- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

RE Robert Turlington
by Callum Graham 06 Dec '08

06 Dec '08

Yes thats the call Robert. I worked the call on 12/4/08 at 17:50 and i think that was UK time. QSL card will be on its way. 73. De Callum MM3YCG

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AO 51 special event callsighn (Corrected) Request
by Callum Graham 06 Dec '08

06 Dec '08

Hi all, Im sorry the callsighn was GB0CD and it was a special event call on AO 51.

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ISS NASA Human Space Flight Pass Prediction
by ki6rrq 06 Dec '08

06 Dec '08

Frank, Thanks for that ISS special event info, when I posted there had been no activity, so that's good news! In fact, I heard lots of activity on the ISS cross band repeater tonight, UTC 02:40 12-6-08, over San Diego, CA. USA....... Now that were getting some HAM activity on the ISS, I sure wish the person that keeps up the ISS pass prediction program on NASA's site, could find the time to update the pass prediction data.......... as of UTC 07:19 12-6-08, its showing pass predictions for November 23rd instead of the current date .......... http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/ JavaSSOP.html

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A question about the UHF and Vhf Fm repeaters
by Scott Berry 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Hello there, I am rather new to satellites and I am wondering when you contact So50 is there a plus or minus setting or is it supposed to be a no offset? Otherwise, I have everything else going and heard So50 just about 5 minutes ago. Have a wonderful day. Scott Berry n7zib(a)northlc.com

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Compatible Radios
by Dave 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Hi group, I decided after listening to the group that two radios for my sat station is the way to go. I have a IC-471 on the horizon but can't find a IC-271/275. I was wondering if there was a good substitute? Is there a Yaesu, Kenwood, another ICOM, or Alinco that will do the same multimode with CAT that will compliment but not duplicate the 471? I have some research about this and that radio, but Thank you, and I really appreciate all the help from the experts. Dave Mynatt Program Director ======================== http://sciencecenter.no-ip.org SID ID: S-0258 APRS Tier II Server @ pueblo.aprs2.net:14501 LAT: 38'16.278" N LON: -104'40.537" W Alt: 1460m DM78qd // KA0SWT

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AO 51 Special event callsighn Info request
by Callum Graham 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

On the 12th April 2008 I worked a special call sighn on AO 51. The special event was an anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gargaren (April 12 1962) The special call sighn was GB3CD. Did anyone else in the U.K. work this station and if possible could they give me the details of the QSL address etc as i never sent for a QSL for the QSO as i wasn't long on the air, I remember looking the call up on qrz but never noted the details. 73 De MM3YCG

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for Eric W3DQ
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Pardon the bandwidth, but I'm having trouble replying to an email I received from Eric W3DQ... Apparently you are receiving these OK from AMSAT-BB. I tried a reply to your arrl.net address from your email, but the delivery failure message I got back indicated a problem sending to "wd3q(a)st_________.net ... Which did not appear correct. So I tried another reply directly to "w3dq(a)st_________.net - but it also failed... /;^( Something may be out of whack somewhere, you may want to follow-up. Let me know when to try again ... Thanks /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net ->

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Remembering . . .
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

In some vanilla folder in an overcrowded file drawer is my OscarLocator, with several pages of EQX tables for Oscars 6 & 7 . . . We sure do appreciate ya Tom, Mr."Why waste all this space"..!.. And Phil, Ralph, Jan, Perry, and untold dozens of others . . . Where would we be now otherwise ... ... ... Hopefully some of the new SatOps can read enough of these old scans to pick up on the passion of the past and help carry us on into the future. We gotta keep this dream alive. All the easy stuff has been done, now the real work begins - creating the future. Step up to the plate folks ! Thanks AMSAT /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net ->

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Remembering a part of AMSAT's History
by Tom Clark, K3IO 05 Dec '08

05 Dec '08

Phil Karn, KA9Q (with help from W0RPK) has been posting a complete set of AMSAT's history in posting AMSAT's Newsletters/Magazines in the 1975-1999 era at http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html. Many of these really bring tears to my eyes! -- especially the ORBIT and ASRs from 1980-1985. This was the era when we built Phase-3A only to have it lost as the 2nd test flight of the Arianne launcher self-destructed seconds after the launch. We took that failure as a challenge to rebuild the AMSAT organization and the replacement Phase-3B spacecraft. Anyone who would like to learn more about our legacy should read the publications from the early 80's. There is another story in those newsletters. In the early 1980's, a few amateurs were learning about computers. The pre-1980 LEO satellites could be tracked using only the time of equator crossing and a simple plotting board. However the HEO Phase-3 satellites in elliptical orbits made the job a lot harder. In Orbit #6 (see http://www.ka9q.net/AMSAT-ORBIT-6.pdf) I started AMSAT on the "open source" software track by publishing the source code (in BASIC) for a the algorithms needed to do the job on a personally owned computer; at the time, the detractors said "Why waste all this space in the magazine. Only a few amateurs will ever own computers with enough horsepower to do these calculations!" I held fast and we published the article anyway. In the next 5-10 years, clones and graphical adaptations of "IWI Orbits" by others for many computers were added. AMSAT's "sales" of copies of the many variants of my open-source software put nearly $100,000 into the till to build AO-10 and -13. My thanks to Phil & Ralph for giving me the chance to reminisce one more time! 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI)

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 632
by Frank H. Bauer 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

All, Some clarifications. First, it was not NASA that talked about the ARISS Special Events, it was the ARISS team. Second, we have already started the events with some SSTV downlinks. And Mike Fincke was on the air on voice earlier today. Third, as I mentioned in my e-mail on this: "We would like to remind everyone that ISS flight requirements related to EVA and vehicle activity may require the radio to be off for some portion of this schedule. And school contacts and general QSO opportunities by the crew will also preempt this schedule for short periods of time. (But remember that if you hear these, you still qualify for a commemorative certificate)." We do need to remember that the crew sets the systems up on their free time and when it does not interfere with other on-orbit activities. And the ARISS team has the same "crystal ball" as you do. We rarely get word from the crew ahead of time if they can support a specific event or not. So stay tuned! 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 11:29:14 -0800 From: "Call Sign" <ki6rrq(a)cox.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS Special Events Dec 2008 To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <008e01c95646$97b28b90$6401a8c0@agentj07qkr8dt> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" NASA said that December was going to produce some special HAM events on the International Space Station. Included in these, it was reported, that between December 1-7, the ISS cross band repeater would be active and there would be some SSTV pics transmitted. Special undisclosed future December events were to come but not disclosed. As of UTC 1900 12-4-08, HAM reports, as well as my attempts, are negative for any contacts on the cross band repeater. I cant find any additional news, does anyone have any further updates or reality on ISS coms..... right now or this month? Rich KI6RRQ ------------------------------

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ISS Special Events Dec 2008
by Call Sign 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

NASA said that December was going to produce some special HAM events on the International Space Station. Included in these, it was reported, that between December 1-7, the ISS cross band repeater would be active and there would be some SSTV pics transmitted. Special undisclosed future December events were to come but not disclosed. As of UTC 1900 12-4-08, HAM reports, as well as my attempts, are negative for any contacts on the cross band repeater. I cant find any additional news, does anyone have any further updates or reality on ISS coms..... right now or this month? Rich KI6RRQ

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Re: Yaesu CT-62
by gregory.beat＠comcast.net 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Nick - I believe that I picked up a Yaesu CT-62 CAT interface cable (part of an estate sale) this past summer. Let me check tonight -- when I get home. IF so, I think that this amateur elf .... can throw the CT-62 in Santa's gift bag before he arrives on Christmas day. Ho Ho Ho (or is it Hi Hi Hi?) 73 de greg w9gb ----- Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 06:24:37 -0600 From: "Nick Pugh" <quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] yease ct-62 To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <004801c9560b$467b8960$d3729c20$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Does anyone on the list know where I can get a schematic of a Yaesu CT-62 cat interface cable? Thanks nick

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Re: rotor replacement pots
by Fred A Parker 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

A digital encoder would be the most accurate. USdigital http://www.usdigital.com/support/glossary#glossary_opticalencoder manufactures inexpensive encoders. With these and a step servo drive in example a Gecko drive http://www.geckodrive.com/product.aspx?c=2&i=14456 one could build a rotor that would be accurate to a thousand of a degree. Fred KF0AK

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January 2001 CQ Mag
by Angelo Glorioso (n5uxt) 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Hello All, I am posting this here for help in locating an article in the Jan CQ Magazine 2001. The article starts on Page 18 about an inverted L antenna. I use to have all the copy of cq until I lost everything in Katrina. If someone could scan the article I would appreciate it. 73 de Angelo PS: Sorry for posting this here but this group is the most informative of them all.

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1984 Orbit Magazine now online
by Phil Karn Jr 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Ralph, W0RPK, has sent me the last of his batch of scanned AMSAT Orbit Magazine from the early days of AMSAT. This batch takes our collection up to issue 19, November-December 1984. For those of you who may not remember, that was a very interesting chapter of AMSAT history beginning with the loss of Phase III-A in May 1980, the launch of the University of Surrey's first spacecraft UoSAT-Oscar-9, the continued determination of the Phase III team, and the successful launch of AO-10 in the summer of 1983. I personally got involved with AMSAT right after the Phase III-A loss. so I have some pretty fond memories of those years. 73, Phil

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yease ct-62
by Nick Pugh 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Does anyone on the list know where I can get a schematic of a Yaesu CT-62 cat interface cable? Thanks nick

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newbie
by Tim Goodrich 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Hi all, I'm Tim, KC2DDS, operating from Torrance, CA (Los Angeles area, DM03). Although I've had my license since I was 17 (1997), I'm just now getting back into things and especially satellites. My absence from AR probably has something to do with needing a break after 4 years of active duty in the Air Force where I maintained and operated the 27 radios aboard the E-3 AWACS J (making contacts on SATCOM systems is much easier using military equipment on dedicated frequencies and geosynchronous satellites than it is using a 5w HT and a handheld antenna on a hamsat!) Here's the chronology of the last week, which may sound familiar to some: Last Friday: Built a UHF Yagi which enabled me to hear signals Saturday: Listening wasn't enough, so I went to HRO and bought an Arrow dual band antenna so I could transmit Sunday and Monday: Made my first contacts Anyway, I just wanted to write to introduce myself. Hope to make contact with you all eventually. Tim KC2DDS

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AMSAT power point presentation wanted
by Mike McConnell 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

I am going to do a 20-minute or so presentation on Ham Radio to my local Kiwanis club. They saw an article in the local newspaper a couple weeks ago after I was able to speak with Owen Garriott. They thought it would be interesting to learn a bit about satellites. I wonder if there is anybody out there who already has a power point presentation concerning AMSAT & SAT operations that I could use. Thanks Mike McConnell, Ph.D. W0PD AMSAT #36792 ARRL#0001168388

