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East Coast Launch tonight!
by Robert Bruninga 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

If skies are clear, look for a rocket launch from Wallops tonight between 7:30 to 7:57 PM. It should be visible over most of the mid-atlantic states. It is an optical tracking experiment, so will only launch if skies are clear. Alternate launch dates are clear nights from 16th through the 20th. The launch status can be followed on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops This is not the one that will be deploying a CUBESAT built by Students in Kentucky. But it is a good exercise in preparation for that launch sometime in October. That future flight will contain 1200 baud packet telemetry on the national APRS freuency of 144.39 for maximum probability of detection. That mission will last 10 minutes as the rocket heads southeast to an altitude of 350km before returning to earth minutes later. People with beams are encouraged to point to Wallops on that future flight for maximum probability of getting all packets. Bob, Wb4APR

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AMSAT Field Day
by Tim - N3TL 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Congratulations to John, K8YSE, and Doug, KD8CAO, for their winning effort in the AMSAT Field Day competition - operating as W8DXA. That's their mobile-antenna setup on the cover of the new issue of The AMSAT Journal, which arrived here today. It was nice to see an increase of entries this year. Here's hoping that trend continues well into the future. Thanks to Bruce, KK5DO, for taking the time to coordinate the AMSAT Field Day contest and for providing the article and final results to the Journal. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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SumbandilaSat launch postponed!
by Tim - N3TL 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Hey everyone, I just found the following on the AMSAT-South Africa home page: Due to high winds at the launch site and some telemetry issues on the rocket the launch has been delayed for 24 hours and will now take place on 16 September at around 15:45 UTC 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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Kenwood TS-2000 Birdies
by Nathaniel S. Parsons 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Hi all, I am a student on CUSat <http://cusat.cornell.edu>, one of Cornell University's satellite project teams. You may remember me from my previous call for help to resolve our antenna crises. I don't think I sent a follow-up to the bb, but we were able to recover from that crisis in large part due to your help, so thank you. Recently, it has come to my attention that the TS-2000, the transceiver in our ground station, has a birdie at 436.800MHz. To me, this seems very close to the frequency coordinated for our satellite by the IARU, 437.405 MHz. Should we worry about this, or will we be fine with the TS-2000? If the consensus is that it's best to switch radios, what would be best for us? We don't need anything more than VHF/UHF, and computer control. Thanks, Nate Parsons KC2SVI

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AO-7 question
by Randy 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

I , for the first time, tried to work AO-7. I could hear the beacon. The logs indicated it was in Mode A ? And that's what I tried .. But heard nothing. Not my own signal or anyone elses .. Was it active over the US during the 9ish AM pass? Randy - N2CUA

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SatPc32
by WCP 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Thanks for help with SatPc32.............Must be a better tracking program! Any suggestions?

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Help
by Jack Barbera 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Being some what new to amsat need a little help. When new SATS are placed in operation how are these loaded into SATPC32 program for tracking such as Sumbandilsat? Is there an easy way to switch from SATPC32 to SATPC32 ISS with out shutting down one to go to the other? Thanks for any help. Jack WA1ZDV

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Re: SumbandilaSat keps
by ps8rf Piraja 15 Sep '09

15 Sep '09

Hello Kostas, The keps of Sumbandila were not available so far. But the rocket launch is scheduled for 19:55 Moscow time. 73, Pirajá, PS8RF _________________________________________________________________ Acesse seu Hotmail de onde quer que esteja através do celular. Clique aqui. http://www.windowslive.com.br/celular/home.asp?utm_source=MSN_Hotmail&utm_m…

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Sumbandila early operations
by Pieter Kotze 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hello all Saw some information being exchanged about Sumbandila. Please note that the Amateur payload will probably not be switched on straight after launch. Commissioning is most likely to be performed from Stellenbosch South Africa only. So telemetry will only be heard whilst in contact with the groundstation and NOT on the amateur frequencies. There are a number of hams involved in the project so rest assured the amateur payload will be supported as soon as practical and safe. Regards Pieter ZS1PK/M0PAK -- This message is subject to the CSIR's copyright terms and conditions, e-mail legal notice, and implemented Open Document Format (ODF) standard. The full disclaimer details can be found at http://www.csir.co.za/disclaimer.html. This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. MailScanner thanks Transtec Computers for their support.

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Re: Sumbandilasat keps
by Mineo Wakita 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Subject: SumbandilSat TLE From: Mineo Wakita To: saamsat Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:00:37 +0900 Hello, Do you have an early element of SumbandilSat ? Thank you. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/sumbandi.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita RE: SumbandilSat TLE From: Hans To: Mineo Wakita Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 07:14:54 +0200 Unfortunately not Hans

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AO-40 (R.I.P.) query
by Samudra Haque 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hi, I was looking at some information from the 2005 Edition of the ARRL handbook, which referred to AO-40 in some detail... but of course, AO-40 is non-functional at present. The information I was able to gather from web sources imply there is a "chance" the primary battery may become open-circuit, and the secondary battery might become operational if the panels are still charging. Q: Was there any watchdog facility onboard the AO-40 that operated directly off the charging bus prior to the battery ? If so, what was the capability of the watchdog facility ? Q: Is the bird still in orbit, or has it decayed or is decaying ? Q: Under normal lifespan, what was the intention of the designers when time came to have it shutdown ? Where there any deorbit plans ? Q: If the AO-40 satellite is still up there, is anyone listening ? Samudra, N3RDX

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Re: Presentation--Introduction to Amateur radio?
by Clint Bradford 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

"Amateur Radio Today" is a good six-minute video, narrated by Walter Cronkite ... http://www.arrl.org/ARToday/ Clint Bradford 909-241-7666 >> ... Does anybody have an "Introduction to Amateur Radio" PowerPoint presentation ....

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Re: Beacon tone beeping
by Rodney Waln 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

hi, all i am also hearing it and i accidentally have done it in the past (Fixed now) is it ATRS or smart beaconing or range beaconing?? even heard some aprs the other night, and some dead carriers with interference, i had to turn my ATRS off or it will do it when transmitting it was on by default, Rodney kc0zhf

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Re: Kenwood TM D700A Satgate?
by Rodney Waln 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

hi, and welcome to the fun world of learning satellites (i am still learning) this will show you the setup in detail with pictures http://www.aj3u.com/tm-d700-tips/ all credit goes to him (them) i am just passing on the information :-) Rodney kc0zhf

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Re: Kenwood TM D700A Satgate
by Rodney Waln 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

hi, and welcome to the fun world of learning satellites (i am still learning) this will show you the setup in detail with pictures http://www.aj3u.com/tm-d700-tips/ all credit goes to him (them) i am just passing on the information :-) Rodney kc0zhf

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Sumbandilasat keps
by Kostas Ioannidis 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hello all, Are there any preliminary keplerians for the Sumbandila Sat? I want to catch it as soon as possible. 73 de sw1ixp, Kostas Ioannidis

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Re: ISS
by Erich Eichmann 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hello, my mail to you was twice returned by the Mail Delivery System, I don't know why. Here my text again: Make sure that you are using actual Keps, that the PC clock is exact and that you entered your locaction correctly. You may compare the ISS position in the SatPC32 world map with the position shown on the AMSAT site: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/satloc.php If the positions in both maps are equal probably your location entry will be the reason for the wrong AOS. 73s, Erich, DK1TB ----- Original Message ----- From: "WCP" <wcp2(a)mchsi.com> To: <dk1tb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 4:39 AM Subject: ISS > Trouble tracking ISS with SatPC32 . My SatPC32 running under WIN98SE > always > has ISS AOS about 20min. late. I have Ver 12.7 #GI102116121 > Any idea what I might be doing wrong? KA9ERV > WCP > >

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Re: Volunteered
by rwmcgwier＠gmail.com 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Only if people end this nearly useless thread. This ground is so beaten down it is not funny. Member dues and most of their donations do not buy a single component. But to live to fight another day and to keep "those who can" thinking about things to do for those "those who use" and even "those who mostly whine and do nothing at all except whine" these member donations are vital to the organization's health. The amsat organization is undergoing some reorg. Lots of different faces on the board and different faces in engineering even with our inability to get a significant launch speaks well for the potential of the organization. I think personally that those who complain should go stand in front of the mirror and ask themselves 1) what have I personally done for the organization lately? 2) follow that with "Am I part of the problem or the solution?" Bob LM N4HY ------Original Message------ From: Randy Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org To: amsat bb ReplyTo: RSwart1(a)twcny.rr.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered Sent: Sep 10, 2009 10:46 PM Bruce filled me in on where a lot of the "donations" go.. Couple others beat me up .. LOL So is there a win-win on this topic ? Randy _______________________________________________ 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 from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Beacon tone beeping
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

This may have been asked in the past, but I cant find any reference to it, but for several weeks now, on both AO-51 and today on SO-50 passes, I heard beeping tones along with the carriers. These tones sounded just like the Sputnik beeps from years long ago. (yes, I was around for it) No one I've asked about them knows the answer, so I am bringing this to this forum. Also, on SO-50 seems we are getting some spurious conversations on the same carrier as the satellite. Wonder if those are just mixes, and they usually are more prevelant over Mexico than over the US proper. John W6ZKH

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Kenwood TM D700A Satgate?
by Robert Smith 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Aloha I have a relatively "new" D700 which I use exclusively for satellite work. The unit operates more as a base station than mobile, but on occasion I will take the Kenwood into the field for low passes in order to "hit" the mainland (Voice). Currently, I seem to be the only operational Satgate in Hawaii. Because of the nature of my setup it it somewhat cumbersome to take into the field (unlike an HT). Question: Is there a means of xmitting, receiving and Igating with the Kenwood? I have seen a tips article on the web that describes how to route terrestrial traffic to the ISS but the article doesn't appear to describe the operator doing the same? What I envision is xmitting to ISS/PSCAT on channel B (packet); freq. 145.825 up AND down and Igating the digipeated packet on channel A; freq 144.390 into the APRS system (findu). It does me no good to climp to the top of a mountain to digipeat the ISS if there is not a functional Satgate to Igate that traffic. Doing this at home is simple with UISS/UIVIEW/AGWPE and other software. Perhaps my hangup is paths, ie W3ADO-1 versus WIDE2-2 etc etc, ie, just a configuration thing. Can this be done purely mobile?? Comments, refs, would be greately appreciated. Mahalo and 73. Respectfully robert NH7WN, Honolulu ps: Yes, I am still "learning this radio"

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KH6 on Ao51
by RONALD CADE 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Aloha from Kauai I will be on Ao51 this aftenoon at 4:48 Hawaii time from BL01. Ron, W6ZQ

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Presentation--Introduction to Amateur radio?
by Mark L. Hammond 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hi all, I'm giving 2 talks in the next 2 weeks to two compeletey different audiences. This Thursday will be to the Johnston Amateur Radio Society, and I hope to do a live demonstration during the ~7pm Eastern pass of AO-51! The point of this email, however, is that the following week I am going to talk about our satellites to non-hams. Does anybody have an "Introduction to Amateur Radio" PowerPoint presentation (rather than an "Introduction to Satellites, which we have on our web site)? Thanks in advance for any help...I figure why reinvent the wheel? :) -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: SumbandilaSat Frequencies
by G0MRF＠aol.com 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

So with all the space on 70cm..... The voice beacon is on the same frequency as AO-51. Is that right ? David G0MRF In a message dated 14/09/2009 10:21:05 GMT Standard Time, ps8rf(a)hotmail.com writes: The SumbandilaSat will be released this week on september 15. Frequencies Mode V/U FM voice Transponder and Parrot 145,880 MHz Uplink 435,350 MHz Downlink Beacon Voice: 435,300 MHz

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KB9BIT DM86/87
by Thomas Laskowski 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

I will plan to make two trips to the DM86/87 grid boundary which is the OK-CO state line about 6 miles north of my current QTH in DM86. This will depend on the weather. I plan to be on: 16 Sept on AO-51 for the 23:57 pass 17 Sept on SO-50 for the 00:47 pass 19 Sept on SO-50 for the 00:05 pass 19 Sept on AO-51 for the 00:17 pass I am currently still on most passes from DM86 in Kenton, OK. If you work(ed) me just drop me an email and I'll get a QSL card to you after I return home. 73 - KB9BIT portable DM86 in Oklahoma

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REMINDER
by Martha 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Time is running out ! The cut-off date for hotel reservations for the AMSAT Symposium is 9/23/09. The Hotel is the Four Points Sheraton BWI Airport. The phone number is 410-691-9827. The group name is Radio Amateur. Come help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary! -- 73- Martha

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FW: GB> rotor control
by Jerry 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

-----Original Message----- From: owner-glowbugs(a)piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jerry Sent: Sunday, September 13, 2009 6:57 PM To: glowbugs(a)piobaire.mines.uidaho.edu Subject: GB> rotor control Help: I,m working on a Yaesu G1000DXA rotor control unit. The rotor will show only 30 degees of rotation. Has any one had a problem like that.??? I put a spare control on it and indicator Works fine and is accurate. Jerry w0sat

