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HO-68 Schedule - 28-07 Mac 2010
by Alan Kung 28 Feb '10

28 Feb '10

28 Feb. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 17:05...Turn On India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:50...Turn Off 18:55...Turn On Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:40...Turn Off 01 Mac. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 02:24...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:39...Turn Off 11:00...Turn On Oceania,South Asia,East Asia, North Asia, Europe 11:45...Turn Off 20:25...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 21:10...Turn Off 02 Mac. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:30...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:15...Turn Off 02:09...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:24...Turn Off 03:20...Turn On NA,South America,North Asia 04:05...Turn Off 11:55...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 12:40...Turn Off 18:20...Turn On India,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:05...Turn Off 19:55...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:40...Turn Off 03 Mac. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:51...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:06...Turn Off 10:25...Turn On Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:10...Turn Off 13:05...Turn On Europe,NA,South America 13:50...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 17:00...Turn Off 23:25...Turn On South America,Europe,NA 24:10...Turn Off 04 Mac. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 01:37...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:53...Turn Off 06:50...Turn On NA,North Asia,Middle East,Europe,Africa 07:35...Turn Off 10:10...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 10:55...Turn Off 16:00...Turn On India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 16:45...Turn Off 19:35...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA, 20:20...Turn Off 05 ac. 2010, FM/Digital Transponder ======================================= 00:40...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 01:25...Turn Off 01:40...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:53...Turn Off 09:55...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:40...Turn Off 19:05...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:50...Turn Off 23:10...Turn On South America,NA,Asia,Oceania 23:55...Turn Off 06 Mac. 2010, FM/Digi Transponder ======================================= 02:10...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:55...Turn Off 03:05...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:19...Turn Off 12:30...Turn On South America,Oceania 13:15...Turn Off 19:00...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:45...Turn Off 07 Mac. 2010, FM/Digi Transponder ======================================= 01:50...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:35...Turn Off 02:54...Turn On North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:09...Turn Off 07:50...Turn On North Asia,Europe,Africa 08:35...Turn Off 11:00...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:45...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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Wisp Keying Multipsk - Another go for Pacsat with software.
by Nader Omer 28 Feb '10

28 Feb '10

Hi All Another go for Pacsat with software. This time Wisp with Multipsk ver 4.16 Wisp Keying Multipsk via VSPE virtual connector port . So far TX line was testing. Wisp-->Multipsk-->soundcard Setup Create a Connector virtual com using VSPE software Wisp -->com 1 Multipsk serial port for kiss --> com 1 On Multipsk TX/RX screen choose-->Packet APRS On Multipsk TX/R screen click kiss icon. Run a pass! Click fill. MSPE will send a packet to Multipsk TX/RX screen and through the soundcard. Again I'm waiting for a bird . For more info and Movie see http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2010/02/wisp-keying-multipsk.html For my previous Wisp MixW experiments see. http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2010/02/pacsat-with-out-hardware-tnc.html http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2010/02/wisp-keying-mixw-direct-via-virtu… 73's Nader

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Recording, AO-51 V/S 23:25 pass?
by George Henry 28 Feb '10

28 Feb '10

Anybody have a recording of the 23:25 pass of AO-51 in mode V/S? I was so busy juggling two radios & waving a hand-held K5GNA downconverter (w/ corner reflector) around, I forgot to write down the call of the station in EM13 that I worked... And thanks Allen, Angelo, and Leo for the contacts!! I haven't been on V/S since Field Day a couple of years ago, forgot how un-crowded it is! George, KA3HSW

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2M1EUB/P QRV N.E.SCOTLAND 20/3/10
by paul robinson 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

2M1EUB/P WILL BE QRV FROM N.E. SCOTLAND FROM 20/03/10 ON ALL BIRDS FOR 7 DAYS CHQ OUT 2M1EUB LISTING ON QRZ FOR MORE INFO ..DE PAUL 2E1EUB

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W7LRD 5/4 RPT WORKED AGAIN 2E1EUB
by paul robinson 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

W7LRD 5/4 RPT IO92BX NICE QSO AGAIN VIA AO7 BOB ....IM STILL LOOKING WEST COAST GUYS!!! CALL ME PLEASE OR ARRANGE A SKED DE PAUL 2E1EUB

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Planet Pseudo-Keps
by Jeff Yanko 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

A few weeks ago somebody posted pseudo-keps to the -bb and from the looks of the queries and comments, many have installed them on their tracking programs. Which brings to question. Are there any pseudo-keps for the planets? 73, Jeff WB3JFS

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working FO-29
by Bill Dzurilla 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

I tried to work FO-29 for the first time since it started working again but must be doing something wrong. I could hear several stations loud and clear but could not hear my own downlink. My radio is working fine with the other sats, so it must be someone particular to FO-29. Did perhaps the uplink change frequency or something? 73, Bill NZ5N

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Re: Planet Pseudo-Keps
by Stephen Melachrinos 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

Feb 27, 2010 08:43:51 AM, bruninga(a)usna.edu wrote: >>> Since the planets revolve around the Sun, >>> and not the Earth, there can't be any Keps. >>> Keps are based on the Earth being the >>> center of an orbiting object. >> You're saying that if I lived on another planet >> or in another star system then my satellites >> wouldn't have keps and I couldn't use my >> software to track them?... That sounds rediculous. >Yep. "keps" (as we use the term here regularly) either in AMSAT format or in NASA two-line format >are just inputs to an "Earth orbit" propogator that predicts where a satellite is around Earth based >on the laws of physics. >If you lived on Mars, and had a "Mars Orbit Propogator" then you could download "Martian Keps" >from the Martians and track Martian satellites. But the Martian tracking program would not be able >to track earth satellies, just as ours Earth based programs cannot track theirs. Because the size >and mass of Mars is different from Earth, so the propogators have to be different... or something >like that. I'm on the limit of my meager knowledge here... Bob (and Nigel) - That's pretty accurate. Although the laws of physics apply universally around all the planets, the specific implementations of orbit mechanics software are location dependent. You gave one example--size and mass of the Earth vs Mars. Other examples are the oblateness of the planet (how flattened at the poles is Mars vs Earth) and the effects of other objects such as the moon and other planets. (The effects of the earth's moon on an earth-orbiting satellite will be different from the effects of Deimos and Phobos on a Mars-orbiting satellite.) Although the equations are all the same, most programs (that are publicly distributed) "assumes" the earth as the core body, and embeds those assumptions into the software. I think STK (Satellite Tool Kit) by Analytical Graphics may have the ability to analyze non-Earth geometries, but it's hardly within the realm of amateurs. (A full-up version costs something like US$50,000.) Steve W3HF

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NASA cubesats...
by Rocky Jones 27 Feb '10

27 Feb '10

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=30294 there are going to be more ballast payloads particularly as commercial ops to the space station gens up. Just saw a thing today where almost all the folks who are planning to do commercial ops are looking at ballast rides. Robert G. Oler Life member AMSAT ARRL _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469229/direct/01/

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future apogee calculation
by Bob- W7LRD 26 Feb '10

26 Feb '10

Hello Is there a "easy" way of figuring out where/when a given apogee will at a given lat.long? I want to try to predetermine when the apogee will be on AO-7 to favor the northern hemisphere. To "maybe" help in dx contacts. The difference is only bout 17km in altitude, it just might streeeetch the footprint enough. Also just how much does the 17km add to the footprint? 73 Bob W7LRD

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Max range apogee vs perigee
by Pierre van Deventer 26 Feb '10

26 Feb '10

Bob W7LRD I came across this info, might be of some value. Ref: The Satellite Experimenters Handbook, Pg 9-6 Max Dist (range) = 2R * arcos [R/(R+h)] Where R = 6,371 km and h = 1,459 km at Apogee (AO-7) h = 1,440 km at Perigee (AO-7) Therefore the maximum possible communication distance via AO-7 at Apogee = 7,904 km. Therefore the maximum possible communication distance via AO-7 at Perigee = 7,861 km. The difference in range from apogee to perigee appears to be only 33 km. 73, Pierre ZS6BB

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ND9M Road Trip Update #15
by claryco＠aol.com 26 Feb '10

26 Feb '10

I'll be on from the EL17 / EL18 line tomorrow (Friday) on two SO50 passes (local AOS at 26/1840Z and 26/2022Z) as well as AO27 which switches to VOX at 26/1957Z. We're taking Saturday off, but I'll operate from the EL28 / EL29 line on Sunday on the four AO27 and SO50 passes between 28/1800-2050Z. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Corpus Christi, TX / EL17

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IC-910/preamp
by Bob- W7LRD 26 Feb '10

26 Feb '10

Hello (again) Disragard my 910 question. I actually read the manual, where is says hold the p. amp/att button for one second. I'll go back in my corner now. 73 Bob W7LRD

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IC-910/preamp
by Bob- W7LRD 26 Feb '10

26 Feb '10

Hello 910 owners I am trying to get my AG-25 preamp running. In the set mode- I set the pre 144 to on. Should I then be able to measure 12v at the 2M antenna output to run the preamp? I get nothing. 73 Bob W7LRD

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success with 2E1EUB
by Bob- W7LRD 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

We have been trying many weeks to have a simple QSO, with several near misses. At 2120Z via AO-7 I got a, "you are 5/1 here". At 7504 km not a record, but a real fun effort. Next is Eric-PA1TNO, I may have to go portable on a nearby mountain. 73 Bob W7LRD CN87

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Re: future apogee calculation
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

At 05:07 PM 2/25/2010 +0000, Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> wrote: >Hello Is there a "easy" way of figuring out where/when a given apogee will >at a given lat.long?Â I want to try to predetermine when the apogee will >be on AO-7 to favor the northern hemisphere.Â To "maybe" help in dx >contacts.Â The difference is only bout 17km in altitude, it just might >streeeetch the footprint enough.Â Also just how much does the 17km add to >the footprint?Â 73 Bob W7LRD OK, Now to answer your question Bob. If you want that extra 15km of altitude you get with AO-7 at apogee, the next time AO-7 will be having apogees at the most northern latitudes it reaches will be on orbits around June 17th to the 18th. Apogee will occur around 78 degrees N Lat. KB7ADL

