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Re: unknown packet signal
by Bob Bruninga 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

> I'm in Orlando, Florida. Can someone let me know > which satellite I just received around 20:54 UTC > on 145.825 MHz running packet? I am on a 1800 mile round trip too, and when I cant find anything else on 2m, I let the radio sit on 145.825. Then when I hear ISS, then I know that I will have passes 91 and 182 minutes later. Then for the rest of this trip, I just remember that each day the pass is 23 minutes later or, every other day the ground track repeates but 51 minutes earler each day, and I can always predict when it will come over again. When it does, I QSY the APRS side of my radio from 144.39 to 145.825 for the pass, and I can work em. THen just remember when the next pass will be. You dont need no PC... see http://www.aprs.org/MobileLEOtracking.html So it was good to see ISS back on the air. There is a scientific team headed to Mongolia and they hope to be able to communicate via APRS text message from a handheld, and are dependend on ISS being on the air, and for ground stations in Japan to hear them and IGate them into the APRS system. Bob, WB4APR

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KENWOOD TS-790A with 1.2ghz for sell
by R. Chastain 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Hi all, I'm selling my Kenwood TS-790A with 1.2ghz, voice module, matching SP-31 external speaker, and (NIB) IF-232 computer module. I'm basically selling most of my gear due to failing health. The TS-790 is one of the best VHF/UHF radio's ever made. If you check the reviews for this radio you will see what I'm talking about. CTCSS/PL encode is built in so getting into tone activated systems is a snap. The radio does not have PL decoder modules but those are still available through 3rd party makers if you need them. Most people don't. I have the original box for the radio but I'm not sure if I have the speaker box. I do have the manual but it's a bit dog eared from use. Sorry, but I will not seperate the package. Cosmetically, I would rate the radio an 8+ on a scale of 10 only because of a very small scratch on the far right side of the display. If you didn't know it was there you wouldn't know it. It's really not worth mentioning but I trey to decribe everything the best I can. Also the plastic carrying handle on the side has been romoved by a previous owner. The screws are still there but the handle has been removed. Electrically, the radio is a 10. NO problems whatsoever. It meets or exceeds all manufacturers ratings. Will sell all for $1300.00 plus shipping. Thanks for looking, RoD

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Re: HF satellite?
by George Henry 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Last I saw, he said "...we have not made up our minds" on the HF-to-HF transponder. A couple of years ago, when we were all talking about "Toss-Sats" (ready-built satellites that could be flown on a moment's notice and hand-launched from the shuttle or ISS, like SuitSat), I was going to actually throw a Mode A transponder together from an old Sonar commercial VHF rig on 2M, and an old CB (converted to 10M), just to satisfy myself that it could be done that cheaply. Never got around to it, though.... Yet... George, KA3HSW ----- Original Message ----- From: <G0MRF(a)aol.com> To: <ka3hsw(a)att.net> Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2009 1:18 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: HF satellite? [snip] > > Hi George. > > Good plan. But if Bob's plan for PSK31 is the same as PC Sat 2 you need > to > demodulate the PSK31 into audio and then connect that to a 2m FM > transmitter. (Didn't Bob change his mind about the 24M TX in a later > mail?) > > Need more detail from Bob I suspect. > > Thanks > > David >

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AO-7 Seattle to UK
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Hello There is a short "window" between Seattle (CN87) and Northern Europe at 2212Z. I will be on 145.958 +/- a little. Make my day! 73 Bob W7LRD CN87

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CP-6 Decode
by James Denneny 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

I am new to cubesats & am having decode issues. I have the Polysat CPX decoder and finally got correct keps pasted into decoder preferences>satellite. I am using SAT-PC32 and have appropriate keps and freq data loaded. Program tracks CP-6 correctly and agrees with tracking info in CPX decoder. Radio is IC910H in LSB mode and radio is tracking SAT-PC32 doppler freq data OK. Today (June 7), I had a decent pass with reasonable EL. Antenna are tracking CP-6 ok via SAT-PC32. I heard nothing during today's 10 min pass. I believe I have another issue beyond not hearing signal. I am using an AEA DSP2232 tnc between IC910H and CPX decoder. It is set for 9600baud packet data from copying now defunct GO-32 BB. I believe I need to figure out how to set it up for 1200baud FSK. Is that correct? Jim K7EG

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HF satellite?
by Robert Bruninga 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

We are considering an HF transponder for our next long range CUBESAT mission planning. It can have three modes: 1) APRS 1200 baud for command and control and APRS on 145.825 2) PSK-31 multi-user SSB uplink on 29 MHz and FM down link on 145.825 3) 29 MHz uplink and 24 MHz downlink SSB transponder We will welcome someone in the AMSAT community that wants to contribute to mission 3, the HF transponder. We tried the #2 PSK-31 mission on PCSAT2 and RAFT, both failed due to HF antenna deployment problems. Now we are going to try again... Bob, WB4APR

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Re: ... talking HF satellites: RS-15 is still transmitting !
by G0MRF＠aol.com 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

What an interesting piece of work on RS15 ! I notice that the graphs for 2009 on the 'solar elevation' page predict that RS15 is in, or shortly will be in, a period of permanent illumination. Perhaps another good example of a satellite with working solar panels that would have benefited from some form of hardware to bypass the command and control circuits when they failed and put the satellite into transponder mode. Thanks Henk David G0MRF In a message dated 07/06/2009 15:59:11 GMT Standard Time, hamoen(a)iae.nl writes: My set-up is really marginal: just a TS2000 connected to a simple 14MHz dipol. ... then: I came across this website, very nice ! http://www.newearth.demon.co.uk/sat/rs15-bbc.htm Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com

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... talking HF satellites: RS-15 is still transmitting !
by Henk, PA3GUO 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Triggered by the discussions on HF satellites ... I did give RS-15 a try this morning and yes, I could hear it ! Still very weak during a 45 degrees elevation pass. The next pass was higher, but then I didn't hear anything. Click here for a screen shot, you will see the recorded signal of RS-15. http://www.pa3guo.com/rs15_beacon_pa3guo_07june2009_0812utc.jpg My set-up is really marginal: just a TS2000 connected to a simple 14MHz dipol. ... then: I came across this website, very nice ! http://www.newearth.demon.co.uk/sat/rs15-bbc.htm Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com

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NORAD TLE file from several GPS positions of a satellite
by SALAH 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Can anybody tell me how to build a NORAD TLE file from several GPS positions of a satellite? Is there any VB6 code to do this? 73's CN8XS

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unknown packet signal information
by David J 07 Jun '09

07 Jun '09

Tim and Mike, Thanks for letting me know it was NO-44. I wasn't tracking it nor setup to demodulate the mode either. Dave

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Re: Homebrew Log Periodic for 2 Meters
by Stephen E. Belter 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

> There was a question recently about homebrewing an Elk type antenna. > For those interested, the October 2001 QST had an article for > homebrewing a 6 element 2 meter log periodic antenna by L. B. Cebik. > If you are an ARRL member, you can get the article from their web > site. Although not mentioned in the article, it should also work on > 432 MHz on the third harmonic, but no performance figures are given. > -- Euffey I had a brief conversation with Kent, WA5VJB, at Dayton this year. Our discussion turned to log periodic antennas and operation at the 3rd harmonic. Kent said that the elements need to be "swept" forward in a herringbone pattern for proper operation on the 3rd harmonic. For an example, look at a standard VHF television (log periodic) antenna. The elements of the antenna are quarter-wave for channels 2 through 6, and three-quarter wave on channels 7 through 13. Rather than being perpendicular to the boom, the elements are swept forward. Steve, N9IP

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unknown packet signal
by David J 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

I'm in Orlando, Florida. Can someone let me know which satellite I just received around 20:54 UTC on 145.825 MHz running packet? Dave, AA4KN

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Re: RS12/13 Merry Christmas / HNY Message
by Tony 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

James, > I don't think the errors are errors at all, but the result of > translating cyrillic spelling I thought it might have something to do with translation. > If I remember correctly, R3X was the robot on board. Thanks for the info James... Tony -K2MO ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Duffey" <jamesduffey(a)comcast.net>

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Re: HF satellite?
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

In a message dated 6/5/2009 7:39:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, dxdx(a)optonline.net writes: > The RS 12/13 CW robot was a lot of fun too -- have a few recordings Hey Tony ... was that the Russian bird that automatically issued you a QSO number once you made the contact??? 73, Gary -K8KFJ- **************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile device for under $50. Take a Peek! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100122638x1221845911x1201401556/aol?redir=htt…)

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Homebrew Log Periodic for 2 Meters
by James Duffey 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

There was a question recently about homebrewing an Elk type antenna. For those interested, the October 2001 QST had an article for homebrewing a 6 element 2 meter log periodic antenna by L. B. Cebik. If you are an ARRL member, you can get the article from their web site. Although not mentioned in the article, it should also work on 432 MHz on the third harmonic, but no performance figures are given. -- Euffey

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RS13/12
by Bob Cutter 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

Another HF would be nice. I had a good start on WAS with RS12/13. 73, Bob KIØG

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Attack rotor.
by Steve Bluemel 06 Jun '09

06 Jun '09

Hey everyone, I have decided to take some great advice and mount my Elk on a rotor in the attack. I have been told 30 degrees is good, but how do i orient it to be the most reliable? When i work the Elk by hand, i keep turning it to keep a good signal. I think you all know what im asking.. Any advise would be appreciated 73! Steve, KI6OQU.

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K5D DXpedition
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

Can someone please remind me of the name and callsign of the sat op who operated from Desecheo. Many thanks. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- West Virginia Sat VUCC #125 **************Mortgage rates dropped. Record lows. $200,000 for $1,029/mo Fixed. LendingTree® (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222627882x1201465404/aol?redir=htt… sp%3Fwhereto%3Dpromopagev3%26promo%3D00279%26loan%5Ftype%3D2%26source%3D2889 570%26esourceid%3D2889570%26800num%3D1%2D800%2D289%2D3915%26AdType%3D2)

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Re: HF satellite?
by Mike Rupprecht 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

Simon, ... it works. I made some test with G3PLX over PCSat-2 some years ago. See here: http://www.dk3wn.info/sat/afu/sat_pcsat2.shtml On the other hand - it should be a challenge and a change for new modes on satellites. 73, Mike DK3WN -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Im Auftrag von Simon (HB9DRV) Gesendet: Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 18:16 An: bruninga(a)usna.edu; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Betreff: [amsat-bb] Re: HF satellite? Hi, Sounds interesting - but PSK-31 and Doppler may be problematic - will this be a linear transponder or... ? Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > 2) PSK-31 multi-user SSB uplink on 29 MHz and FM down link on > 145.825 _______________________________________________ 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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New Satellites Frequencies
by Vincenzo Mone 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

Hi folks, is it possible to know the Downlink and if any uplink frequencies and modes for these new birds: TACSAT-3 PHARMSAT HAWKSAT1 CP6 AEROCUB3 And also what to hear, if Packet at 1200 or 9600 baud ecc Or voice or any other mode? Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

We would like to welcome the following to the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite contact. Michael Klomfass, DH5MK Michael McMahan, KC9NXP Steve Rish, K8SAR The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award. Ham Operator, Your Call #500 Who will receive #500? Stay tuned, possibly coming in a week, two weeks, could be soon. If you have not sent in for your award yet, now is the time to do it. The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Sexagesimal Communications Award. John Papay, K8YSE, #148 Michael Klomfass, DH5MK, #149 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org

