01 May '10

I used them with preamps mounted on a 10 foot piece of PVC for a couple years. Not the greatest, but still made enough contacts to stay interested. I also used an Arrow on a camera tripod roughly pointed toward the max elevation azimuth on some low passes where the M2 loops didn't perform as well. Joe KC8RAN On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 3:13 PM, Jacob Tennant wrote: > I have a set of M2 loops antennas for 2 meters & 70cm and from reading > their website they state that they are good LEO antennas. So I was > wondering what the consensus is from anyone that has tried them. > > I understand that they won't be as good as a CP beam setup on a az/el > rotator, but since I have nothing up as of yet hoping they will at > least let me get started, was also hoping to use them for a mobile > satellite setup as well... > > Jacob Tennant - K8JWT > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: Hardware or software problems?
by Larry Gerhardstein 01 May '10

01 May '10

Win7 can run an executable in compatibility mode. I let it figure out which one to use and it chose XP S/P 2. Even so, the computer crashed anyway. I am investigating driver options and other serial interfaces. Larry W7IN On 5/1/2010 8:11 AM, N9IJ wrote: > Another possible option is to go back to XP. It was my understanding that new machines with Vista could be licensed to revert to XP, though MS is stopping XP support. Dunno if this applies to Win7 as well. Good luck with it, I will return to my iMac and MacDoppler.......sorry, couldn't resist. I do use XP still... > >

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STUDSAT and TIsat-1 launch postponed
by Trevor . 01 May '10

01 May '10

UB News - PSLV to be launched in June http://ub-news.com/news/pslv-to-be-launched-in-june/11382.html 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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SSB Electronics MV 432 Preamp Info?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 01 May '10

01 May '10

Does anyone have information on the SSB electronics MV 432 Preamp? The PC board is labled "MV 432 V" with country W- Germany. Specifications, hookup or schematic would be appreciated. I already did a Google search and other than a photo of a "MV432 S" version. I could locate nothing. The "MV432 S" version PCB in the photo is not the same as the one I have acquired. 73, Bill NJ1H

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Santa Isabel Island Dxpedition
by ps8rf Piraja 01 May '10

01 May '10

Hello Friends, The team of Teresina DX Group and Labre - PI is preparing a DXpedition to the Santa Isabel Island ( IOTA SA 025 DIB PI-01 ) and Pedra do Sal Lighthouse ( ARLHS BRA-070, DFB PI-03 ) in the coast of the state of Piauí in northeastern Brazil. Call Sign: ZW8B 02º45" S * 41º45" W Grid Locator: GI97de The DXpedition Will be starting the 16:00 UTC the day 02 to 06 of june 2010. The operations include bands from 160 to 10 meters (SSB, PSK31 and RTTY), including 6 meters, 144 MHz ( SSB / FM / CW ) and the satellites ( SSB / FM / CW ): AO-7 ( A and B ), FO-29, AO-51, VO-52, SO-50, HO-68, SO-67 ( if active ) and ISS in repeater mode if active. We Will Be in all orbits, please track your favorite satellite. We will be there. QSL via PS8HF MILTON LIMA RIBEIRO RUA MAZERINE CRUZ, 2673 64076-040 TERESINA - PI, Brazil The Team PS8BBC, PS8DX, PS8ET, PS8HF, PS8NF, PS8PY, PS8RF,PS8TV. Equipments for Satellites: ( Exclusives for Satellites Comunications ) TS 2000X and TM-D710 2x7 for 2m ( Home Made ) with preamp 436CP30 for 70 cm ( M2 ) with preamp G5500 Rotator FD ST2 Satellite Antenna Tracking Interface http://teresinadxgroup.blogspot.com/ Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95sAEhALejs Santa Isabel Island Pictures : http://www.parnaiba.com.br/pedra_do_sal.htm We would like to receive the cooperation of the Control Team of the satellites: AO-51, HO-68 and SO-67 to facilitate the operation modes or activate the satellites when the footprint of them are reaching the island, including activations in their schedules during the DXpedition. We will be grateful. 73' and Good Dx' Teresina Dx Group _________________________________________________________________ Mude seu visual no Messenger e divirta-se com seus amigos online. Clique e veja como http://ilm.windowslive.com.br/?ocid=ILM:ILM:Hotmail:Tagline:1x1:Tagline

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TAPR Digital Activities at Dayton Hamvention, May 15-16, 2010
by Mark Thompson 01 May '10

01 May '10

-----Original Message----- From: Stan Horzepa <stanzepa(a)sbcglobal.net> To: tapr-announce(a)tapr.org Sent: Mon, Apr 26, 2010 7:23 pm Subject: [tapr-announce] TAPR at the Dayton Hamvention (May 15-16, 2010) Dayton Hamvention is the biggest gathering of ham radio operators on the planet and as usual, TAPR has a full slate on tap for the Hamvention weekend (May 14-16, 2010). TAPR Booths: Booths 455 through 458 in the Ball Arena of the Hara complex is where TAPR presents the latest advances in the state of the ham radio arts. TAPR Digital Forum: TAPR Digital Forum runs from 9:15 to 11:15 AM on Friday in Room 1 of the Hara Arena with the following schedule of presentations, moderated by Mark Thompson, WB9QZB: 9:15 – TAPR Update by Steve Bible, N7HPR, and Scotty Cowling, WA2DFI 9:30 – WL2K Network and its RF Portals by Rick Muething, KN6KB, and Vic Poor, W5SSM 10:00 – TAPR Project Design for Manufacturing, by Scotty Cowling, WA2DFI 10:30 – Putting HPSDR on the Internet, by John Melton, G0ORX/N6LYT 11:00 – Wrap-up TAPR-AMSAT Banquet: Friday evening, TAPR joins AMSAT for their fourth annual joint banquet at the Kohler Presidental Banquet Center, Kettering, OH (just south of Dayton). Dr. Bob McGwier, N4HY, will be the after dinner speaker. Doors open at 6:30 PM and a cash bar will be available. A buffet dinner begins at 7:15 and includes Salmon with Newberg Sauce, Marinated Roasted Garlic Rosemary Chicken Breast in Lemon Butter Sauce, Marinated Pork Loin, Scalloped Potatoes with Parsley, Normandy Blend Green Beans, Fresh Fruit, Green Salad, Pie, Iced Tea, Hot Tea and Coffee. Make reservations for the banquet online at the AMSAT Store <http://www.amsat-na.com/store/item.php?id=100158> or contact Martha at the AMSAT office from 10 AM to 6 PM EST/EDT at 301-589-6062 or toll free at 888-322-6728. You can pick up your reserved tickets at the AMSAT booth on Friday or at the door. _______________________________________________ tapr-announce mailing list

2 2

3 passes from DM52/DM53 this afternoon...
by Patrick STODDARD 30 Apr '10

30 Apr '10

Hi! I am at DM52/DM53, waiting for AO27 in a few minutes. It looks like I may have a couple of minutes on the AO51 pass at 2214 UTC that I can work. Around 2217 to 2220 should be the highest part of the pass from here, and I will stick around here for that pass - after the next two AO27 passes. For the east, the 2003 UTC AO27 pass will be the better option, if you have a choice between that and the AO51 pass. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - near Fort Thomas AZ http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Out of the Office
by Martha 30 Apr '10