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EZ-lindenblad info
by francesco messineo 04 Dec '08

04 Dec '08

Hello all, I have read with great interest the AA2TX article about an easy way to build the lindenblad antenna for 2m satellite band. I have some questions for the ones who actually use these antennas. I'm thinking about a portable setup for a three weeks operation in IS0 at the end of december. How does the antenna perform on LEOs? I've always used small yagis handeld with great results, but this setup is quite unsatisfactory for winter operations. How problematic is the fixed circular polarization of the lindenblad? And finally... does anyone have tested dimensions for a 70 cm easy-lindenblad design? I'm particularly interested in cw operations on AO-7 by the way. Thanks in advance and best 73 Francesco IZ8DWF

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AO-16 update 3 December 2008
by Mark L. Hammond 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

Hello All, As expected, over the last few days AO-16 has started to again experience "shutdowns". Thanks to your updates at the very handy webpage at http://oscar.dcarr.org/ it seems that the first shutdown occurred between 28 Nov 2008 2030 UTC and 29 Nov 2008 0615 UTC. So far I've restarted the bird three times, and each time it appears to stay up for a day or more. We can expect the situation to worsen, as the eclipse periods get longer and the satellite temperatures continue to go down. We've been warning you :) Get those AO-16 contacts in now! I'll try to restart AO-16 as my schedule allows. Your reports to the OSCAR Satellite Status page by KD5QGR are very helpful; it helps me know when the bird is down so that I can do my best to restart it. Based on the times of the passes lately, it's difficult to be available when the bird is above the horizon. If the birds is operational in voice mode, you should clearly hear the "not-so-repressed carrier" on the downlink. Special request--if you do not hear the carrier, please do not transmit to AO-16, as your transmissions make it difficult to command the satellite. And, if you hear the "hummmming" of the PSK transmitting, again please do not attempt to transmit to the bird; it's likely that I have restarted the bird and need to collect telemetry before configuring it into voice mode. Thanks to all you faithful AO-16 operators! Current operational mode for AO-16 (as available!): Mode FM Voice Repeater ( Downlink is DSB) Uplink : 145.9200 MHz FM Downlink 437.0260 MHz SSB 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] AO-16 Command Station

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Re: EZ-lindenblad info
by Pughkeithd＠cs.com 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

In a message dated 12/3/2008 12:51:07 PM Central Standard Time, mryan301(a)comcast.net writes: > Subj: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info > Date:12/3/2008 12:51:07 PM Central Standard Time > From:[email protected] > To:[email protected] > Received from Internet: > > > > Thanks for the response. Are the Proceedings on line? A quick scan of the > AMSAT site didnt come up with anything obvious. > > > >> -------------- Original message -------------- >> From: Pughkeithd(a)cs.com >> In a message dated 12/3/2008 9:13:40 AM Central Standard Time, >> mryan301(a)comcast.net writes: >> >>> Subj: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info >>> Date:12/3/2008 9:13:40 AM Central Standard Time >>> From:[email protected] >>> To:[email protected] >>> Received from Internet: >>> >>> >>> >>> I have the article and it seems that it only provides details and specs on >>> a 2M version. Did I miss something or is there anotehr place to get specs >>> for 70 cM? >>> >>> WB1AAT >>> >>> --- On Tue, 12/2/08, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> wrote: >>> >>> >From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> >>> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info >>> >To: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >>> >Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 5:55 PM >>> >Is the article available on line? I don't keep paper >>> >publications. >>> > >>> >john heath wrote: >>> >>Hi< BR>>> >>> >>I built the AA2TX 70 cms Easi Lindenblad exactly to >>> >the dimensions in >>> >>Tony's article. >>> > >>> >-- >>> ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> >>> >>> >Nigel A. Gunn. G8IFF W8IFF (have also held KC8NHF, M0NHF, >>> >9H3GN) >>> >1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA 937 825 >>> >5032 >>> >e-mail nigel(a)ngunn.net www >>> >http://www.ngunn.net >>> >Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, >>> >Flying Pig #385, >>> > Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, >>> >AMSAT-UK, MKARS, ALC >>> ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >> The latest 70 cm version of this antenna can be found in the Proceedings of >> the 2007 AMSAT-North America Space Symposium and Annusl Meeting. The >> original 70 cm version was in the 2006 Proceedings. I believe the new version >> has also been published in the AMSAT Journal, but I can't remember the issue. >> >> 73 - Keith, W5IU >> > The AMSAT Proceedings are not on line; however, they are available on a DVD from AMSAT. This 2007 DVD includes a wealth of other information as well. 73 - Keith, W5IU

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GO-32 recovery status
by Alan 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

Thank you Shlomo for this update and yes, we all wish Ronni a speedy recovery. > -----Original Message----- > From: Shlomo [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: December 3, 2008 9:57 AM > To: ve4yz(a)mts.net > Subject: GO-32 > > Dear Alan, Please inform all users of GO-32. > Ronni who is the head of the ground control station of GO-32 > making recovering after a severe medical event. So all of the > users will have to wait and wish him a fast recovery. > > Shlomo 4x1as 4x1as(a)iarc.org 4x1as@amsatorg >

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Re: EZ-lindenblad info
by Pughkeithd＠cs.com 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

In a message dated 12/3/2008 9:13:40 AM Central Standard Time, mryan301(a)comcast.net writes: > Subj: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info > Date:12/3/2008 9:13:40 AM Central Standard Time > From:[email protected] > To:[email protected] > Received from Internet: > > > > I have the article and it seems that it only provides details and specs on a > 2M version. Did I miss something or is there anotehr place to get specs for > 70 cM? > > WB1AAT > > --- On Tue, 12/2/08, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> wrote: > > >From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> > >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info > >To: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > >Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 5:55 PM > >Is the article available on line? I don't keep paper > >publications. > > > >john heath wrote: > >>Hi > >> > >>I built the AA2TX 70 cms Easi Lindenblad exactly to > >the dimensions in > >>Tony's article. > > > >-- > ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > >Nigel A. Gunn. G8IFF W8IFF (have also held KC8NHF, M0NHF, > >9H3GN) > >1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA 937 825 > >5032 > >e-mail nigel(a)ngunn.net www > >http://www.ngunn.net > >Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, > >Flying Pig #385, > > Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, > >AMSAT-UK, MKARS, ALC > ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > _______________________________________________ > 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 > The latest 70 cm version of this antenna can be found in the Proceedings of the 2007 AMSAT-North America Space Symposium and Annusl Meeting. The original 70 cm version was in the 2006 Proceedings. I believe the new version has also been published in the AMSAT Journal, but I can't remember the issue. 73 - Keith, W5IU

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Re: EZ-lindenblad info
by mryan301＠comcast.net 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

I have the article and it seems that it only provides details and specs on a 2M version. Did I miss something or is there anotehr place to get specs for 70 cM? WB1AAT --- On Tue, 12/2/08, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> wrote: > From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: EZ-lindenblad info > To: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 5:55 PM > Is the article available on line? I don't keep paper > publications. > > john heath wrote: > > Hi > > > > I built the AA2TX 70 cms Easi Lindenblad exactly to > the dimensions in > > Tony's article. > > -- > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> > Nigel A. Gunn. G8IFF W8IFF (have also held KC8NHF, M0NHF, > 9H3GN) > 1865 El Camino Drive, Xenia, OH 45385-1115, USA 937 825 > 5032 > e-mail nigel(a)ngunn.net www > http://www.ngunn.net > Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, > Flying Pig #385, > Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, > AMSAT-UK, MKARS, ALC > <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

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GO-32 still down
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

GO-32 is still just transmitting periodic beacons that look like they might be from the bootloader. Anyone have contact with the command stations? 73, Drew KO4MA

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AMSAT at Mesa AZ hamfest, Saturday (6 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

Hi! I, along with Larry W7LB and Gerry VE4GTB/KD7MDB, will have an AMSAT table at the Superstition Amateur Radio Club hamfest in Mesa, Arizona, this Saturday (6 December 2008). The hamfest is at Mesa Community College, in the parking lot facing Dobson Road between Southern Avenue and the US-60 freeway (exit 177). Officially, the hamfest runs from 6am until 2pm (1300-2100 UTC). More information about the hamfest is available at: http://wb7tjd.org/hamfest/ During the hamfest, we will do on-air demonstrations on AO-51 (1421 and 1602 UTC passes), VO-52 (1724 UTC pass - look for me around 145.910-145.915 MHz on the downlink), and SO-50 (1843 UTC pass) using my call WD9EWK. Please give us a call, if you are on any of these passes. I will send QSL cards to all stations making a contact with WD9EWK during these demonstrations. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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CO-66 in digital mode
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Dec '08

03 Dec '08

Just copied a pass of SEEDS II in 1200 baud telemetry mode. Wow was it strong! I was using MixW, so I caught a wav file if anyone is interested. I haven't quite figured out how to read the telemetry yet. Packets were addressed JQ1YGU>JQ1YGV>UI,?,F0: 73, Drew KO4MA

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Pico transponder
by RFI-EMI-GUY 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

William; This is wonderful! Can you share complete specs with the AMSAT-BB? How do you think the multi carrier IMD performance will be? W Will kits or assembled boards be available? Cost? I can see a lot of applications! Imagine if we could convince all the hams who are private pilots to have one of these installed onboard their private planes? Can it accept a coherent reference oscillator from GPS? Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:52:18 +0100 From: William Leijenaar <pe1rah(a)hotmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Pico transponder To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, <pe1rah(a)hotmail.com> Message-ID: <BAY116-W163B84CEB7C852D2CB85DC90010(a)phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi AMSATs, Just got one of my latest transponder designs out of the prototype status and into final status. I made a small presentation in video format. I'm new to the video world so I'm sorry for the shacky picture and low resolution... I'm trying to get that better next time. Its a small video clip for an even smaller radio... Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZcaXRFC914 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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Orbit magazines 1-16 now online
by Phil Karn 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Thanks to Ralph Wallio, AMSAT Orbit magazine issues 1-16 are now all online at http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html 73, Phil

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Pico transponder
by William Leijenaar 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Hi AMSATs, Just got one of my latest transponder designs out of the prototype status and into final status. I made a small presentation in video format. I'm new to the video world so I'm sorry for the shacky picture and low resolution... I'm trying to get that better next time. Its a small video clip for an even smaller radio... Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZcaXRFC914 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

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Landwehr 2m preamp GaAsFET?
by Dave hartzell 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Does anyone know what the Landwehr pre-amps used for the GaAsFET? I don't see any markings on the device, and one of the former resellers (Radio Dan) doesn't know either... Thanks and 73, Dave AF6KD

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Re: MMIC for LEO preamp?
by Rod Adkins 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