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SumbandilaSat Frequencies
by ps8rf Piraja 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

The SumbandilaSat will be released this week on september 15. Frequencies Mode V/U FM voice Transponder and Parrot 145,880 MHz Uplink 435,350 MHz Downlink Beacon Voice: 435,300 MHz Tone CTCSS: After releasing the satellite into space, the controllers team will inform Tons CTCSS. The Amateur operation payload Work as follows: a tone for the transponder mode and other for parot mode. For some time if not match any submitted TONE, the satellite system will active the Voice Beacon. 73 Piraja, PS8RF _________________________________________________________________ Acesse seu Hotmail de onde quer que esteja através do celular. Clique aqui. http://www.windowslive.com.br/celular/home.asp?utm_source=MSN_Hotmail&utm_m…

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Re: AO-51 repeater back in operation
by Mark L. Hammond 14 Sep '09

14 Sep '09

Hi Andrew, AO-51 is essentially a "next generation" PACSAT. Each craft runs its own OS, which are all similar. Google Harold Price NK6K and you'll find this link: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/nk6k/msatmain.html It gives a few important tidbits so you can see the general picture of satellites, OS, file systems, etc. The size of the upload depends on the satellite; usually there are multiple files, and their sizes vary. In the end, it's something under 1MB in total. Each piece of code adds more functions. So, it's a flying computer with CPU and memory and the OS and applications have to be uploaded and started...not a foreign concept for anybody that has installed an application! Most satellites these days will probably use a the 9600 baud "standard" data rate for uploading. When you only get a few minutes to upload/test just a few times each day, it takes a while to pull the whole thing off using a 9600 baud RF connection. The good news is that Gould is really good at it :) 73, Mark N8MH ___ Re: AO-51 repeater back in operation Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 repeater back in operation From: "Andrew Rich" <vk4tec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:22:11 +1000 Could you explain a bit about the software load Operating system How much you have to upload data rates ? ---------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich Airways Technical Officer Grade 4 Surveillance - RADAR ADS-B Amateur Radio Callsign VK4TEC email: vk4tec(a)tech-software.net web: www.tech-software.net ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gould Smith" <gouldsmi(a)bellsouth.net> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 1:13 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 repeater back in operation >I turned on the main AO-51 repeater this morning (145.92/435.300). The >software reload continues, the software could crash when the last two tasks >are loaded and activated. > > 73, > Gould, WA4SXM for the Command Team Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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K5OE's Eggbeater antenna's
by Jerry Felts 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Does anyone have the plans to build a K5OE Potatoe Masher 2?? His website is no longer online. Just wondering and hoping someone saved the plans. -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota http://nr5abikeblog.blogspot.com/ http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/

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WD9EWK from DM34 yesterday
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi! I made a quick drive up the I-17 freeway yesterday to the Sunset Point rest area, about 50 miles/80km north of Phoenix in grid DM34we. I had intended on trying my hand in the ARRL VHF contest that was in progress, using the all-mode gear I typically use on VO-52. No luck there, but I did work two passes from the rest area (one each, on AO-27 and SO-50) before a thunderstorm prevented me from trying one more SO-50 pass around sunset. I only logged 17 QSOs between those two passes. This spot is close enough to the Phoenix area where I can return to it for future satellite activity on short notice. I think most of you who worked me up there yesterday already have grid DM34 confirmed from my past trips, where I've worked from several different locations in this grid including a couple of grid boundaries (DM34/DM35 and DM34/DM44) in the last couple of years. If you would like to receive a QSL card confirming a QSO from yesterday, please e-mail me directly. If you're in the log, I'll send out a card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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ic-910 switching help
by andy thomas 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

I know this is an old chestnut, but when in satpc32 and with both frequencies set on the iss simplex 145.825, satpc32 shows the up/downlink doppler but switches the 70cm tx subband. How do I configure so that the up and down links can be in the same band? immediate problem is packet on the iss (in between pollux!) I found out it couldn't be done in HRD so i am evaluating satpc32. 73 de andy g0sfj

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Fw: 2M1EUB/P QRV N.E.SCOTLAND 10/OCT
by paul robinson 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi group ill be active as normal from my holiday qth in N.E Scotland (io87mc) from 10.oct.09 for abt 14 days...on all sats MOSTLEY A07 and 80m and 160m ...using the call sign 2M1EUB/P more info can be found on qrz/2m1eub.....THIS IS A DIFFICULT QTH TO OPPERATE LOW PASS FROM ! so if you here me be quick due to high mountains! enjoy the 14 day activity! 73 de paul 2E1EUB

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AO-51 repeater back in operation
by Gould Smith 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

I turned on the main AO-51 repeater this morning (145.92/435.300). The software reload continues, the software could crash when the last two tasks are loaded and activated. 73, Gould, WA4SXM for the Command Team

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FN51 operations
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

All, I just tried to work the last pass on SO-50, unfortunately, there is a ton of QRM here. I am going to relocate and give it another shot soon. 73, Dave KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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AO-51 update 12 Sept 2009
by Mark L. Hammond 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Reloading of the satellite continues. From the front page of the AMSAT web page: AO-51 is off the air while the software reload is in progress. We hope to have it operational by the first of the week. AO-51 Command team 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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FN51 operations
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hello all, I have arrived at FN51 on Cape Cod. Unfortunately, it is raining, thundering, and a bit of lightning. I think it is best to hold off for a bit from waving my lightning rod at the sky. If things clear up a bit, I will give it a shot. The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow. 73, Dave KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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AMSAT Symposium---40th Anniversary is Quickly Approaching
by Frank H. Bauer 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

All, If you have not made your reservations for the AMSAT symposium, please do so as soon as you can!! This will be AMSAT's 40th anniversary and we are planning some great events at the symposium. And there is a lot of "free stuff" and amenities at this symposium..so a great deal of bang for your buck. For example: Free internet in the rooms and in the conference facility Free parking All AMSAT member get free admittance to the 40th Anniversary Party Friday Evening---food, cake, etc. Beautiful flat screen televisions in each room Great Banquet Speaker--- Martin Collins, Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum Curator, Space History Museum, "Making the Space Age, the First 50 years" High-Caliber paper presentations on recent Satellite Developments and satellite operations Poster Session with Satellite, University, and ARISS activities presented. An AMSAT 40th anniversary retrospective is included IARU Satellite Forum ARISS Operations Team Meeting---ARISS team members and new volunteers are welcome to attend Great prizes from major ham radio manufacturers So make your reservations! We look forward to seeing many of you in "Charm City"-Baltimore, Maryland-for the AMSAT 40th Anniversary Celebration. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and Janet Bauer 2009 AMSAT Symposium Co-Chairs Ps If you haven't already done so, consider presenting a paper this year. Dan Schultz is still accepting papers via n8fgv(a)amsat.org. And I plan to post the meeting agenda in the next couple of days (we are having a Symposium team meeting this evening-so you will get the latest information).

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OT: 23cm EME operators in Chili
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hi all, any 23cm EME operators in Chili on the list that are willing to participate in a special event, pse contact me off list. thanks & 73, Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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Mode A antennas?
by John Geiger 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

What is the minimal antenna you can use on 10m to hear the AO7 downlink in Mode A? I have a homebrew G5RV type antenna up and can't hear AO7 on it at all. What kind of antennas are others using on 10m for mode A? 73s John AA5JG

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Re: Volunteered
by Randy 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Although I agree that a phone call is good as well .. I pay dues to AMSAT and don't think a maintained website is a lot to ask in return.. Randy - N2CUA """So if someone wants to volunteer and they use the volunteer function of the AMSAT website and it doesn't work and someone doesn't get in touch with you... IT IS AMSAT's FAULT? Is that it? So if you order something from the AMSAT website or any website and the item never arrives... YOU JUST FORGET IT? This is a mindset of failure! A HORRENDOUS COP OUT FOLKS!!! The AMSAT office has a phone. The number is on the website, please use it! Do you really want to volunteer? PROVE IT! AND FOLLOW THRU! PROMISES DON'T GET THINGS DONE! Mike, WB8CXO"""

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Re: Mode A antennas?
by ps8rf Piraja 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hello John, I use a dipole monobanda of wire for 40 m when the satellite is closest to my station. When satellites moves away from my station, I use a 3-element yagi for 10, 15 and 20m. Unfortunately until now I could not work stations out of Brazil in mode A, considered that Brazil is a country with vast territory. I think it's possible to work stations in ssb outside of Brazil, it's just a matter of time. 73 Piraja, PS8RF _________________________________________________________________ Você sabia que pode acessar o Messenger direto do seu Hotmail? Descubra como! http://www.microsoft.com/brasil/windows/windowslive/products/tutoriais.aspx