30 Apr '10

I will be out of the office today starting at 3:00 PM. -- 73- Martha

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Re: usb to serial adapter woes
by Larry Gerhardstein 30 Apr '10

30 Apr '10

Jim, et. al., Thanks for the advice. However, after installing the USA-49WG and driver install for Windows 7 with help from Tripp Lite technical support, my system still does the same thing. I plug the serial cables to both rotor and transceiver digital interfaces and then to the 49WG and the same thing happens. Azimuth meter drops to zero and there is no control. Further it is now working worse than before, as I have neither control of rotor or transceiver. If measure the voltage between metal shields of the two cables, there is about 2 volts there. It sure looks like a ground loop, but where and how. I have no idea at this point. In 56 years a ham operator, I've never run into anything like this. Maybe RS232 isolators would fix this??? Seems like overkill. Larry W7IN On 4/10/2010 6:01 PM, kq6ea(a)verizon.net wrote: > I bought one of the Keyspan 4-port boxes some years ago, and it's > never missed a beat. > I mostly use it on Field Day with my laptop so I can have SatPC32 > control my Ft-847, btu now that I've built both the Las Vegas Tracker > *and* the Fox Delta unit, I'll be using it to control the radio and my > Uaesu Az/El rotor. > They've not inexpensive, but then you always get what you pay for! > 73, Jim KQ6EA > > On Apr 10, 2010, *Larry Gerhardstein* <gerhardstein(a)montana.com> wrote: > > I hope someone can shed light. I'm using SatPC32, but that does not > affect this problem. > > Awhile back I was forced to recycle both of my older computers > that had > one built in 9-pin serial port. Then, I connected the built-in > port to > the GS-232B rotor interface. I also purchased some HL USB-RS232 > USB-to-Serial adapters, a cable with USB on one end and a 9 pin > RS232 on > the other end. I used this gadget to control my transceiver (which > is a > IC910H). > > Now I have a new computer which has no (zero) built in serial ports. > I'm trying to use two of the USB-to-Serial gadgets and have run into > trouble. If I disconnect all grounding back through the power, I can > get one of the two to work, either the rotor or the rig-control, > but not > both at the same time. Without disconnecting grounding, neither work. > It does not matter whether I'm plugging the USB ends directly into > the > computer, using a passive USB hub, or a powered hub--same result. > > All I have to do to get this to fail...is... Even if the USB ends are > not plugged into the computer and the rig control box is powered > off and > unplugged from power, if I just touch the metal shield on the USB > cable > going to the rig control onto the shield connection in the > computer or > hub, that causes the rotor control to fail. When it fails, The > azimuth > reading on the G-5500 drops all the way to zero. The elevation > meter is > unaffected. > > It acts like a ground loop somewhere, but where and how? I've tried > disconnecting the coaxes from the transceiver but no change. > > I'm thinking about scrapping these USB-to-Serial things and going > to a > 4-Port Keyspan box. > > HELP!! > > 73, Larry W7IN - DN27 in Plains, Montana > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

1 1

KPC-9612+ with TS-2000
by Nathaniel S. Parsons 30 Apr '10

30 Apr '10

Hi everyone, Thanks for the help with our 4800 bps issue. We haven't found a solution yet, but we're working on it, and I'll let you know when we have something figured out. Just now, I found a Kantronics KPC-9612+ lying around the lab, and would like to fire it up with our TS-2000 to see if it's still in working order. Can someone check to see if I've figured out the pinout correctly? I'll put the KPC pins on the left, and the TS-2000 pins on the right. 1 (Audio out) - 11 (Mic in) 2 (Carrier detect) - 5,7 (Main/sub squelch) 3 (PTT) - 9 (PTT) 4 (CTRLB) - Not connected 5 (RXA) - 1,3 (Main/sub out) 6 (GND) - Any of 4,8,12 (GND) 7 (Ext-In) - Not connected 8 (CTRLA) - Not connected 9 (GND) - Any of 4,8,12 (GND) TS-2000 pins not connected: 2,6,10,13 Thanks, Nate KC2SVI

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Re: Space Debris:
by Stephen Melachrinos 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

Greg - I didn't see anyone else reply, so I'll try. No, it's not coincidence. After the Iridium collision last year, the US Air Force decided it was in everyone's best interest for them to run conjunction analyses against many more space objects than they had previously analyzed, and report their predictions to system owners. Previously, their concern was primarily the US government's spacecraft, so we (in the amateur community) and many commercial operators never knew what was happening to our birds unless we did (or paid for) the work ourselves. But the collision (as well as the Chinese ASAT demonstration) showed that the resulting debris fields were a major hazard to everyone, themselves included. So they must have allocated more resources to the problem, as this is a massive undertaking. (Note that some reports say that the US has about 20,000 objects that are tracked and cataloged. In theory, this means propagating the ephemeris of all of these for some number of days and comparing all possible combinations across the time period of the analysis.) Unfortunately, many (if not most) of the objects no longer have maneuvering capability. If a vehicle can maneuver, these warnings give them time to try and increase the separation prior to the predicted close approach. (You might have heard of some times when a space shuttle does one of these maneuvers.) But if you can't maneuver (as is the case with AO-51), all we can do is watch and wait. Steve W3HF Apr 13, 2010 01:45:32 AM, ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com wrote: > Is it just a coincidence that these warnings seem to be coming pretty often recently, or did NORAD change their reporting procedures, or is > all the junk up there getting to critical mass where nothing is safe? It seems like we're heading into a situation like nuclear fission, where > you get enough stuff interacting, and it sets up a chain reaction of collisions. > > Greg KO6TH

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Re: Galaxis Space Scanner ACU
by Joe Leikhim 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

I did find this in archives and the website for Gary (Gary Gonnella W6RYO http://www.w6ryo.com) is no good and Google no help in finding a mirrored site. On 4/28/2010 12:09 AM, kq6ea(a)verizon.net wrote: > Search the archives. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200409/msg00443.html > 73, Jim KQ6EA > > > > On Apr 28, 2010, *Joe Leikhim* <rhyolite(a)nettally.com> wrote: > > I have found a number of the model Galaxis Space Scanner ACU > Labeled as > being made by FutureTrak Intl, and having Lockheed-Martin > manufacturer > labels. These were apparently made for tracking DBS satellites from > yachts and RV's. > > I saw a post a while back about a website on using these for Ham > Sats. > Does such information still exist? > > -- > Joe Leikhim > > Leikhim and Associates > Communications Consultants > Oviedo, Florida > > www.Leikhim.com > > JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com > > 407-982-0446 > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida www.Leikhim.com JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446

2 1

AO-51 Telemetry Software - TLmEcho
by Bruce Semple 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

Looks like Mike Kingery (KE4AZN) wrote TLmEcho back in July 2004 -- But for those of us getting back into the hobby .. it's new to us! It does a nice job visualizing the various measurements collected in the telemetry stream Great job Mike! http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/tlm_decode.php