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*****AO7 DX W7LRD WORKED 2E1EUB ! ******
by paul robinson 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

To night at abt 9.17 gmt on AO7 , mode B Bob W7LRD and myself confirmed working each other ,exchanged reports etc and was very workable below 0.3 deg ! althrough not a record cn87 to io92bx works out to be 7504.52 km distance but may well be a United Kingdom A07 record?? thanks Bob and thanks for all you guys on A07 ! -Paul 2E1EUB

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Re: future apogee calculation
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

At 05:07 PM 2/25/2010 +0000, Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> wrote: >Hello Is there a "easy" way of figuring out where/when a given apogee will >at a given lat.long?Â I want to try to predetermine when the apogee will >be on AO-7 to favor the northern hemisphere.Â To "maybe" help in dx >contacts.Â The difference is only bout 17km in altitude, it just might >streeeetch the footprint enough.Â Also just how much does the 17km add to >the footprint?Â 73 Bob W7LRD Bob, I don't think the difference between apogee and perigee on a LEO with a fairly circular orbit really makes that much of difference. So instead of the apogee, what you really want to know are all the longitudes where the sub satellite point reaches it's most northern most latitude. You could probably write on script for filtering the output of some of the older satellite tracking programs that only makes a date-time-latitude-and-longitude entry whenever the SSP gets above a certain latitude. KB7ADL

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CAMSAT Contacts
by Clint Bradford 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

If someone personally knows either Alan Kung, BA1DU or Shaomin Fan, BA1EO, would you please write me off-list for a personal inquiry? Many thanks. Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Request for information : Forecasting number of smallsats - worldwide
by Florio Dalla Vedova 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

Dear AMSAT-BB Readers, Please find here below the message I am sending out in these days to known Developers of smallsats. Should you be part, or be aware of ongoing projects please contact me and forward freely. TU "Our Company has been asked to forecast the number of nanosats (1-10 kg) and microsats (10-100 kg) to be launched in the coming years. May we kindly ask you to support our efforts in providing us information about all your current/future projects ? Thank you very much. Please format your information as per following : Mission or Satellite Name / Satellite Mass [kg] / Satellite stowed dimensions, without appendages (Side 1 [cm] x Side 2 [cm] x Height [cm]) / (future) Launch year / Number of satellites in launcher. If interested to do so, please attach in your reply whatever documentation you consider useful for our activity (i.e. describing mission objectives, ...) Once compiled, we propose ourselves to provide you (in June 2010) the results of our analysis. Please forward this message to other persons/entities you know are working on nanosats/microsats. Thank you for support," Best 73s de LX2DV/IW2NMB, Florio (AMSAT-Italia) for LuxSpace Sàrl, Luxembourg (www.luxspace.lu <http://www.luxspace.lu> )

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College Satellite next Thursday evening
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

It's time for another College Satellite night! We hope to see you on the birds Thursday evening March 4th from 22:00 UTC to 0500 UTC. 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 FO-29. Welcome and make QSOs with them as we are planning on creating an award for working college club stations on satellite. 73, Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL Gator ARC Faculty Advisor at UF, W4DFU trustee www.gatorradio.org <http://www.gatorradio.org/>

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ND9M Road Trip Update #14
by claryco＠aol.com 25 Feb '10

25 Feb '10

I'll be on from EL06 during tomorrow's (Thursday) SO50 pass at 25/1951Z and AO27 pass at 25/2018Z. If we get into the grid in time, I'll also be on the earlier SO50 pass which rises locally at 25/1812. >From there, we'll overnight near Corpus Christi so that I can operate from the EL17 / EL18 line on Friday. SO50 comes up at 26/1840Z followed by AO27 at 26/1950Z. Saturday should see us pass through the Houston area, and I expect to be on the EL28 / EL29 line for two AO27 passes and a SO50 pass that afternoon. Then we'll head for DM91 at a rate of two or three grids per day. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Laredo, TX / EL07 =

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patch antenna for AO-51
by Aa4mi＠aol.com 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Can't find it on the UK web site. ???

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Next HV Satcom Group net nate
by Stuart Balanger 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

*To all, The next "HV Satcom Group net" date is Thursday March 4 2010 on the 146.97MHz. repeater Time 8PM (EST) or 0100UTC (March 5)' & the echolink node is N2EYH-L node More info: www.hvsatcom.org 73,.Stu Ballinger (WA2BSS) *

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FT857/ft897 on FM sats
by John Geiger 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Is anyone on the list using a Yaesu FT857D or FT897D on the FM satellites? If so, could you please email me direct as I have a couple of questions I want to ask about them. 73s John AA5JG

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Re: AO-51 V/S
by Ron Miles 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Angelo and All: Equipment here similar to Angelo's and perhaps common to many other operators. For S band downlink, I use the grill dish and the K5GNA AIDC 3731 downconverter directly behind feed. Receive downlink at 145Mhz IF then feeds an FT897D. RG6 coax works fine through a bias T for 13.8Vdc. S meter will easily reach full scale. FT736R operates 2M uplink. SATPC32 for doppler tuning and Unitrack for rotor G5500 control. No desense issues or front end overload with this crossband operation. For AO-40, I had a 3', off-set dish with helix feed for S band operation. However, that size dish had too much wind load. Also, found in my brag file: I use Keyspan and Prolific serial to USB adapters as these products seem to handle data packet transfer better than other adapters I've used. An Ultra 7 port USB hub from Tigerdirect handles the above operations as well as CAT control for all radios and PK232 TNC packet and Morse code operation. 73, Ron, n6paa *************** The equipment is very modest. A bbq grill dish 2x3 feet, the downconverter is the K5GNA with RG-6 running about 50 feet long. No additional preamp needed with the K5GNA downconverter. The noise level in the shack is about S3. I use two rigs when operating the V/S mode. With SatPC32, I have a second configuration setup. The IF is going to be rig #1 (Kenwood TS-2000) which is connected to the K5GNA downconverter. Rig #2 is connected to my ICOM 910 as the transmitter. SATPC32 also control the rotor system with the G8LVB tracker connected to the Yaesu G-5500. The dish and downconverter I paid if I recalled correctly was about 175.00 plus shipping for K5GNA. I do not know if he still makes the packages available anymore. I know he was waiting for Eagle or P3D to lauch before he goes back to selling them. Enjoy, 73 de Angelo

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Plastic weatherproof box
by Jeff Yanko 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Hi all, I'm in a project which needs plastic weatherproof box. No holes in the box would be ok since I can drill them, run the cables then seal it very well. Looking for 10x10x4, 12x12x4. I've checked Home Depot and they have nothing. Does anybody know would might carry such an item? You can contact me off -bb. 73, Jeff WB3JFS

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OSCAR-11 Report
by Clive Wallis 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

OSCAR-11 REPORT 24 February 2010 This report covers the period from 11 January to 23 February 2010. During this time the satellite was heard from 21 to 31 January and 11 to 24February. Good signals were received, and decoded. Signals have been very strong, although frequent changes in polarisation have been observed. The satellite has only transmitted when in sunlight. The next transmissions are expected around 04 March 2010. The on-board clock was 260 days slow, when last heard on 21 February. The increasing error suggests that the clock may be stopping, when the satellite is in eclipse. Sometimes, the date counter also fails to increment. Reception reports have been received from stations located all over the world including Peter Zl3TC, Jon 2M0IBO, Mike DK3WN, Adrian LU1CBG, Robert VE2PRS, Ken GW1FKY and Alan ZL2BX. Many thanks to everyone who sent email reports, posted to AMSAT-BB or updated the KD5QGR/WB4APR satellite status website. The Beacon frequencies are - VHF 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry UHF 435.025 MHz. OFF S-band 2401.5 MHz. OFF ------------- RECEPTION REPORTS REQUESTED! I am particularly interested in reports of reception during the hours 23:00 to 06:00 and 12:00 to 17:00 UTC, especially near expected switch on or off dates. Please send reception reports to xxxxx(a)amsat.org (replace xxxxx by g3cwv) or post to amsat-bb. If you have a file, please do not send it but let me know what is available. You may also like to add your reception report to the live satellite status page, on the website set up by David KD5QGR and Bob WB4APR. The URL is http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php The satellite transmits on 145.826 MHz., set receiver to NBFM. OSCAR-11 has a characteristic sound, rather like raspy slow morse code, sending "di di dah dah dah dah dah dah dah" sent over five seconds. If you are receiving a very weak signal, switch the receiver to CW or SSB. You should hear several sidebands around the carrier frequency, and should be able to hear the characteristic 'morse code like' sound on at least one sideband. Please note that you need a clean noise free signal to decode the signals. There is an audio clip on my website www.g3cwv.co.uk which may be useful for identification and as test signal for decoding. ------------- The satellite is now subject to eclipses during every orbit. Long term predictions indicate that eclipses will occur until 2019, when there will be some eclipse free periods until 2023. However these very long term predictions should be regarded with caution, as large tracking errors can accumulate over long periods of time. When eclipses started around 2005 the watchdog timer often switched the transmitter off before the ten day on period had finished, during parts of the eclipse cycle. When eclipses became a permanent feature of all orbits, after April 2008, the transmitter switched off within a single orbit, thus the satellite was effectively non operational. The satellite unexpectedly started regular transmissions in November 2009. It is possible that a fault has developed, which prevents the watchdog timer resetting when the power supply fails. The transmitter switches off during eclipses, and the real time clock stops during most of the eclipse. When analogue telemetry was last received, in 2005, it showed that one of the solar arrays had failed, and there was a large unexplained current drain on the main 14 volt bus. After 25 years in orbit the battery has undergone over 100,000 partial charge/discharge cycles, and observations indicate that it cannot power the satellite during eclipses. The current status of the satellite, is that all the analogue telemetry channels, 0 to 59 are zero, ie they have failed. The status channels 60 to 67 are still working. The real time clock is showing a large accumulated error, although during ten minute passes the clock increments correctly to within one second. The day of the month has a bit stuck at 'one' so the day of the month may show an error of +40 days for some dates. The time display has switched into 12 hour mode. Unfortunately, there is no AM/PM indicator, since the time display format was designed for 24 hour mode. The spacecraft computer and active attitude control system have switched OFF, ie. the satellite' attitude is controlled only by the passive gravity boom gradient, and the satellite is free to spin at any speed. The watchdog timer now operates on a 20 day cycle. The ON/OFF times have tended to be very consistent. The average of many observations show this to be 20.7 days, ie. 10.3 day s ON followed by 10.4 days OFF. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting my website. If you need to know what OSCAR-11 should sound like, there is a short audio clip for you to hear. The last telemetry received from the satellite is available for download. The website contains an archive of news & telemetry data which is updated from time to time. It also contains details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. The URL is www.g3cwv.co.uk . If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT147.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace xxxxx by g3cwv)