I have built a number of DEM pre-amp kits I am fortunate enough to have the loan of a Noise measuring set - & have found that the tuning for lowest noise & highest gain are often WAY apart My input would be - if you have no way to measure noise performance, buy the ready-built preamp - I have also gone this route, & been very satisfied (usual disclaimer) Re MMICs - I have built a large number of these for various freqs & purpose, using DEM PCBs Besides the poor NF, these amps are VERY broadband, totally unsuitable for head-end preamp (IMHO <g>) Rod Adkins WI6M nr San Diego 17917 Lyons Valley Road Jamul, CA 91935 > [Original Message] > From: Curt Nixon <cptcurt(a)flash.net> > Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Date: 11/26/2008 7:19:46 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] MMIC for LEO preamp? > > SO...now I have made a few contacts on AO-51 and SO-50. Now I need to > get better ears. > > I have a very simple mode J setup using a couple of old mobil rigs--the > rx unit is an IC 2350H. 10 el cheap yagi through 60ft of LMR400. > > I'm considering options for a mast preamp for rx only. I'll be using a > diplexer for desense ahead of it, and eventually add coaxial switching > so I can use TX. > > I'll feed with power through extra wire in rotor cable. > > Looking at the Hamtonics, DEMI kit and a hombrew from scratch. > > 1. Any experiences with the DEMI units as kits? > > 2. with there relatively high NF, are the MMIC devices like the ERA > series, at all appropriate for simple mast preamps for entry level > application? > > Thanks to all. > > Curt > KU8L > _______________________________________________ > 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

3 4

getting predict compiled (under osx 10.4)
by Eric Fort 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

KD6BD n KB5MU de AF6EP, First of All I'd like to thank you for contributing your time, effort, and resources to the creation and support of predict for satellite tracking and vocalizer for osx respectively Presently I see http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html mentions it working under osx but I see no link to source that will compile under osx. Maybe the following hints could be included in the readme of a future release, or even better have ./install figure out which unix you are compiling for and get the necessary stuff (bearing in mind the remaining questions below) I downloaded the linux tarball from http://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.htmlfor use on my mac powerbook G4, running OS X 10.4.11. As stated no source file is directly available there for OSX. When I first attempted ./configure it couldn't find the c compiler. once I hard coded the osx location of gcc (/usr/bin/cc) into ./configure it attempted to compile only to fail looking for soundcard.h (not quite sure why predict needs a sound card)....ok the voice anouncements could be nice on my mac and I did find vocalizer for mac at http://www.mustbeart.com/software/MacVocalizer.html and replaced vocalizer with that but ./install still had the define for soundcard.h so it bombed again. It FINALLY compiled, though complained of not finding a soundcard after completely removing the include for soundcard.h from install.c. 2 questions at this point: How do I get it to not complain about not having a soundcard? How do I get it to use the verson of vocalizer for the mac referenced above? Is there a means to easily call another external program instead of vocalizer when an event happens? (ultimately I'll be building a sat gateway based around predict and asterisk under linux and it would be nice to have predict trigger voice synthesis or playback within asterisk) Please reply all, or at least to the amsat-bb (Whom, I cc'd) so all may benifet. Thanks, Eric AF6EP

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Third week as a satellite newbie
by Bryan Green 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Greetings, all: Bryan KL7CN/W6 here in CM98fn. Two weeks ago, I posted here my first week's experience as a satellite newbie. After three weeks, it's still fun. I know this because it's 6:00 in the morning in California, and I just came back inside after standing out on the sidewalk in the bitter 40-degree cold -- and yes, I can hear the chuckles from the Midwest but that's very cold for here. I was out there the foggy dark dregs of night talking into my now- beloved IC-W32A VHF/UHF handheld radio and even more beloved tripod- mounted Arrow antenna. I met with WB9YIG, K8CXM, my co-conspirator WA4NVM, and WB9L for an early-morning club -- the FM satellite enthusiast's club! I scribbled down their callsigns and the callsigns of the others I heard into my little Moleskine notebook, all by the light of my cell phone -- an ironic choice of illumination. I waved at the couple of early-morning commuters who drove by with wide eyes and dropped jaws. They must think I am as crazy as the fellow down the street who shovels dirt around his grassless yard. What else could explain a grown man pointing a TV-antenna-looking-thing at at the sky while listening intently into a pair of iPod headphones attached to it, and all while carefully taking notes and occasionally talking into a microphone -- in the middle of the night? I suppose the craziness of it appeals to me most. It's the frontier! It used to be unusual to have conversations with people from other countries; now it's common -- the Internet changed that. And it used to be unusual to carry around a small radio for the purpose of communicating with your friends; now it's also common -- cell phones changed that. And, as well, it used to be unusual to send short computer-based messages by wireless to your posse; now it's popular with young people the world over -- texting changed that. But talking to your friends using low-earth-orbiting satellites tracked by hand -- who does that? Crazy people, that's who: amateur radio operators! -- bag

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SSTV Active
by David Barber 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

SSTV active during 14.30utc European pass. Looks as if batteries on VC-H1 may be discharged. No picture just blue background and NA1SS callsign. David G8OQW

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ARISS and Echolink
by Scott McKee 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

We have a scheduled ARISS school for next Tuesday, 09 December and would like to do an Echolink feed. I would appreciate any comments from those that have done so for this event. My concern in feeding the audio from a professional mixer into the PC line input. Any special experiences or suggestions would be great. 73, Scott, NT5SM Trustee: Austin Elementary Radio Club - K5AUS

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ICOM IC-910 Owners, HELP
by Dave Guimont 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

I've misplaced my IC-910 manual, and I need pin numbers for the 8 pin ICC-1 to connect my radio to my computer sound card so I can use MixW. I can read the pin numbers. One of them must be ground, and the other pin number for output to the sound card... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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2.4Ghz up converter
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Hello I am looking for an up-converter to 2.4Ghz from 2 meters preferably. I only need less than one watt for testing purposes. Should anyone have one they would care to part with or a recommended one, please let me know. Any information or recommendations are appreciated. I will be adjusting antennas with a Bird 43 meter and a 250Mw slug. As always thankyou in advance. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle (AO-7 regular)

2 1

ISS SSTV
by David Barber 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Could someone ask the guy's up there to turn the camera round for some internal shots when over Europe in the dark please? Thanks. David G8OQW

3 2

Wanted: UHF Amplifier
by K & R Yoksh 02 Dec '08

02 Dec '08

Hello, I may be in the market for a UHF power amplifier. Please reply off-list to my email: k0kn at amsat dot org with make and model, specs, condition, and particularly price. My satellite setup now is capable of 5 to 20w output on UHF. I'm thinking that a 100w amplifier would meet my needs. Thanks.. 73. Kyle K0KN

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Satellite Computer Logging Program Help
by Keith N4ZQ 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Can anyone recommend a computer logging program that will read BOTH VFO's and input them into the correct columns of the logging program. My Logger32 program doesn't seem to be able to do that in either Sat Mode or plain old Split Mode for my Yaesu FT-847. It only reads the main VFO, which is the RX Frequency in the default Sat Mode. Hoping to find a logging program that won't require me to edit each and every Sat QSO after the fact. Keith N4ZQ ____________________________________________________________ Domain Registration - Click Here http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2241/fc/PnY6rx9SmzOpamaGvq4HuWBy4STM…

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Re: [Mep-dev] Re: Re: BBsat Call for ideas
by Robert Bruninga 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

> Okay,... What would be necessary to > start/construct a ground station access > point to route satellite images/data/ > telemetry to the internet?... > Is that something desirable? Yes! The following addressess the AX.25 packet downlinks: If you look at a pass over the USA, it might only take 4 good OSCAR class ground stations in the four corners of the USA to provide pretty good coverage of all passes of all satellties... BUT, tracking horizon-to-horizon requires beam antennas, tracking and computer control plus doppler. Yes, this needs pretty good automated "full OSCAR class" stations. *However*, what we have been pushing for years is to simplify this down to a simple receiver and OMNI vertical antenna so that more people can contribute, and fewer stations have to wear out their tracking systems and moving parts and all of that complexity. With an OMNI vertical, there are all kinds of advantages: 1) No moving parts 2) No Tracking 3) No Doppler tuning (U only hear the center of pass) 4) No tower needed (doesn't need to see horizon) 5) No Beams, no elevation, no Azimuth concerns 6) Short coax and no pre-amp required usually 7) You still get "10+ dB gain" to the satellite! 8) Any Radio, and any TNC connected to any APRS client software can then become just a permanent satgate 24/7/365 with no wear-and-tear The reason this works is that the Vertical Antenna is only concerned with gain above 30 degrees and does not have to have the high-gain antenna required to work the horizon where the satellites are 6 to 10 dB weaker. A 19.5" vertical 3/4 wave whip antenna over a ground plane at roof or even backyard level that only needs to see the sky above 30 degrees will give you almost 7 dB gain at all angles over about 25 to 30 degrees and can usually get to the shack with less than 20' of coax. Plus the satellite is 6 to 10 dB closer, so in effect you will hear satellites (above 30 degrees) just as good as the OSCAR class stations (do at the horizon). The downside that compensates for all these advantages is the fact that LEO satellites are only above 25 degrees or so less than 25% of the time. BUT, WE COMPENSATE for that by getting MORE volunteer ground stations. But this is EASIER because all it takes is a radio, a TNC, and a non-tower mounted vertical whip (19" over a ground plane gives good gain on 2 meters and almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above 25 degrees). This is why we invite all small packet-relay satellites to share our 145.825 MHz downlink (after coordination via the IARU of course). The more ground stations, the better reliability, and the the more satellites, the better continuity for packet mobiles and portables. These omni-SATgates all feed into the global APRS system which feeds many live internet sites and also anyone who wants to mine the downlink via a telnet connection. Each ground station only needs to capture a few packets when it is under the satellite, the other dozens of ground stations collect the packets over other areas, and the continuous stream going into the internet is available to all (with all dupes eliminated). That's what feeds these web sites: http://www.ariss.net for the ISS downlink http://pcsat.aprs.org for the other APRS satellites And many others such as findu.com, and oaprs.net and aprs.fi The more the merrier! Now for the upcoming 9600 baud downlink experiments by the ISS, we will need these OMNI ground stations to set their radio TNC's to 9600 baud for the duration of that experiment. Bob, Wb4APR > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > To: "'Michelle'" <w5nyv(a)yahoo.com>; "'Timothy J. Salo'" > <salo(a)saloits.com>; > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 11:41 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [Mep-dev] Re: Re: BBsat Call for ideas > > > Def: MEP = Microwave Experimentation Project > > > One of the stated intentions of MEP > > is to continue the digital ground station > > work that was begun in support of ACP. > > While MEP is intended to be deployed as a > > terrestrial system, the model is based off of ACP. > > For what it's worth... the issue of high-gain antenna pointing > among terrestrial users is being taken care of with an APRS > packet that will indicate to everyone on the net, where each > person's microwave antenna is pointing live. This can allow for > automatic antenna tracking during terrestrial ops. See > http://www.aprs.org/info/microwave-exp-proj.txt > > > We preserve the idea of a multiple access payload in the > > "groundsat", which will be a mountaintop repeater instead of > > in orbit. We are using the same bands, with the only > > difference being a shift off the satellite sub-bands. We have > > taken advantage of a greatly improved link budget by > > orienting the system to high-definition video for terrestrial > use. > > > > For satellite use, we would be able to support some number of > > voice channels, depending on the payload. > > > > We are open invitation and welcome anyone at any level who > > would like to participate. > > > > Our current phase is exploratory. We're beginning to > > transition to analyzing requirements, and then we'll design, > > implement, test and verify. > > -Michelle W5NYV > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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need link to current predict source code
by Eric Fort 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Where can I download the latest predict source code that will compile under centos, debian, and osx 10.4? Thanks, Eric AF6EP

