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WD9EWK from DM35/DM45 - Thursday, 16 July
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Hi! I drove north from Phoenix this morning, and spent some of the afternoon working a pair of AO-27 passes followed by an AO-51 pass from the DM35/DM45 line. I parked on the side of old US-66 north of the I-40 freeway, about 20 miles/32km west of Flagstaff AZ. I have operated from this location many times over the past year or so. Much cooler weather up here in the mountains, compared to Phoenix in the desert. :-) On AO-27, the first pass I worked at 2000 UTC was the most productive of the afternoon - 12 contacts with stations across the US and Mexico. The next AO-27 pass at 2141 UTC put 8 more QSOs in the log, followed by 9 more QSOs on the 0100 UTC AO-51 pass that covered most of the continental US. A good day, with a total of 29 QSOs in the log. For tomorrow (Friday, 17 July), I will be on the air from the ARRL Arizona State Convention and Hamfest in Williams AZ. Williams is a small city along old US-66, about 10 miles/16km west of where I operated from today, and the starting point for the Grand Canyon Railway. I am planning to be on the air for the 1300 UTC AO-51 pass, as well as the later AO-51 pass. SO-50 will be going by, and I think I can get on for one of those passes, plus a VO-52 pass just before 1800 UTC (1100 local, the time of my presentation at the hamfest's exhibit hall). I should be able to get on AO-27 passes in the afternoon, as well as the first (eastern, for me) AO-51 pass a little past 0000 UTC. The hamfest site is in grid DM35vg. Again, there's no need to send me QSLs or SASEs to get QSL cards for any contacts made with WD9EWK over the next week. You don't have to e-mail me with every QSO; one e-mail sent after I return home on 22 July with all QSOs in it would be sufficient. If I find the QSO(s) in the log, I will be happy to send cards for each contact. And, as I've been doing since last year's Arizona/Utah/Nevada road trip, cards will clearly identify each location I operate from along with a picture of my GPS receiver's readout to show the latitude/longitude of the location. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Williams, Arizona http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Central USA Cross Band Balloon Launch Saturday July 18
by JoAnne Maenpaa 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Hello everyone, This is making the e-mail rounds of mid-west ham radio circuits. Working a high altitude balloon launch might be interesting to AMSAT folks in the central portion of USA ... QSO Opportunity with High Altitude Balloon Flight Saturday, 18 July 2009 As part of SpaceJam-3 (www.spacejamboree.com), DePauw University (www.depauw.edu/acad/physics/base) will be flying a cross band repeater to allow the Scouts at the Jamboree to talk with ground stations from a large area of the central portion of the United States. Launch will occur at 13:50 UT (8:50 am Central Daylight Time) from Rantoul, IL (40.29 N, 88.14 W) The target ascent rate will be 1000 feet/min. APRS information will be sent over 144.39 MHz every minute under the call sign, W9YJ-11. The helium filled balloon will reach a float altitude of 70000 feet (21.5km) about 15:00 UT and will attempt to float at this altitude for about three hours. During this time the balloon should travel slowly to the NW from about 40.0N & 87.8W to 40.1 N & 88.1 W. The descent will begin about 18:00 UT on a slowly deflating balloon with landing about 19:30 UT. The uplink frequency on the radio will be 144.36 MHz, and the downlink frequency will be 446.025 MHz. The Scouts will be using the call sign WB9SA. If you have a chance to contact the station, the Scouts will be thrilled to make the contact! You may also attempt to use the repeater for a long distance Earth-Balloon-Earth contact with hams from larger distances. Thanks to Howard Brooks, KC9QBN, Professor of Physics & Astronomy at DePauw University, W9YJ for making this happen!!! If you are in the IL/IN area you might catch ATV from our first balloon going up (100,000 ft) at 8:20 AM CDT Saturday from Rantoul IL 430 Mhz, with a CW call "DE WB9SA" -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Copy Editor, AMSAT Journal

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Re: IF you had a choice...
by Sebastian 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

On Jul 16, 2009, at 12:32 PM, David - KG4ZLB wrote: > Hi Norman, > > This is a topic that surfaces every so often and is not an easy one to > answer. > > The reason I say "primarily" is that the TS exhibits a "birdie" > right in > the downlink frequency for SO-50 which renders use of that bird more > or > less impossible on that radio. Add AO-27 to that list! Also, and this is something that I will never understand why they failed to do this; the 2000 can't send 12 volts up the coax line for preamps, the 910H can. While there are other methods of supplying voltage to preamps, it's nice to have it built in. 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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[amsat-bb] K5E UPDATE – 16 July, 2009 – 16:45 UTC
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

UPDATE – 16 July, 2009 – 16:45 UTC The K5E special event operation is off to a good start, with contacts in the log on four different amateur satellites – AO-7, FO-29, SO-50 and VO-52. OTHER OPERATORS In an attempt to cover as much of North America as possible, three operators have volunteered to assist in the K5E Satellite Special Event. They will ID, per information I received from ARRL, as: AA5PK/K5E K8YSE/K5E WA4NVM/K5E Contacts with these stations are valid to claim a Special Event QSL. Please send ALL requests for QSL to N3TL, and please include an SASE. Operating Schedules: Here are the operating schedules for these stations. I will post updates as necessary: AA5PK/K5E will operate the following 10 passes (times noted are mid-pass for his location): 2009-07-17 01:03:08 ECHO (AO-51) 2009-07-17 02:27:24 OSCAR 7 (AO-7) 2009-07-18 01:27:23 OSCAR 7 (AO-7) 2009-07-18 02:03:03 ECHO (AO-51) 2009-07-18 22:24:59 EYESAT-1 (AO-27) 2009-07-19 01:23:22 ECHO (AO-51) 2009-07-19 02:20:31 OSCAR 7 (AO-7) 2009-07-19 16:41:05 JAS-2 (FO-29) 2009-07-19 21:56:23 EYESAT-1 (AO-27) 2009-07-20 00:43:51 ECHO (AO-51) On the passes above, AA5PK/K5E will be the ONLY K5E Special Event Station. K8YSE/K5E will operate from the morning of July 21st through 0359 UTC on July 22nd as the ONLY K5E Special Event Station active. WA4NVM/K5E Will operate form the morning of July 22nd through 0359 UTC on July 23rd as the ONLY K5E Special Event Station active. NOTE TO ALL: Only 1 QSL card will be issued per valid amateur call sign. Multiple contacts on the SSB/CW satellites (AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52) shouldn’t be a big deal because those satellites aren’t too busy – but the 1 QSL per call rule still applies. Especially on the FM satellites (AO-27, AO-51 and SO-50), please only one contact (all three satellites combined, not per satellite). This will enable the K5E and /K5E stations to work as many as possible. Thank you! I will post additional updates as warranted, and also will update www.qrz.com/k5e. Please see that Web page for full details on the special event. 73 to all, Tim – N3TL K5E – The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event

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Ant in QST
by Jerry Clement 16 Jul '09

16 Jul '09

Has anyone seen the antenna for 2m in this monthsQST p. 30. Its a omnidirection sorta a double diamond turnstile. I was wondering how this woould work for the LEO Sats?? Would think it would be simple to scale it down for 435?? -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota http://nr5abikeblog.blogspot.com/ http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb I have used the Quadrifilar Helix Antenna on Satellites with great success, as suggested by David GOMRF. My antenna is here: www.stormchaser.cjb.net with a link for the plans. Jerry VE6AB www.ve6ab.blogspot.com

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Re: Ant in QST
by G0MRF＠aol.com 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

In a message dated 15/07/2009 21:52:06 GMT Standard Time, nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com writes: Has anyone seen the antenna for 2m in this monthsQST p. 30. Its a omnidirection sorta a double diamond turnstile. I was wondering how this woould work for the LEO Sats?? Would think it would be simple to scale it down for 435?? I did see that, but it has very low angle radiation probably with a deep null at higher angles. It's advantage was that it has horizontal polarisation. I can't help but feel a quadrifilar helix would be better There are some designs out there and there is also an online calculator for the dimensions for a frequency of your choice. David G0MRF

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Ant in QST
by Jerry Felts 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Has anyone seen the antenna for 2m in this monthsQST p. 30. Its a omnidirection sorta a double diamond turnstile. I was wondering how this woould work for the LEO Sats?? Would think it would be simple to scale it down for 435?? -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota http://nr5abikeblog.blogspot.com/ http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/

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Polarity switching question
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

I recently obtained a pair of KLM yagi's for satellite work. They both have the KLM polarity switching box mounted and wired up. Since I havent put them up yet, and not well versed in the subject, I got out my ohm meter just to see what was what on this item. I noticed that both driven elements have continuty to the center pin of the coax at the same time. I was under the impression that the relay switched back and forth the driven elements to give either RH or LH polarity. I havent applied the 12 volts to the box yet to check that out, but was just curious. One thing I have noticed while using the downlink yagi is that I get very little fade due to polarity when I turn the antenna. I hope that is a good thing?? I havent checked the uplink yagi to see if it has the same results. I hope someone can enlighten me abit. 73 de John W6ZKH

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New Computor
by TERRY BROMLEY 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Just replaced my old broken computor, but all my email address are lost. So please if i use your mail boxes a lot ( you know who you are hi) please email me so i can put your email ad in address file. Tnx Terry G1WPR.

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Solar Eclipse 22nd July
by Masahiro Arai 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Solar eclipse is visible at Asia and Pacific on 22nd July. Very limited area is able to see total solar eclipse. Many amateur satellites pass above the solar eclipse area. Electric power generated by solar cells will show very interesting behavior under solar eclipse. How about collecting telemetry and ploting solar cell power condition? Temperature may also show interesting look. I checked the telemetry transmitting satellite orbit around Japan. The following satellites pass above solar eclipse area. COMPASS-1, FO-29, CO-66, CO-58, DO-64, STARS, PRISM, SOHLA-1, AO-27, NO-44 There is something to be said for DO-64 condition. Will DO-64 stop transmitting telemetry under the solar eclipse? If AO-27 store telemetry as WOD, WOD shows complete solar eclipse condition. Let's try to collect telemtry under solar eclipse! solar eclipse info http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japan

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CubeSAT and InnoSAT
by Trevor . 15 Jul '09

15 Jul '09

Is there any word on CubeSAT and InnoSAT which launched on Falcon-1 early this morning ? http://www.southgatearc.org/news/july2009/falcon1_satellite_launches.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: Falcon-1 Launch - webcast ?
by Trevor . 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

--- On Tue, 14/7/09, Alexandru Csete <alexc(a)phys.au.dk> wrote: > Webcast of SpaceX launches are usually available on their webstite Hi Alex, Thanks for the YouTube link. For some reason my email took a long time, > 12 hours, to get through the AMSAT-BB and there's an email from early this morning that hasn't come through yet - the web is probably on a go-slow. Anyway I found the live webcast in time. --- On Tue, 14/7/09, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > system, and that bumped the two nanosats off the flight. A shame they got bumped, still the good news is that the Falcon 1 got into orbit successfully. Lets hope SpaceX have similar success with the Geo-Transfer orbit capable Falcon 9. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Falcon-1 Launch - webcast ?
by Trevor . 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

Does anyone know if there's a live webcast of tomorrows Falcon-1 launch of CubeSAT and InnoSAT ? http://atsbgs.blogspot.com/ 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Polarity Switching box
by Michael Wolthuis 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

I know I could make my own, but I was just wondering if someone makes a box that can be easily connected to the polarity switches on a set of UHF/VHF KLM antennas? I have the red/black leads run down to my shack on some simple Cat5e, but was hoping for a nice box that would look good sitting with my rotor control. I thought KLM used to make one, but can¹t find it. Thanks, Mike kb8zgl

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For Sale - Assorted Satellite Related Items
by A.J. Farmer 14 Jul '09

14 Jul '09

Yaesu G-5500 Az/El Rotator Includes control box, cables, and manual Works fine - no problems $400 or best offer Labjack Piggyback Combined with the Labjack U12 (below), allows computer control of the G-5500 rotator by Nova Satellite Tracking software http://www.nlsa.com/labjack/labjack_piggyback.html $20 Labjack U12 http://www.nlsa.com/labjack/labjack_u12.html $100 or best offer M2 2MCP22 Circ. Pol. Antenna http://www.m2inc.com/products/vhf/2m/2mcp22.html All parts are in excellent condition except some of the element retaining clips must be broken to disassemble the antenna. These clips are "one way" only and are impossible to remove once the antenna is assembled. A bag of 50 replacement clips is available from M2 for $13, or you can use other techniques instead of the clips. $200 or best offer Pickup available from Hollywood, MD or will ship anywhere via UPS at cost. No reasonable offers refused! If interested, contact me at farmer.aj(a)gmail.com Thanks! A.J. Farmer, AJ3U

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G5500 Rotor Drift Issue
by Mark Spencer 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

There have been a couple of recent posts about a G5500 voltage drift issue and some solutions. I'd like to thank those gentlemen for the posts and the solutions. I am in a unique position to be able to work with nine G5500 rotors side-by-side in preparation for the Teachers Institute II that I will hold at the end of the week. I noticed the same warm-up/calibration issue mentioned in the posts. I discovered that it took on average 10 minutes of warm up time for the voltage to stabilize, and this voltage is the reference on which the antenna position indications are based. The difference between the cold start and warm up position was around 10 degrees for AZ and 4 degrees for EL. Minor but irritating. I thought I'd try the easiest solution suggested first (changing the output cap on the regulator to .1uF) before I tried the more dramatic solution of changing out the voltage regulator. I simply tack soldered the .1uF cap on the exposed leads of the existing .01uF cap, and it worked like a charm. All nine rotor controllers fire up at 6.12 volts and hold that voltage throughout the operation of the rotor. This sure will make instruction of rotor setup and calibration a heck of a lot easier. Thanks for the suggests. Mark Spencer, WA8SME ARRL-The national association for Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspencer(a)arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ 530-495-9150

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Oscar 5 in SatMagazine
by Trevor . 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

The Oscar 5 satellite built by Australian Radio Amateurs at the end of the 60's is mentioned in the latest issue of SatMagazine The July/August issue of SatMagazine covers the Australian space program and mentions the work of Australian Radio Amateurs who built Oscar 5. The article on page 59 includes a picture of Oscar 5 which carried transmitters on 29.450 MHz and 144.050 MHz and was launched on January 23, 1970, into an orbit of 1435 x 1481 km with an inclination of 102.0 degrees. Ther July/Aug 2009 issue of SatMagazine is at http://www.satmagazine.com/2009/SatMag_JulAug09.pdf SatMagazine http://www.satmagazine.com/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA RSS Daily Radio News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Daily News via Email: http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2783644&loc=en_US Submit your news: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm or email editor at southgatearc.org ----

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Amsat-UK Oscar News
by john heath 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

My copy of O.N. 186 arrived today, Thanks to Dave Johnson G4DPZ, Graham Shirville G3VZV and all contributors for a much improved ON. I well remember how Ron Broadbent used to hustle everyone for contribution articles, on the basis that as the editor he couldn't produce a good magazine with out material to work with. Lets see what we can do to support Dave and Graham in keeping O.N full and interesting 73 John G7HIA

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Delaware Operation FM29ft
by John Papay 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