2 1

KiwiSat video
by Trevor . 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

New KiwiSat video http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2010/kiwisat_video.htm Violet Amateur Radio satellite http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2010/violet.htm FUNcube FlatSat Meeting http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2010/funcube_flatsat_meeting.htm AMSAT-UK International Colloquium July 31 - Aug 1 http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium/ 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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Re: Rooftop Antenna Labs?
by Edward R Cole 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

At 04:49 PM 4/28/2010, Franklin Antonio wrote: >At 05:25 PM 4/28/2010, Robert Bruninga wrote: > >I may have an opportunity to begin planning for a major building > >upgrade at my school and want to propose a modern root-top > >antenna lab. > >Most antenna test labs now use anechoic chambers rather than rooftops. >. >_______________________________________________ >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 In 1966 I started my career as an R&D technician (took a leave from school for a couple years). We built asw weapons (i.e. sonobuoys) in an old brick three story factory with a flat roof. They test dropped the buoys over the side of the building 30-feet into a large vat of water, but the roof was the antenna test range. There I ran tests on VHF antennas. Not a very sophisticated range but definitely "hands on", real RF, real measurements. An engineers calculator was a slide rule, no computers then; fancy computer simulation was unknown. Mostly, I did troubleshooting of the engineering prototypes and finding fixes. Those went back to the engineers to fine tune their design. I quit that and returned to college in summer 1968 and landed a job with Hughes Aircraft in CA. 1971 found me working at Goldstone at the Microwave Test Facility also known as the "antenna range". The rest they say is history. 73, Ed

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Rooftop Antenna Labs?
by Robert Bruninga 29 Apr '10

29 Apr '10

Anyone at a University with an excellent Antenna Lab? When I went through PG school 39 years ago, I was IMPRESSED with the Antenna lab on the roof of Spanagel Hall at NPS in Monterey California and have envied it ever since. I may have an opportunity to begin planning for a major building upgrade at my school and want to propose a modern root-top antenna lab. But my experience is 39 years old, and even then there was a hint (in 1971) that the end of HF was around the corner and so that antenna lab was already in decline... Maybe all antennas labs have atrophed to the internet and have completely abandoned real-live-RF antennas, and so using them as an examples might be a negative example instead of a positive one. But in either case, I need to get some infor for planning a dream antenna lab... Even though Ill probably be 6' under by the time it comes to pass. Hummh... A ham license lasts 10 years... I wonder if one could design a a 10 year micro-beacon for one's headstone that would last exactly 10 years from the time of one's last renewal... Keep the range to 100 feet within the cemetery and not many bodies around you would complain.. Though I guess if there is another ham planted nearby, he would find something to complain about the issue of timely control..Probably best to use a key chain license free XMTR I guess... Bob, WB4APR

3 3

Tracking Unitec-1 (was Japanese Launch May 18)
by G0MRF＠aol.com 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

In a message dated 28/04/2010 23:13:34 GMT Daylight Time, ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp writes: UNITEC-1, Negai*", WASEDA-SAT2, KSAT information http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/unitec-1.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita Hi all. / Mineo. Very good to hear Unitec -1 is on schedule. I have built a downconverter for 5840 MHz to 1284 or 145MHz and would like to track the satellite on the early part of it voyage to Venus. - Probably only the very early part of the trip with a 1m dish. However, having read the available information there are still a list of problems that need to be resolved. I wonder if the Unitec team, or the group may have an opinion on the following. 1) What polarisation is transmitted from the patches. Linear? Circular? etc. I need to select a dish feed. 2) How long will Unitec -1 spend commissioning in LEO ? 3) Is there a tracking utility that can show doppler or even direction for a specific geographic location. Doppler is 'interesting' given that you have the probe travelling away from Earth, the Earth orbiting the sun and you also have the movement due to the rotation of the Earth? 4) Given the transmissions on 5840 are 30 mins in a 2 hour period, will there be an on-line counter predicting when the spacecraft should be in transmission mode. (Or a reference time so we can count ourselves?) 5) At what point in the mission will the transmitter be changed from 145 to 5840MHz. 6) Is there a method of sending telemetry to the team at Tokyo? I like a challenge..... Many thanks David G0MRF

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Re: Japanese Launch May 18
by Mineo Wakita 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

UNITEC-1, Negai*", WASEDA-SAT2, KSAT information http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/unitec-1.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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For sale - Icom W32A
by na2x＠yahoo.com 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

I know the Icom W32A HT is popular for working the FM LEO satellites, so I thought I'd give people on the AMSAT BB first shot to buy this radio. I have for sale an Icom W32A 2 mtr/440 handheld. Very good working condition, The HT comes with the Icom BP-173 battery the Icom B110A battery charger , original antenna, original manual. original box Price is $215 shipped to CONUS. USPS MO preferred but will accept PayPal plus 3%.. If this radio sells here on the BB, $25 will be donated toward "Getting AMSAT Back into Space" and the Dayton $5000 Challenge Contact me off list via E-mail at [MYCALL] at yahoo.com. E-mails will be answered in order received. Thanks - Bob NA2X AMSAT LM #51

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EMCOMM West
by Mark Spencer 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

There will be a special event station set up and operating in Reno, NV this weekend for EMCOMM West. The station W7ECW will be on the air for as many satellites as can be accessed. If you need DM09 or just want to say HI to the audience of the demonstration, please give us a shout. Mark Spencer, WA8SME Education and Technology Program Coordinator ARRL, the national association for Amateur RadioT mspencer(a)arrl.org www.arrl.org/education-technology-program www.arrl.org/teachers-institute-on-wireless-technology 530-495-9150

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Japanese Launch May 18
by Trevor . 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

Story about Ikaros which launches May 18 along with the Amateur Radio satellites UNITEC-1, Negai and WASEDA-SAT2 http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Japan_to_launch_space_yacht_propelled_b… 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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[Fwd: 2nd Birthday of COMPASS-1]
by Compass1Cubesat 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

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Galaxis Space Scanner ACU
by Joe Leikhim 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

I have found a number of the model Galaxis Space Scanner ACU Labeled as being made by FutureTrak Intl, and having Lockheed-Martin manufacturer labels. These were apparently made for tracking DBS satellites from yachts and RV's. I saw a post a while back about a website on using these for Ham Sats. Does such information still exist? -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida www.Leikhim.com JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446

2 1

AO-51 mode L/U
by Luc Leblanc 28 Apr '10

28 Apr '10

Since the new L/U schedule very few operators has been heard on this mode. The first day N8MH give his call sign and about 4 or 5 users are operating when i have the sat in view. It seems the uplink is much more critical than the past L band uplink sessions. it look like the receiver bandwidth was reduce making frequency adjustment more critical. I know the audio level is reduce to save energy but it could explain why many seems to find it is harder to get on the right uplink frequency? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AO-51 L band requirements
by Bob- W7LRD 27 Apr '10

27 Apr '10

Reading the AO-51 book by Gould where he discuses the L band requirements. For occasional contact 150 W EIRP is needed. For superior performance 1 Kw EIRP needed. Assuming I start out with 10W to a 16 turn helix 40 feet away. Guesstimating- 5-8 W at the antenna, helix gain 8-12db. Guestimated EIRP about 40W (worst case). Am I figuring this correct? If so then AO-51 is performing better than what the book says. I am trying to "fine tune" what I have. Thanks 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Small Satellites Symposium
by Trevor . 27 Apr '10