5 8

Re: Selling "free" software.
by Clint Bradford 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

You can contact eBay security and open a case with them for copyright infringement and/or the use of your images and text without your permission. eBay took my case last month very seriously, and it was resolved in less than three days. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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IC 910 connections
by Dave Guimont 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Tnx to all that provided me with info regarding 910 connections...There were quite a few, and answered each individually, but just in case I missed someone.. It has been over 20 years since I've done anything other than cw,ssb or FM...on the satellites... Now to learn the intricacies of MixW again!! The cubesats look like fun.... Any simple way to get the latest MixW up and running??? 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

1 0

Re: TS2000X vs. 910H ?
by Bill Dzurilla 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Gordon, Both are nice rigs and are far more than "starter rigs". You have cheaper options if your only interest is satellites. The TS-2000 has a birdie on the downlink frequency of AO-27 (currently inoperative) and SO-50 (one of the 2 currently working FM birds), which is a substantial negative for satellite work. But I assume you are more interested in the linear birds, as both the TS-200 and the 910H are overkill for the FM birds (a dual band HT would suffice for these). The 910H performs a bit better on VHF/UHF than the TS-2000, it has higher power on 70cm (75w v. 50w), and it is less expensive by a couple of hundred bucks. By its very 160m-23m nature, the TS-2000 makes a few compromises that lessen its performance on individual bands, but it is a nice rig, as thousands of satisfied users will attest. It might have a higher resale value, because there's a much larger market for HF rigs, although there has been speculation about Kenwood's commitment (or lack thereof) to its ham radio product line. The TS-2000 would be a nice backup for your Pro 3 on HF. Check the reviews on eHam, the TS-2000 has a slightly higher average rating (4.5 v. 4.1): 910H - http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1274 TS2000 - http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1249 Good luck and 73, Bill NZ5N If you are near a ham store, twirl the dials on both and see which feels better. Don't think you will be disappointed with either one. 73, Bill NZ5N ************************ I'm just about to get started in working satellites and debating between two rig options: Kenwood TS2000X and the Icom 910H. I already have an HF rig (Icom 756Pro-3) so don't really need the HF features of the TS2000X but otherwise it seems very comparable to the 910H especially when you consider that all the options for the 910H are standard in the TS9000X. Price-wise, they both seem to be in the same ballpark (when you add most options to the 910H). If you were just getting starting out in satellites, which rig would you choose? Thanks, Gordon NW7D

1 0

ISS SSTV
by Scott Schmautz 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

I'm assuming they are using 145.800? Scott/WB2UZR -- Bertrand Russell - "I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."

1 0

ISS SSTV Active
by David Barber 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

ISS SSTV active today during the 12.35 and 15.38 passes over Europe. System appears to be set to automatic with a 2 minute delay between pictures. David G8OQW

2 1

ISS - SSTV @ 18:35 UTC over North America
by n3tl＠bellsouth.net 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Hey everyone, The ISS continued in SSTV on this pass over me in EM84. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL AMSAT Member No. 36820 QRP-ARCI Member No. 5547 ARRL Member No. 0007027180 Athens, Ga. - EM84ha

1 0

SumbandillaSat launch date
by Andrew Glasbrenner 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

Here's a short blurb including a launch date for SumbandillaSat. The reader comments at the end of the article don't paint a rosy picture unfortunately. http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-11-25-sa-to-launch-r25m-satellite-weather-… 73, Drew KO4MA

2 1

Re: STS-9 W5LFL audio tapes
by Hartmut Paesler 01 Dec '08

01 Dec '08

> Does anyone know if any of these tapes are still around ? > I've heard bits and pieces, but I've always wondered if I ever actually > made it through the brief pile-ups and into his audio log ... > I know I heard him on several passes and called him back, I was mobile. > Seems the first pass or two, it was not that busy - I heard more acks later. Alan, have a look at http://www.dd1us.de, menu item "sounds from space", there is (amongst lots of others) a STS-9 recording of Dec 4th 1983. 73 Hartmut DL1YDD

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TS2000X vs. 910H ?
by Gordon Bousman 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

I'm just about to get started in working satellites and debating between two rig options: Kenwood TS2000X and the Icom 910H. I already have an HF rig (Icom 756Pro-3) so don't really need the HF features of the TS2000X but otherwise it seems very comparable to the 910H especially when you consider that all the options for the 910H are standard in the TS9000X. Price-wise, they both seem to be in the same ballpark (when you add most options to the 910H). If you were just getting starting out in satellites, which rig would you choose? Thanks, Gordon NW7D

1 0

Any new on new satellites?
by gu6efb 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Hi all I have just been looking at the various Amsat web sites looking for information about upcoming amateur satellites and launch dates. Most of the information I found is quoting satellite completion and lunch dates that have long passed but the satellites are still on the ground.Dose anybody know of any more up to date information they may wish to share with us. I am still supporting my Amsat group here in the UK but news is very scant 73 Keith GU6EFB

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Re: STS-9 W5LFL audio tapes
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

In a message dated 11/30/2008 3:27:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, wb5rmg(a)somenet.net writes: > Does anyone know if any of these tapes are still around ? Perhaps an email to both the ARRL and WA2DHF (Producer) might be worth a try. I can tell you (with regard to Tape #1 Side "A") that W7ID, K0RZ, KQ5D (YL?) and WA1JXN were the first 4 callers with great signals although he only responded to the WA1 station. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- AMSAT #32,574 Sat VUCC #125 **************Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000…)

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ISS ops in the next weeks (9k6)
by Henk, PA3GUO 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Ha ! To my best knowledge the 9k6 mode is new (though std for the D700). Certainly interesting to see the results of this new mode. I assume UNPROTO settings will be the same as for 1k2 APRS (Kenneth, can you confirm ?) Anyway, I will first monitor the downlink, see if the BBS will be on and/or APRS and/or 'plain' packet. Henk, PA3GUO --------------------------------------------------------------------- ---December 1-5--in addition to school contacts and APRS digi operations, we plan to configure the radio system for cross band repeater operations. This will utilize the standard U/V operations in low power mode. ---December 7-12 we will run a test of 9600 baud packet operations on the simplex frequency 145.825 MHz. ---Given that PCSAT should be in full sun starting December 9, December 14-19 we will switch to 1200 baud packet on 145.825 to support double hop opportunities. ---And at times, especially during the weekends, you might see some SSTV operations if the crew is available.

2 1

AO-51 Modes For December
by John Marranca, Jr 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Drew: Is there a possibility that AO-51 can be configured for SSTV mode again? That was tons of fun...and I know there are others that ALSO had fun with it. TNX. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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STS-9 W5LFL audio tapes
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Gary -K8KFJ- said: > A year later in 1984, the ARRL introduced cassette tapes of > those STS contacts for purchase. They were produced by WA2DHF > and titled Amateur Radio in Space - W5LFL Aboard Columbia STS-9. Does anyone know if any of these tapes are still around ? I've heard bits and pieces, but I've always wondered if I ever actually made it through the brief pile-ups and into his audio log ... I know I heard him on several passes and called him back, I was mobile. Seems the first pass or two, it was not that busy - I heard more acks later. Owen lives here in Huntsville (most of the time) and I've met him on several occasions, but never wanted to trouble him with such vanity. Perhaps some transcript or call-sign log was created ... Perhaps the publisher has some copies still for sale ... Sure would be neat if in fact I could find myself in the audio. Those were exciting times, I wish I could better recall . .. . .. . .. Thanks /;^) -- <- WB5RMG is Alan Sieg * http://www.somenet.net ->

1 0

AO51 435.150 in 9k6 telemetry mode
by Henk, PA3GUO 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Just confirming AO51 operational mode (Nov 30 / 18:00 utc) 435.300: FM repeater active (145.920 uplink) 435.150: FM 9k6 telemetry active: !S 18:01:34 !PACB-1>TIME-1:PHT: uptime is 000/18:23:42. Time is Sun Nov 30 18:01:37 2008 73, Henk PA3GUO, The Netherlands http://www.pa3guo.com

1 0

Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 619 SINAD Testing
by Jeff Davis 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Hello The Net: SINAD is nice because the complete path from RF thru IF thru audio demodulation can be tested. Also a cost effective approach, Last SINAD meter I got was about 100$. It is a HELPER Instruments,Inc. model SINADDER LINEAR 5 SINAD measurements require an external signal generator, and variable attenuator. A noise figure meter can usually test the RF path or the RF thru IF path, but NOT to audio. For my HP-8970B, the IF would have to be more than 10 MHz, the low freq end of the machine. NF meters are about 10-20X $$$ the SINAD meter purchase. I use my NF meter in a Y factor mode, which is essentially a signal to noise ratio. SINAD is also a Signal to Noise ratio, with Distortion taken into consideration. (S+N+D)/(N+D). When noise is very low, and distortion is also low, thus a S/N. SINAD was used by Motorola and FM radio testing with a 1000Hz test modulation. Testing can also be used for testing SSB receivers, using a clean carrier with no modulation and tuning the RX for max signal, max S/N, max SINAD reading. Both instruments have their utility. Stan, W1LE Cape Cod, FN41sr > 2. Re: MMIC for LEO preamp? (RFI-EMI-GUY) > > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0

AO-51
by Peter Gibson 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Thank you Drew (KO4MA)for letting us know the time AO-51 was back up and running... Thanks for your hard work Pete G7LJA

1 0

ARISS Commemorative Event--25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Space
by Frank H. Bauer 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