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Other Sat ants
by Jerry Felts 05 Jun '09

05 Jun '09

I was wondering is there a small 144/435 antenna? I'm open to ideas, trying to come up with something simple cheap and fast. It would be put at the 20ft level on my tower. At 25 ft level is a 9 el M2 2m yagi but its not at a angle. I like the Elk cause it only has one feedline but would not want to mount it outside permanently. -- Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota www.freewebs.com/nr5a http://nr5abikeblog.blogspot.com/ http://nr5abeaconblog.blogspot.com/

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Chniese Hamsat
by jcowens1＠comcast.net 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

I haven't been following the satellite news lately and wonder what the status is of the impending launch of a Chinese Hamsat that I read about a while ago. John Owens - N7TK

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SatPC32 question
by ANTHONY JAPHA 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Hi everyone, There must be an easy way to load Keps from a file on a 3 1/2" floppy, but what is it? (No internet on this laptop, but a floppy drive.) I have 1 USB port that I hope to use for rig control, Where can I find a proper driver for a USB flash drive that the laptop won't recognize? I think this laptop (Dell Inspiron 3800) was made before these flash drives became fashionable. Many tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN LM 183

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MRO vs AO-51 reboot problem and new sun cycle?
by Luc Leblanc 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Is it possible the MRO and AO-51 software reboot problem are related to the new emerging sun cycle? >From NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory >Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission >after an unexpected rebooting of its computer Wednesday evening, June 3. >The spontaneous reboot resembles a Feb. 23 event on the spacecraft. Engineers concluded the most likely cause for that event was a cosmic >ray or solar particle hitting electronics and causing an erroneous voltage reading. It's could be not the lack of voltage but an erroneous voltage reading who triggers AO-51 to reboot? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: Other Sat ants
by Jim Jerzycke 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

While this may be heresy to some, I've used my terrestrial "weak signal" 2M and 70cm antennas many times for satellite QSO's. The 2M antennas is an M2 2M9, and the 70cm antenna is an M2 420-50-11. Each has an SSB USA preamp powered up the coax from my FT-847. They both work very well for weak signal use, and are mounted using a 4' mast extending out of the rotator mounted at the top of a 5' tripod (2M above the 70cm) on the roof of a large 2 story commercial building. I'm sure it helps that I have a 360* clear view for many wavelengths at 2M/70cm. The beamwidth of both antennas is roughly 35*, and I have NO problem picking up the satellites at 0*, and keeping good copy to 30* elevation, which is enough to keep me amused on the satellites when I want to operate. I guess the "moral" to my story is to not fret over having less than optimal antennas, and to get on the birds, or to at least try to listen for them. Just make sure whatever you're using can HEAR them before you try and transmit, and always use a preamp and good coax. 73, Jim KQ6EA --- On Thu, 6/4/09, Jerry Felts <nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Jerry Felts <nr5ajerry(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Other Sat ants > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 3:50 PM > I was wondering is there a small > 144/435 antenna? I'm open to ideas, > trying to come up with something simple cheap and fast. It > would be > put at the 20ft level on my tower. At 25 ft level is a 9 el > M2 2m yagi > but its not at a angle. I like the Elk cause it only > has one feedline > but would not want to mount it outside permanently. > > -- > Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota > www.freewebs.com/nr5a > > 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 >

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Elk Antenna ?
by harry＠gunship.org 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Guys, I want to mount the Elk dual band 144/440 antenna up on my 85' tower. Can I get away with a fixed elevation of about 30 degrees and horizontal polarization? I recognize that this is a compromise, but I'd like to avoid the additional complexity of dealing with an azimuth rotor. Any thoughts appreciated. 73 de harry, W6DXO

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Re: Card checkers in Florida
by Bill Dzurilla 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

Sebastian, Don, W3AZD, lives less than a mile from me, just off the Nob Hill Rd. exit (Exit 3) on I-595 in Broward. He is an ARRL checker and would be happy to check your cards. Tell him I sent you. 73, Bill NZ5N (now in Europe as OM9ACA)

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Re: Elk Antenna ?
by Clint Bradford 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

>I want to mount the Elk dual band 144/440 antenna up on my 85' tower. Consider Loc-Tite(tm) for all of the elements ... I'd rather see you mount a more durable, meant-to-be-mast-mounted dual-bander - like a Cushcraft unit. Clint Bradford 909-241-7666 ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: Elk Antenna ?
by Bruce Robertson 04 Jun '09

04 Jun '09

On Thu, Jun 4, 2009 at 9:58 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: >> I want... a dual band 144/440 antenna on my 85' tower. >> Can I get away with a fixed elevation of about 30 >> degrees and horizontal polarization? > > Three facts say that 30 degrees is the wrong angle. > > 1. The amount of time that LEO satellites are above 30 degrees > is less than 20% of all view times. > > 2. You don’t need gain when satellites are above 30 degrees > because they are much closer and 6 to 10 dB STRONGER. > > 3) You DO need gain at the horizon where they are 6 to 10 dB > WEAKER. > > So putting the beam at 30 degrees is counterproductive to LEO > satellite reception, you will be giving up 3 dB where you need > it most!. > > The answer is to elevate it to 15 degrees. Once again, Bob's advice is very good. I followed it when I began satellite operations, and it was quite helpful. Some further notes: 1. This pertains to shorter, and therefore wider beamwidth, antennas only.Fortunately, these are quite acceptable to communicate with LEO satellites. 2. You needn't be too fussy about the exact angle. 30% is too high, but you'll probably not notice the difference between 12 and 17, for example. 3. With a tower that high, you must include low noise preamps at the top of the tower. The ones from Advanced Receiver Research and SSB USA are highly regarded on this list.With that much cable between you and the antenna, you will be better off with a simple 1/4wave vertical and a preamp than you would with these antennas and no preamp.

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LogSat Y2k???
by RFI-EMI-GUY 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Anyone still using LogSat out there? I have version 5.2.61 with the Y2K patches installed. I am running WINXP OS. This has been a very good program for me over the years. I like how it works. I just got through updating the KEPS etc so that I could print out some satellite predictions. All worked well until I fine tuned the time to GMT using the time setting utility in the program that queues up the system clock. (This utility has only two digits for the year.). I printed out about 10 pages of work and then turned on my browser and found the Yahoo security certificate had expired. In checking the system clock under windows the year was 3909! Has anyone encountered this bug? Also the DST box has to be checked to get correct GMT - Strange?? -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Use only Genuine Interocitor Parts" Tom Servo ;-P

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AO-7 milliwatt CW
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hey everyone, I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB. On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise. It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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need 3SK121Y or similar for icom AG-25
by Raul Romero 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

need 3sk121y any have unit sold need 2 unit in my country not have tnx Raul CA3SOC

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GO-32 back to V4.2
by Mark L. Hammond 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

FYI...GO-32 is back to it's more "routine" version: [6/3/2009 12:24:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:24:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:25:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005E0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:25:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000620E0200 [6/3/2009 12:26:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000005C0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:26:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000490E0200 [6/3/2009 12:27:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000400E0200 [6/3/2009 12:27:46 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000590E0200 [6/3/2009 12:29:16 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003E0E0200 [6/3/2009 12:42:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000A00E0300 [6/3/2009 12:43:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009B0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:44:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009A0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:44:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000009A0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:45:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000980E0300 [6/3/2009 12:45:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000940E0300 [6/3/2009 12:46:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000900E0300 [6/3/2009 12:46:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000008D0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:47:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000880E0300 [6/3/2009 12:47:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000830E0300 [6/3/2009 12:48:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000007E0E0300 [6/3/2009 12:48:51 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000790E0300 [6/3/2009 12:49:21 PM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000740E0300 [6/4/2009 12:00:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000400E0200 [6/4/2009 12:01:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003C0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:01:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000360E0200 [6/4/2009 12:02:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003D0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:02:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000340E0200 [6/4/2009 12:03:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000390E0200 [6/4/2009 12:03:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003A0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:04:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000550E0200 [6/4/2009 12:04:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000006C0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:05:55 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 70000000004008100040000400000000003A0E0200 [6/4/2009 12:06:25 AM] [BEACON] TechSat-V4.2 7000000000400810004000040000000000380E0200 Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Card checkers in Florida
by Sebastian 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Last year when I had enough cards for 6 meters VUCC, it took me a few weeks to find a card checker. The list I received from the ARRL had a lot of emails that bounced, and I received a lot of responses saying "I no longer check cards". I finally found one after about 8 attempts and all went well. I now have more than enough cards to qualify for satellite VUCC, and I emailed the card checker who I used last year for 6 meters a couple of weeks ago, and have not heard a response. So is there an ARRL card checker in Florida, or near Florida who can help me please? The ARRL didn't seem to be too concerned that their list was not up to date (based on not even receiving a reply from them, and even after offering my services to be a card checker), so I figure someone on here is either a card checker, or has used one recently. 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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Re: AMSAT-India VO-52 Award
by Rodney Waln 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

mine arrived today also, very nice, and thanks for providing vo-52 (hamsat) for all hams to enjoy,

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N3TL
by Peter 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Tim, We enjoyed listening for your signal on AO-7 today, you embody the spirit of adventure and experimentation that gave rise to AMSAT and the Satellite program. Tim, it is a learning experience for all of us to be part of your expanding the horizons of possibility, thank you and keep exploring and asking, why not! 73, Pete, WB2OQQ

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AO-7 Milliwatt Report
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hey everyone, My thanks to K8YSE, who heard my faint CQ on AO-7 at 13:16 UTC this morning and called me. We had a contact that lasted about a minute with a few exchanges, which is really a thrill here because I was transmitting a half-watt out on a Yaesu FT-817ND. As I suspected from the "test run" the other night, my setup here requires that AO-7 reach roughly 50 degrees elevation before I can hear myself at all on this lowest-of-all power settings for my SSB/CW satellite station. I also suspect I can lower that elevation some by working CW instead of SSB, and I intend to find out on the next really high pass over me. Thanks, too, to Rick, WA4NVM, Pete, WB2OQQ, and others who were listening for me on the pass. By and large, the AMSAT community comprises wonderful folks who are always willing and enthusiastic to help out whenever I get a wild hair to try something on the satellites. I appreciate all of you very much. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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LabJack problem
by Steve kb9ups 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hello All, When connecting the LabJack/piggy back unit to NOVA I get "Devise not reconized" ? Using Windows XP. Can someone help? Steve/kb9ups ARISS Mentor AMSAT area coordinator, Toledo, Oh. AMSAT area coordinator, Streator, IL. www.qsl.net/kb9ups ------------------------------------------------------------ Credit Report Click to find information on your credit score and your credit report. http://tagline.excite.com/fc/FgElN1gywKiP9qJujeYtFEFwyCxmTTi5Z7AmJ2pEu1L9Jb…

