- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: trip east
by Bob Bruninga 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

> I will again make my annual migration from > the SJV in California to... Minnesota. > The 24th of March... other's can make > requests for needed grids or States. Will your mobile be on APRS? If so, everyone could see where you are all along the way using this link : http://map.findu.com/w6gmt A great tool for rovers... You can even use APRS to post waypoints and times. This way others can see in advance when you will be where... Just a tip... Bob, Wb4APR

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again wanted 1 data sat, with pics nice
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Folks,ref: Now that the D700 has been tested for 5+ days in Cross >> Band repater, its time to find a laptop and start >> running some Slow Scan TV from ISS again. >> this is what we need, really send us some pics via iss,data format, get it with it amsat. 1 data sat please. :-) kc8gkf p.s. wish list lets see its year 2008!

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SAT contacts and eQSL
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Question for discussion. Many SAT users use eQSL for confirming their contacts. LOTW does a better job as it tracks both transmit and receive for SAT contacts. Unless I am missing something with eQSL only one band is listed even though that does not accurately explain SAT contacts. Some users list their receive band as the contact band. If you are going to choose one should it not be the transmit band? Perhaps this is like the universal perplexing argument about which way is correct in setting up the toilet paper roll.at least in eQSL's case for SAT contacts. Jay, AA4FL, reply to jgarlitz(a)ufl.edu

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GO-32
by Andrew Rich 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

GO32 just went over and it was tx continuously Normally it has a breather in between

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Fw: [Mw] STS-122 S-Band signal heard
by w8iss＠wideopenwest.com 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Just of interest. James W8ISS ===== ---------- Forwarded Message ----------- From: "Loren Moline WA7SKT" <lmoline(a)hotmail.com> To: <microwave(a)echo.valinet.com> Sent: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 21:33:55 -0800 Subject: [Mw] STS-122 S-Band signal heard Tonight I ran my tracking program and showed Atlantis was going to make a direct overhead pass. I noted the time and went out to shack and listened. Just as predicted I heard the fast doppler on the main carrier at 2217.5MHz and followed it lower in frequency as it passed away from my location. I am only using a so so preamp at antenna with 10db gain and a 3 1/2 turn helix. Coax comes to shack to a mixer and mixer to receiver with no post mixer amp. LO is a 2GHz generated from a 1GHz PLO locked to a 10MHz standard and a doubler. I am not yet setup for serious spectrum display but saw the signal drift thru the display for my 10.7MHz SoftRock hooked to my IC-R7000 receiver. This is the first time I have ever heard any signals from the shuttle. Loren WA7SKT _______________________________________________ Microwave mailing list microwave(a)lists.valinet.com http://www.valinet.com/mailman/listinfo/microwave ------- End of Forwarded Message -------

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Kansas City Tracker Tuner FS at Orlando Hamfest
by RFI-EMI-GUY 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Sorry for this late post: Last weekend I had to replace the mother board in my PC due to the leaky capacitor manifestation and WIN98 instability. Since a WIN XP upgrade was received for Christmas, I had to move to a stable platform for an upgrade. As a result, I no longer have an ISA slot in my primary computer. So I will soon be looking at a serial/USB means of rotor control. I am offering the KCT/T (with SW/Docs) on the AMSAT-BB. To make the board obsolescence proof for the next ham, I am including my old EPOX PCI/ISA MOBO (which needs two capacitors replaced), ATHLON 2100XP processor and 512MB RAM and additionally I am providing an ABIT PCI/ISA MOBO with a DURON 1005 MHz processor (+ perhaps some memory?). The ABIT board was personally recapped by me with good parts, but remains untested. I am looking for about $165 (what I paid) for the KCT/T the rest is free. *If you are at the hamfest and want to inspect, give me a call at 407-982-0446 or try to call me on 446.000 simplex.* -- 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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Hamsat (vo-52)
by Thomas McGrane 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Greetings from n2oeq Hope to see more people using the indian hamsat satellite. It is very easy to hear with 2 meter all-mode and no preamp. It would be good practice for future HEO's. Over the past 3 years I have purchased used all mode gear and built antennas for VHF and UHF anticipating use on P3E and eagle. Total use seems to be limited to very few people. Hope to talk to you on VO-52 soon. Lots of room for a qso beyond grid squares. 73, pat

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LunarX
by truckwiz 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

As the president of PropelX (lunar x prize team) we have made a decision to make sure that our Lander can be used for ham's after we are done with it. I am taking my ham tech test next weekend. We need help trying to find a cheap rad hard controller or a way to protect the controller we take. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks' Brian Beckius XXXXX (id soon)

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1.2 upconverter?
by K & R Yoksh 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

Hi, I'd like to know if anyone can point me in the direction of an upconverter for 1.2 GHz? I'd like to start putting together an uplink for L band. Thanks for any help. 73, Kyle K0KN

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ANS-041 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-041 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: * ARISS-Europe Amateur Radio Antennas Reach Orbit * AO-51 February Schedule * ARISS Observes SuitSat-1 Anniversary * AO-51 Satellite Cardboard Model Prototype Assistance Requested * AMSAT Presence at Orlando Hamcation This Weekend * FO-29 Status * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status Report For The Week of February 4, 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.01 ARISS-Europe Amateur Radio Antennas Reach Orbit AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.01 When the Shuttle Atlantis launched on Thursday, February 8 the European Space Agency's Columbus module was on its way for delivery at the International Space Station. The amateur radio antennas mounted on the exterior open a new phase of amateur radio in space. While it will take several months to complete the ham shack aboard the Columbus module the first step has been taken. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman, and AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs was quite pleased at this milestone and told the team, "I would like to extend my congrat- ulations to the ARISS-Europe team on today's successful launch of our newest on-orbit hardware delivery, the additional ARISS antennas!" The ARISS-Europe team have been working hard and diligently for over 5 years to realize this outstanding milestone. The team faced numerous challenges, including some very severe environmental testing to get approval to fly these antenna systems. Noting the international effort for this success, Frank continued, "I would like to thank Gaston Bertels, ON4WF for his outstanding leadership on this project and Dr. Pawel Kabacik at the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland for his efforts in the antenna design and testing. And I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this project through their volunteer efforts, financial contributions and/or in-kind contributions. YOU helped us develop, test and fly these antennas." For more information on the ARISS antennas, see: http://www.ariss-eu.org/ [ANS thanks Frank, KA3HDO and ARISS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.02 AO-51 February Schedule AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.02 Drew KO4MA, AMSAT-NA VP Operations noted this week, "The AO-51 committee has completed a schedule for February. We will continue the V/US repeater mode that began on January 25th for all of February, except on Tuesdays through Thursdays when we will switch to L/US. This pattern will repeat every week in February except that the mode switch from V/US to L/US on Tuesday the 12th will be delayed until Wednesday the 13th to accommodate a School Roundup event at Two Rivers School in North Bend, Washington. The S-band downlink may be temporarily suspended for WOD telemetry download without notice. Generally this will only be for one pass per day. Regarding the graphic schedule on the main AMSAT web page, the soft- ware that does the schedule will not allow for the proper display of the current modes. Please refer to: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php February 2008 AO-51 (AMSAT Echo) Schedule February 1 until February 29, subject to modification February 8 - February 12 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 13 - February 14 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 15 - February 18 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 19 - February 21 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 22 - February 25 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 26 - February 28 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 29 - TBD FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM [ANS thanks the AO-51 Operations Committee for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.03 ARISS Observes SuitSat-1 Anniversary AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.03 In marking the 2nd anniversary of the deployment of SuitSat-1 /Radioskaf/AO-54 from the ISS this week, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman, and AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Space- flight Programs said, "I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers around the world that supported the SuitSat-1 development, deployment, public outreach and ground station reception." Frank said the SuitSat certificates have been mailed as of this past week. 2008 brings new opportunities to you, the hams interested in ARISS, which includes: + Plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of human spaceflight ham radio operation---the flight of Owen Garriott, W5LFL on the space shuttle Columbia, STS-9 in 1983. + A team of dedicated amateur radio operators is working to bring SuitSat-2 to reality. At this point in time, it is not clear when it will be deployed, but we are working feverishly to have it ready for deployment before the end of the year. + We expect to have significant ARISS crew amateur radio partici- pation starting in the October 2008 timeframe with the launch of the Expedition 18 crew and Soyuz taxi flight. Frank wraps up with, "I thank all of you for your interest in ARISS. This program is truly inspirational for students, the ham radio community, and the communities surrounding the schools that have been touched by the 334 (to date) school contacts conducted since December 2001." [ANS thanks Frank, KA3HDO and ARISS for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.04 AO-51 Satellite Cardboard Model Prototype Assistance Requested AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.04 Stefan, VE4NSA has finished the 1st prototype of an AO-51 cardboard model design and would like to give a few dedicated individuals the opportunity to actually build the model and help him with the final design and the necessary instructions. Stefan notes, "At this stage I will need individuals that have built cardboard models (ships, airplanes, rockets etc.) before and don't need detailed instructions but know the tools that are required to assemble such a model." Pictures of the current prototype can be seen at: http://www.msig.ca/model.html It is still a work in progress and hopefully will end up as a product that AMSAT can offer for a donation. I designed the model in a 1:1 scale but for the purpose of this project it has been reduced to 75% size. This will allow builders to print it on regular size photo paper and still have a beautiful model for display in the shack, school projects, or amateur radio presentations. Building the model will require time, patience and a color printer since the model is distributed as pdf files. This form of distribution will save paper and will allow you to print it as many times as you need. As mentioned above, Stefan is looking for up to five test builders (with experience) that are willing and able to finish the model in four to five weeks. It is not a two hour project and dedication to detail and exact cutting and gluing is required. Those that help and provide him with updates on their progress and final feedback will get the final distribution files as well as the model files in a 1:1 scale. Send Stefan an email <callsign>@amsat.org if you are interested! [ANS thanks Stefan, VE4NSA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.05 AMSAT Presence at Orlando Hamcation This Weekend AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.05 This weekend AMSAT will have a large presence at the Orlando Hamcation. It will remind some people of Dayton. The Orlando Hamcation has grown in size and prominence in the U.S. After all, it is in a "horrible place" for Winter in the U.S.! See: http://www.hamcation.com/ The following AMSAT board members and officers will be there: AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS AMSAT President Emeritus, Tom Clark, K3IO (ex-W3IWI) AMSAT Executive V.P. Lee McLamb, KU4OS AMSAT V.P. Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA AMSAT V.P. Field Ops, Gould Smith, WA4SXM AMSAT V.P. Engineering Bob McGwier, N4HY Some of the above are board members. Additionally, board members Lou McFadin, W5DID and Barry Baines, WD4ASW will be in attendance. Barry Baines is our new Eagle/Intelsat project manager. AMSAT has been granted prominent times and rooms for presentations. AMSAT is bringing the operational SDX and will soon thereafter put an SDX based linear transponder on the air covering much of the state of Florida and in a prominent place in Maryland. Additionally, one of the SDX will be in use in Europe thanks to a generous offer and help from Viktor Kudielka. Taking advantage of the occasion, AMSAT will hold engineering planning meetings in Orlando this weekend for engineering management. This was decided because so many of these people were going to be in attendance anyway. [ANS thanks Bob, N4HY AMSAT-NA VP Engineering for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.06 FO-29 Status AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.06 Toyo Komatsu, JA0CQP provided an update on behalf of JARL in regards to the status of the FO-29 satellite. JARL is the agency responsible for FO-29 operation. While command and control and some transponder operation has been recovered over Japan, JARL notes at this time FO-29 is not in condition to offer worldwide service with control stations around the world. The satellites power budget is a key issue. Although power from the solar cells is just adequate for operation, the inner impedance of the Ni-Cd rechargeable batteries is increasing. They cannot support operation of the transmitter approximately 10 minutes after entering eclipse. The PCU (Power Control Unit) has failed and the satellite's trans- mitter does not automatically recover, requiring intervention by the ground control station in Tokyo. JARL will continue to monitor the situation aboard FO-29 and preserve its functionality for as many as users around the world as possible. This situation may continue for up to 2 years until FO-29 enters a no-eclipse period in 2010. [ANS thanks Toyo Komatsu, JA0CQP for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.07 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.07 + AMSAT Engineering needs experienced help programming the MPS-430. This processor will be in a Cubesat. The preference is to use FreeRTOS on it but adequate reasons for not following this path can be discussed. Email to n4hy(a)amsat.org directly. + JAMSAT (Japan-AMSAT) announced that QSL cards for QSOs via ISS Cross Band Repeater are valid for the "JAMSAT 5 Stars Award". + The 2008 Microwave Update is being planned for the weekend of October 17-18-19 in the Minneapolis area. + The dates for the AMSAT-UK Colloquium are July 25,26,27, 2008. + The University of Louisiana is asking for a volunteers to help mentor a senior design capstone project to design and test to destruction with high dose of radiation a communication control and data handling processor. This processor is planed to fly on the CAPE II satellite on 2009. It is anticipated that this will involve two one hour session a month via WEB X. We are seeking those have skill in designing fault tolerant microprocessors and have knowledge of how high energy particles effect memory chips. Contact k5qxj(a)amsat.org. + W5ACM, W5GFP, WA5TWT, WA5WOD, N5RPQ and WB5RMA finished up a cruise to the western Caribbean. Over 90 QSOs were made using call W5ACM/MM from the Carnival Conquest. Some AO-16 passes with excellent results. Most of the contacts were via AO-51 but they were amazed at the signal strength of the AO-16 downlink. It was REALLY EXCELLENT!! + The launch of the NLS-4 cluster including Delfi-C3 has been delayed again, for now, it is scheduled for mid-April. Updates will be post- ed on the Delfi mission status page. + PB and PG for Linux are programs used for download from and upload to digital satellites (Pacsats) supporting the FTL0 protocol. This software allows you to directly communicate with the Microsat series of satellites. Release 2.2.1 of PB/PG for Linux is now available from ftp.amsat.org /amsat/software/Linux/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz (via oz6bl (at) amsat (dot) org) + Would you like to name the next great space telescope? Here's your chance: NASA is inviting members of the general public to suggest a new name for the Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope before it launches in mid-2008. See: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/08feb_namethattelescope.htm?list9589 01 Anyone who drops a name into the "Name That Satellite!" suggestion box on the Web page can choose to receive a "Certificate of Partici- pation" via return e-mail. Participants also may choose to receive the NASA press release announcing the new mission name. The announce- ment is expected approximately 60 days after launch of the telescope. + Clint Bradford, K6LCS has secured an AMSAT member deal from HRO on the Arrow satellite antenna with duplexer: Model 146/437-10WBP for $125.95. That's about $10-15 off suggested retail. Offer good through February. Contact k6lcs(a)amsat.org. + AMSAT needs volunteers to "man" the AMSAT booth at Timonium, one of the largest amateur radio shows on The East Coast. The dates are March 29 and March 30 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Md. See: http://www.gbhc.org/ Contact Martha at AMSAT HQ if you can help! 301-589-6062, or e-mail martha(a)amsat.org. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-041.08 ARISS Status Report For The Week of February 4, 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 041.08 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 10, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-041.08 1. ARISS School Contacts - Status Due to crew schedules onboard the ISS, no ARISS contacts are planned at this time. The ARISS team expects contacts to resume once STS-122 launches in early February. 2. Glenden State School Receives Award for ARISS Contact An ARISS contact took place between Glenden State School in Queensland, Australia and Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, on April 4, 2007. On January 26, 2008 the school was presented with an Australia Day Award in recognition of the contact. The mayor who bestowed the award noted that the contact was a very unique educational outreach activity in which the community became involved. ARISS member Shane Lynd, VK4KHZ, submitted an article covering this news to the Wireless Institute of Australia. The story and photos have been posted under News on the ARISS Website. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm 3. Astronaut Training Status On Tuesday, January 29, Mike Barratt, KD5MIJ, participated in an ARISS training session at JSC. Basic radio operations and school contacts were covered during the class. Barratt is a backup crewmember for Expedition 18, and the prime Flight Engineer for Expedition 19A. ARISS conducted an amateur radio school contact simulation utilizing a local school. Students at Bay Area Charter Elementary near JSC took part in 2 sessions on Friday, February 8 at approx- imately 9:45 am and 10:10 am CT via the JSC W5RRR repeater. Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, participated in the first contact and Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, participated in the second simulated contact. These two contacts were retransmitted on the Internet Radio Linking Project (IRLP) and the W5RRR repeater. This is the first time a school contact simulation training session has been conducted live with students at the other end of the session. If successful, it might be possible to conduct a handful of these sessions each year. 4. ARISS Radio Configured in Crossband Repeater Mode On Thursday, January 31, cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, configured the ARISS Kenwood radio to crossband repeater mode. The frequencies are 437.800 MHz uplink and 145.800 MHz downlink. 5. ARRL Article on ARISS Chairman The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer in its ARRL Letter. To view the story, "ARISS International Chairman Moves into New Position at NASA," see: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0201/ 6. SuitSat-1 Certificates The ARISS team has begun to distribute certificates for partici- pation in the SuitSat-1 project. Additional certificates will be mailed as participant lists are received. SuitSat-1, an amateur radio satellite housed in a Russian Orlan spacesuit, was deployed on February 3, 2006 and received extensive media coverage and over 9.5 million hits on the SuitSat Web site. [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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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trip east
by Brock Thomsen 10 Feb '08