All, Twenty-five years ago this week, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, made history by being the first amateur radio operator to talk to hams from space. Owen's historic flight on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission was launched on November 28 and landed on December 8, 1983. Owen's ham radio adventure on STS-9 ushered in a host of outstanding outreach activities that continue today with the ARISS program. Many will recall that first set of contacts and downlinks with Owen. Those first contacts allowed each of us to share the excitement of space exploration through Owen's first-hand eyewitness accounts. Owen's ham radio legacy enabled space travelers that have flown on the Space Shuttle, the Space Station Mir and now the International Space Station to share their journey of exploration. And Owen's son Richard, W5KWQ just a month ago carried the torch further to become the first 2nd generation amateur rdaio operator to talk to hams from space. What other hobby, except amateur radio, could or would open the communications lines of space travelers beyond that of the space agencies or international heads of state?? To celebrate our 25 years of amateur radio operations from space, the ARISS team has planned a set of special event opportunities during the month of December and part of January. A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the ISS, either 2-way direct (with the ISS crew, the digipeater, or cross band repeater), or 1-way reception of SSTV or voice downlink. Several events will be described here with several "surprises" planned over the month-long celebration. The surprises will be announced once we are prepositioned to accomplish them. Specifically, the following is being planned in the near-term: ---December 1-5--in addition to school contacts and APRS digi operations, we plan to configure the radio system for cross band repeater operations. This will utilize the standard U/V operations in low power mode. ---December 7-12 we will run a test of 9600 baud packet operations on the simplex frequency 145.825 MHz. ---Given that PCSAT should be in full sun starting December 9, December 14-19 we will switch to 1200 baud packet on 145.825 to support double hop opportunities. ---And at times, especially during the weekends, you might see some SSTV operations if the crew is available. We will provide more updates in the near future. We would like to remind everyone that ISS flight requirements related to EVA and vehicle activity may require the radio to be off for some portion of this schedule. And school contacts and general QSO opportunities by the crew will also preempt this schedule for short periods of time. (But remember that if you hear these, you still qualify for a commemorative certificate). In the meantime, enjoy the ARISS ops on ISS! And congratulations to Owen Garriott, W5LFL, on the 25th anniversary of his historic flight!! 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman

3 2

AO-51 repeater off
by Andrew Glasbrenner 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

The repeater on AO-51 will be off for a little while. Meanwhile, the 9600 baud downlink (only) on 435.150 is running at very high power, so it might be a good time to try your 9600 baud receive setups. Please do not attempt any uplinks until the repeater is back on. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NS VP Operations

1 1

Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 619 SINAD Testing
by Stan W1LE 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Hello The Net: SINAD is nice because the complete path from RF thru IF thru audio demodulation can be tested. Also a cost effective approach, Last SINAD meter I got was about 100$. It is a HELPER Instruments,Inc. model SINADDER LINEAR 5 SINAD measurements require an external signal generator, and variable attenuator. A noise figure meter can usually test the RF path or the RF thru IF path, but NOT to audio. For my HP-8970B, the IF would have to be more than 10 MHz, the low freq end of the machine. NF meters are about 10-20X $$$ the SINAD meter purchase. I use my NF meter in a Y factor mode, which is essentially a signal to noise ratio. SINAD is also a Signal to Noise ratio, with Distortion taken into consideration. (S+N+D)/(N+D). When noise is very low, and distortion is also low, thus a S/N. SINAD was used by Motorola and FM radio testing with a 1000Hz test modulation. Testing can also be used for testing SSB receivers, using a clean carrier with no modulation and tuning the RX for max signal, max S/N, max SINAD reading. Both instruments have their utility. Stan, W1LE Cape Cod, FN41sr > 2. Re: MMIC for LEO preamp? (RFI-EMI-GUY) > >

3 2

Ao-51
by Peter Gibson 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

Ref the AO-51 will be off for a little while. Meanwhile, the 9600 baud downlink (only) on 435.150 is running at very high power wish you would put date and time this is taking place PLEASE Peter G7LJA

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Re: ARISS Commemorative Event--25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Sp...
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

In a message dated 11/29/2008 1:27:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, ka3hdo(a)comcast.net writes: > Owen's historic flight on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission was > launched on November 28 and landed on December 8, 1983 A year later in 1984, the ARRL introduced cassette tapes of those STS contacts for purchase. They were produced by WA2DHF and titled Amateur Radio in Space - W5LFL Aboard Columbia STS-9. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- AMSAT #32,574 Sat VUCC #125 **************Life should be easier. So should your homepage. Try the NEW AOL.com. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000…)

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Re: Predict Voice Announcements?
by Paul Williamson 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

>I'm running the 2,21d version for DOS. Sounds like the voice announcements are in the Linux version? That's right. No voice announcements for DOS. There's really no standard way to do it under DOS. The closest thing would be to use the SoundBlaster hardware and hope that something similar is installed. Not nearly as easy or as portable as the sound support under Linux. 73 -Paul kb5mu(a)amsat.org

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ANS-335 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 30 Nov '08

30 Nov '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-335 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: * AO-51 Software Reload in Progress * ARISS Commemorative Event 25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Space * SKN on OSCAR 2009 * GENSO Groundstation Development Opportunity For Students * Call For Articles - Brief Author's Guide to the AMSAT Journal * ARISS Status Report for the Week of November 24, 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.01 AO-51 Software Reload in Progress AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.01 AO-51 was reported as "not heard" starting Wednesday, November 26 by stations around the world. The satellite's ground stations determined that AO-51 required a software reload. AMSAT Vice President of Operations, Drew KO4MA reported, "It looks like we'll be reloading AO-51 for Thanksgiving. Gould WA4SXM started the process this evening, and I expected it'll be Saturday or later before it's back open for general use." Gould, WA4SXM reported on Saturday, November 29, "AO-51 reload was mostly successful and the main V/U repeater became operational on Friday. The SQRX receiver task didn't reload and cause a the crash in the software. We are in the process of reloading the SW and hope to have it operational the first of the week. Thanks to Kevin, WA6FWF for all his work during the Thanksgiving holiday working on the soft- ware upload to AO51." The latest status for AO-51 remains as not operational with a soft- ware reload in progress. Drew, KO4MA said, "Meanwhile, the 9600 baud downlink (only) on 435.150 is running at very high power, so it might be a good time to try your 9600 baud receive setups. Please do not attempt any uplinks until the repeater is back on. Once the satellite is recovered the Operations Team will test to deter- mine the appropriate operating mode." The full AO-51 schedule and Command Team News can be found on-line at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php. The AMSAT main web page will also provide a quick status update when the infor- mation changes. Operating mode requests can be sent via e-mail to ao51-modes(a)amsat.org . [ANS thanks The AO-51 Command Team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.02 ARISS Commemorative Event 25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Space AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.02 AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs and ARISS Inter- national Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO announced, "Twenty-five years ago this week, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, made history by being the first amateur radio operator to talk to hams from space. Owen's historic flight on the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia mission was launched on ovember 28 and landed on December 8, 1983. Owen's ham radio adventure on STS-9 ushered in a host of outstanding out- reach activities that continue today with the ARISS program." Frank continued, "Many will recall that first set of contacts and downlinks with Owen. Those first contacts allowed each of us to share the excitement of space exploration through Owen's first-hand eyewitness accounts. Owen's ham radio legacy enabled space travelers that have flown on the Space Shuttle, the Space Station Mir and now the International Space Station to share their journey of exploration." "Owen's son Richard, W5KWQ just a month ago carried the torch further to become the first 2nd generation amateur rdaio operator to talk to hams from space. What other hobby, except amateur radio, could or would open the communications lines of space travelers beyond that of the space agencies or international heads of state?" To celebrate our 25 years of amateur radio operations from space, the ARISS team has planned a set of special event opportunities during the month of December and part of January. A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the ISS, either 2-way direct (with the ISS crew,the digipeater, or cross band repeater), or 1-way reception of SSTV or voice downlink. Several events will be described here with several "surprises" planned over the month-long celebration. The surprises will be announced once we are prepositioned to accomplish them. Specifically, the following is being planned in the near-term: + December 1-5 - in addition to school contacts and APRS digi operations, we plan to configure the radio system for cross band repeater operations. This will utilize the standard U/V operations in low power mode. + December 7-12 we will run a test of 9600 baud packet operations on the simplex frequency 145.825 MHz. + Given that PCSAT should be in full sun starting December 9, Dec ember 14-19 we will switch to 1200 baud packet on 145.825 to support double hop opportunities. + And at times, especially during the weekends, you might see some SSTV operations if the crew is available. We will provide more updates in the near future. We would like to remind everyone that ISS flight requirements related to EVA and vehicle activity may require the radio to be off for some portion of this schedule. And school contacts and general QSO opportunities by the crew will also preempt this schedule for short periods of time. (But remember that if you hearthese, you still qualify for a commemorative certificate). Frank concluded, "In the meantime, enjoy the ARISS ops on ISS! And congratulations to Owen Garriott, W5LFL, on the 25th anniversary of his historic flight!!" [ANS thanks Frank, KA3HDO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.03 SKN on OSCAR 2009 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.03 Ray Soifer, W2RS this week extended the annual cordial invitation to all radio amateurs worldwide to participate in AMSAT s Straight Key Night (SKN) on OSCAR 2009. Participating in SKN on OSCAR 2009 is easy. No rules, no scoring and no need to send in a log. Just operate CW through any OSCAR between 0000 and 2400 UTC on 1 January 2009, using a straight hand key. In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, all participants are encouraged to nominate someone they worked for "Best Fist." Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked. Please send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of those nominated will appear in ANS and The AMSAT Journal. CU SKN! [ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.04 GENSO Groundstation Development Opportunity For Students AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.04 GENSO Project Software Engineering Mentor, Dave, G4GPZ writing on behalf of the ESA Education Office invites students to apply to take part in the development of the system. The Groundstation Educational Network for Spacecraft Operations (GENSO) is a system is aimed at CubeSat operators and Amateur Sat- ellite users to enable more effective use of the devices by pro- viding better wordwide opportunities for telemetry recovery. More details can be found at http://www.genso.org and http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEMSOC5KXMF_index_0.html The project is being sponsored by member agencies of ISEB. AMSAT-UK is participating in the project by providing equipment recommemdations, setting up reference ground stations, software for predictions and hardware driver. [ANS thanks Dave, G4DPZ and ESA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.05 Call For Articles - Brief Author's Guide to the AMSAT Journal AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.05 You are invited to share your amateur radio in space ideas and experiences with fellow satellite operators. The AMSAT Journal, a bi-monthly publication of AMSAT-North America, brings you the latest information in satellite mission planning, satellite- related hardware design and construction, satellite-related soft- ware design and implementation, and amateur radio earth station construction. There are plenty of opportunities for you to share your ideas and experience across all levels. Did you homebrew a successful antenna? Which setup did you use for your first satellite con- tacts? A brief write-up and photos are appreciated by everyone! Do you have ideas about future amateur radio space missions? Can you describe unique aspects of a particular orbit and the equip- ment needed to make it work? Simply type out your ideas on your computer and send them in. Let the AMSAT Journal editorial team do the clean up and formatting for you. Its easy to send your article to the AMSAT Journal e-mail box via journal(a)amsat.org. There is no need to do any special formatting on your submission because the final layout format is driven by the magazine's typesetting software. All you need to include is: + Your text in MS-Word or plain text format + Graphics saved in separate files (jpg, gif, tiff) (Actually, an MS-Word file with embedded graphics is the most diffi- cult format to typeset.) If you have any questions, or need some help feel free to contact the editors at the AMSAT Journal at journal(a)amsat.org. One of us will get back to you as soon as we can. To assist with your planning the submission deadline for articles is the 15th of each odd numbered month. Ed Long, WA4SWJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Lilley, N3TL Assistant Editor Bill Hook, W3QBC Assistant Editor JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM Assistant Editor [ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-335.06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of November 24, 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 335.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 30, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-335.06 1. Upcoming School Contacts The Wairarapa Home School Association in Carterton, Wairarapa, New Zealand had an ARISS contact on Wednesday, November 26 via telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. Students learned about space exploration and the International Space Station to prepare for the contact. Age appropriate studies, exercises, and activ- ities have been undertaken by all those who will be involved in the event which will include some of the parents. An ARISS contact has been scheduled with St. Anthony's College in Shillong, India on Monday, December 1 at 08:04 UTC. Telebridge station WH6PN will facilitate the contact. An ARISS contact has been approved for Alexandroupolis School of Special Education and 11th Alexandroupolis Primary School in Alex- androupolis, Greece. The contact will take place on Monday, December 1. Astronomy and amateur radio lectures have been given in preparation for the event. Special attention has been given to the role of humanity and science and to the every day life of an astronaut. The ISS courses have been based on ESA's education tool "ISS Education Kit." Quispamsis Elementary and Middle Schools in Quispamsis, New Bruns- wick, Canada have been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Thursday, December 4 at 18:02 UTC. Math, Social Studies, and Literacy Skills have been emphasized through the participation of students in this project. Subjects of amateur radio, space, satellites and the ISS have been integrated into the science curriculum. Quispamsis Ele- mentary School (QES) and the Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club (LCARC) have participated in AMSAT-Echo-51 Satellite contacts for the past two years. The Quispamsis Middle School has an enrichment program. Two years of students who participated in the satellite contacts at QES are also involved with this program. The amateur radio instal- lation has been used to complement the enrichment program, and to demonstrate amateur radio to girl guides and scout troops. Children have created posters for placement in the school to publicize the event and local and national media coverage is anticipated. 2. First ARISS School Contact in New Zealand Successful The first ARISS contact with a school in New Zealand took place on Thursday, November 20. Students from St. Teresa's School in Wairarapa connected with the ISS via the telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia. Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT answered all questions from the 21 students as an audience of 130 watched. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers and received 7 connections from stations in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US There was extensive media coverage which included TVNZ, The Dominion Post, The Wellington Daily News and The Wairarapa Times Age. The con- tact was first reported on the late news on TV One at 10.30 pm on Thursday evening. It was repeated on 4 different occasions during the Early Morning and Midday news on TV One and a 3-4 minute slot was given in the Friday 6 pm evening news. The New Zealand Education Gazette editor also asked for details regarding the contact, as it is being written up for the December issue. The Dominion Post article has been posted on-line. See: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4767581a6479.html To view The Wairarapa Times Age story, go to: http://www.times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3790845&thesec tion=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection= TVNZ One News coverage may be found here: http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/2324497 3. ARISS Celebrates International Education Week Students from Poolesville, Maryland, Raleigh, North Carolina and Quito, Ecuador participated in a joint ARISS contact on Friday, November 14 as part of International Education Week (IEW). The students, as well as family members and other guests, reconvened on Tuesday, November 18. Poolesville High School students visited the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. where approximately 150 students participated, and the North Carolina and Ecuador schools tied in via videoconference for another IEW session. Former astronaut Don Thomas gave a presentation on International Exploration, from the past to the present, and ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer gave an overview of amateur radio and the ARISS contact using video of the students from the contact event. They joined GSFC Earth Observation expert Robert Cahalan in the expert panel session. Amateur radio operators from Hawaii, Italy, China, England, Spain, and Canada participated through a teleconference, giving talks about amateur radio and the culture of their countries. Students participated in the sessions and asked questions in English, but also in foreign languages such as Spanish and German. 4. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The monthly ARISS International Team teleconference was held on Tuesday, November 18. Agenda items discussed included the next ARISS face to face meeting, SuitSat-2 status and on-orbit hardware. The minutes have been posted to the ARISS Web site. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2008-11-18.htm [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. With that please keep in mind that the preferred brand of coffee served aboard the Titanic was Sanka, of course. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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For Sale Icom IC-820H (Sold)
by Michael Tondee 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