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Re: true duplex radios
by Mark L. Hammond 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Nice work, Andrew. Somebody mentioned the Kenwood TS-790A/E previously (a base unit), but I don't think I see it on your current list. It's an important addition :) 73, Mark N8MH > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 18:21:11 -0500 > From: Andrew Koenig <ke5gdb(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: true duplex radios > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: > <2f52b89b0906011621x4b3e196am67c249935884539f(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Here's my attempt of to update the list of full duplex capable radios. Did I > miss anything? > > > HTs - > Icom IC-W2A > Icom IC-W31A > Icom IC-W32 > Icom IC-Z1A > Icom IC-X2A (440MHz/1.2GHz) > Yaesu FT-470 > Yaesu FT-530 > Yaesu FR-51R > Kenwood TH-D7 > Kenwood TH-75A > Kenwood TH-77 > Kenwood TH-78 > Alinco DJ-G5T > Alinco DJ-580T > Alinco DJ-G7 > > > Mobile rigs - > Kenwood TM732 > Kenwood TM733 > Kenwood TM741 > Kenwood TM742 > Kenwood TM941 > Kenwood TM942 > Kenwood TM-D700/710 > Yaesu FT-4700 > Yaesu FT-5100 > Yaesu FT-5200 > Yaesu FT-8800 > Yaesu FT-8900 > Icom 2728H > Icom IC2800 > Icom IC-2340 > Icom IC-2720 > Icom IC-2820 > Icom IC-Delta-100 > Heathkit HW-24/HW-24A > > Base rigs - > Yaesu FT-726 (with OSCAR Module) > Yaesu FT-736 > Yaesu FT-847 > Kenwood TS-2000 > Icom 820 > Icom 821 > Icom IC-910H > Icom IC-970 > > -- > Andrew Koenig > KE5GDB

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Full Duplex vs Cross Band - definitions
by jrivett＠drivehq.com 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hi Sil, In the world of data comms (not radio), the meanings of terms are generally as follows : Simplex = One direction only ( A to B only, never in the other direction ) eg a broadcast, NOAA WX stations, etc HDX Half Duplex = Alternating on both directions, e.g A to B, turnaround, B to A, turnaround, A to B, and so on ..... FDX Full Duplex = simultaneously in both directions at same time, A to B AND B to A. For Simplex and for HDX only 2 wires (baseband) or 2 FSK frequencies are enough. TX and RX dont clash, because they are used Alternately, like a single track railway. Turnaround Time was always an important factor, because it slowed down the total amount of data transferred per hour, and required careful synchronisation of modem turnarounds at both ends. For Full Duplex FDX you need a 2 track railway, or 4 wires, or 4 FSK frequencies, which can send and receive at the same time, for trains to go in both directions, for cars to pass on an an ordinary road, for data to pass (ignoring phase modulation and other techniques.) Simplex, HDX and FDX have nothing to do with Cross-Band working. Cross-Band is a completely separate and additional requirement. FM Repeaters often are FDX with frequencies only 600 khz apart, which is Same-Band FDX in the repeater-radio (and used in HDX mode by human users with HDX radios). Humans using Satellites at VHF and UHF for Simultaneous Up and Down links, require radios with FDX and Cross-band functions. To summarise, for sat operations, two different functions are required of a radio, FDX and Cross-Band working. Combining these 2 separate function names into one name seems to confuse the matter. 73 de M3RRX

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AMSAT-India VO-52 Award
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 03 Jun '09

03 Jun '09

Hey everyone, My VO-52 Award arrived in today's mail, and it's very, very nice. It's printed on a very heavy stock and is very attractive. I look forward to getting it in a frame and on display asap. My thanks to everyone at AMSAT-India for their efforts to make the award available, and for providing great operating via VO-52. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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Re: true duplex radios
by k0vty＠juno.com 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Hi Alan Memories: 14 March 1965, My first Satellite QSO. OSCAR III went up on March 9 1965 and the battery lasted 18 days. After two year of designing and building for this day I made my first satellite QSO (CW) 1965 was a much different time for 2 meters and all that went along with that frequency There was three of us on 2 meters locally in those days, Frank (W0EMS), Omaha, NE , Sid (K0DOM), Lincoln, NE and myself, Joe (K0VTY) , Ithaca , NE. Sid was working for Hygain and Frank only worked 2 meter cw. Sid and I had been bitten by the satillite bug and Frank just wanted to watch. Evening gab fests on 2 kept us all on track. My 2 meter preamp design using a pair of 7077's ceramic tubes and a pair of 11 element HB yagi's made up the Oscar III LEO receiving station. A 6360 electron tube transmitting converter (28 to 144) for SSB and CW ( Halicrafter HT-37 driver) worked FB. Antennas were at 40 feet fully AZ and EL hand controlled. In those days there were no computer to do the things done today. The second pass that evening went over Utah. On 144.108, at 0839z K0DOM responded to my CQ. We lost the bird as it passed over Alaska I recorded the audio so we could play it back to Frank and Sid after each pass whether we made contact or not just to listen to the other guys trying to work the bird. Those were the good old days when the only tracking method was using half a Globe sitting on a board so it would pivot and align the Longitude on the globe to a mark on the board where longitude equator crossing times could be used as published for OSCAR III. Amateur satillite activity progressed rapidly with DX being the driver using HEO birds. When the cold war found need for a right now communications need between Washington and Moscow the Molniya orbit was developed so satellite communication could be provided. If it worked for that it likewise would work for Hams on a HEO bird, 63.4 inclination. It took a while to get there but it was a great run of amateur radio enjoyment. Lots of Amsat membership, many inovation all the time. Publication for satellite DX monthly with Satellite Orital elements to use for tracking One Publication , Oscar Satellite Report , a commercial pubication made Satellite DX prime. AO-40 was to be the cream of the crop, and it surely was in design. At my age I no doubt have seen my last HEO DX QSO . Especailly those QSO's that come after you already have over 200 intities comfirmed and those left out there are the entties that lie near the horizon at 8000 plus miles away and the hole in the tree has to line up just at the right time on that orbit for a few moments. I have rambled on but that is what you get by providing old memories of OSCAR III Thanks Alan and 73's Joe K0VTY ======================== On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 15:24:30 -0500 "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> writes: > A good discussion of OSCAR III here: > > http://projectoscar.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/o3_translator.pdf > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > ____________________________________________________________ Get a life insurance quote online. Click to compare rates and save. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTQcxIRMCS578qk759xFi6j2gE…

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Portable QSLs
by Justin Pinnix 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

If you are operating away from home and want to send out QSL cards, is it acceptable to use your "home" card and note corrections to the location? Can I just put "portable FM17" in the notes field? Should I strike through my home grid? 73 AJ4MJ/P FM25 (15 May - 17 May 2009) AJ4MJ/P FM07 (30 May - 1 June 2009) AJ4MJ FM05 (otherwise)

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AO-7 at 13:15 UTC on 3 June
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Hey Everyone, I just looked at tomorrow's passes of AO-7, and the one that will have me in the footprint beginning at about 9:06 Eastern Daylight Time (13:06 UTC) hits a maximum elevation of 87.5 degrees. Beginning at about 9:15 EDT (13:15 UTC), I'm going to be calling CQ and/or looking for contacts near mid passband, between 145.950 and 145.951. I'll be running 500 mW rf out, and would really enjoy getting a contact or two on AO-7 using total flea power. Thanks in advance to anyone who is on the pass and might listen for N3TL. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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(no subject)
by Howard Kowall 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Hello Is there anyone out there using WXTrack for radio and rotor control thanx Howard VE4ISP

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AO-51 mode ?
by John Price 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Anyone know if the bird is still in May configuration? I did not get to work it this evening. Grandson music concert took priority -- 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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Full duplex radios
by Sil - ZL2CIA 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

> Nigel, > > > Yes, of course, that's true. A single band repeater is a full duplex radio. > > I don't think their are any Ham radios that operate full duplex in a > single band. Of course, I could easily be wrong. Do you know of any? > > > > Sil "There", not "their" - sheesh Sil

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Full Duplex Radios
by Sigil 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Hi, I have been trying to follow this confusing discussion about "Full Duplex Radios". It seems to me that different people are using the same term to mean different things. Everyone seems to agree on the meaning of "Full Duplex" as the term is used when talking about Ham satellites and radios. It is a radio that allows you to listen on one frequency in a particular band, while simultaneously transmitting on another frequency in different band. However, the phrase "Cross Band Repeater Mode" seems to have two meanings as it is being used on this reflector right now. Meaning One: a radio the can be used with a cross band repeater somewhere. That is, a radio that can be set up to receive in one band, but switches to another band when the PTT is operated and the radio transmits. When this radio transmits, the receiver is turned off. Meaning Two: a radio that can be configured to function as a repeater in that it retransmits the received signals in a different band. Naturally, it does this simultaneously. It is a Full Duplex Radio. Most (all?) modern HF radios can do "Meaning One" (A/B VFOs, etc), as can many dual band UHF/VHF radios, so this is perhaps not particularly unusual. It might be better to reserve the term for those radios that can function as a repeater. Sil - ZL2CIA.

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Re: true duplex radios
by Clint Bradford 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

>> ... Yaesu FT-8800 ... Really? Dual-receive, indeed. And will perform crossband repeating. But I can transmit on one band and simultaneously hear myself on another with a FT-8800?

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Re: Hawaii BL11 on AO51 today?
by Glenn AA5PK 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

The distance could have been stretched a little farther east had Robert been able to break through the West Coast wall :O) Glenn AA5PK in DM91

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Re; Full duplex: same band ?
by Henk, PA3GUO 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Hi Nigel > Full Duplex can be both receive and transmit simultaneously > in the same band or on the same frequency. There will be very few radios I guess that can at the same time receive as well as transmit on the same band / frequency ... At least my THD7 and TS2000 can do full duplex, but not on the same band. However I guess it's a grammar thing, as I do not see an application for such either :-) Henk, PA3GUO (still like my TS-2000 a lot, many years after buying it, it still can do whatever I like these days: eg. look at http://www.vimeo.com/4911267)

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Re: Hawaii BL11 on AO51 today?
by Clint Bradford 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

Robert - you sounded great here in DM13-land (Riverside, CA). Patrick is further east than I am ... how far did you communniate??? Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Reminder
by Martha 02 Jun '09

02 Jun '09

The deadline for nominations for the AMSAT BOD must be received at the AMSAT office no later than June 12th. A nomination requires either one AMSAT Member Society or five current AMSAT members. A director serves 2 years. Our address is: AMSAT, 850 Sligo Ave #600, Silver Spring MD 20910. -- 73- Martha

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2.4 Gig
by Arlon Nelson 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Are there any satellites on 2.4 gig so I can check out my old AO-40 dish. 73, Nels, WØTUP Minot, North Dakota nels(a)w0tup.com http://www.w0tup.com Ward County - Grid Locator DN98if TRIPLE PLAY AWARD No. 75 - A1 OPERATOR CLUB SKCC 31T - Flying Pigs 590 - QRPp-I #760 ARRL - FISTS #8610 - CC #1310 - FISTS WAS #143 FISTS PLATINUM #365 - FISTS SILVER #367 ARRL SSTV WAS #33 - IVCA MIXED BAND SSTV #1 40 MTR CW WAS - DXCC # 39623 - RTTY WAS # 585 COMMERCIAL RADIO OPERATORS LICENSE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* CLUB CALL - WØJER (MAGIC CITY QRP CLUB) FISTS #11975 SKCC #1000 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Two antennas met on a tower, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