Our mini WAS-pedition to Wilmington Delaware FM29 ended with the 7/12/2009 1305-1316z AO51 pass which was only 11 degrees in Delaware. In just two days approximately 85 different callsigns were logged (including 4 with KD4ZGW who operated from his 18 wheeler in DN90, EM38, EM29 and EM65). If you were thinking that there are only a few regulars operating the FM birds, this should make you rethink that notion. For those that are chasing grids, there are plenty of new people showing up in grids that have not been very active. Many of the "regulars" were not on during this period, but if they were the total could have easily gone over 100 different callsigns worked. My operation took place from the Days Inn tree lawn on Concord Pike just south of Naamans Rd for western passes and the Concord Mall parking lot, about 1000' south for eastern passes. I was able to make qso's to the west down to about 5 degrees or less. The AO27 pass on 7/11 at 2041-2051z was only 7 degrees but it did net 4 stations. The QRM was heavy and my signal was not strong enough to get through the many stations that were operating. KI6YAA was heard but could not be worked. But on Sunday morning, Larry was up at 6am for the AO51 pass (11 degrees for me) and a qso was easily completed. The early bird still does get the worm. Several stations including K7WIN and VE6AB mentioned that Delaware was the last state they needed. It was great to be able to give them Delaware. Between Jim's (ND9M) operation and this one, Delaware should be very low on the most wanted State list. There will be a special QSL card for this operation. Cards will be sent to every station that was worked. There is no need to send a card or an SASE to me although you can if you want to. I'll put an announcement on the BB and my QRZ.com page when the cards are mailed. If you don't get one and think you worked me, please email me. All passes have been recorded and can be checked. Thanks to everyone who worked me. If you want to have some fun on the birds, try operating from a grid away from home. And thanks to all of you who do activate these grids and help us with our VUCC! 73, John K8YSE

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Paccomm information
by johne tds.net 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

Hi I was wondering if some one has any manuals for the DFM TNC and the PSK-1 or the the PSK-1+? To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW

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40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
by Darin Cowan 13 Jul '09

13 Jul '09

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the first manned moon landing, the special event callsign VE3MOON will be operating from 14-27 July. We will be operating satellites from the Canada Museum of Science and Technology during much of this period, usually between 1400 UTC and 2000 UTC. We will also be working HF from various locations throughout the duration of the event. We do not have a set schedule, but we do have multiple radios and operators. Popular satellites among our operators are AO-51, SO-50, VO-52, FO-29, and the ISS. There will be a QSL card for this special call. QSL management is through VE3OIJ. 73 de VE3OIJ -Darin

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Packet Operator needed - TN / NC / VA
by Bob Bruninga 12 Jul '09

12 Jul '09

AMSAT out-doors operators: We need a field packet operator on a mountain top near the corner of TN, NC, VA on the weekend of 26 July. This is off topic for AMSAT, but we are running out of options to find a packet operator to drive to the top of Roan Mountain, and operate a portable D700 packet radio for 4 hours. This is a critical link in our first attempt on 26 July to digipeat the first 2000 mile golden packet from Georgia to Maine (all RF). We have volunteers for the other 14 mountain tops (most are drive-up). See the event web pages starting with the summary: www.aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html But due to a fluke with the buraucracy our existing volunteer may need a backup. See details specifically on Roan Mountain: www.aprs.org/hamtrails/roan.html If you have access to a D700 and a 8 amp-hour battery and some kind of portable 16' mast, and have that Sunday Afternoon free, please let me know. Sorry for the off topic post, but many AMSAT folks use D700 radios so we need to ask. They are desired because of consistent performance with packet down to -117 dBm and are all factory aligned so this eliminates all the problems with external TNC's on random radios... We only get one shot, and so we need all 14 portable digipeater sites to work with predictible performance! Bob, WB4APR

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Historical Info needed
by Davidoff, Martin 12 Jul '09

12 Jul '09

Re: W6PAJ Orbit Calendar for Oscar 6 and or Oscar 7 (ca. 1972) 12 July 2009 To: Lurking Old Timers I need three consecutive pages and front matter from one of the W6PAJ orbit calendars published in early 1970's for a professional paper. (If you don't know what I'm referring to please just ignore this note). Scanned or Xerox copy via US mail is fine. Please reply direct, not via AMSAT-BB. Thanks! Martin Davidoff (K2ubc since 1956)

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Re: HF Sunday Net???
by Pughkeithd＠cs.com 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

In a message dated 7/11/2009 6:25:42 PM Central Daylight Time, ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com writes: > > Hi John, > > Mostly I still hear them, but just barely. Propagation has been pretty > much non-existent lately, and I don't have a beam. I managed to contact > Larry a few weeks ago; we'll see what happens tomorrow morning. > > Greg KO6TH > > > > >Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:01:30 +0000 > >From: w6zkh(a)comcast.net > >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > >Subject: [amsat-bb] HF Sunday Net??? > > > >For the past several weeks, I havent heard the 14.282 20m net on at 1900 > utc. Last I heard when I talked to Larry W7LD more than a month ago, as he > was net control. Is the net still active? Course with all the contest > chatter, probably not be easy. > > > >John W6ZKH > >DM06 > > > John & Greg, In addition to bad propagation, Larry and I have been on travel and Field Day over the last month. I will be there this Sunday, but Larry may still be on travel. See you on 14.282! 73 - Keith, W5IU NCS

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Antennas: How High?
by harry＠gunship.org 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Guys, I want to upgrade from my hand held Arrow to something permanently mounted outside with and Ele/ Az rotor. I have a single story home with roof peak at about 22 feet. I can easily mount a 10' - 20' mast directly outside the shack anchored in concrete and bolted to my roof eaves. If I use two masts sections I will get a net height of about 17' which means I will be "looking" through my roof on the lower easterly orientated passes. Gaining the additional height to completely clear the roof line will be increasingly problematic. How much should I be concerned about this, etc? I'd like some real world feedback / suggestions. Thanks in advance. 73 de harry, W6DXO

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HF Sunday Net???
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

For the past several weeks, I havent heard the 14.282 20m net on at 1900 utc. Last I heard when I talked to Larry W7LD more than a month ago, as he was net control. Is the net still active? Course with all the contest chatter, probably not be easy. John W6ZKH DM06

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LVB
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

I built my LVB up from the bare board which I ordered from G6LVB direct in the early days. It was a fun home brew project. Mine is bare bones. It has no display and no buttons. It just sits inside a Radio Shack box and does its thing day after day. If you look at my unit, the PCB just has enough of the components on it to do the job which it does well. I would highly recommend the LVB, it works well and is supported well. GL Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT33589 --- On Sat, 7/11/09, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> wrote: From: amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 334 To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Date: Saturday, July 11, 2009, 3:00 PM 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: LVB (Jeff KB2M) 2. Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T (Greg Beat) 3. Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T (Mark L. Hammond) 4. Last few days to get FD Summary Sheets in (Bruce) 5. Re: LVB (w7lrd(a)comcast.net) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:07:42 -0400 From: "Jeff KB2M" <kb2m(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <004101ca0239$56eb19c0$04c14d40$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" The $200 is a great deal. I helped sell every one we had on hand at the AMSAT booth in Dayton. Another perspective, about 2 years ago I replaced my ISA bussed motherboard for a new one. The only ISA bussed mobo I could find(that was under $500) cost $190. Other then the two ISA slots, it had the comparable performance of a $35 mobo! My next computer upgrade for my sat control system will use an LVB to control rotors. The Kansas City tracker ISA card will be heading to the Smithsonian Institution.... 73 Jeff kb2m -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 10:38 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; myles.landstein(a)gmail.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB Hi Myles, Simply stated---this is a very functional and easy to use track box, with exceptional attention to construction detail when purchased already assembled by AMSAT (thanks, Mike Young!). It's a very fair price at US$200. (Price out the parts to build one up...it's a deal). It's essentially plug in, calibrate, then play! 73, Mark N8MH ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 10:17:44 -0500 From: "Greg Beat" <gregory.beat(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <87CF40BBDBEF450FB59C6E4AEEC33EE2@CompaqEVO> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" >> John -- I think Greg means the 8-pin DIN, not the mini-DIN .... No. The PSK-1 RS-232 port to the Computer is J10, which is a mini-8 DIN on rear panel. I am looking at the back panel of my PSK-1 here in workbench! The PSK-1 also has 8-pin DIN (J2) for the TNC Modem Connection (via 20-pin TAPR disconnect header on Tiny-2 or TAPR TNC-2); and three 5-pin DIN connections: TNC Radio Connection (J4); VHF Radio (J1); UHF Radio (J3) --- the separate VHF and UHF radio connections were useful for the Icom VHF/UHF radios (271/471; 275/475) of that era. The PSK-1 and PSK-1T modems do have different rear panel connector types! LOOK at the REAR PANEL (eBay auction # 320392587069 has a rear panel photo) On the PSK-1T, there is an 8-pin Mini-DIN marked CONTROL (RS-232), I assume that Gywn kept the pin out the same as the PSK-1 and would connect this to a PC serial port (RS-232) that is running a terminal emulation or control program. To the left is a Male DB-9 marked PACKET (RS-232) ... A manual for the PSK-1T will confirm its usage/connections. As I remember, and W3IO probably has a better memory, PacComm introduced the PSK-1 for the PacSats launched at that time. Later, Gywn reintroduced the PSK-1T with some updates and suggested modifications. I first saw a PSK-1T at the 1995 AMSAT meeting in Orlando (1995) --- shown in preparation for AO-40. >> Greg -- You apparently outbid me for these items on eBay, assuming you recently obtained them ;-) ) >> I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, other than I think it is >> probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. Mark, I was watching that eBay auction (# 320392587069), but did not bid on these items -- I already have one! There were two PacComm PSK-1 and DFM TNC combinations for sale on QRZ a couple of weeks ago at $35 per set or $50 for both (great deal)! Yes, the DFM permits usage at 9600 AFSK (which one of the satellites did support). Greg w9gb ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:23:33 -0400 From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <5d8cecfe0907110923y249eae43lf56263dbb3c64ff9(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hi Greg, "// To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW " Um..back to the question John asked--it was about the 8pin DIN on the DFM, not the PSK unit. The DFN TNC doesn't appear to have a mini-DIN, so, that's why I didn't think the mini-DIN answer was what he was looking for :) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=320392587069 Excellent information, history and details, though, Greg! Thanks! In the shack I have a couple each of the PSK-1 and PSK-1T units, and manuals. The PSK-1T with the built in TNC is really slick (the "T" designates the built in TNC, no disconnect header hookup needed!) Hopefully the chatter will help John get his stuff going--but I think he STILL needs the 8pin DIN info for the DFN....my hunch is that it's the Paccomm "standard" pinout for hooking up the tx audio/rx audio/PTT/GRND, but I can't confirm. 73, Mark N8MH __________ >> John -- I think Greg means the 8-pin DIN, not the mini-DIN .... No. The PSK-1 RS-232 port to the Computer is J10, which is a mini-8 DIN on rear panel. I am looking at the back panel of my PSK-1 here in workbench! The PSK-1 also has 8-pin DIN (J2) for the TNC Modem Connection (via 20-pin TAPR disconnect header on Tiny-2 or TAPR TNC-2); and three 5-pin DIN connections: TNC Radio Connection (J4); VHF Radio (J1); UHF Radio (J3) --- the separate VHF and UHF radio connections were useful for the Icom VHF/UHF radios (271/471; 275/475) of that era. The PSK-1 and PSK-1T modems do have different rear panel connector types! LOOK at the REAR PANEL (eBay auction # 320392587069 has a rear panel photo) On the PSK-1T, there is an 8-pin Mini-DIN marked CONTROL (RS-232), I assume that Gywn kept the pin out the same as the PSK-1 and would connect this to a PC serial port (RS-232) that is running a terminal emulation or control program. To the left is a Male DB-9 marked PACKET (RS-232) ... A manual for the PSK-1T will confirm its usage/connections. As I remember, and W3IO probably has a better memory, PacComm introduced the PSK-1 for the PacSats launched at that time. Later, Gywn reintroduced the PSK-1T with some updates and suggested modifications. I first saw a PSK-1T at the 1995 AMSAT meeting in Orlando (1995) --- shown in preparation for AO-40. >> Greg -- You apparently outbid me for these items on eBay, assuming you >recently obtained them ;-) ) >> I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, >other than I think it is >> probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. Mark, I was watching that eBay auction (# 320392587069), but did not bid on these items -- I already have one! There were two PacComm PSK-1 and DFM TNC combinations for sale on QRZ a couple of weeks ago at $35 per set or $50 for both (great deal)! Yes, the DFM permits usage at 9600 AFSK (which one of the satellites did support). Greg w9gb -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:17:58 -0500 From: Bruce <kk5do(a)arrl.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Last few days to get FD Summary Sheets in To: "amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <4A58C946.4010901(a)arrl.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed If you participated in AMSAT Field Day and would like your efforts to count towards AMSAT Field Day, you have until Monday, July 13, 2009 at 11:59PM CDT to submit your entries. They can be emailed to me at kk5do(a)arrl.net or kk5do(a)amsat.org You can also send them in the mail but give plenty of time for them to arrive or you will be out of luck. I will send you a confirmation email when I receive your entry (might take a day depending on my work schedule). Photos and neat descriptions of your field day antics and events are welcome. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:22:29 +0000 (UTC) From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB To: myles landstein <myles.landstein(a)gmail.com> Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <1473574289.406101247336549711.JavaMail.root(a)sz0126a.emeryville.ca.mail.comcast.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Cost is very reasonable-AMSAT gets the profits-after purchase support is excellent- easy to setup and use 73 Bob W7LRD ----- Original Message ----- From: "myles landstein" <myles.landstein(a)gmail.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Saturday, July 11, 2009 4:18:06 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] ?LVB Hi Just wondering ?if anyone out there ? using the LVB, could drop me a ? line ? and let me know ?their opinions and ?experience with it Thanks Going to Dayton '10 ?It will get better with more support! Myles D ? Landstein N2EHG myles.landstein(a)gmail.com _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 334 ****************************************

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Last few days to get FD Summary Sheets in
by Bruce 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

If you participated in AMSAT Field Day and would like your efforts to count towards AMSAT Field Day, you have until Monday, July 13, 2009 at 11:59PM CDT to submit your entries. They can be emailed to me at kk5do(a)arrl.net or kk5do(a)amsat.org You can also send them in the mail but give plenty of time for them to arrive or you will be out of luck. I will send you a confirmation email when I receive your entry (might take a day depending on my work schedule). Photos and neat descriptions of your field day antics and events are welcome. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T
by Mark L. Hammond 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Hi Greg, "// To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW " Um..back to the question John asked--it was about the 8pin DIN on the DFM, not the PSK unit. The DFN TNC doesn't appear to have a mini-DIN, so, that's why I didn't think the mini-DIN answer was what he was looking for :) http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=320392587069 Excellent information, history and details, though, Greg! Thanks! In the shack I have a couple each of the PSK-1 and PSK-1T units, and manuals. The PSK-1T with the built in TNC is really slick (the "T" designates the built in TNC, no disconnect header hookup needed!) Hopefully the chatter will help John get his stuff going--but I think he STILL needs the 8pin DIN info for the DFN....my hunch is that it's the Paccomm "standard" pinout for hooking up the tx audio/rx audio/PTT/GRND, but I can't confirm. 73, Mark N8MH __________ >> John -- I think Greg means the 8-pin DIN, not the mini-DIN .... No. The PSK-1 RS-232 port to the Computer is J10, which is a mini-8 DIN on rear panel. I am looking at the back panel of my PSK-1 here in workbench! The PSK-1 also has 8-pin DIN (J2) for the TNC Modem Connection (via 20-pin TAPR disconnect header on Tiny-2 or TAPR TNC-2); and three 5-pin DIN connections: TNC Radio Connection (J4); VHF Radio (J1); UHF Radio (J3) --- the separate VHF and UHF radio connections were useful for the Icom VHF/UHF radios (271/471; 275/475) of that era. The PSK-1 and PSK-1T modems do have different rear panel connector types! LOOK at the REAR PANEL (eBay auction # 320392587069 has a rear panel photo) On the PSK-1T, there is an 8-pin Mini-DIN marked CONTROL (RS-232), I assume that Gywn kept the pin out the same as the PSK-1 and would connect this to a PC serial port (RS-232) that is running a terminal emulation or control program. To the left is a Male DB-9 marked PACKET (RS-232) ... A manual for the PSK-1T will confirm its usage/connections. As I remember, and W3IO probably has a better memory, PacComm introduced the PSK-1 for the PacSats launched at that time. Later, Gywn reintroduced the PSK-1T with some updates and suggested modifications. I first saw a PSK-1T at the 1995 AMSAT meeting in Orlando (1995) --- shown in preparation for AO-40. >> Greg -- You apparently outbid me for these items on eBay, assuming you >recently obtained them ;-) ) >> I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, >other than I think it is >> probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. Mark, I was watching that eBay auction (# 320392587069), but did not bid on these items -- I already have one! There were two PacComm PSK-1 and DFM TNC combinations for sale on QRZ a couple of weeks ago at $35 per set or $50 for both (great deal)! Yes, the DFM permits usage at 9600 AFSK (which one of the satellites did support). Greg w9gb -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: PacComm information for PSK-1 and PSK-1T
by Greg Beat 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