10 Feb '08

W6GMT BROCK THOMSEN WINTER QTH SUMMER QTH 1721 MELODY LANE PO BOX 222 BAKERSFIELD CA MARCELL MN 93308 56657 The trip east 2008 Hi all I will again make my annual migration from the SJV in California to the great State of Minnesota. The planned departure date is the 24th of March. I am posting early so that other's can make requests for needed grids or States. Right now I am thinking of the southern route across AZ and NM then north through KS, NB, and SD but I am open to suggestions. Last year I made 160 contacts in 11 grids and 6 states hope to do better this year 73 Brock

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Re: 1.2 upconverter?
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Look at these sites. http://www.w6pql.com/l_%26_s_band_lna.htm http://users.innercite.com/kj6ko/forsale.htm#KJ6KO%20Stuff%20For%20Sale GL Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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Re: 1.2 upconverter?
by Karl Sandstrom 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Try these web sites for 1.2GHz transverters: http://www.downeastmicrowave.com/ http://www.ssbusa.com/ham.html Karl R. Sandstrom, K5MAN Greenwell Springs, Louisiana k5man(a)amsat.org, k5man(a)arrl.net

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Re: FCAL & Quakesat
by Mineo Wakita 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Hello Chris, Today, I could decode KISS beacon from QuakeSat every 10 seconds. QuakeSat Feb 7, 2008 07:41-07:56 UTC 16:41-16:56 JST 436.675 MHz KISS 9600 bps FSK 45 deg > QuakeSat Sun Jan 10 15:00:37 1988 > QuakeSat Sun Jan 10 15:00:47 1988

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Australian Reciprocal Licensing Changes
by Trevor 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has announced changes to the Amateur licence. Among the changes they now permit the Encoding, for the purpose of Obscuring the meaning, of control signals for Amateur Satellites or unattended stations. >From WIA News: ---- This is Michael Owen VK3KI President of the Wireless Institute of Australia. Today I am able to tell you of 3 major decisions made last Thursday by the ACMA board. In short, the news is that ACMA has made the Determination to amend the Amateur LCD to make the last of changes foreshadowed in the Outcomes published in May 2004; ACMA has issued the Class Licence allowing visiting amateurs to operate in Australia without any other Australian licence, which is hopefully the last steps from our end before Australian amateurs can operate in the CEPT countries on the basis of their Australian Advanced licence, and finally ACMA has announced who has been successful in submitting its expression of interest in the amateur examination management, certificate and certain call sign functions outsourcing. Those are the headlines. Now, for a little detail. The amendments to the LCD are quite extensive. Let me try and summarise the major changes: The prohibition on the connection of automated systems to a public telecommunications network, which includes the Internet, has been removed. Foundation licensees cannot make such connections, but Advanced, Standard and Repeater licensees can, but now must "implement reasonable measures to ensure that only appropriately licensed person access the station." New, and not foreshadowed in the ACA Outcomes, is an obligation on Standard and Advanced licensees (but not repeater licensees) to warn a person connected to an amateur station from a public telecommunications network that they can be heard by others. Now, signals encoded for the purpose of obscuring the meaning may be used for controlling a satellite or an unattended amateur stations or in emergency operations. The AX call sign will be able to be used on Australia Day, Anzac Day and World Telecommunication day without doing more. A number of matters are made clear for the Foundation licensee. At last, 10 watts may be used for all permitted modes. But a Foundation licensee cannot allow a person who is not an amateur to use his or her transmitter, or operate his or her station in automatic mode or computer controlled mode or operate his or her station directly connected to a public telecommunications network. The obligation for all stations in a net to identify all stations every 10 minutes is relaxed for emergency networks, so that one station may identify all stations every 30 minutes. There is now a clear requirement that a person operating through a repeater must be licensed to operate on the repeaters output frequency. As foreshadowed in the Outcomes paper, the Amateur LCD now defines limits to spurious emissions, in fact the ITU limits already applying to the amateur service. A new and rather complex definition of "operate" defines how an amateur station may be used by someone who is not an amateur. The Amending Determination comes into effect the day after it is registered, probably next Monday or Tuesday. I hope that a copy will then be available on the WIA website. I have also written a paper that describes in more particular terms the changes, and that is already available on the WIA website. In probably 3 or 4 weeks a consolidated version of the Amateur LCD incorporating these amendments will be published. That will be a lot easier to read, and something everyone will need to have. The next major piece of news is that the ACMA has issued a class licence to allow visiting amateurs to operate in Australia for up to 90 days using their home call sign followed by the suffix VK followed by "portable" and then the location of the station, without doing anything more. That class licence comes into effect on 14 February. There are 5 levels of visitor licence, 3 matching the Australian Advanced, Standard and Foundation licenses, a VHF licence, and finally, in effect, a 146 to 148 FM licence. The privileges of each level are set out in the class licence. ACMA will publish on its website a table showing equivalencies to the Australian visitor levels for different overseas licences. This class licence for visiting amateurs is, we hope, the final step before CEPT allows Australian Advanced licensees to operate a in the CEPT countries, some 32 countries mainly in Europe, using their Australian call sign, without doing more. The WIA will let everyone know immediately CEPT has allowed Australian amateurs to operate under what is called TR 61 01. I hope that a copy of the Class Licence will also be available on the WIA website next Monday or Tuesday. All of these changes mean that extensive changes are currently being made to the ACMA website, but they won't all be in place immediately. Please be patient. Now the final piece of news. As you know, the WIA has repeatedly expressed its concern that its role as the manager of the amateur examination system has not been secure. Finally, last year the ACMA advertised for expressions of interest to provide the examination management function, to issue certificates, and certain call sign functions. The WIA has been advised that its expression of interest met all the criteria published by ACMA for the tasks, and that ACMA will now negotiate the terms of a contract with the WIA to cover these matters being outsourced. Together, these three matters are of great importance to Australian amateurs, with now only one matter outstanding, that is for CEPT to accept that VK licensees can operate in the CEPT countries as we will allow their licensees to operate after 14 February. ---- Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/HOMEPAGE/PC=HOME ACMA Amends Amateur LCD http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2008/20080208-3/index.php The New Australian Amateur Radio Regulations http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2008/20080208-3/documents/The%20New%2… 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email your news items to: editor at southgatearc.org News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm --------------- __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Re ISS D700 msg in AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 71
by joe cassano aka jmario 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

I'm curious to learn what organization owns/controls the D700 that is on the ISS and how, where, when, and by who decisions are made and implemented regarding switching the D700's mode of operation. I understand the D700 shutdowns for safety reasons, its use as a educational tool to connect school children worldwide with NASA, its availability as a recreational device for interested ISS residents, and the fact that having astronauts watching over and tweaking the D700 is near or at the bottom of the astronaut's task list. I have never understood how the non-shutdown, non-school D700 time is allocated and who does the allocation. Joe Cassano K3FMA > Message: 6 > Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 07:05:16 -0800 (PST) > From: MM <ka1rrw(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS may be off the air during the Shuttle Mission > To: "Auke de Jong, VE6PWN" <sparkycivic(a)shaw.ca>, AMSAT-BB > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Nate Duehr <nate(a)natetech.com> > Message-ID: <700075.84809.qm(a)web56413.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 . . . > Now that the D700 has been tested for 5+ days in Cross > Band repater, its time to find a laptop and start > running some Slow Scan TV from ISS again. > > > www.marexmg.org > > 73 Miles >

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ISS rptr
by Luc Leblanc 09 Feb '08

09 Feb '08

Signals on the cross band repeater is very choppy. Is it a problem? As i far i can remember i never hear the ISS downlink so choppy. Is the COR system is activated with audio in the signal or only by the carrier? Thank's "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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oscar 16 and hamsat
by Thomas McGrane 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

greetings to the group Many thanks to everyone for configuring oscar 16 for phone operation. Pretty good SSB reception with the preamp. On another note, I invite everyone to try HAMSAT or VO-52. It has a spectacular 2 meter SSB signal that can be received on an all-mode rig without a preamp. All you folks that want a linear transponder should be using this bird to keep in practice for future HEO's. Over the past 3 years since the launch of ECHO, I have purchased used UHF and VHF all-mode rigs and built antennas. Basically I'm "Gearing" up for P3E and Eagle. 73, pat

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For Sale My Backup Sat. Station
by PAUL5VAS＠wmconnect.com 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

1-Icom IC-451 70Cm all mode 1-10Watts out W/mike,ac&dc power cords,manual and box it came in. $240.00 + shipping #2- Kenwood TR-9130 2meter all mode 25W Hi 5W low W/mike, power cords, and manuals $235.00 + shipping #3 Klitzing Electronies 70Cm power amplfier 10W in 100W out W/ power cord and manual $ 235.00 + shipping #4 Landwehr PreAmplifier mast mount 70Cm W/ power unit and manula $ 95.00 # 4 Mirage PreAmplifier mast mount 2 Meter W/ power unit and manula $ 95.00 = shipping #5 Drake 2880 New in the box W/ power uint and preamplifier $ 50.00 + shipping Will make deal on all Call 318-390-7944 or Email at paul5vas@wmconnect Thank You Paul K5VAS </HTML>

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Seeking satellite partner in Minsk, Belarus
by andy thomas 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Hi G0SFJ will be at liberty in Minsk, Belarus on Sunday 20th April for possible portable operation on SO-50 and AO-51 as EW/G0SFJ/P. It looks like licensing is possible, but is there a Belarus ham out there who would meet me please? If so please contact me direct at <callsign> AT amsat.org many thanks 73 de andy G0SFJ __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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APRS
by John Hackett 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

From: postmaster(a)mail.hotmail.com To: archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 03:25:42 -0800 Subject: Delivery Status Notification (Failure) This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification. Delivery to the following recipients failed. glasbrenner(a)minspring.com --Forwarded Message Attachment-- From: archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com To: glasbrenner(a)minspring.com Subject: APRS. Date: Fri, 8 Feb 2008 12:25:42 +0100 Hello Drew, Frei Island is located out of the footprint of the ISS, Pacsat, and AO-27 is invariably switched off by the time it gets up here ... therefore, the APRS mode has never been a viable propasition for me. I was just reading Bob's WB4APR many web pages re: APRS and he refers to ECHO (now AO-51) frequently ... mentioning the APRS system. I can't recall seeing AO-51 in the V/U (J) mode for APRS operations. Bob gives the "impression" that this mode can always be operated regardless of which other mode the satellite is in. Is this true? ... and can AO-51 *ALWAYS* be used as an APRS sat ???. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