27 Apr '10

The Small Satellites Systems and Services (4S) Symposium takes place in Madeira from May 31 to June 4, 2010 and this year features a CubeSat Workshop. See http://www.southgatearc.org/news/april2010/small_satellite_symposium.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Or Upload Using Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

1 0

Request for AMSAT Booth volunteers during Dayton
by Gould Smith 27 Apr '10

27 Apr '10

Greetings, I am looking for volunteers to help out in the AMSAT booth during the 2010 Dayton Hamvention. I have a number of volunteers from the Area Coordinator pool, but could use some additonal help in manning the 6 booth spaces. Please let me know by Wed evening 28 April if you can help out. It makes scheduling easier if you will volunteer for two hour segments. Let me know what days (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and what times (in multi-hour blocks) that you can volunteer and how many hours you wish to work each day. i.e. Friday between 1-5 for two hours and Saturday 9-3 for two, 2 hour blocks with at least an hour between the blocks. Looking forward to visiting with you at Dayton. 73, Gould, WA4SXM

1 0

ISS APRS
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 27 Apr '10

27 Apr '10

I heard ISS APRS (145.825 MHz) during the 01:21 UTC pass and now again on the 03:00 UTC pass. Dave, AA4KN

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AO-51 L mode observations
by Bob- W7LRD 27 Apr '10

27 Apr '10

This last pass up the west coast. Very good strong downlink, running a 910 @ 10W to a 16 turn RHCP helix through 40 feet of LMR400. Even good copy running 2 watts! Rx 40 el cp yagi. Early in the pass RHCP was better for rx, later and near LOS LHCP was better. Why? Only station heard was VE7CNA and he was very weak, aside from that I could only talk to myself. I know we have some L banders on the "left" coast and up there in KL7. It's lonely. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: Fwd: [eu-amsat] HO-68 versus AO-51
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

At 01:43 PM 4/26/2010 -0400, "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> wrote: >My family enjoys the zoo and the circus. You guys act like those are >bad things :) > >73, > >Mark N8MH I don't much care for Zoo's. My dad took me to the zoo once and they thanked him for bringing me back. ;) KB7ADL

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Fwd: [eu-amsat] HO-68 versus AO-51
by n5uxt＠email.com 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

Found this interesting from another mailing list. -----Original Message----- From: John Hackett <archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com> To: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, Apr 25, 2010 3:50 pm Subject: [eu-amsat] HO-68 versus AO-51 HO-68 v AO-51 ??. HO-68 versus AO-51 - and the university downlink only satellites - (aka the FM menagerie). In my honest opinion it's a 'no contest' scenario - with HO-68 winning hands down. The two main reasons for me making this claim are ... 1) HO-68's superior orbit. 2) It's multi-mode transponders. On a typical European pass an HO-68 orbit has a footprint the covers from Spain in the west to India in the east, Norway in the north to Sudan in the south ... and all points in between. Whereas AO-51 is FM only ... HO-68 has transponders for CW, SSB as well as FM. HO-68 is (IMHO) easier to operate due to it needing less power to get into the transponders, albeit, to really take advantage of that, a knowledge of CW is required, which *STILL* shows it's great advantage as weak signal mode. When all else fails ... switch to CW. Igor, RW3XL has been operating cross-satellite with HO-68 to VO-52 and HO-68 to AO-7 ... keying the up down buttons for CW since his keyer is on the blink. For those wanting to learn, the 200mW beacon sends *SLOW* morse and it's copyable on a piece of wet string wrapped round a rusty six inch nail. I've proved this over and over on HO-68 at the beginning of passes when the elevation is under 20 degrees and a SSB just can't make it - switch to CW - Q5 copy - (Domenico, I8CVS will endorse that). I believe that HO-68 is becoming the experienced 'operator's' satellite while AO-51 will remain the platform for the potential newcomer ... where they can QRM eachother to their heart's content ... more power Egon ... MORE POWER !!! ... (with due apologies to the Hollywood film 'Frankenstein'). For me at least, HO-68 has brought the fun back into amateur satellite operating, particularly on CW ... akin to RS-10, the most popular satellite ever - (judged by the amount of users) - after the veritable old AO-7. While everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, operating FM on a satellite is about as much fun for me as watching paint dry and is, in my opinion, the worst possible way to introduce a potential newcomer to amateur satellites. My EU-Amsat co-founder, SV1BSX (SK) first used the word 'zoo' to describe the AO-51 standard of operating. There ought to be a sign on the microphone ... PLEASE DON'T FEED THE ANIMALS. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use . __,_._,___

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Re: BOD and Vince's short memory
by Andrew Glasbrenner 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

-----Original Message----- >From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus(a)mcn.net> >Sent: Apr 26, 2010 7:55 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: BOD and Vince's short memory > >Yes, It was a momentary lapse of memory on my part, cheerleading for linear >satellites & HEO's. Fine, I have no issue with that. Stop maligning the BOD though. Try something productive if you want to help AMSAT, HEOs, or linear transponders. 73, Drew KO4MA Evil BOD member

1 0

SOLD- for sale-ARR SP144VDG rf switched 2 m preamp
by D. Craig Fox 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

The preamp is sold. Thanks Craig N6RSX NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

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Re: [Moon-net] WX sealed box for Coax Relay
by Dee 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

I copied the AMSAT-BB with this as sometimes a hint or kink is passed on to all. You can use an old seaman's type of drain hole hint. If the hole is about 1/4" or so, get a piece of string and put a large knot on one end, pass it through the hole and add another large knot with about an inch or so protruding. As the wind blows, it knocks the string around and assists the draining. I used it in many a situation with tuners and couplers and even in satcom domes. The string acts as a deterrent to things going in and clears the hole when the wind blows. Hope this helps... 73, Dee, NB2F -----Original Message----- From: moon-net-bounces(a)list-serv.davidv.net [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of WB2LLP Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 3:29 PM To: guenter.koellner(a)mixed-mode.de; JAY Cc: moon-net(a)list-serv.davidv.net Subject: Re: [Moon-net] WX sealed box for Coax Relay Some way must be found to plug the drain holes in such a way that lets the moisture in and out, and keeps the insects out. You really do not want to open the box and find a Wasp nest. 73 de Gene WB2LLP _______________________________________________ Moon-Net posting and subscription instructions are at http://www.nlsa.com/nets/moon-net-help.html

2 1

Dayton Banquet
by Martha 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

The AMSAT-TAPR banquet is only 2 1/2 weeks away. If you do not have your tickets, they can be ordered at the AMSAT store. We will NOT be selling tickets at the booth nor am I taking orders over the phone. -- 73- Martha

1 0

KP4AO EME
by PY2ZX 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

Hello, Some informations of my reception in Brazil: http://archangelo.net/misc/eme/arecibo/view.htm Flavio PY2ZX

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for sale-ARR SP144VDG rf switched 2 m preamp
by D. Craig Fox 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