>> John -- I think Greg means the 8-pin DIN, not the mini-DIN .... No. The PSK-1 RS-232 port to the Computer is J10, which is a mini-8 DIN on rear panel. I am looking at the back panel of my PSK-1 here in workbench! The PSK-1 also has 8-pin DIN (J2) for the TNC Modem Connection (via 20-pin TAPR disconnect header on Tiny-2 or TAPR TNC-2); and three 5-pin DIN connections: TNC Radio Connection (J4); VHF Radio (J1); UHF Radio (J3) --- the separate VHF and UHF radio connections were useful for the Icom VHF/UHF radios (271/471; 275/475) of that era. The PSK-1 and PSK-1T modems do have different rear panel connector types! LOOK at the REAR PANEL (eBay auction # 320392587069 has a rear panel photo) On the PSK-1T, there is an 8-pin Mini-DIN marked CONTROL (RS-232), I assume that Gywn kept the pin out the same as the PSK-1 and would connect this to a PC serial port (RS-232) that is running a terminal emulation or control program. To the left is a Male DB-9 marked PACKET (RS-232) ... A manual for the PSK-1T will confirm its usage/connections. As I remember, and W3IO probably has a better memory, PacComm introduced the PSK-1 for the PacSats launched at that time. Later, Gywn reintroduced the PSK-1T with some updates and suggested modifications. I first saw a PSK-1T at the 1995 AMSAT meeting in Orlando (1995) --- shown in preparation for AO-40. >> Greg -- You apparently outbid me for these items on eBay, assuming you recently obtained them ;-) ) >> I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, other than I think it is >> probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. Mark, I was watching that eBay auction (# 320392587069), but did not bid on these items -- I already have one! There were two PacComm PSK-1 and DFM TNC combinations for sale on QRZ a couple of weeks ago at $35 per set or $50 for both (great deal)! Yes, the DFM permits usage at 9600 AFSK (which one of the satellites did support). Greg w9gb

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Re: LVB
by Mark L. Hammond 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Hi Myles, Simply stated---this is a very functional and easy to use track box, with exceptional attention to construction detail when purchased already assembled by AMSAT (thanks, Mike Young!). It's a very fair price at US$200. (Price out the parts to build one up...it's a deal). It's essentially plug in, calibrate, then play! I have (thanks to my long time elmer, Gene KC4SA) built a couple different homebrew tracking boxes since the late 1980's. The first used the parallel port to count "clicks" of the U100/U110 rotators. The latest incarnation uses a BASIC Stamp2 and G-5500. (I think a bit of research will show that our SAEBRTrack box was one of the first, if not the first, to make use of the PIC controller concept (built into the STAMP2) for a trackbox...). All of this is merely to say that I bring a reasonable perspective into the conversation... For the past several months, I have been using--by choice--the LVB Tracker! It's a great little box...currently using SatPC32 with the G-5500. In: summary--highly recommended! 73, Mark N8MH _________ LVB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB From: myles landstein <myles.landstein@xxxxxxxxx> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 07:18:06 -0400 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma;h=domainkey-signature:received:received:message-id:from:to:in-reply-to:content-type:mime-version:subject:date:references:x-mailer; bh=9Q00jZSZs5nDFnnb8SPUQ/MZa1vD1IiGpeSvl/Hp1CM=;b=q3KMBfoKq24ExFzW0Xpp4w+6U5hI70CB4RCE5VucaywPahDjvMrW4O5Ha48/luRYeg+y+4GNS1GkNt6OEV9beDLcKzHakgsTb1J0PZbzC75Pi4IRsDc3mtlE6RvhTrjWVOWE8XYbaMBl9QhqTgwW1lYwnSRHzGzlhevf3Qgq5Lk= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Just wondering if anyone out there using the LVB, could drop me a line and let me know their opinions and experience with it Thanks Going to Dayton '10 It will get better with more support! Myles D Landstein N2EHG myles.landstein(a)gmail.com -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Paccomm information for PSK-1T
by Mark L. Hammond 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Um...I think I got the names swapped in my note sections below...sorry for the mix up :) John--feel free to contact me offlist for any help with this TNC. 73, Mark -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next] - [Date Index][Thread Index][Author Index] Re: Paccomm information for PSK-1T -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Paccomm information for PSK-1T From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond@xxxxxxxxx> Date: Sat, 11 Jul 2009 09:42:54 -0400 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma;h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:received:date:message-id:subject:from:to:content-type:content-transfer-encoding;bh=e+usHi9Q5D91ijJ+X60hFhWR8zehAHXgyuPZvTsbohw=;b=hb+O3ahMclAxmam5sfXwhfhumN5veaOtTZ9okeyUjzheIzGxTBVLNMv+xQnG+ZqluPXZbC2tRbJHg5FRrdrne5B/pKMgIywHmBUuZk54tMCmIuyVf3j/QxdMTK4psXuqGVmOZoXCHbSRA3mpyFklH/+w6DnPx44Z7ENx2vGuIxk= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello John and Greg-- John--I think he means the 8pin DIN, not the mini-DIN.... Greg--contact me off-list and I'll try to help you with the PSK-1T (even though you apparently outbid me for these items, assuming you recently obtained them ;-) ) I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, other than I think it is probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. The PSK-1T can, as a stand alone unit, be used for 1200 baud PSK packet (like AO-16, IO-26, DO-64) and 1200 AFSK packet (like CalPoly-6). The DFM TNC doesn't need to be connected to the PSK-1T for it operate. If, however, you have a PSK-1 (without the "T"), it requires another TNC to be interfaced to it (like the DFM, an MFJ, etc.). My hunch is that the pair was used to add 9600 baud capability to somebody's satellite station... 73, Mark N8MH _______ John - That is the easy question. When Gywn Reedy, W1BEL (sk) and others set the specifications for the external contractor build of the PacComm PSK-1, they elected to use a common pin assignment/cable (late 1980s/early 1990s) for the 8-pin mini-DIN (rear panel of PSK-1) to the RS-232 (DB-9) on your computer. The cable for usage between an Apple computer and an Apple LaserWriter (serial port). I picked up a PacComm PSK-1 in May, replaced a blown capacitor on the 7805 regulator input and built this serial cable for connection to my personal computer's serial port. IF PacComm no longer sells this cable (you have to send an e-mail request to Linda), then any good Apple dealer or cable supplier should have this cable in their inventory for less than $25. Greg w9gb ==================== From: "johne tds.net" Subject: [amsat-bb] Paccomm information Hi I was wondering if some one has any manuals for the DFM TNC and the PSK-1 or the the PSK-1+? To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] _______________________________________________ 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prev by Date: Re: LVB Next by Date: Re: 40th Anniversary of the Moon Landing Prev by thread: Re: Paccomm information Next by thread: K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite SpecialEvent Index(es): Date Thread -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Home -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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K5E - The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Hey everyone, The special call sign K5E will go active on AO-7 at 13:32 UTC on July 16, 2009, and will remain active on the FM and CW/SSB satellites, NO-44 (if operational) and the ISS in packet or voice (if either system is active) through 16:50 UTC on July 24, 2009. Those dates and times coincide with the duration of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, which began 40 years ago next Thursday (July 16). K5E seemed the perfect choice for a special event call sign to celebrate the 40th anniversary of “one small step for man … one giant leap for mankind.” K - the 11th letter of the alphabet. 5 - the call district of Houston, location of Apollo 11 Mission Control. E - Eagle, the Apollo 11 lunar module. On passes I work using the special call sign, I will ID as “Kilo 5 Eagle.” Glade Schroeter, WA3MVQ, is donating high-quality full-color QSL cards, which will be used to confirm all contacts with K5E. Stations wishing to confirm will send their request to me with an SASE. The card will be standard QSL size. I encourage any of you who need QSL cards now or in the future to visit Glade’s Web site at www.gggraphicsstore.com. I custom-designed the card, which features the Apollo 11 crew patch and a collage of photos representing highlights of the full mission, from liftoff to splashdown. I will have a lo-res copy of the card front posted to my QRZ.com page no later than Monday. Work K5E one time to claim a special QSL card. There will be no endorsements of any kind, and only one QSL will be issued per valid amateur call sign. Remember, WA3MVQ is donating these high-quality cards. This special event and operation will occur ONLY on the amateur satellites. Another group has organized the Echoes of Apollo program and will have a number of HF stations on the air during the weekend of July 20th, the date of the lunar landing. They also held a special EME event over Field Day weekend. I have no interest in creating any animosity with the Echoes of Apollo group. I’m just interested in giving us satellite operators the chance to celebrate the Apollo 11 mission and its 40th Anniversary. I hope as many of you as possible will join me. I may contact some other operators around the U.S. and ask them to work a pass or two over the 9-day operation using K5E so we can cover as much ground as possible. Also, please note that the Canada Museum of Science and Technology will operate as VE3MOON from July 14-27, per a post earlier today to the AMSAT-BB Thanks in advance to all. 73, Tim – N3TL K5E – The 40th Anniversary Apollo 11 Satellite Special Event

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Re: Paccomm information for PSK-1T
by Mark L. Hammond 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

Hello John and Greg-- John--I think he means the 8pin DIN, not the mini-DIN.... Greg--contact me off-list and I'll try to help you with the PSK-1T (even though you apparently outbid me for these items, assuming you recently obtained them ;-) ) I've been using it to command AO-16... I don't know about the DFM unit, other than I think it is probably 1200 and 9600 baud capable. The PSK-1T can, as a stand alone unit, be used for 1200 baud PSK packet (like AO-16, IO-26, DO-64) and 1200 AFSK packet (like CalPoly-6). The DFM TNC doesn't need to be connected to the PSK-1T for it operate. If, however, you have a PSK-1 (without the "T"), it requires another TNC to be interfaced to it (like the DFM, an MFJ, etc.). My hunch is that the pair was used to add 9600 baud capability to somebody's satellite station... 73, Mark N8MH _______ John - That is the easy question. When Gywn Reedy, W1BEL (sk) and others set the specifications for the external contractor build of the PacComm PSK-1, they elected to use a common pin assignment/cable (late 1980s/early 1990s) for the 8-pin mini-DIN (rear panel of PSK-1) to the RS-232 (DB-9) on your computer. The cable for usage between an Apple computer and an Apple LaserWriter (serial port). I picked up a PacComm PSK-1 in May, replaced a blown capacitor on the 7805 regulator input and built this serial cable for connection to my personal computer's serial port. IF PacComm no longer sells this cable (you have to send an e-mail request to Linda), then any good Apple dealer or cable supplier should have this cable in their inventory for less than $25. Greg w9gb ==================== From: "johne tds.net" Subject: [amsat-bb] Paccomm information Hi I was wondering if some one has any manuals for the DFM TNC and the PSK-1 or the the PSK-1+? To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Paccomm information
by Greg Beat 11 Jul '09

11 Jul '09

John - That is the easy question. When Gywn Reedy, W1BEL (sk) and others set the specifications for the external contractor build of the PacComm PSK-1, they elected to use a common pin assignment/cable (late 1980s/early 1990s) for the 8-pin mini-DIN (rear panel of PSK-1) to the RS-232 (DB-9) on your computer. The cable for usage between an Apple computer and an Apple LaserWriter (serial port). I picked up a PacComm PSK-1 in May, replaced a blown capacitor on the 7805 regulator input and built this serial cable for connection to my personal computer's serial port. IF PacComm no longer sells this cable (you have to send an e-mail request to Linda), then any good Apple dealer or cable supplier should have this cable in their inventory for less than $25. Greg w9gb ==================== From: "johne tds.net" Subject: [amsat-bb] Paccomm information Hi I was wondering if some one has any manuals for the DFM TNC and the PSK-1 or the the PSK-1+? To get me going can some one please send the pin out for the radio 8 pin DIN for the DFM TNC. Thanks de John K0CQW

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Re: NASA Kills Ulysses, and future Amsat missions
by Daniel Schultz 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Ulysses was switched off because it exhausted its fuel supply. Without attitude control fuel it cannot keep its antenna pointed to Earth. Exactly what are we amateurs supposed to do with this bird when its own flight controllers cannot communicate with it anymore? We hams do have a long tradition of making use of other people's useless junk, whether it was the wavelengths shorter than 200 meters back in the 1920's, a big pile of war surplus radios in the 1940's, old TV power supplies and sweep tubes in the 1950's, unused launch vehicle capacity in the 1960's, and test flights of new launch vehicles in the 1980's. However there are limits to the "use other people's junk" business model and we have run up against those limits. Even amateur radio communications is sufficiently complex to require a purpose-built payload for our communications mission. Commercial communications satellites are kept in revenue service until they run out of fuel, and their commercial payloads are specific to commercial missions and cannot easily be retuned to ham radio bands at the end of their commercial life. The amateur satellite movement started in 1961 when some unknown Air Force general allowed Project Oscar to attach a secondary payload to a classified Corona imaging satellite. In doing so he took a big chance on us. If Oscar-1 had vibrated loose from its clamp band and rattled around inside the payload shroud to bang up the very expensive spy satellite it probably would have been the end of his career. Following that beginning we went on to launch Phase 3A with a solid fuel kick motor, and three more Phase 3 birds with highly toxic and corrosive hypergolic liquid fuel systems. If we had screwed up any of those missions we had the capacity to destroy the primary payload or cause the loss of a very expensive test mission with great loss of revenue to the launch vehicle owners. We were allowed to do these things because of a very generous and trusting relationship by officials of the launch vehicle authority, who were also willing to absorb substantial costs of paperwork certifications by their own engineers that our secondary payloads would not pose a risk to their primary missions. Our business model of the past 45 years seems to be no longer viable. In this modern era the beancounters are fully in charge and insist on full recovery of any additional costs that are imposed by our presence on the mission. It is simply no longer possible for a friendly Air Force General or civilian project manager to allow us to sneak our little payload in under the radar. Our success in the small satellite area has created a thriving market for small satellites, and launch vehicle owners now understand that they can sell the excess capacity that they once gave away for free. With dozens of universities, small companies and government agencies clamoring for secondary launch vehicle space, we hams can no longer sneak our little satellites in as "ballast" like we did in the past. We did have a deal with Intelsat to carry ham gear onboard one of their geosynchronous satellites and we would not even need to wait 15 to 20 years for the satellite to complete its commercial mission before using our payload. They quoted us a price tag of about $10 million to cover their integration costs in installing our equipment into their satellite. They probably would not be making money off of us at that price, merely recovering their costs. Since we have not yet been able to raise $10 million it looks like this project is not going to happen. My guess is that the US Government is not going to fork over $10 million for a disaster communications system unless they set the specifications and control its use. It would be a classic case of "Not Invented Here" syndrome. What can we do to keep Amsat alive in the future? 1. Team up with other space organizations. The Planetary Society is interested in building a solar sail demonstration mission. Like us, they must find a secondary launch. Amsat could provide a communications package for the sail mission. There are other private groups trying to reach the moon. Offer them our expertise in space radio communications systems, which no other space interest group can match, in return for a ride on their spacecraft. Amsat has historically marketed itself as a ham radio organization, but we are also a space interest group. We should have a presence at the Space Development Conferences. Few private membership funded space organizations have our historic track record of success. 2. Offer RF equipment to the student Cubesat groups. Many of them simply package commercial HT's into their Cubesats, they do not have enough RF knowledge or experience to do any better. Develop a drop-in RF command and telemetry system, include a simple transponder capability, and offer it to the Cubesat groups for inclusion into their satellites. Design and fund an Amsat Cubesat mission to show them how it should be done. Cultivate relationships with schools and universities. The aerospace industry is throwing millions of dollars into development of a new generation of aerospace engineers to replace the aging and expensive baby boomers who they plan to forcibly retire in the next few years. A student-built satellite can attract industry funding that no Amsat mission can ever hope to receive. 3. Cultivate our relationship with NASA, the Department of Defense and Foreign space agencies. Our presence on the ISS is very costly but NASA thinks that our value in providing school group contacts through ARISS justifies their cost to carry us along on this mission. If we are ever going to get to the moon it will have to be done in the same way. We need to cultivate relationships with people who can give the green light to future projects like ARISS. We should try to invite these people to the Amsat Symposium in Baltimore this October. The private sector is probably not going to help us unless we can pay cash up front, but always keep your eyes and ears open in case there is an exception to this rule. 4. Develop our own propulsion technology, possibly electric propulsion, possibly an old-fashioned solid fuel kick motor. Launch our satellites to LEO on the Russian missiles, then raise their orbit to a higher altitude. I am hopeful that the recently announced arms reduction agreement between the US and Russia might free up additional missiles for launching satellites, however the Russians have also learned the true value of their missile launches so even these may be beyond our means without teaming with other organizations. 5. Recognize that the real work happens behind the scenes. Stop whining on Amsat-BB about what "you guys at Amsat" should be doing. Each of us can take one of three roles, 1. Lead, 2. Follow, or 3. Get out of the way. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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for sale
by w3vvp 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