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Hawaii AO-51 QSO
by Robert Smith 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Aloha All For all those that called out to me this afternoon. Mahalo. The AO51 easterly at 0231Z had a maximum elevation of 1.6 degrees here. I was able to hear Patrick (WD9EWK) barely. A review of the audio tape clearly shows WB7QXU also calling (I just couldn't make out Michael at the time). Operator error took my downlink off frequency for awhile. Today's pass indicates that AO51 is doable at less than 2 degs max. el. Aloha and many tnx! We'll have to try this agn soon. 73. Respectfully robert NH7WN in Honolulu

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Shuttle Atop Jet
by Clint Bradford 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

I missed seeing this incredible photo last December when NASA released it. It is a view from ABOVE the Shuttle Endeavor/jet as they fly over the Mojave Desert after STS-126 last December. http://tinyurl.com/nr3zdo Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: AMSAT-India VO-52 Award
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Nitin [VU3TYG] said: > Thank you all for the appreciative note on the VO-52 award and we > are glad to know that all of you liked the quality of the certificate. Excellent Nitin - very nice certificate. A treasure for my collection. Thanks again AMSAT India - be blessed. /;^) -- # Alan Sieg, WB5RMG since 1976 # http://wb5rmg.somenet.net # http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg # wb5rmg<at>amsat<dot>org AMSAT#20554

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Re: AMSAT-India VO-52 Award
by Nitin Muttin [VU3TYG] 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

All, Thank you all for the appreciative note on the VO-52 award and we are glad to know that all of you liked the quality of the certificate. This will be available henceforth for a fee which will be announced shortly. 73's Nitin [VU3TYG] Secretary,AMSAT INDIA www.amsatindia.org --------- Original Message -------- From: amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-India VO-52 Award Date: 06/01/09 02:57 AM" > Hi! > > > My VO-52 Award arrived in today's mail, and it's very, very nice. It's > > printed on a very heavy stock and is very attractive. I look forward to > > getting it in a frame and on display asap. > > Mine was in the PO box this afternoon, also. A very nice certificate! > Thanks to AMSAT India for this! > > 73! > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ________________________________________________

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I should have thought of this earlier ....
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Hey everyone, I just heard myself on the AO-7 downlink running 500 mW rf out from one of my FT-817s. Just to be sure I also tuned - and sent a quick CQ and ID - to three different spots in the passband (started just above 145.950, the moved up near 145.957, and then back down to just above 145.947). I hadn't planned on working the pass. I had a bit of minor surgery late this afternoon, and not feeling 100% just now. But when I saw the elevation of this pass (almost 84 degrees here), I decided to see whether I could make the trip with a half-watt and the crappy ol' Elk ... hihi. A few weeks ago, I worked K4YYL one morning on a similar-elevation pass running 1 watt out. Just for the heck of it, I decided to take that final low-power step (i.e., 500 mW is as low as any of my all-mode radios will go). By the time I got everything fired up, engaged Doppler tuning in SatPC 32 and loosened up my shoulder/elbow/wrist az/el system, AO-7 was past maximum elevation and on her way down to my northwest. According to the computer, I heard myself when the satellite was between 55 and 60 degrees. It was a weak signal, to be sure - but it was copyable on the Elk inside my house. I suspect those guys with real antennas and preamps could have copied me ok. The next time I get a pass like this one, I'm going to think ahead and post something to the BB because I sure would like to get at least one "flea power" contact on the Grand Old Girl. She was busy just now - or, at least, it seemed that way to me. Sure was nice to hear. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL

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All the mobile talk
by John Price 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

I had not worked any satellite mobile for a good while. All the post about mobile operation got me to thinking. So I got the 19 inch wipe out and connected it to the 706 mk2g and tuned the D-700 to the uplink and away I went down the road. I waited till I heard the bird solid before calling. Heard myself right off. Worked somebody in EL97 I believe it was. I did not have a pencil and paper and could not have logged it while driving anyway. The Icom has a built in preamp which I found necessary to hear the bird solid. I was using a Larsen 2/70 duel band antenna for the uplink. So I guess it still works. That was fun. 73's << 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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Hawaii BL11 on AO51 today?
by Robert Smith 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Aloha All I've noticed that AO-51 will have a maximum elevation of 2 degrees on todays "easterly" Hawaiian pass. The footprint will extend from Honolulu to near the western border of Iowa. To date, my "longest" AO-51 QSO has been with K7ULS near Eden, Utah. This may be an opportunity to extend that distance. I am willing to give it a try. The pass "over" Hawaii will be from 0232Z to 0236Z today. I should be at the beach with my Arrow and D700 shortly before that (5 Watts). At minimum, I will get to see some nice sceney on the way to the beach HIHI. Hope to hear you. Aloha and 73, de robert NH7WN in Honolulu.

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Correction
by Martha 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

After checking the bylaws, please note that the deadline for nomination is JUNE 15th not June 12th. I sincerely apologize for the error. -- 73- Martha

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Re: true duplex radios
by RFI-EMI-GUY 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Craig; I have added a couple ICOM radios (IC-Delta-100 and IC-970)to the list below: Message: 5 Date: Sun, 31 May 2009 15:42:12 -0700 From: "D. Craig Fox" <DFox(a)rwglaw.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] true duplex radios To: "Amsat $E-mail$" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <A8E6E57AFA652D419A823F42AD6ACBDE028AA504(a)RWGLAEXCH.RWG.COM> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" At the request of several following my late night post, set forth below is the list I copied off this or the VX-8 listserv. I have added the new Alinco. I do not think this list is complete so others please feel free to add to it. 73s Craig N6RSX HTs - Icom IC-W2A Icom IC-W31A Icom IC-W32 Yaesu FT-470 Yaesu FT-530 Yaesu FT-50R Yaesu FR-51R Kenwood TH-D7 Kenwood TH-77 Kenwood TH-78 Alinco DJ-G5T Alinco DJ-580T Alinco DJ-G7 Mobile rigs - Kenwood TM741 Kenwood TM742 Kenwood TM941 Kenwood TM942 Kenwood TM732 Kenwood TM-D700/710 Yaesu FT-5100 Yaesu FT-5200 Yaesu FT-8800 Yaesu FT-8900 Icom 2728H Icom IC2800 *Icom IC-Delta-100* Base rigs - Yaesu FT-736 Yaesu FT-847 Kenwood TS-2000 Icom 820 Icom 821 Icom IC-910H *Icom IC-970* NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Use only Genuine Interocitor Parts" Tom Servo ;-P

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WD9EWK from DM34/DM35/DM36 on 30 May - report (long)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Hi! Saturday was another fun day. A long day, starting out early at the hamfest in Prescott, Arizona, and ending up at home just after midnight (0700 UTC) after driving approximately 400 miles (644km), but a good day. Prescott Hamfest in Prescott, Arizona (grid DM34sn): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34+34.413+n+112… I started out at the hamfest. Officially, it did not open until 0800 local, but I was there when the site was opened for those setting up in one of the spaces two hours earlier. This let me get on the air for an AO-51 pass around 1320 UTC. This pass was more to hand out contacts with the grid for the hamfest (DM34sn) than a demonstration, but a couple of people stopped by to listen in while they were setting up their spaces. Thanks for the 16 contacts with stations from across the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The later AO-51 pass, just after 1500 UTC, added 5 more contacts with a slightly larger audience - the hamfest officially opened at the start of this pass. After a couple of hours where the crowds started building, VO-52 passed by around 1710 UTC. As I've seen at other hamfests, the VO-52 demonstrations seem to attract the largest crowds. It might be the later pass time, or that SSB via satellite is more of a curiosity than FM, but there was a nice crowd. For this pass, Ray W1OTH - a ham from the Prescott area and AMSAT member - took care of the antenna while I worked the radio. I forgot to mention in my e-mail last week where I would camp out on the downlink, but I started around 145.910 MHz where I made two quick contacts. After not hearing anyone else after those contacts, I tuned around and went down a few kHz to work two other stations near the end of the pass. Four contacts on a VO-52 pass, where I'm not actively tuning through the passband looking for every possible QSO, is not a bad thing. The crowd liked it. Not long after that VO-52 pass, the skies darkened and it started to rain. I felt, and then saw, hail falling. This did not last for long, but the hamfest emptied out not long after this quick burst of bad weather. Even with the storm, this was a good morning. Lots of people stopped by, and there appeared to be more people at the hamfest this year compared to last year. Thanks again to Ray W1OTH for sticking around the AMSAT table for a little while and helping with the VO-52 pass. After the hamfest, the Saturday road trip started. I was off to the first of my two stops for the radio after the hamfest.... near Drake, Arizona, east of AZ-89 at the DM34tx/DM35ta grid boundary: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35+N+112+23.132… I stopped at this spot a couple of times in 2008, as a way to operate from these two grids and not be parked along the nearby state highway. This is just inside the Prescott National Forest north of the city of Prescott, and about 15 miles/25km south of the I-40 freeway and old US-66. Unlike in 2008, AO-27 and SO-50 had overlapping passes in the mid-afternoon from this location. I decided to work AO-27 when it was on, not using the PL tone needed for SO-50. After AO-27 shut off at the end of its repeater time, I would work SO-50 for whatever time was left on each pass. The first AO-27/SO-50 passes came around 2037 UTC. As usual, there were many stations out for the pass. In 7 minutes, I logged 15 QSOs before switching to SO-50. In the last few minutes of the SO-50 pass, 4 more QSOs went in the log. Not a bad effort, other than dealing with the overlapping footprints for the two satellites. A little later, the two satellites were passing by to the west of my location. Again, starting with AO-27 while it was on, I worked 7 stations from central Mexico to western Canada. My time on SO-50 after AO-27's scheduled shutdown was limited by an impending thunderstorm and a quick visit by a Forest Service ranger. The ranger asked if I was looking for a missing dog, and I explained that I was not tracking animals with my setup. I had a chance to acknowledge 2 stations I heard on SO-50 after that, before I heard some thunder near me. That was my cue to pack up and move on to my last stop of the day. Grand Canyon Village, Arizona - south of the lodges along the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park (grid DM36wb): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36+3.195+N+112+… I drove through a hard rain to get from DM34tx/DM35ta up to the Grand Canyon, but it stopped raining about 20 miles/32km before I reached the national park entrance. The DM35/DM36 grid boundary was right at the entrance, but that was not a good place to set up. No places to park, and the line was right at the booths for the park rangers to collect the admission fees. I planned to go into the park and find the best spot I could, which would be somewhere firmly in grid DM36. Grand Canyon Village is a small town inside the national park, along the South Rim. Most of the lodges (hotels) on this side of the park are here. I took some pictures as I drove from the park entrance to the parking lot I decided to work from (Parking Lot "E", south of the lodges at the South Rim), and waited for the first AO-51 pass around 0028 UTC. I knew there were some hills that ringed Grand Canyon Village, and those hills meant I had to wait almost 2 minutes after the predicted AOS time before I could clearly hear the AO-51 downlink. Once I heard it, I announced my location. Then the fun began - lots of QSOs for stations across North America. In the span of 11 minutes, 22 contacts were logged. No Canadians, but many from all over the continental US and a couple of XE stations went in the log. I guess DM36 was a rare grid for many on the satellites. :-) Between that pass and the later AO-51 pass to the west, I did some sightseeing around the village and along the South Rim. A weird (at first) sight was seeing some deer grazing in the rail yard at the Grand Canyon train depot. This is still a working depot, for the Grand Canyon Railway that runs daily between the Grand Canyon and the city of Williams about 60 miles/100km to the south, a favorite for tourists who do not want to drive into the park. Lots of people were taking pictures as the deer ate some grass and wandered around the railroad tracks. I went back to the parking lot after taking lots of photos, and was ready for the western AO-51 pass that started around 0208 UTC. I worked 8 stations on this pass - 1 in Alaska (thanks KL7XJ!), the rest in the continental USA. I made another sightseeing stop at another point along the South Rim as I left the national park, to start my almost 4-hour drive back home. For any contacts made with WD9EWK on Saturday - at the hamfest, or after the hamfest - I will be happy to send out QSL cards. I have cards ready for QSOs made at the hamfest, and will have cards for the other two locations in the next day or two. No need to send me QSLs or SASEs for Saturday - just e-mail me directly with QSO details. If you are in my log, you'll get a card (or cards) for the contact(s). I will also send out cards from my trip to Dayton two weeks ago with these cards, all going out in the same envelopes. I was asked on the air if I was using my new Alinco DJ-G7T on any of the Saturday FM satellite passes. I was not - I was using my Icom IC-2720H 2m/70cm FM mobile radio. Since I'm still tweaking that radio, I will leave that to other passes where I am not trying to demonstrate satellite operation or when I'm parked in unusual locations. Including my drive up to Prescott on Friday (29 May) evening, I drove just under 500 miles/800km for this trip. The hamfest was fun, the two stops after the hamfest - putting some rare Arizona grids on the satellites for a few passes - went well. Thanks to everyone who worked WD9EWK during the hamfest demonstrations, as those contacts help show off the capabilities of our current satellites and how it doesn't take lots of fancy (and expensive) gear to enjoy this part of our hobby. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: eggbeater rx performance (Mobile Operation)
by Bob Bruninga 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