2 1

Re: AO-51 from Hawaii
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Jeff-What will be your downlink frequency be? I have good access to KH6. I will be looking for you. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -------------- Original message -------------- From: Jeff Mock <jeff(a)mock.com> > Thanks so much for all of the replies. I wasn't up to date on the > schedule for AO-51. I made my first contact from Hawaii this evening > (Thursday) and I'm quite thrilled. I'll try again Friday evening during > at least one of the two passes visible from Hawaii. > > jeff > AD6EO > > Armour, Randy (ITS) wrote: > > Jeff, > > > > I'm not in Hawaii, but think I know why you may not have heard anyone. > > Tuesday, Wednesday and today (Thursday) the uplink frequency is > > 1268.700M MHz. I doubt very many people have 1.2 Gig equipment, > > especially the limited number of potential users in Hawaii. > > > > A0-51 should be back in V/U mode soon (if not already), so you should > > have better luck on the next few passes. And.. You can actually talk > > back with a W32A! > > > > Here is the AO-51 schedule through February. > > > > Randy- KI4LMR > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Satellites and D710 auto tune
by Robert Bruninga 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

>> [We] still use the APRSData program for sending >> out satellite Alerts daily here in Michigan >> to show when AO-51 or ISS are in view. >> These show up in real time on the front panel >> of all local APRS radios in the mobiles so that >> mobiles do not need tracking programs to know >> when to work the birds. > > The same functionality is also in Digi_ned ... Yes, these alerts help all mobiles in an entire city to see when a bird is in view with not only the direction and distance to the bird but more importantly the frequencies and doppler. Just tune and operate. See the details at the bottom of this page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/localinfo.html In fact, you can even configure your D700 with Voice module to speak these alerts when the satellites come into view. It sure beats lugging around a tracking computer on your long commute. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: AO-51 from Hawaii
by Jeff Mock 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I wasn't up to date on the schedule for AO-51. I made my first contact from Hawaii this evening (Thursday) and I'm quite thrilled. I'll try again Friday evening during at least one of the two passes visible from Hawaii. jeff AD6EO Armour, Randy (ITS) wrote: > Jeff, > > I'm not in Hawaii, but think I know why you may not have heard anyone. > Tuesday, Wednesday and today (Thursday) the uplink frequency is > 1268.700M MHz. I doubt very many people have 1.2 Gig equipment, > especially the limited number of potential users in Hawaii. > > A0-51 should be back in V/U mode soon (if not already), so you should > have better luck on the next few passes. And.. You can actually talk > back with a W32A! > > Here is the AO-51 schedule through February. > > Randy- KI4LMR >

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FW: Re ISS D700 msg in AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 71
by Bauer, Frank H. (GSFC-590.0) 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Joe, The D700 is owned and controlled by ARISS--Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. ARISS is an international working group of volunteers with delegates from AMSAT-International and the National Amateur Radio organizations. In the USA this is AMSAT-NA and the ARRL. The ARISS team works with the 5 regonal space agencies (NASA, CSA, JAXA, ESA, and Roscosmos/Energia) to develop and operate the amateur radio equipment on board ISS. In 1996, NASA asked the amateur radio community to develop a working group to provide a single amateur radio voice to the space agencies...the result was ARISS. The ISS crew use the ham radio equipment at their discretion on their free time. Like you and me, they have many choices on how to spend their free time, including reading books, watching movies, talking to their families and using the ham radio. Some crew members only use ARISS on their free time to talk to children at schools. Others are more into ham radio...they support the school contacts and will talk to hams on the ground. There are several future crew members in the fall time frame that have expressed significant interest in using the ARISS equipment for general QSOs. We will keep you informed as their flight nears. Thank you very much for your interest in ARISS. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chairman AMSAT-NA V.P for Human Spaceflight Programs From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org on behalf of joe cassano aka jmario Sent: Thu 2/7/2008 5:51 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re ISS D700 msg in AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 71 I'm curious to learn what organization owns/controls the D700 that is on the ISS and how, where, when, and by who decisions are made and implemented regarding switching the D700's mode of operation. I understand the D700 shutdowns for safety reasons, its use as a educational tool to connect school children worldwide with NASA, its availability as a recreational device for interested ISS residents, and the fact that having astronauts watching over and tweaking the D700 is near or at the bottom of the astronaut's task list. I have never understood how the non-shutdown, non-school D700 time is allocated and who does the allocation. Joe Cassano K3FMA > Message: 6 > Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 07:05:16 -0800 (PST) > From: MM <ka1rrw(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS may be off the air during the Shuttle Mission > To: "Auke de Jong, VE6PWN" <sparkycivic(a)shaw.ca>, AMSAT-BB > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Nate Duehr <nate(a)natetech.com> > Message-ID: <700075.84809.qm(a)web56413.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 . . . > Now that the D700 has been tested for 5+ days in Cross > Band repater, its time to find a laptop and start > running some Slow Scan TV from ISS again. > > > www.marexmg.org > > 73 Miles >

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Congratulations!!
by Frank H. Bauer 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

All, I would like to extend my congratulations to the ARISS-Europe team on today's successful launch of our newest on-orbit hardware delivery---additional ARISS antennas!! The antennas are mounted on the European Columbus module which flew inside the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The ARISS-Europe team have been working hard and diligently for over 5 years to realize this outstanding milestone. The team faced numerous challenges, including some very severe environmental testing to get approval to fly these antenna systems. I would like to thank Gaston Bertels, ON4WF for his outstanding leadership on this project and Dr. Pawel Kabacik at the Wroclaw University of Technology in Poland for his efforts in the antenna design and testing. And I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this project through their volunteer efforts, financial contributions and/or in-kind contributions. YOU helped us develop, test and fly these antennas. For more information on the ARISS antennas, see: http://www.ariss-eu.org/ 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chairman AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

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FW: Re ISS D700 msg in AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 71
by Bauer, Frank H. (GSFC-590.0) 08 Feb '08

08 Feb '08

Joe, The D700 is owned and controlled by ARISS--Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. ARISS is an international working group of volunteers with delegates from AMSAT-International and the National Amateur Radio organizations. In the USA this is AMSAT-NA and the ARRL. The ARISS team works with the 5 regonal space agencies (NASA, CSA, JAXA, ESA, and Roscosmos/Energia) to develop and operate the amateur radio equipment on board ISS. In 1996, NASA asked the amateur radio community to develop a working group to provide a single amateur radio voice to the space agencies...the result was ARISS. The ISS crew use the ham radio equipment at their discretion on their free time. Like you and me, they have many choices on how to spend their free time, including reading books, watching movies, talking to their families and using the ham radio. Some crew members only use ARISS on their free time to talk to children at schools. Others are more into ham radio...they support the school contacts and will talk to hams on the ground. There are several future crew members in the fall time frame that have expressed significant interest in using the ARISS equipment for general QSOs. We will keep you informed as their flight nears. Thank you very much for your interest in ARISS. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chairman AMSAT-NA V.P for Human Spaceflight Programs From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org on behalf of joe cassano aka jmario Sent: Thu 2/7/2008 5:51 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re ISS D700 msg in AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 71 I'm curious to learn what organization owns/controls the D700 that is on the ISS and how, where, when, and by who decisions are made and implemented regarding switching the D700's mode of operation. I understand the D700 shutdowns for safety reasons, its use as a educational tool to connect school children worldwide with NASA, its availability as a recreational device for interested ISS residents, and the fact that having astronauts watching over and tweaking the D700 is near or at the bottom of the astronaut's task list. I have never understood how the non-shutdown, non-school D700 time is allocated and who does the allocation. Joe Cassano K3FMA > Message: 6 > Date: Thu, 7 Feb 2008 07:05:16 -0800 (PST) > From: MM <ka1rrw(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS may be off the air during the Shuttle Mission > To: "Auke de Jong, VE6PWN" <sparkycivic(a)shaw.ca>, AMSAT-BB > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Nate Duehr <nate(a)natetech.com> > Message-ID: <700075.84809.qm(a)web56413.mail.re3.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 . . . > Now that the D700 has been tested for 5+ days in Cross > Band repater, its time to find a laptop and start > running some Slow Scan TV from ISS again. > > > www.marexmg.org > > 73 Miles >

1 0

Re: [SPAM] gpredict help
by George Henry 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

It was version 0.6.1-1ubuntu1, from Ubuntu's hamradio package repository. I removed it and installed 0.8.0-2 from debian.org, and it seems to work fine. Thanks. George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Andrew Rich <vk4tec(a)people.net.au> >Sent: Feb 7, 2008 1:59 PM >To: George Henry <ka3hsw(a)earthlink.net>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: RE: [SPAM] [amsat-bb] gpredict help > >+ Permissions stop things from running > >You don't have a permissions problem. > >+ If it is not visible - check what version you have > >It may have been planned. > >I know I grabbed the latest and the update now fails, but the background >update works. > >Do you have that option ? > >Contact the programmers they are very helpfull. > >Cheers

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Re: AO-51 Easy Passtimes...
by Clint Bradford 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

> For the upcoming Satellite Simulated Emergency Test, remember > that pass times for AO51 repeat every 5 days, so you can > estimate pass times from your mobile at any time for a few > months using the table below taped to your dashboard... Bob, I'd wager yours is a very unique - and exciting - vehicle to ride in... (grin) Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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gpredict help
by George Henry 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

I've just started playing around with Ubuntu linux, and installed gpredict 0.6.1-1ubuntu1 using the Add/Remove progams package installer, as a user with system administration rights. According to Synaptic Package Manager, all of the dependencies are met and the installation is not broken. I can run gpredict, but there is no Update TLE option visible from the file menu. What did I do wrong? Is this one of those crazy permissions issues I've heard about? George, KA3HSW

2 1

Arrow 146/437-10WBP Antenna
by Clint Bradford 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

I have secured an AMSAT member deal from HRO on the Arrow sat antenna with duplexer: Model 146/437-10WBP for $125.95. That's about $10-15 off suggested retail. Offer good through February. Contact me off list for the particulars. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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AO-51 from Hawaii
by Jeff Mock 07 Feb '08

07 Feb '08

I'm on vacation in Hawaii this week. I brought an Arrow-II and an Icom W32A hoping to get a few AO-51 contacts. The past two evening passes I haven't heard anyone else using the satellite. Is there anyone in Hawaii using the satellite? jeff AD6EO

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AO51 Easy Passtimes and SSET
by Robert Bruninga 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

For the upcoming Satellite Simulated Emergency Test, remember that pass times for AO51 repeat every 5 days, so you can estimate pass times from your mobile at any time for a few months using the table below taped to your dashboard: EASTERN Standard Time 07Feb 13Feb 19Feb 25Feb 02Mar ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 0835 0800 0720 0820 0740 0855 1950 1910 1830 1930 1850 2010 Just locate the column with the date closest to today's date and then move right or left the number of days to today's date. The table wraps around both ways. Passes will be as shown local time. For example, when the SSET begins on 9 Feb, the morning passes are at 0720 and 0855 EST, etc. There are three other similar tables for each time zone on the SSET page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html There are also tables for each time zone for GO32 on the GO32 APRS Operations page. http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/GO32-ops.html The purpose of the SSET is to demonstrate your ability to get a message out from your mobile or portable station via one of the Amateur Satellites. For the APRS satellites, PCSAT-1, ARISS, and GO32, not only should you then receive your Email message back to you, but your message and position/status should also appear on the PCSAT/GO32 or ARISS Web pages: http://pcsat.aprs.org http://www.ariss.net Good luck. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: Can someone point me to a simple S-bandhelixconstruction
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Michael, I have built antennas from the sites of G6LVB and N4WYK all with PVC. Here are some good websites for 2.4GHz helix antennas. 1. http://webpages.charter.net/n4wyk Click on satellite website, then click on "2401MHz Helix" above the picture of the antenna. 2. http://ve2zaz.net/ Select 2.4 GHz helix. 3. www.g6lvb.com/ Select quadruple helix for AO-40. 4. www.qsl.net/ve3cvg/antennas/2400/ 5. http://members.aol.com/k5oe A site for good reading and links. If I can be of any help, please email me. 73, Mike K9QHO

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TLM comparison.
by John Hackett 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hello folks, Could the recording of what is believed to be Prospero X-3 on the Amsat-UK website on 137.560Mhx in fact be from one of the Orbcomm satellites ?. Just a thought. Easily checked, by running the free Orbcomm software and having a listen to the telemetry. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

2 2

I havn't gotten a ROUND TUIT yet.
by John Hackett 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hi Thomas, Thank you. I've got it all sorted out now. In fact, I suspect that which Amsat-UK have on the video as X-3 may well have been an Orbcomm satellite on 137.560Mhz ... but I may be wrong ... I havn't gotten around to checking the TLM yet. I have the Orbcomm software so it should be easy to compare. I put the X-3 keps into NOVA and InstantTRACK so it will be relatively easy to check - when I have time. Thanks again for the X-3 keps. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> To: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com From: th.frey(a)vtxmail.ch Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 11:05:59 +0100 Subject: Re: [eu-amsat] A lot! of felines ... or ... Cat: Nr: 05580 John Hackett schrieb: > Hello Folks, > Does anyone know where I might obtain keps for object > nr: 1973 583A, catalogue nr: 05580 ??. Hello John Here is your set: 1 05580U 71093A 08035.91733844 .00000129 00000-0 24102-4 0 7288 2 05580 082.0434 342.4015 0548957 143.7064 220.2679 13.89539227815329 But the object nr. doesn't match ! > > My first shot was Celestrak but the page refused to accept the > previous password it used to. > > (There is no facility for 'remembering' an old password). > > It's simply too much faffing around creating a new identity. > > Any suggestions and I'd be most grateful. At Celestrak you don't need a password. > > This is the first 100% British satellite launched 35 years ago. > There's a video on the Amsat-UK website showing that it's still > transmitting. > > It was also known as Prospero X-3. > > USELESS INFORMATION DEPT: > > Prospero? ... Aye!, the Duke of Milan in William Shakespeare's ... ' > The Tempest' ... read the play and you'll understand why the satellite > was christened thus. > > 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > From: archie.hackett@hotmai l.com > To: g7hia(a)btinternet.com > CC: john(a)manchester.ac.uk; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com > Subject: Cat: Nr: 05580 > Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 01:28:29 +0100 > > Hello John, > Re: the Prospero X-3 satellite. > > It's object nr: 1973 583A, catalogue nr: 05580. > > I've listened to the Amsat-UK website audio recording and noted > the frequency as 137.560 WFM ... but I can't find any keps anywhere!. > > Any ideas where I might find current keps ??. > > I tried the CelestTRACK website but it refuses to accept my > password since I last checked in a year ago. > > The Wikipedia page noters that it was decomissioned long ago but > that it's still transmitting ... with an estimated life of 100 years. > > Interesting power situation there ... nuclear based ??. > > If I could find the keps I could have a listen. Any other 'secret' > info ??. > > 73 John 2 <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> > > Mit freundlichen Grüssen, Regards, 73 Thomas Frey, HB9SKA __________________________________________________________ Thomas Frey, Holzgasse 2, CH-5242 Birr, Tel. + Fax: 056 444 93 41 http://home.datacomm.ch/th.frey/ __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (2) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 1 New Members Visit Your Group Sell Online Start selling with our award-winning e-commerce tools. Yahoo! Groups How-To Zone Do-It-Yourselfers Connect & share. Move More on Yahoo! Groups This is your life not a phys-ed class. . __,_._,___