Before I put this on eham and the others, I wanted to offer it up here first. This is an ARR 2 mtr GaAsFET preamp. It can handle up to 25 wts. Specs: http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page7.html It is brand new in sealed bag. I received it as part of another deal, but already have a 2 mtr preamp. These sell for $120 new. It's yours for $85.00 shipped. I take paypal or a postal money order. Email me if interested. Thanks much. 73s Craig N6RSX dcfox(a)rwglaw.com NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

1 0

Re: Nanosatellite Launch Service 6 on PSLV-C15
by Trevor . 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

According to Gunters Space Page STUDSAT, 437.505MHz, is also slated for the same May 5 launch, see New Indian Amateur Radio Satellite http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2010/studsat.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA --- On Mon, 26/4/10, Trevor . <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > A presentation given by Freddy > Pranajaya on Nanosatellites to the 2009 AMSAT-UK Colloquium > can be seen on the BATC website. > > Go to http://www.batc.tv/ > Click on the 'Film Archive' icon at the top-left. > Select 2009 AMSAT Nanosatellites from the drop-down list > Click on the > icon to start the player and click on the > icon to the left of the volume control to display the > picture full screen. > There is a link just under the player to save the video to > your computer. > > This years AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held on Sat and Sun > Jul 31 - Aug 1 in Guildford, details at > > http://www.uk.amsat.org/colloquium > > 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

Arecibo on Handy
by David Barber 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

OK, I know nobody is going to believe this but....on my life... I have been outside with an FT-817 connected via a very short piece of coax to a Diamond A430S10R (small 10 element beam modified for handheld use) and headphones and KP4AO was just audible on SSB. Signals were inconsistent but solid enough to copy their callsign and CQ calls around 19.00UTC and the odd information exchange thereafter. Now they've switched to CW copy is a good 80%. No signal strength showing on S-Meter of course but who cares. I would never have believed it had I not heard it with my own ears. Note: NO preamp was used. David G8OQW JO01FR

13 17

WD9EWK @ Sierra Vista AZ hamfest, Saturday (1 May)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

Hi! On Saturday, 1 May 2010, I will have an AMSAT table at the Cochise Amateur Radio Association's Larry Warren Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ. This is a half-day event, and one I have attended for the past two years. During the hamfest, WD9EWK should be on the air for demonstrations on the following passes: 1340-1353 UTC on AO-51 1406-1426 UTC on FO-29 1642-1655 UTC on VO-52 1807-1825 UTC on HO-68 For AO-51, I will be on the 145.920/435.300 MHz repeater. For FO-29 and VO-52, I will try to start out calling CQ in SSB approximately 10 kHz above the center frequency of these transponders. HO-68 will be in FM until its scheduled shutoff at 1825 UTC, which will be near the predicted LOS time at the hamfest site. If you are able to work these passes and hear me, please feel free to give me a call. The hamfest site is in grid DM41vn. If you work WD9EWK on Saturday, there's no need to send me a QSL card to get my card. Just e-mail me the QSO details, and - if you're in the log - I will gladly send out a QSL card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

WD9EWK from DM52/DM53, Friday (30 April)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 26 Apr '10

26 Apr '10

Hi! On my way (sort of) to the hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ on Saturday (1 May), I will make a detour to the DM52/DM53 grid boundary in Graham County AZ northwest of Safford on Friday (30 April) afternoon. I stopped in this area twice around this time last year, and I don't think anyone else has been on from DM53 since then. I am planning to stop there for the AO-27 passes around 2003 and 2144 UTC Friday, and - depending on the view of the eastern sky - I might attempt the AO-51 pass at 2214 UTC. The 2214 UTC AO-51 pass has a maximum elevation of 5 degrees at that location, so I may only have a few minutes during that pass if I can hear the satellite at all. After these passes, I will move south and stop somewhere in DM52 for the AO-51 pass at 2348 UTC. Depending on how things go on Friday, I could either return to the DM51/DM52 boundary where I stopped a few weeks ago, or possibly head to the Arizona/New Mexico state line (grid DM52lf) where I worked from last October. Since I will be up and on the air from the hamfest in Sierra Vista early Saturday morning, I do not plan on working anything else after these passes on Friday. As always, if you work me on Friday, there's no need to send me a QSL card. Just e-mail me the QSO details, and - if you're in the log - I will gladly send out a QSL card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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AO-51 now in dual repeaters, V/U and L/U
by Andrew Glasbrenner 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

I just completed the weekly mode change for AO-51 just after 2200Z. We are now running dual repeaters on 145.920/435.300 and 1268.700/435.150. The 67Hz PL access is on for the V/U pair with a 2 minute period. Power output is 410mw for either repeater. AO-51 will be reentering eclipses this week or next, and we will need to frequently interrupt the L/U repeater for telemetry. The modulation will be left low on the repeater to make the switch from data to voice easier. I'll try to do this primarily on the morning passes over the East Coast, but it could happen on any US pass. It's important for us to keep close tabs on the power situation during this period. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

1 0

Fwd: Next HV Satcom net
by Stuart Balanger 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Stuart Balanger <wa2bss(a)gmail.com> Date: Sun, Apr 25, 2010 at 2:15 PM Subject: Next HV Satcom net To: amsar-bb(a)amsat.org Hi all, The next "HV Satcom" group net is Thursday april 29, 8PM on the 146.97 Mt. Beacon Repeter (or 2400 UTC), & ther is an Echolink node of N2EYH-L node! More info: www.hvsatcom.org 73,.Stu

1 0

Re: AO 27 ?
by Clint Bradford 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

Gould quickly contacted me to re-calibrated my slide rule - I was 1/2 correct earlier - it is almost +/-10kHZ on the 440 side of a 45 degree pass of an FM bird. Here's the actual equation to calculate Doppler shift ... http://tinyurl.com/dopplershift Clint, K6LCS

1 0

AO 27 ?
by Ted 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

AMSAT shows downlink at 436.795 AO27 site shows downlink at 436.797 What is the correct frequency?

6 5

Re: AO 27 ?
by Clint Bradford 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

On the 440 side during a 45-degree pass, there can be almost a 10kHZ deviation - well, plus or minus about 5kHZ from center - that must be accommodated for the Doppler effect. So either of those two (actually BOTH) could/should be programmed on your receive side, along with a few more to accommodate Doppler. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

1 0

G5500 Rotor Problems
by Angelo Glorioso 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

With field day coming around the corner, I took the time to work on my spare G5500 rotor setup. I knew from earlier this year, I had to put my spare azimuth rotor to replace the one that stopped working. I took the Azimuth rotor apart and come to find out that it seems the nylon gear that is attached to the motor itself is slipping big time. I can manually move the other gears and they seem to be working fine. I will take the rest of the rotor apart tomorrow, but I was wondering if anyone else has come across this problem??? Since I am unable to see without taking the rest of the rotor apart, anyone know how this gear is attached to the shaft of the motor?? Anyone have any ideas where I might get another gear if necessary?? I see why Yaesu will only sell the whole motor attachment know for 200.00 plus dollars. 73 de Angelo

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HO-68 Schedule - 25-02 May 2010
by Alan Kung 25 Apr '10