> I found a trunk mounted 2 meter half wave >(dual bander) to work well when the satellite > was behind me, but not at all overhead... > I currently have a 2 meter quarter wave > (dual bander) mounted... into the center > of the roof. It works in all directions... Any "gain" antenna on a car is not good for satellites. Because by definition, "gain" in a mobile means "gain" on the horizon where mobiles need it, and this means LOSS everywhere else. The better the antenna is for "mobile" the worse it is for satelliites. (basic law of physics).. Eevn the "dual bander" 2 meter 1/4 wave has a decopuling loop for UHF, to keep the angle of UHF radition low on the horizon, because without it, the 1/4 2m whip is a 3/4 UHF whip and results in gain ABOVE 25 degrees which is BAD for terrestrial work (but GOOD by 2 dB or mnore for satellites). So, when we say a 19.5" 1/4 wave 2m whip for mobile satellite, then that is all it is. No matching, no coils for UHF, no nothing. Just a 19.5" vertical whip. BUT for satellites, this 19.5" whip is also a 3/4 wave UHF whip which has almost 7 dBi of gain ABOVE 25 degrees which is where it really yields solid performance for LEO satellites when above 25 degrees. A 5/8 wave 2m whip has a NULL at 15 degrees and so it is useless for satellites. They are too far away below 10 degrees to hear, and then there is the null up to say 45 degrees. And above that the satellite is only in view for 2 minutes or less! AND this antenna cannot be used on UHF at all. So that is why the 19.5" vertical in the middle of the roof is the best for mobile satllite (and not all that hot for terrestrial... but useable, since repeaters are a lot closer). See details about 75% down this page: www.aprs.org/astars.html Good luck. Bob, Wb4APR

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Booking Details for the AMSAT-UK Colloquium - 25/26 July 2009
by Jim Heck 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

Hi Folks, As previous notified on this list, the location of the AMSAT-UK Colloquium (25/26 July 2009) has been switched from Manchester to Guildford. This is to ensure the best possible event for the largest number of visitors. The venue has been changed to the Holiday Inn Hotel at Guildford - this is very close to the Surrey University where the event has been held previously. It is just off the Cathedral roundabout on the A3. The 2009 AMSAT Colloquium will now commence at 10am on Saturday July 25th and close at approximately 4.30 pm on the Sunday. The new venue will enable visitors to attend at a significantly lower cost than last year and experience greatly improved accommodation. The two days will be filled with presentations covering all the latest amateur satellite happenings and developments. The new GB4FUN trailer will also be in attendance and available to demonstrate satellite operations. An informal social gathering is planned for those who are able to arrive on the Friday evening. Full details of the booking arrangements are below. Members and non-members will be equally welcome. AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2009 - Booking Information ---------------------------------------------- The AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2009 will be held at the Holiday Inn, Egerton Road, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, starting at 10am on Sat 25 July, and finishing at 4.30 pm on Sunday 26 July 2009. The hotel is near to the Surrey University campus. Special rates at the hotel have also been negotiated for the Friday and Sunday nights should delegates wish to arrive early, or depart late. To book your place at the Colloquium, YOU MUST BOOK WITH THE HOTEL. (Please do not attempt to book with AMSAT-UK as in previous years) The easiest way to do this is to phone the special Conference Office at the hotel on +44 (0) 1483 784444 and quote reference R0F (That's R zero F). You must lodge your credit card details with the hotel. If you wish to book over the internet, then please email the hotel on meetings-guildford(a)ihg.com. PLEASE NOTE THAT IN ORDER TO GUARANTEE A ROOM AT THE HOTEL FOR THE SAT NIGHT YOU MUST BOOK BEFORE FRIDAY 3 JULY. Bookings for the Fri/Sun nights, or ones made after this date cannot be guaranteed. YOU ARE ADVISED TO BOOK EARLY, AS THE HOTEL WILL ONLY HOLD A LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS FOR US. Costs ----- The complete package, including tea/coffee, attendance at all presentations, a gala dinner on Saturday evening, bed and breakfast on Sat pm/Sun morning is only UK Pounds £128. This price does NOT include lunch, which may be taken at the hotel, or elsewhere. (Cost of a three-course buffet style lunch at the hotel is £15, alternatively the hotel offers bar meals/snacks) The special rate for bed and breakfast on either Fri/Sat or Sun/Mon is UK pounds £75.00 per night. If you do not wish to stay at the hotel overnight (for example, if you live locally), you can book attendance at the presentations at the rate of £25.00 per day (includes tea/coffee, excludes lunch) and/or the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening at £20.00. Again these booking must be made directly with the hotel. Jim Heck, G3WGM Hon Sec AMSAT-UK

1 0

true duplex radios
by D. Craig Fox 01 Jun '09

01 Jun '09

At the request of several following my late night post, set forth below is the list I copied off this or the VX-8 listserv. I have added the new Alinco. I do not think this list is complete so others please feel free to add to it. 73s Craig N6RSX HTs - Icom IC-W2A Icom IC-W31A Icom IC-W32 Yaesu FT-470 Yaesu FT-530 Yaesu FT-50R Yaesu FR-51R Kenwood TH-D7 Kenwood TH-77 Kenwood TH-78 Alinco DJ-G5T Alinco DJ-580T Alinco DJ-G7 Mobile rigs - Kenwood TM741 Kenwood TM742 Kenwood TM941 Kenwood TM942 Kenwood TM732 Kenwood TM-D700/710 Yaesu FT-5100 Yaesu FT-5200 Yaesu FT-8800 Yaesu FT-8900 Icom 2728H Icom IC2800 Base rigs - Yaesu FT-736 Yaesu FT-847 Kenwood TS-2000 Icom 820 Icom 821 Icom IC-910H NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

5 4

Re: BBC - Judica-Cordiglia brothers
by Trevor . 31 May '09

31 May '09

--- On Sun, 31/5/09, Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 <faunt(a)panix.com> wrote: > Only for the next 5 days, as I send this. And it's > not very good. Hi Doug, Yes for some reason the BBC only hold shows on the site for a few days. I've just got home after being away for a few days and I see that as they don't do a podcast version it'll need converting to MP3 to listen to in the car tomorrow morning. Must admit I'd never even heard of the Judica-Cordiglia brothers before. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: true duplex radios
by John W Lee 31 May '09

31 May '09

OK, Here's another oldie but a goodie: Heathkit HW-24 or HW-24A. This is a dual band FM mobile rig, the "A" model is 25 watts, the plain model is 10 watts. This is NOT a kit radio, it was factory built, I have had one for about 20 years, and used it a lot on satellite FM work. It also does cross-band repeat and does work great for doing FM satellite work, you can hear your own signal on the downlink. It has separate co-ax connectors for VHF/UHF. It also has memories, P.L. encode and decode, blue flourescent readout, etc. 73, John, K6YK =============================================================== On Sun, 31 May 2009 15:42:12 -0700 "D. Craig Fox" <DFox(a)rwglaw.com> writes: > At the request of several following my late night post, set forth > below is the list I copied off this or the VX-8 listserv. I have > added the new Alinco. I do not think this list is complete so > others please feel free to add to it. > > 73s > > Craig > N6RSX > > HTs - > Icom IC-W2A > Icom IC-W31A > Icom IC-W32 > Yaesu FT-470 > Yaesu FT-530 > Yaesu FT-50R > Yaesu FR-51R > Kenwood TH-D7 > Kenwood TH-77 > Kenwood TH-78 > Alinco DJ-G5T > Alinco DJ-580T > Alinco DJ-G7 > > > Mobile rigs - > Kenwood TM741 > Kenwood TM742 > Kenwood TM941 > Kenwood TM942 > Kenwood TM732 > Kenwood TM-D700/710 > Yaesu FT-5100 > Yaesu FT-5200 > Yaesu FT-8800 > Yaesu FT-8900 > Icom 2728H > Icom IC2800 > > Base rigs - > Yaesu FT-736 > Yaesu FT-847 > Kenwood TS-2000 > Icom 820 > Icom 821 > Icom IC-910H > NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other > confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of > this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for > delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please > advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message > and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. > Thank you. > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > ____________________________________________________________ Get your dream car or truck. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTLa8srDskBNiOh5AJMnxlrU3R…

3 2

LVB Tracker oooops
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 31 May '09

31 May '09

Hello My LVB tracker on the display says<<<<<<<<<<arning: Tried recalibrating several times still no go. help 73 Bob W7LRD

1 0

Help with Satscape
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 31 May '09

31 May '09

For some reason I have lost S050 and A027 from my list and the format has changed to instead of just A051 it now says Echo 51. Has anyone else had this problem? **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823251x1201398665/aol?redir=htt… ExcfooterNO62)

1 0

Jewelry contests
by Dave Guimont 31 May '09

31 May '09

I've had several questions on the reflector regarding the "jewelry contests" we ran at the conventions for about eight years... For the newbies they were formulated to provide some interest for the wives of those hams, not interested in ham radio...OT's will remember... The "jewelry" was designed to be electronically similar to some part of our hobby...yet be wearable as jewelry.. A local friend suggested that those interested google my callsign, wb6llo, or Leanore's, ka6ucd, for several entry explanations....so as not to belabor it here.... Please, direct to me for questions... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