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G5400B rotor maintenance
by Gopal Madhavan 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Adding to Alan's suggestions, may I suggest that when the screws holding the two halves are replaced, you use Allen head bolts as they are much easier to remove later. Hex bolts sometimes are difficult to get a spanner on. I have done that for my rotors A source for repairs is RotorNorm, who has spares for all types of rotors and undertakes complete rebuilding if need be, but servicing these are quite simple Gopal VU2GMN -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org Sent: Saturday, September 12, 2009 08:13 To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 461 Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to amsat-bb(a)amsat.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org You can reach the person managing the list at amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: G5400B rotor maintenance (Alan VE4YZ) 2. Re: Volunteered (W4ART Arthur Feller) 3. Re: Volunteered (Bill Ress) 4. How can I serve AMSAT today? (John P. Toscano) 5. Re: Volunteered (Rocky Jones) 6. Re: Volunteered (Joseph Armbruster) 7. handheld whip (w7lrd(a)comcast.net) 8. Re: handheld whip (Dave Webb KB1PVH) 9. Re: handheld whip (George Henry) 10. Re: Volunteered (Rocky Jones) 11. Re: handheld whip (Tim - N3TL) 12. Re: GS232A & GS232B (codrut buda) 13. Re: Volunteered (Bill Ress) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:10:55 -0500 From: "Alan VE4YZ" <ve4yz(a)mts.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: G5400B rotor maintenance To: <w6zkh(a)comcast.net>, "'amsat-bb'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <3B107D8E16B54EABA9433DE100A3DCF2@Athlon> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" First determine whether it is just a dirty or worn winding in the POT that is causing needle flicker. Run the rotator on the bench with an ohm meter across A2 and A1, then A2 and A3 ( same numbering on the EL - see schematic ) while running full rotation. Don't connect the 1,2, 3 terminals to the controller. If it is smooth and uniform 0-500 ohms there is nothing wrong in the rotators except your noise problem. I've found the AZ always noisier than the EL. Storing the AZ upside down ( or in fact mounting it up side down as I once did in error ) is big trouble as water will run into the ball race and probably rust a few of the ball bearings and compromise the grease. They can be replaced easily and new grease installed. That was probably your stuck rotator. It is probably all you need to do to get the noise problem resolved. It should at least be inspected to see what damage was done by storing upside down exposed to the elements as dirt will have been cared in with the rain. It is not too difficult to get inside and snoop around. You can start my just removing the inspection plate to see the condition of the internal POT. My experience is that the EL rarely needs to be opened up as it doesn't do much travelling - at most 180 degrees but I bet most folks don't flip their EL and so all it does is go up and down 90 degrees most of its life with far fewer jogs than the AZ. Below is a link to a rebuild where I replaced many of the metric screws and did a re-grease for our -40/+40C WX in EN19. The ball bearing were not replaced as they were pristine. Make sure you have a place for metric machine screws before you start to open up. The Home Depots in Canada had all the metric screws I needed. For Canadians contemplating a rebuild, I found Canadian Tire had the largest selection of metric screws followed by Roma and then Home Depot. Auto suppliers will also have them for the "foreign" cars made in NA. http://picasaweb.google.com/ve4yz.alan/RotatorRebuild2009# Good luck... Alan -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of w6zkh(a)comcast.net Sent: September 11, 2009 12:47 PM To: amsat-bb Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400B rotor maintenance I recently picked up a G5400B AZ-EL rotor unit, which had been down on ground for sometime. I recall it had been stored upside down outdoors. When I got it home and hooked it up in the shop, the Azmiuth rotor was stuck, but some manual help, broke whatever was stuck loose and it started to operate, even abit noisy. The Elevation rotor is nice and quiet and works fine. I notice now, after being used for afew weeks, that the noise is getting more pronounced and also the meter indicator flickers, so I suspect water probably got into the unit. Who does repair work on these rotors? I dont dare try it myself, as I know I would end up with extra parts at the end of the day, even working in a tub. So, would appreciate any help in finding a business that repairs these Yaesu rotors.. 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 ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:26:14 -0400 From: W4ART Arthur Feller <afeller(a)ieee.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> Cc: rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <87D0E56D-304C-4310-BA7B-4ABE915585D6(a)ieee.org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed; delsp=yes Robert, Hurling questions and accusations is easy, but, doesn't seem to help. Keeping up with what's going on (the information IS available) and PARTICIPATING in the work will provide a solid platform from which to speak. Dive in! And, let's try to keep the discussion constructive. 73, art..... W4ART/3 Washington DC LM 113 On 11-Sep-2009, at 2:30 PM, Rocky Jones wrote: > > Bob > > What has been remarkable about this thread, is that it has shown how > dysfunctional AMSAT NA is. > > Forget satelllite construction etc...people point out problems with > the web site and next thing you have is someone explaining who can > and cannot comment on the state of the organization (to paraphrase > "we dont need weak volunteers who are discouraged by no real method > of being able to volunteer one has to earn the right to be > critical...") > > Forget the ability to answer serious questions like (and I know its > annoying) "how was the suitsat 2 program allowed to not meet the > ability to use the "suits". > > And from what I can tell no one has a clue why Suitsat 1 failed (I > know it was a glorious success by just deploying) much less how to > avoid a repeat of that with a much more complicated followon which > is now functionally a new satellite. > > And of course the whole concept of board meetings which really are > not is entertaining. > > The answers are "you cannot criticize "us" we are working 16 to 18 > hour days doing things that no one else will do"... > > and then one wonders why donations are at an all time low. > > Robert WB5MZO Amsat NA life member > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. > http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON :WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 > _______________________________________________ > 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 What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and with love, and with joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back on our time here, we know that we spent it well; that we made a difference; that our fleeting presence had a lasting impact on the lives of others. - Barak Obama, 29 Aug 2009 ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:38:32 -0700 From: Bill Ress <bill(a)hsmicrowave.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> Cc: rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <4AAAA738.7070403(a)hsmicrowave.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Rocky Jones wrote: > Bob > > What has been remarkable about this thread, is that it has shown how dysfunctional AMSAT NA is. > > Forget satelllite It's satellite - by the way! construction etc...people point out problems with the web site and next thing you have is someone explaining who can and cannot comment on the state of the organization (to paraphrase "we dont need weak volunteers who are discouraged by no real method of being able to volunteer one has to earn the right to be critical...") > > Forget the ability to answer serious questions like (and I know its annoying) As a team memb"how was the suitsat 2 program allowed to not meet the ability to use the "suits". As a SuitSat team member, I gave you a brief answer offline and offered to get more detail if you so desired. You didn't respond. It's obvious to me that you really don't want an answer, You just want to be a boring, broken record. So I'll repeat the simple answer, here, why we missed the suit launch. Listen up. The SuitSat team is made up entirely of volunteers who have real jobs, families, and other responsibilities. Hey, we're just pursuing our Amateur radio HOBBY - not a professional job. Some of you folks talk like we're a Loral or Lockheed. Did you critics forget that Amateur radio satellites are a hobby - not a business? Well, by golly, along the way technical challenges delayed progress. Jobs and families got in the way. Son of a gun - we missed schedules. I'm not offering excuses, just offering the reality of having folks on the team that aren't getting paid for their fantastic efforts. Sure, it's not nice to have technical issues show up or to miss schedules but in the scheme of things, what have we lost - except maybe creditability in YOUR eyes. We now have a new satellite structure more suited for what we are trying to do technically - called ARRISat. The way you've been carrying on, I am so very glad we don't have you volunteering - even to stuff envelopes. You'd probably say that we were doing that wrong too. Personally, I thought that refunding your AMSAT life membership would make me feel better, but on further reflection, AMSAT should just keep your money since it is helping fund efforts to serve it's members who appreciate what volunteers are trying to do for them and their hobby. And if you think any of your comments have caused the ARRISat team to miss a beat on the way to our 2010 launch, then think again. This team has tackled and solved technical challenges more significant for the future of AMSAT and its members, than ANY of the issues you raise. Regards...Bill - N6GHz > > And from what I can tell no one has a clue why Suitsat 1 failed (I know it was a glorious success by just deploying) much less how to avoid a repeat of that with a much more complicated followon which is now functionally a new satellite. > > And of course the whole concept of board meetings which really are not is entertaining. > > The answers are "you cannot criticize "us" we are working 16 to 18 hour days doing things that no one else will do"... > > and then one wonders why donations are at an all time low. > > Robert WB5MZO Amsat NA life member > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. > http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON :WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:49:00 -0500 From: "John P. Toscano" <tosca005(a)tc.umn.edu> Subject: [amsat-bb] How can I serve AMSAT today? To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <4AAAA9AC.1050301(a)tc.umn.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Rather than tacking on more replies to the depressing multitude of arguments back and forth that have degenerated to the level of name-calling, let's try something that is actually POSITIVE for a change. The AMSAT web pages have tons of information on them. One of the big problems of having such a vast store of information is the impossibility of one or a small number of volunteers keeping it all current and up to date. Please trust me on this. I am the lone webmaster for another radio organization, and I KNOW from personal experience how hard it is to keep the thing going properly. I have admitted publicly on several occasions that I appreciate feedback, and will do my best to make repairs when errors or omissions or outdated information is detected. Unlike the experience with the AMSAT volunteers, however, I have actually received honest-to-goodness POSITIVE feedback from folks, and it has helped me enormously to fix at least the worst shortcomings of the site I have volunteered to maintain. I've even had a few people say "Thank You!" to me, and it sure feels good to know that my efforts are appreciated, even if they don't match up to my own standards of what I wish I could do. So, here's the challenge to EVERY BLEEPING ONE OF YOU who are now reading this message: 1) Find something on the AMSAT web site that needs fixing. According to all the flak that's been flying about, that should be no hard task, right? 2) Write up a SOLUTION to the problem. Broken link? Find a new link. Misspelling? Write down the correction. Poor grammar? Re-write the sentence or paragraph to improve it. Outdated info? Find the newer info. Etc., etc. I think you get the idea. 3) Go to the "bad" web page in question, and at the bottom, click on the link to report "bugs" in the web page. I realize (as I am also a programmer among my multiple self-taught skills) that the above mentioned things are not "bugs" in the programming sense, but on the other hand, most of the AMSAT pages don't actually compute something that a bug would cause to be mis-computed, so I submit that the original intent of the author was to use this link to report ANY flaw(s) in the page, not only programming errors. If the original author wants to contest that point of view, she is welcome to come forward and say so in this public forum. 4) Fill out the form that will pop up, including your description of the problem AND the solution that you found or created. Hit the SEND button. 5) Wait a very short time, and if you did your part well, I am willing to bet money that you will find that the web page gets fixed. There were several things on the Satellite Status pages that annoyed me. Having had enough of the troll-feeding, I decided to follow steps 1 through 5, and, lo and behold, those annoying problems are now history. I seriously doubt that the prompt action by Drew to my "website bug reports" had anything to do with the esteem in which the organization holds me, as I am usually lurking around quietly, and saying/doing nothing to make my existence even known to AMSAT. I am about as close to an unknown member as you can get, yet still be the author of an article that was published in an issue of the AMSAT Journal once upon a time. I therefore submit that if it worked for me, it will likely also work for you. Don't believe it? Go ahead, try to prove me wrong. I dare you. And have a nice day while you try. 73 de W?JT AMSAT-NA LM #2292 P.S., don't think that the "Life Member" status got me any special attention, either. It just means that if they spent my one-time life membership fee on cheap whiskey and expensive women, they will have only the memories of that experience to enjoy, they don't get to send me a bill every year to renew my membership so they can do it all over again! >grin< P.P.S., a hearty THANK YOU to all the people who make this hobby possible, especially those who are currently getting flamed recently. /* jpt */ ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:50:10 -0500 From: Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: <bill(a)hsmicrowave.com> Cc: rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <COL106-W4544921D21EC2B90994CADD6E70(a)phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Bill. I think I owe you the favor of an apology, if you sent me something off line and I didnt reply to it. Sorry. I will check back and make sure that 1) it didnt by accident go into junk mail and 2) I just didnt miss it in the regular folders. We had quite a crush of email over the last few weeks...my wife and I had shotgunned out a "we are pregnant" email...and I might have just missed it. I'll look for it tonight... Robert WB5MZO > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:38:32 -0700 > From: bill(a)hsmicrowave.com > To: orbitjet(a)hotmail.com > CC: rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com; rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered > > > > Rocky Jones wrote: > > Bob > > > > What has been remarkable about this thread, is that it has shown how dysfunctional AMSAT NA is. > > > > Forget satelllite > It's satellite - by the way! > construction etc...people point out problems with the web site and next > thing you have is someone explaining who can and cannot comment on the > state of the organization (to paraphrase "we dont need weak volunteers > who are discouraged by no real method of being able to volunteer one > has to earn the right to be critical...") > > > > Forget the ability to answer serious questions like (and I know its annoying) As a team memb"how was the suitsat 2 program allowed to not meet the ability to use the "suits". > > As a SuitSat team member, I gave you a brief answer offline and offered > to get more detail if you so desired. You didn't respond. It's obvious > to me that you really don't want an answer, You just want to be a > boring, broken record. > > So I'll repeat the simple answer, here, why we missed the suit launch. > Listen up. > > The SuitSat team is made up entirely of volunteers who have real jobs, > families, and other responsibilities. Hey, we're just pursuing our > Amateur radio HOBBY - not a professional job. Some of you folks talk > like we're a Loral or Lockheed. Did you critics forget that Amateur > radio satellites are a hobby - not a business? > > Well, by golly, along the way technical challenges delayed progress. > Jobs and families got in the way. Son of a gun - we missed schedules. > I'm not offering excuses, just offering the reality of having folks on > the team that aren't getting paid for their fantastic efforts. > > Sure, it's not nice to have technical issues show up or to miss > schedules but in the scheme of things, what have we lost - except maybe > creditability in YOUR eyes. We now have a new satellite structure more > suited for what we are trying to do technically - called ARRISat. > > The way you've been carrying on, I am so very glad we don't have you > volunteering - even to stuff envelopes. You'd probably say that we were > doing that wrong too. Personally, I thought that refunding your AMSAT > life membership would make me feel better, but on further reflection, > AMSAT should just keep your money since it is helping fund efforts to > serve it's members who appreciate what volunteers are trying to do for > them and their hobby. > > And if you think any of your comments have caused the ARRISat team to > miss a beat on the way to our 2010 launch, then think again. This team > has tackled and solved technical challenges more significant for the > future of AMSAT and its members, than ANY of the issues you raise. > > Regards...Bill - N6GHz > > > > > And from what I can tell no one has a clue why Suitsat 1 failed (I know it was a glorious success by just deploying) much less how to avoid a repeat of that with a much more complicated followon which is now functionally a new satellite. > > > > And of course the whole concept of board meetings which really are not is entertaining. > > > > The answers are "you cannot criticize "us" we are working 16 to 18 hour days doing things that no one else will do"... > > > > and then one wonders why donations are at an all time low. > > > > Robert WB5MZO Amsat NA life member > > > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. > > http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON :WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > _________________________________________________________________ With Windows Live, you can organize, edit, and share your photos. http://www.windowslive.com/Desktop/PhotoGallery ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:20:44 -0400 From: Joseph Armbruster <josepharmbruster(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: orbitjet(a)hotmail.com, wb5eku(a)gmail.com, rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com, rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <938f42d70909111320v6ba6adfeod68010faf7ce37ed(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252 I've been following this thread passively until now, so brace yourself because I have quite a few things to say. I'm 28 and a reasonably new ham, KJ4JIO (you can look me up but it may require a few mouse clicks...). I'm still very new to Amsat and don't know many of you by name or face yet (and that's probably for the better). I've had the opportunity to meet a couple of you here in Orlando, chatting to a few of you through email and talking to some of you over the phone. I first heard about Amsat here in Orlando at a LMARS meeting, where one of your members put on a satellite communications demo. This was quite possible one of the coolest experiences of my life. Before this, I had no idea that there were so many amateur satellites up in the sky available for use. I had no clue that with minimal equipment I could use them. How cool is that, really!?! I didn't know any of this was possible for me to get involved in at any level. Maybe it's just another day at the job for some of you but it's definitely not for me (i'm a bored software guy at work). At the demo, I noticed that the presenter was putting on the presentation: - on his own time - with his own equipment - for well over an hour long - probably after a lengthy drive - had an enthusiastic attitude - didn't complain that the pass was on the horizon and difficult to work If it wasn't for this voluntary effort, I wouldn't be here right now :-) That's my history, now on to my main point. It seems like most of the bitter sentiment on the thread has been targeted at the amsat website, it's production, how things get done, etc... In my experience in software, being pissed off at something opens up an excellent opportunity for corrective action. I get pissed of at code all the time, maybe my code, other peoples code, doesn't matter... I complain about it, make fun of it, laugh at it for a few seconds, and when i'm done doing that I *FIX IT*. Last night, I spoke to Gould about the history of the website and some related things to get a feel for why things are the way they are. I have also been gathering ideas and suggestions from various interested parties on the bb. I put together my own list of complaints* in addition to descriptions of what I would do to improve each of them*. I set up a prototype mediawiki server, although i've retired it and am attempting to see if Joomla would be a little more user friendly on the composition end of things. There are definitely wheels spinning in an effort to improve the situation. The reality of the website situation is what always happens in the software world: - software gets outdated - it becomes to hard to maintain - people move on to other things - the END USER SUFFERS Please note, i'm not criticizing anyones work on the website here. I'm certain they did they best with the resources and time they had available when the work was being done. I'm convinced what we're experiencing here is a standard software development life cycle issue, which should not take much work to improve. If you have website suggestions, i'd encourage you please pass them on. By suggestion, I mean something more helpful than "the website sucks". A good example is this: "Instead of having a Tools, Status and Passes link off the main page, make one button called "Satellite Tracking" and put all these types of things within it. This would help clean up the main page a bit". I'm very interested (and I know others are too) in getting this type of input and feedback. Thank You, Joseph Armbrruster, KJ4JIO On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 2:33 PM, Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > > Actually no. What happens (in the case of Hubble) is people who asked > annoying questions like "is the mirror ground correctly" were told about the > same thing...ie sit down and shut up. > > Same thing with the Mars proble where they got the "units" off and > reentered the thing. > > People who ask questions which the leadership does not want to hear are > frequently sent out with the same lines Bob uses. Ask the people at NASA > who said "what damage did the foam do when it hit the orbiter." Linda Ham > had just about Bob's answers. > > Robert WB5MZO > > > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:15:34 -0700 > > From: wb5eku(a)gmail.com > > To: rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com > > CC: RSwart1(a)twcny.rr.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered > > > > Bob,When they stand in front of the mirror, it will break > > > > WB5EKU > > > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 5:50 AM, <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > Only if people end this nearly useless thread. This ground is so > beaten > > > down it is not funny. Member dues and most of their donations do not > buy a > > > single component. But to live to fight another day and to keep "those > who > > > can" thinking about things to do for those "those who use" and even > "those > > > who mostly whine and do nothing at all except whine" these member > donations > > > are vital to the organization's health. > > > > > > The amsat organization is undergoing some reorg. Lots of different > faces on > > > the board and different faces in engineering even with our inability to > get > > > a significant launch speaks well for the potential of the organization. > > > > > > I think personally that those who complain should go stand in front of > the > > > mirror and ask themselves > > > > > > 1) what have I personally done for the organization lately? > > > 2) follow that with "Am I part of the problem or the solution?" > > > > > > Bob > > > LM N4HY > > > > > > ------Original Message------ > > > From: Randy > > > Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org > > > To: amsat bb > > > ReplyTo: RSwart1(a)twcny.rr.com > > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered > > > Sent: Sep 10, 2009 10:46 PM > > > > > > Bruce filled me in on where a lot of the "donations" go.. > > > > > > Couple others beat me up .. LOL > > > > > > So is there a win-win on this topic ? > > > > > > Randy > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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 from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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 > > _________________________________________________________________ > Windows Live: Make it easier for your friends to see what you?re up to on > Facebook. > > http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON :WL:en-US:SI_SB_facebook:082009 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:01:51 +0000 (UTC) From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net Subject: [amsat-bb] handheld whip To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <341120789.277981252710111614.JavaMail.root(a)sz0126a.emeryville.ca.mail.comca st.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I can't remember/find it. 73 Bob W7LRD ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:09:49 +0000 From: "Dave Webb KB1PVH" <kb1pvh(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: handheld whip To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net, amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org, "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <1147052700-1252710589-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1221195430-@ bda400.bisx.prod.on.blackberry> Content-Type: text/plain Bob, It is a Pryme AL-800 telescoping whip. About $35 at HRO. Dave KB1PVH ------Original Message------ From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] handheld whip Sent: Sep 11, 2009 7:01 PM What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I can't remember/find it. 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:19:12 -0500 From: "George Henry" <ka3hsw(a)att.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: handheld whip To: "amsat bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <AAD0DB9C6AC84D0DAB0D7047F39C7F71@parents> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Pryme AL-800? ----- Original Message ----- From: <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 6:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] handheld whip > > > What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I > can't remember/find it. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:13:00 -0500 From: Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: <bill(a)hsmicrowave.com> Cc: rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <COL106-W3705E8C1DB4C9A8E23F2CDD6E60(a)phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Bill. As I noted earlier I do owe you the favor of an apology. You did send me an email and regretfully it got routed where I did not see it.... I read your piece(s). What to say. You folks bit off more then you could chew and missed a deadline. That is a foundation of project management no matter if it is paid or unpaid. Try and explain it all one wants it means someone (or group) is not capable of good project management. I assume that you and the team are confident you can make the next deployment dates...? Robert WB5MZO _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:W M_HYGN_faster:082009 ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:28:42 -0700 (PDT) From: Tim - N3TL <n3tl(a)bellsouth.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: handheld whip To: George Henry <ka3hsw(a)att.net>, amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <798934.8675.qm(a)web180206.mail.gq1.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii The Pryme RD-98 also works well, and it about the same price. My favorite of all, however, based on my testing (and I've used the AL-800, RD-98 and several others) is the Diamond RH-789 (BNC connector; SRH-789 with an SMA connector) telescoping whip. It's a bit less expensive than the AL-800, but is extremely wide band. In addition to performing well on the FM satellites, it really surprised me at how it performed on the shortwave broadcast bands on a variety of radios. To Bob - I suspect the AL-800 is the one you're thinking of. It's probably the most popular and well-known, but there are others out there that also perform quite well. The Smiley dual-band telescoping whip is another. Patrick, WD9EWK, sent me one to try out - and I wore out AO-27 on the first pass I used it ... hihi. Had seven contacts, which is good for an HT and a whip given the short window for 27. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL ________________________________ From: George Henry <ka3hsw(a)att.net> To: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 7:19:12 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: handheld whip Pryme AL-800? ----- Original Message ----- From: <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 6:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] handheld whip > > > What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I > can't remember/find it. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 09:55:56 -0700 (PDT) From: codrut buda <yo3dmu(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: GS232A & GS232B To: Graham Shirville <g.shirville(a)btinternet.com>, PE0SAT <pe0sat(a)vgnet.nl> Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <767362.15969.qm(a)web52408.mail.re2.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 The same commands to controllers for bot GS232A & GS232B protocols, but diferent answers from controllers for position request: GS-232A - answer?to C2 command is +0aaa+0eee GS-232B - answer?to C2 command is AZ=aaa EL=eee GS-232A - answer?to C command is +0aaa GS-232B - answer?to C command is AZ=aaa GS-232A - answer?to B?command is +0eee GS-232B - answer?to?B command is EL=eee Maybe you can find other differences, but only these were interesting for me when I wrote my software for rotators control - http://www.qsl.net/yo3dmu/index_Page346.htm? ? 73, Codrut - YO3DMU --- On Fri, 9/11/09, PE0SAT <pe0sat(a)vgnet.nl> wrote: From: PE0SAT <pe0sat(a)vgnet.nl> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: GS232A & GS232B To: "Graham Shirville" <g.shirville(a)btinternet.com> Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Date: Friday, September 11, 2009, 8:45 AM On Fri, September 11, 2009 15:08, Graham Shirville wrote: Hi Graham, > Hi, > > Would someone please be so kind as to explain the precise difference > between the two protocols GS232A and GS232B? > > I am missing something obvious I expect but.. If you get an answer direct, would you please send it me also? > > thanks > > Graham > G3VZV 73's Jan - PE0SAT _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ Message: 13 Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 19:43:00 -0700 From: Bill Ress <bill(a)hsmicrowave.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Volunteered To: Rocky Jones <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> Cc: rswart1(a)twcny.rr.com, Amsat BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <4AAB0AB4.9070905(a)hsmicrowave.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Hello Rocky, Apology accepted. Well, you are indeed fully entitled to your opinion, but I would submit that until you walk in the shoes of the ARRISat team members who are busting their pick to try and do the right thing for the members, maybe, just maybe, you should temper your judgment about their abilities and short comings given that without their very best intentioned efforts you'd have nothing to complain about and Amateurs wouldn't have a new satellite to look forward to. If our best efforts are not considered to be good enough by a few, we are encouraged by the many out there, who still cheer us on. And since those cheering far out number our detractors, then Robert, the ARRISat team is moving full speed ahead without you on our side. Yes, you have assumed correctly, that it is our plan to proceed to the deployment date with confidence. Regards...Bill - N6GHz Rocky Jones wrote: > Bill. As I noted earlier I do owe you the favor of an apology. You did > send me an email and regretfully it got routed where I did not see it.... > > I read your piece(s). > > What to say. You folks bit off more then you could chew and missed a > deadline. That is a foundation of project management no matter if it is > paid or unpaid. Try and explain it all one wants it means someone (or > group) is not capable of good project management. > > I assume that you and the team are confident you can make the next > deployment dates...? > > Robert WB5MZO > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Hotmail? is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Try it > now. > <http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=PID23391::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US: WM_HYGN_faster:082009> ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 461 ****************************************