WB3IGR at goeaston.net has an SSB-UEK 2304 down convertor for sale for $275 shipped.Phone 410-820-0552. George/w3vvp

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OT: ILN Faces Delay
by Armando Mercado 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Greetings, NASA's next rover to Mars, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), is running over budget again, and now NASA is looking to borrow money from other planetary programs, including the International Lunar Network, to make up the difference. If this occurs, the ILN will be delayed from its original 2012- 2014 launch date. 73 Armando, N8IGJ

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Re: AO-51 tlmECHO software... supported TNC
by Mark L. Hammond 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hello Jean-François, TLMEcho requires a TNC in KISS mode (or, software emulation of KISS mode). Any TNC that can run in KISS mode should work with TLMEcho. If the SCS PTC-IIe can run KISS mode (or emulate it), it should work with TLMEcho. People can also use MixW and a sound card, since MixW can emulate a TNC in KISS mode. Another sound card option is to use Willow/Sabins by Douglas KA2UPW. I can't find the links--it was convered in a recent very good article in the AMSAT Journal. There is a bit of information in this Presentation, near the end: http://www.norcalqrp.org/files%5CIntroduction_to_Amateur_Radio_Satellites_P… Douglas--can you please post the links to your software? :) Can't find it via Google... 73, Mark N8MH _____________ AO-51 tlmECHO software... supported TNC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 tlmECHO software... supported TNC From: Jean-François Ménard <jf.va2ss@xxxxxxxxx> Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 08:24:13 -0400 DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma;h=domainkey-signature:received:received:message-id:date:from:user-agent:mime-version:to:subject:content-type:content-transfer-encoding;bh=UURVcSi1Stowa1PCzrL1AxU3Nvi7JvvHPFe/4m7W2P8=;b=Hq4lMjcvd7PmHsgEoFm3t+Xe8A8oyzad7SQ6SkYRabf/saIyJ8c9NGJW+Na3u/6QIlVCyHSo790e4DXagUo/oCcxCPNWhv1qr0raCeiESbDgtpH2nzaydEAfZL+slAP7NFB0gTmJlcFnzHzSPADBVUcDTeXzs7GpS+EtlDHZN8o= -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, Does anybody know if a SCS PTC-IIe TNC could be compatible with tlmECHO software requirements ? I know that my TNC can decode at 9600 baud, but is there any special concern to know when using such TNC ? Thanks. -- Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: Satellite prediction software
by Jean-François Ménard 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Thank Patrick for this precious information. I will try it for sure !! The E71 has a real GPS in it. When I mean real, it uses satellite to find the location... you can also see the satellite status in the phone... when no satelites are available, it uses the assisted gps from the cellular network provider. I let you know.. Best 73 J-F VA2SS Patrick STODDARD a écrit : > Bonjour, Jean-Francois! > >> Anybody know a "pocket satellite" prediction software, like pSatellite >> for Palm OS..... but I need it running on my Nokia E71 using Symbian OS >> S60 3rd series plateform. >> >> Can't fin anything at this moment, but could be very useful. Since this >> phone has a "real" GPS build in, the time clock could be accurate for >> such "mobile" prediction. Hi! > > I have a Nokia N85 with the same version of the Symbian S60 OS. If > your phone has Java, you can try the SATme program from: > > http://www.k0sm.com/_mgxroot/page_10732.html > > Without registering the program, you would have to enter your QTH > and manually load a keps file on your phone whenever you run the > program. With registration, the program can access the Internet to > update the keps and keep your QTH. There is a function in the > program that is supposed to get your location from the phone's GPS. > Otherwise, you can manually enter a location (or two locations, to > calculate mutual visibility for a given satellite) and use that. > > My phone has a GPS, but it is considered an "assisted" GPS, since > it has to access the Internet in order to work properly. When it works, > it can be very accurate - Google Maps is great with this phone. If I > need a real GPS, I can use a Garmin GPS instead of trying to mess > with the phone. > > Good luck and 73! > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix AZ > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ -- Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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TLMECHO Bonus
by Luc Leblanc 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

When i upload my TLM capture by tlm echo i was able to get 3 graph that i put on my web page www.qsl.net/ve2dwe. I remember couple of years ago having going on this page quick but without going further. The graph are showing Power over time, solar panel voltages over time and solar panel array currents over time. You can even choose on this page wich one you want tp be put on graph. look at: http://echo.coloradosatellite.net/echo/index.php It is a good tool as i'm always asking at what power the satellite is transmitting now i can get my answers without having to yell in the crowd. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: DO-64 software support for PSK-1(T) hardware?
by Clive Wallis 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hi, I too am very interested using a TNC dor captuting DO-64 telemetry. Earlier in the year, I had some success using my PK-88 TNC in KISS mode, with a G3RUH PSK modem. Results were better than with the soundcard software. I had hoped to develop a simple TLM decoding program, based on my OSCAR-11 software. However, at the time I was unable to obtain full details of the telemetry format and decoding equations. Can any one on this group provide this essential information? Any help would be much appreciated. Please reply ONLY to this group, as I'm currently having major problems with receiving e-mails at my usual address. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK.

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Delaware on AO51
by Jerry Clement 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hi Everyone I left home at 6:00am local time this morning here in Calgary, to get my mobile in to a good position, to work John K8YSE who is in Delaware and working portable. I am pleased to have made the contact with John, as I needed Delaware for my 'WAS On Satellite'. Thanks John, I appreciate this a lot, I owe you one. John will be in Delaware until Sunday, and he will work all passes of AO51, AO50, AO27. Jerry VE6AB

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Satellite prediction software
by Jean-François Ménard 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hi, Anybody know a "pocket satellite" prediction software, like pSatellite for Palm OS..... but I need it running on my Nokia E71 using Symbian OS S60 3rd series plateform. Can't fin anything at this moment, but could be very useful. Since this phone has a "real" GPS build in, the time clock could be accurate for such "mobile" prediction. Hi! Thanks -- Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Predict For Mac
by Howard Kowall 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hello to all Well I finally got my Mac running with new OS installed( OS X 10.3.9) I am not a real big Mac user,and I want to install Predict on it for Sat tracking.I did post a message awhile ago on this board but had to reinstall the new OS,so I apologize for not responding. I have download Predict for Linux.Here is where the problem starts,I could use some assistance on getting it compiled and running. Like I said I am not a big Mac user and a little insure as to what I need and where to get it.If someone out there can assist me a little in a step by step process it would help me very much.I guess it would be wise to email me direct at hkowall(a)shaw.ca so as not to tie up the board with my question and save me some embarrassment. Thank You very much for all who respond or read this post Howard VE4ISP

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AO-51 tlmECHO software... supported TNC
by Jean-François Ménard 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Hi, Does anybody know if a SCS PTC-IIe TNC could be compatible with tlmECHO software requirements ? I know that my TNC can decode at 9600 baud, but is there any special concern to know when using such TNC ? Thanks. -- Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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telemetry questions
by Luc Leblanc 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

I'm just starting to play with tlmecho and i try to see how reliable figures are and if the colour reflect this level of reliability? There is a 5v difference between the solar cells any reported voltage and what is available to the different module in the BCR/power module screen?. The batteries seems to be charged (contiguous) by 8v at 764ma and adding up all the BCR voltage i found this difference of 5v. I'm not at the I/O telemetry yet but i will try to find docs on the telemetry. One thing i'm sure the satellite is rotating... just seeing the solar panels Volt/Amps changes. Thank's for any inputs. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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TNC
by Peter Gibson 10 Jul '09

10 Jul '09

Has anyone got the connection data for FT847 to DSP2232 And the same for TS2000 to DSP2232 Email direct peter(a)peter-gibson.co.uk Thank Peter G7LJA

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Houston AMSAT Net on iTunes
by Bruce 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

It took me awhile to get all the whistles and bells the way iTunes wants them. The Houston AMSAT Net is now searchable (by Houston AMSAT Net, AMSAT, KK5DO, etc) on iTunes. We are located under Technology/Tech News. You can play one episode or subscribe to the podcast and receive it each week. As soon as I upload to my server, iTunes will ping it and have it available for listening. This should make it easier for those with iPods, iTouch and iPhones (or other iTunes capable player) to listen to our net on the go. You can also go to my webpage and subscribe to the podcast http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 athttp://www.amsatnet.com Podcast athttp://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Bare NASA (2-line) format elements truncated?
by Bryan Green 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Greetings, all: Minor emergency: the "Bare NASA (2-line) format elements page" appears to be truncated: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasabare.txt This in turn means that my beloved GoSatWatch software is no-worky! Who fixes these things? -- bag KL7CN/W6 * CM98, usually * AMSAT #23202

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Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by Clint Bradford 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

>> ... Nothing seems to be pitted or deteriorated, just "ugly". Fine steel wool. Then spray Marine Spar Varnish on it (after connecting cable and properly sealing that connection). Clint Bradford http:/www.k6lcs.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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tlmecho working
by Luc Leblanc 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

As AO-51 is in mode V/U for the whole month of July i finally succeed to get telemetry from AO-51. Thank's to Mark N8MH for the debugging sessions. I will have to get a paper model to figure out how he is oriented with the solar panels illumination. Lets to understand the yellow and green state. On this session TX-A was at 240mw and TX-B at 290mw First results here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRHPcruySfs "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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FW: Moonship Photographed by Backyard Astronomers
by Dave 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

I just can't believe that the US is crashing a craft into the moon and we're arguing about a ride. Dave DM78qd // KA0SWT If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be eating frozen radio dinners.-- Johnny Carson +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ _____ From: NASA Science News [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 2:14 PM To: NASA Science News Subject: Moonship Photographed by Backyard Astronomers NASA Science News for July 9, 2009 Amateur astronomers have photographed NASA's LCROSS spacecraft en route to an October crash landing on the Moon. Observers say the spacecraft is surprisingly easy to photograph, and NASA hopes more amateurs will give it a try. FULL STORY at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09jul_lcross1.htm?list1299902 You are currently subscribed to snglist as: dave(a)mynatt.biz. This is a free service. To unsubscribe click here: http://lyris.msfc.nasa.gov/u?id=1299902V&n=T&l=snglist or send a blank email to leave-snglist-1299902V(a)lyris.msfc.nasa.gov

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Richard Garriot QSL card
by Luc Leblanc 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

I just added it and the letter on my web page: www.qsl.net/ve2dwe "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by B.P. 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Use an anti-oxidant compound like Noalox when putting the different sized sections together; it reduces seizing so it’ll come apart easier in the future. You can find it in the electrical section of your local home improvement store. Bruce KD8DQ --- On Thu, 7/9/09, w6zkh(a)comcast.net <w6zkh(a)comcast.net> wrote: From: w6zkh(a)comcast.net <w6zkh(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna To: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Date: Thursday, July 9, 2009, 3:16 PM Thanks for all for their suggestions. Tried Scotchbrite and 409, and it doesnt seem to do very well. Sofar the best I have found is an SOS pad, as it cleans and shines, plus takes out the little bumps of oxidation. The yagi's are KLM's which of course are abit dated. Not living in a coastal enviroment, I've never had to worry about oxidation like this before. This is not a "hurry up" project, so have time to do a good job, I hope. I'll keep working at it and also your suggestions. John W6ZKH DM06 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by Jim Jerzycke 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

If they're *terribly* bad, you can always use wet-or-dry sandpaper to clean them. My radio club is located right on the main channel in the Los Angeles Harbor, and that's what we had to do 4 or 5 years ago when we took our big Mosley HF antenna down to refurb it. Used the sandpaper on the worst parts of it, and followed up with lots of steel wool, ScotchBrite, and elbow grease. We paid special attention to all the joints on the boom and elements, and added extra screws to hold them together. When we had it all back together we applied several coats of marine varnish to it, although there are other paints that will work as well. One of the club members is a "boat guy", and he had plenty of the varnish, so that's what we used. And don't forget to use some anti-oxidant compound when you put it back together. Jim KQ6EA --- On Thu, 7/9/09, w6zkh(a)comcast.net <w6zkh(a)comcast.net> wrote: From: w6zkh(a)comcast.net <w6zkh(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna To: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Date: Thursday, July 9, 2009, 12:16 PM Thanks for all for their suggestions. Tried Scotchbrite and 409, and it doesnt seem to do very well. Sofar the best I have found is an SOS pad, as it cleans and shines, plus takes out the little bumps of oxidation. The yagi's are KLM's which of course are abit dated. Not living in a coastal enviroment, I've never had to worry about oxidation like this before. This is not a "hurry up" project, so have time to do a good job, I hope. I'll keep working at it and also your suggestions. John W6ZKH DM06 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Thanks for all for their suggestions. Tried Scotchbrite and 409, and it doesnt seem to do very well. Sofar the best I have found is an SOS pad, as it cleans and shines, plus takes out the little bumps of oxidation. The yagi's are KLM's which of course are abit dated. Not living in a coastal enviroment, I've never had to worry about oxidation like this before. This is not a "hurry up" project, so have time to do a good job, I hope. I'll keep working at it and also your suggestions. John W6ZKH DM06

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Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by Jim Jerzycke 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

ScotchBrite pads also work very well, and don't leave lots of little conductive strands floating around. Jim KQ6EA --- On Thu, 7/9/09, Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net> wrote: From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cleaning oxidation from antenna To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Date: Thursday, July 9, 2009, 9:42 AM >> ... Nothing seems to be pitted or deteriorated, just "ugly". Fine steel wool. Then spray Marine Spar Varnish on it (after connecting cable and properly sealing that connection). Clint Bradford http:/www.k6lcs.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Cleaning oxidation from antenna
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Recently picked up 2 yagi's that were near coastal locations, and the boom and elements are oxidized. What is the best method to clean this? Just 'good ole elbow grease and Scotchbrite pad' or something else. Nothing seems to be pitted or deteriorated, just "ugly". John W6ZKH

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re:dream)
by Bob Bruninga 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