The rig and preamp are now sold. Thank everyone for your interest and for the banwidth to allow me to get this done. 73, Michael, W4HIJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Tondee" <mat_62(a)netcommander.com> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 9:47 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] For Sale Icom IC-820H > Hi everyone, the preamp in now sold and I'm awaiting an answer from > someone on the rig. I will let everyone know the status ASAP. > Thank you, > Michael > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Michael Tondee > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 3:52 PM > Subject: For Sale Icom IC-820H, IC-AG35 70 cm preamp > > > I have a nearly perfect Icom IC 820-H for sale. Comes with hand mic and > manual. I do not have the original box. I would say this rig is an 8 out > of 10. It's in great shape and the only reason I don't rate it 9 out of 10 > is that a previous owner switched out the N connector on the 70cm side for > an SO-239. I bought it used a little less than a year ago from a > gentleman on this list and now I've decided to go to an all in one HF and > satellite radio. I'm asking $450.00 for the radio. This includes shipping > anywhere in the lower 48 states. > I also have an Icom AG-35 70 cm receive preamp for sale. I am asking > 125.00 for it. This also includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48 > states. If someone would like the radio and preamp both I will sell them > together shipped for $560.00 Paypal only please. Contact me off list if > interested. I will be glad to provide pictures to any serious inquiries if > needed. > Tnx and 73, > Michael, W4HIJ > _______________________________________________ > 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.169 / Virus Database: 270.9.11/1818 - Release Date: 11/28/2008 7:31 PM

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AO-16 is back!
by Sebastian 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

Mark, N8MH, just commanded AO-16 back on again, and it's little rest appears to have made the bird a lot stronger for me. He said it's probably on it's last legs, so if you want to be some of the last to say goodbye on it, this might be the time. 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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Resale value of FT-847s
by Edward Cole 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

HI, I am considering a radio change and wonder what price on a used FT-847 is going for? The radio is non-smoking, good condition but not mint appearance, fully operational, has been modified for separate Rx antennas for 2m and 70cm using sma connectors (see my website). I am considering the Elecraft K3 with dual Rx and would have to trade-up. Only speculating at this point and the radio is NOT for sale at this time. *********************************************************** 73, Ed - KL7UW BP40iq, 6m - 3cm 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xp20, 185w 1296-EME: DEMI-Xvtr, 0.30 dBNF, 4.9m dish, 60W http://www.kl7uw.com AK VHF-Up Group NA Rep. for DUBUS: dubususa(a)hotmail.com ***********************************************************

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Re: MMIC for LEO preamp?
by RFI-EMI-GUY 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

I can't see any reason you couldn't perform the SINAD on an AM receiver and probably SSB as well. The point being that when tuning a preamplifier for the best SINAD are you not accomplishing the same goal as in using a noise source? Edward Cole wrote: > > Joe, > > I believe that SINAD applies to sensitivity measurements on FM, only. > At least that is the only application I have done. SINAD does a good > job of determining MDS fo a receiver, so in fact determines by reverse > calculations what the Noise Figure would be. When you measure NF, > that can be converted to noise temperature that can be used to > determine MDS in dBm, so they are interelated. > > I think that one could use FM SINAD to charaterize the system > sensitivity and allow one to work calculations to obtain NF. > > my opinion. > > 73, Ed - KL7UW > > At 11:04 AM 11/28/2008, you wrote: >> I have always wondered why so much discussion around noise figure >> ignores the application of a SINAD meter in tuning receiver system >> preamplifiers? Does not the SINAD meter accomplish the same goal without >> having to disable AGC etc? >> >> -- >> Joe Leikhim K4SAT >> "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© >> >> "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? >> For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." >> >> "Follow The Money" ;-P >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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For Sale Icom IC-820H
by Michael Tondee 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

Hi everyone, the preamp in now sold and I'm awaiting an answer from someone on the rig. I will let everyone know the status ASAP. Thank you, Michael ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Tondee To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 3:52 PM Subject: For Sale Icom IC-820H, IC-AG35 70 cm preamp I have a nearly perfect Icom IC 820-H for sale. Comes with hand mic and manual. I do not have the original box. I would say this rig is an 8 out of 10. It's in great shape and the only reason I don't rate it 9 out of 10 is that a previous owner switched out the N connector on the 70cm side for an SO-239. I bought it used a little less than a year ago from a gentleman on this list and now I've decided to go to an all in one HF and satellite radio. I'm asking $450.00 for the radio. This includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48 states. I also have an Icom AG-35 70 cm receive preamp for sale. I am asking 125.00 for it. This also includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48 states. If someone would like the radio and preamp both I will sell them together shipped for $560.00 Paypal only please. Contact me off list if interested. I will be glad to provide pictures to any serious inquiries if needed. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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AO 51 L/U not heard
by Lino IK1SOW 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

AO-51 not heard in L/U mode on orbit 23216, V/U was ok Lino, IK1SOW

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Determining orbit number
by Bryan Green 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

Greetings, all: How do you determine the orbit number of a satellite, and what are the conventions to determining when the orbit number changes? Thanks in advance for the information. -- bag KL7CN/W6 CM98fn

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Re: MMIC for LEO preamp?
by RFI-EMI-GUY 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

I have always wondered why so much discussion around noise figure ignores the application of a SINAD meter in tuning receiver system preamplifiers? Does not the SINAD meter accomplish the same goal without having to disable AGC etc? -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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Re: I8CVS
by Edward Cole 29 Nov '08

29 Nov '08

Yes, I can count on Domenico to correct my math whenever I chose to atempt technical subjects. Obviously an intellegent an educated gentleman. 73, Ed - KL7UW At 02:08 PM 11/28/2008, w7lrd(a)comcast.net wrote: >ditto - in fact at times I have to get out some of my books to >follow him. Rocket science is not easy to learn. >73 Bob W7LRD > >-- >"if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > >-------------- Original message -------------- >From: WILLIAMS MICHAEL <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net> > > > I am just amazed. > > > > It seems like every time Domenico (I8CVS) gets on this BB and > makes a post, I am > > printing a hard copy of what he has to say or printing the link > he refers me to. > > This is followed by a ritual of punching holes and putting this valuable > > information into a binder for reference. > > > > I just wanted to let you know that somebody out here is using > your information. > > > > Thank you Domenico! > > > > Mike (K9QHO) > > AMSAT 33589 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Small tower
by D. Mynatt 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Anyone in Colorado have a 18-25 ft self-supporting tower for sale? Looking to mount 2m and 70cm M-Squared antennas. Dave // KA0SWT