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A lot! of felines ... or ... Cat: Nr: 05580
by John Hackett 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hello Folks, Does anyone know where I might obtain keps for object nr: 1973 583A, catalogue nr: 05580 ??. My first shot was Celestrak but the page refused to accept the previous password it used to. (There is no facility for 'remembering' an old password). It's simply too much faffing around creating a new identity. Any suggestions and I'd be most grateful. This is the first 100% British satellite launched 35 years ago. There's a video on the Amsat-UK website showing that it's still transmitting. It was also known as Prospero X-3. USELESS INFORMATION DEPT: Prospero? ... Aye!, the Duke of Milan in William Shakespeare's ... ' The Tempest' ... read the play and you'll understand why the satellite was christened thus. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> From: archie.hackett(a)hotmail.com To: g7hia(a)btinternet.com CC: john(a)manchester.ac.uk; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com Subject: Cat: Nr: 05580 Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 01:28:29 +0100 Hello John, Re: the Prospero X-3 satellite. It's object nr: 1973 583A, catalogue nr: 05580. I've listened to the Amsat-UK website audio recording and noted the frequency as 137.560 WFM ... but I can't find any keps anywhere!. Any ideas where I might find current keps ??. I tried the CelestTRACK website but it refuses to accept my password since I last checked in a year ago. The Wikipedia page noters that it was decomissioned long ago but that it's still transmitting ... with an estimated life of 100 years. Interesting power situation there ... nuclear based ??. If I could find the keps I could have a listen. Any other 'secret' info ??. 73 John 2 <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

2 1

LVB tracker display problem - solved
by Fer IW1DTU 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

I changed the 2x16 LCD and now LVB works fine. Thanks Howard and all for advises 73 Fer Hello Wondering if someone can help. I just finish to build an LVB tracker for a friend of mine. All works fine with NOVA but during a satellite pass the display stuck as in the picture: http://it.geocities.com/supertrackmoon/lvb_display.jpg All other functions are OK and the tracker is still tracking the satellite. A quick restart (power off / power on) and display works again but after some minutes it is again stuck. It seems just only a display problem. Same behavior with other satellites passes. I built a couple of LVB units and I have been using an LVB tracker with NOVA for years without problems. Any ideas ? Fer IW1DTU

2 2

Can someone point me to a simple S-band helix construction article?
by Michael A. Tondee 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

I can find plenty of information on helices and the theory involved with them but a lot of it seems to be contradictory and confusing.. I've found very general guideline type articles but what I haven't found yet is a simple step by step construction article from start to finish. I'd like to construct one using pvc pipe as the helix form if possible as it is readily available but I even find varying opinions on the suitability of that material. Are the dimensions really not that critical as has been stated in some articles? I was thinking of using schedule 40 1 and a quarter or 1 and a half inch diameter white PVC pipe. I could really use some simple formulas as my old brain starts to smoke when I see equations involving algebra and pi. Been way to long since high school! hi hi. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

4 4

QSL Card via ISS Repeater is valid
by JA0CQP 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hi, All, JAMSAT (Japan-AMSAT) is in honor to announce that a QSL card on the QSO via ISS Cross Band Repeater is of course valid for the Award " JAMSAT 5 Stars Award" application. Get JAMSAT Award ! S. Murakami - JAMSAT Award section JA4GVA madoguchi(a)jamsat.or.jp

1 0

AO-51 L band
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

Hello I heard myself the last pass over the US. Very low elevation from Seattle. The first time on satellite L band, looking for contacts next pass. Receiving on 70cm. S band rx is down, long story. Do we adjust doppler with the higher frequency. Or keep it on 1268.7Ghz. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

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Programming help needed
by Bob McGwier 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

AMSAT Engineering needs experienced help programming MPS-430. This processor will be in a Cubesat. It would be my preference for us to use FreeRTOS on it but this is not a decision I will mandate if adequate reasons for not following this path can be provided. Email me directly. Bob

1 0

AO-51 schedule updated
by Andrew Glasbrenner 06 Feb '08

06 Feb '08

I updated the AO-51 schedule text page last night at : http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php . Update: February 3, 2008 The AO-51 committee has completed a schedule for February. We will continue the V/US repeater mode that began on January 25th for all of February, except on Tuesdays through Thursdays when we will switch to L/US. This pattern will repeat every week in February except that the mode switch from V/US to L/US on Tuesday the 12th will be delayed until Wednesday the 13th to accommodate a School Roundup event at Two Rivers School in North Bend, Washington. The S-band downlink may be temporarily suspended for WOD telemetry download without notice. Generally this will only be for one pass per day. Regarding the graphic schedule...the software that does the schedule will not allow for the proper display of the current modes. Please refer to this page for mode change information. February 2008 AO-51 (AMSAT Echo) Schedule February 1 until February 29, subject to modification February 1 - February 4 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 5 - February 7 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 8 - February 12 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 13 - February 14 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 15 - February 18 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 19 - February 21 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 22 - February 25 FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 26 - February 28 FM Repeater, L/US Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM February 29 - TBD FM Repeater, V/US Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlinks: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Ops

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All the facts are wrong but
by Bob McGwier 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

Sent from Express News TEHRAN, Iran - Iran launched a research rocket Monday and unveiled its first major space center, which will be used to launch research satellites, state-run television reported. The report said the rocket was the first launched by Iran "into space." But analysts have expressed doubts about similar technological achievements announced by the country in the past. Iran launched its first domestically built rocket last February, which did not reach orbit level. "The first Iranian rocket Explorer-1 was fired into space," reported state TV, which showed live images of the event at the space center, with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad issuing the launch order. "With the launch, Iran has joined the world's top 11 countries possessing space technology to build satellites, and launch rockets into space." The report did not specify the altitude reached by the research rocket. Space is considered to begin at 60 miles above ground. Ham radio satellites - the lowest flying satellites - orbit between 100-300 miles, while communication, weather and global-positioning satellites fly between 250-12,000 miles up. Some Western experts also have raised the possibility that Iran's space program may be a cover to more fully develop its military ballistic missiles, a prospect many find troubling at a time when the U.S. and others worry Tehran is trying to develop nuclear weapons. Before the launch, Ahmadinejad opened the space center, which includes an underground control station and space launch pad, according to state TV. By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press Writer

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Explorer I - recordings
by Roy 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

I have been asked if any of the Explorer I recordings were still available in WAV, etc format. There is one posted at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php. Select the "Select a Topic" drop down menu and scroll down to "Sounds from the first satellites." There are a few recordings there with the info about the recordings. One of them is the Explorer I telemetry. You will hear several constant audio tones with one of them shifting between two tones. There was a geiger counter on board that counted cosmic ray particles according to the info I have read. After a certain number had been counted the tone shifted and after another quantity had been counted it shifted back again. The 108 mHz antenna was a six element colinear arrangement consisting of six half waves (wire elements) suspended over a 13x13 ft wooden frame covered with chicken wire laying on the roof of my house. This oriented it up about 75-80 degrees above the southern horizon. No tracking. The satellites had to fly through the main lobe of the antenna pattern. The receiving arrangement was a modified TeCraft (I think) converter with a 6BQ7 TV RF amplifier front end feeding an National NC-300 Amateur band receiver. Not very good as noise figures go today but pretty good for 1958. I still have all of the original reel to reel tapes, some of their contents transferred to cassette tape. -- Roy

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Fw: FM narrow mode for DOPPLER.SQF file (for ISS)
by Charles Reiche 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

For anyone that has a 910 and satpc32, here is a chat I had with DK1TB. Charlie N3CRT ----- Original Message ----- From: Erich Eichmann To: Charles Reiche Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 4:12 AM Subject: Re: FM narrow mode for DOPPLER.SQF file Hi Charles, at present SatPC32 can't switch the IC-910H to FMN. The manual mentions only a CAT command for FM (cmd 4), but no command for FMN. Meanwhile I know that there are undocumented commands that switch the IC-910H to FMN (cmd 5 sub cmd 2. I have just tested that and it works (with the IC-821H and other Icom radios this command doesn't work at all). So, I think, I can modify the program with the next update and include the special FMN command for the IC-910H. 73s, Erich, DK1TB ----- Original Message ----- From: Charles Reiche To: dk1tb(a)amsat.org Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2008 1:21 AM Subject: FM narrow mode for DOPPLER.SQF file Im am learning the ins and outs of your fine program, but I have run into a stumbling block... I have an Icom IC-910h connected via a rigblaster PNP. My file entry for ISS voice mode reads as follows: ISS,145800,437800,FM,FMN,NOR,0,0,Cross band repeater The sub band refuses to go to Narrow mode. If I turn off CAT I can manually enter the sub band and press and hold the FM button to enter Narrow mode but this gets reset to FM on the next tune cycle. I have also tried setting both bands to FMN, without sucess. Is your program capable of setting this mode on my Icom? I am using version 12.6 Thanks Charlie N3CRT

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Dispelling a myth
by john heath 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

If you do some reaserch into the British Blue Streak and Black Arrow programms you will see that at the time Britain was well ahead of its competitors. Money and politics sank the project. If you are interested in further reading get, A Vertical Empire, The History of the UK Rocket and Space Programme by C.N. Hill. ISBN 1-86094-269-9 73 John G7HIA PS/ no connection with the author or the publisher, just enjoyed the book.

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Re: Looking for contact info for KB9KTD
by Joe 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

grrr also no good, this guy has 4 e mail addresses out on the web and all do this,, ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- <kb9ktd(a)centurytel.net> (reason: 550 5.1.1 <kb9ktd(a)centurytel.net>... User unknown) grrr Joe WB9SBD Gary Schuchardt wrote: > Joe > > I found this information on my Ham Call software. > > David J Huber, KB9KTD > 1122 Wilson St > Onalaska, WI 54650 > USA > > Class: Technician > > Previous Call: Previous Class: > > Issue Date: 06-06-1995 Expires: 06-06-2005 > Process Date: 10-09-1999 Birth Date: 06-11-1960 > > Web site lookup count: 9 as of 14 Mar 2004 > E-Mail: kb9ktd(a)centurytel.net <mailto:[email protected]> > Web Site: > (Double-click the e-mail address or web site) > > Latitude: 43d 52' 36" N Longitude: 91d 13' 14" W > Distance: 1501.57 km., Long path: 38572.49 km. > Heading: 307.3, Long path: 127.0 > > Grid Square: EN43jv Time Zone: -6 > County: La Crosse Area Code: 608 > > > I hope this helps you. > > Gary > N0EZH > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Joe <mailto:[email protected]> > Date: 2/4/2008 2:08:07 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Looking for contact info for KB9KTD > > The address on QRZ is bad, as well as the one on his web page,, > > anyone? > > Joe WB9SBD > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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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Dispelling a myth.
by John Hackett 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

I was rather amused at a question I received the other day ... "Why wasn't Great Britain involved in space?" ... like America, Russia, Japan, India and China. Errr ... I wonder if the words Jodrell Bank, Blue Streak, Woomera ... and in more modern times, SSTL would mean anything to the person who asked the question. How about the "other" magician ... MERLIN - (anno 2008) ... MERLIN = Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network. MERLIN operates at frequencies from 151Mhz to 24Ghz. At 5Mhz the resolution of MERLIN is better than 50 milliarcseconds, (quote) ... "somewhat greater than that of the Hubble telescope" ... (unquote). Oh, I'd say Great Britain 'is' involved in space. Perusal of the JODRELL BANK web pages ought to dispel any myths as to whether the 'Limey's' are involved in space or not. The Lovell telescope - (76m) - is the centrepiece of an impressive array of dishes on my old stomping ground at Holmes Chappel - it is also available with it's own "live" web pages. If "precision" - (space tracking) - is your thing I'd suggest you check out the parameters ... where "error" is quoted as ... 0.0000 in azimuth and elevation ... and the diameter of the main dish is *only* 76 meters. The Russians asked the 'mad professors' at Jodrell Bank to help track Sputnik way back in 1957 ... was that early enough to justify a 'presence' in space exploration?. It wasn't just the Germans who messed about with RADAR and clandestine radios in the war, you know. I can tell you ... when you start getting 'whacked' on the head by V1 rockets chucked at you from Germany, you start taking an interest in 'space'. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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Re: A considerate operating practice on FM (one channel) satellites, Europe take 2
by OZ1MY 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

Hi all, Thanks for the many positive replies. More than one says that it would be a good idea to have the article translated for the different national magazines in Europe. Tonight I will update the article and hope that at least one radio amateur in each European country will volunteer to translate from my English to the necessary language - and try to get it in the national magazine. Just send me an e-mail direct and you will get the article. The offer is not limited to Europe :-) By the way I like the FM satellites and use them. 73 OZ1MY Ib