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antennas for AO-51 V/S
by John Heath 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Enjoy V/S on AO-51 Visit www.uk.amsat.org and go to the shop. There you will find an easy build complete kit for a patch antenna ideal for AO-51 73 John G7HIA

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drake 2880
by Jim 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Has any one used the Drake 2880 downconverter on the air. I have 2 of them 1 I did the mod on and one that has not has any thing done to it. Jim K7UDG

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IAC 2009 Video - Space Education
by Trevor . 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

A video made at IAC 2009 - Space Education through Nano/Pico Satellites - is available and features Martin Sweeting G3JYO and Roland Coelho WH7BE It can be seen at http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/space_education.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio News (Email/RSS): 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: AO-51 V/S
by Andrew Glasbrenner 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

In about 30 minutes, 2145z. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: graham mcphee <gemcphee(a)bigpond.com> >Sent: Feb 22, 2010 2:25 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 V/S > >Could I have an indication when AO-51 will change to V/S mode please >Graham >VK2AYE >_______________________________________________ >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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How to add HO-68 to Nova?
by Michael J. Wolthuis 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Can anyone tell me how to add HO-68 to Nova so it will auto download the keps and so I can use Nova to predict passes for it? I checked under HO-68 and XW-1. Mike kb8zgl

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uni trac
by Hank Kucharski 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Hi....... I have been trying to get my uni trac back up and running and have a problem with getting the keps correct. I had this thing working several years ago and now on a new computer it is giving me trouble. I know someone out there is using uni trac and I am looking for some help. I wish to use uni trac in unison with nova. Where are users getting the correct kep file from? I emailed zl2amd and have not received any response from him. any help would be appreciated. ............tnx............ Hank, N8ANR

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LAPAN-ORARI Satellite
by Wisnu YB0AZ 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

LAPAN-ORARI Satellite: Since the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the ORARI and LAPAN on November 5th 2008 in Jakarta, we agreed to develop the technology of radio and satellite communications. ORARI Headquarter have formed the AMSAT-ID and is assigned to collaborate with a team of LAPAN to cooperate in the development of INASAT (Indonesia Satellite) which will have content (payload) Voice Repeater and APRS Digipeater, but the journey has changed the plan to build a satellite that is part of the plan to build one satellite to two satellites and satellite given the LAPAN-ORARI and LAPAN-A2. LAPAN-ORARI satellite is a satellite that will take FM voice transponder UHF / VHF frequency 145.880MHz and 435.880MHz and Digipeater APRS frequency 145.825MHz. Also LAPAN-ORARI satellite will emit green light laser for attitude determination. Planned for a launch into a 650km LEO with low (8 degree) inclination from India as a secondary payload with "Megha-Tropique". LAPAN-A2 satellite is a satellite development of LAPAN-Tubsat satellite and will use the S band (non amateur frequency) for video surveillance and the UHF amateur frequency for telemetry. The plan the two satellites will be launched in middle of year 2011. Wisnu Widjaja YBØAZ is a responsible operator on the request frequency coordination for the two satellites to the IARU Satellite Coordinator and was approved on December 23rd, 2009. Progress work on LAPAN-ORARI and LAPAN-A2 satellites currently are in the stage of assembly and testing of components. On the internet widely available information on these satellites, more information at http://www.lapan.go.id http://www.orari.or.id http://www.amsat-id.net http://lapantubsat.org http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp So, hopefully this information can be useful for the member of ORARI and amateur radio throughout the world about LAPAN ORARI and LAPAN A2 satellites. Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia (ORARI) Best 73 and thanks Wisnu Widjaja YBØAZ Vice Secretary General, International Affairs Coordinator and IARU Liaison of ORARI

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Re: AO-51 V/S
by Bob- W7LRD 24 Feb '10

24 Feb '10

Hello >From the upper left corner of the U.S. We're using a 36"X30" primestar dish with a 5 turn helix feed- to a transystem 3731AA downconverter- to 50 feet of RG6 coax- then the bias tee-then a variable attenuator-the tunable IF is a old TS-700A with the tx disabled so that in the heat of battle (oooops) I don't tx into the dc. The old 700 has a real good noise blanker for shutting down local wifi and cordless phone snapping and popping. AO-51 S band signals are quite strong, though I'm sure the three foot dish helps. It was great on AO-40 (sobsob). I have tried a handheld helix with a Keps downconverter, not as strong as the dish but very useable. A couple of pictures are attached. Not many of us on mode V/S, we can actually have a conversation. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle, Wa. gelo Glorioso" <n5uxt(a)hotmail.com>, "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com>, "Bob- W7LRD" <w7lrd(a)comcast.net>, "Graham Shirville" <g.shirville(a)btinternet.com> Cc: amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org, "Leo P Swatloski" <w7jpi(a)sunncast.net> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 3:29:14 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Hi Angelo, Running S-mode on AO-51 is fun and great to work. For the benefit of BB readers that are new to S-band, can you share the specifics of your system that results in S9+60 readings? Dish, downconverter, preamp, coax, noise level in the shack, what you're using for IF (what rig), etc.? Thanks! I think users will be curious. 73! Mark N8MH At 04:59 PM 2/23/2010 -0600, Angelo Glorioso wrote: >Hi Graham, > > I have to agree with you.. Very little fading like in the past. It reached >the S9 + 60 on the S meter. Made contacts with N5AFV from his car and >KC9ELU. Traffic >got heavy near the end of the pass with a few 7 landers. I was even able to >make a contact with N1RCN on AO-51 with about .5 degrees elevation today. > > The good old gal is working great!! :-) > > >73 de Angelo > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Graham Shirville" <g.shirville(a)btinternet.com> >To: "Angelo Glorioso" <n5uxt(a)hotmail.com>; "Bob- W7LRD" <w7lrd(a)comcast.net>; >"Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 4:39 PM >Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S > > >> Hi all, >> >> It is amazing just how strong the AO51 S Band signal is with even a small >> dish on the ground. >> >> I understand that the S Band PA is probably producing just less than I >> watt of RF so I really really hope that our long delayed ESEO spacecraft >> will get off the ground before too long. This is scheduled to have a U/S >> FM transponder with a 3 watt PA so should be workable with even smaller >> dishes! >> >> More info on ESEO can be seen here >> http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=78&retURL=satel… >> >> 73 >> >> Graham G3VZV >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Angelo Glorioso" <n5uxt(a)hotmail.com> >> To: "Bob- W7LRD" <w7lrd(a)comcast.net>; "Andrew Glasbrenner" >> <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >> Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >> Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 4:19 PM >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S >> >> >>> Signal here reached the usually S9+60db at 5 degree elevation on the >>> western >>> pass. Sounded good. Just need to get rid of my hmmm on the signal. :-( >>> >>> >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Bob- W7LRD" <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> >>> To: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >>> Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >>> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 6:06 PM >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S >>> >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Last pass signals were s9 + 20 max on a three foot dish/3731aa >>>> downconverter >>>> >>>> 73 Bob W7LRD >>>> >>>> CN87 >>>> >>>> Seattle >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >>>> To: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> >>>> Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>>> Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 3:41:14 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific >>>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S >>>> >>>> We are in mode V/S now. I'm slightly concerned we may have hit the low >>>> voltage trip during the last pass while I was trying to get some >>>> telemetry, so reports of S reception would be appreciated. >>>> >>>> 73, Drew KO4MA >>>> AMSAT-NA VP Ops >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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HO-68 SSB 24-02 13:10 UTC
by jp-byj-free 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

Hi. Tomorrow 24-02 13h10-21 UTC for Western Europe very good pass of HO-68 in linear transponder ( VE1-2-3-4 and W1-2-3-4-8-9-0? and FG? ) I hope for some good QSO S'73 Jep

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FUNcube Frequencies and Website
by Trevor . 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination panel have announced coordinated frequencies for the linear transponder and beacon of the AMSAT-UK FUNcube satellite. They can be seen on the AMSAT-UK website at: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ The FUNcube website is at http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio News (Email/RSS): 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: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
by mlengruesser＠aol.com 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

Hi Laurent, Attention: The Moon TLE (2line) it's not usefull for the "SGP4/8 two lines format ephemerid model " (InstantTrack, SatPC32 etc. ) the format is only a compress readable parameters The moon: Giving Keplerian elements for the moon is much more difficult. The main problem is that the moon's orbital plane has a fixed inclination with reference to the ecliptic plane. The moon's orbital plane wobbles around there and turns once every 18.6 years. Seen from the earth, that gives an changing inclination of about 18 to 28 degrees. The inclination of true earth satellites, on the other hand, remains fixed and the tracking program assumes that the inclination is not changing. The only way to overcome that problem is to give sets of "Keplerian elements" every 50 to 100 days. In that period the change of the inclination is not too big and the error stays small. A second problem with "Keplerian elements" for the moon is that the moon's orbit is severely perturbed in a way a ordinary satellite tracking program cannot handle. Those perturbations come from the sun, the earth (not being a exact sphere) and from major planets. To compute those perturbations exactly, we would need several hundred corrective terms. For the accuracy needed here (1-3 degrees for the usual amateur satellite antenna), it has been sufficient to correct only for the varying eccentricity. 73, de Michael