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handheld whip
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I can't remember/find it. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: handheld whip
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Bob, It is a Pryme AL-800 telescoping whip. About $35 at HRO. Dave KB1PVH ------Original Message------ From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] handheld whip Sent: Sep 11, 2009 7:01 PM What is the 2/440 whip antenna that we can use on a handheld for AO-51, I can't remember/find it. 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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How can I serve AMSAT today?
by John P. Toscano 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Rather than tacking on more replies to the depressing multitude of arguments back and forth that have degenerated to the level of name-calling, let's try something that is actually POSITIVE for a change. The AMSAT web pages have tons of information on them. One of the big problems of having such a vast store of information is the impossibility of one or a small number of volunteers keeping it all current and up to date. Please trust me on this. I am the lone webmaster for another radio organization, and I KNOW from personal experience how hard it is to keep the thing going properly. I have admitted publicly on several occasions that I appreciate feedback, and will do my best to make repairs when errors or omissions or outdated information is detected. Unlike the experience with the AMSAT volunteers, however, I have actually received honest-to-goodness POSITIVE feedback from folks, and it has helped me enormously to fix at least the worst shortcomings of the site I have volunteered to maintain. I've even had a few people say "Thank You!" to me, and it sure feels good to know that my efforts are appreciated, even if they don't match up to my own standards of what I wish I could do. So, here's the challenge to EVERY BLEEPING ONE OF YOU who are now reading this message: 1) Find something on the AMSAT web site that needs fixing. According to all the flak that's been flying about, that should be no hard task, right? 2) Write up a SOLUTION to the problem. Broken link? Find a new link. Misspelling? Write down the correction. Poor grammar? Re-write the sentence or paragraph to improve it. Outdated info? Find the newer info. Etc., etc. I think you get the idea. 3) Go to the "bad" web page in question, and at the bottom, click on the link to report "bugs" in the web page. I realize (as I am also a programmer among my multiple self-taught skills) that the above mentioned things are not "bugs" in the programming sense, but on the other hand, most of the AMSAT pages don't actually compute something that a bug would cause to be mis-computed, so I submit that the original intent of the author was to use this link to report ANY flaw(s) in the page, not only programming errors. If the original author wants to contest that point of view, she is welcome to come forward and say so in this public forum. 4) Fill out the form that will pop up, including your description of the problem AND the solution that you found or created. Hit the SEND button. 5) Wait a very short time, and if you did your part well, I am willing to bet money that you will find that the web page gets fixed. There were several things on the Satellite Status pages that annoyed me. Having had enough of the troll-feeding, I decided to follow steps 1 through 5, and, lo and behold, those annoying problems are now history. I seriously doubt that the prompt action by Drew to my "website bug reports" had anything to do with the esteem in which the organization holds me, as I am usually lurking around quietly, and saying/doing nothing to make my existence even known to AMSAT. I am about as close to an unknown member as you can get, yet still be the author of an article that was published in an issue of the AMSAT Journal once upon a time. I therefore submit that if it worked for me, it will likely also work for you. Don't believe it? Go ahead, try to prove me wrong. I dare you. And have a nice day while you try. 73 de WØJT AMSAT-NA LM #2292 P.S., don't think that the "Life Member" status got me any special attention, either. It just means that if they spent my one-time life membership fee on cheap whiskey and expensive women, they will have only the memories of that experience to enjoy, they don't get to send me a bill every year to renew my membership so they can do it all over again! >grin< P.P.S., a hearty THANK YOU to all the people who make this hobby possible, especially those who are currently getting flamed recently. /* jpt */

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G5400B rotor maintenance
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

I recently picked up a G5400B AZ-EL rotor unit, which had been down on ground for sometime. I recall it had been stored upside down outdoors. When I got it home and hooked it up in the shop, the Azmiuth rotor was stuck, but some manual help, broke whatever was stuck loose and it started to operate, even abit noisy. The Elevation rotor is nice and quiet and works fine. I notice now, after being used for afew weeks, that the noise is getting more pronounced and also the meter indicator flickers, so I suspect water probably got into the unit. Who does repair work on these rotors? I dont dare try it myself, as I know I would end up with extra parts at the end of the day, even working in a tub. So, would appreciate any help in finding a business that repairs these Yaesu rotors.. John W6ZKH