10 19

ANDE Award Arrived to Argentina
by Gustavo Carpignano 05 Feb '08

05 Feb '08

Hi folks, got my ANDE award today and is it ever nice. 73 Gustavo,LW2DTZ --------------------------------- Yahoo! Encuentros Ahora encontrar pareja es mucho más fácil, probá el nuevo Yahoo! Encuentros. Visitá http://yahoo.cupidovirtual.com/servlet/NewRegistration

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Automatic doppler tracking of DSB
by James Whitfield 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

I am trying to find out if there has been any development of a frequency tracking system to compensate for doppler shift, or at least find a person or organization with which to discuss concepts. I tried to contact AMSAT about this more than a week ago, but there has been no response. I have tried to contact AMSAT again, and decided to try this bulletin board as well. It started when I read that AO-16 had been placed in a test mode with an FM uplink and DSB downlink. I remembered a diagram of a double sideband suppressed carrier ( DSB ) demodulation technique that used a variation of a phased locked loop to recover the frequency and phase of the original carrier. I realized that it should be able to track the "original carrier" through the doppler shift caused by the relative motion between the satellite and the receiving station. I decided to find out more about the concept. I was not able to find any reference to the technique having been used with satellites, but I believe the system is called a Costas Receiver, or perhaps is refered to as a Costas Loop. If someone knows if this was used for doppler frequency tracking, please let me know where I can get more information. If there is a person or organization that would be better suited to my inquiry, I would like to know that as well. Thank you. James Whitfield n5gui

5 5

PacComm RF Modems
by Stargate 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Hi all, I have 3 PacComm RF modems that I'm trying to figure a good use for. I looking for any information regarding them such as programming, interesting ideas to use them for, ect.... These look like they were AVL units since they have a GPS receiver board inside them and a Midland 70-201BD UHF data/voice transmitter as well. There are 3 units with the model numbers.... 1. "Base station" (no GPS receiver in this one) 2. "Head" 3. "Tail" Here are a few pictures.... http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ool9/paccomm/paccomm1.jpg http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ool9/paccomm/paccomm2.jpg http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ool9/paccomm/paccomm3.jpg http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ool9/paccomm/paccomm4.jpg http://mysite.verizon.net/vze1ool9/paccomm/paccomm5.jpg I have SOME information on reprogramming the Midland radio's inside but I'm still trying to find the schematic for the programming adaptor/cable. I've located the ACC900 software and some schematics for the Midland data radio but I haven't found anything for the complete PacComm unit or the radio programming adaptor yet. Does anyone have any information thay can be provide about these? These might make great APRS units if I can figure them out. The Midland radio's have "9.6kb mod" written on them so they must have already been modified for that speed. From what I have read, the Midland radio's can be used up to 19k2. I have talked with PacComm and they are looking for information for me but I thought someone here might be knowledgeable about them. I hooked them up to my serial port and they seem to take a few common packet commands. Any interesting ideas or help/info would be appreciated very much! Thanks, RoD KD0XX

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Looking for contact info for KB9KTD
by Joe 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

The address on QRZ is bad, as well as the one on his web page,, anyone? Joe WB9SBD

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First contact
by truckwiz 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

HI, I finally got to hear the ISS for the first time, they where talking to a guy from South Dakota. Now I have the bug. Brian

3 2

SSTL Wins Canadian Deal (from Satellite Today)
by Eric Rosenberg 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Congratulations to Martin, Jeff and SSTL! Eric W3DQ Washington, DC ------------------------------ SSTL Wins Canadian Deal February 1, 2008 [Satellite Today – 2-1-08] Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) won a contract from MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to deliver a satellite platform as part of the Sapphire space object surveillance program, SSTL announced Feb. 1. The two-year program is part of a contract from Canada's Department of National Defence valued at 65 million Canadian dollars ($65.2 million). The contract has options that cover mission support, operations and maintenance. The mission will provide a satellite-based resident space object observing service that will provide accurate tracking data on deep space orbiting objects. Sapphire will feature a space-based data collection platform for continuous surveillance of man-made objects in medium- to high-Earth orbits (6,000 to 40,000 kilometers). The data collected will be processed by a ground-based system and the results will be used to update the U.S. Satellite Catalogue used by North American Aerospace Defense Command and Canada to provide space situational awareness. ----------

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Re: mentpor help
by Jonathan Wagner 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

The problem is, besides probably being cost prohibitive, you blow your 250mW power budget out of the water with the FPGA. Using Actel's Power Calculator spreadsheet and the specs from the ARM7 IP Core datasheet, you're looking at a worst case of 543 mW with just the core in the 250k gate version and up to a watt in the bigger versions. That said, thanks for the input. The team needs this kind of input to guide them in their decision processes. Jonathan Wagner Office: (337)993-0778 Cell: (337)781-1513 Nick Pugh wrote: > Thanks for responce. Would you be willing to get on a web x conference > with the team? > > nick > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* G0MRF(a)aol.com <mailto:[email protected]> > *To:* quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net <mailto:[email protected]> ; > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]> > *Cc:* zpan(a)louisiana.edu <mailto:[email protected]> > *Sent:* Sunday, February 03, 2008 5:54 PM > *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] mentpor help > > Hello Nick. > > Alternatively, you may be able to implement the microprocessor > functions in radiation tolerent FPGA from Actel. > > 200 - 300k rads seems to be the limit. > > http://www.actel.com/products/milaero/rtaxs/default.aspx > > Thanks > > David > > > In a message dated 03/02/2008 17:05:24 GMT Standard Time, > quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net <mailto:[email protected]> writes: > > This processor is planed to fly on the CAPE II satellite on > 2009. It is anticipated that this will involve two one hour > session a month via WEB X. We are seeking those have skill in > designing fault tolerant microprocessors and he have knowledge > how high energy particles effect memory chips. > > >

1 0

PCSAT
by Andrew Rich 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Is PCSAT active only in sun ? The amsat website says its is down, My data streams says it is up 04/02/2008 19:14:57 TA1D>CQ,W3ADO-1*,qAo,G4HYG-1:=4104.14N/02859.67E-73 via sat NO-44 .. kadri {UIV32} 04/02/2008 19:14:38 DG4BR>APU25J,W3ADO-1*,qAo,TA1D:=5309.56N/00727.87E-Op: Alfred {UIV32N} 04/02/2008 19:14:03 W3ADO-1>BEACON,SGATE,qAo,TA1D:T#015,098,091,049,126,214,11111111,0010,1 04/02/2008 19:13:38 DG4BR>APU25J,W3ADO-1*,qAO,SP7THR-5:=5309.56N/00727.87E-Op: Alfred {UIV32N} 04/02/2008 19:13:02 W3ADO-1>BEACON,SGATE,qAO,SP7THR-5:T#014,097,086,091,124,214,11111111,0001,1 04/02/2008 19:12:36 TA1D>CQ,W3ADO-1*,qAO,SP7THR-5:=4104.14N/02859.67E-73 via sat NO-44 .. kadri {UIV32} 04/02/2008 19:12:03 W3ADO-1>BEACON,SGATE,qAo,TA1D:T#013,017,129,079,023,214,11111111,0000,1 04/02/2008 19:10:16 TA1D>CQ,W3ADO-1*,qAO,EA4EKH-6:=4104.14N/02859.67E-73 via sat NO-44 .. kadri {UIV32} 04/02/2008 19:10:07 PCSAT-12>BEACON,SGATE,qAO,EA4EKH-6:T#011,096,084,100,112,214,11111111,0010,1 04/02/2008 19:10:02 W3ADO-1>BEACON,SGATE,qAO,EA4EKH-6:T#011,096,088,048,125,214,11111111,0010,1 04/02/2008 19:09:03 W3ADO-1>BEACON,SGATE,qAO,EA4EKH-6:T#010,095,086,088,119,213,11111111,0001,1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net

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Really nothing
by Dave Guimont 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Wow! This BBS is turning into a mutual admiration society.. Hope we get back to amateur satellite radio! 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

3 2

Sat DX
by Clare Fowler 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

Of the 227 countries I have worked on satellite my most memorable one was with HC8/XE1KK (Galapagos) on UO-14. UO-14 was a single channel FM bird with an altitude of about 800 km. The distance from my QTH to there is 3277 miles which by itself is no record. I had worked Ramon on 10 meters and I mentioned I spent most of my time on satellites. He immediately came back saying he was working sats from there and he would love a contact with me. I looked at Instant Track and found we had a mutual window for about 3 minutes the next day with a max elevation of about 3 degrees for each of us. As well the path would be over North America in the afternoon with lots of activity for QRM. I didnt have much hope I would hear him let alone make an exchange. However we managed to do just that. I have his card dated 27 Mar 2002 Clare VE3NPC

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AO-51 Cardboard Model needs test builders!
by Stefan Wagener 04 Feb '08

04 Feb '08

AO-51 Satellite Cardboard Model Hi folks, I have just finished the 1st prototype of an AO-51 cardboard model design and would like to give a few dedicated individuals the opportunity to actually build the model and help me with the final design and the necessary instructions. At this stage I will need individuals that have built cardboard models (ships, airplanes, rockets etc.) before and don't need detailed instructions but know the tools that are required to assemble such a model. Pictures of the current prototype can be seen at: www.msig.ca/model.html It is still a work in progress and hopefully will end up as a product that AMSAT can offer for a donation. I designed the model in a 1:1 scale but for the purpose of this project it has been reduced to 75% size. This will allow builders to print it on regular size photo paper and still have a beautiful model for display in the shack or wherever. Building the model will require time, patience and a color printer since the model is distributed as pdf files. This form of distribution will save me paper and will allow you to print it as many times as you need (trust me, once you messed up the first piece, you will be glad that you can print it again). As mentioned above, I am looking for up to five test builders (with experience) that are willing and able to finish the model in four to five weeks. No, it is not a two hour project and dedication to detail and exact cutting and gluing is required. Those that help and provide me with updates on their progress and final feedback will get the final distribution files as well as the model files in a 1:1 scale. Send me an email off line if you are interested! 73, Stefan VE4NSA

1 0

Re: mentpor help
by G0MRF＠aol.com 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hello Nick. Alternatively, you may be able to implement the microprocessor functions in radiation tolerent FPGA from Actel. 200 - 300k rads seems to be the limit. _http://www.actel.com/products/milaero/rtaxs/default.aspx_ (http://www.actel.com/products/milaero/rtaxs/default.aspx) Thanks David In a message dated 03/02/2008 17:05:24 GMT Standard Time, quadpugh(a)bellsouth.net writes: This processor is planed to fly on the CAPE II satellite on 2009. It is anticipated that this will involve two one hour session a month via WEB X. We are seeking those have skill in designing fault tolerant microprocessors and he have knowledge how high energy particles effect memory chips.

1 0

Atlanta 08
by G0MRF＠aol.com 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Has the date of the 2008 symposium been set ? I saw the announcement saying it was going to be held in Atlanta but haven't been able to locate the dates. Sorry if this has been posted and I missed it. Just forward planning. Regards David G0MRF

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SuitSat 1 Anniversary !!
by Stefan Wagener 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Message from Frank Bauer, KA3HDO .............. All, Today marks the 2nd anniversary of the deployment of SuitSat-1/Radioskaf/AO-54 from the ISS. I want to take this opportunity to thank all the volunteers around the world that supported the SuitSat-1 development, deployment, public outreach and ground station reception. Despite its lateness, I would also like to announce that the SuitSat Certificates have been mailed to the regional QSL distributors who will, in turn, mail these to you in the very near future. Specifically, this is the ARRL in the U.S. and ARISS-EU in Europe. The Canadian certificates were mailed directly to their QTHs. I will take responsibility for the lateness in delivery of these. My extensive work travel over the past two years coupled with needing to focus on keeping the ARISS program alive despite looming budget threats were factors in not getting these to you in a timely basis. I hope you will enjoy them, just the same. I ask that you please wait for about 2 weeks before making further requests regarding the certificates. I would expect that they will be in your hands in that time frame. At the end of February will we make a second call regarding the certificates, if for some reason you did not receive it from us. 2008 brings new opportunities to you, the hams interested in ARISS. This, as we plan to commemorate the 25th anniversary of human spaceflight ham radio operation---the flight of Owen Garriott, W5LFL on the space shuttle Columbia, STS-9 in 1983. As you know, we are working to bring SuitSat-2 to reality. It is not clear when it will be deployed, but we are working feverishly to have it ready for deployment before the end of the year. And we expect to have significant ARISS crew participation starting in the October timeframe with the launch of the Expedition 18 crew and Soyuz taxi flight. As we get more details on specifics, the ARISS team will inform you through e-mail and the ARISS and ISS Fan Club Web sites. I thank all of you for your interest in ARISS. This program is truly inspirational for students, the ham radio community, and the communities surrounding the schools that have been touched by the 334 (to date) school contacts conducted since December 2001. Enjoy the currently operational ARISS voice repeater! 73, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS Internatonal Chairman AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

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Stretching the footprint!!
by Frank A Cahoy 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Congrats Bob. I'm actually jealous. I have yet to hear Europe on AO-7 but that's only because I've been very QRV on HF. I'm sure it can be done from DN81. It's a feather in your hat no matter how you look at it. I think I'll throw my hat into the ring for footprint stretching. I have to go back to AO-40 for my bragging rights. On 20 Oct. 2003 I worked VK9CD in NH87 and that figures to about 10073 miles to DN81. I was hearing the fellows on the West Coast work VK9CD and again, I was very jealous because I figured I had but only 8 to 10 minute window under the best of conditions. To make matters worse the window was totally below 10 degrees of elevation. Then rubbing salt into the wound was a very tall line of Chinese Elm trees between my sat antennas the horizon. When I saw that I had a slight chance I began calling them. The West Coast guys told me that VK9CD was hearing me! I could not hear them or my own downlink. Determination was also the key for me. I finally heard them ever so faintly just as LOS was almost on us. All of the sudden I heard my call clearly and distinctly and the exchange happened in literally, the last few seconds of the footprint. I stepped out on my front steps to try and figure how such a piece of great good luck could have happened. Looking up at that row of trees I saw a "hole" through the leaves about the size of a bushel basket. My prize piece of AO-40 DX was worked in the few seconds that the bird was actually "line of sight". BTW, all of this on CW!! This may be off subject a bit but I've been a DXer for 47+ years and that was by far one of my most memorable QSOs satellite, HF or otherwise. I was never tempted to post the above story until Bob's good fortune on AO-7. See what great fun we could have with an AO-10 type bird up in an HEO!! That's it. I'm climbing down off my soapbox. 73 to all. Frank, KØBLT