> Ben, I agree we need a ruling on this > I think part 97 is vauge and vauge for a reason THIS IS INSANITY!!!! The FCC is nothing but a bunch of bureaucrats trying to sell off spectrum to the highest bidder! There are no real engineers left there, and no one there with OUR interest in mind. It is ABSURD to go running to to the FCC to ask for a ruling!!! > What we need is to setup a conferance call or > something so we can get a well written letter > together and get it off to someone who can > make a ruleing at the FCC ABSOLUTELY NOT. That is lunacy. Instead of laying out such kind of completely open ended paperdrill and wasted effort, spend our time developing a system using pagers in our network. Geeze. We are licensed amateurs, we KNOW the rules, we KNOW what amateur radio can do, and WE KNOW what kind of benefits we can produce. We ALSO know what is not legal when we hear it. And using Pagers as part of the amateur radio text messaging system IS NOT ILLEGAL! > Define a system and descuss the possablities of > doing call sign routing, sending the pages up > to a satellite ect ect. But before "we" put a > lot of time and effort and money into this > I think we need a ruling NO!!! HARDLY ANY TECHNOLOGY in amateur radio has ever been successfully developed that way. All that develops is a lot of HOT AIR and useless paper. Progress has RARELY IF EVER BEEN developed by committee. Progress in Amateur Radio is made by inspired individuals who see a need, and go off and develop something using their own money, time and effort. The best way to KILL any good idea is to form a committee that squashes any initiative and progress by overbearing hot air and "geeze wouldnt it be nice if we did this.... where "WE" is some other guy who can actually DO something. > I know for a fact that our local repeater is > cabable of doing 2 tone paging - and was in > use back when I was very young and not a ham > - the elders of the local club say it was > able to send alerts for weather, pages for > people to get on the radio, ect. It was all > done with tones at the time - "our" pagers > are far more advanced and can display the > text of whatever Using PAGING devices to communicate on amateur radio has always been legal. If you want to make things illegal, then look at the application and how they are used. If they are used for the benefit of all the intents and benefits of legal amateur communications, then they are legal. If they are used for paging to violate the intents and meaning of amateur radio, then such an application is illegal. It is the APPLICATION AND USE that is legal or illegal, it is NOT THE DEVICE! > No one in the club can tell me why they > stopped using pagers - Probably because some nit-picking obstructionist spent all his time trying to find a way to convince others that it was illegal... And everyone else gave up in disgust. > But at around the same time they stopped paging, > kantronics also stopped modify pagers for 2 > meters, <SNIP> > We need to setup something and get as many > people as we can write up a well written > paper and get a ruling. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NO. > I think as we see here agurements can be > made on both sides. Which you can get on any topic on any subjct whenever you have more than one person in a room! > Which is why we need a ruling. No, which is exactly why we get a license and read the rules and take good ideas for amateur radio and move out, and do not waste time laying paper at the feet of a bunch of bureaucrats who could care less. The motivation of most bureaucrats is simply how is the best way to get this paper off my desk, and the answer is to simply say NO rather than say YES, which could only expand to other issues... > When rules are written this vague, some one > needs to decide and stand by the decision HUh? They make it vague so that we can move forward without being nit-picked by aremchair hams turning over rocks trying to find ways to kill progress by playing bureaucrat. VAGUE IS GOOD! It means PROCEED!!! >------Original Message------ >Subject: Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers > > We'll agree to disagree regarding your take > of the rules as almost everyone else did > on APRSSIG. ;) > >> There is no reason to nit pick rules. When >> one is broadcasting (one >> way) to the general >> public or using amateur radio inappropriately, I >> think everyone can tell when something is >> blatanly illegal. I just don't see the FCC >> cares one nit about some of these debates when >> any one can see that hams are taking initiative >> to better their use of the radio art. > > Considering that they've recently ruled on > whether contesters should give blanket > "5-by-9" signals, I'd think they'd be glad > to rule on something interesting and relevant. THEY WILL RULE ON ANYTHING! And that is the LAST thing we want or need. There is just no reason to be running to bureaucrats with stupid questions, or you get stupid answers! >>> You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who >>> have nothing better to do than nit-pick >>> ways to prevent other hams from developing >>> useful applications of technology. A pager >>> is simply the text-to-user device integrated >>> into the normal local 2-way amateur radio >>> communications system. >> The issue is that, according to Part 97, >> it can't be used beyond QSTs, telemetry, >> or "necessary" emergency communications. WHAT IS THE "IT" here? The "IT" is "ONE WAY BROADCASTS". and that has nothing to do with the hardware. STOP READING "IT" AS PAGERS. They are separate entities. ONE WAY BROADCASTS beyond the scope of amateur radio are clearly illegal. Making the stretch to declare all pagers to be ONE WAY BROADCASTS is just as silly (in an amateur radio communications network) as declaring that ALL TRANSMITTERS are illegal because they are also ONE WAY!!! >>> Could I get away with setting up such a >>> system? Likely. Do I foot to stand >>> on when my local OO comes knocking? >>> Not so much. >> >> Some OO's are part of the problem, >> not the solution... > > Then the solution has presented itself. > Get a ruling from the FCC regarding the > use of transmissions to receive-only > devices such as pagers. Oh, this is absurd. EVERY receiver is a receive-only device!!! and every TRANSMITTER is a transmit only device. It is NOT THE DEVICE that determines legality, it is the APPLICATION. > Then we can finally put this issue to rest > and if anyone comes knocking regarding the > legality of these transmissions, we can have > something concrete to cite. Yes, and what you will site is some bureaucratic off the wall decision made in the vacuum of engineering that exists at the FCC made in the best interest of the FCC which is to decalare most anything brought before it as illegal simply to clear their desk of these stupid "requests for opinions". > Again, I'd love to set up something like this, > but I'd be hard pressed to spend a chunk of > money on a system that could be taken down if > someone files a complaint to the FCC. Pagers are being sold for scrap metal. If someone cannot afford maybe $10 for a crystal to put in a practically free pager to get it on the air, then amateur radio is probably not a good hobby for him. > Let's take any further discussion about this offline. LETS STOP DISCUSSING IT AND SPEND OUR TIME DOING IT! Again, nothing technical in amateur radio gets done by nit-picking rules, and forming committees, and running off to the FCC, it is individuals that see an opportunity and have the ability to move out and accomplish it. THe worst part of amateur radio is all the nit-pickers and ankle biters that hold back progress. Sometimes they win and the guy in the lead just gives up. SOmetimes these guys with an idea get far enough ahead of the nit-pickers and ankle biters, that the great silent majority of amateurs begin to think outside of their boxes and start to slowly get on board. Of course the nit-pickers and ankle biters will always be there to the end, but hopefully they are in the minority and the majority will continue to move forward. Bob, WB4APR

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Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Tonight On Echolink n2eyh-L At 8 PM EST
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

It's time again for the Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net. Join us On Echolink n2eyh-L at 8 PM EST. If you are in the Hudson Valley area we will be on the Mt.Beacon repeater 146970 pl 100. We usually have one or two Amsat are coordinators on the net to answer any questions you may have. Join us and share any info on your recent satellite contacts or your station. All are welcome. Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary **************Looking for love this summer? Find it now on AOL Personals. (http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000003)

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Re: controller and Rotator help
by Bill Howell 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

Myles, My friend is using a Yaesu 5400 rotor (the currently available model is the 5500). I do not believe that he has had any problem with it, nor have I. He uses a controller created by Mark Spencer, WA8SME. Here is a link to the original QST page that describes it: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ariss-kits/ Note that the kit is no longer available through Mark or the ARRL. The boards are available through Far Circuits... http://www.farcircuits.net/control1.htm It is described as "SATELITE TRACKER INTERFACE FOR G-5500, G-5400, NOVA, SatPC32 BY WA8SME INCLUDES PROGRAMMED PIC AND BOARD". What you are buying is a circuit board and programmed PIC chip. You will have to buy miscellaneous parts to finish out the project. When used with MacDoppler, the "EasyCom" protocol is selected . I hope all the above is not too confusing. You mention a concern about not having access to the roof, once the rotor is installed. Keep in mind that at some point in the future, you may end up having to get up there and troubleshoot the unit or perhaps attend to a coax connector that is letting in the rain, etc. Bill Howell N5AB On Jul 5, 2009, at 5:44 AM, myles landstein wrote: > hi > > thank you very much for all the info and willingness to ask a > friend about his setup > could you in particular ask what his experience was w/the > rotator was it 'trouble free' for him > > > my biggest concern is getting a bad brand of rotator > because it will be very difficult for me t get the building > to give me access to the roof and to hire people to have to > climb up and replace a rotator so naturally i want to make sure > to get the right brand, the alpha spid seems to be double in > price not chump change so while i don't mind getting one, > i don't want to waste money if the yaesu is 'ok' and so far i > don't know anyone who said they had the spid perhaps it's > problematic or just too $$ > > excuse my babble and again thanks for all > > myles > > > On Jul 4, 2009, at 11:02 PM, Bill Howell wrote: > >> Myles, >> >> My antennas/rotor are disassembled right now, as we are trying to >> sell the house. >> When it was all together, I used an older version of MacDoppler Pro, >> a Mac G4 tower with a serial card, >> and an Endeavour Auto Tracker ( http://endeavour-usa.com/ >> autotracker.htm ) driving a Yaesu 5400 rotor. >> The system worked FB. >> >> Had I to do it over, I might not choose the Endeavour interface unit. >> It requires a serial port >> on the Mac, and I'm not sure if a serial-to USB converter would work >> right with it >> (an Imac, for instance, has no provision for a serial card). >> >> MacDoppler is an excellent program with great support. >> The 5400 was purchased used and has been up on my roof for a number >> of years with no problems. >> >> A friend of mine (who may not subscribe to this list) is using a Mac, >> MacDoppler and a Yaesu 5400. >> I will email him and see what he is using for an interface unit (I >> think his Mac is USB-only), and let you know. >> >> Bill Howell N5AB >> >> >> On Jul 4, 2009, at 8:12 PM, myles landstein wrote: >> >>> Since no one has replied thought I might give it another try, >>> while perhaps not many are familiar with MacDoppler software, I >>> hope some would be with the hardware and wouldn't mind offering >>> some help? >>> >>> >>> thanks >>> >>> happy 4th >>> >>> >>> On Jul 3, 2009, at 4:47 PM, myles landstein wrote: >>> >>>> Hoping to get some real world advice from those that are using >>>> MacDoppler and a compatible Rotor /Controller set up as this will >>>> be my first time getting a rotator and controller. >>>> >>>> I wanted to solicit some advice on two fronts, the rotor >>>> controller basically for ease of use with MacDoppler and >>>> rotor reliability. >>>> >>>> >>>> My first thoughts were towards a Yaesu 5500 and maybe the >>>> PrimeTec controller or maybe the LVB tracker as it's less costly. >>>> >>>> I read a few reviews but not much was out there in general but >>>> especially on the PrimeTec... >>> >>> Anyone using the PrimeTec? >>>> >>>> What are you using as a controller? would appreciate any >>>> comparisons pro's cons tips tricks you might have >>>> >>>> >>>> My biggest concern really is the Rotator. I am in a situation such >>>> that after installation, getting back to the roof for repairs >>>> would be rather difficult. So i am trying to identify the 'best' >>>> small/moderate sized rotator (az/el) as possible /practical. >>>> >>>> Will be turning a small M2 2m and 440 circular pol beam >>>> >>>> >>>> Not really sure how reliable the 5500 is for long term use. so >>>> if there was a 'better' more reliable and or longer lasting rotor >>>> out there i'd strongly consider it >>>> >>>> The only thing I thought of as a alternative was the AlphaSpid but >>>> comparing reviews I seem to come out about the same between it and >>>> the 5500 -hoping some real world responses might help me break >>>> the >>>> 'tie' >>>> >>>> >>>> Since this is all new stuff and I am not finding the usual >>>> quality 'google' results /reviews (PrimeTec) I would greatly >>>> appreciate any >>>> help or experience /advice on this from someone that went down >>>> this road already and willing to share some first hand info on what >>>> they use. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> thanks very much grateful for any advice. >>>> >>>> >>>> Going to Dayton '10 It will get better with >>>> more support! >>>> >>>> Myles D Landstein >>>> N2EHG >>>> myles.landstein(a)gmail.com >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> Myles Landstein >>> myles.landstein(a)gmail.com >>> please note my new email address >>> dti will soon be eliminated , gmail is my new home update your dir >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 > > Myles Landstein > myles.landstein(a)gmail.com > please note my new email address > dti will soon be eliminated , gmail is my new home update your dir >

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ANS-186 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 09 Jul '09