25 Apr '10

25 Apr. 2010 ================================ 17:30...Turn On--FM India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 16:45...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:45...Turn Off 23:25...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 24:10...Turn Off 26 Apr. 2010 ================================ 01:21...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:34...Turn Off 02:10...Turn On--SSTV South America,NA,North Asia 02:55...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On--SSTV Africa,Europe,NA 19:45...Turn Off 27 Apr. 2010 ================================ 00:10...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 00:55...Turn Off 01:55...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 02:40...Turn Off 02:47...Turn On--FM North Asia, East Asia, South Asia 03:00...Turn Off 09:15...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:00...Turn Off 17:00...Turn On--FM India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:45...Turn Off 18:45...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 19:30...Turn Off 28 Apr. 2010 ================================= 02:34...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:50...Turn Off 10:45...Turn On--FM Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:30...Turn Off 13:25...Turn On--FM NA,South America,Europe 14:10...Turn Off 18:30...Turn On--Packet Africa,Europe,NA 19:15...Turn Off 22:35...Turn On--Packet NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 23:20...Turn Off 29 Apr. 2010 ================================= 02:16...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:32...Turn Off 05:50...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,Middle East, Europe,Africa 06:35...Turn Off 10:30...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 11:15...Turn Off 16:25...Turn On--Packet Africa,India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:10...Turn Off 18:15...Turn On--Packet Africa,Europe,NA 19:00...Turn Off 30 Apr. 2010 ================================ 00:05...Turn On--Packet South America,NA,North Asia 00:50...Turn Off 02:00...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:16...Turn Off 10:15...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:00...Turn Off 17:55...Turn On--SSTV India,Africa,Europe,NA 18:50...Turn Off 22:00...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,Oceania 22:45...Turn Off 01 May 2010 ================================ 00:50...Turn On--Packet South America,NA,North Asia 01:30...Turn Off 01:39...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:54...Turn Off 10:00...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 10:45...Turn Off 17:40...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 18:25...Turn Off 02 Apr. 2010 ================================ 00:30...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 01:15...Turn Off 03:16...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:28...Turn Off 06:45...Turn On--FM North Asia,Europe,Africa 07:30...Turn Off 09:40...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:25...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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Re: SO-67
by Tony Langdon 24 Apr '10

24 Apr '10

At 05:44 AM 4/25/2010, Vincenzo Mone wrote: >Hello to all, >right a few seconds ago I had a good pass of SO-67 >but unfortunately I did not hear nothing on >the frequency of 435.345 on FM mode. >Please I would like to know if it is alive or not. >Can I hear something? SO-67 is in commissioning, and is currently not available. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Sounds for wisp
by Vincenzo Mone 24 Apr '10

24 Apr '10

Hi folks, anybody has or can tell me where to find the wave files that announce the incoming satellites for the wisp program? I mean also the ones for the new birds Launched recently. Thanks in advanced 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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SO-67
by Vincenzo Mone 24 Apr '10

24 Apr '10

Hello to all, right a few seconds ago I had a good pass of SO-67 but unfortunately I did not hear nothing on the frequency of 435.345 on FM mode. Please I would like to know if it is alive or not. Can I hear something? Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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x37b
by don 24 Apr '10

24 Apr '10

Has any one any info on this? Seems that it can change orbit parameters on command and may be able to stay in orbit, of one sort or another, for up to "270 days", and is designed to replace the space shuttle for "military" applications. No, I'm far from anti military, just interested in the technology that seems to have been developed by NASA and taken over by the USAF......... Cheers, Don ZL1THO

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AO-51 MODE V/S
by Luc Leblanc 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

I was alone on the first morning pass and 2 stations on the second one. Signal from AOS to LOS where booming on 2.4 with near 30db at TCA on an overhead pass. W1AW was calling on a couple of pass but they seems to don't hear anything N5UXT was also trying to call him with no success. Could be someone can call them to check if they listen to the correct downlink frequency or they have an issue on 2.4Ghz. Great mode but a bit quiet "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Fwd: [PNWVHFS] FS... MORE SRRING CLEANING...
by Bob- W7LRD 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

I am not connected with this fellow. Just passing this email along, some stuff usable for satellite ops. 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: n6eq(a)juno.com To: vhf(a)w6yx.stanford.edu, wswss(a)mailman.qth.net, PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com, icom(a)mailman.qth.net Sent: Friday, April 23, 2010 2:02:20 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [PNWVHFS] FS... MORE SRRING CLEANING... I have the following for sale: 1. ICOM IC-7000... hf/6/2/440 mobile in excellent condition. 1 year old... Manual, 12 volt pwr cord, Hand microphone, $950.00 2. Samlex Sec 1223... Switching dc power supply 23 amp at 13.8 Vdc. Brand new in the box $75.00 3. T.E System 4452G 430-440 Mhz. solid state amp in good condition 25 watts input 180 output. $450.00 4. IC-W32A H.T in good condition... Comes with Maha MH-A302 docking power booster amplifer, 144/440 input 1-5 watts 30 watts output 12v dc. No manual. $185.00 5. 2 ea. Ameritron RCS-8V antenna relay boxes that mount at the tower, no in door control unit. $50.00 ea. 6. SSB SP-2000 Mast mounted 2 meter pre amp $150.00 Prices don't include shipping 7 3 de N6EQ Chuck (760) 948-9025 ____________________________________________________________ Save with Skype Unlimited calls to 40+ countries starting at $5.95 per month. skype.com skype.com -- ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PNWVHFS" group. To post to this group, send email to PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to PNWVHFS-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/PNWVHFS

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 5, Issue 185
by Bob DeVarney W1ICW 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Congrats, Loren. That's quite an accomplishment for a portable setup. Just as a yardstick, I got SAT VUCC # 64 back in November of 1996 so you are definitely in exalted company ;-) It's actually quite surprising there aren't more VUCCs done in that length of time. I wonder what the League's statistics are for the "regular" VUCC. Moreover, I wonder how many Satellite WAS or WAC awards have been issued since the 90s. I got sat WAS #299 in December 2004.. WAC is dated 1993, but I wonder if it can even be done now with the current crop of satellites. In the Oscar 10 or -13 days you could almost work it in a single pass. Has anyone heard if a sat DXCC has been done any time in the recent past? BTW, this is your opportunity, guys and gals on the -BB, to beat me up if I owe anyone a QSL card... I am coming out of a long hiatus so I'll put priority on returning those cards that people are really waiting on. Some random, Friday morning musings de Bob W1ICW ( the sat operator formerly known as WE1U ) ________________________________ > From: LOREN RASMUSSEN <lorenrasmussen(a)msn.com> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Sent: Thu, April 22, 2010 1:48:49 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite VUCC # 194 > > It came in the mail today. It took from > November 2009 through February 2010. > About 600 QSOs. FT-60R and an Arrow. > 36 states confirmed. > Thank you all that returned cards. > Yeah, I'm jazzed. > 73 > Loren > k7cwq > CN94 > > -- "I love the freedoms we got in this country, I appreciate your freedom to burn your flag if you want to, but I really appreciate my right to bear arms so I can shoot you if you try to burn mine." Johnny Cash from "Ragged Old Flag"

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Re: UHF/VHF Polarization Switch
by Bruce Semple 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