1 0

Mobile Coax?
by Bob Bruninga 31 May '09

31 May '09

> Other Car Tips: > Convert from RG-58 to LMR-240-UF > or RG-213. I'd take that with a grain of salt. The length of coax in a car is about say 10 feet. The loss of 100 feet of RG-58 is say 5 dB? and the loss of fancy stuff might be 3 db? But the diffrence for only a 10 foot run is only .5 dB versus .3 dB or only 0.2 dB. Nothing at all to even consider compared to all the work it will take, and the lack of flexibility and trying to run something almost like pipe through places where a simple wire (RG-58) fits. My lesson was learned 40 years ago when I go my first 100 lb UHF mobile rig (tubes) just after highschool. The boat anchor filled the entire trunk of my MGB. But the first thing I did when we go the lot of them in my club was spend a day replacing the 8" internal piece of RG-58 in mine from the Transmitter output over to the chassis connector with a 8" run of RG-8. It was hard work getting that 8" piece of RG-8 coax inside the radio and routed all around the internal chassis. The elmer at the time laughed. He said you just wasted a day and all that work to save 0.01% of loss. So now your radio works at 100% where as before it worked at 99.99%. Losing 3 dB of course is one thing (50%), but trying to worry about that last 1% when the effort is tremendous is just not effective. Anyway, just my 2 cents... Bob, Wb4APR

3 2

Re: Re eggbeater performance - mobile
by Bob Bruninga 31 May '09

31 May '09

> For mobile work on AO27, SO50, AO51 > a 2 metre quarter wave whip is all > you need... to work the LEO's mobile > and the satellite is 15 degrees or > more above the horizon, Absolutely, For a 19.5" whip in center of roof: 1) Has 5 dBi gain above 20 deg on 2m 2) Has 7+ dBi gain above 30 deg on 70cm 3) Is an omni 4) does not sacrifice 3 dB for circular 5) Above 25 deg, satellite is 6 to 10 dB closer! 6) works the birds solid for the center of high passes 7) Simplicity at its best! Read about it: www.aprs.org/rotator1.html Disadvantage: The only disadvantage is TIME. On the above web page you can also see that satellites spend 70% of their daily pass times below 25 degrees. BUT! For those best passes in the morning and the evening (or whenever) you can make solid contacts while mobile for about 5 minutes. Also note, that you do NOT need any tracking program to predict passes. AO51 schdule repeats evry 5 days for example. Just write down the CENTER pass of the morning and evening for each day for 5 days. Update those 10 times on a small 3/5" card on the dash about once a month or so will predict all passes whenever you are mobile. There will be a pass 100 minutes earlier and 100 minutes later each day too. So you can predict all 6 passes a day from those same 10 times. See how: www.aprs.org/MobileLEOtracking.html Bob, WB4APR

5 4

true duplex radios
by D. Craig Fox 31 May '09

31 May '09

Greetings. Ok so this issue gets revisited every few months or so-- as it seems. I have a nice list of many fully duplex VHF/UHFradios-- I forget who put together-- that list is taped to the wall next to my station. This comes in handy for shopping on eham, ebay, etc. However, I am wondering if it needs some updating. No clue here. Maybe it is current. Ok well almost. I know it does not list the new Alinco DJ-G7. Ok so the main reason for the post is first to ask (for the hums): does the Kenwood TH-F6A operate in fully duplex mode? the reviews on eham were not exactly clear on this point. If so, then any peculair problems SO The second reason for this post is to ask if anyone perhaps has a more up to date/complete list of truly duplex radios (ie, can do sat work!) ;-) Thanks and 73s Craig NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

6 5

FT-847 vs IC-910
by Eric Fort 31 May '09

31 May '09

For vhf/uhf satellite use I'm seriously thinking about selling off my FT-847 for money toward a IC-910. Could some of you on this list comment on how these 2 radios compare for satellite (and if you know vhf/uhf weak signal) work? why one radio over the other? What are your thoughts and experiences with the IC-910 ? Same question for the FT-847. Thanks, Eric AF6EP

4 3

BBC - Judica-Cordiglia brothers
by m5aka＠yahoo.co.uk 31 May '09

31 May '09

>From http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2009/bbc_radio4_space_radio_drama.htm A drama by the Britsh Broadcasting Company (BBC) based on the Judica-Cordiglia brothers interception of transmissions from early Russian space missions can now be heard on the web. Direct link - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kk4cc 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 ----

2 1

ANS-151 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 31 May '09

31 May '09

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-151 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AMSAT-UK shop change * Satellite info * Satellite Shorts * ARRL Presidential Award * "Echoes of Apollo" event. * ARISS Schedule SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.1 AMSAT-UK shop change AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.1 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 31, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.1 After several years of running the AMSAT-UK shop, Jim G3WGM has handed the reins to Ciaran Morgan M0XTD. Ciaran obtained his full license in April 2008 and enjoyed organising a very successful ARISS contact between Budbrooke School in Warwick, England and Richard Garriott K5KWQ whilst he was onboard the International Space Station in October 2008. The AMSAT-UK shop has been an important source of funds in the past and Ciaran is revamping the current shop to help it to continue to make a valuable contribution to the funds into the future. The shop has had a policy of only stocking items that are difficult to obtain in the UK and, initially, that policy will remain whilst Ciaran gets familiar with the stock and identifies other possible options. Suggestions are always welcome and a new email address (amsat-uk-shop(a)amsat.org) has been setup. Please send the suggestions in and keep checking the web site for updates. Due to the level of sales of software, and compatibility issues with the more recent Microsoft Operating Systems, it has been decided to stop selling InstantTrack and QuickTrack. WiSP and SatPC32 licenses will continue to be issued from the shop Also, there are currently no books for sale - we are looking at this but suggestions are always welcome. On the hardware front, we have restocked with the ever popular LVB motherboards and we also have a limited number of complete kits for the LVB Tracker unit. Half of the new kits also include the AMSAT-NA enclosure with compatible display unit! We are also investigating restocking the 2.4GHz signal sources from G0MRF and the G7HIA 2.4GHz patch kits - please keep a watch on the website for more details. The AMSAT UK website can be accessed via http://www.uk.amsat.org/ - the shop is accessed via a link on the left hand side of the web page. 73 Ciaran M0XTD [ANS thanks Ciaran,M0XTD, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.2 Satellite info AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.2 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 31, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.2 AO-51 will be configured for Field Day with dual repeaters, 1268.700/435.150 and 145.920/435.300. No PL tone is required. Please note that the 435.150 downlink is left hand circular polarized, and the 435.300 transmitter is right hand circular polarized. This configuration will be available for the week preceding Field Day, through the Field Day weekend (June 22nd-28th, 2009). AO-7 has returned to experiencing short eclipses each orbit, thereby preventing the 24 hour timer from switching modes. AO-7 has been observed to favor Mode U/V (B) almost exclusively during these periods. Please check http://oscar.dcarr.org/ or http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php for the most recent reports of the current mode. GO-32 still in bootloader status, return of the BBS is unknown. [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.3 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.3 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 31, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.3 + A compendium of non-ham spacecraft frequencies can be found on-line at: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/spectrumreform/Spectrum_Plans_ 2007/NASA_Strategic_Spectrum_Plan_Nov2007.pdf + Lately, a growing number of observers are reporting intense "flares" coming from the International Space Station (ISS). During some night time flybys, the luminosity of the space station surges 10-fold or more. Some people have witnessed flares of magnitude -8 or twenty- five times brighter than Venus. (via SpaceWeather.com) + A video of the Minotaur launch that lofted the latest flock of cube- sats (PharmaSat, Hawksat, CP6) to orbit can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEf9trI1Hf8 + Watch for Franco's HB9OAB - CN2AB satellite DXpedition to Morocco between June 27 and July 20. Franco says he favors operation via VO-52. QSL eQSL or BURO via HB9OAB. + An online video simulating a flyover of Mars Olympus Mons volcanco can be found at: http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2009/05/mapping-mars-mt.html [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.4 ARRL Presidential Award AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.4 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 31, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.4 FRANK BAUER, KA3HDO, RECEIVES ARRL PRESIDENT'S AWARD On Saturday, May 16 during the forum featuring Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, at the Dayton Hamvention, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, presented former Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm> International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, with the ARRL President's Award. Bauer, who stepped down from ARISS <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/25/10724/> and Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation's (AMSAT) <http://www.amsat.org/> duties this past March, served as ARISS Program Leader and ARISS International Working Group Chair. Since 1991, he served as AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight Programs. The ARRL Board of Directors voted to create the President's Award in 2003. The President's Award is to go to an ARRL member or members who "have shown long-term dedication to the goals and objectives of ARRL and Amateur Radio," and who have gone the extra mile to support individual League programs and goals. Nominations for the award come from directors and are approved by the ARRL President and the Executive Committee. Under Bauer's leadership, Amateur Radio activities have been on human spaceflight vehicles, including NASA-sponsored ham radio activities on the shuttle, Space Station Mir and the ISS. Starting in 1983, Bauer led the Goddard Amateur Radio Club team that provided around-the clock space shuttle retransmissions from the WA3NAN club station. These retransmissions provided the international ham radio community up-to-the-minute information during the flight of Owen Garriott, W5LFL, on STS-9 <http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-9.ht ml> and subsequent SAREX flights. In the days prior to the Internet, these real-time bulletins and frequent orbital element updates could only be obtained through Amateur Radio. "For well over a decade, I have been fortunate to be part of a group that has been leading international teams together to focus on Amateur Radio on the ISS," Bauer told the ARRL. "As AMSAT Vice President for Human Spaceflight since 1991, I have really worked to get this international team to work as one, focusing on Amateur Radio. It is very critical to get all the space agency partners to have a vested interest in making sure we do Amateur Radio right on the ISS. We need to keep the partnership we have with our international team in good stead." [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.5 "Echoes of Apollo" event. AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.5 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 31, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.5 Commemorating the 40th year anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon July 20th, 1969, many large commercial dishes worldwide will be active "on the air" on 23 CM on the weekend of June 26th (Field Day weekend). At present there are many very large commercial dishes as well as many Amateur radio dishes that will be activated on SSB and CW. Some of the larger dishes will make a two way QSO between small Mode "L" satellite stations possible. The Stanford 150' dish will be participating using various calls, including W6TE. A list of participating dishes will follow. W6TE will be on the air and testing the Big Stanford dish at various times... call for possible schedule (559) 260-5511 cell) 73, [ANS thanks Dave Smith, W6TE and the Echoes of Apollo Event Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-151.6 ARISS Schedule AMSAT News Service Bulletin 151.6 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 25, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-151.6 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was scheduled for Miyahara Junior High School in Saitama, Japan on Tuesday, May 26 at 11:12 UTC. Speaking in Japanese, JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA will chat with the students about life in space. Mahopac Public Library in Mahopac, New York has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Wednesday, June 3 at 15:47 UTC. This contact will be facilitated by telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. This school district public library serves six public and five private schools, with a total of 26,485 served. The library will coordinate this question and answer session with the Putnam Emergency Amateur Radio League. Kawanishi Seiwadai Community Center in Hyogo, Japan has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, June 6 at 07:55 UTC. The community center was established in 1987 and serves the area's 5000 households. To prepare for the contact, children researched the ISS and studied space and the global environment. This ARISS contact will be conducted in Japanese. 2. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Team meeting was held on Tuesday, May 19. Topics of discussion included the upcoming face to face meeting in the Netherlands and SuitSat-2 status. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2009-05-19.htm 3. ARRL Article on Dayton Hamvention, Garriott The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) published a story in its May 22 issue of the ARRL Letter about the 2009 ARRL National Convention, Dayton Hamvention and Richard Garriott, W5KWQ. The item on Garriott covers his presentations at the ARRL and AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) forums, the ARRL Expo, and the ARRL Youth Lounge. See: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/09/0522/ The ARRL Letter has a circulation of 115,000. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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Frequencies for CubeSat
by Andy Brian 31 May '09

31 May '09

Hi, I'm looking for any comparison which frequency select for cubesat (command, telemetry). I know that many of designers used UHF UHF, but link budget margin that better to use VHF - smaller path loss for about 10dB what are the main reason for use UHF --> antenna size, free frequency on UHF band, other losses, ground station antenna gain or ?? Thanks for help and comments, best regards Andy

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true duplex radios
by D. Craig Fox 31 May '09

31 May '09

Sorry for the typos in the last- good reason why one should not send posts to listservs late at night after one's bedtime! hihi Anyway, thanks and 73s Craig N6RSX NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient of this communication, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication to the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.