09 Jul '09

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-186 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 2009 Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting * AMSAT Forum videos from Dayton Hamvention * SuitSat-2 Systems Integration * AO-51 Engineering Team Continues to Monitor Power Levels * Certificate Available for 13 Colonies Special Event Station * Special Event Station 4C50C via Satellite From Mexico * AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award #500 Issued * Recognition for SumbandilaSat Design and Development * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.01 AMSAT 2009 Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.01 Now is the time for you to prepare your papers and presentations for the 2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held October 9 - 11 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presenta- tions are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by September 1, 2009 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at n8fgv(a)amsat.org. [ANS thanks the 2009 Symposium Committee for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.02 AMSAT Forum videos from Dayton Hamvention AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.02 Videos of the six presentations at the AMSAT Forum at the 2009 Dayton Hamvention are now on the AMSAT website. Click on this link: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/videoNews.php - or - go to the AMSAT website and click on the AMSAT Video News icon about halfway down the page in the left column. The presentations include: 1. Richard Garriott's forum talk (mislabeled on the web site as the Banquet presentation, actual length about 15 minutes) on his visit to the ISS. 2. AMSAT Status report, Barry Baines, WD4ASW 3. SuitSat-2 Project Status, Gould Smith, WA4SXM 4. Satellite Operations Status, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA 5. ARISS Status, Will Marchant, KC6ROL 6. Columbus Module Antennas, Lou McFadin, W5DID Be sure and watch Barry's presentation on the Status of AMSAT. Thanks go to Steve Belter, who recorded, edited and converted the video of the AMSAT presentations at the 2009 Dayton AMSAT Forum, Rob Meisse W8GSM for setting them up on his server and to Rick Hambly W2GPS for updates on this web page. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and Steve, N9IP for above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.03 SuitSat-2 Systems Integration AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.03 Many of the SuitSat-2 team members will converge on Phoenix during the weekend of July 10-12 for a system integration party. The team expects to put all of the hardware modules together that have been developed in many parts of the country. SuitSat-2 Project Manager, Gould WA4SXM said, "It is great to be at the point that we can start testing system operations with the hardware and software. The fun begins Friday July 10." You can keep up with the integration activ- ities next weekend using Twitter http://twitter.com/GGouldSmith. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.04 AO-51 Engineering Team Continues to Monitor Power Levels AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.04 Due to the increasing time AO-51 is spending in eclipse AMSAT Vice-President of Operations, Drew KO4MA reports that transmitter power levels have needed to be reduced. This way the batteries will provide enough power to keep the satellite operational when the solar cells are not providing charging current. AO-51 users have already noted the weaker signals on the downlinks. The AO-51 Control Team Web Page for latest operating information will carry the latest status of the satellite. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php AMSAT now has a Twitter account at http://twitter.com/AMSAT where the AO-51 Operations Team will try to tweet things too small for ANS bull- etins or email, but of interest to the general AMSAT community. The most recent tweet reported, "AO-51 is in "normal" mode, telemetry on 435.150 @ 240mw, V/u repeater on 435.300 @ 290mw." Gould, WA4SXM, AO-51 Ground Control Station said, "The eclipse time should start to decrease over the next few days hopefully allowing improvement in the transmitter power settings." Gould continues with the news, "The AO-51 telemetry archive is up to date as of last night. AO-51 telemetry data is available in raw for- mat, CSA (comma separated variable) format that has the channel data converted by the configuration equations and there are some Excel files (most with graphs). There are a number of Excel files with graphs for June 2009 as that was a very interesting month for AO-51 operation. I encourage exploration of the data and any insights gleaned." The telemetry archive can be found at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/telemetry/ao51/ [ANS thanks AO-51 Command Station, Gould WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.05 Certificate Available for 13 Colonies Special Event Station AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.05 If you worked the stations participating in the Original 13 Colonies Independence Day Special Event between July 1- 5 you can send for a commemorative certificate. Ken requests, "Each station to send a contact log stating the Date, UTC, Band, & call sign of each contact, along with your QSL card and $4.00 US. in check, MO. or cash (to help defray printing costs). NO SASE required. We will furnish postage, certificate and 9"x12" envelope. No QSL cards will be issued - just the certificate. All award requests and payment to be sent and made out to the KU2US- Award Manager address shown on the event log form." Log form in PDF format: http://tinyurl.com/nbrxzv Log form in text format: http://tinyurl.com/klv53u [ANS thanks Ken, KU2US and Tim, N3TL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.06 Special Event Station 4C50C via Satellite From Mexico AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.06 Omar XE1AO, a regular satellite operator from central Mexico, reported news of a special callsign that will be showing up on the satellites between now and 31 August 2009. The call, 4C50C ("Four Charlie Fifty Charlie"), is part of the "Trabaja Todo Colima" (Work All Colima) special event currently taking place in the central Mexican state of Colima. This event is commemorating the 50th anniversary of the creation of the J. Roberto Levy radio club in that state. During the months of June, July, and August, stations from all over Colima have been on HF and the satellites, trying to put all 10 Colima "municipios" (municipalities, similar to counties in the USA) on the air. On HF, the special call XE50C has been used from different parts of Colima. Now, four hams (XE1AO, XE1ATZ, XE1AY, and XE1J) have been authorized by the Mexican telecommun- ications regulator CoFeTel to use 4C50C on the satellites as part of this event. Initially, XE1AO will attempt to put 4C50C on AO-51's evening passes along with VO-52 and FO-29 evening passes. Omar and the other 3 hams hope to expand the use of 4C50C onto SO-50 and AO-27, plus look at passes at other times of the day during this period. For hams outside Mexico, XE1J is the QSL manager for these special calls. The Mexican QSL bureau will take care of QSL requests from XE hams. Along with the QSL cards, there will be a certificate available to stations that work stations in at least 7 of the 10 Colima municipalities and also accumulate at least 74 points based on the location of the stations worked in Colima. Additional points are available for working certain stations like XE50C and 4C50C. [ANS thanks Omar XE1AO and Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.07 AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award #500 Issued AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.07 AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce KK5DO reported, "Since mid May we have been waiting to see who would get the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award #500. Here are the awards issued in the order they were received. Congratulations to everyone that submitted for the award!" The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award. Chris Lemon, KB9CL #490 Ernest Howard, W8EH #491 Peter Portanova, WB2OOQ #492 Michael Klomfass, DH5MK #493 James DeYoung, N8OQ #494 Ronald Parsons, W5RKN #495 Thomas Lepley, KX3TL #496 Chris Meyers, KC0YBM #497 Nick Kucij, KB1RVT #498 George Carr, WA5KBH #499 Ward Hall, WC0Y #500 Jim Klassen, N6JMK #501 James Clary, ND9M #502 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org. [ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.08 Recognition for SumbandilaSat Design and Development AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.08 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.08 In recognition of their design and development of the Amateur Payload on South Africa's SumbandilaSat Andrew Roos, ZS6AA, and Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BPZ jointly received the Garth Milne Technology Award. SumbandilaSat is currently planned to be launched on 21 August on a Soyuz Rocket from Baikonur. [ANS thanks Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1664 - July 3 2009 for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186.09 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186.09 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 5, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186.09 + Jim, ND9M/VQ9JC plans to return to Diego Garcia (VQ9, Grid MI62) in August. Operation will be on the FM and linear birds shortly thereafter. + The next Hudson Valley Satcom Group nets are Thurday July 9 and July 23 at 8:00 PM EDT (UTC-4) and will be simulcast on Echolink node N2EYH-L. More information at http://www.hvsatcom.org (Stu, WA2BSS) + Mark, WA8SME will be giving a demonstration of ham radio satellites during the ARRL ETP Teachers Institute in Dayton, Ohio on July 7th. He will be using AO27 on the 1515 EST pass. The equipment will be an ARROW and HT. The call will be W1AW/8. For those that make con- tact, if you would like a QSL, send your card to WA8SME, and he'll get you a card. + The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has released the final still images taken by the onboard High Definition Television (HDTV) from Kaguya, just before it completed its mission by impact- ing the moon on June 11, 2009. An entire series of images were taken with an interval of about one minute by the HDTV (Teltephoto) while Kaguya maneuvered its way to impact in Gill Crater. See: http://tinyurl.com/mfg32w click on the arrow in top left to navi- gate to the next photo. (via UniverseToday.com) + Launch images from LRO/LCROSS successfull liftoff can be found on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/n5vqab + Dutch journalists Govert Schilling and Jaap Meijers have built a Twitter page to let people know when a visible ISS pass is coming. To participate follow the Twitter account @twisst: http://twitter.com/twisst + Simulated contacts are being planned for four licensed astronauts during the week of June 29. Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, Timothy J. Creamer, KC5WKI, Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC and Satoshi Furukawa, KE5DAW are tentatively scheduled for these training sessions, which are terrestrial-based amateur radio contacts using Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) equivalent equipment. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that please keep in mind that another name for a boomerang that doesn't work is a stick. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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Re: Bare NASA (2-line) format elements truncated?
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Hi All, I am glad that someone else has responded with this observation. I sent an email to the BBS last week about a problem and had comment.. The keps gave the same trouble when used with my Pocket Palm software as well as Orbitron if you stripped out the header and footer. Thanks for your very valuable time and efforts by the way Paul , we have become very dependant on them as a tool for tracking and predictions. Regards Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA

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Re: 3/16" stainless retainers
by Jim Jerzycke 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

yep, great place to find stuff, but they don't carry them in stainless. Jim --- On Wed, 7/8/09, Art McBride <kc6uqh(a)cox.net> wrote: From: Art McBride <kc6uqh(a)cox.net> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: 3/16" stainless retainers To: "'Jim Jerzycke'" <kq6ea(a)pacbell.net>, "'Amsat-BB'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, "'R. Chastain'" <suenrod(a)yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 9:51 PM Try McMaster Carr http://www.mcmaster.com/# This is a great place to buy small quantities, credit card orders ship the next day. Art, KC6UQH -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Jerzycke Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 8:36 PM To: Amsat-BB; R. Chastain Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 3/16" stainless retainers I've found a bunch of places that *make* them in stainless, but they all have rather large minimum buys. If there's enough interest, I'll consider buying them, and selling them to other AMSAT members for whatever price they cost me. Jim KQ6EA --- On Wed, 7/8/09, R. Chastain <suenrod(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: R. Chastain <suenrod(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] 3/16" stainless retainers To: "Amsat-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 4:36 PM Anyone know where the least expensive place is to purchase 3/16" stainless steel retainer washers? Thanks, RoD KD0XX _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4223 (20090708) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4223 (20090708) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4223 (20090708) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com

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Re: 3/16" stainless retainers
by Jim Jerzycke 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

I've found a bunch of places that *make* them in stainless, but they all have rather large minimum buys. If there's enough interest, I'll consider buying them, and selling them to other AMSAT members for whatever price they cost me. Jim KQ6EA --- On Wed, 7/8/09, R. Chastain <suenrod(a)yahoo.com> wrote: From: R. Chastain <suenrod(a)yahoo.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] 3/16" stainless retainers To: "Amsat-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2009, 4:36 PM Anyone know where the least expensive place is to purchase 3/16" stainless steel retainer washers? Thanks, RoD KD0XX _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: AO-7???
by PE0SAT 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

On Tue, July 7, 2009 03:41, w7lrd(a)comcast.net wrote: > Hello Hi Bob, > To all you AO-7 fans. We appear to have a sick bird. We should feel > blessed in having such a well performing satellite for several years, > considering it is older than some of it's users. The audio is distorted > and cw sounds bad, running absolute minimum power. I used AO-7 yesterday evening and all seems well except the normal AO-7 gargle. But when you take this in consideration and don't use to must power or talk the fast is it still a nice bird to use. > Any thoughts or suggestions are solicited. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle 73's PE0SAT / JO21ho

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OT: Pager info - my bad
by Rich Dailey 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Found plenty of pager hacking info via a better worded google search. I guarantee you those guys are not concerned with FCC compliance.

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Re: Murphy on my G-5400B control box
by Sebastian 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

> That's not good news Kevin, but I appreciate the response. > > I found my stash of glass fuses from the last hamfest, and unplugged > the cables from both rotors, and as expected, it blows the fuse > immediately. > > If it's the azimuth rotor, I should be ok, since it just came back > from Yaesu a couple of months ago. If it's the elevation, I had > that one repaired based on the recommendations of another ham here, > so both have been looked at in the last few months. > > Guess I'll call Yaesu tomorrow and ask them how to proceed. > > I spent years just moving the rotors by looking at SATPC32, and then > I decided to get an LVB to make things easier, and that's what I get > for fixing something that wasn't broken. I'm not blaming the LVB, > it's just that it was great having it align the antennas for me. > Unfortunately, I didn't get to use it for too long. > > I also found a couple of day ago that my radio was putting out very > lower power, and couldn't hear AO-51. I checked the SWR, and it was > sky high. I knew the beams were ok, so I suspected the coax. I > found my LMR400 had a soldered center conductor, and a crimped > shield! I couldn't believe a company would sell rf coax with > crimped connectors. So I'm in the process of replacing those. > > The idea of using a Ham M type rotor (I have a couple spares), and a > Radio Shack rotor for elevation is sounding pretty good right now. > > 73 de W4AS > Sebastian On Jul 8, 2009, at 7:31 PM, Kevin Schuchmann wrote: > Sebastian, > unfortunately your describing a shorted transformer, unplug both az > and el cables and then see if > it still blows fuses, if it does the transformer has probably > shorted, and more bad news it also means > either the az or el motor is probably also shorted and gone. > > The Yaesu rotors have a bad track record for getting a cable snag or > a problem inside where a motor > jams and then overheats and shorts and then it takes out the > transformer... > > :-( > > Kevin WA6FWF

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3/16" stainless retainers
by R. Chastain 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Anyone know where the least expensive place is to purchase 3/16" stainless steel retainer washers? Thanks, RoD KD0XX

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down converter
by Jerry 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Hi : would anyone be interested in buying my non modified AIDC 3731 down converter ??? Jerry w0sat

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FM29 Delaware
by John Papay 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

K8YSE/P will be operating in FM29, Delaware starting Thursday evening. I plan to be on every visible FM pass on Friday, Saturday and possibly Sunday morning. I know that ND9M worked from Delaware a few weeks ago and made a lot of contacts. But for those that missed him, especially those in the western States, this will be your chance to try to work DE. I will be on AO51, SO50 and AO27. Equipment is a Kenwood TM-V7A with a UPS battery and the Arrow antenna. I will look for locations where you can see down low on the horizon to the west. The power is set very low on AO51 but I hope to be able to hear it if I can see it. I should have internet if there are any questions. k8yse(a)amsat.org 73, John K8YSE

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TekSharp dish antennas?
by Mark L. Hammond 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Does anybody on the list have any hands-on experiene with a TekSharp dish and tri-band patch feed? http://www.plumdragon.com/teksharp/hr_AO-40_products.htm http://www.plumdragon.com/teksharp/hr_details_AO_40_SLU.htm I'm curious about the 1.8M dish in particular...performance, product longevity, wind load, and ability to use it on a G-5500, etc. If anybody has one of these setups for sale at a bargain price, let me know that, too :) Thanks for any info! -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - SuitSat-2Transforms Into a Satellite
by Ken Ernandes 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

The forward direction is correct if one wishes to maximize semi-major axis (and likewise, altitude). Throwing the suit vertically will just create higher eccentricity without any additional semi-major axis -- i.e., perigee will be lower than the ISS and apogee would be higher. They deliberately throw the suits in the rearward direction so they will have a slightly lower altitiude to reduce the collision hazard and have it burn in more quickly. If you throw the suit forward, it will have a higher semi-major axis with perigee altitude at the release point. (Assuming the ISS's orbit were perfectly circular, which it naturally is not.) The increased collision hazard is because the suit would be crossing the ISS's orbital path occasionally for a variety of reasons. The orbital crossings are reduced, if not eliminated, by throwing the suit rearward. I hope this helps. 73, Ken N2WWD -----Original Message----- >From: g0mrf(a)aol.com >Sent: Jul 8, 2009 2:20 PM >To: rogerkola(a)aol.com, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - SuitSat-2Transforms Into a Satellite > >Now, that is an intriguing thought Roger ! > >I think to get maximum altitude you would need to 'throw' the satellite forward. i.e. in the direction of movement of the ISS. >This would give you an elliptical orbit with the lowest point at the starting altitude and the apogee or highest point determined by the amount of delta V applied when the satellite was thrown. > >So.....1) What orbit do you get if the original direction of travel is "vertical" or 90 degrees to the direction of travel? >???????? 2) How to convert the ability to throw a 1kg brick 25 feet into the air on earth, into a figure of Newton seconds to calculate thrust and delta V for orbital change. > >Thanks > >David > > > >Just for grins...with the reduced gravity at 200 miles up..how much force >would need to be applied "vertically" (in reality 'away from the earth") for >a cubesat to arrive in an orbit which would last significantly longer >without additional propulsion? > >Background...I was a business major so such calculations ARE rocket science >to me... > >Roger >WA1KAT > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: Roger Kolakowski <rogerkola(a)aol.com> >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Sent: Wed, 8 Jul 2009 18:50 >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - SuitSat-2Transforms Into a Satellite > > > >Just for grins...with the reduced gravity at 200 miles up..how much force >would need to be applied "vertically" (in reality 'away from the earth") for >a cubesat to arrive in an orbit which would last significantly longer >without additional propulsion? > >Background...I was a business major so such calculations ARE rocket science >to me... > >Roger >WA1KAT >----- Original Message ----- >From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" <k9jkm(a)comcast.net> >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Wednesday, July 08, 2009 1:08 PM >Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - >SuitSat-2Transforms Into a Satellite > > >> SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-189.01 >> SuitSat-2 Transforms Into a Satellite >> >> AMSAT News Service Bulletin 189.01 >> >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. >> July 8, 2009 >> To All RADIO AMATEURS >> BID: $ANS-189.01 >> >> Due to storage considerations on the International Space Station, >> the two surplus Orlan space suits in storage on the International >> Space Station were discarded via the Progress Cargo Vessel. One of >> these suits was to be used to house the electronics for the upcoming >> SuitSat-2 mission ... ;-( > >_______________________________________________ >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 > > >________________________________________________________________________ >AOL Email goes Mobile! You can now read your AOL Emails whilst on the move. Sign up for a free AOL Email account with unlimited storage today. >_______________________________________________ >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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ANS-189 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - SuitSat-2 Transforms Into a Satellite
by JoAnne Maenpaa 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-189.01 SuitSat-2 Transforms Into a Satellite AMSAT News Service Bulletin 189.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 8, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-189.01 Due to storage considerations on the International Space Station, the two surplus Orlan space suits in storage on the International Space Station were discarded via the Progress Cargo Vessel. One of these suits was to be used to house the electronics for the upcoming SuitSat-2 mission where the batteries were to be mounted inside the suit, solar panels attached to the extremities with the electronics, video cameras and antenna mounted on the helmet by the ISS crew prior to deployment during an EVA. The Progress, with the suits included, was undocked from ISS this past week. The ARISS International Team has been informed that there is still space available for shipment of the SuitSat-2 electronics on the projected cargo flight to the Space Station in January 2010 and the EVA scheduled for April 2010 still has a 'SuitSat-2' deployment scheduled. Consequently, the AMSAT team developing SuitSat-2 electronics on behalf of ARISS International is focusing on completing development in anticipation that deployment will still take place in Spring 2010 using a new structure to house it. In addition, the experiment being developed by Russia's Kursk State University is still expected to be integrated into the electronics once the US produced equipment is delivered to Russia this fall. Discussions are currently taking place between Russian ARISS members and the AMSAT project managers concerning the design of the new structure and where it will be constructed with these decisions to be made in the next few weeks. The AMSAT team building the electronics is meeting July 10-12 in Phoenix to initiate integration testing of all of the components built in the US with subsequent testing to continue through the remainder of the summer in anticipation of shipping equipment to Russia in the fall. The removal of the Orlan space suits from ISS removes the 'Suit' component of this deployment and at some point a new project name will be used to reflect the change in configuration. However, the significant importance of this project to both ARISS and AMSAT is not diminished. ARISS sees this mission as an important component of education out- reach as it will provide an opportunity for students around the world to listen for recorded greetings from space as well as learn about tracking spacecraft in orbit. Meanwhile, the deployment of SDX (Software Defined Transponder), the associated receiver and transmitter modules, and control electronics is a critical milestone for AMSAT as this upcoming flight provides an opportunity to flight test the next generation of spacecraft hardware. Lessons learned from this deployment will be applied to future flight opportunities as AMSAT moves towards a 'modularization approach' to spacecraft development with the expectation the future spacecraft missions will utilize a derivative of SDX and the associated hardware. [ANS thanks AMSAT VP-Manned Spaceflight Will Marchant, KC6ROL for the above information] /EX