It just supports switching between RHCP and LHCP. Bruce WA3SWJ At 02:48 PM 4/23/2010, you wrote: >Is this M2 mod for LHCP or RHCL only, or are the linear >polarizations possible also ? > >Stan, W1LE > > >On 4/22/2010 9:31 PM, Bruce Semple wrote: >>Pete - >>I have had one for about 1 1/2 years - on the 70cm antenna. >>When the GO-32 9K6 BBS board was up it made the difference between >>reliably receiving and not. >>(I am working on getting on the AO-51 BBS) >>I know S meter readings are all relative -- I usually see at least >>+20 when the polarization is correct. >>I have roof mounted antennas so I was able to do the modification >>without taking the antenna down. >>I did shift the antenna mounting position on the boom to account for >>the extra length/weight. >>During installation checkout - I did have an issue with the >>protection diode that was installed across the relay -- I had to replace it. >>Other than that -- it has worked fine. >> >>73, >>Bruce >>WA3SWJ >> >> >> >>At 10:48 AM 4/22/2010, you wrote: >> >>>Hello, >>> >>>I've been asked by a club member if anyone has any experience using an M2 >>>VHF/UHF Polarization Switch, and what their opinion of it may be. I can't >>>seem to find any reviews on field performance, thank you. >>> >>>73's Pete >>>WB2OQQ >>>www.massapequanyweather.com >>> >>>_______________________________________________ >>>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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Satellite VUCC # 194
by LOREN RASMUSSEN 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

It came in the mail today. It took from November 2009 through February 2010. About 600 QSOs. FT-60R and an Arrow. 36 states confirmed. Thank you all that returned cards. Yeah, I'm jazzed. 73 Loren k7cwq CN94

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Wanted: Yaesu G-5400B azimuth rotor
by George Henry 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Well, Yaesu just called to say that my azimuth rotor is unrepairable... So, surely someone on the list must have one laying around that they would be willing to part with? (just the az rotor...) Please reply off-list Thanks! George, KA3HSW

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Was: Arecibo, now confusing math
by Andrew Glasbrenner 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

If you really want to bang your head against the wall at how man can't agree on anything, take a look at the concept of long and short scales: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_and_short_scales Anyone who has worked with big numbers and old data just loves this one. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Bruce Robertson <ve9qrp(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Apr 23, 2010 7:30 AM >To: Idle-Tyme <nss(a)mwt.net> >Cc: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Sil - ZL2CIA <zl2cia(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations) > >Just to add to this discussion of decimal separators, my Canadian >province of New Brunswick is bilingual, and therefore has overlapping >French-speaking and English-speaking school boards. Those in the >French schools and the 30% of the English who have opted to be taught >in French immersion express pi as 3,14, while in English education >they express it as 3.14. I always do a double-take when I see the >comma there in my kids' homework, but they are very comfortable with >using either system depending on the language of discussion. > >73, Bruce >VE9QRP > >On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 4:58 PM, Idle-Tyme <nss(a)mwt.net> wrote: >> Wow that's all messed up? >> I'm 52 and this is the very first time i have ever seen anything like >> this and i have been dealing with science worldwide all my life. wow. >> >> Joe >> >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> >> On 4/22/2010 1:14 PM, Sil - ZL2CIA wrote: >>> Idle-Tyme wrote: >>>> On 4/21/2010 8:25 PM, i8cvs wrote: >>>>>> Comma or no comma, shouldn't matter >>>>>> 1000 mega watts or 1,000 Mega watts is still one thousand million >>>>>> watts! NOT one thousands watts. true? >>>>>> >>>>>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>>>>> Idle Tyme >>>>>> Idle-Tyme.com >>>>>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>>>>> >>>>> Hi Idle-Tyme >>>>> >>>>> I don't agree with your statement: >>>>> >>>>> 1000 mega watt are one thousand million watt >>>>> 1,000 mega watt or 1.000 mega watt is only one million watt because >>>>> zero after the comma means nothing like 1,0000000000000 is still >>>>> one million watt or 1 MW >>>> NO! it's a comma, not a decimal point! it's one thousand, one >>>> thousand written 1000 or 1,000 is still one thousand they are exactly >>>> the same. >>> That's only true in the English speaking world, and this is the cause >>> of the confusion in this debate. >>> >>> In the Netherlands (and most of Europe), you would write one thousand >>> million watts as 1.000 megawatts. >>> >>> The decimal indicator in Europe is a comma. >>> For example, >>> 1,5 means one and a half >>> 1.000.000 means one million. >>> >>> Sil >>> (ex PA3HIL) >>> >>> > >_______________________________________________ >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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X-37B NORAD 36514
by JC-Aveni 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

US Space track X-37B OTV1 Id NORAD : 36514 ; UN Id : 2010 015A 73 Jean-Claude TK5GH

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QubeSat structure question
by William Leijenaar 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Dear AMSATs, I have a question concerning CubeSats structures. I am looking for a way to have a total space of a 1U (10cm x 10cm x 10cm) CubeSat, of which 0.5U (10cm x 10cm x 5cm) is used for electronics and battery and the other 0.5U will be used for light weight deployable solar panels. Has this been done before ? Any ideas ? 73 de William Leijenaar PE1RAH

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Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations)
by Idle-Tyme 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Wow that's all messed up? I'm 52 and this is the very first time i have ever seen anything like this and i have been dealing with science worldwide all my life. wow. Joe The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 4/22/2010 1:14 PM, Sil - ZL2CIA wrote: > Idle-Tyme wrote: >> On 4/21/2010 8:25 PM, i8cvs wrote: >>>> Comma or no comma, shouldn't matter >>>> 1000 mega watts or 1,000 Mega watts is still one thousand million >>>> watts! NOT one thousands watts. true? >>>> >>>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>>> Idle Tyme >>>> Idle-Tyme.com >>>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>>> >>> Hi Idle-Tyme >>> >>> I don't agree with your statement: >>> >>> 1000 mega watt are one thousand million watt >>> 1,000 mega watt or 1.000 mega watt is only one million watt because >>> zero after the comma means nothing like 1,0000000000000 is still >>> one million watt or 1 MW >> NO! it's a comma, not a decimal point! it's one thousand, one >> thousand written 1000 or 1,000 is still one thousand they are exactly >> the same. > That's only true in the English speaking world, and this is the cause > of the confusion in this debate. > > In the Netherlands (and most of Europe), you would write one thousand > million watts as 1.000 megawatts. > > The decimal indicator in Europe is a comma. > For example, > 1,5 means one and a half > 1.000.000 means one million. > > Sil > (ex PA3HIL) > >

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Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations)
by Stephen Melachrinos 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Ah, but this focuses on my question: Why is ERP referenced to a dipole? Why did someone assume that Arecibo's stated gain of 60 dB was dBd and not dBi? I've never seen the gain of a dish antenna used in satellite work quoted in dBd. All of the references for calculating gain are based on the isotropic reference. And all of the usages I have seen (in professional satellite work) use ERP and EiRP interchangeably, and the i in EiRP is used to explicitly state "referenced to isotropic." In fact, the amateur community is the only place where there is a fascination with the dipole reference. The dBd specs are useless for any real calculation purposes. Satcom engineering is much simpler if everyone quotes isotropic, and all commercial/government/military satellite link budgets are based on isotropic references. Steve Melachrinos W3HF (Professional) Satcom Engineer since 1979 > "ERP is about 243 MW" and > that comes from the conversion from dBi to dBd.