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Re: I8CVS
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

ditto - in fact at times I have to get out some of my books to follow him. Rocket science is not easy to learn. 73 Bob W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: WILLIAMS MICHAEL <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net> > I am just amazed. > > It seems like every time Domenico (I8CVS) gets on this BB and makes a post, I am > printing a hard copy of what he has to say or printing the link he refers me to. > This is followed by a ritual of punching holes and putting this valuable > information into a binder for reference. > > I just wanted to let you know that somebody out here is using your information. > > Thank you Domenico! > > Mike (K9QHO) > AMSAT 33589 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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SO-50 eludes me: followup from the originator
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

THANK YOU ALL for the assistance, guidance, and suggestions/support. I literally had dozens of email responses, and I want to again highlight how helpful the AMSAT community (and this reflector) are for us newbies. It's this Elmer-ing and help that makes me proud to belong to this hobby. FB, OM's and YL's! 73 Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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Mode S thru roof?
by Peter Sils 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

I am finally getting around to mounting some antenna's in the attic and was wondering if I should set up my ADIC 3731 with corner antenna? The roof does not have any insulation and as far as I can see only asphalt type roofing shingles over wood. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! 73 Peter KD0AA

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I8CVS
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

I am just amazed. It seems like every time Domenico (I8CVS) gets on this BB and makes a post, I am printing a hard copy of what he has to say or printing the link he refers me to. This is followed by a ritual of punching holes and putting this valuable information into a binder for reference. I just wanted to let you know that somebody out here is using your information. Thank you Domenico! Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT 33589

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 618
by Bill Dzurilla 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Sebastian, I do not understand why requiring 2 different tones lessens QRM. If the transponder is set to turn off after 10 minutes, why can't the regular 67 hz tone be the trigger to turn on? Is it that bootleggers aren't smart enough to send two different tones? 73, Bill NZ5N > > I hope no one changes the tone requirement on SO-50. If > you listen to > AO-51 passes over the USA and compare it to an SO-50 pass > you will > know why - lack of QRM (as well as lack of users - but > that's the same > on most birds anyway). > > SO-50 is similar to working simplex terrestrially, except > that you > hear your downlink. There is no constant carrier as in the > other FM > birds as you mentioned. That does make it more difficult > to tune, > however (and again, not knowing the history of this bird), > I'm sure it > conserves battery power and transmitter life. I will take > a guess and > say that the 'turn on' code actually turns on the > primary receiver, > which again would conserve it's life. > *************

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For Sale Icom IC-820H, IC-AG35 70 cm preamp
by Michael Tondee 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

I have a nearly perfect Icom IC 820-H for sale. Comes with hand mic and manual. I do not have the original box. I would say this rig is an 8 out of 10. It's in great shape and the only reason I don't rate it 9 out of 10 is that a previous owner switched out the N connector on the 70cm side for an SO-239. I bought it used a little less than a year ago from a gentleman on this list and now I've decided to go to an all in one HF and satellite radio. I'm asking $450.00 for the radio. This includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48 states. I also have an Icom AG-35 70 cm receive preamp for sale. I am asking 125.00 for it. This also includes shipping anywhere in the lower 48 states. If someone would like the radio and preamp both I will sell them together shipped for $560.00 Paypal only please. Contact me off list if interested. I will be glad to provide pictures to any serious inquiries if needed. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

2 1

Re: LVB Tracker
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Renzo, I'm using an old Gateway 333 Mhz computer that runs Windows 98. SatPC32 runs LVB tracker-rotor and tunes the FT-847 for Doppler correction. 73, Mike Message: 10 Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:07:41 +0700 From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Fw: Re: LVB tracker To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <004901c9516b$177824b0$36c4517c@YD1EEE12> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" ----- Original Message ----- From: <i6kzr(a)i6kzr.it> To: "Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 4:56 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > Hi Mike, > Which program are you using with LVB tracker? > > I at the moment use Predict for Linux. > > Thanks, I6KZR Renzo > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> > To: <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:09 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > > > > hi Mike > > > > > > thanks for the response, I want to try LVB tracker, just for now i have > > KR-400 and KOPEAK rotator > > > > 73 de YF0EEE > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "WILLIAMS MICHAEL" <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net> > > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:16 AM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > > > > > > Sir: > > > > I modified an old Wilson WR-500 rotor (azimuth) to work with the LVB > > tracker. > > > > I believe any rotor could be homebrewed to work. > > > > GL > > > > Mike (K9QHO) > > > > AMSAT 33589 > > > > Message: 5 > > Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:25:51 +0700 > > From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB tracker > > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Message-ID: <00c601c95061$69f34450$1c3d3a72@YD1EEE12> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > > Hi everyone > > > > any body use LVB tracker use KR-500 and KR-400 rotator, > > how about a performance and accuracy for elevasi and azimuth ? > > > > > > 73 de YF0EEE > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > >

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Re: SO-50 eludes me
by Bill Dzurilla 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Unless you are working full duplex and you can hear your own downlink, you will not hear a peep on SO-50 unless someone answers you. This is because, unlike the other FM birds, SO-50 does not transmit a carrier unless something is being transmitted. I assume this is done to save battery power. Try a weekend afternoon pass, when there usually are at least a couple of stations on. I do not know for the life of me why they require the 74.4 hz tone to turn on the transpoder. They could use the normal 67 hz tone for triggering. I'm sure this is one reason why this bird is underused. Do we have any contacts with the support team to suggest a change? This sat is not as strong as AO-51 but I've worked it many times with just an HT and an Arrow antenna. But it can be frustrating without full duplex. You send the 74.4 hz burst and, since you don't hear a carrier, you don't know if you have failed to turn on the transponder or if you have and just no one else is around. I wish something could be done to increase activity on SO-50. 73, Bill NZ5N ********************************* > I have worked every bird several times: AO7, AO16, AO27, AO51, FO29, VO52. > > But I have never worked SO50. Tonight I had a pass DIRECTLY overhead. I > tried the standard initiation call with 74.4 CTCSS, and then calling with 67 > Hz. Never heard a thing. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard SO50. > > I triple-checked the Doppler, turned down the squelch, turned up the RF > gain. Not a peep. Even with only my Arrow yagi fixed at 30 degrees EL, I > should have heard something. All I heard was the rush of static. I know > this bird is lower orbit and smaller power out, but I should hear something, > right? >

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Re: How to Say Thanks?
by Clint Bradford 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

>>...How does one say "Thanks" to such great volunteers? Let me count the ways... -One can sign up for the AMSAT President's Club. Or if you're already there, bump yourself up to the next level. -A painless manner to support: Add a simple paragraph to your Will, bequeathing monies to AMSAT. Martha has the exact wording necessary. -Volunteer to demo working a bird at a ham meeting. Have little biz cards available with "links" to AMSAT and other satellite info sites. VistaPrint is great for this - 500 cards free, just pay postage. -Look at the AMSAT Area Coordinator list, and ask your nearby AC to come to your club to speak. We LOVE to speak at clubs. All we usually charge is a cup of coffee or a doughnut (grin). -Promote AMSAT whenever you can. Add it to your QSL card. Add AMSAT.ORG to your signature file, in appropriate forums. ANYthing to promote the name and this wonderful aspect of our hobby! -AMSAT clothing (hats, shirts) are available online at the AMSAT-NA store. And as an AMSAT member, you get a little discount on some of the items. Wear AMSAT-logo clothing with pride! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 -------------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 - cell

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Fw: Re: LVB tracker
by Dirgantara R YF0EEE 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

----- Original Message ----- From: <i6kzr(a)i6kzr.it> To: "Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 4:56 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > Hi Mike, > Which program are you using with LVB tracker? > > I at the moment use Predict for Linux. > > Thanks, I6KZR Renzo > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> > To: <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:09 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > > > > hi Mike > > > > > > thanks for the response, I want to try LVB tracker, just for now i have > > KR-400 and KOPEAK rotator > > > > 73 de YF0EEE > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "WILLIAMS MICHAEL" <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net> > > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:16 AM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LVB tracker > > > > > > Sir: > > > > I modified an old Wilson WR-500 rotor (azimuth) to work with the LVB > > tracker. > > > > I believe any rotor could be homebrewed to work. > > > > GL > > > > Mike (K9QHO) > > > > AMSAT 33589 > > > > Message: 5 > > Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:25:51 +0700 > > From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB tracker > > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Message-ID: <00c601c95061$69f34450$1c3d3a72@YD1EEE12> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > > Hi everyone > > > > any body use LVB tracker use KR-500 and KR-400 rotator, > > how about a performance and accuracy for elevasi and azimuth ? > > > > > > 73 de YF0EEE > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > >

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AO-51 reload
by Andrew Glasbrenner 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

It looks like we'll be reloading AO-51 for Thanksgiving. Gould started the process this evening, and I expected it'll be Saturday or later before it's back open for general use. 73, Drew KO4MA

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SO 50
by Jim Danehy 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

from day 1 I have enjoyed SO 50 . . . . never a problem for me . . . a few locals here in my area complain about it being a difficult bird . . . . for me it is good from horizon to horizon . . . while not populated like AO 51 (thank you) it has good use from my perspective . . . I use an Icom 910H and I always switch on the AFC which locks in on the received signal and tracks it . . . so if there is a slightly different frequency from the one that has been announced I would never know it . . .