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Cal Poly Pomona
by Clint Bradford 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

I gave an abbreviated presentation to the newly-resurrected Cal Poly Pomona ham club this afternoon. "Abbreviated" because we just had an hour, and a great pass of SO-50 right over us (85 degrees!). Glen Shiery, AF6V, is doing great work exposing the kids to different facets of amateur radio. They have a dedicated room for their shack, and it will probably be up and running again by the Summer. It felt great speaking to a "younger" crowd. We need more youth in this magnificent hobby! Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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XE2/WD9EWK on Sunday (21 Feb) afternoon, trip wrap-up
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

Hi! Sunday afternoon was not planned to have much radio activity. There was going to be a get-together at a ham's house in Mexicali, before I left that area for the 3.5-hour drive home later in the day. I saw a pair of passes - AO-27 first, then SO-50 - to the east that I wanted to try to wrap up my radio operating for this trip. I took my FM satellite setup - IC-2820H, Elk Antennas 2m/70cm log periodic - across the border one more time. The get-together was at the house of David XE2DAK, southeast of downtown Mexicali in grid DM22go just over 3 miles/5km south of the USA/Mexico border. This neighborhood is tightly packed with houses, but with a decent view of the eastern sky. I had the pass predictions for the two passes, and was ready for the AO-27 pass at 2025 UTC. It seemed fitting that my first QSO was with another Mexican station, Manuel XE2BHL west of me in Tijuana. After that, 7 more QSOs were made in what sometimes becomes the busiest 7 minutes on the radio (it *definitely* was on Thursday afternoon's 2025 UTC pass!). About 40 minutes or so later, SO-50 came up from the south. With XE2DAK's house blocking the south, I had to wait a couple of minutes for the satellite to clear the house. Once that happened, 7 QSOs were made with stations across much of the USA. Two of the QSOs were interesting... I worked Larry KI6YAA, who was only a few blocks north of the USA/Mexico border. Larry gave me a QSL card for that contact after I crossed back into the USA - so I now have grid DM22 confirmed on my way toward an XE2 satellite VUCC. The other QSO was with a station in my home city Phoenix - K7NYS. After SO-50 went away, it was time for some great Mexican "carne asada" and enjoy the afternoon with friends before crossing the border and driving home. I was able to see the XE2DAK shack and the gear David has been using to work the FM satellites. For a small station, it was impressive. You can follow links with photos of XE2DAK's station from his QRZ.com entry. For this weekend, I made 93 QSOs from Mexico between Thursday afternoon's activity south of Mexicali and Sunday's QSOs from Mexicali. I made 42 QSOs at the Yuma hamfest, and Kevin KJ6DDS made 7 QSOs on a couple of passes Saturday afternoon. When I returned home last night, I saw that my truck had traveled 868.3 miles/1397km for this trip. Thanks to everyone who helped make the hamfest demonstrations a runaway success. Stations that were giving a brief description of their location, even if it was just the state, helped make a positive impression on the audiences. Thursday showed that there was a lot of interest in grid DM21, and that it might be worth a return trip there before my current XE ham permit expires. Or maybe some of the locals will make the trek south and put it on the air. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

In a message dated 2/22/2010 10:50:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, john(a)papays.com writes: > There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording The callsign I didn't see listed John sounded like that of a young op attempting to make a sat contact. The callsign sounded something like KJ4NVA or KJ4MGA. I sure would have liked to have seen him or her make a sat contact. Hopefully he or she will be back for another try and not be QRMed. - - - Many thanks for posting the excellent audio recording John. Much appreciated. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- Sat VUCC #125

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HO-68 and FO-29 common uplink
by Andrew Glasbrenner 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

There was a fair amount of confusion as the two satellites passed each other over the US tonight. It might be good practice to mention which satellite you are listening to while calling CQ, etc. 73, Drew KO4MA

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AMSAT at Charlotte NC hamfest?
by Philip Jenkins 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

Are there any plans for an AMSAT booth/table at the Charlotte hamfest, March 13-14? Philip N4HF

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Re: AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by John Papay 23 Feb '10

23 Feb '10

As some of you discovered, the link to the recording was not working. Sorry for the inconvenience. It should work properly now. 73, John K8YSE At 10:20 AM 2/22/2010, Angelo Glorioso wrote: >Link is bad! > > >----- Original Message ----- From: "John Papay" <john(a)papays.com> >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 8:50 AM >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording > > >>A recording of the AO-51 pass on 20Feb2010 at 2259z is on my >>webserver: >> >> http://www.papays.com/AO-51_20Feb2010_225938z.mp3 >> >>This was a very busy pass with ND9M/p in EL07/EL08 and WD9EWK/p in DM22 >>at the Yuma Hamfest. Many of you are not full duplex and don't know what you >>sound like on the bird so here's your chance to hear yourself. >> >>There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording including: >> >>N5AFV, KD4N0Q, WA4HFN, N8RO, WA5KBH, KP4WK, KF4OTG, N5UXT, KB0RZD, >>ND9M/P, K4YYL, K7NN, KB0RZE, KB8ZGL, N1XED, KJ4PSU, VA3BL, N8MH, >>?4NDA/HH, KD8CAO, N2BX, WD9EWK/P KZ4WAT, KB9AVO, KD0HKR, WB1AAT, >>N0JE, ?OF, ?QYH, VE7CNA, KE7DOV. K8YSE >> >>KE7DOV appeared at the end of the pass operating portable from CN76 a rare >>coastal grid. >> >>Although there was a lot of instances of several stations >>transmitting at the same time, overall the number of successful qso's >>was good. It is rare when more than 30 stations are heard on a >>single pass of AO-51. It was a 32 degree elevation, 13 minute >>horizon to horizon pass for me. >> >>AO-51 is a great bird. Those who had a hand in designing and >>building this satellite can be very proud of their accomplishment. >> >>73, >>John K8YSE EN91dh >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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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TekSharp dish ants?
by Scott Townley 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Back again after a short absence... Wanting to get an L/S system going again. Ideally using a mesh dish like the 1.2m or 1.8m that TekSharp shows on their webpage...but it would appear that they are no longer in existence. Any suggestions or leads? I'm thinking, I'd go dish for S because of RX noise, so might as well throw in L while I'm at it. Especially since there don't appear to be any L crossed yagis out there. Scott Townley NX7U Gilbert, AZ DM43di mailto:[email protected] http://members.cox.net/nx7u

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missed you
by Gkcarr 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

I missed you as I came down with an upper resiratyory infection. Real bad cough, fever, aches etc. And wore out. tnx fer thinking of me. 73 George WA5KBH

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Need help for RARSFest in Raleigh, NC Sat. April 3
by Mark L. Hammond 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Hello All, Yes, it will be held on Easter weekend...but the event is on a Saturday :) I will be hosting an AMSAT table at the RARSFest in Raleigh, NC on April 3. Would really appreciate some help. Demonstrations are possible, but this depends on how much help you all provide. It's a nice hamfest, and the RARS club is always very hospitable to an AMSAT table and workers. http://rars.org/hamfest/ If you can commit to helping me on April 3, please contact me directly off-list n8mh AT amsat dot org Thanks! -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Suggestions for non-penetrating roof tower?
by Ryan Caron 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

I'm looking for something similar to, but more economical than, a GlenMartin RT-1832 tower & non-penetrating base. It doesn't have to be quite that tall, but I'm looking for at least 11ft so their 9ft model won't do. Suggestions? 73, KB1LKI AMSAT #37207

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AO-51 V/S
by graham mcphee 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Could I have an indication when AO-51 will change to V/S mode please Graham VK2AYE

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AO-51 20Feb2010 2259z Recording
by John Papay 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

A recording of the AO-51 pass on 20Feb2010 at 2259z is on my webserver: http://www.papays.com/AO-51_20Feb2010_225938z.mp3 This was a very busy pass with ND9M/p in EL07/EL08 and WD9EWK/p in DM22 at the Yuma Hamfest. Many of you are not full duplex and don't know what you sound like on the bird so here's your chance to hear yourself. There are over 30 different callsigns on this recording including: N5AFV, KD4N0Q, WA4HFN, N8RO, WA5KBH, KP4WK, KF4OTG, N5UXT, KB0RZD, ND9M/P, K4YYL, K7NN, KB0RZE, KB8ZGL, N1XED, KJ4PSU, VA3BL, N8MH, ?4NDA/HH, KD8CAO, N2BX, WD9EWK/P KZ4WAT, KB9AVO, KD0HKR, WB1AAT, N0JE, ?OF, ?QYH, VE7CNA, KE7DOV. K8YSE KE7DOV appeared at the end of the pass operating portable from CN76 a rare coastal grid. Although there was a lot of instances of several stations transmitting at the same time, overall the number of successful qso's was good. It is rare when more than 30 stations are heard on a single pass of AO-51. It was a 32 degree elevation, 13 minute horizon to horizon pass for me. AO-51 is a great bird. Those who had a hand in designing and building this satellite can be very proud of their accomplishment. 73, John K8YSE EN91dh

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Have a TS-2000 and wonder if the Flex or a Icom-9100 would be the next best step for satellite work.
by Jack KZ4USA 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Jack KZ4USA Bradenton, Florida

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ND9M Road Trip Update #13
by claryco＠aol.com 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

We wound up having to stay put for the day. We needed to buy auto insurance for driving in Mexico, but every sales office was closed for the day. With the unexpected time available, I took advantage of the deferred AO51 mode change and operated from the EL15/EL16 during the late afternoon pass. My thanks go to the AO51 Ops Team for the heads up that the switch would be delayed by a day. I'll do the EL15/EL16 line again on Tuesday (vice Monday). It'll be from a different spot on the grid line though; the place I set up today was a mosquito fiesta. I couldn't keep the Arrow antenna aimed at the satellite because I was swatting so many bugs! (If you're old enough to remember the "Off" commercial from the 60s with the actor's arm inside the mosquito tank, you can appreciate what I found.) 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Brownsville, TX / EL15