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Double da Donation!
by Clint BRADFORD 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

A reminder - You can make contributions online in the AMSAT Store - and the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) will match one-for-one any donations made to AMSAT between now and June 30, 2010 up to a maximum of $5,000. No, only your half is tax-deductible for you ... (grin) What a great way to show your support of amateur satellites! Please tell your ham friends and club members! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations)
by Edward Cole 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

At 02:20 AM 4/22/2010, Stephen Melachrinos wrote: >Ah, but this focuses on my question: Why is ERP referenced to a >dipole? Why did someone assume that Arecibo's stated gain of 60 dB >was dBd and not dBi? I've never seen the gain of a dish antenna used >in satellite work quoted in dBd. All of the references for >calculating gain are based on the isotropic reference. And all of >the usages I have seen (in professional satellite work) use ERP and >EiRP interchangeably, and the i in EiRP is used to explicitly state >"referenced to isotropic." > >In fact, the amateur community is the only place where there is a >fascination with the dipole reference. > >The dBd specs are useless for any real calculation purposes. Satcom >engineering is much simpler if everyone quotes isotropic, and all >commercial/government/military satellite link budgets are based on >isotropic references. > >Steve Melachrinos >W3HF >(Professional) Satcom Engineer since 1979 > > > > "ERP is about 243 MW" and > > that comes from the conversion from dBi to dBd. >_______________________________________________ >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 In fact the first gain number published over a month ago was 58 dBi. Then I suppose a bunch of hams complained that they didn't understand isotropic gain so the Arecibo folks kindly converted the number to 60 dBd. (i.e. unity isotropic gain, dBi=0, is what a true omni-directional antenna produces in free space) Does anyone on this reflector know the formula for calculating gain of a parabolic dish (Yes, I know-I'm asking if you know)? Did you know that Arecibo dish is spherical and not parabolic? So we can only use the gain number they provide (BTW the UHF line-feed corrects for spherical aberration of the dish surface at Arecibo). Arecibo can track a small amount of angle "because" the dish is spherical. It is my understanding (might be wrong on this) the line-feed can adjust for the amount of surface irradiated (which will change the gain). The formula normally used in radio astronomy and mw engineering is in terms of dBi. Most (not all) eme hams use dBi vs dBd. I am really amazed at this thread on amsat-bb. I thought the satellite community was more globally oriented (International). The different convention in expressing decimal numbers (aka using comma or period) is pretty well known (I thought). US/UK use period and most EU use comma. Most antenna analysis sw express gain in dBi 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-600w, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations)
by Stephen Melachrinos 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

Nigel - There are lots of lots of reasons ... 1. All link budgets use a path loss calculation that's also referenced to an isotropic radiator. If you use antenna gain referenced to a dipole, you'll have to add back the gain of the dipole (referenced to the isotropic radiator). 2. It's the standard way of calculating gain for virtually all professionals in the satellite, radar, deep space, avionics, microwave and many other fields. 3. Arguably, dBi is less ambiguous that dBd. By definition, an isotropic reference has the same gain (0 dB) in all directions. A dipole has a directional pattern, so dBd only makes sense if you also define the direction. I believe the assumption is gain broadside to the antenna, but that is still an assumption. 4. If you don't want to actually do link budgets, so you say reason #1 above is irrelevant, then your only real purpose is to compare two different antennas. And then the difference is always going to be dB, whether the two antennas are specified in dBi or dBd. So I still say to use the universal, unambiguous standard. 5. Finally, and most significantly, your statement "Why would I believe, or want to use, something I can neither have, use or measure? An isotropic antenna doesn't exist." is just as applicable to the ideal dipole that is your reference for dBd as it is to an isotropic radiator. You can't build a dipole that has zero resistance along its physical length, you can't build a dipole that has zero interaction with its feedline, and you certainly can't achieve any placement that perfectly represents the "dipole in free space" assumption upon which the dBd reference is based. In summary, there are plenty of reasons whay virtually anyone who builds or uses antennas for a living, does it in dBi Steve W3HF > Apr 22, 2010 09:15:04 AM, nigel(a)ngunn.net wrote: > I guess because it's impossible to build an isotropic radiator and therefore just as impossible to measure it. > Why would I believe, or want to use, something I can neither have, use or measure? > > An isotropic antenna doesn't exist. > > > In fact, the amateur community is the only place where there is a fascination with the dipole reference.

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Tickets from Space
by Clint Bradford 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

PIPS Technology has developed a license plate recognition system that uses two cameras on the ground and one mounted on a satellite to catch speeders. Blog entry at ... http://tinyurl.com/39c9hlp Clint, K6LCS

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Michigan Grid Activation; EN74
by Doug Papay 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

All, I will be active this Thursday-Saturday from the northern lower peninsula of Michigan--primarily grid square EN74. Despite the fact that Traverse City is located within EN74, this is a rarely activated grid on satellite. I plan to operate as many passes as my schedule & time permits to give the opportunity for those who don't have this grid to put it in their logbook. Since I will only have the capability to operate FM voice satellite, my operations will be limited to AO-27 and SO-50, as AO-51 is in mode V/S until Sunday evening & HO-68 is not scheduled for FM operation this weekend. My tentative schedule is as follows: Thursday 22-Apr-2010 AO-27 18:48z - 19:03z (from wherever I am at the time, most likely EN63; possibly EN64) Friday 23-Apr-2010 SO-50 04:04z - 04:18z (upon request) SO-50 12:35z - 12:48z AO-27 18:21z - 18:34z* AO-27 20:00z - 20:13z* Saturday 24-Apr-2010 SO-50 04:34z - 04:47z (upon request) SO-50 11:24z - 11:37z AO-27 17:53z - 18:05z* AO-27 19:31z - 19:45z (maybe; EN63) *If there is significant interest, I will consider activating EN64 on Friday and/or Saturday afternoon. Send me an email off-list if you need EN64, if I have significant interest I will make an effort to activate this grid as well during my trip. I will QSL upon request, just send me an email and I will send you a card. No SASE needed, but always appreciated. 73, Doug KD8CAO

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Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations)
by i8cvs 23 Apr '10

23 Apr '10

----- Original Message ----- From: "Sil - ZL2CIA" <zl2cia(a)amsat.org> To: "Idle-Tyme" <nss(a)mwt.net> Cc: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it>; "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 8:14 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce (some calculations) > In the Netherlands (and most of Europe), you would write one thousand > million watts as 1.000 megawatts. > > The decimal indicator in Europe is a comma. > For example, > 1,5 means one and a half > 1.000.000 means one million. > > Sil > (ex PA3HIL) Hi Sil, ZL2CIA In Italy you would write one thousand million watt as 1000 megawatt or alternatively 1000 MW In addition the units in Italy are written without plural and to write megawatts is wrong in Italy but the plural is used in England and USA In any calculator 1.5 means one and half because the calculators are not using comma. In any calculator 1000000. means one million I thing that the best for everybody should be to write numbars as any calculator shows. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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