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AO-51 telemetry
by Ed Tump 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Folks, Can I use a soundcard TNC connected to a radio to receive the 9600 telemetry from AO51 or must I have a hardware TNC? 73, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

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OLPC
by Bruce 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

My laptop arrived a few minutes ago. I did not receive any email that it was shipping, but here it is. 73...bruce -- 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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Bob's Message
by Jeff Davis 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Friends, We've had little information about the P4 opportunity since the Symposium. But reading between the lines and reading N4HY's message of today it seems that most of us are missing what they are trying to tell us ... There aren't **any** easy/cheap/free rides to HEO to be had. That ship has sailed and everything that we ever knew about the launch business has changed. I'm not trying to put words in anyone's mouth here, but I take it from Bob's message and the solicitation letter from President Hambly that there is really no apparent option to launch Eagle without doing something radically different. Assuming that we could pay for even a cheap launch, it might cost a million dollars if we were just paying customers. Think about that -- a MILLION dollars. Maybe more. After two years of raising money for Eagle we are up to what, $70K? At this rate it would take a decade or more to raise enough funds to launch Eagle if AMSAT continues on the published path. This isn't about digging a little deeper -- this is about reality. I get the impression that if some agreement isn't worked out with someone -- like is being discussed with the P4 opportunity -- we won't get back to HEO. Ever. Unless the satellite business changes. Those who think that the option is to EITHER finish Eagle and launch it, OR work on P4 seem to be missing the point -- the first option may now be more dream than a viable option. I would be pleased to learn that I am reading this all wrong because my *only* satellite interest is in a high-orbit bird and my hopes for seeing another in my lifetime are beginning to fade. It's now been over 11 years since we had AO-13 and it's becoming a fond, distant memory... -- 73 de Jeff AMSAT-NA AMSAT-DL

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wanted information on satilite station gear
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

folks, Would someone be kind enough to give me the rundown on what kind of gear is being used and aprox. cost of such gear (minus rig,pc etc,) to copy a data downlink of a operational hamsat? not meaning the 1200/9600 baud, I hear you need downconverters etc, just wondering how much they are. thank you much in advance. kc8gkf

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Andrew Glasbrenner 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

>so it is not a free ride to space? where does the $6,000,000 dollars >come from then? What many of us have been trying to say is there are NO free rides to GTO. The business has changed in that respect. The P4 proposal opens the door to possible govermental EMCOMM funding, as well as bringing in a whole new base of support. 73, Drew KO4MA

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AMSAT Year End
by Bruce 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Are you looking for an end of the year tax deduction? Have you thought about renewing your AMSAT Membership? What about joining the President's Club? What about a spanking brand new enclosure for the LVB tracker board? There is even an AMSAT branded clock and weather station. The AMSAT online store is awaiting your visit. Please follow the direct link below to make your purchase. http://www.amsat-na.com/categories.php Afraid of embedded links... go to amsat.org and click on the Online Store from the left margin. 73...bruce AMSAT Store Manager -- 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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Help with 2.4g downconverter
by Larry 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Hello everyone... Trying to figure out the conversion of my K5GNA downlink. It used to receive the AO-40 beacon @2401.323 ~ 145.350. If I want to receive the "moon orbiter", where should I be trying to receive? I tried 137.707 (beacon at 2263.616), but really don't hear anything. Am I on the right track and just not accounting for doppler? I'm also listening when it's thought to be on our side of the moon. TIA... Larry

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Re: One-Laptop-per-Child two XO-1 ?
by Ken Paulson 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Hi Bob and the list, I received my XO on Dec 17th. I haven't had much time to play with it yet, but I fired it up and it found the wireless network so that I could browse the web. Only two pages of documentation came with it. The rest is on the web, so browsing is definitely the first thing to do. The user interface is very simplistic (as it is targeted to non-technical children, this makes sense), and I haven't yet figured out how to get to the command line. But it is small, light weight, and has lots of promise as a portable digi mode terminal. So they are shipping. Hope you receive yours soon. Ken N0HRL

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hollywood, ham radio and oscar
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

Bruce Willis' recent movie Live Free or Die Hard <http://www.livefreeordiehard.com/> has extensive on screen presence of him in a NYPD unmarked cruiser speaking on a ham radio looking mobile rig at 144.330 mhz. This frequency is obviously a 2 meter ham band frequency, which falls in the sub-plan of 144.300-144.500, assigned to new <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/all_oscars.php> OSCAR subband (the satellite repeater links). I know it's Hollywood but I would consider contacting the producer, mentioning the consequences, and asking for a donation for funding satellite construction for potential damages.only half-joking.hi-hi Hollywood needs better consultants."Frequency" bothered me more with him doing transceive on a Heathkit SB-401 transmitter (from memory, but something like that). Perhaps that is another potential AMSAT revenue stream!!! Jay, AA4FL