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k4bix/h - em55??
by Michae J. Wolthuis 22 Feb '10

22 Feb '10

Just worked a station close to the above callsign, but I must have miss typed it. Anyone else copy and can tell me what I got wrong in the call? Not on qrz. Thanks, Drew glad I was able to get yah from GA! Mike Kb8zgl

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KO4MA and Pile Up
by Angelo Glorioso 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Drew, It was awesome the way you handled the pile up. Answering multiple callsign at the same time. You have my vote for the next Satellite DX Expedition. HI HI :-) 73 de Angelo

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Re: Patrick at Yuma
by Clint Bradford 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Great work, Patrick! That's two great "smaller" ham fests in a month. The Palm Springs Desert RATS put on a great one-day show a couple weekends ago, and then your Yuma experience. Organizers of the "big" three-day affairs are watching and listening .... Clint, K6LCS

2 2

Convert grid to County?
by Michae J. Wolthuis 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

I have worked a lot of portable/handheld stations lately and have a hard time determining their county based on grid. Is there an online convert tool to go from grid to county? Thanks, Mike Kb8zgl

5 6

AO7 DX LOOKING USA
by paul robinson 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

WILL BE QRV .950 LATER ON AO7 LOOKING USA -PAUL 2E1EUB

2 1

Satellite gear sold
by Don Blachura 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Hello group, The antennas and pre-amps have been sold locally as one setup. Thanks Don....w2xb

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Saturday @ Yuma (AZ) hamfest...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Hi! After an overnight rain shower that stopped just after sunrise, this was a great day for the Yuma Hamfest. Skies that cleared as the day progressed, and more people came in from all over. And there were also more people helping with the AMSAT table today. This was a good way to wrap up the 2010 version of this event. The amount of foot traffic in the main exhibit/vendor hall was well beyond anything from last year. Icom, Yaesu, and the Ham Radio Outlet store from San Diego had booths in the hall. The hamfest took advantage of this large facility - outside the main hall, there were two areas for non-commercial sellers to set up, licensing exams in another part of the facility, and did I mention all the people? I don't have any data from the hamfest on this year's attendance, but it appeared to be a better event in terms of attendance than in 2009. For the satellite demonstrations, by midday today people were asking "When will the next demonstration take place?" or "Is the 'satellite guy' outside ready for a demonstration?". Some of the demonstrations were watched by as many as 30 people, something I rarely see even at hamfests in larger Arizona cities like Phoenix or Tucson! I missed the eastern VO-52 pass just after 1600 UTC, an hour after the hamfest opened. I apologize to anyone who may have been waiting to hear me on that pass. I wanted to get on there, since VO-52 would be the only non-FM satellite I would use for demonstrations. The western VO-52 pass came by around 1740 UTC. As it moved by, I was able to make contacts with 4 stations: AA5PK in west Texas, W0XG in Minnesota, W7JPI in southeastern Arizona, and W6ZKH in California. Lots of questions followed this pass about SSB satellite operation, and especially differences between working these satellites with computer control compared to manual control. I do not use a computer to control anything when working SSB/CW satellites; two FT-817NDs and my adjustments of the VFOs has gotten better with practice for almost 18 months now. Once VO-52 went away, I had almost 2 hours until the next pass. On Thursday, I offered to let Kevin KJ6DDS - a relatively new ham, and new satellite operator - the chance to work my station during the demonstrations. Kevin accepted my offer. This allowed another voice to be heard on the air during the demonstrations, and provided a great learning opportunity for Kevin to get more familiar with the birds. On the SO-50 pass around 2048 UTC, Kevin logged 4 QSOs. Three more followed on AO-27 a few minutes later. Kevin even worked Jim ND9M on the SO-50 pass while Jim stopped on the EL08/EL09 line near San Antonio. New grids for Kevin's log and toward a satellite VUCC award, since Yuma is well within the 200km distance limitation for QTHs used for contacts toward a VUCC award based on his home address in Calexico CA. Kevin's father Larry KI6YAA, using his own portable FM satellite station about 25 yards/meters away from my station, was able to work ND9M at that same EL08/EL09 boundary line on the AO-27 pass. It would be an understatement to say that both of them were happy with getting the new grids from ND9M while doing this at a hamfest demonstration. By the time the next SO-50 and AO-27 passes were coming by starting at 2230 UTC, Kevin went off and participated in a hidden-transmitter hunt on the hamfest grounds. While he proceeded to be the first ham to find that hidden 2m transmitter, I worked these passes. I logged 7 contacts on the SO-50 pass at 2229 UTC, followed by 2 QSOs on the AO-27 pass a few minutes later. There was a shallow AO-51 pass at 2300 UTC, and that brought 5 more contacts to wrap up the on-air demonstrations for this hamfest. Inside the hall, I had lots of help manning the AMSAT table. Along with KI6YAA and KJ6DDS, a few Mexican hams helped out. Thanks to Alex XE2BSS/N2IX, Eliseo XE2TPJ, and Antonio XE2SIV. All of them have been on the satellites, and helped make the day more fun. More hams from northwestern Mexico made their way to this hamfest, and it seemed like they spent some of their time talking with all of us at the AMSAT table. Even before the 2010 Yuma Hamfest came to a close at 5pm (0000 UTC) this afternoon, I was already approached by the organizers about making a return trip for their 2011 event. I will certainly do that. This hamfest is growing, with more people and vendors coming out, and Yuma's location being not too far away from the major cities in Arizona and southern California is starting to convince hams in those places to make the trip. Thanks to Richard KC2LGR and the Yuma Amateur Radio Hamfest Organization for allowing AMSAT to be a part of this event. And, of course, thanks to all the stations making contacts with WD9EWK and KJ6DDS during the demonstrations. One more thing... for anyone who worked WD9EWK during the hamfest demonstrations in the past two days, I will be happy to confirm those QSOs without needing to receive your QSL card(s) first. Please e-mail me the QSO details. If you're in the log, you will get a card. For the QSOs made by KJ6DDS Saturday afternoon, please check QRZ.com for his address and send those QSL requests directly to him. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

Elk antenna as carry on luggage?
by Mark L. Hammond 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

Anybody know for sure if an Elk antenna is an acceptable carry on luggage item? Disassembled, and rolled up in a bag, for example. Or am I going to have to check it in? 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

10 9

ND9M Road Trip Update #12
by claryco＠aol.com 21 Feb '10

21 Feb '10

I expect to be on from the EL08 / EL09 line during three afternoon passes today: two AO27 passes (VOX at 20/1927Z and 2108Z) and one pass over SO50 which rises in my area at 2047Z. AO51 rises locally at 20/2258Z at which time I should be in EL07. The next pass will be at 21/0037Z; we should be in EL06 for that one. Cori and I will get to Brownsville this evening and goof off tomorrow. I'll be on the El15/EL16 line for the afternoon AO27 and SO50 passes on Monday. AO51 makes its switch to V/S mode tomorrow evening, so ops for the week following will be primarily on the AO27 and SO50 birds. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Eagle Pass, TX / DL98

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Web Site Suggestions - THANK YOU!
by Clint Bradford 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

THANK YOU all for the public and private messages on this topic! A compilation of your suggestions - >> ... Henk, PA3GUO ... [several Web sites cited] ... Henk - those are all excellent reference sites. Beyond what I am doing "now" with my quest to get new folks into working the birds - but I have added them all to my personal bookmarks, and will recommend to more "seasoned" sat communicators. >> ... a link to the AO-27 Java schedule lister site ... That's a great little utility! I *do* have links to the control team and official status pages of the "easy" birds. And I tell folks to bookmark 'em al, and refer to them regularly for updates. But I will mention this app in my presentations for more "advanced" communicators. >> ... Proper satellite names, not these senseless ZO-99 type designations ... A tough one. Yes, the proper nomenclature and history of the topic is important (remember my "Is the "O" in OSCAR "orbital" or "orbiting?" discussion last year? 'Cause I can cite for you about as many mentions of either in literature ... ). But I want entry-level folks to get info quickly and easily - and the tracking software and Web tracking sources seem to have "dumbed-down" to the abbreviated designators. >> ... Maintain current email address on QRZ.com ... I demonstrated the importance of this last night during my presentation at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum K6AA group - I wanted to email a contact in Central CA, but his email address was not posted on QRZ.com. I asked the group - most of whom do maintain their listings on QRZ - if they have ever felt that their posted info on QRZ caused them any grief (spam). No one replied that they had. I am sure I can find his email address via Google search (and i did - I found him to be a board member of his local club). But until I hear that QRZ has sold out and was responsible for spammers to access and mis-use their data, I think it is a good source for us to be able to reference. >> ... You need to be able to hear the satellite before transmitting! Of course, already stressed the importance of this during demos, presentations, and in my tutorial. THANK YOU ALL for your input. Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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New Control Software
by Angelo Glorioso 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Hi Drew, I was wondering if any process has done on getting the BBS back on V/U again? I know the new control software cause some problems with the UHF receiver but I figured it has been over 2 years now since that update. Can you shed some light here?? 73 de Angelo

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What is MISSING from Sat Sites?
by Clint Bradford 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

As you cruise the Web viewing satellite-related sites, what one feature / factoid / bit of information have you found lacking? If you could make sure that ONE THING was on a site touting the virtues of AMSAT and how easy it is to work the FM birds, what would it be? Clint (re-vamping his Web site) Bradford http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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M2 antennas FS
by Don Blachura 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Hello Group, Anyone in the Western New York area. I have two big M2 yagis for sale . They have the polarity switches on them. Also have two SSB pre-amps the go on the mast. (2 meter and 70 cm.) Also a SSB switch for the mast. Don...w2xb Please contact off list. haircutter(a)verizon.net