2 1

AO-16 in repeater mode
by Jim White 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

In ANS this week the note on AO-16 is a bit incomplete regarding the current state of the satellite. Here is some further detail. The on-board computer has not failed. What is no longer working is the computer's ability to access the EDAC SRAM needed to run uploaded software. The boot loader (MBL) software was burned into ROM prior to launch and continues to run. The processor itself works OK and is running that MBL software just fine. One of the unique features of MBL is that it does not use any SRAM but runs entirely in processor registers. It also does not use DMA or interrupts. One of the design goals was for it to continue to run even when several hardware things had failed - and that has proven to work well now that the SRAM access no longer works. With the computer still processing instructions and running MBL it remains possible to send commands directly to various hardware modules using the AART bus (another innovation in these satellites). It is that capability which allowed the mode to be switched. Further, we know the computer continues to successfully run MBL because any glitch in processing would likely reset the computer. That would cause MBL to restart and reset the hardware to the default, turning off the U TX, and resetting the downlink to digital. Should that happen it might be possible to get it back into the repeat mode, and perhaps do that more than once. But at this point it's anyone guess how long enough hardware will work to allow more use from this rugged old bird. Jim jim(a)coloradosatellite.com wd0e(a)amsat.org

1 0

FCAL & Quakesat
by Chris Bloy 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hi All, Is FCAL still in orbit or has it gone the way of ANDE? Also, anyone heard Quakesat this month? Thanks, Chris No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.18/1255 - Release Date: 01/02/2008 09:59

2 2

Re: Tired on off topic fake QSO:s on this reflector
by Steven Raas 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

I can understand this statement, however.. I for one can assure you that Knowing that there is a data base in the program is EAISLY overcome, with one simple step.. you don't fill in the call sign or grid box.. and you put your radio on desired frequency and listen. None of my low power eme qso's had pre filled in fields waiting for pro-signs to confirm a qso. So with that being said.. enjoy your pseudo QRP eme qso's using jt65, I know I did.. and when I get back on the air.. I will again. Steve Raas N2JDQ 'Hello, I would be happy to punch you back to stoneage with your deep search fake QSO:s Read more on http://www.sm2cew.com/jt65.html Hakan SM7WSJ' Re: 25 watt Moonbounce > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <001201c865dd$b057c8e0$0b01a8c0@homepc> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi list, > > I am using a homebrew single 6 el. Yagi (DK7ZB design 10.15dBd gain) > on the terrace of my house (approx 8ft above ground on a tripod))for "QRP EME" > operations regularly. I am running about 90-100 Watt into this antenna > (approx 1 KW ERP). This is real QRP for EME standards. > > See here: > http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=146 <http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=146&call=DJ0MY&> &call=DJ0MY& > bbycal > l=1 > > Usually Gary KB8RQ always comes back on my first calls (even without > prior announcement of my call in one of the usual EME internet chat rooms). > > Thus, I would guess that it would even work with much less power (I > just never tried it)...so it seems "normal practice" at least with big > gun stations of the size of KB8RQ, W5UN, etc. > > I would even say if he could work KB8RQ with 25w he should give RN6BN > a try with only 10-15w (he uses most likely the largest private array > on earth since he has recently expanded it). The smallest station he > ever worked via OSCAR 0 was a 4 el. yagi with 40W. I am sure you can > even decode him on a > dipole+preamp, since he has exorbitant strong signals (even compared > dipole+to > other big guns). > > RX is generally not the problem: I can copy 2 and 4 yagi stations very > frequently. I even copied some single longyagi (6 lambda boom length) > stations with my tiny antenna in the past a few times. The only > problem is the return path where you simply would need more HF power. > > In total I have already worked about 8 stations (the smallest were 8 > yagi group stations) and had more than 15 QSOs with my tiny setup > during the past year. > > This is of course only possible with the help of WSJT software and > JT65 mode, hi !!! Otherwise we would still be stuck in EME stone age. > > 73 de Oscar DJ0MY _______________________________________________ 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 Steven J.Raas

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Tired on off topic fake QSO:s on this reflector
by Håkan Harrysson 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hello, I would be happy to punch you back to stoneage with your deep search fake QSO:s Read more on http://www.sm2cew.com/jt65.html Hakan SM7WSJ Re: 25 watt Moonbounce > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <001201c865dd$b057c8e0$0b01a8c0@homepc> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi list, > > I am using a homebrew single 6 el. Yagi (DK7ZB design 10.15dBd gain) on the > terrace of my house (approx 8ft above ground on a tripod))for "QRP EME" > operations regularly. I am running about 90-100 Watt into this antenna > (approx 1 KW ERP). This is real QRP for EME standards. > > See here: > http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=146&call=DJ0MY&bbycal > l=1 > > Usually Gary KB8RQ always comes back on my first calls (even without prior > announcement of my call in one of the usual EME internet chat rooms). > > Thus, I would guess that it would even work with much less power (I just > never tried it)...so it seems "normal practice" at least with big gun > stations of the size of KB8RQ, W5UN, etc. > > I would even say if he could work KB8RQ with 25w he should give RN6BN a try > with only 10-15w (he uses most likely the largest private array on earth > since he has recently expanded it). The smallest station he ever worked via > OSCAR 0 was a 4 el. yagi with 40W. I am sure you can even decode him on a > dipole+preamp, since he has exorbitant strong signals (even compared to > other big guns). > > RX is generally not the problem: I can copy 2 and 4 yagi stations very > frequently. I even copied some single longyagi (6 lambda boom length) > stations with my tiny antenna in the past a few times. The only problem is > the return path where you simply would need more HF power. > > In total I have already worked about 8 stations (the smallest were 8 yagi > group stations) and had more than 15 QSOs with my tiny setup during the past > year. > > This is of course only possible with the help of WSJT software and JT65 > mode, hi !!! Otherwise we would still be stuck in EME stone age. > > 73 de Oscar DJ0MY

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mentpor help
by Nick Pugh 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

The University of Louisiana is asking for a volunteers to help mentor a senior design capstone project to design and test to destruction with high dose of radiation a communication control and data handling processor. This processor is planed to fly on the CAPE II satellite on 2009. It is anticipated that this will involve two one hour session a month via WEB X. We are seeking those have skill in designing fault tolerant microprocessors and he have knowledge how high energy particles effect memory chips. If you which to help students become practical engineers please let me here from you thank nick k5qxj

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Satellites on 1200Mhz
by Vincenzo Mone 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Hi to the list, as I have been off the satellites for a while I would like to know if there are any satellites still active on 1200 MHz 144/1200 430/1200 or viceversa. Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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[ans] ANS-034 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-034 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-16 Status * AMSAT STraight key nite winners * ISS Cross Band Repeater * DC Area AMSAT Gathering * OSCAR 11 Report * ARISS Status - 28 January 2008 * ANDE De-Orbit Awards Have Been Mailed * ARISS INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN MOVES INTO NEW POSITION AT NASA SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.01 AO-16 Status AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.01 AO-16 is now alive and well. Many contacts going through the previously packet only satellite. Uplink on 145.920 and downlink 437.026. Its downlink is best heard in USB mode since it is a doubleside band, reduced carrier transmitter. Thanks to someone that assisted in assembling this satellite for remembering a simple command to link tx and rx for direct communications not using the failed onboard computer. [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information] SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.02 AMSAT Straight key nite winners AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.02 Many thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2008, held in memory of Haruo Yoneda, ex-JA1ANG. Only two linear-transponder satellites were available this year, AO-7 and VO-52. Two enterprising hams, W6ASL and WA8SME, didn't let that stop them: they used audio oscillators to work each other through the FM transponder of AO-51. That counts too! The silence of FO-29 notwithstanding, a record 15 amateurs each received at least one Best Fist nomination from someone they worked. The increase in European activity was especially welcome. This year's winners are: Jay Garlitz, AA4FL Sergei Pyatygin, ER1AN Laszlo Kekes, HA5FB Ron Gorzynski, K8DID Frank Wiesenmeyer, K9CIS Scott Newell, KA8HOK Keith O'Brien, N4ZQ Allen Mattis, N5AFV Al Ozias, N7EQF Rolf Moberg, OH6KXL Andy Macallister, W5ACM Jim Van Striver, W6ASL Mike Herr, WA6ARA Mark Spencer, WA8SME Neven Mrduljas, 9A5YY Congratulations to all. See you next year! [ANS Thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.03 ISS Repeater AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.03 The ISS cross band repeater is on and functioning as of this announcement. It is on Uplink - 437.800FM Downlink - 145.800FM. It is quite strong and can be heard well on a simple setup. I read a report that "someone" called CQ and there was no -one coming back to him. Listen and give it a shot. [ANS thanks Tony, K2MO, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.04 DC Area AMSAT Gathering AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.04 Meeting Announcement-AMSAT-DC We will meet in Pioneer Hall at the Historical Electronics Museum. Same place as last year, same time as last year, for at least one more time. If you can't make Dayton or the Symposium, plan to attend this great gathering. Clip and share! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2008 AMSAT-DC MEETING AND SPACE SEMINAR WHO: YOU are invited! Amateur radio operators, students, educators and the public are all invited. WHAT: Talks, demos, tutorials and socializing about amateur satellites and high-altitude balloon experiments in the greater mid-Atlantic USA area. A full day of activities! WHEN: Saturday, March 15, 2008, starting at 11:00 A.M. local. WHERE: Historical Electronics Museum (HEM) at 1745 West Nursery Road, Linthicum, Maryland 21090 (near BWI airport). In Pioneer Hall. HEM directions at http://www.hem-usa.org/ WHY: Fun, education, public service, training, cool stuff, and more fun. HOW: Talk-in on 146.760 MHz (107.2 Hz PL on some receiver sites) HOST: Pat Kilroy, n8pk(a)amsat.org or Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov WEB: Check the AMSAT-DC page http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ for late breaking news. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Notes: Please download the AMSAT-DC-2008 flier from the AMSAT-DC web page, print copies and share them widely, like at a club meeting, at a hamfest, in a public library, in a school, and other visible places. Meeting preparations are being conducted on the amsat-dc e-mail list. Go to the link at top of the AMSAT-DC page to subscribe. This year will feature something new, a Pot Luck luncheon! You may bring a favorite dish to share. See the AMSAT-DC web page for additional info or please contact the host, yours truly, at n8pk(a)amsat.org. Free paved parking is available a short walk from the museum front door. Like before, monetary donations will be accepted to help offset the associated meeting and seminar costs. Like last year, we'd like to in turn donate a portion to the museum for the use of their facility. Outrageous fun, learning, and camaraderie are in store for you. See you there! 73, Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area [ANS thanks Pat, N8PK, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.05 OSCAR 11 Report AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.05 OSCAR-11 Report for 26 January 2008 This report covers the period from 19 December 2007 to 26 January 2008. After two months of silence from 20 November, when eclipses started, the satellite resumed transmissions on 22 January 2008. At the time of writing signals are consistantly strong, although the polarisation is very variable, with a cycle time of around 20 seconds, causing deep fading if the antenna polarisation is fixed. This suggests that the satellite may be tumbling. If the current watchdog cycle continues uninterrupted, the 145.826 MHz beacon should switch off around 01 February and on again around 11 February. However, if low battery voltage causes the watchdog timer to reset, then the beacon should switch on 21 days later. I am indebted to Peter ZL3TC, Mark KU7Z, Gene WA4UKX, SWL Mark in CM87, Ron G4PGY, Julian WB9YIG, John HB2HSH and Edward BX1AD for their reports. Many thanks. The satellite is now in continuous sunlight, and this is expected to continue until mid March, when eclipses will start again. Unfortunately eclipses will then become a permanent feature of the orbit, which is likely to prevent any periods of sustained operation after March. When telemetry was last received it showed that one of the solar arrays had failed, and there was a large unexplained current drain on the main 14 volt bus. After 23 years in orbit the battery has undergone around 100,000 partial charge/discharge cycles, and observations suggest that it cannot power the satellite during eclipses, or sometimes during periods of poor solar attitude. The Beacon frequency is 145.826 MHz. (AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry) Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting my website. If you need to know what OSCAR-11 should sound like, there is a short audio clip for you to hear. There is an example of the latest telemetry received from the satellite. The website contains an archive of news & telemetry data. It also contains details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ 73 Clive G3CWV [ANS thanks Clive, G3CWV for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.06 ARISS Status - 28 January 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.06 1. ARISS School Contacts Status Due to crew schedules onboard the ISS, no Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts are planned at this time. The ARISS team expects contacts to resume once STS-122 launches in early February. 2. STS-120 Crew Talks with Italian Students On January 22, STS-120 crewmembers visited “La Sapienza” University in Rome where approximately 600 students from several universities and high schools gathered. Among those in attendance were students from the schools that participated in ARISS contacts with astronauts Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA, and Clay Anderson, KD5PLA. The crew gave a presentation on their mission which included educational activities, and showed videos to their audience. The complete story and photos of the event have been posted on the ARISS Web site. See: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2008_01_25.htm 3. Astronaut Training Status On Wednesday, January 23, Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, RN3DX, participated in a simulation of an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contact. The Kenwood D700 radio in the JSC Service Module mockup was used for the contact. He spoke with the training support team who participated as students, asking Oleg questions about space and his visit on the ISS. Kononenko is scheduled as a flight engineer on Expedition 17. A basic Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) operations and school contact class was held with Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, and Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, on January 24. Wakata is scheduled to fly to the ISS on 15A (STS-119) toward the end of 2008 as Flight Engineer-2 during Expedition 18. Noguchi is the backup for that flight and could participate as part of the 6 man ISS crew operations in 2010. Mike Barratt, KD5MIJ, has been scheduled for an ARISS training session at JSC on Tuesday, January 29. Barratt is a backup crewmember for Expedition 18. 4. ARISS Looking for New Telebridge Stations The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) team is currently looking to expand its telebridge station network. The proposal has been announced on the ARISS Web site. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article, “ARISS Team Looking for Ground Stations,” which may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/01/22/100/?nc=1 The ARRL Letter also ran the announcement. See: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0125/ 5. ARRL Article on JPL Amateur Radio Club Anniversary The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article, “Jet Propulsion Lab's Amateur Radio Club Marks 50 Years in Space.” See: http://www.arrl.org/?artid=7957 [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.07 ANDE De-Orbit Awards Have Been Mailed AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.07 ANDE De-Orbit Awards Have Been Mailed ANDE Awards have been mailed the last week of January.Details are available here: http://www.ande-deorbit.com/status.shtml In case you did not sign up yet, there is still a chance to do so: http://www.ande-deorbit.com/submission.shtml Mailing may take a week or so, but you should expect them one of these days in your mailbox ! For those interested, on the website there is the full overview of all telemetry of the final days (incl. the very last one, by JA0CAW). Also all the TLE (kepler sets) since launch: http://www.ande-deorbit.com/ande_all_tle.txt [ANS thanks Henk, PA3GUO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-034.08 ARISS INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN MOVES INTO NEW POSITION AT NASA AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.08 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 3, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-034.08 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, was named recently as the NASA Headquarters Chief Engineer for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). ESMD is NASA's initiative to develop a sustained human presence on the moon, promote space exploration and serve as a stepping stone to Mars and beyond. As ESMD Chief Engineer, he provides systems engineering advice and consultation to resolve some of the most demanding and complex technical and organizational challenges within the Exploration Program. Bauer and Rosalie White, K1STO, are the two ARISS delegates for the US. He is the Vice President of Human Spaceflight Programs for the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Bauer was a 2006 nominee for the Rotary National Award for Space Acheivement, bestowed upon him for "his tireless work to engage the youth of our nation and the world in the exploration of space through unique direct communications made possible by Amateur Radio on human spaceflight missions." Bauer is the recipient of NASA's 2002 Outstanding Leadership Medal, the 1997 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal -- bestowed for Pioneering Efforts in Spaceborne GPS -- and NASA's 1992 Exceptional Service Medal (for agency contributions in GN&C). He received the Silver Snoopy Award, the highly prestigious NASA Human Spaceflight Awareness award, in 1992. For more information about ARISS, please visit the ARISS Web page <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm>. [ANS Thanks, ARRL news for the above item] /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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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Tracking program VS doppler corr
by Luc Leblanc 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Feed up in running after my tail i give a try to a doppler tracking program on AO-16. I could be put the bar a bit too high using this one but i ended always off by a couple of KC on the RX side (probably the same on TX uplink) I guess i will have to play a bit with some parameters? i'm using Nova and FT-847 super control. I guess the benefits will be more visible on the transponder type? Thank's for your inputs and here is "another" tracking program but on line and based on your IP address http://www.n2yo.com/ "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: FW: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power).
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