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Re: Re eggbeater performance - mobile
by Bob Bruninga 30 May '09

30 May '09

> It also has a null on an overhead pass. But that is quite insignificant. Looking at the gain plot of a 3/4 wave vertical (the 19.5" whip on 70cm) it is only down say 6 to 10 dB above 85 degrees. BUT the satellie is 10 dB or more closer when it is above 50 degrees which more than makes up for any loss of gain straight up. see plots on www.aprs.org/rotator1.html But yes, there can be a complete fade when it is perfectly directly overhead (extremely rare). But since the satellite is only above 50 degrees only 5% of the time, it is only above 85 degrees only 1/8th of that 5%, or much less than 1% of all access times. Again, losing less than 1% of access time due to a possible less than 1% chance of a fade is nothing to be concerned about. Just 2 cents worth... Bob, Wb4APR >> For mobile work on AO27, SO50, AO51 >> a 2 meter quarter wave whip is all >> you need... > >Absolutely, For a 19.5" whip in center of roof: > >1) Has 5 dBi gain above 20 deg on 2m >2) Has 7+ dBi gain above 30 deg on 70cm >3) Is an omni >4) does not sacrifice 3 dB for circular >5) Above 25 deg, satellite is 6 to 10 dB closer! >6) works the birds solid for the center of high passes >7) Simplicity at its best! > >Read about it: www.aprs.org/rotator1.html > > Disadvantage: The only disadvantage is TIME. > On the above web page you can also see that > satellites spend 70% of their daily pass > times below 25 degrees. BUT! For those best > passes in the morning and the evening (or > whenever) you can make solid contacts while > mobile for about 5 minutes. > > Also note, that you do NOT need any tracking > program to predict passes. AO51 schdule > repeats evry 5 days for example. Just write > down the CENTER pass of the morning and > evening for each day for 5 days. Update > those 10 times on a small 3/5" card on the > dash about once a month or so will predict > all passes whenever you are mobile. There > will be a pass 100 minutes earlier and 100 > minutes later each day too. So you can > predict all 6 passes a day from those same > 10 times. > > See how: www.aprs.org/MobileLEOtracking.html > > Bob, WB4APR

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Re: GO-32
by Mark L. Hammond 30 May '09

30 May '09

Hi Shamai, You will need to download the following files in the same location as the telemetry program: http://www.dk3wn.info/files/ocx.zip And, you might need this: http://www.dk3wn.info/files/vbrun60sp3.EXE Mike links these at the top of his telemetry page...lots of decoders! And you'll need these for them. Hope that gets you up and running! 73, Mark N8MH >Hi, > >I downloaded and tried to run the program, but it gives me an error message >pop up: "Component 'MSCHRT20.OCX' or one of its dependencies not correctly >registered: a file is missig or invalid". Any idea? (I am running Windows >XP) > >thanks & 73 > >Shamai >4Z1WS >On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 10:14 PM, Mark L. Hammond <marklhammond(a)gmail.com>wrote: > >> Hello David, >> >> For what seems like an eternity GO-32 has been sending a telemetry >> packet at 9600 baud one per minute. So, NO, the BBS isn't open (and >> hasn't been for a long time). >> >> You can decode the telemetry GO-32 frames thanks to Mike DK3WN! >> Actually, he has decoders for just about every satellite ever launched >> ;) at <http://www.dk3wn.info/software.shtml>http://www.dk3wn.info/software.shtml >> >> >> 73, >> -- >> Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] >> Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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ON7EQ heard in GI84ow
by ps8rf ps8 30 May '09

30 May '09

Hello all, On 05/28/2009 around 20:39 and 20:40:30 UTC in the 58029 orbits AO7. I heard the station, Jean-Jacques, ON7EQ - in GI84ow - 4757 (Miles) or 7616 km. Unfortunately I can not contact due to problems in my uplink. I'm manually controlling the uplink and that made it difficult to contact. All contact via satellites that I hear, are routinely recorded. A small part of the audio of Jean-Jacques, ON7EQ via AO7 was added on youtube, the audio is not in good quality. For me it was fantastic in the case of a signal via AO7. I hope soon to maintain contact with our friend Jean-Jacques in two ways. I hope you enjoy it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggNmQqxARWY 73, Piraja, PS8RF. _________________________________________________________________ Emoticons e Winks super diferentes para o Messenger. Baixe agora, é grátis! http://specials.br.msn.com/ilovemessenger/pacotes.aspx

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HD Video of satellite FM Data download (or: Amateur Radio is cool)
by Henk, PA3GUO 30 May '09

30 May '09

Dear friends, This morning I have uploaded a new High Definition (HD) video: http://www.vimeo.com/4911267 COMPASS-1 is the first CubeSat of the Aachen University in Germany. It is a 10x10x10 cm cubic satellite with a mass of less than 1 kg. Daily download of satellite data is delegated to a team of radio amateurs around the world. (btw I am not one of the active members, only just a back-up station) In this video it is demonstrated how satellite data (telemetry) is downloaded using 1k2 AFSK modulation. Maybe this video can make others also enthousiastic to start looking into Compass-1 or other Cubesat programs running today. If so; take a look here for some commands: http://www.raumfahrt.fh-aachen.de/news.htm To me it shows Amateur Radio is very exiting, and satellite operations are way cool ! Yes, these Cubesats are no replacement for HEO's, but they do challenge me (just getting your station non-stop, fully automated running sounds easier as it is)... and HAM radio is all about challenges and experiments, that's what makes it fun and keeps it interesting for me ! To play the movie full-screen, click on the right bottom button in the player. Also there is a HD button, ensure it is showing "HD is on". Henk, PA3GUO

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Re: FT-847 vs IC-910
by Wayne Estes 30 May '09

30 May '09

Not all FT-847's are alike. A stock FT-847 has wide, low-Q ceramic IF filters. My FT-847 has INRAD CW and SSB crystal filters that give narrower IF bandwidth, with MUCH higher Q. I haven't compared them, but I suspect that a FT-847 receiver with quality IF filters performs roughly on par with an IC-910. If shopping for a used FT-847, look for one with optional IF filters. Collins mechanical filters are an improvement over the stock ceramic filters, but crystal filters are even better. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA

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Re: eggbeater rx performance MM
by MM 30 May '09

30 May '09

Let’s split your question into two parts Car and House: I have made literally hundreds of FM voice contacts with Mir and ISS from my car. I have also made hundreds of packet mail contacts with Mir. On Mir the default power setting was 5 watts, into a Larsen Dual band Mobile antenna, mounted outside on the hull of Mir. The transceiver was either a Kenwood TM-733 or TM-V7A. My car station was typically a 5/8 wave mono band 2-meter vertical, with a 45 watt class FM rig. I usually did not have the amps in the car since mobile amps are typically high maintenance. ISS is running a similar setup. The transceiver is a Kenwood TM-D700, modified for three power settings, 5,10,25 (special mods). The ISS D700 has been programmed to default to 10 watts for voice and packet, unless changed by the crew, however every time the crew pushes a PM/function button, it forces the radio back to 10 watts. The antenna is a Quad band system with 2, 440, patch for 1.2-2.4 Ghz. Gain is unknown, and must be assumed to be –3dBd for 2 meters. So for beginners, LEO satellites, Running simple verticals and a 45+ watt class system and 0 dBd gain antennas is a good way to start from your car (parked or driving). You will need to Pick your orbits in advance. I would usually only attempt orbits that were 45 degrees elevation or better from my Car. For the more advances mobile users, try this Mobile EME array. http://www.garysicecream.com/may909.htm Other Car Tips: Convert from RG-58 to LMR-240-UF or RG-213. The coax that usually comes with stock mobile antennas is too poor of quality to be used seriously. Run Mono-band antennas for 2 and 440, get the highest Gain mono band (whip) antennas that will fit your mobile and garage. You may need a signal splitter since most rigs only have one SO-239 for 2/440. Amps for your Car: Get best antennas and coax first before using amps. In some States, we are limited to 50 watts on 440. House Satellite Antennas: It’s ok to start with a few simpler verticals or small beams to see if you like the satellite hobby. If you do like Satellites and want to continue then you have two choices. #1 Gradually build your antenna gain over several years, 1 Element 0 dBd 2 Elements 3dBd 4 Elements 6dBd 8 Elements 9 dBd etc. or #2 you can jump in and buy a one of the 20+ element CP (circular polarized) 12-dBd class beams. In many cases it maybe cheaper to go from 0 dBd to 12 dBd than buying lots of little antennas in-between. A CP style antenna system can be used for both Satellite and terrestrial DX. Other Tips: Go with the most elements you can afford for a single boom. 20+ elements on 2-meters 40+ elements on 440 Coax: You can now get Flexible thick coax that will support an antenna Rotor. Most people used RG-8 style coax, which is approximately 10 mm in diameter. However you can now get flexible rotor grade coax which is approximately 15 mm in diameter, and has much lower loss than the best RG-8 style coax. Example: Belden RG-213 145 MHz 2.5 dB loss per 100 feet 438 MHz 4.5 dB loss per 100 feet LMR 600 UltraFlex Rotor cable 145 MHz 1.1 dB loss per 100 feet 438 MHz 2.0 dB loss per 100 feet As you can see, by switching from 10mm coax to 15mm coax you can reduce you loss by over 50%. The 15mm cables cost 2-3 times as much, however you will not have to worry about coax losses any more on Frequencies below 2 gig. 73 wf1f --- On Fri, 5/29/09, Eric Fort <eric.fort(a)gmail.com> wrote: > From: Eric Fort <eric.fort(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] eggbeater rx performance > To: "Amsat BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Friday, May 29, 2009, 9:17 PM > I/m interested in the possibility of > using oscars 27, 29, 50, 51, and 52 > without using rotors or directional antennas and maybe > while mobile. Uplink > seems not to be a problem as one can always QRO to a level > where the > satellite sees an apropriate signal level that is enough > but without robing > power from other transponder users. On recieve though > you still gotta be > able to hear 'em to work 'em. Is an eggbeater and a > preamp enough to hear > decently or is there another (better) way? Is working > mobile and/or without > directional antennas even practical? what's the best > way to do it? > > Thanks, > > Eric > AF6EP > _______________________________________________ > 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: GO-32 status
by Mark L. Hammond 30 May '09