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Looking for Mode A receive Antenna
by PE0SAT 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Hi, Thanks for reading. Anybody out there that can give me a drawing for building a Mode A receive antenna? 73 Jan - PE0SAT -- With regards PE0SAT Internet web-page http://www.ham.vgnet.nl/

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AO-51 Contact
by Ng, Peter 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

I actually "worked" AO-51 this afternoon during the 17:24 PDT pass (CN 89) while driving home using my Yaesu VX-6R on 5 watts with a dual band mag mount. Is that even possible? I heard contacts as far as DM, but only someone from CN copied me. Even so, I thought it was quite amazing. I thought it wasn't as easy as that...I'm still new at this! 73, Peter VE7NGP

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Re: AO-51 Contact
by Rafael Valdez G. 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

I used a very similar arrange this week and had perfect and clear contacts...you are right it is easy!! 73 XE2RV -----Original Message----- From: Ng Peter <Peter.Ng(a)bccdc.ca> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 03:51:52 To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Contact I actually "worked" AO-51 this afternoon during the 17:24 PDT pass (CN 89) while driving home using my Yaesu VX-6R on 5 watts with a dual band mag mount. Is that even possible? I heard contacts as far as DM, but only someone from CN copied me. Even so, I thought it was quite amazing. I thought it wasn't as easy as that...I'm still new at this! 73, Peter VE7NGP _______________________________________________ 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 <http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb>

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New digital mode ROS - Satellites ?
by Trevor . 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

ROS is a digital spread spectrum mode but with a narrow tota occupied bandwidth. Current activity takes place on USB frequencies: 3.600, 7.053, 14.101, 28.300. It can automatically synchronizes within a range of + -200 Hz so may be a better mode for satellite working than PSK31. Further details at: New amateur radio digital mode - ROS http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ros.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio News (Email/RSS): http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org Upload Using The Form At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm ----

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K4T DXpedition to EL84NP
by Mike 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Visit our web site http://aroadventures.org/page6.html for the latest updates on equipment and band plan for the DXpedition. There will be a few revisions to the band plan in the next few days but you will be able to see what we will be aiming for. 73 Mike Forsythe, AC2V K4T Team Leader

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Friday afternoon @ Yuma (AZ) hamfest...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Hi! The first day of the two-day Yuma hamfest got off to a nice start. Even for a Friday, there were more people and more vendors and exhibitors compared to last year's hamfest. Having two of the big amateur-equipment manufacturers doesn't hurt things, along with good weather. The AMSAT table was in the middle of the main hall, and I had two local hams working with me - Larry KI6YAA, and Alex XE2BSS/N2IX. As with other hamfests, there is always a lot of traffic by the table, and the demonstrations were well-attended outside the hall. Larry KI6YAA worked a western AO-27 pass in the mid-afternoon, and told me that a couple of the operators asked him to say "hi" to me. Messages were all received. :-) After that pass, I went outside and worked a pair of passes. First, SO-50 at 2200 UTC. There was a nice assortment of stations from across the continental USA, from K0NW and K6CDW in California to WB2SIH in New York state right at the end of the pass. For a couple of moments during this pass, I stopped trying to work the radio due to local noise. This hamfest is at the end of two runways used by both Yuma International Airport and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The Marine Harrier jets were practicing landing maneuvers, and when those jets slow down and swing the exhaust nozzles toward the ground it is loud!!!! A total of 7 stations were logged during this pass. A few minutes past 2330 UTC, it was time to go back outside for an AO-51 pass just before the hamfest closed for the day at 5pm (0000 UTC). This time, the Marine air manuevers changed from the Harrier jets to other aircraft. An impressive sight, and not as noisy. The satellite was full of activity, the norm as of late with ND9M's travels across the USA. Even though much of the activity was focused on Jim's unusual location near the Rio Grande River (DL98 - and many thanks for the concise description of your location for the audience), I was able to make 14 contacts with stations from XE1AO in central Mexico to many stations all across the USA and John VE7JRX in the Olympic city of Vancouver. A couple of people commented after the pass that it sounded like an HF contest. I agreed with them, and explained in more detail why so many were trying to work ND9M and the basic concept of working stations in different grids. I also assured them that, with practice, they could be working the satellites and get used to that sort of rapid- fire activity. I, along with several hams from this area, will be around the AMSAT table throughout the day tomorrow (Saturday). The hamfest runs from 8am to 5pm (1500-0000 UTC). Demonstrations will be given, including - hopefully - on VO-52 in the morning. If you are able to work VO-52, please look for me around 145.910 MHz +/- on that downlink. If I can't drum up enough activity there, I will try tuning around and working whoever I hear. For the FM birds, my voice may not be the only one on from the hamfest. I may try to get KI6YAA's sons KJ6DDS and possibly KI6ZXU on the microphone while I take care of working the VFO knob and holding the antenna. Or I might get others on the mic. We'll see how things go tomorrow. Whatever we do, we will try not to make life difficult for those trying to work ND9M from wherever Jim and his wife happen to stop. For those who would like a QSL card for contacts with WD9EWK at the Yuma hamfest, please send me an e-mail with QSO information. If you are in the log, you'll get a card. If someone else is on the mic during the demonstrations, please direct QSL requests to them using the information on QRZ.com for their respective callsigns. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Calexico CA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: What is MISSING from Sat Sites?
by Henk, PA3GUO 20 Feb '10

20 Feb '10

Hi Clint, These are my favorites, in case I want to check in 30 seconds todays status: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/ (Mike's SatBlog - daily updated) http://www.dk3wn.info/satellites.shtml (detailed sat descriptions, incl. telemetry SW) http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi (recent APRS traffic from PCSAT and AO51) http://www.ariss.net/ (recent APRS traffic from ISS) Ah, this site I do not visit daily, but it has a nice 'historical' collection: http://www.dd1us.de/ (click on the left on 'Sounds from Space'). A bit scattered over different sites we have all bits and pieces together. Unfortunately not at one single site, but maybe that is a logical effect. That one thing to describe how much fun and easy it is to work the FM birds ? Well, your amsat-bb reports are certainly one of them ! Great stuff ! 73, Henk http://www.pa3guo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As you cruise the Web viewing satellite-related sites, what one feature / factoid / bit of information have you found lacking? If you could make sure that ONE THING was on a site touting the virtues of AMSAT and how easy it is to work the FM birds, what would it be? Clint (re-vamping his Web site) Bradford http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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Re: HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Peter......downlink or uplink??? if you heard us, then you had the downlink. The uplink is 145.825 with 67hz PL. Yes, Robert NH7WM was there at the last second, but no QSO was held, as the bird did its auto-shutoff at 2015 utc. Guess we'll just keep trying, as it is a challenge, otherwise it wouldnt be fun, huh??? hi... 73 de John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Scheller" <nh6vb(a)msn.com> To: w6zkh(a)comcast.net Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 12:31:34 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii John, W6ZKH Good morning. Copied your signal and others. Sorry, could not find my downlink. There was another NH6? station calling but did not get his call. Think he said BL01 73, Peter NH6VB BL01xm > Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:36:36 +0000 > From: w6zkh(a)comcast.net > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii > > I will be again looking for Hawaii on HO-68 pass today @ 2000 utc. Hopefully this time it will be active, not like the other day.. > > John W6ZKH > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.

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Re: HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Hi Robert, and yes, that was me asking if that was you, as just caught the last of your call before the bird shut off. It had a cutoff time of 2015 utc, so it hadnt gotten over the top of you yet. The HO-68 crew put in next weeks schedule for the bird, but it is all Linear SSB/CW modes, no FM. What I have to do here, is print out my SAT32PC WinAOS printout for 7 days, and then compare their schedule with what my printout says so I can determine when it will be active.. But at least I did hear you for a second, so maybe next time. The bird as great footprint, it's just they always turn it off (by software) when it is good for us here in the West. Also on board today was VA6BMJ, WC7V, N7HYN and myself. Maybe next time?? 73 de John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Smith" <dukenuke(a)pixi.com> To: w6zkh(a)comcast.net Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 12:30:41 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii Hi John I've never worked 68 before but I just tuned to it minutes ago.... and heard voice and someone asked if that 'was me robert?" The bird seemed to die right then althought he beacon was functioning OK.... Just I need to study that bird a bit more and try my luck. If you happen to see something give me some warning and I will glad to give it a try. 73 robert in Hono ----- Original Message ----- From: <w6zkh(a)comcast.net> To: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, February 19, 2010 8:36 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii >I will be again looking for Hawaii on HO-68 pass today @ 2000 utc. >Hopefully this time it will be active, not like the other day.. > > John W6ZKH > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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acceptable use
by Thomas McGrane 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Hi folks How about an acceptable use policy for the satellite users. There are a small number of frequent users that have a disproportionate use of the satellites. How do you expect to grow the organization if new people cant even get into the satellites. I'm a rare user now because of this. I can barely get into them with 50 watts. On another note, I report very good results using a thirty dollar ground plane scanner antenna from radio shack as a uhf recieving antenna connected to 15 feet of 9913 cable and using an arr uhf preamp. I have workable reception of even so-50 close to the horizon. Take care, pat

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HO-68 pass for 2/19 @ 2000 Hawaii
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

I will be again looking for Hawaii on HO-68 pass today @ 2000 utc. Hopefully this time it will be active, not like the other day.. John W6ZKH