-------------- Original message -------------- From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net John/etc To requalify- This is my capability! I use only the exciter IC-451 1-8W. I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of AO-7. However when attempting work footprint edge to footprint edge, I did run some power momentarily to find my down link. Yes John I have read all the available information regarding the history and operation of AO-7. John, I trust you will take the liberty to CC this email to the EU AMSAT reflector, their mail bounces back. I should have reread my initial post to the bb, as the context is not correct. My apologies to all for the justifyable outrage this has caused. I conscientiously make every effort to follow all the rules written and unwritten. I will look into the wet shoestring concept. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle -------------- Original message -------------- From: john hackett <la2qaa(a)hotmail.com> > > For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing > ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly > say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... > you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more > than your fair share of the available power. > > Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power > is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM > transponder. > > There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for > knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. > > If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the > subject. > > 73 John > > From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com > To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > CC: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com > Subject: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power). > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:41:04 +0100 > > > > > > > > > Oh - my - God!, > > >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp > >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat > >is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD That's not an AO-7 station Bob, it's an EME station. > > Did you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 > > > > 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used > more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place > worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. > > I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector > because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 > elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. > > I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should > maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - > (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. > > AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so > much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. > > It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - > though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - > a wet shoelace ought to suffice. > > NB. > > You did say 40 elem ents ... did you mean 4 ???. > > 73 John. > ................................................................................ > ...... > > > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > > > Hello > > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 > feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a > 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about > 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with > OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the > horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my > down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle > > > > -- > > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > 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! > Sub scription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

2 1

ande-award arrived tks
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

hi folks, got my ande award today and is it ever nice. going to frame it up in hamshack. 73 all kc8gkf west michigan usa

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Re: Explorer I
by David Donaldson 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Guys, thanks for sharing of personal history! But some engineers have all the fun and some of us just design cellsite...lol History is always welcome on this list!! Sent with Wireless Sync from Verizon Wireless by DAVE DONALDSON-Burnsville MN Amateur radio: WB7DRU Navy Mars: NNN0AXK ---- Original Message ---- From: "Edward Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> Date: 2/2/08 11:47 am To: "Davidoff, Martin" <MDAVIDOFF(a)ccbcmd.edu> ; "AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org" <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Subj: [amsat-bb] Re: Explorer I Martin, I was involved with the MA-10 (MVM-73) mission as a project engineer at the 210-foot Goldstone tracking station that followed MA-10 around Venus and on to Mercury. I was involved in the Venus dual-band (S/X) atmospheric study. I was one of the two receiver operators that tracked MA-10's signal as it was occulted behind Venus. The differential bending of the two microwave signals provided one of the first direct measurements of Venus' atmospheric density. How time flies! (34-years). 73 Ed - KL7UW At 08:54 AM 2/1/2008, Davidoff, Martin wrote: >1 February 2008 > > Reading the comments on the Explorer I Spacecraft by Roy (W0SL) >and Dan (N8FGV) has certainly stimulated lots of old memories. > > In late 1983 I attended a presentation by James Van Allen at a >meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in DC convened to celebrate >25 years in space. At this point in time the development of the Space >Transportation System (The Shuttle) was being seriously debated. > > Most (!!!) scientists of the era thought the program was a >political boondoggle whose costs would seriously impede the progress of >real space science. As Van Allen, a spokesperson for this group, put it >(my paraphrase) -- These guys claim they're going to reduce my launch >costs by a factor of 100 by taking a scientific instrument with a one >cubic foot volume, putting it in a bus and adding all the life support >systems necessary for five people. > > These past few weeks we've seen spectacular photos of Mercury >taken by the Messenger Spacecraft on its first flyby of the planet. How >many people realize that the Messenger mission is the follow on to >NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft which mapped about 45 percent of the >Mercury's surface during three flybys in 1974 and 1975. Because (?) of >the Shuttle Program it took us more than three decades to return. > >de K2ubc (Martin Davidoff) > > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of Roy >Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:33 PM >To: AMSAT BBS >Subject: [amsat-bb] Explorer I > >If I'm not mistaken this is the 50th anniversary of the launch of >Explorer I, the USA's first satellite put in orbit. I listened to the >telemetry broadcast on 108 mHz and recorded it. The JPL had asked for >the loan of any recordings made so I sent them out for their analysis. >I received my original tapes back along with a supply of new reels of >tape for use in making further recordings. JPL sent copies on to the >Air Force Research Center at Cambridge. > >I later received letters from JPL and the Air Force Research Center >describing the data they had recovered from the recordings relative to >micrometeorite impacts and other items. It was a really exciting period > >for Amateur Radio. > >-- >Roy -- W0SL >_______________________________________________ >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 > > >-- >BEGIN-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS >------------------------------------------------------ > >Teach CanIt if this mail (ID 34618761) is spam: >Spam: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=s >Not spam: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=n >Forget vote: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=f >------------------------------------------------------ >END-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS > > >_______________________________________________ >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 73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! ---

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TNX for the AO-16 QSOs!
by Andrew.MacAllister＠emerson.com 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

Howdy! We are just finishing up our cruise to the western Caribbean (W5ACM, W5GFP, WA5TWT, WA5WOD, N5RPQ and WB5RMA). Over 90 QSOs were made using my call W5ACM/MM from the Carnival Conquest. We made some AO-16 passes with excellent results, but I must admit that it is a bit difficult to do FM up and SSB down while standing out on the deck of a ship with handheld gear! Most of the contacts were via AO-51 (much easier), but we were amazed at the signal strength of the AO-16 downlink. It was REALLY EXCELLENT!! 73 de Andy W5ACM/MM

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DX on AO-7
by Darin Cowan 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

>>I'm not sure if this contact is a record distance, but I >>will claim it until I'm knocked off my pedestal. At >>about 1915Z I worked Mika-OH8MBN in KP24, I'm in CN87 >>(running 8W John). I heard OH8MBN calling CQ on AO-7 today, so I'm glad someone came back to him. We at VE3JW didn't have the key handy to reply ourselves. Unfortunately we couldn't decipher any of the voice signals. The satellite seemed crowded, but we were unable to copy any callsigns :( But, we did hear it and it's nice to know that it's up and running. Darin Cowan VE3OIJ

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Re: record AO7B
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Feb '08

03 Feb '08

My fame was short lived! I acquesce my DX record to Joe K3SZH (I think he owns AO-7). I lost by about 200 miles. Now Joe my friend you are the target. Enjoy! 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: "k3szh(a)netzero.net" <k3szh(a)netzero.net> > Bob W7LRD you did great on AO7B,Persistence that's what it takes.My price is > with Fabio PY4AJ grid GH70UN for 4610 miles. > 73 > Joe > K3SZH > Amsat 3788 > _____________________________________________________________ > Click for free information on court reporter careers, $100 per hour potential. > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4s110SbBzG2oEokhBKuJpf… > auCKxw2u36UvX96V2hCzb/ > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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record AO7B
by k3szh＠netzero.net 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Bob W7LRD you did great on AO7B,Persistence that's what it takes.My price is with Fabio PY4AJ grid GH70UN for 4610 miles. 73 Joe K3SZH Amsat 3788 _____________________________________________________________ Click for free information on court reporter careers, $100 per hour potential. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4s110SbBzG2oEokhBKuJpf…

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Re: 25 watt Moonbounce
by Oscar Diez 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Hi list, I am using a homebrew single 6 el. Yagi (DK7ZB design 10.15dBd gain) on the terrace of my house (approx 8ft above ground on a tripod))for "QRP EME" operations regularly. I am running about 90-100 Watt into this antenna (approx 1 KW ERP). This is real QRP for EME standards. See here: http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/index.html?con_id=146&call=DJ0MY&bbycal l=1 Usually Gary KB8RQ always comes back on my first calls (even without prior announcement of my call in one of the usual EME internet chat rooms). Thus, I would guess that it would even work with much less power (I just never tried it)...so it seems "normal practice" at least with big gun stations of the size of KB8RQ, W5UN, etc. I would even say if he could work KB8RQ with 25w he should give RN6BN a try with only 10-15w (he uses most likely the largest private array on earth since he has recently expanded it). The smallest station he ever worked via OSCAR 0 was a 4 el. yagi with 40W. I am sure you can even decode him on a dipole+preamp, since he has exorbitant strong signals (even compared to other big guns). RX is generally not the problem: I can copy 2 and 4 yagi stations very frequently. I even copied some single longyagi (6 lambda boom length) stations with my tiny antenna in the past a few times. The only problem is the return path where you simply would need more HF power. In total I have already worked about 8 stations (the smallest were 8 yagi group stations) and had more than 15 QSOs with my tiny setup during the past year. This is of course only possible with the help of WSJT software and JT65 mode, hi !!! Otherwise we would still be stuck in EME stone age. 73 de Oscar DJ0MY