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ANDE DE-ORBIT
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 19 Dec '07

19 Dec '07

FOLKS, ANDE IS THERE, I JUST GOT MY IGATED BEACON SENT TO THE WEB PAGE. SEEMS IT MAY BE BEST TO JUST LISTEN BUT AGAIN I THINK SOMEONE HAS TO WAKE IT UP AND KEEP IT AWAKE. I GOT NO COPY FROM IT THIS LAST PASS AND NO TELEM. WILL BE THERE THE NEXT PASS, ANYONE FOR A QSO IM AT MY STATION FOR THE 1641 EST PASS TODAY. LINK KC8GKF

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AO-51 first contact APRS
by Mineo Wakita 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

We succeeded today at AO-51 L/U mode. Then I was MIC-E format. UI-View32, up 1268.700 MHz, down 435.150 MHz, 9600 bps FSK Time JST JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:24:02] <UI R>: =3615.39N/13909.03E-KAMISATO JAPAN {UIV32N} JE9PEL>3URSP5,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:26:50] <UI R>: `C@Y\\\-/MIC-E/ Yokohama Japan JA5BLZ>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:27:08] <UI>: :JH1BCL :UR 599 TNX de JA5BLZ JE9PEL>3URSP5,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:27:38] <UI R>: `C@Y\\\-/MIC-E/ GM JH1BCL JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:28:30] <UI R>: JE9PEL UR 599 TU JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:28:42] <UI R>: JE9PEL UR 599 TU JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:28:45] <UI R>: JE9PEL UR 599 TU JE9PEL>3URSP5,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:29:06] <UI R>: `C@Y\\\-/MIC-E/ OK JH1BCL JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:29:53] <UI R>: JE9PEL TNX 73 JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:29:59] <UI R>: JE9PEL TNX 73 JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/19/07 07:30:43] <UI R>: JE9PEL TNX 73 1st ao51

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ANDE re-entry heating.
by Robert Bruninga 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

ANDE is warming. See "side A telemetry" link on the web page a few inches below the chart: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-ops.html But the temperature is also rising because each day, ANDE's orbit is precessing into more and more sun. But it looks to me like the solar beta angle maximizes on the 19th and then eclipses start increasing in length again. SO any heating after the 19th is re-entry heat. I did my beta angle predictions by eyeball with Instantrack. If anyone has a better forcast of beta angle, it would be a useful data point beyond which temperature rises are due to re-entry. (or so it woiuld seem to me)... Bob WB4APR

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Kantronics " KAM" TNC Wanted
by John Henderson 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

I have been running an old original KAM 1200b TNC for the ISS and it is dying. I have all the cables setup for the TNC and my rig and would like to find a replacement w/o getting a newer TNC with functions I will not use. If anyone has a KAM stashed away and would like to part with it pls let me know, Thanks, Merry Christmas to all, John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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5400B Rotor problem Help
by Bill Bruno 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Thanks to all for the emails responding to my question. I think my problem might be in one of the four wires that make up the instrumentation circuit. Does anyone know what voltages I should be reading on these at specific headings?

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Re: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful
by Robert Turlington 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Its sounds a bit different here in the UK ordinarily you can apply for a special call 3or4 weeks before the event, its only when the call required falls outside of the norm i.e. 50 instead of 5 for example. It maybe that Amsat UK could get a permanent call sign but they are few and far between in the UK.Regards Robert G8ATE > Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:23:34 -0800> To: rob_g8ate(a)hotmail.com> From: dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> Subject: RE: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful> CC: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > >Thanks for that Dave> >Unfortunately due to illness(heavy cold/sore throat etc) over the > >last week operation was limited to a few dozen contacts on AO27 and > >SO50 plus some JA's on AO51 via Echolink.However all contacts were > >enthusiastic to work GB0OO and therefore I intend to make it a > >regular event on the 12/13th Dec.Perhaps next year Dave you could > >obtain a special US call sign from your licensing authorities ,if > >that at all possible.> > One contact meets the challenge!!!> > I fully intend to investigate a US callsign for next year, and > perpetuity if perpetuity is possible....> > And I hope all other AMSATS duplicate the effort.> > If anyone reading this could assist me in the procedure to get a > special callsign, I would appreciate the help.> > My intentions are to contact the FCC early enough to get through the > red tape probably needed....> > Some of our California politicians are pretty powerfull!!> > > > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO> dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> > Disagree: I learn....> > Pulling for P3E... > _________________________________________________________________ Free games, great prizes - get gaming at Gamesbox. http://www.searchgamesbox.com