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GS232A & GS232B
by Graham Shirville 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hi, Would someone please be so kind as to explain the precise difference between the two protocols GS232A and GS232B? I am missing something obvious I expect but.. thanks Graham G3VZV

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Re: 2.4 antenna
by David - KG4ZLB 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Frank, w7lrd(a)comcast.net Hope that helps! David -- David KG4ZLB www.kg4zlb.com Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr wrote: > Thanks!! > How do I get in touch with Bob? > > Thanks again, > Frank > KB1QZH > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:02 PM, David - KG4ZLB <kg4zlb(a)googlemail.com> wrote: > > >

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2.4 antenna
by David - KG4ZLB 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

I will re-post this from August 31st concerning 1.2 and 2.4 ghz antennas! David KG4ZLB -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] 1.2 ghz antenna? Date: Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:28:13 -0400 From: David - KG4ZLB <kg4zlb(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: kg4zlb(a)gmail.com Organization: www.kg4zlb.com To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org References: <4fa78c6b0908311419h9c094dahe2f3018fad240ba9(a)mail.gmail.com> Norman, A shameless plug for Bob, W7LRD's helical antennas (1.2 and 2.4ghz) - great value, work superbly and brilliant after sales help! Quite a few on this list are owners of these antennas. Hope that helps. David KG4ZLB Norman W Osborne wrote: > Hello to all, > After reading some of the postings on the bbs discussing AO-51 1.2 ghz mode, > I am wondering what > antennas are being used, commercial and homebrew. > > 73, > Norman > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > -- David KG4ZLB www.kg4zlb.com

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2.4 antenna
by Douglas Anoman 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hello everyone, i am looking for a 2.4 ghz antenna. I have the down converter and have made a home brewed antenna that works ok. can anyone suggest anything better? Thank You Douglas Anoman KC9MLN KC9MLN(a)AMSAT.ORG Amsat #37043

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Re: volunteered
by Randy 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

I do have to say I can relate even though being a new member, I havent done anything to help Other than my piddly donation. I maintain our gun club website for over 4 years .. For nothing .. Volunteered It was hosted on my sons commercial web server as a favor for free .. I don't think I ever recall ONE thank you .. From anyone .. Seemed like a thankless job that I got continually nagged at about Keeping the site up ... Dunno .. Perhaps that's part of the issue ??? The people that volunteer Get crap from the people that don't .. And that's the only thing they hear?? Instead of hearing THANKS @!!! .. Just thoughts .. Sorry about my other "dues" comment .. We all have our moments.. Randy - N2CUA

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Re: Volunteered
by Randy 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Bruce filled me in on where a lot of the "donations" go.. Couple others beat me up .. LOL So is there a win-win on this topic ? Randy

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North Carolina EM96
by KK4AK 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

I'll be in mountains of North Carolina next week in Grid EM96. So look for me on the FM birds when I am able to break away from my other obligations. 73, Allen KK4AK (previous call KK4EMK)

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Volunteering
by myoung 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

So if someone wants to volunteer and they use the volunteer function of the AMSAT website and it doesn't work and someone doesn't get in touch with you... IT IS AMSAT's FAULT? Is that it? So if you order something from the AMSAT website or any website and the item never arrives... YOU JUST FORGET IT? This is a mindset of failure! A HORRENDOUS COP OUT FOLKS!!! The AMSAT office has a phone. The number is on the website, please use it! Do you really want to volunteer? PROVE IT! AND FOLLOW THRU! PROMISES DON'T GET THINGS DONE! Mike, WB8CXO

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Re: Volunteered
by Randy 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Ok .. Maybe the word dues was not correct.. But I did pay to join AMSAT ... Where does that money Go? And the money that all members paid to join? I'll go back to my corner now .. Randy

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AO-51 Software crash-a reply
by Gkcarr 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Here I once again blamed my sopping wet pine trees after .6 inch of heavy rain. I was ready to cut them all down! 73 George WA5KBH --

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Shuttle landing
by David H. Jordan 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

I'm away from media tonight. Is the shuttle still landing at 8:41 ET? Dave Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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Let's get constructive!
by Peter Scheller 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Hey guys and gals, AMSAT members, supporters and kibitzers reading the mail. By now everybody had his or her say, positive or negative, it does not matter. What matters now, is get together and work on a solution, without pointing fingers and or flaming individuals. I for myself dropped out of AMSAT in the AO-10 days, some of you old timers might remember me. My reason for that was NOT dissatisfaction with AMSAT, the other way around. AO-10 was wonderful, gave me hours of enjoyment, and friends all over the globe, some of which I had the pleasure of meeting eyeball to eyeball. Economics forced me to scale down, drop everything not necessary to survive, and fight for my basic existence. I barely managed not to become homeless. Now I am slowly back on my feet. Oh yes, I will re join AMSAT again. Why? That is a very good question. AO-10 is gone, and all what is left are relative low flyers and the ISS. To understand my position and yearning for HEO's, realize that I live on a very small island, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That makes some satellite footprints not even large enough to reach the Continental United States from here. The ones who do, give us only a small sliver of the pie, and then you can talk to the same sat ops for a few minutes, not to say seconds. The latter one is one of the reasons why there are so few sat ops here in Hawaii! Why did I rejoin? Number one is to help others to look at the satellite side of the hobby. It is fun, and Hawaii is a rare commodity for you mainlanders, and gives you one more sat op to chat with. Second, after getting my feet wet again (it has been many years of my hiatus) I will volunteer to become an AMSAT coordinator again. So I paid my dues, to be back on board. As soon as I feel comfortable to "lead the heard" again, I will volunteer my services. I hope the lot of you will do the same, support and build, do not destroy. Let's get of the soap box and do something constructive! Constructive criticism is appreciated and will lead to improvements. But there is no point in beating a dead horse! Hope to see you on the sats! Aloha, Peter, NH6VB AMSAT# 30992

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AO-51 Software crash
by Gould Smith 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

AO-51 experienced a software crash sometime this afternoon/evening. I got the boot code loaded into ram and running and working on setting the power level. Drew and I don't have a good pass until tomorrow morning, when we will start the software reload. 73, Gould, WA4SXM

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Re: ao51
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Same here, also on the earlier pass. Dave-KB1PVH ------Original Message------ From: Perry Yantis Sender: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] ao51 Sent: Sep 10, 2009 7:02 PM just listened for AO51 but heard nothing. 2301 gmt 9/10/09 Perry WB8OTH _______________________________________________ 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 from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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ao51
by Perry Yantis 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

just listened for AO51 but heard nothing. 2301 gmt 9/10/09 Perry WB8OTH

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Re: [Bod] Fwd: Volunteering and things!
by David - KG4ZLB 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Excellent, now we all know where we are with all this and further gripes in the bb can cease! (I still think there should be some notes made on the website so that visitors and non-bb participants know what's going on!) David KG4ZLB Gould Smith wrote: > 1) Absolutely not > Anyone can setup a Wiki and it can be used by whatever group wants > to. AMSAT is not switching to a Wiki > > 2) There are a number of options on the table. AMSAT is working on > deciding who will be responsible. > Rick is looking into the amount of work necessary and his available > time to implement including David Carr's site into the page. We expect > to have a link to David's site in the interim. > > 3) The volunteer page - there is a mitigation plan in place, to change > the email address of where the information goes. The change has been > requested. > > 73, > Gould > > > ----- Original Message -----

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Reminder
by Martha 10 Sep '09

10 Sep '09

Please remember that AMSAT has one employee. If your request on email is not answered in a timely manner, please call me at the office (301-589-6062) between 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ET. -- 73- Martha

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Kauai on Ao51
by RONALD CADE 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Today at 4:47 pm local Hawaii time I will work a 9 degree pass with a foot print extending into the state of Arizona. Aloha Ron, W6ZQ/KH6. BL01/02

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Cape Cod FN51
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Everyone, Starting Saturday afternoon, and into mid morning, possibly early afternoon Sunday, I will be operating from FN51 on Cape Cod, MA. I will try to be on as many of the passes that are in the footprint on the FM birds. There is a possibility that I will bring my 2 FT-857 radios to work the SSB birds also. If you want a QSL, send me an email with the QSO details, I will check the log and send a card. 73, Dave KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communications Conference) Forum Schedule Announced
by Mark Thompson 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communications Conference) Forum Schedule Announced TAPR is the premiere national digital organization covering all digital voice & data technologies and digital techniques such as SDR. More information about TAPR can be found at: www.tapr.org TAPR is active throughout the year. At the Dayton Hamvention TAPR sponsors a digital forum and a joint banquet with AMSAT. TAPR publishes a quarterly journal, the PSR and develops digital techniques such as SDR. TAPR holds in conjuntion with the ARRL an annual national Digital Communication Conference. You can follow TAPR's activities, events & updates regularly on Twitter at: www.twitter.org/taprdigital The ARRL/TAPR DCC (Digital Communications Conference) will be held on September 25 - 27, 2009 again in the northwest suburbs of Chicago at the Elk Grove Village Holiday Inn near O'Hare airport with a free hotel shuttle bus. The DCC has something for everyone from those new to digital modes to those experienced with digital communications. The DCC has 2 full days of Technical forums on Friday & Saturday. On Saturday there is an additional concurrent track of Introductory forums. On Sunday morning there is a 1/2 day technical session which is a deep dive into one or more digital topics, such as SDR. The DCC is well known for introducing new technologies & concepts. This year presentations include: * Two Ham DTV, Digital Television presentations by Art, WA8RMC & Ken, W6HHC. * "Use of Digital Communications at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C." by Tom, N4ZPT. * "Universal Ham Radio Text Messaging" by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, creator of APRS. After the Friday night social we plan to have another D-STAR get together. The Saturday night banquet speaker will be Bill Brown, WB8ELK. Bill is a pioneer in flying BalloonSats, balloons with payloads including amateur radio digital communication technologies. You can learn more about the DCC & register on-line at: www.tapr.org/dcc Registration is preferred prior to September 17th for planning purposes, but walk-in registrations will be accepted. If you can't attend the DCC the Proceedings can be purchased at the TAPR web site at: www.tapr.org/pub_dcc.html Starting last year, 2008 and continuing this year DCC presentations are being recorded by Amateur Radio Video News. DVDs of the prresentations are available at: http://www.arvideonews.com If you have any questions you can reach the TAPR Office at: taproffice(a)tapr.org Look foward to seeing many of you at the DCC. 73, Mark, WB9QZB DCC Local Co-Host Chicago, IL The 2009 DCC forum & speaker schedule is attached & is available online at the TAPR web site at: http://www.tapr.org/pdf/DCC_2009_Schedule_Preliminary2009-09-08.pdf

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Re: Help sought - amateur satellite service vs D-star
by Trevor . 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

The issue of D-STAR repeaters using the Amateur Satellite segments at 145.8, 435 and 1260 MHz has been of considerable concern in IARU Region 1. This matter is addressed in Edition 52 of the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 VHF/UHF/uW newsletter. See D-STAR repeater interference http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2009/dstar_repeater_interference.htm direct link to download newsletter PDF http://www.iaru-r1.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=173&func=file… Those in North America may not be aware that in the most of the world there is at best only 430-440 MHz available to the Amateur Services and in many areas only 432-438 MHz or less is available. In those countries I am aware of 430-440 MHz is shared with the Primary user - the Military - who use it for high power Radar, data links and voice communications. Here in ITU Region 1 (Europe) 433.075 to 434.795 MHz is also License Exempt spectrum for short range devices, which means anybody can use it without requiring a license. There are power limitations for license exempt short range devices but equipment that can operate on this band at far higher power levels is readily available. Unauthorised higher power equipment can also operate up to 435.525 MHz. References: Intek DRS-5070 PMR-446 Radio (also 433/434/435) http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2009/intek_drs5070_pmr446_radio.htm Thames Estuary interference on 433.500 MHz http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2009/thames_estuary_interference..htm Short range devices in the 433 MHz band http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2008/short_range_devices_in_433mhz_b… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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MedaWiki Trial
by David Gendle 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Greetings! I use three different Wikis on a daily basis. One is a customers site where the staff use the Wiki to share ideas and reports. The other two are used as program software support vehicles (DXLab suite of QSO logging software is one). Each is easy to use by everyone (no need to be a computer nerd!) and seems quite effective in allowing the dissemination of ideas and information. A big plus for the Wiki tool is that the search function really works (anyone ever try to use the search function of a Yahoo group?!?!?). I think that this might be a great tool for AMSAT if it can gain support of the BOD and the membership. 73, Dave - K4DLG

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MediaWiki Trial
by John Wright 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