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SO-50 eludes me
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

I have worked every bird several times: AO7, AO16, AO27, AO51, FO29, VO52. But I have never worked SO50. Tonight I had a pass DIRECTLY overhead. I tried the standard initiation call with 74.4 CTCSS, and then calling with 67 Hz. Never heard a thing. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard SO50. I triple-checked the Doppler, turned down the squelch, turned up the RF gain. Not a peep. Even with only my Arrow yagi fixed at 30 degrees EL, I should have heard something. All I heard was the rush of static. I know this bird is lower orbit and smaller power out, but I should hear something, right? Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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Re: SO-50 eludes me
by John Marranca, Jr 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Good Morning, all... Also, it's worth mentioning that AT TIMES, it seems as though the downlink frequency is off...by as much as 5 KC. Anyone else notice that...or am I going crazy? John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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... and they said it couldn't be done.
by John Hackett 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

It's amazing what a bit of inginuity (and downright tenatiousness ......GM1SXX) can do. That and a bit of help from my friend Percy ... (perseverance). When I *RIPPED* down the aerials due to the newly inposed restriction. I thought my Anne Logue satellite days were over. Never having being 'excited' by single QSO FM (on a satellite) I thought "that's yer lot" John matey. However ... hearing such rot!!! regarding the power to work AO-7 (mostly from the American side, I might add, something I believe is entirely due to Amsat's FM policy) I decided to see just what 'could' be done. Having what is now IMHO a worst possible case scenario, that is, 22 year old rigs (no CAT interface for doppler tuning), a ground floor flat without access to loft space, total aerial restrictions outside, surrounded by mountains on 3 sides and a maximum output power of 5 watts on CW. I still managed to contact F6 something-or-other this morning. Presumably, my uplink on AO-7 mode-B was readable to those whom actually have a receiving aerial because two stations answered my CQ. The 7 element Arrow giving me a giant EIRP of about 40 watts ... however, my downlink signal, just 3 elements on 2m, indoors !!! definately left a *LOT* to be desired. I could hear myself - but then, I 'knew' I was there. Two stations did answer but since they both answered at the same time (err ... I forgot, what did you say full duplex meant?). I ask because they 'both' continued to reply to La2qaa/QRP ... the only thing I managed to copy was de F6 some-thing-or-other ... when I sent an interogatory (QRZ) they both disappeared. I waited a while to see if either of them would try again but they didn't. As I have mentioned so many times before, you really *DON'T* need 10 elements and an 'effing' *BIG* BRICK to work AO-7 - (or any other of the LEO's for that matter). I do apologise for the rather offbeat keying, my keyer is made from 2 x back-to-back computer microswitches taped to the palm of my hand ... BECAUSE I WAS WAVING THE AERIAL ABOUT WITH THE OTHER HAND ... of course. For bthe affluent on the other side of the pond this weekend, enjoy yout turkey. For the 'moderately' affluent, enjoy your chicken - for the remaining ... enjoy you egg. Happy Thanksgiving. Relax !!!, the Europeans ... the geese are still getting fat. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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Birds Never Worked
by John Marranca, Jr 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

WD4ELG said: "I have worked every bird several times: AO7, AO16, AO27, AO51, FO29, VO52." I've never been able to get anywhere with GO-32. THAT satellite is the "one that got away" for me. I have had passes that were near vertical to me...and I've never done it. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: soundcard modems for pactorIII
by Oscar Diez 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

George Henry wrote: > Perhaps you are unaware that, even after you purchase an SCS Pactor modem, you must purchase a license to use the Pactor III protocol... and trying to circumvent the licensing requirement is probably illegal just about anywhere in the world, not just in the U.S. > > You *have* heard of intellectual property rights, haven't you? Yes, sure we have! But in this very particular case the owner of these rights can only enforce them in those countries where they have got granted patents and they are still active/maintained (periodic fees paid to local patent offices). I am not aware of the list of countries in which they filed their PACTOR III related patents, but since SCS is a relatively small company I would guess they only cover the most important countries, where possible competition could pop-up or where most of the users would be located: e.g. USA & Europe and eventually for strategic reasons Japan, China and very selectively a few more (= cost, cost, cost)... It should be therefore easy for one of those very talented Russian or Ukranian programmers to write a software PACTOR III modem variant and publish it on a Russian web-server to make it publicly available and this even fully legal in case there is no patent granted in Russia (which I think is quite unlikely that it was filed there) Then only the people downloading it in the States or Europe (or other patented countries) for instance and starting to use it are infringing the patents (not the programmer/distributor in this case) and SCS could theoretically sue them. (but would become extremely complicated to manage in real life due to various factors) Actually it would be a very similar story to some of the MP3-Encoders floating around on internet - infringing some German Fraunhofer Institute audio compression patents in many countries. Sorry for this off-topic posting, but I could not leave the bold IP rights statement of George uncommented, hi ! Oscar, DJ0MY

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Re: LVB tracker
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 28 Nov '08

28 Nov '08

Sir: I modified an old Wilson WR-500 rotor (azimuth) to work with the LVB tracker. I believe any rotor could be homebrewed to work. GL Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT 33589 Message: 5 Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:25:51 +0700 From: " Dirgantara R YF0EEE" <enggi1401(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB tracker To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <00c601c95061$69f34450$1c3d3a72@YD1EEE12> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi everyone any body use LVB tracker use KR-500 and KR-400 rotator, how about a performance and accuracy for elevasi and azimuth ? 73 de YF0EEE

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Receiveing satellites beacon with soundcard!
by nader omer 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

HI Many friends ask about my setup for receiving satellites TLM by soundcard AWGPE and UISS software's at speed of 9600 bps. I think most of the data at 9600 bps ruin or not reach the sound card if you use interface with audio isolation transformer (1:1) or interface with Optical isolation IC as in most of the ready made brand interfaces! (still I'm testing this hypothesis with homemade interface and commercial brand interfaces ). Actually you do not need interface at all to receive TLM data! Just take the (sound!) (data) from the your Rig data socket (Make sure it's pin for 9600) and feed it direct to the soundcard mike input. Configure the AGWPE to work at 9k6 bps. (If you face any problem delete the ini file and start again) Make sure your Rig at 9600 bps rate. AWGPE do all the show behind screen. If your rig has AFC put it on. If you have a simple soundcard keying circuit, key your Rig and listen to your transmission at 9600 your will hear dumb soft sound .Compare that to 1200 with other setup to AWGPE to see if AWGPE works ok at 9600 speed .you need other radio to listen. You can make several copy of the AWGPE each with deferent setup for baud speed. I'm using none pro edition of awgpe . Make many copies on the desktop and play with them. Avoid using the same AWGPE to set many com and on air baud rate on the same copy. I have here 4 copies one for 1200 bps one for 9k6 bps other for TNC . I'm using IC-910 with AFC that help to correct Doppler and did a great job for receiving Data. OS is XP .CPU 500.soundcard from Creative. Antenna Homebrew 12 EL UHF Yagi vertical polarization with PRE-AMP I wish if WISP and EchoTLM softwares work under AWGPE !! more info at my webside link http://www.st2nh.com/satellites 73 de Nader st2nh www.st2nh.com

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W9VNE input on transceiver question
by Jim Danehy 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

I was in a similar situation several months ago. I had a pair of M Square antennas along with the elevation rotor and a Ham M to turn the antennas. What to do for a rig. Well I bought a brand new Icom 910H. A great rig. I use SatPC32 software which interfaces to the Icom via Icom's interface accessory (plug and play). You forget about your doppler shift once set up. I still control antennas manually with both rotors. The Icom 910H is a top of the line satellite transceiver. The only thing I would improve on it would be the RIT control. It only offers a 1 khz range but that is no big deal. It sounds like you are going to setup for the SSB satellites. They can become very lonely. AO7 is used but by a handful of USA stations (you will not work Europe from CO. It suffers from some stations using excessive power and generating trash up and down the band too. FO 29 and VO 52 (both SSB/CW) also have a handful of operators. No hashy trash because they are newer birds. AO7 is 34 years old and easy to trash it with hash if you use excessive power. If you live on the East Coast of the USA you could work Europe. QRZ.COM shows your location is in Colorado. Forget about working Europe. The FM satellites are very popular with AO 51 being the most popular. It suffers too from some poor operating at times. Most of the time it is OK. That early evening pass can be bedlam. SO 50 is useful but not used very often enough. It works well in my opinion. AO 16 is interesting but will be off the air very soon. The reason I mention all of the above is because it impacts your selection of a rig. If you want to work a lot of grid squares which many of us do, the FM satellites are where the action is located. You do not need an Icom 910H and the money it represents to work the FM satellites well. You can do that with a HT (hand held). There are other dual band 440/144 FM rigs available for a fraction of the cost of an Icom 910H. The Kenwood TS2000 is a good rig but it has a birdie on SO 50's downlink making it impossible to use that FM satellite. There is a big difference, in my opinion between the FM and SSB/CW satellites. FM being used to its capacity on AO 51 and the SSB/CW birds suffering from inactivity. Just a fact of life. Some may disagree with these observations. I was on the satellites back in the 1970s and came back in August 2008. I have made QSOs with 15 countries and 200 Grids and 45 states in that time. I think my intense 3 months of operating provides me with enough observations to make these statements. I am often asked why not more activity on non-FM satellites. My answer has always been : 1) Doppler shift and 2) equipment. Unless you have software to manage the doppler shift on 435 mhz your signal will travel quickly across the band. Some experienced ops can do it manually but they are pros. Equipment for SSB/CW is relatively (emphasis) scarce compared to FM only rigs. You do not need software to control Doppler shift on FM. . . . you can control it in other ways. To choose a transceiver depends on how you want to spend your time. If you are preparing for the HEO (German venture) then go with the Icom 910H type rig. If you just want to get on the satellites for the satellite experience you may find an FM only rig is more suited for you. Of course since you are not currently on the satellites ( my inference ) you would not have the benefit of personal knowledge. I hope my observations are helpful. Selection of the gear depends on how you are going to use it. If you do not know that there are really two different roads to currently travel you could be wasting your money. Just my 2 cents and probably not worth even that amount of money.

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AO-51 mode L/U
by almetco＠comcast.net 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

I heard a few passes of AO-51 in L/U mode. Most stations came in strong. I tried to get into the bird using about 8 watts out into a 23cm horizontal yagi on an elevation rotor. It was to no avail, though the bird was at 50 degree's and higher. I am working on a CP antenna for mode L. Can those that worked this mode give me an idea of wattage, EIRP or antenna for Mode L that you are using. I was sure 7-10 watts would do from the Icom 910. However, it may have been the yagi and the lack of CP. Thanks Greg N3MVF

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whole pass AO-51 tlm RX
by nader omer 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

Hi all A whole pass of AO-51 TLM RX at KK65GP ORBIT # 23,195 16:24 16:38 UTC signal was very strong from AOS to LOS using here only a soundcard with AWGPE and UISS! link to data RX in a text format http://www.st2nh.com/AO-51TLM27112008.zip http://www.st2nh.com/satellites 73 Nader ,st2nh www.st2nh.com

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[Fwd: Re: AMSAT Orbit Magazines 1-4]
by Dee 27 Nov '08

27 Nov '08

All involved... Thanks for the run down memory lane. I recognized most of you but I would be torn to recognize some. The organization needs to remember its "roots!' 73, Dee, NB2F -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Orbit Magazines 1-4 Date: Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:35:08 -0800 (PST) From: Glen Zook <gzook(a)yahoo.com> Reply-To: gzook(a)yahoo.com To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org, "Ralph Wallio, W0RPK" <W0RPK(a)netins.net>, "Phil Karn Jr, KA9Q" <karn(a)ka9q.net> Are you interested in the original bulletins? "Somewhere" I should have all of the original bulletins except for the very first. I have been a member of AMSAT since the first couple of months of its formation and, being a "pack rat", I keep things like organization bulletins. It is just a matter of locating them! If I can find them, I can loan them to you for scanning. Of course I would like them back when you are through. Glen, K9STH AMSAT 239/LM 463 Website: http://k9sth.com --- On Thu, 11/27/08, Phil Karn Jr, KA9Q <karn(a)ka9q.net> wrote: From: Phil Karn Jr, KA9Q <karn(a)ka9q.net> Thanks to Ralph, W0RPK, the first four issues of AMSAT Orbit magazine are scanned and online. ORBIT began publication shortly before the ill-fated Phase III-A launch in 1980. http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html _______________________________________________ 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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