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Re: ANDE warming, Telemetry and Re-entry
by Henk, PA3GUO 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

Hi Jim, I am using a TS2000 as well, 6 elements DK7ZB, 14 meter AIRCELL7, no preamp. For doppler I apply 3 mem channels, compensating 2 khz (so rx 145.827/825/823) and tx 145.823/825/827). So: your set up should work. Keep trying, sometimes the next pass is 'better'. See here for the example: the 50 degrees pass was better as the 78 degrees elevation. http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (see the Dec 16 log) Do prior to each pass an update of the keppler sets NOVA: Keppler > Internet update > update now (or something like that) Keep trying ! Henk http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo Jim, ZL1TYF wrote: --------------------- I've just now, 17th Dec 2007 10:22 UTC, attempted to copy ANDE as it goes over for maybe one of the last times for this location. It was an almost perfect pass here in Wellington, New Zealand, with a maximum elevation of about 78 degrees per Nova, using keps from Space-Track that are about 13 hours old. I was late getting set up, so it took some time to get the TNC within my rig (Kenwood TS-2000) set up, and remembering how to set the UNPROTO path (*1). Anyway, on sending a few "Hi" and "Hello" prompts (*2), I did hear ANDE digirepeat me, and maybe some extra packets too. Sadly, the signal was very noisy, and I got no valid decodes at any time. So no telemetry, which I had hoped to get.

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Give it a try !
by Henk, PA3GUO 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

when you read this message today (Dec 18) ... ... good news ! there is still a few days to make your APRS QSO via ANDE ! TNC: U APRS VIA ARISS Radio: 145.825 MHz up/down Success ! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (my own 'ANDE logbook')

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Project Oscar Anniversary
by Dave Guimont 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

I am overwhelmed by my proposal to initiate some special days to celebrate and Oscar 1 anniversary. Rob's idea to do it over a five day period is very thoughtful, with LEO's... And specially pleased that some of the responses came from (as indicated by the callsigns) younger amateurs. I thank you one and all, again... We have almost a year left before the next event, I will attempt to formulate the procedure. Get opinions from anyone who wishes to contribute, and keep all informed... This is a busy season for all, so hang in there, guys, and I will do my best to initiate for AMSAT-NA. I will attempt the formulation, but need all of your help... Again I thank Rob, G8ATE, for doing it this year, and hope world-wide AMSAT's initiate the same procedures. If we had a HEO we could respond to one callsign, but let us assume that by next year we will be lucky enough to have some of the LEO's we have now. I am fully aware that digital procedures would permit worldwide coverage, but in the spirit of the "early birds" I think ssb or fm voice, or cw would be most appropriate... Let me know next year! I intend to put it mostly to bed for the remainder of 2007, this household is pretty busy until 2jan08!! 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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One satellite or many? EmComm
by Bob Bruninga 18 Dec '07

18 Dec '07

I am 100% in support of P4. So this message is not related to that topic... But I am excited about this Emergency Communications mission that AMSAT-NA is investigating as a means of ensuring our long term relevance. Emergency Preparednes and communications to me has always been a prime motivator in Ham radio. That said (and without any intent to distract from P4), my vision has beem to promote a low rate LEO satellite emergency message capability that anyone can hit using just what they already have. IE, packet messages on the satellite frequency of 145.825. We have been trying to gather together a constellation of as many LEO satellits as we can get (up to 10 or so), all acting as digipeaters on 145.825 so that we have nearly continuous coverage everywhere. Meaning, at any time, anywhere, if an emergency pops up, then 145.825 can be used to get a message out. Now this has nothing to do with P4, Because P4 will have much higher capacity, more bandwith, higher rates, higher frequencies and 24/7 coverage. But the 145.825 channel can still be a small backchannel of support. In fact, we have been encouraging all AMSAT members no matter what their operational preferences, to at least verify their ability to send a single-line-email once every month or so to validate their ability to use this channel. See he web page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html The reason I brought up this topic now, is because of the SUBJECT line of this thread. "One Satellite or Many". And I whole-hartedly support AMSAT's energies toward P4. But the purpose of this message is not towards AMSAT, but to solicit all those universities and non-AMSAT entities that are also building satellites to consider this 145.825 mission. Beacuse almsot all such LEO satellites need a command system. Most will use AX.25, so why not make your command system double as this emergency message channel in support of 1200 baud messaging? We have had all of these satellites on 145.825, all capable of AX.25 message relay: SUNSAT PCSAT-1 PCSAT2, ANDE RAFT ARISS PUHENSAT etc.. and Others in work.. But we have never had more than 2 or at most 3 operational at the same time. If most of these cubesats and university sats that use AX.25 allowed digipeating on 145.825, then we would have a fantastic constellation of nearly continuous coverage of 145.825. Just four such satellites could give us an average acccess wait time of uner an hour. Approaching ten of them could average almost continuous coverage with only 5 minutes or so wait times. A cubest can easily support this mission, since the TX is only one for less than 4% of the time even during normal use. This is A great Emergency Message Capability that anoyone with a mobile APRS rig could hit from anywhere at any time or without no more than say a 30 minute wait for a pass. We should encourage all those cubesat schools to consider this secondary mission for their TX/RX command system. Again, not wanting to detract from the P4 dialog, but we should endorse this new P4 Emergency Communications initiative of AMSAT and look for ways to make it a reality. FLying 145.825 digipeaters on everything that files in LEO is one supportive way to add some EmCom back-channel capability while not detracting any energy from P4. If you haven't sent your emergency email test message, dust off that old TNC and give it a go... Bob, Wb4APR