At 15:42 09/09/2009, you wrote: >After reading this thread, I figured it'd be worthwhile to set up a >mediawiki instance to let people get familiar with it. I set one up last >night on a node for my own enlightenment. The configuration is not "the >best" by any means. For those interested in timeframe, it took thirty >minutes to configure this instance from a clean arch linux installation. If >you are interested in poking around in the environment to see what it feel >like, go ahead, that's why I set it up. I disabled email registration, so >anyone can just create an account and get a feel for creating pages / >editing / preferences / etc... Tonight, i'm going to hack at creating my >own skin, since it would just be cool :-) I added the amsat logo to the >main page for testing, I hope this doesn't violate any copyright rules.... >If it does, hollar and i'll remove it. > >For the record, I have nothing to do with Amsat right now, outside of being >a first time member this year. I also don't want anyone to think that i'm >pushing for media wiki or anything of the sort. I just like the idea of >having a wiki. I read the email thread and figured it'd be worthwhile to >set an instance up so Amsat folk could get familiar with it. I have managed >two other wiki systems on my own, trac / moinmoin. MediaWiki has quite a >bit to offer and is reasonably easy to configure. > >Here's a link to the playground: > >http://71.43.22.149/ > >Let me know if you have any comments or questions (or if you get any weird >behavior). Thought I'd start this as a new thread. Just been on the Wiki, I think its a great idea. I added my comments in the discussion section just to get a feel for it. I'm not an Amsat-NA member, but non-the-less think I'm allowed to comment. I really hope this expands and becomes as useful as Wikipedia itself! John G4DMF

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TS2000 Bird
by Danny Casier 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

He om's; Is there a mod or fix to remove that bad bird on 436800 on my TS2000? 73 Dan ON5UE

3 2

broken links
by acjohn1＠juno.com 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

When you first start thinking about playing with the satallites there isn't that much information on the web. Most links are broken or refer to satellites that are long silent. Step back and look at the hobby from someone looking to get into it. You are not going to get home brewers if all the plans use parts no longer made and you are not going to get new satellite people if all of the info is for dead birds. 73 John KG4VHV ____________________________________________________________ Lose up to 20 lbs in one month with a new diet. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYbqNUytsnOVAfolnUsFf0P…

13 25

Rigblaster TNC?
by John 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

All, I'm in the process of setting up a simple 'earth station' for satellite work. One facet I am interested in is digital mode. Thus my question: will a Rigblaster Plus work as a TNC, or must I buy a dedicated TNC? My shack is rather small, and I'd rather have one box that would do two things vs. two that do one thing. Rig is an Icom 706MKIIG, which has the data port for packet. Assuming that the answer to the question I pose in the first paragraph is "no, a rigblaster won't serve as a TNC", are there recommendations for TNC's? From reviewing the literature they all seem to have about the same functionality, so I wonder if the $200 Kantronics unit will give as good service as would the $540 Timewave PK232. Thanks! John KC9IKB

3 2

Help sought - amateur satellite service vs D-star
by Geert Jan de Groot 09 Sep '09

09 Sep '09

Hello, I apologise for the intrusion of my first message on this list - consider me an incidental lurker, incidental AMSAT-UK colloquium visitor, and incidental easysat user. I just don't have the cycles to do more, sorry. I ask your assistance in the following matter. Background In the Netherlands, 436-440 MHz is secondary to the amateur and amateur sat service. The folk experimenting with D-star on 70cms use a fairly large shift of 9.4 Mhz, resulting in a typical setup of 430.400-430.600 in and 439.800-440.000 out. Unattended stations (like D-star repeaters) do require a special license here. Recently, issuing of unattended licenses has come to an extreme halt because the Dutch regulator has started to allocate frequencies around 439.500 and upwards for Differential GPS (DGPS). The Dutch amateur community contests the use of this frequency for DGPS, claiming it is in violation with ITU allocations. Amateur clubs in neighbour countries, *as well as telcom regulators in those countries*, agree on this matter and believe AT-EZ is mistaken. But AT-EZ are also stubbern, and supposedly fear damage claims from systems already deployed. The net result is that currently, no D-star repeater license is issued because the output frequency proposed cannot be licensed for unattended use, according to the regulator. Recently.. The D-star community, having fear of not being able to use their equipment, is now proposing to use a shift of 7.4 MHz shift: input ~430.400-430.600, output 437.800-438.000. The output obviously collides with the amateur radio satellite service, but the proposal does not mention this at all, nor does it mention any remedy for this interference, which the amateur radio service would inflict on itself, on a worldwide (at least European) scale. I don't need to explain what a 'local hole in allocation' does for the worldwide sat service, no? Not to mention, if the Amateur Radio Service doesn't take it's own protection seriously, why would regulators need to take these interference concerns seriously? I believe this plan is very poorly thought-out and should be rejected and complained upon on an International scale. I believe that the amsat community should respond on this matter. I also believe that our IARU-contacts should be used to fix this proposal. Data So far, the only information I found on this, is in Dutch, so you may need to babelfish things: http://www.d-star.nl/ http://zendamateur.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=3913&p=29449 There are 2 amateur radio clubs in the Netherlands. One is VERON (IARU representative), the other one is VRZA. While VRZA is not an IARU representative, both VERON and VRZA have bi-annual meetings with the Dutch regulator (which, I must admit, have been in better spirit in the past than they are now, because of the DGPS issue, but I digress) The plan, as described on the URL above, claims that the VRZA "thinks this proposal is a good idea". I kindly ask AMSAT folk, and especially those with IARU contacts, to express their concerns about this proposal. The person championing the proposal is PA0HWB, pa0hwb(a)amsat.org (I realize the irony of Hans using the AMSAT alias to damage the amateur sat service..) For VRZA, I believe the best contact is the chair PG9W, pg9w (at vrza.nl). For VERON, I think PB0AOK (at veron.nl) is probably a good place to send mail to. You probably have better contacts than I have - please use them. I apologise for this lengthy message but hope this crazy proposal can be dealt with appropiately. Thanks in advance, 73 Geert Jan PE1HZG

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amsat.org ao-51 broken links
by Joseph Armbruster 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

I was browsing the AO-51 page just now on amsat.org and noticed a few broken links. Here is the list. I listed the main URL and then the links that were broken on that page. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ http://bach.as.arizona.edu/gallery/v/chuck/echo - page not found http://home.centurytel.net/ke4aznsatellite/ - no content at this page http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/integration.php http://web.infoave.net/~mkmk518/echo_integration.htm - page not found Joe

4 3

ISS and STS-128
by Greg Beat 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

What a beautiful and bright (-3.5) pass of STS-128 and ISS trailing about 2 seconds behind over Chicago tonight! The ISS solar panels were turned "edge on" earlier today before undocking of STS-128 .. and this provided a rare and bright (~ -7) ISS "flash" that was like the Iridium flash observations! Only 6 more shuttle flights, so these visible dual sighting opportunities will soon be part of history! w9gb

2 1

VHF Contest this weekend
by Rick - WA4NVM 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

Hi All, I will be traveling to EM35, Mt Nebo, AR on Thursday for the Sept. VHF contest. I will operate using our contest call NE5BO starting with the A0-27 pass at 2005 utc Thursday until Monday morning, Sept. 14. I will be on the FM birds only. Also, I may make a road trip or two to some surrounding grids during the weekend. Also, anyone with 6 meters and above, get on the air this weekend and stir up the bands. Thanks and 73 to all, Rick - WA4NVM

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Re: more amsat.org broken links
by Trevor . 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

Broken links are a problem with most websites. I guess in this case it's an indication that AMSAT-NA hasn't been overwhelmed with volunteers willing to give up many hours each and every week to maintain the site. Clearly an opportunity there for somebody. Fortunately the good news is that most of these links can be resolved by using http://www.archive.org/ If you go to archive.org and type in a broken link such as http://www..timewave.com/dsp2232.html You will get a selection of many copies of that page taken between 1997 and 2006 73 Trevor M5AKA

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My first DSTAR satellite transmission.
by Luc Leblanc 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

I put the recording of my first DSTAR experience on satellite over the week end. Dave KB1PVH was there too trying this mode but we will have to set another session to have a QSO. With the proper doppler correction it is possible to have an AOS to LOS QSO but the 500khz step of the Icom radio does not give a full doppler correction making the downlink harder to decode at time. At TCA performance are quite good. Radio used are in the first picture. ID-800H and IC-2200H See it on www.qsl.net/ve2dwe "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: [Spam] WD9EWK DM31 QSLs mailed today
by Gkcarr 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

tnx, Patrick. Look forward to receiving the card. 73 George WA5KBH -----Original message----- From: "Patrick STODDARD $WD9EWK/VA7EWK$" amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net Date: Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:17:47 -0500 To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [Spam] [amsat-bb] WD9EWK DM31 QSLs mailed today > Hi! > > I stopped by the post office this morning and mailed the envelopes > with my QSL cards confirming QSOs from DM31 last Saturday. I know > a few were looking to get these cards, so I spent yesterday working > on them. Hopefully they arrive in your mailboxes over the next few > days. > > 73! > > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ > > _______________________________________________ > 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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WD9EWK DM31 QSLs mailed today
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

Hi! I stopped by the post office this morning and mailed the envelopes with my QSL cards confirming QSOs from DM31 last Saturday. I know a few were looking to get these cards, so I spent yesterday working on them. Hopefully they arrive in your mailboxes over the next few days. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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AO-51 schedule posted
by Mark L. Hammond 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

Hi all, FYI: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php Some neat things this month: College night, several ham club demo operations, QRP repeater will be running a bit, etc.! _____________ September 2009 AO-51 Schedule All 435.150 repeater downlinks are subject to interuption for telemetry, generally one AM pass/day over the eastern US August 31 - September 7 (~1200Z) FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM September 7 - September 13 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM September 14 - September 20 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM QRP Only FM Repeater, V/U (<10 watts and handheld or omni antennas only) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM September 21 - September 27 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM September 28 - October 4 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM QRP Only FM Repeater, V/U and College Radio Night (October 1-2) (<10 watts and handheld or omni antennas only) Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM October 5 - October 11 AMSAT Symposium week FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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ITAR vs cooperation? or bull..dozer;)
by Luc Leblanc 08 Sep '09

08 Sep '09

>From AMSAT-NA web page who was updated: 23 Aug, 09 excerpt: AMSAT Files CJ Requests with US State Department "AMSAT's involvement with P3-E halted in 2006 due to concerns over possible ITAR violations." Did anyone can explain why is it possible to say "AMSAT's involvement with P3-E halted in 2006 due to concerns over possible ITAR violations" when i wrote about the memorandum (see below) on February 22 2007 as this paper has been signed prior to February 2007 in 2006? Even if ITAR does not apply to information related to general scientific, mathematical or engineering principles that is commonly taught in schools and colleges or information that is (legitimately) in the public domain. Nor does it apply to general marketing information or basic system descriptions. (see below) How the cooperation between AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-UK stopped in 2006 when theses 3 gentlemens Peter DB2OS for AMSAT-DL, Rick W2GPS for AMSAT-NA, Jim G3WGM for AMSAT-UK signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation the same very year??? They where surely not all out of their mind in 2006 or it is something else? And why asking in January 2009 3 years later for a V'oluntary Disclosure' (Not a VOLUNARY a typo on the AMSAT web page) when most of the amateur ham stuff is already in the public domain area? It is the same as if you are speeding and you go back to your police station 3 years later telling them you violate the law 3 years ago!!! or is it a way to justify their inaction refusing to get any blame? What it is the most intriguing is the time frame and the fact they relate the cooperation stopping to ITAR in 2006 when they signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation at the same time? There is something here who does not added up. Could be it is a way to try hiding their poor management past years record? or something we should ask to Gomez Addams or to his lovely pale skin and a Gothic appearance wife Morticia Addams? It is a lot of good questions to be ask at the next AMSAT-NA symposium Board of Directors general meeting in October? Memorandum of Understanding between AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NA AMSAT-DL for the last five years has been building the P3-E spacecraft to be launched into a HEO and intended as a replacement for previous P3 satellites. It's purpose is to facilitate communication between radio-amateurs worldwide and at the same time to test and verify technologies and procedures needed for the P5-A mission to Mars. AMSAT-DL to this day has invested about 500,000 Euro into this project. AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK wish to contribute to the P3-E project, primarily with the goal to have the launch of P3-E as early as possible in order to give to their respective members the use of the communication services provided by P3- E. It is recognized that the capability of AMSAT-DL to raise funds limits the speed of the development of P3-E. In order to make a launch possible in 2008, AMSAT-DL has an immediate need of 40,000 Euro and an estimated need of ~200,000 Euro prior to the actual launch-date. AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK wish to help with the raising of these requirements by providing 30,000 Euro (AMSAT-NA) and 10,000 Euro (AMSAT-UK) in the near future. Furthermore, they wish to contribute by raising additional funding as the actual launch arrangements materialize. In order to achieve an effective cooperation in the funding effort and the construction and launching of P3-E, the following details to implement the cooperation are agreed: 1. The three AMSAT organizations will closely coordinate their activities and monitor progress of the project by frequent mutual consultations on the telephone. To this end the three parties will hold nominally a monthly telephone conference to review the status of the project and to identify problem areas. At this time the three organizations will be represented by Rick, Jim and Peter at these telephone-conferences. 2. According to need, the three organizations agree to hold sufficiently frequent meetings in person to review the project status. These meetings are assumed to be desirable with a frequency of 6-12 month between them. 3. It is understood by all three organizations that procuring a timely launch for P3-E is one of the bigger challenges of the project. AMSAT-DL is concentrating major efforts of procuring a launch with Arianespace, while AMSAT- NA is trying to develop a launch opportunity within the USA. All parties recognize that major progress in funding is contingent on a firm launch agreement. All parties further recognize that a timely construction and integration of P3-E is critically dependent on all parties giving highest priority to fulfilling their respective commitments. 4. All three organizations understand that funding progress is dependent on effective information dissemination worldwide. To this end the three organizations reiterate their mutual agreement that each organization can publish all P3-E related publications of the other two organizations in their respective public organs without special permission. Furthermore, each organization is free to prepare 'official' statements about the project, but these publications must be agreed with the project management of P3-E (AMSAT- DL) prior to publication. Requests for agreement to publish will be sent to Peter (or another person chosen by him), who will use best efforts to respond within 7 days with an answer. With other publications by individual authors no such agreement is necessary provided that the context makes it is clear that the publication is not an official declaration by the project management or AMSAT-DL. 5. AMSAT-DL reiterates that the operational use of P3-E will be primarily to provide amateur radio communication services. But all parties also understand that the spacecraft is a dual service satellite, and that AMSAT-DL retains the right to occasionally reduce the provision of amateur radio services if work towards P5-A requires this. A-DL will use due diligence to minimize the impact of the P5-A requirements on the provision of amateur services. For AMSAT-DL For AMSAT-NA For AMSAT-UK Peter DB2OS Rick W2GPS J Jim G3WGM _________________________________________________________________________________ Just check here for the proof http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200702/msg00394.html _________________________________________________________________________________ The ITAR public domain exclusions § 120.11 Public domain. (a) Public domain means information which is published and which is generally accessible or available to the public: (1) Through sales at newsstands and bookstores; (2) Through subscriptions which are available without restriction to any individual who desires to obtain or purchase the published information; (3) Through second class mailing privileges granted by the U.S. Government; (4) At libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents; (5) Through patents available at any patent office; (6) Through unlimited distribution at a conference, meeting, seminar, trade show or exhibition, generally accessible to the public, in the United States; (7) Through public release (i.e., unlimited distribution) in any form (e.g., not necessarily in published form) after approval by the cognizant U.S. government department or agency (see also § 125.4(b)(13) of this subchapter); (8) Through fundamental research in science and engineering at accredited institutions of higher learning in the U.S. where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly in the scientific community. Fundamental research is defined to mean basic and applied research in science and engineering where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly within the scientific community, as distinguished from research the results of which are restricted for proprietary reasons or specific U.S. Government access and dissemination controls. University research will not be considered fundamental research if: (i) The University or its researchers accept other restrictions on publication of scientific and technical information resulting from the project or activity, or (ii) The research is funded by the U.S. Government and specific access and dissemination controls protecting information resulting from the research are applicable. (b) [Reserved] PS. Did any one ever heard of any report about the memorandum and the way it works since 2006? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