30 May '09

Hello David, For what seems like an eternity GO-32 has been sending a telemetry packet at 9600 baud one per minute. So, NO, the BBS isn't open (and hasn't been for a long time). You can decode the telemetry GO-32 frames thanks to Mike DK3WN! Actually, he has decoders for just about every satellite ever launched ;) at http://www.dk3wn.info/software.shtml 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] ______ Hello All, What is the status of GO-32? Is the BBS back up and running? 73 de David VK5DG

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Re: Mobile Coax?
by MM 30 May '09

30 May '09

Hi Bob, You comments are valid for 2-meters. You are not going to see much difference between 15 feet of cheap coax and good coax. Howver, as you go higher in frequency the losses increase. On the 440 band the Coax Loss difference between 15 feet of RG-58 and LMR-240 is approximately 1 dB. For Raw power, switching from 15 feet of RG-58 (~5 millimeter cable) and LMR-240 (-6 Millimeter cable) will give you 15-20% more RF at the antenna. So for people that are counting dB’s in mobile setup, this is just one more option to squeeze out a little more performance. And for those of you what want to run amplifiers on 440, you will find that RG-58 has approximately a 105-watt limit. The LMR-240 (-6 Millimeter cable) will support 380 watts. Here in Boston, Hams are starting to used 900 Mhz repeaters. The stock RG-58 coax just sucks up your TX and RX power on 900 mhz. Low Loss Coax for Home and Mobile usage Hi all: Most of the mobile antennas mounting systems that come with coax use the cheapest and highest loss coax available. If you read the fine print on these coaxes you will be surprised to find that your power loss may be as high as 40% and the coax will melt above 110 watts (on 440 mc). More and more of us are using 440 and higher frequencies. By selecting the correct coax you can save 1 or more DB of loss, even for a short length as 15 feet. Here are some number I put together on coax loss for the typical mobile installation. dB Loss (440 mc) dB Loss (900 mc) Length FT TX Freq/Length 15' 100' Pwr 15' 100' Pwr Size Center RG-58/U 1.5 9.9 105w 2.2 14.5 60w .195" .032 RG-58/A 1.5 9.9 105w 2.2 14.5 60w .195" Stranded RG-8X 1.2 8.1 250w 1.8 12.1 150w .240" Stranded LMR-240UF 0.5 3.2 380w 0.7 4.7 260w .240" .059 The coax RG-58 comes in many flavors, No letter, A, C and U. The letter "U" is sometimes a solid 20 AWG copper center. The letters "A" and "C" are stranded, the center size would be similar to solid, and will have a little more loss than Solid center. Most mobile installations will need 15 to 17 feet of coax. RG-8X and LMR-240 are the same size, however LMR has foil shield and lower published loss values. The UF version of 240 is the Ultra Flex flavor and can bend easier with a only a slight change in loss ratings. >From this list of small car style coax, the LMR beats them all; in lowest loss for the size and highest transmit power loads. I was planning on installing a 440 AMP in my car, but after looking at the coax, I realized that I would fry the stock RG-58 coax. I was looking for an NMO Mag mount that has LMR-240 installed. I was not able to find any, so I made my own. I took a Round style Larsen NMO mount and replaced the existing RG-58A coax with LMR-240. Use two screw drivers to pop the magnet off the metal mount. Remove the two Phillips screws hidden under the magnet. Remove the metal frame and now you will have access to the coax mounting point. Replace coax and glue on the magnet with epoxy cement. 145 meg 45 watts, in, 15 feet of LMR-240, = 40 watts out 45 watts, in, 15 feet of RG-58, = 37 watts out (~10% power loss difference) 440 meg 20 watts, in, 15 feet of LMR-240, = 17 watts out 20 watts, in, 15 feet of RG-58, = 14 watts out (15-20% power loss difference) 900 meg 10 watts, in, 15 feet of LMR-240, = 7.7 watts out 10 watts, in, 15 feet of RG-58, = 5.8 watts out Power reference http://www.ocarc.ca/coax.htm 73 Miles --- On Sat, 5/30/09, Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: > From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Mobile Coax? > To: "Amsat BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Saturday, May 30, 2009, 10:48 AM > > Other Car Tips: > > Convert from RG-58 to LMR-240-UF > > or RG-213. > > I'd take that with a grain of salt. The length of > coax in a car is about say 10 feet. The loss of 100 > feet of RG-58 is say 5 dB? and the loss of fancy stuff might > be 3 db? But the diffrence for only a 10 foot run is > only .5 dB versus .3 dB or only 0.2 dB. Nothing at all > to even consider compared to all the work it will take, and > the lack of flexibility and trying to run something almost > like pipe through places where a simple wire (RG-58) fits. > > My lesson was learned 40 years ago when I go my first 100 > lb UHF mobile rig (tubes) just after highschool. The > boat anchor filled the entire trunk of my MGB. But the > first thing I did when we go the lot of them in my club was > spend a day replacing the 8" internal piece of RG-58 in mine > from the Transmitter output over to the chassis connector > with a 8" run of RG-8. It was hard work getting that > 8" piece of RG-8 coax inside the radio and routed all around > the internal chassis. > > The elmer at the time laughed. He said you just > wasted a day and all that work to save 0.01% of loss. > So now your radio works at 100% where as before it worked at > 99.99%. Losing 3 dB of course is one thing (50%), but > trying to worry about that last 1% when the effort is > tremendous is just not effective. > > Anyway, just my 2 cents... > > 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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eggbeater rx performance
by Eric Fort 30 May '09

30 May '09

I/m interested in the possibility of using oscars 27, 29, 50, 51, and 52 without using rotors or directional antennas and maybe while mobile. Uplink seems not to be a problem as one can always QRO to a level where the satellite sees an apropriate signal level that is enough but without robing power from other transponder users. On recieve though you still gotta be able to hear 'em to work 'em. Is an eggbeater and a preamp enough to hear decently or is there another (better) way? Is working mobile and/or without directional antennas even practical? what's the best way to do it? Thanks, Eric AF6EP

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Gulf Alpha antenna
by Norman W Osborne 30 May '09

30 May '09

Is there anyone using Gulf Alpha antenna's? I am looking for feedback as I am considering buying the 70cm X yagi. 73, Norman.

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Fw: eggbeater rx performance
by john heath 30 May '09

30 May '09

----- Original Message ----- From: "john heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> To: <eric.fort(a)gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, May 30, 2009 8:48 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] eggbeater rx performance > Hi Eric, > > For the downlink on 70cm why not have a look at the paraistic Lindenblad > design by Anthony Monteiro AA2TX. Its small and neat, excellent omni > performance and has been "on air tested" with good results on all sats. > > Much easier to construct than a true Lindenblad, I have built both types. > > Good luck. > > 73 John G7HIA >

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Eggbeater-AF6EP
by Amateur Radio Station WA2S 30 May '09

30 May '09

Hi Eric If your goal is to work mobile while driving, your windows of opportunity are going to be slim. I've done it, but effective air time will be pretty short. On the portable side, I've been able to achieve VUCC Satellite using 5 Watts FT-60R handheld and an Arrow antenna mounted on a photo tripod standing on the back deck. I also have the Elk but school's out on which I prefer (for me- but most guys prefer the Elk). I've also built K5OE's Eggbeater II for 2 meters which I have mounted in the attic along with an antennas.us quadrifilar for 70 cm. Preamplifiers on both. Results are OK but not as effective as even a simple directional antenna. I suspect that the weak link is the quadrifilar and if I mounted a homebrew Eggbeater for the downlink, it might improve results. Have also built EA4CYQ's "IOio" handheld combo which works very well also. Go to http://www.eb4dka.tk to see some great videos on how they work. Simple to build and effective for portable work. Good luck. 73 Marc W4MPS (formerly WA2S)

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Re: help with satpc32
by Lowell White 30 May '09

30 May '09

See if you can set explicit permission for satpce32 to be run as administrator. I am presuming that the error is that the user doesn't have adequate permission to run said program (or at least to make the change to the 'rotator north' parm). Right click on the program icon, select Properties, Shortcut tab, Advanced, check the box to run as another user... 73, Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Thu, 28 May 2009 07:36:09 AM CDT From: "Nick" <quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] help with satpc32 > The UL is running xp and satpce32 the xp is set with administrator and a > user profile and will not store the rotator North point parameter . > > > > Help ???? > > > > Thanks > > nick > > _______________________________________________ > 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 eggbeater performance - mobile
by mikehooles 30 May '09

30 May '09

For mobile work on AO27, SO50, AO51 a 2 metre quarter wave whip is all you need with an IC-706 to work the LEO's when mobile and the satellite is 15 degrees or more above the horizon, Regards Mike G3LGR

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Re: eggbeater rx performance
by Clint Bradford 29 May '09

29 May '09

I set up my M2 EggBeater on a mast and rotator for shows and conventions ... I call it my Souffle' Antenna. (rim shot) Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Satpc32 ooops
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 29 May '09

29 May '09

Hello While using satpc32 with the lvbtracker I get a Ungulltige Gleitkammaoperation error message along with that bad "thunk" sound. What's going on?? 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: FT-847 vs IC-910
by Jim Jerzycke 29 May '09

29 May '09

I agree with Wayne. I added a 2.1kHz INRAD filter on the receive side, and a Collins mechanical filter on the transmit side. The receive improved tremendously, even the DSP works better, and my local friends tell me the transmit audio sounds more natural. I've never used a '910, so my observations are strictly relevant to the '847. 73, Jim KQ6EA --- On Fri, 5/29/09, Wayne Estes <w9ae(a)charter.net> wrote: > From: Wayne Estes <w9ae(a)charter.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FT-847 vs IC-910 > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Friday, May 29, 2009, 10:00 PM > Not all FT-847's are alike. A > stock FT-847 has wide, low-Q ceramic IF > filters. My FT-847 has INRAD CW and SSB crystal > filters that give > narrower IF bandwidth, with MUCH higher Q. I haven't > compared them, but > I suspect that a FT-847 receiver with quality IF filters > performs > roughly on par with an IC-910. > > If shopping for a used FT-847, look for one with optional > IF filters. > Collins mechanical filters are an improvement over the > stock ceramic > filters, but crystal filters are even better. > > Wayne Estes W9AE > Oakland, Oregon, USA > _______________________________________________ > 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: eggbeater rx performance
by Dave Guimont 29 May '09

29 May '09

>I/m interested in the possibility of using oscars 27, 29, 50, 51, and 52 >without using rotors or directional antennas and maybe while mobile. Uplink >seems not to be a problem as one can always QRO to a level where the >satellite sees an apropriate signal level that is enough but without robing >power from other transponder users. On recieve though you still gotta be >able to hear 'em to work 'em. Is an eggbeater and a preamp enough to hear >decently or is there another (better) way? Is working mobile and/or without >directional antennas even practical? what's the best way to do it? Eric, Go to: http://tinyurl.com/wb6lloOscar And try the quadrifilars...You wont get much at low ELs, but on a decent pass you will copy...use low loss coax, and good N connectors. See the folder Antennaevaluation for some testing we've done.. 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Re: Satpc32 ooops
by Glenn AA5PK 29 May '09

29 May '09

Bob, That messages translates to "Invalid floating decimal point operation," so perhaps reload the software? Glenn AA5PK

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