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XE2/WD9EWK from DM21 and DM22 yesterday
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Hi! As I'm getting ready to make the 45-minute drive from Calexico CA to the hamfest at Yuma AZ, I wanted to post a little more about my exploits (along with Larry KI6YAA and his son Kevin KJ6DDS) yesterday... It took longer to get paperwork yesterday morning in Mexicali. Instead of a 5- to 10-minute process at the border to get the "tourist card" entry visa required to apply for the XE ham permit, it took over 20 minutes. More paperwork was required, to satisfy any Mexican army checkpoints away from the city (which we did not see). Once that was done, and the newly-issued entry visas were photocopied, we went to the Mexican communications ministry office on the south end of Mexicali. Computer problems here delayed the process for Larry and me to file the paperwork for our XE radio permits, but we were able to get out of there in about 45 minutes. Instead of stopping for an early lunch before leaving Mexicali for DM21 after filing the paperwork for the permit, we left the city and drove quickly. Unfortunately, we were a few miles/km short of the DM21 boundary before the first AO-27 pass around 2025 UTC. We stopped at kilometer 61 on Mexico route 5, the highway from Mexicali to the town of San Felipe on the Gulf of California. After a few minutes to set up the station, XE2/WD9EWK was on the air from grid DM22ib (32 4.915 N 115 15.305 W). Since the plan for the day was to try for DM21, this AO-27 pass was the only time I transmitted from DM22 this afternoon. As usual for this satellite and a pass that favors the US east coast, it was busy. Even with that, XE2/WD9EWK logged 17 QSOs on the 7-minute pass. When this pass wrapped up, we packed my truck and first went north to a small shop to get some food and drink. After that, we drove south a little further. I was not so interested in working from the DM21/DM22 grid boundary, but definitely wanted to find a safe spot on the north edge of DM21 with good visibility to both the east and west. We found that spot south of kilometer 78 on route 5, parking near a bridge over a section of the Laguna Salada, a salty dry lakebed that is mostly below sea level and is the lowest spot in northern Baja California. According to GPS, this was in grid DM21jw (31 56.845 N 115 12.612 W). SO-50 came up from the south around 2130 UTC, and we were ready. Larry and Kevin were taking pictures and listening to the passes with their gear, and I was working stations with my gear. The first contact I logged at DM21jw was with Omar XE1AO in central Mexico. I also heard ND9M on this pass, when Jim parked at the DL79/DM70 grid boundary in Texas. Very nice to work him there, even as I wished I could have made that contact when I was closer to home. :-) In all, I was able to log 13 QSOs on this pass. Not long after that SO-50 pass, I had another AO-27 pass to the west at 2205 UTC. Fewer stations were on, but I was able to work all of them - 7 in all. At this point, Alex XE2BSS/N2IX drove down from Mexicali and joined us for the rest of the afternoon. The AO-51 pass that came by around 2240 UTC was one I had not planned to work originally. The maximum elevation for this pass was only 2 degrees, but it was in the direction that had no obstructions for at least 100 miles in that direction. Nothing got in the way at this roadside spot from NNW working clockwise around to SSE. I was able to hear stations around 2243 UTC when I had AOS, worked 6 stations between 2245 and 2249 UTC, and the satellite simply went away as predicted at 22:49:23 UTC. Twenty minutes later, another SO-50 pass came up from the southwest toward the Pacific coast. Eight stations were worked, from the west coast across to KD8CAO in Michigan in the last seconds I could hear the downlink. Again, I could make QSOs down to the horizon in the direction SO-50 went away from me (NNE). The second AO-51 pass I had out here came by at 0017 UTC. This was the pass with the highest elevation I had all afternoon at DM21jw, with maximum elevation of 51 degrees toward the east. ND9M was on from another grid (DM80), and we both worked lots of stations. I logged a total of 17 QSOs on this pass. Even though the third - and last - AO-51 pass from DM21jw was scheduled to appear at 0157 UTC, just after sunset, we decided to stay out for this pass. We also saw NH7WN's e-mail and his plans to work this pass from Honolulu, and I wanted to try to make a contact with him before we left this area. Two minutes into the pass, I heard Robert through the satellite, and we made the contact. Robert was very happy, and all of us in the salty lakebed were also happy with this. I don't know if NH7WN has worked Mexico via satellite before, but it was our pleasure to have had the chance to make that QSO last night. Seven other stations in the USA and western Canada were logged before the satellite went behind a mountain at 0208 UTC. NH7WN also worked a few stations while he could hear the satellite. We packed up our equipment with the light from our vehicles. The sunlight had evaporated during the last AO-51 pass, and we did not want to stay out there into the nighttime. Alex and I drove back to Mexicali, making the 78km drive in about an hour. We met another Mexicali ham when we reached the city, David XE2DAK. David has been on the satellites lately, and was very interested in hearing of our stories from this afternoon. For the afternoon, XE2/WD9EWK logged 78 QSOs - 19 from DM22ib, and 59 from DM21jw. Some stations were worked from both grids, and others were only worked in one or the other. I think that these passes, despite the presence of other stations in unusual or rare grids along with my station, gave many the opportunity to get all of these grids in their logs. ND9M was on a few passes, along with NH7WN on the western AO-51 pass. When I return home, I will design and print QSL cards for both of these locations. I will be happy to send QSLs to all who worked XE2/WD9EWK yesterday, and I would like to receive your QSLs for these contacts toward a future satellite VUCC certificate from that area. Thanks to all the stations on these 7 passes for the QSOs, to my audience for the afternoon (Larry KI6YAA, Kevin KJ6DDS, and Alex XE2BSS/N2IX), and Mother Nature for a nice afternoon to sit in the middle of the dry lakebed. Lots of photos were taken, along with a nice high-quality video of the 0017 UTC AO-51 pass; all of this will find its way on the Internet shortly. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK (and, for the next 6 months, XE2/WD9EWK) http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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HO-68 Schedule - 21-28 Feb 2010
by Alan Kung 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

21 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 17:15...Turn On India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 18:00...Turn Off 19:05...Turn On Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:50...Turn Off 22 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 02:53...Turn On FM/Digital Transponder North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:08...Turn Off 11:05...Turn On Oceania,South Asia,East Asia, North Asia, Europe 11:50...Turn Off 20:20...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 21:05...Turn Off 23 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 01:40...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 02:25...Turn Off 02:39...Turn On FM/Digital Transponder North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:55...Turn Off 03:30...Turn On NA,South America,North Asia 04:15...Turn Off 12:40...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 13:25...Turn Off 18:30...Turn On India,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:15...Turn Off 20:05...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:50...Turn Off 24 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 02:18...Turn On FM/Digital North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:33...Turn Off 10:35...Turn On Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 11:20...Turn Off 13:10...Turn On Europe,NA,South America 13:55...Turn Off 16:20...Turn On India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 17:05...Turn Off 23:30...Turn On South America,Europe,NA 24:15...Turn Off 25 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 02:05...Turn On FM/Digital Transponder North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:21...Turn Off 02:55...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:40...Turn Off 07:00...Turn On NA,North Asia,Middle East,Europe,Africa 07:45...Turn Off 10:20...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 11:05...Turn Off 16:05...Turn On India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 16:50...Turn Off 19:45...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA, 20:30...Turn Off 26 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 00:55...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 01:35...Turn Off 10:05...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 10:50...Turn Off 19:25...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 20:10...Turn Off 23:10...Turn On South America,NA,Asia,Oceania 23:55...Turn Off 27 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 02:25...Turn On South America,NA,North Asia 03:10...Turn Off 12:45...Turn On South America,Oceania 13:30...Turn Off 19:10...Turn On Africa,Europe,NA 19:55...Turn Off 28 Feb. 2010, Linear Transponder ======================================= 03:04...Turn On FM/Digi Transponder North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:19...Turn Off 08:15...Turn On North Asia,Europe,Africa 09:00...Turn Off 11:15...Turn On Oceania,Asia,Europe 12:00...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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mode b ao7 looking for dx
by paul robinson 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

ill be active mode b ao7 looking west coast mid west usa dx later around 145.950 please call if heard...73 de paul 2e1eub io92bx

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AO-51 pass Hawaiian QSOs
by Robert Smith 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

WOW What a pass! What a fantastic bunch of guys! Textbook ettiquette. Unreal. Mahalo everybody for coming up on that last pass near Hawaii. It was great to hear old friends and new voices as well. Pretty much 59 all the way. I will send audio per request. 73 and THANKS de NH7WN robert, BL11, Honolulu

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Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
by Louis House, KD5GM 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Simply fascinating, Thank you gentlemen for the great information. CW, The original digital mode LOUIS, KD5GM > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:35:27 -0800 > From: Wayne Estes <w9ae(a)charter.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32 > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: <4B7C530F.7010600(a)charter.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Mark Hammond wrote: > > SatPC32 has a special program for the Sun and Moon. It's called SuM. > You can find it under the Start/Programs button, with the SatPC32 > programs. > > Wayne replies: > > The separate SuM program controls rotors and displays the moon's az/el, > but it doesn't display the moon's visibility footprint on a world map. > I can see how EME operators would want Moon Keps in the main SatPC32 > program in order to see the moon's visibility footprint. > > Wayne Estes W9AE > Oakland, Oregon, USA, XCN83ik > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:21:30 EST > From: MLengruesser(a)aol.com > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32 > To: w9ae(a)charter.net, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: <16174.19d6c949.38adc5ea(a)aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi all. > to work with planets in main SatPC32 with footprints, create this 2 files > below. > > select in main menue bottom "satellite" , "group" , "planets" > ok > and work like normal satellites > > > C:\Dokumente und > Einstellungen\admin\Anwendungsdaten\SatPC32\Kepler\moon.txt > > C:\dokuments and adjustments\admin\userdata\SatPC32\Keps\moon.txt > > > C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\admin\Anwendungsdaten\SatPC32\planets.SAT > > C:\dokuments and adjustments\admin\userdata\SatPC32\planets.SAT > > > > moon.text file: > > MOON > 1 00000U 00000A 10019.90529622 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0004 > 2 00000 25.1631 348.5977 0637000 142.8591 221.8486 00.036600996 6 > > > planets.SAT file: > > MOON > + > > > > 73 > Michael, DD5ER > Amsat - DL > > ------------------------------ >