2 1

World space week
by Luc Leblanc 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Just to inform our AMSAT'S about this event! It will be a great media platform even more if ISS can be activated (Cross band repeater or direct crew contact) during this period October 4 to 10. What is World Space Week? It is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events: * October 4, 1957 -- Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration * October 10, 1967 - The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Where and how is World Space Week celebrated? It is open to all. Government agencies, industry, non-profit organizations, teachers, or even individuals can organize events to celebrate space. This week is coordinated by the United Nations with the support of World Space Week Association and local coordinators in many countries. Information on the many locations and countries that celebrate World Space Week can be found here. What are the benefits of World Space Week? * Educates people around the world about the benefits they receive from space * Encourages greater use of space for sustainable economic development * Demonstrates public support for space programs * Excites children about learning and their future * Promote institutions around the world that are involved in space * Fosters international cooperation in space outreach and education How can schools participate? This event is ideal for teachers to promote student interest in science and math. A free Teacher's Activity Guide is available here. To encourage participation, World Space Week Association gives various educational awards each year. What can I do for World Space Week? There are many ways to get involved: * Volunteer for World Space Week Association * Organize an event directly * Help expand and coordinate World Space Week * Encourage teachers and students to do space-related activities More on: http://www.worldspaceweek.org/ "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

1 0

Help with Renesas uController board
by William Leijenaar 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Hi AMSATs, After using the MSP430 types in my latest transponder designs I am now playing with some Renesas uController board, which I bought in Japan. It is more to get a feeling of these controlers for possible future projects. I don't know if it is only me, but it always costs me days work to get my first program run on a new controler, because the software doesn't want to upload my few bits program into this chip... The same now with my renesas H8/300H HD64F3062BF testboard. It works well with the demo program, which has a .MOT file that I can upload via the USB connection. When I make my own code, I can not get it to make the .MOT file, so nothing to upload. Any Renesas guru that might know how I can get it to convert to a .MOT file ? My kind regards, William Leijenaar, PE1RAH ---

1 0

Special Event Coinciding with AMSAT Symposium
by Frank H. Bauer 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

All, Those of you into Edgar Allan Poe.there is a special treat if you come to this year's symposium. The famous poet is celebrating his 200th birthday this year. He lived in Baltimore for several years and died and was buried in the city. And there is a Poe Museum at the Baltimore house he lived in before his death. The year-long commemoration of Poe will culminate with a recreation of his funeral that occurs around the Symposium dates. Poe died on October 7, 1849. There will be a recreation of a wake for Poe from noon to 11 pm at the Poe House. This will be followed up with a mock-funeral for Poe on Sunday October 11 (12:30 and 4:30). John Astin (Gomez Addams from the Addams family fame) will officiate the funeral services. If you want more information on this, go to the following web sites: www.nevermore2009.com www.poebicentennial.com www.annabelleetavern.com This "all Poe" tavern was named after one of Poe's last poems.a virtual shrine to Edgar Allan Poe with his poetry covering the walls. www.westminsterhall.org Where he is buried.and where a mystery man dresses in black leaves a bottle of cognac and three red roses on Poe's birthday. If you didn't know it before, now you know why the Baltimore Football team is called the Ravens... 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO 2009 AMSAT Symposium Co-Chair

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Selling 910H
by Gordon Bousman 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

I just listed my 910H on eBay in case someone is interested in it. It has the 1200 mHz module installed along with two UT-106 DSP modules and comes with two Icom masthead pre-amps (144 & 440). Gordon NW7D

1 0

More Good Sympoiusm Airfares
by Frank H. Bauer 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

All, Those interested in attending the AMSAT Symposium in Baltimore this October, I just got a notice that Airtran has a sale to and from BWI until September 17. $39-119 with a 10 day advance purchase. Sign up now to get the best fares before they are taken by others. Airtran does charge for checked luggage. We will be posting the Symposium agenda this week. For planning purposes, the BoD meeting starts Thursday morning and runs until noon Friday. The symposium starts at 1 pm Friday and runs until noon Sunday. The AMSAT annual meeting with be Saturday afternoon. And there will be an ARISS ops meeting (all are invited) on Sunday. The 40th anniversary celebration is Friday night and the Banquet is Saturday night. I hope to see you in Baltimore. We expect to have a great time. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO

1 0

Selling 910H
by Gordon Bousman 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

I just listed my 910H on eBay in case someone is interested in it. It has the 1200 mHz module installed along with two UT-106 DSP modules and comes with two Icom masthead pre-amps (144 & 440). Gordon NW7D

1 0

FN00 tomorrow 9/8
by Chris Lemon 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Hello All, I should be on the air tomorrow 9/8 from FN00 Pennsylvania. Weather permitting, I should be able to work the 1719Z SO-50 pass, 1743Z AO-27 pass, and the 1920Z AO-27 pass. I may be early enough to work the 1538Z SO-50 pass, but I'm not counting on it. As always, subject to change by weather and work requirements, but I'll give it my best shot. Chris KB9CL

1 0

TNC's for satellite work
by John 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

All, I'm in the process of setting up a simple 'earth station' for satellite work. One facet I am interested in is digital mode. Thus my question: will a Rigblaster Plus work as a TNC, or must I buy a dedicated TNC? My shack is rather small, and I'd rather have one box that would do two things vs. two that do one thing. Rig is an Icom 706MKIIG, which has the data port for packet. Assuming that the answer to the question I pose in the first paragraph is "no, a rigblaster won't serve as a TNC", are there recommendations for TNC's? From reviewing the literature they all seem to have about the same functionality, so I wonder if the $200 Kantronics unit will give as good service as would the $540 Timewave PK232. Thanks! John KC9IKB

1 0

DJ-G7T reviews
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Thanks to all who have replied to my request for reviews on this HT. Concensus looks like it isnt worth a hill of beans for satellite work, and I appreciate all comments. Sure wish I hadnt sold that W32 years ago !! Tnx again, John W6ZKH

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Alinco DJ-G7T Pro/Con reviews
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Having read several threads here dealing with the Alinco Tribander HT, I would like to hear from folks who are using said HT for full-duplex satellite operation, either Pro or Con. I am looking for an HT for portable work while RVing the country at the end of this month. All reviews will be greatly appreciated. John W6ZKH

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QSL requests for K8GI/P and K8GI/4
by Rick 07 Sep '09

07 Sep '09

Guyz: I'll be wrapping up my trip in a few days. If you contacted be from EM98/EM99, EM98 or EM97 (as K8GI/P), or EM96, EM94 or EM91 (as K8GI/4), and you want a QSL card from me, kindly proceed as per my 08/26/09 msg on "AMSAT-BB." It will be helpful if any such requests are received by next Monday, 09/14, so I can get them out that week. I also need to know how many cards to make for a couple of those QTHs. (I worked a couple more grids than originally planned.) 73! Rick 'GI

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Increasing range from LEO.
by G0MRF＠aol.com 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

In a message dated 03/09/2009 08:09:09 GMT Standard Time, kd6ozh(a)comcast.net writes: P3E is a HEO with the same engine as P3D and no benefactor funding a launch. It seems more reasonable to focus on projects that we can pay to launch or where someone has already donated the launch. 73, John KD6OZH Wacky idea No 357 Perhaps a longer term piece of AMSAT research could be to develop a subsystem for LEO satellites that detects and then connects users between passing LEOs. This would allow short term intersatellite communication. Very tricky, but a nice project where boards are made available to anyone who would like to add this facility to their LEO Sat. Thanks David

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WD9EWK from DM31ov - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