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Re: qsl card
by Scott Smith 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Hi folks, i received my qsl card from Richard Garriott in the mail today. Thanks to all who were involved in getting those cards in the mail. It sure looks nice. 73 de VE6ITV Scott

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Host http://www.amsat.org.uk/
by Thomas Frey 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

Hello and Thanks for the bandwith If I click on http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/ I get the message "Bad Request (Invalid Hostname)". I think the host is misconfigured. If you are the webmaster, please correct it, Thank you. Best Regards, 73 Thomas Frey, HB9SKA ______________________________________________________________________ Thomas Frey, Holzgasse 2, CH-5242 Birr, Tel. + Fax: 056 444 93 41 http://home.datacomm.ch/th.frey/

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream)
by laura halliday 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

A number of groups have played with mixing POCSAG and ham radio, but I've never heard of any actually making it work. Rather than worrying too much about whether it was legal or not, they assumed that since it was amateurs doing amateur things with it, i.e. playing with and learning about radio, it was OK. Industry Canada generally trust us to behave ourselves. Can't say the same for other countries. The 2-way stuff paging I work with (ReFLEX 2.7) is much cooler than POCSAG, but Motorola could teach Apple a thing or two about closed, proprietary systems... :-( Laura Halliday VE7LDH "Que les nuages soient notre Grid: CN89mg pied a terre..." ICBM: 49 16.05 N 122 56.92 W - Hospital/Shafte _________________________________________________________________ Créez un personnage à votre image pour votre WL Messenger http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9656622

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re: dream)
by Bob Bruninga 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

>> Using paging devices on Amateur Radio is perfectly >> legal like any other radio. It all boils down to >> use. If you use it for setting up a one-way >> systemm for a pizza delivery service, it is >> clearly illegal. If you use it as part of your >> overall local communications network of amateur >> radio volunters it is just one more tool in the >> tool box. > > Unfortunately, the way Part 97 currently reads is > that most pager transmissions to an individual are > illegal under §97.111(b), as it is a "one way" > transmission that, in most cases, would not > qualify under the "legal" list. Sorry, one can also claim that every transmission is one-way because only under full duplex conditions is a system truely two-way. There are all kinds of applications in amateur radio where one side of the link uses different hardware than the other return side, and once can make all kinds of arguments as to how much delay is involved between the transmission and the receiption.. 3 seconds? 10 seconds, a minute? 10 minutes? A day? When you make a call to a party TO ESTABLISH commmunications it is one way, until the person gets his system going and responds. In my mind a pager is just another way of making the call. THe intent is NOT ONE WAY, it is to provide a call-up or a message as part of a CLEARLY TWO-WAY amateur network. There is no reason to nit pick rules. When one is broadcasting (one way) to the general public or using amateur radio inappropriately, I think everyone can tell when it is blatanly illegal. I just don't see the FCC cares one nit about some of these debates when any one can see that hams are taking initiative to better their use of the radio art. >> You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who >> have nothing better to do than nit-pick ways >> to prevent other hams from developing useful >> applications of technology. A pager is simply >> the text-to-user device integrated into the >> normal local 2-way amateur radio communications >> system. > > The issue is that, according to Part 97, it can't > be used beyond QSTs, telemetry, or "necessary" > emergency communications. Could I get away with > setting up such a system? Likely. Do I foot to > stand on when my local OO comes knocking? > Not so much. Some OO's are part of the problem, not the solution... >> An amateur satellite would make a great downlink >> to these pagers. Again, the goal should simply >> be, any message, any time, anywhere >> using any device to any user by callsign alone. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re:dream)
by Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF 08 Jul '09

08 Jul '09

No we don't. The FCC are obviously happy to allow us to do what we do now. If you stir up trouble and get things banned, there are going to be an awful lot of pissed amameurs after your arse. kd8bxp(a)aol.com wrote: > Ben, I agree we need a ruling on this I think part 97 is vauge and vauge for a reason > > What we need is to setup a confrance call or something so we can get a well written letter together and get it off to someone who can make a ruleing at the FCC

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Book your flight to the Amsat Symposium today, airline fare sale for next 24 hours
by Daniel Schultz 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Southwest Airlines is having a fare sale today only for fall travel, sale fares are valid every day except Fridays & Sundays. Must purchase tickets online by July 8, 11:59 pm Pacific Time (about 24 hours from now). Other airlines may be matching these fares. Now might be a good time to book your flight to the Amsat Symposium at the Baltimore (BWI) airport, October 9 to 11. (Even if you decide to return home on Sunday, you can still save a bit on the outbound flight if you come on Thursday.) Dan Schultz N8FGV

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2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium - Call for papers
by Daniel Schultz 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

This is the second call for papers for the 2009 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held October 9 - 11 at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel at the Baltimore Washington Airport. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with final copy submitted by September 1, 2009 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz, N8FGV, at n8fgv(a)amsat.org.

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Re: FT-736R won't send CW
by R. Chastain 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

I know it's a simple anwser but make sure the CW plug is wired the same. It might be a stereo plug and wired differently for the 736R and the 767. 73's RoD --- On Tue, 7/7/09, Allen Vinegar <tokens(a)myranch.com> wrote: > From: Allen Vinegar <tokens(a)myranch.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-736R won't send CW > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 10:26 AM > I posted this to the 736R forum but > have not received any good answers. I know I must be missing > something obvious but I can't get my FT-736R to work in CW > mode. I plug in the same key I use with my FT-767GX, press > the CW button, turn on the VOX, press down the key and > nothing happens. Rig works fine on SSB and FM. Before I open > up the case and dig in, what am I missing?? > > Thanks! > > Al W8KHP > _______________________________________________ > 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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AMSAT Field Day Summary Sheets Due
by Bruce 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

If you participated in AMSAT Field Day and would like your efforts to count towards AMSAT Field Day, you have until Monday, July 13, 2009 at 11:59PM CDT to submit your entries. They can be emailed to me at kk5do(a)arrl.net or kk5do(a)amsat.org You can also send them in the mail but give plenty of time for them to arrive or you will be out of luck. I will send you a confirmation email when I receive your entry (might take a day depending on my work schedule). Photos and neat descriptions of your field day antics and events are welcome. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re:dream)
by Tony Langdon 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

At 04:05 AM 7/8/2009, kd8bxp(a)aol.com wrote: >So let's say I know your personal capcode - I send to you making a >call up now "KF8II de KD8BXP pls call on 40meter 7.100 at 2200z" > >I think that would be 100% legal. So it is all about content and not >about the techonolgy of it being a oneway device I'd agree with this logic. It is establishing a QSO, albeit on a different frequency. Similarly, a pager could be used to send signal reports, when there's only a 1 way path. For example, I can hear someone on HF, but they can't hear me, I could send a page saying "UR 5x1, can't reply, amp no go" . Now this is becoming a real time, cross band, cross mode QSO, and those ARE legal. :) 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream)
by Tony Langdon 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

At 02:28 AM 7/8/2009, kd8bxp(a)aol.com wrote: >I don't have the time or money to go into a legal battle with FCC - >and I don't want to loose my license if this is in their minds >illegal. I am just not willing to do that - Well, the worst case scenario I see is that because you acted in good faith, not with intent to break the rules, the FCC would write to you advising that they consider what you're doing to be illegal, please stop. If you have any questions, please contact... So, all you'd have to do if you got the letter would be to stop operating your pager transmitter, and THEN, since they initiated contact, give the FCC a call and discuss it further. >There is no reason that I can see to break the law (maybe) and let >it sort itself out latter. The rules are sometimes vague for a reason. The FCC (or whoever) don't have a crystal ball, and can't fully predict which way technology will be develop or used. If they see a problem, they will advise those they judge to be of concern. I can't see them slapping a fine on you without warning, when you're not doing anything malicious. Worst I'd expect is a cease and desist letter (and if you got one of those, THEN you'd better stop what they asked you to stop doing! :) ). Speaking of rules, in Australia, there has been a trend towards taking out specifics (such as modes allowed on each band) and replacing them with more general limits, such as bandwidth. This is another sign of the authorities saying we should organise our own sandpit to play in (they just tell us where we can play), but play nice and don't give anyone a "free ride" where they aren't allowed to go. :) 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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EN86 Drummond Island MI
by John Papay 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Doug, KD8CAO, is now active from EN86, Drummond Island, MI. He worked 17 stations on the last AO51 pass at 2240Z, 7 July 09. He will be active soon on the ssb birds. EN86 is a very rare grid; XE2AT, who is at the top of the VUCC leader board with 900 grids confirmed, still needs it! Doug should be active on Wednesday from EN86 and will be heading back through EN76 Thursday. He only made a few contacts today on his way through EN76. He reports that he has no internet connection on the island but his cellphone is working. He has been using his TH-D7AG and the Arrow on the FM birds but plans to set up the TS2000 with doppler control now that he is on the island. Hope you can make a contact. John K8YSE k8yse(a)amsat.org

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That was GREAT!
by Rick - WA4NVM 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Hi All, It sure was nice to see everyone recognize a rare grid on the bird, work it, and back off to let everyone else work it. I'm referring to the A0-51 pass just now (2238utc) with Doug - KD8CAO in EN86. I was very proud of all the operators during the peak time (the after work crowd) pass of the bird. It shows it can be done..... and thanks to all those that make the effort to activate those rare grids. 73 all from Memphis, Rick - WA4NVM

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W1AW/8
by Mark Spencer 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Thanks to all who helped out with the satellite demonstration during the ARRL teachers institute held in Dayton OH today. The contacts were on AO27 during the 1515 EST pass. For those that contacted me (I was using W1AW/8) that would like a QSL, just send me a card at my call book address and I will return the favor (no SASE required). 73 and CU again from HQ (Newington) July 28th on AO27 and the afternoon pass (EST), there I will of course use W1AW. Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME ARRL-The national association for Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspencer(a)arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ 530-495-9150

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream)
by Roger Kolakowski 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Don't forget the 6 meter Model control frequencies... Roger WA1KAT ----- Original Message ----- From: <kd8bxp(a)aol.com> To: <dave(a)mynatt.biz>; <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org>; "'Bob Bruninga '" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 2:05 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream) > Good afternoon to all - > On the subject of amatuer paging > > While in an email letter to Nigel (sorry I don't remember his call) > I may have just convenced (sp) myself that paging is probably perfectly legal in the ham bands > > Let's see if I can follow my own logic and then let's get a paging network up and running :-) > > I am not In front of my computer and not looking at Part 97 - so I maybe off a bit > > There are a couple of parts of part 97 that applie > > Paging is a digital mode - YES got that covered > POCSAG the format for paging is open and avaiable to anyone who wants to use it - freely avaible protocal - YES got that covered > > The issue comes when you think as pageing as a one way device - now Part 97 limits what type of one way transmittions we can do - I think it specifically say there are three types of one way transmittions we can do. I can't remember all of them - the two I do remember and I think applie are trying to make a QSO and the telemetery - weather, local and national emergancy, dx reports, would fit without question into the telemetery area - each can be set on its own capcode and every amateur pager can have those cap codes programmed into it - However > Pagers all have a "personal" capcode - we have a choice of either setting all of the personal capcodes to the same one - not using personal and not recording the personal capcodes - OR finding the reasoning why a personal capcode is legal to use - > We are allowed to make one way transmittions to establish a QSO - as I said I am not looking at part 97 but as I recall - it doesn't say we have to establish on the same band or at the same time - just that we can use it to establish a QSO - > So let's say I know your personal capcode - I send to you making a call up now "KF8II de KD8BXP pls call on 40meter 7.100 at 2200z" > > I think that would be 100% legal. So it is all about content and not about the techonolgy of it being a oneway device > > LeRoy, KD8BXP > http://www.HamOhio.com > > Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Dave" <dave(a)mynatt.biz> > > Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:28:27 > To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org>; 'Bob Bruninga '<bruninga(a)usna.edu> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re: > dream) > > > Doesn't anyone know someone at the FCC to get a prelim opinion or 'sense of > the commission' without a rule having to be made? A phone call maybe... > > > Dave > DM78qd // KA0SWT > If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still be > eating frozen radio dinners.-- Johnny Carson > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Bob Bruninga > Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 7:55 AM > To: Ben Jackson > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: Re: > dream) > > >> Using paging devices on Amateur Radio is perfectly legal like any > >> other radio. It all boils down to use. If you use it for setting up > >> a one-way systemm for a pizza delivery service, it is clearly > >> illegal. If you use it as part of your overall local communications > >> network of amateur radio volunters it is just one more tool in the > >> tool box. > > > > Unfortunately, the way Part 97 currently reads is that most pager > > transmissions to an individual are illegal under §97.111(b), as it is > > a "one way" > > transmission that, in most cases, would not qualify under the "legal" > > list. > > Sorry, one can also claim that every transmission is one-way because only > under full duplex conditions is a system truely two-way. There are all > kinds of applications in amateur radio where one side of the link uses > different hardware than the other return side, and once can make all kinds > of arguments as to how much delay is involved between the transmission and > the receiption.. 3 seconds? 10 seconds, a minute? 10 minutes? A day? > When you make a call to a party TO ESTABLISH commmunications it is one way, > until the person gets his system going and responds. > > In my mind a pager is just another way of making the call. THe intent is > NOT ONE WAY, it is to provide a call-up or a message as part of a CLEARLY > TWO-WAY amateur network. > > There is no reason to nit pick rules. When one is broadcasting (one way) to > the general public or using amateur radio inappropriately, I think everyone > can tell when it is blatanly illegal. I just don't see the FCC cares one > nit about some of these debates when any one can see that hams are taking > initiative to better their use of the radio art. > > >> You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who have nothing better to do > >> than nit-pick ways to prevent other hams from developing useful > >> applications of technology. A pager is simply the text-to-user > >> device integrated into the normal local 2-way amateur radio > >> communications system. > > > > The issue is that, according to Part 97, it can't be used beyond QSTs, > > telemetry, or "necessary" > > emergency communications. Could I get away with setting up such a > > system? Likely. Do I foot to stand on when my local OO comes knocking? > > Not so much. > > Some OO's are part of the problem, not the solution... > > >> An amateur satellite would make a great downlink to these pagers. > >> Again, the goal should simply be, any message, any time, anywhere > >> using any device to any user by callsign alone. > > Bob, WB4APR > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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missing a drop cord
by John Price 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Picked up my satellite station from Geep's place this afternoon. Seems all is there except one heavy drop cord. It is black I believe and about 25 foot long. It goes in my camper. It is #12 wire. If you have one and don't know were it is supposed to live please let me know. If you think of anyone else that might have had stuff to pack up please let me know. Thanks << John -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,FO-29,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Email N4QWF(a)AMSAT.ORG Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463 http://home.comcast.net/~n4qwf/site/ Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il >From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream)
by John B. Stephensen 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