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AO-7 DX claim
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Hello I'm not sure if this contact is a record distance, but I will claim it until I'm knocked off my pedestal. At about 1915Z I worked Mika-OH8MBN in KP24, I'm in CN87 (running 8W John). This works out to 7229Km or 4493 miles. Mika and I have been trying to connect for several days, the window is really really short. QSO was on SSB with KC8ZFN as a witness. Has anyone else "stretched" the footprint. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Re: Explorer I
by Edward Cole 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Martin, I was involved with the MA-10 (MVM-73) mission as a project engineer at the 210-foot Goldstone tracking station that followed MA-10 around Venus and on to Mercury. I was involved in the Venus dual-band (S/X) atmospheric study. I was one of the two receiver operators that tracked MA-10's signal as it was occulted behind Venus. The differential bending of the two microwave signals provided one of the first direct measurements of Venus' atmospheric density. How time flies! (34-years). 73 Ed - KL7UW At 08:54 AM 2/1/2008, Davidoff, Martin wrote: >1 February 2008 > > Reading the comments on the Explorer I Spacecraft by Roy (W0SL) >and Dan (N8FGV) has certainly stimulated lots of old memories. > > In late 1983 I attended a presentation by James Van Allen at a >meeting of the National Academy of Sciences in DC convened to celebrate >25 years in space. At this point in time the development of the Space >Transportation System (The Shuttle) was being seriously debated. > > Most (!!!) scientists of the era thought the program was a >political boondoggle whose costs would seriously impede the progress of >real space science. As Van Allen, a spokesperson for this group, put it >(my paraphrase) -- These guys claim they're going to reduce my launch >costs by a factor of 100 by taking a scientific instrument with a one >cubic foot volume, putting it in a bus and adding all the life support >systems necessary for five people. > > These past few weeks we've seen spectacular photos of Mercury >taken by the Messenger Spacecraft on its first flyby of the planet. How >many people realize that the Messenger mission is the follow on to >NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft which mapped about 45 percent of the >Mercury's surface during three flybys in 1974 and 1975. Because (?) of >the Shuttle Program it took us more than three decades to return. > >de K2ubc (Martin Davidoff) > > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of Roy >Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:33 PM >To: AMSAT BBS >Subject: [amsat-bb] Explorer I > >If I'm not mistaken this is the 50th anniversary of the launch of >Explorer I, the USA's first satellite put in orbit. I listened to the >telemetry broadcast on 108 mHz and recorded it. The JPL had asked for >the loan of any recordings made so I sent them out for their analysis. >I received my original tapes back along with a supply of new reels of >tape for use in making further recordings. JPL sent copies on to the >Air Force Research Center at Cambridge. > >I later received letters from JPL and the Air Force Research Center >describing the data they had recovered from the recordings relative to >micrometeorite impacts and other items. It was a really exciting period > >for Amateur Radio. > >-- >Roy -- W0SL >_______________________________________________ >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 > > >-- >BEGIN-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS >------------------------------------------------------ > >Teach CanIt if this mail (ID 34618761) is spam: >Spam: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=s >Not spam: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=n >Forget vote: >https://ssl.ccbcmd.edu:7726/canit/b.php?i=34618761&m=87ca5f44f198&c=f >------------------------------------------------------ >END-ANTISPAM-VOTING-LINKS > > >_______________________________________________ >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 73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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JH3XCU/1 and AO-7 web site
by DeYoung James 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Greetings, I am not sure of the intent of a recent AMSAT-BB submission related to JH3XCU/1 and his entry or lack of entry of specific information into the AO-7 web site logger. As far as I can tell he is a competent operator. I also note when searching the web that almost all of his web information is in his native language (Japanese) and I therefore presume that there may be a language related issue possibly. If there is an issue with his submissions appropriate use of statistical filtering is always possible to do on the collected information. I probably have hundreds of QSO's via AO-7 where I only talked to myself, often times on purpose just to measure the loopback frequency. I don't generally even bother to log any loopbacks or QSOs anymore. In most cases others enter information from the other side of the QSO so I see no need to duplicate the information which is also a statistical problem depend on the use of the web site collected data. I hope we can all be more tolerant and give JH3XCU/1 the benefit of the doubt especially since he is a fellow licensed amateur operator. Best regards to all. KG4QWC ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

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Congrats to Frank KA3HDO
by Bruce 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

I didn't see anything like this on the SAREX or AMSAT-BB or ANS. I must have missed it if it came across. Congrats to Frank, KA3HDO. Also a spot from the ARRL Board of Directors 73...bruce *************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 4 February 1, 2008 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + ARRL Board Authorizes New Section Positions, Adopts Budget, More, at Annual Meeting * + NTIA Report on Broadband in America 2007 Inflates BPL Figures * + James De Loach Jr, WU0I, Named 2007 Orr Award Winner * + ARISS International Chairman Moves into New Position at NASA * + Arkansas Health Department Sponsors Amateur Radio Training * + FCC Enforcement Actions * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Weekend on the Radio ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration + W1AW Receives New Equipment for 160 Meters Amateurs Activated as Tornado Strikes Mississippi Town Make Your Mark on the ARRL Diamond Terrace Radio Amateur Named Head of Tropical Prediction Center ARRL DXCC Desk Approves E4/OM2DX Operation We Stand Corrected +Available on ARRL Audio News<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> =========================================================== snip... The Board adopted a resolution of support for AMSAT's initiative seeking access to an Intelsat platform in geostationary orbit. AMSAT is in consultation with Intelsat regarding an application of an Intelsat platform carrying amateur satellites into geostationary orbit, with potential benefits for emergency communications. AMSAT has been the principal initiator of projects in the Amateur Satellite Service and continues to play a key role in significantly advancing the state of the art in space science, space education and space technology. snip... ==> ARISS INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN MOVES INTO NEW POSITION AT NASA Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, was named recently as the NASA Headquarters Chief Engineer for the Exploration Systems Mission Directorate (ESMD). ESMD is NASA's initiative to develop a sustained human presence on the moon, promote space exploration and serve as a stepping stone to Mars and beyond. As ESMD Chief Engineer, he provides systems engineering advice and consultation to resolve some of the most demanding and complex technical and organizational challenges within the Exploration Program. Bauer and Rosalie White, K1STO, are the two ARISS delegates for the US. He is the Vice President of Human Spaceflight Programs for the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. Bauer was a 2006 nominee for the Rotary National Award for Space Acheivement, bestowed upon him for "his tireless work to engage the youth of our nation and the world in the exploration of space through unique direct communications made possible by Amateur Radio on human spaceflight missions." Bauer is the recipient of NASA's 2002 Outstanding Leadership Medal, the 1997 NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal -- bestowed for Pioneering Efforts in Spaceborne GPS -- and NASA's 1992 Exceptional Service Medal (for agency contributions in GN&C). He received the Silver Snoopy Award, the highly prestigious NASA Human Spaceflight Awareness award, in 1992. For more information about ARISS, please visit the ARISS Web page <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm>. -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on W0KIE new satellite soon. Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org

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Re: Satellite tracking programming ideas
by Phil 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Anthony Monteiro" <aa2tx(a)comcast.net> To: "Phil" <phillor(a)telstra.com>; "Amsat-Bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 1:17 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite tracking programming ideas > At 10:57 PM 1/30/2008, Phil wrote: > <cut> >> >>If I read the frequency once per second while spinning the tuning knob, >>occasionally I'll see an incorrect value. That same value persists until >>the knob is moved again. I can see the problem but not the answer. > Thanks again for the replies Tony and Nate. Problem solved. It wasn't hardware but instead a bug, caused by the use of a signed char that sometimes caused a frequency calculation error. I've been tracking AO-40's ghost for the past few weeks and I'm enthused again and look forward to making contact once again through a real satellite. Regards, Phil.

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8085
by truckwiz 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

Does anybody know where I can find some RadHard 8085 chips? Brian

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AO7 Operating Tip #1
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

If the station your in QSO with has a easily readable 5/5 signal from AO7 but your signal is three times as strong, what action should you take? 1. Marvel how well your station is performing. 2. Immediately reduce your uplink power. 3. Do nothing, keep pounding the transponder. 4. None of the above.

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Services offered
by truckwiz 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

I don't know if this is the right place to post this. I own a fully equipped machine shop and will donate my time to any satellite projects. Brian

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ISS Repeater Active
by Tony VK5ZAI 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello all, The X band repeater has been activated on the ISS with good signals and activity over Australia. -- Regards Tony. VK5ZAI J.A.(Tony)Hutchison P.O.Box 470 Kingston SE South Australia 5275 National ARISS Co-ordinator and Satellite ground Station. Web Site :- http://www.electric-web.org

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Re: FW: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power).
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

John/etc To requalify- This is my capability! I use only the exciter IC-451 1-8W. I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of AO-7. However when attempting work footprint edge to footprint edge, I did run some power momentarily to find my down link. Yes John I have read all the available information regarding the history and operation of AO-7. I trust you will take the liberty to CC this email to the EU AMSAT reflector. I should have reread my initial post to the bb, as the context is not correct. My apologies to all for the justifyable outrage this has caused. I conciously make every effort to follow all the rules written and unwritten. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle -------------- Original message -------------- From: john hackett <la2qaa(a)hotmail.com> > > For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing > ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly > say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... > you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more > than your fair share of the available power. > > Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power > is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM > transponder. > > There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for > knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. > > If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the > subject. > > 73 John > > From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com > To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > CC: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com > Subject: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power). > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:41:04 +0100 > > > > > > > > > Oh - my - God!, > > >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp > >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat > >is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD That's not an AO-7 station Bob, it's an EME station. > > Did you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 > > > > 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used > more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place > worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. > > I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector > because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 > elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. > > I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should > maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - > (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. > > AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so > much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. > > It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - > though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - > a wet shoelace ought to suffice. > > NB. > > You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. > > 73 John. > ................................................................................ > ...... > > > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > > > Hello > > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 > feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a > 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about > 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with > OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the > horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my > down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle > > > > -- > > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > 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 -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

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Re: Which Handheld...
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

>>...which handheld do you use or which handheld is "the best" for sats. It must be full duplex. There are no new full-duplex HTs on the amateur market. The Icom IC- W32a was the last nit to have true full-duplex. Knowing that, the feature that is needed in an HT is the ability to RX on one band, and TX on another. So you have dual-band, dual receive HTs (TH-F6a from Kenwood...user un-friendly VX-7R from Yaesu) that can do it - obviously. I overlook the Kenwood TH=D7A(g) because it is a battery hog and much older technology than what is now avalable in amateur HTs. But there are also HTs that are dual-band, single-receive that work excellently. I show off the Yaesu FT-60R for my demos and sessions. 1,000 memories, strongest belt clip of any HT on the amateur market, built tough, 108-to-a-gig receive, easy to program...and, when using its optional AA dry cell case, you are working at FULL POWER! Unlike the TH-F6a - when you use its AA case, you're at 1/2 of one Watt. Al that in a radio for well under $200. See a picture of it in action in the December, '07 issue of CQ Magazine, where I am using the FT-60 with an Arrow antenna to wow an audience at a fair demo. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 On Feb 1, 2008, at 1:10 AM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > I would like to know which handheld do you use or which > handheld is "the best" for sats. It must be full duplex. > Thanks in advance!

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 59
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

...Interesting. If you turn off the TNC when not in use, and set power save, it is no different from any other radio I think. And nothing has changed in FM "technology" in 30 years... I don't understand your bias... My "bias" comes from knowing from first hand experience that the radio is NOT anywhere near as efficient with its energy consumption than more current (no pun intended) HTs. That fac has already been acknowledged ny another participant here, too. They used to ship with a SIX VOLT battery pack - PB-38 - which only allowed 2.5W VHF and 2.2W UHF ops out of the box. (Ebay buyers beware!!!!) But they now ship with a PB-39, offering 12VDC at 600 0r 650mAH and a full five Watts power output. More modern radios are offering full power output with 7.2V and much longer-lasting NiMH and Li-Ion battery packs. Owners (including myself) have "compensated" the TH-D7's poor original battery life with aftermarket NiMH packs and the like...But in responding to the original poster's inquiry (limited funds), I still believe I gave him some good information. But if one asks, "I need a TNC in an HT...APRS intrigues me..." - then the TH-D7a fits the bill. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Explorer I
by Roy 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

If I'm not mistaken this is the 50th anniversary of the launch of Explorer I, the USA's first satellite put in orbit. I listened to the telemetry broadcast on 108 mHz and recorded it. The JPL had asked for the loan of any recordings made so I sent them out for their analysis. I received my original tapes back along with a supply of new reels of tape for use in making further recordings. JPL sent copies on to the Air Force Research Center at Cambridge. I later received letters from JPL and the Air Force Research Center describing the data they had recovered from the recordings relative to micrometeorite impacts and other items. It was a really exciting period for Amateur Radio. -- Roy -- W0SL

2 1

Re: Which Handheld...
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Chad, email me privately. I'll let you borrow an FT-60R for a month or so... Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 clint(a)clintbradford.com 909-241-7666

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SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Special congratulations ought to be extended to JH3XCU/1 for soon to become the 8th station worldwide to attain 1000 points in the AO-7 log. 'Special' congratulations are in order because the station concerned has made this magnificent effort WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A QSO. Quite an acheavement. Yes, I know it's an "activity" log but it does rather make a mockery of the log when you consider the stations that actually communicate with eachother. Likewise the stations that claim QSO points but log the transponder as *OFF* are not helping the general statistics page. The log page does have a link explaining how to correct incorrect entries - (the - "remember me next time" - checkbox needs to be checked). If you're going to bother to make an entry in the log, you might as well check that you've done it correctly - and if not, rectify it ... otherwise the log won't serve the purpose as it was designed for. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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Re: [ans] WSR-031 Weekly Satellite Report 031
by Keith N4ZQ 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Nice catch including the last minute ISS change of status !! Thanks for keeping the Weekly Satellite Report current... Great job.. Keith N4ZQ -- James French <w8iss(a)wideopenwest.com> wrote: This report is organized into FIVE parts. Part 1 (S1) - operational analog amateur satellites Part 2 (S2) - operational digital amateur satellites Part 3 (S3) - non - operational satellites Part 4 (S4) - proposed satellites Part 5 (S5) - deborbited/returned satellites SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS ANS-031.S1 WSR 031 Part 1 01/31/2008 _____________________________________________________________ Shop from a huge selection of customized stationery designs! Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tcf4O0LmBHiRGodqfRKbs…

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Delfi-C3 launch delayed
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hi all, the launch of the NLS-4 cluster including Delfi-C3 has been delayed again, for now, it is scheduled for mid-april, we will update the mission status page as soon as possible, stay tuned! 73 Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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Power budgets.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello Folks, For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more than your fair share of the available power. Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM transponder. There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the subject. 73 John <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> .................................................................................................. >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat >is about 7 degrees. 73 Bob W7LRD ................................................................................................... Oh - my - God!, That's not an AO-7 station Bob, it's an EME station. Did you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 <http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php> 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - a wet shoelace ought to suffice. NB. You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ...................................................................................... > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > Hello > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > 73 Bob W7LRD > Seattle > > -- > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Power budgets.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello folks, For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more than your fair share of the available power. Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM transponder. There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the subject. 73 John <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net CC: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com Subject: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power). Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:41:04 +0100 ....................................................................................... Oh - my - God!, >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat >is about 7 degrees. 73 Bob W7LRD ......................................... Wow!, That's not an AO-7 satellite class station Bob, it's an EME station. Have you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 !!. <http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php> 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - a wet shoelace ought to suffice. NB. You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ...................................................................................... > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > Hello > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > 73 Bob W7LRD > Seattle > > -- > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > __________________________

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