Hi! Despite the evening thunderstorms that rolled in from northern Mexico, ruining my chance to work one more pass, my day-trip to grid DM31 yesterday (Saturday, 5 September 2009) was successful. I was able to look around the area, so I could have a better idea of the surroundings than I could see in Google Earth or Google Maps. That grid is less than 3 hours from my home, so this is a destination I can visit on future day-trips. As I drove toward DM31 near the USA/Mexico border on Arizona route 85, I made note of a spot that straddles the DM31ox/DM32oa grid boundary. There is a place to safely pull off the highway, but with mountains to the east and west of the highway I did not think this would be a good spot to work from. I was not so concerned with operating from the grid boundary; I can visit DM32 in an hour's drive from Phoenix, but DM31 is not so convenient. I drove to the small town of Lukeville, which is the Arizona side of this border crossing point across from the Mexican city of Sonoyta. This point is where most who are interested in visiting the Mexican town of Puerto Penasco ("Rocky Point"), on the north end of the Gulf of California just over 60 miles/100km away, cross the border. This area allowed me a better view of the sky to the east and west than I had at other points north of the border - without having to go away from the highway and set up in an area that is less secure than a border crossing complete with lots of law-enforcement personnel. My location was in grid DM31ov - 31 52.915 N, 112 49.027 W. I parked in a large parking lot at "Gringo Pass", which is a complex complete with gasoline station, restaurant, grocery store, and a duty-free store and auto-insurance agency for those heading into Mexico. I did not have a Mexican ham-radio permit, and with the security situation over there not being stable, I did not cross the border even for a second. I walked up to the line, and took photos around there - the plaque marking the international border, a plaque on the Mexican customs house, the signs and flag on the Mexican side of the border, looking along the border fence, etc. I also took some photos of my portable station, and was able to work an SO-50 pass at just after noon (1900 UTC). For that pass, I logged 8 QSOs - mostly with stations near the Pacific coast, with 3 being further east as the satellite moved in that direction. A good start. I was ready for the first of two AO-27 passes at 2049 UTC. When the repeater opened up, it was busy. I was able to make QSOs with 17 stations from Mexico, the continental USA, and even KL7XJ in Alaska showed up at the end of the 7-minute repeater time. Before the next AO-27 pass, I had lunch and then returned to the parking lot for the pass. That pass put 6 more QSOs in the log. I had planned to work 2 AO-51 passes, at 0026 and 0206 UTC. I knew of a pass around 2254 UTC, a very shallow pass for me at this location (maximum elevation 2 degrees). Since the first possible AO-51 pass came not long after the western AO-27 pass, I decided to try it from this location. I figured I might have 2 minutes or so when the satellite was at its highest to hear something, let alone make QSOs. In the span of approximately 80 seconds, I heard the satellite, made a call, worked 3 stations, then heard nothing when AO-51 went behind mountains northeast of my location. If anyone has a recording of that pass from yesterday, in particular the segment between 2255 and 2257 UTC, and could e-mail me a copy of that - I would appreciate hearing it. After those 3 QSOs, I drove up the road toward the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - which I drove through earlier - and to the town of Why. The signs as you approach this little town answer that "question" - gasoline, food, lodging, and camping. Other than that, there's not much here other than an intersection with another highway that heads east toward Tucson, 120 miles/200km away. There was even a small casino about 2 miles/3km east of that intersection, on the western edge of a large Indian reservation. After that drive and picture-taking, I drove back to Lukeville. The better eastern pass of AO-51 for me was at 0026 UTC. I was ready, and worked a total of 16 stations - 6 in Mexico, and 10 across the USA. I appreciate the fact that I was able to make QSOs with so many XE stations, as they are also interested in working rare or unusual grids as many in the US are. This turned out to be my last pass from DM31 for the day, unfortunately. As the 0026 UTC AO-51 pass ended, I had a nice chat with a couple of officers from the US Border Patrol. They were interested in what I was doing with radio equipment, so close to the border. They asked me what I was doing, which I explained to them. One of the officers asked if I could listen in on their radio gear. I said "no", thinking their radios were using some form of digital transmissions (they each had commercial Motorola HTs on their belts) and I did not have a receiver capable of decoding digital voice communications. I understand why they might ask that question, since there would be others that would be interested in listening in on those transmissions. One of the officers stuck around for almost 20 minutes to chat (his uncle is a ham operator, but the officer had not picked up this hobby), and we watched the dark clouds roll in. Then he returned to his post - inspecting vehicles approaching the Mexican border. As the clock moved toward 0206 UTC, the start of the last pass I planned to work, dark clouds started coming up from the southeast. Then lightning started to strike around that part of the border area. The lightning convinced me to shut down, dismantle my station, and head home. I was able to drive about 5 miles/8km north of the border, next to the visitor center at the nearby Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and take some pictures of the southern sky as it was being lit up by lightning. My camera is a simple Sony 7.2-megapixel camera, which does not lend itself for nighttime photography and doesn't have a fast shutter speed. I was able to get some nice photos of the clouds in the sky as the lightning lit them up. On the way home, at another US Border Patrol highway checkpoint about 60 miles/100km north of Lukeville, the two officers there asked me where I was coming from and also about my radio gear. Then one of them asked if I knew the code to access the front- panel programming mode for a certain model of commercial Kenwood HT - not the sort of question I expected to hear from those officers. I didn't know about that, but we did talk for a few minutes about radios and programming them before I was allowed to continue on my way home. I did not mind talking with any of the Border Patrol officers; they have a tough job trying to secure the southern US border, and now performing inspections on vehicles heading into Mexico (a new task, something that was never done on a regular basis in the past for those leaving the US). Despite not having the chance to safely work the last AO-51 pass, this was a good day. A total of 50 QSOs went in the log on 5 different passes, and now I have a better idea of where to go to work from DM31 in the future. Most of this grid is in Mexico, and there are better locations without so many hills and mountains on the other side of the border. Even down to "Rocky Point", which is near the southern edge of DM31, would be a good place to set up and operate - while having something cool to drink. :-) That will have to wait, but I'll head down to the Arizona side of DM31 again in the future. Again, anyone interested in a QSL card confirming contacts made with me from DM31 only needs to e-mail me the QSO details. No SASE is needed. I hope to have cards in the mail in the next week or so. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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FT 847 (loaded)/SYMEK TNC 3S for sale on EBAY
by wgravett＠juno.com 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

I am selling this combination on EBAY ( Item 230374998108). The auction is open to registered EBAY folks. The FT 847 has been modified with the F-IFD board to handle 38.4 kbaud downlink. The TNC3S has a 9600 AND a 38.4k baud board in it. There is a reasonable reserve on this auction ; all manuals are included....Christmas times a'comin !!! 73 Bill, W5PGZ ( direct any questions to wgravett(a)juno.com or the ebay ad) ____________________________________________________________ Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTFoYcKFnbqPfGkQ6i0U1UIwyW…

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AO-51 MODE L/U
by Alan P. Biddle 06 Sep '09

06 Sep '09

Had a couple of good QSOs this morning. According to KD8CAO, the mode should be around a bit longer while the new schedule is being finalized. Have a great Labor Day weekend! 73s, Alan WA4SCA

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SatPC32
by Art McBride 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

Hi All, I am trying to get my ICom 820H working under CAT. I have an OPC-478UC It is USB to single line CI-V required by the ICom 820H. I have shifted it's output to the tip from the sleeve on the 1/8" phone plug. Under System / Device hardware the OPC 478 shows up as com 3. The radio does not control. I have set the address to 60h from 42h in the radio and the baud rate to 9600 on both radio and program. I get the E/A Fehler-32 warning when I try to store the com port values. The OPC 478UC does work my ICom D800 and when connected to the 820H will return a Com 3 when com port is selected. If I unplug the cord to the 820H it tells me no radio is connected. Any help on this one would be appreciated. Art, KC6UQH

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ANS-249 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-249 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org ********************************************************************** * 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting October 9-11 * * Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport * * Details - http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2009/index.php * ********************************************************************** In this edition: * AMSAT-NA BoD Ballots Due September 15 * Only One Month Until the AMSAT Space Symposium * FO-29 Recovery Efforts Continue * AO-7 DX Reports * Silent Key: Packet Satellite Pioneer Den Connors, KD2S * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ESA Astronaut Answers Your Questions From Space SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.01 AMSAT-NA BoD Ballots Due September 15 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.01 The deadline for returning the gold "corrected" ballot to the AMSAT office is September 15th. If you need biographical information on the candidates, it can be found on the AMSAT website. [ANS thanks Martha for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.02 Only One Month Until the AMSAT Space Symposium AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.02 Co-Chairs, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Janet Bauer remind you that the 2009 AMSAT Symposium is rapidly approaching! And we hope you can join us, especially given that there are some low-cost airfares out there for those of us in the US. We have an outstanding venue this year at the Four Points Sheraton at the BWI Airport. Your symposium committee recently did a walk through of this facility. The accommodations and meeting rooms are superb. Frank said, "I do a lot of traveling and I must say that the rooms are absolutely beautiful. You will definitely get a substantial bang for your buck (or Euro, etc.) at this symposium. And planned 40th Anniversary celebratory events will be truly memorable". So we'd love to see you in "Charm City"-Baltimore Maryland..for the symposium presentations, 40th anniversary celebrations, poster ses- sions, ARISS Operations Team Meeting, and AMSAT BoD meeting. Full details are available on-line: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2009/index.php You can now register online for the 2009 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting: http://www.amsat-na.com/store2/SymposiumReg2009.php Online registration will disappear on October 5th so do not wait too long! Our guest speaker is Dr. Martin Collins from the the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. He will talk on "Making the Space Age: The First Fifty Years". Follow the links from the Symposium page to book your room at the hotel. An 800 number is also available. When booking your room let the operator know that you are with the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation for the special rates. (They don't seem to know about AMSAT.) [ANS thanks Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Janet Bauer for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.03 FO-29 Recovery Efforts Continue AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.03 Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL reported that recovery efforts continue for the FO-29 satellite. Partial CW telemetry from FO-29 was received by Luciano, PY5LF, "during the orbit 64384 of FO29 I heard and decoded the telemetry for only 3 times then the satellite turned off." At the present time the ground control team continues to analyze telemetry and are continuing attempts to restore the satellite while it is over Japan. The latest information can be found on Mineo's web page at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/fo29rest.htm [ANS thanks Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.04 AO-7 DX Reports AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.04 Piraja, PS8RF reported more transatlantic DX via AO-7 from Brazil. During the orbit number 59094 of AO-7 (MODE B - 20:14:21 UTC - 21/08/2009) I could hear Andre, ZS2ACP calling CQ and giving a signal report to another station here in Brazil (PY5LF). Unfortunately I could not find the uplink, was prepared, but I missed the time to call it. Despite the weather have been enough I could not hear me. The AO-7 in spite of 35 years continues to bring surprises to the satellite community. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meMa0zz5v4k Piraja also noted another AO-7 milestone. Joe, K3SZH has reached 10,000 contacts via AO-7. Congratulations Joe! [ANS thanks Piraja, PS8RF for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.05 Silent Key: Packet Satellite Pioneer Den Connors, KD2S AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.05 Tom Clark, K3IO noted, "It is with much sadness that I report the passing of Den Connors, KD2S. Den passed on after a year long fight to conquer lymphoma." Den was TAPR's first president, overseeing the transition from a local Tucson club into the multi-national TAPR. He was a major sponsor of the adoption of AX.25 as the amateur packet standard. Under his lead, TAPR introduced the TNC-1 and then later the TNC-2. Den worked with Tom to define an amateur store-and-forward packet radio satellite which morphed into the AO16, IO-26, AO-27, and MO-30 Microsats. 73, Den -- you will be missed by all your friends! [ANS thanks Tom Clark, K3IO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.06 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.06 + The dates of the 2010 AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be the weekend of July 30 to August 1, 2010. The location will be the same as in 2009, the Holiday Inn, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom. (G3WGM) + Please collect and send telemetry data you receive on 145.825 from the Pollux and Castor satellites to ande(a)juno.nrl.navy.mil. There was a laser ranging experiment this weekend from Maui to illuminate the retroreflectors on both satellites. If you include your address you can receive a QSL card. (KD4HBO) + Photos of the night time launch of STS-128 can be viewed on-line: From 200 miles north on Jekyll Island, GA see: http://bit.ly/4uBi3N The view from Orlando can be seen at http://www.mydrive.ch/en. The username is plethra2. The guest password is aa4kn_1. They are found in the STS-128 folder. + Listen for Tom, KB9BIT as he activates the far western part of the Oklahoma Panhandle between September 12 - 19 (grids DM86 and DM87) To get your QSL card e-mail Tom at kb9bit(a)arrl.net or tmlask(a)att.net with the details of the QSO. + Congratulations and a hearty well-done to Clint, K6LCS on his very successful "How to Work Ham Sats With Your HT" presentation to the Moreno Valley (CA) Amateur Radio Association. Clint says, "They were, indeed, properly impressed!" Listen for Clint's upcoming demos on: September 11 - EchoLink/IRLP via K0GQ September 17 - Conejo Valley ARC October 5 - WARA (Fullerton) meeting October 17 - Victor Valley ARC's JOTA + West Coast USA stations worked Hawaii via AO-51 on September 4. Ron, W6ZQ operated from Kauai in grid BL02. Robert, NH7WN from Honolulu (BL11) was also on the same pass. Patrick, WD9EWK said he was able to work W6ZQ at just under 2 degrees elevation and got NH7WN at just over 3 degrees elevation. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.07 ESA Astronaut Answers Your Questions From Space AMSAT News Service Bulletin 249.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 6, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.07 This week Space Daily carried a story dateline September 3, from Paris, France about a new way to contact the International Space Station. How do you wash your clothes in space? How does food stay fresh if there is no fridge on the ISS? ESA's Frank De Winne is answering these, and many more of your questions, right now, from space. Is there something you always wanted to know about being an astro- naut? Or you are just curious about living and working in space? Well, now is the time to ask. Instead of searching the Internet, you can ask an ESA astronaut directly. Frank De Winne, on the International Space Station, is keen to answer your questions personally via ESA's YouTube channel. Questions answered so far have been "Will you exercise a lot on your bike?", "What medical conditions would stop you becoming an astronaut?", "Will Europe have its own Space Shuttle in the future?" and "Do you use washing powder for washing clothes in space?" Frank is answering questions from space fans all over Europe, and he will greet you in English, French or Dutch in your personal video response. All you have to do is record your question using a webcam, video camera or mobile phone, and post it on ESA"s YouTube channel. Each week, Frank posts his responses to your questions on the site, directly from space. Frank is part way through his six-month mission on the International Space Station. Later in his mission, he will also become the first European commander of the ISS. Have a go, it could be your question answered next! Record and upload your questions to ESA"s YouTube channel as a 'Video Response' to De Winne's video message which can viewed at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpNcG3vu_E (ed. note: Frank's amateur radio callsign is ON1DWN.) [ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that please keep in mind when wondering how important feed line loss is in your antenna installation that ancient wisdom reminds us about the man who digs his well at a distance from the tent soon laments when his wife's mustache catches fire. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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No go for 0206 UTC AO51 pass
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 05 Sep '09

05 Sep '09

Hi! Due to bad thunderstorms that rolled into the DM31ov area, I won't be able to make this upcoming pass. I'll be back here in the near future, now that I know that I can get here in 2.5 hours from Phoenix. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK Lukeville AZ

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