In 97.111 the following one-way transmissions are authorized: (2) Brief transmissions necessary to establishing two-way communications with other stations. (6) Transmissions necessary to distribute information bulletins. 73, John KD6OZH ----- Original Message ----- From: <kd8bxp(a)aol.com> To: <dave(a)mynatt.biz>; <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org>; "'Bob Bruninga '" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 18:05 UTC Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re:Re:dream) > Good afternoon to all - > On the subject of amatuer paging > > While in an email letter to Nigel (sorry I don't remember his call) > I may have just convenced (sp) myself that paging is probably perfectly > legal in the ham bands > > Let's see if I can follow my own logic and then let's get a paging network > up and running :-) > > I am not In front of my computer and not looking at Part 97 - so I maybe > off a bit > > There are a couple of parts of part 97 that applie > > Paging is a digital mode - YES got that covered > POCSAG the format for paging is open and avaiable to anyone who wants to > use it - freely avaible protocal - YES got that covered > > The issue comes when you think as pageing as a one way device - now Part > 97 limits what type of one way transmittions we can do - I think it > specifically say there are three types of one way transmittions we can do. > I can't remember all of them - the two I do remember and I think applie > are trying to make a QSO and the telemetery - weather, local and national > emergancy, dx reports, would fit without question into the telemetery > area - each can be set on its own capcode and every amateur pager can have > those cap codes programmed into it - However > Pagers all have a "personal" capcode - we have a choice of either setting > all of the personal capcodes to the same one - not using personal and not > recording the personal capcodes - OR finding the reasoning why a personal > capcode is legal to use - > We are allowed to make one way transmittions to establish a QSO - as I > said I am not looking at part 97 but as I recall - it doesn't say we have > to establish on the same band or at the same time - just that we can use > it to establish a QSO - > So let's say I know your personal capcode - I send to you making a call up > now "KF8II de KD8BXP pls call on 40meter 7.100 at 2200z" > > I think that would be 100% legal. So it is all about content and not about > the techonolgy of it being a oneway device > > LeRoy, KD8BXP > http://www.HamOhio.com > > Sent on the Now Network from my Sprint® BlackBerry > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Dave" <dave(a)mynatt.biz> > > Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2009 11:28:27 > To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org>; 'Bob Bruninga '<bruninga(a)usna.edu> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: > Re: > dream) > > > Doesn't anyone know someone at the FCC to get a prelim opinion or 'sense > of > the commission' without a rule having to be made? A phone call maybe... > > > Dave > DM78qd // KA0SWT > If it weren't for Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of television, we'd still > be > eating frozen radio dinners.-- Johnny Carson > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Bob Bruninga > Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 7:55 AM > To: Ben Jackson > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WAS Re: > Re: > dream) > >>> Using paging devices on Amateur Radio is perfectly legal like any >>> other radio. It all boils down to use. If you use it for setting up >>> a one-way systemm for a pizza delivery service, it is clearly >>> illegal. If you use it as part of your overall local communications >>> network of amateur radio volunters it is just one more tool in the >>> tool box. >> >> Unfortunately, the way Part 97 currently reads is that most pager >> transmissions to an individual are illegal under §97.111(b), as it is >> a "one way" >> transmission that, in most cases, would not qualify under the "legal" >> list. > > Sorry, one can also claim that every transmission is one-way because only > under full duplex conditions is a system truely two-way. There are all > kinds of applications in amateur radio where one side of the link uses > different hardware than the other return side, and once can make all kinds > of arguments as to how much delay is involved between the transmission and > the receiption.. 3 seconds? 10 seconds, a minute? 10 minutes? A day? > When you make a call to a party TO ESTABLISH commmunications it is one > way, > until the person gets his system going and responds. > > In my mind a pager is just another way of making the call. THe intent is > NOT ONE WAY, it is to provide a call-up or a message as part of a CLEARLY > TWO-WAY amateur network. > > There is no reason to nit pick rules. When one is broadcasting (one way) > to > the general public or using amateur radio inappropriately, I think > everyone > can tell when it is blatanly illegal. I just don't see the FCC cares one > nit about some of these debates when any one can see that hams are taking > initiative to better their use of the radio art. > >>> You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who have nothing better to do >>> than nit-pick ways to prevent other hams from developing useful >>> applications of technology. A pager is simply the text-to-user >>> device integrated into the normal local 2-way amateur radio >>> communications system. >> >> The issue is that, according to Part 97, it can't be used beyond QSTs, >> telemetry, or "necessary" >> emergency communications. Could I get away with setting up such a >> system? Likely. Do I foot to stand on when my local OO comes knocking? >> Not so much. > > Some OO's are part of the problem, not the solution... > >>> An amateur satellite would make a great downlink to these pagers. >>> Again, the goal should simply be, any message, any time, anywhere >>> using any device to any user by callsign alone. > > Bob, WB4APR > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WASRe:Re:dream)
by Roger Kolakowski 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

Listen to the MANY years of experience here on the forum and approach the FCC with nothing except an appeal for a previous decision you don't agree with. We have been told to, and allowed the privilege to "police" ourselves...a privilege extended to very few "services." Asking the FCC for the "Right Way" only forces them to choose a "Right Way" even though the differences between alternatives may be miniscule. FCC rules were established to protect "commercial interests" thus no broadcasting, no music, no advertisements and before phone calls were so cheap, no inter LATA phone patch on repeaters. Phone patch was self regulated, and it solved itself...paging can be self regulated, and, now that paging companies have been killed (except in the Medical sector) the problem will solve itself. We have been self regulated for 75+ years...lets leave it that way. Roger WA1KAT ----- Original Message ----- From: <kd8bxp(a)aol.com> To: "W4ART Arthur Feller" <afeller(a)ieee.org> Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 12:28 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: Universal Text Messaging and Pagers (WASRe:Re:dream) > Wow I am honestly surprised by this attiude. This is the 2nd email that I have seen saying don't ask the FCC anything > > I the rules are vauge at best - why else would so many people disagree about what can and can not be done >

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Re: FT-746T won't send CW
by Allen Vinegar 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

I am following all the steps in the manual. The problem seems to be beyond that. Al W8KHP

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FT-736R won't send CW
by Allen Vinegar 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

I posted this to the 736R forum but have not received any good answers. I know I must be missing something obvious but I can't get my FT-736R to work in CW mode. I plug in the same key I use with my FT-767GX, press the CW button, turn on the VOX, press down the key and nothing happens. Rig works fine on SSB and FM. Before I open up the case and dig in, what am I missing?? Thanks! Al W8KHP

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Fw: Re: Re: ILN... Is this our future ride to the
by Armando Mercado 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

One landing site will be on the western limb of moon near the equator, the 2nd will be in the NE highlands. Both locations will exprience 2 weeks of day and 2 weeks of night. 73, Armando, N8IGJ >Date: Mon, 6 Jul 2009 14:20:31 CDT >From: k0vty <k0vty(a)juno.com> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Fw: Re: Re: ILN... Is this our future ride to the >moon? MM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Message-ID: <20090706.122112.11225.13892(a)mailpop04.vgs.untd.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 >I agree with John on the need for more data: >Also the attached below suggests we might need to know more about any >location >selected on the moon. >How deep the dust >How rocky >How illuminated and when. >The differences between the poles and non poles areas.

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From The Twisted Pair (!).
by John Hackett 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

For those who don't read 'OBSERVATIONS' ... (you should !!!, it's FREE). 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> Joint Observations 07 July 2009 GM1SXX & LA2QAA The problem with Space Stations... and a possible Opportunity. When the International Space Station is scrapped.... probably in the 2015-2018 time frame, a valuable space asset will be lost. It needn't have been that way, and the Russians have wakened up to a new possibility, one that was sadly missed on the ISS. ISS is built around MIR-2 hardware. The core, the Zvezda module, is essentially unchanged from the old MIR design, a tubular cylindrical living area with solar arrays attached to a docking 'ball' with five docking ports available. Once Zveda becomes life-expired, the whole assembly is useless. A more practical approach would have been to fly a 'passive' six-port docking ball, to which active modules can be docked. In this way, station elements could be detached and discarded as they reached the end of their design lives while the docking ball remains a 'permanent fixture' in space. Enter 'Orbitalniy Pilotiruemyi Eksperimentalniy Kompleks', OPSEK, or the 'Orbital Manned Assembly and Experiment Complex' This is a plan for a future space station unveiled by the Russians in 2007, and documented by Anatoly Zak on his web-pages. It centres around the use of a passive 4 ton 'docking ball' with six ports, to which additional modules can be attached. Such a docking ball in LEO would have the primary purpose of 'tying a space station together', by providing passive docking ports, but it could equally well serve as a long-lived platform for a 'parasite radio package' in the same way that the old RS10/11 and RS12/13 'satellites' worked. For those not old enough to know, these were 'parasite' transponder packages attached to spacecraft that were powered from the main craft. So long as the packages antenna(s) could be mounted on the ball's -Z axis, it could serve as a useful radio relay (transponder) in LEO. Such a package would have a fairly small physical footprint and would require very little driving power from the 'mother-ship' or solar panels (if fitted). It would obviously be desirable to derive power from the mother-ship in the interests of simplicity and longevity. With launches becoming increasingly difficult to find on cost grounds, this would be one possible way to provide a future new transponder in LEO. If the package was small and light enough, it could possibly be carried to the (new) space station by a progress cargo vehicle as freight, and attached to the docking ball structure during a space walk. What is more, it could function for a long time, limited only by the overall life of the space complex. Several people in the UK already have a track record in building space-rated hardware in addition to another amateur in Holland, who has built space qualified hardware including the backup transponder for HM-1 AKA VUSAT, as well as a new linear 'Pico-Transponder'. They know who they are... you don't need to know, at least not right now :-) The expertise already exists to supply space rated hardware to fly on such a mission. and we do feel that the possibility of flying such a mission should not be passed over. I'm sure there are people in Russia (from the old RS satellite team) who would be just as keen to see this idea fly. 73 AL & John GM1SXX & LA2QAA

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FT-530 Wanted
by Hal Lund ZS6WB 07 Jul '09

07 Jul '09

I'm looking for a Yaesu FT-530 in working condition to be used with an Arrow as a loan AO-51 station by DXpeditions in Southern Africa. Dies anyone have one that isn't being used at a reasonable cost? I can make arrangements for it to be hand-carried down to me in about ten days. 73 - Hal ZS6WB

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for sale
by w3vvp 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

I have for sale a Ft 736R w/220 & 1.2 modules. 1K plus shipping. W3VVP Phone after 1pm and before 11 pm.410-364-5650. George

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Re: dream .. Universal TextMessaging
by Bob Bruninga 06 Jul '09

06 Jul '09

Replying to BB. > I was really kind of surprised to find people > in MI using pagers [for APRS messages], up until > then I wasn't sure if they were premitted via Part 97. Since pagers are available for peanuts as the cell phone industry steamrolls over them, it is frustrating to me that we hams have not jumped on these truck loads of text-messaging devices that can be converted over to a frequency in our bands and used for this kind of amateur radio text messaging capability. > Pagers are very easy to understand - > the only thing is you need a radio > that is capable of sending the page Yes, and the Kantronics 9612 TNC's for the last many years can generate the POCSAG Pager formats, so it is easy to do. I'm sure it could also just be done in soundcard software too if we just found someone motivated to do it. > A database could be made simular to dstar that > holds your "personal" capcode - that would equal > your call sign - so sending a page to one pager > should be fairly easy to do > > But the great thing is most pagers can have > 4 5 or 6 or more cap codes - if the cap codes > are the same then all of the pagers that "hear" > the paging signal will display the same > information at the same time Yes group codes can be very versatile. > Anyways, I would welcome you to take a look > at my site, and or my blog.... > http://www.box.net/shared/f20sjvtxyf Using paging devices on Amateur Radio is perfectly legal like any other radio. It all boils down to use. If you use it for setting up a one-way systemm for a pizza delivery service, it is clearly illegal. If you use it as part of your overall local communications network of amateur radio volunters it is just one more tool in the tool box. You just have to ignore the curmudgeons who have nothing better to do than nit-picking ways to prevent other hams from developing useful applications of technology. A pager is simply the text-to-user device integrated into the normal local 2-way amateur radio communications system. My Universal Text Messaging Web page (www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html) has a link to a web page that highlights the conversion of these pagers to amateur use. UNFORTUNATELY, the pager site activity appears to have dried up since nothing new has been posted in a year or so. Just too many people buying blackberry's I guess. But I'd sure like to see a revival. These devices are out there by the millions. An amateur satellite would make a great downlink to these pagers. Again, the goal should simply be, any message, any time, anywhere using any device to any user by callsign alone. Bob, WB4APR >-----Original Message----- >From: "Bob Bruninga " <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > >Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 19:15:19 >To: <kd8bxp(a)aol.com>; <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org>; John B. Stephensen<kd6ozh(a)comcast.net>; <kc6uqh(a)cox.net>; 'rupert red'<rupert.red(a)live.it>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: dream .. Universal Text > Messaging > > >> I had an idea of setting up a pager network. >> That could be used for national or local >> emegrancy.... There is a man in MI doing this >> with his APRS group and emegancy coms now. >> I like the idea of being able to text any call >> sign by just knowing the call sign - > >Yes, that is the goal of the Universal Text Messaging Initiative. www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html > >> doesn't DStar offer a way to do this? > >Yes via client software called D-Rats. It cross connects messages from D-Rats laptops to the APRS system, where for years text messages are delivered to the front panel of any APRS mobile or hand held radio, cellphones, pagers or anything via any callsign @ARRL.net or @AMSAT.org etc > >> It would or shouldn't be too hard to setup >> a way for someone to know the call and have it >> routed to a pager. > >Yes, that is the goal, any message to any call, using any device for sending or receiving. > >> It is still an idea but at this point it >> is just an idea. > >No it is more than that, it is an Initiative that we hope more authors and systems will get on board. We have been trying to get an article into QST on this subject since last November, and it will finally appear in the Septermber EMCOM issue of QST. (initiall they rejected it because it was not "broad enough to appeal to a majority of readers" or something like that. > >But with over two dozen text messaging systems in Amateur Radio already, we have just got to start linking them otogether seamlessly! > >> LeRoy, KD8BXP >> http://www.HamOhio.com >> Sent on the Now Network? >> from my Sprint® BlackBerry > >Yes! That's the idea! > >Bob, WB4APR > >>-----Original Message----- >>From: "Bob Bruninga " <bruninga(a)usna.edu> >> >>Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 18:01:25 >>To: John B. Stephensen<kd6ozh(a)comcast.net>; <kc6uqh(a)cox.net>; 'rupert red'<rupert.red(a)live.it>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >>Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: dream your own sat >> >> >>> Any interest by the Red Cross would not be in the >>> satellite but in human volunteers that might come >>> with it. Unfortunately, the LEO satellites that >>> hams can afford generate little interest in this forum. >> >>I wish we could some how better influence the dozens of cubesat satellites being built with AX.25 packet comm systems to at least consider a backup digipeater comm system. If just six of these allowed for a possibility of user digipeating, we would have a constellation that would provide worldwide text messaging capability from mobiles and handhelds with delays no more than 30 minutes. >> >>What a fantastic emergency comm system we could have. If ten of them were available, then the coverage would be nearly continuous. >> >>Amateur Radio needs to recognize its trememdous legacy of over a century of wireless text messaging and our ability to bring that connectivity to the field any time anywhere. We simply need to link them together to meet our overall "Universal Amateur Radio Text Messaging Initiative", that is, any ham, any where, any time, able to text message any other ham anywhere using any hardware device, commercial or amateur by callsign alone. >> >>Please see www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html >> >>I count over 2 dozen existing amateur radio text messaging systems few of which are currently crossconnected. Most talk only within their own constituents. APRS and some others are already cross connected at the email level which then connects to cellphones and other wireless devices. So crossconnecting at the APRS internetwork or at the email level is easy to do. We just need all authors to consider transparent cross connection as a goal as per the above web page. >> >>This has already been done for all APRS satellites and even the ARISS system when it came over the the Satellite APRS channel 145.825. When ARISS is in packet mode, it enables text messaging and Email to and from the front panel of any APRS radio in the world via our existing network of APRS ground stations. See the downlinks on www.ariss.net >> >>We have tried to get other packet satellites on that channel, SUNSAT, PCSAT1, PCSAT2, ANDE, RAFT and ISS all of which supported this universal text messaging. We need more, and longer lived satelites. And most any AX.25 cubesat could do it as a secondary mission. We need to look for opportunities there. >> >>We had GO32 also for a year or so until its recent demise, though it's frequency was different. >> >>Bob, WB4APR >> >>_______________________________________________ >>Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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