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XE2/WD9EWK from DM22 (1 pass) & DM21 (several passes) today
by Patrick STODDARD 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Hi! Still sitting in DM21jw 45 miles/78km south of the city of Mexicali and the USA/Mexico border, enjoying the afternoon here. I was not able to get here in time for the 2025 UTC AO27 pass, which was worked from a few miles/km north of here in DM22. I hope to hear NH7WN on the next AO51 pass. I worked 1 AO27 pass, 2 SO50 passes, and - so far - 2 AO51 passes. Lots of QSOs, and many thanks to all on these passes. It has been nice to work ND9M, and hear many work both of us this afternoon. This has also been a demonstration for hams in the Mexicali/Calexico area at the border. Larry KI6YAA, Kevin KJ6DDS, and Alex XE2BSS/N2IX have been down here with me on route 5 on the Laguna Salada - a mostly dry lakebed at sea level. KI6YAA now has a 6-month Mexican ham permit, so maybe I can get a shot at working DM21 when I'm back home when he is on as XE2/KI6YAA. :-) More to follow later. I will be on at the Yuma (Arizona) hamfest tomorrow afternoon and Saturday with demonstrations. Hope to hear you then. 73! Patrick XE2/WD9EWK - south of Mexicali, Baja California http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Short road trip
by Gkcarr 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Drew, I am missing EM72 and EM85. Any chance for either? tnx and 73, George WA5KBH EM30 -----Original message----- From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:11:33 -0600 To: Amsat-BB amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [Spam] [amsat-bb] Short road trip > I'll be headed to Knoxville tomorrow morning, and back on Sunday. None > of the grids between EL88 and EM75 are particularly rare, but if you > need something along the I75 corridor, let me know by email tonight. > I'll also have email while on the road. I could probably justify coming > home down the west side of Georgia through the EM7x grids if lots of > folks need something in there. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > _______________________________________________ > 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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Thanks to the travelers
by Tim - N3TL 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Thanks to Jim, ND9M, and Patrick, WD9WEK, for taking the time and making the effort to activate so many grid for satellite operators. Many of the grids they've worked passes from are fairly rare. Thank again guys, Safe travels! 73, Tim - N3TL Athens, Ga. - EM84ha

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Hawaii and AO51
by Robert Smith 19 Feb '10

19 Feb '10

Aloha All Very late notice!! BUT, I will give 51 a try on the next pass at 0159Z (AOS). Max el. here is 4 deg. and the footprint should cover as far east as Colorado. Will QRP it with Arrow and HT after traveling to the easternly beach area of Oahu. Hope to year you. 73 de robert NH7WN BL11cg, Honolulu

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AMSAT and Software Discounts
by Perry Yantis 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Yes MacDoppler is still sold at a discount from Amsat. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/software.php http://www.dogparksoftware.com/MacDoppler.html Perry WB8OTH

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Thanks to the travelers
by Gkcarr 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Great work, Guys. Much apprecaited. George WA5KBH -----Original message----- From: "Rick - WA4NVM" wa4nvm(a)comcast.net Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:10:25 -0600 To: "Tim - N3TL" n3tl(a)bellsouth.net, amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org Subject: [Spam] [amsat-bb] Thanks to the travelers > > Ditto........ Super Job! > > Rick - WA4NVM > > > > Thanks to Jim, ND9M, and Patrick, WD9WEK, for taking the time and making > > the > > effort to activate so many grid for satellite operators. Many of the grids > > they've worked passes from are fairly rare. > > > > > > > > Thank again guys, Safe travels! > > > > > > > > 73, > > > > > > > > Tim - N3TL > > > > Athens, Ga. - EM84ha > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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Re: Acceptable Use
by Clint Bradford 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

>> ... How do you expect to grow the organization if new people cant even get into the satellites ... I am sorry that you are experiencing that phenomenon in your area. I am out in Southern California - where there are more operators during West Coast passes than possibly any other region of the U.S. I am not bragging, but just pointing out that the possibility for "abuse" is probably greater when more operators are working. But even on Field Day .. and JOTA ... and the weekend passes - I can darned near always "show off" low power sat ops to others during demos and presentations on '51, '27, and '50 ... Hopefully, it is just a short-lived problem for you. Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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AMSAT and Software Discounts
by Clint Bradford 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

AMSAT members receive a little discount on SatPC32 - that's on the AMSAT store page. But is MacDopplerPro still being offered at a discount for members? What other software programs are available "through" AMSAT? (I am updating my Work-Sat Web site ...) Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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Short road trip
by Andrew Glasbrenner 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

I'll be headed to Knoxville tomorrow morning, and back on Sunday. None of the grids between EL88 and EM75 are particularly rare, but if you need something along the I75 corridor, let me know by email tonight. I'll also have email while on the road. I could probably justify coming home down the west side of Georgia through the EM7x grids if lots of folks need something in there. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Nice DX qso via A07 @7132KM
by paul robinson 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Althrough not a record nice contact on mode b last nite via ao7 i worked wc7v at a distance of 7132km...im always looking west coast dirrection please listen for me ...thanks again ao7 what a great bird ! de paul 2e1eub

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Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
by MLengruesser＠aol.com 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Hi all. to work with planets in main SatPC32 with footprints, create this 2 files below. select in main menue bottom "satellite" , "group" , "planets" > ok and work like normal satellites C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\admin\Anwendungsdaten\SatPC32\Kepler\moon.txt C:\dokuments and adjustments\admin\userdata\SatPC32\Keps\moon.txt C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\admin\Anwendungsdaten\SatPC32\planets.SAT C:\dokuments and adjustments\admin\userdata\SatPC32\planets.SAT moon.text file: MOON 1 00000U 00000A 10019.90529622 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0004 2 00000 25.1631 348.5977 0637000 142.8591 221.8486 00.036600996 6 planets.SAT file: MOON + 73 Michael, DD5ER Amsat - DL

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Re: Nice DX qso via A07 @7132KM
by Bob- W7LRD 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Hello Paul & fellow AO-7 friends I will be improving my capability to reach out to some European dx. I am adding a preamp on 2M and finally making my CP switching actually work. I have heard 2E1EUB, RN1NW, UA1OEJ, a SM3???, and a very few others. So far my only contact is with Mika-OH8MBN. I would like to increase my satellite array to 40-50 feet. However that is approaching divorce height. My goal is to connect with Eric-PA1TNO in JO22Li, that distance will be 7837km. I must remember, "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it". I am considering taking some equipment and go to a local mountain top! (much cheaper than a divorce lawyer). 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle, Wa. CN87wk ----- Original Message ----- From: "paul robinson" <pushbiker2004(a)yahoo.co.uk> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2010 12:01:27 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] Nice DX qso via A07 @7132KM Althrough not a record nice contact on mode b last nite via ao7 i worked wc7v at a distance of 7132km...im always looking west coast dirrection please listen for me ...thanks again ao7 what a great bird ! de paul 2e1eub _______________________________________________ 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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2M1EUB/P SCOTLAND DATES
by paul robinson 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Hi group please chq out new dates for opperations in scotland this year ive just posted them via 2m1eub on qrz.com page...73 de paul 2e1eub

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ND9M Road trip Update #11
by claryco＠aol.com 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

We spent the last several days camping in DL88 at Big Bend National Park, about a mile from the Rio Grande River. The riverside campsite we'd been assured three times was ours for the taking turned out to have been destroyed by flooding in 2008; so much for keeping current. But at least our backup campsite was 2000-plus feet inside the line. Six passes were worked from the campsite, another one from the river's edge itself (couldn't resist the photo op!), and three more from the DL88/DL89 line. The only downside to the stay was the last pass on Tuesday (AO51, 16/2355Z) when the FT817ND that I use for RX failed to fire up. After basic troubleshooting and with the bird only five minutes from making its appearance, I broke out the back up 817 that had never been used before and configured it for use just in time. By the way, if my XYL, Cori, hadn't earned her driving stripes after several thousand miles leading up to arriving at Big Bend, she certainly did on the way to the campsite after dealing with what turned out to be a very notorious "Black Gap" roadway. It wasn't until we returned to the park's registration office as we left the park this afternoon that we were told that travelling on that particular roadway was not advisable! Our muffler looks like someone took a baseball bat to it, but at least it's still intact. Tomorrow (18 Feb), we'll backtrack to DL79 for the AO27 which rises at 2018Z. We may stick around for the next AO27 pass at 18/2200Z, but we're not sure about that one. In any case, we'll shoot for operating from DM80 on both So50 (18/2128Z and AO51 (18/2238Z and 19/0016Z). On Friday, we'll start heading southeast along the river toward Brownsville. 73, Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Fort Stockton, TX / DM80

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Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Feb.18 At 8PM EST On Echolink N2EYH-L
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

It is time again for the HVSG Net at 8PM EST on Echolink N2EYH-L on Feb.18. Please join us and share your satellite knowledge. We usually have up to four Amsat area coordinators check in to the net. Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary/WA2AQH

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Nextgen GPS
by Bob McGwier 18 Feb '10

18 Feb '10

Next generation GPS on the way to the pad. http://bit.ly/bEylvV

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Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
by Wayne Estes 17 Feb '10

17 Feb '10

Mark Hammond wrote: SatPC32 has a special program for the Sun and Moon. It's called SuM. You can find it under the Start/Programs button, with the SatPC32 programs. Wayne replies: The separate SuM program controls rotors and displays the moon's az/el, but it doesn't display the moon's visibility footprint on a world map. I can see how EME operators would want Moon Keps in the main SatPC32 program in order to see the moon's visibility footprint. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, XCN83ik

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PS, We Love You!
by Clint Bradford 17 Feb '10

17 Feb '10

Worked the "three Ps" last night on AO-51 - Palm Springs, Palo Alto, and Portland! About twenty folks showed up for the 5:37PM PST pass of AO-51 - although the real meeting and presentation didn't start until 7PM. My thanks to the Desert RATS club for packin' the house last night - we had a great time! The old and the new: This Friday my "Work-Sat.com" show goes to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum and the K6AA club. They started up in 1925! Then to Cal Poly Pomona club on Monday the 22nd, which is just being resurrected on campus. Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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