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Rig Blaster P-N-P is Sold........
by John Henderson 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Went very quickly, thanks for the interest. John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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Re: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful
by Robert Turlington 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Thanks for that Dave Unfortunately due to illness(heavy cold/sore throat etc) over the last week operation was limited to a few dozen contacts on AO27 and SO50 plus some JA's on AO51 via Echolink.However all contacts were enthusiastic to work GB0OO and therefore I intend to make it a regular event on the 12/13th Dec.Perhaps next year Dave you could obtain a special US call sign from your licensing authorities ,if that at all possible. Regards Robert G8ATE > Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2007 13:57:46 -0800> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> From: dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> Subject: G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful> CC: rob_g8ate(a)hotmail.com> > > Congratulations are in order for G8ATE's (Rob) thoughtful origination > of GB ZERO OSCAR ONE (GB0O1).> > Marty Davidoff's THE SATELLITE EXPERIMENTERS MANUAL preserved it for > posterity....And I would like to see Rob's> efforts celebrating it repeated annually by ALL AMSATS worldwide.> > I quote from Marty's first edition:> > "And so, on December 12,1961, at 2042 GMT, Discover XXXVI was > launched into orbit, carrying into separate orbit OSCAR 1 guided in > its flight into history by the thoughts and prayers of thousands of > radio amateurs who stand on the threshold of tomorrow."> > It sent a simple "hi hi", and the speed of transmission gave an > indication of its temperature.> > CERTAINLY AN EVENT WORTH CELEBRATING ANNUALY...> > During the five day event I was fortunate to make contacts (ssb, FM > and cw) on AO7, VO52, VO50 and AO51, and mentioned the GB0O1 callsign > on them all, my only option in San Diego, limited by LEO's.> A digital carry over did not seem to constitute a CONTACT;> my old fingers make it difficult for me to "talk" with them!> > Tnx agn to Rob, to the other GB'ers who assisted, and to my respondents...> > A high spot in my 71 year interest in ham radio. I ("bootlegged") > on cw in 1937.> > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO> dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> > Disagree: I learn....> > Pulling for P3E... > _________________________________________________________________ Telly addicts unite! http://www.searchgamesbox.com/tvtown.shtml

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Rig Blaster Gear for Sale
by John Henderson 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I have for sale the Rig Blaster Plug & Play Unit complete with CD , Icom data ( Din Plug) cable and the CIV rig control cable. The unit is about $109 w/o the cable adapter from West Mountain Radio... http://www.westmountainradio.com/Image/StoreConfigs/pnp.htm The rig is compatible with the 820H , the 821H and the 910H sats, and 746 Pro, 746Pro II and III and other listed on the above link. It came with a Sat Radio I recently purchased and I don't plan to use it. Will sale and ship CONUS for $55. John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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5400B Rotor problem Help
by Bill Bruno 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

I could use some trouble shooting tips for my rotor. The azimuth part tho mechanically still rotates through 360 degrees the indication both on the control box and my computer only shows 180 deg travel. The indicator moves continously while the rotor is moving but at only half the speed it normally travels showing only 180 deg swing for 360 on the rotor. Since i get the same reading on both my pc and the control box I assume the problem is either in the rotor or the wireing from the rotor. I could use some suggestions. Bill KB2RC

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WANTED G5600B Elevator
by Dave Aitch 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

Looks/sounds like the elevator part of my trusty G5600B has finally given up the ghost. Anyone got a working one for sale please ? ( UK Only ) 73, Dave. Portland. Dorset. IO80SM AMSAT 5766

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ANDE now @220km
by Henk, PA3GUO 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

As I am not so much into maths on this topic, the only thing I do is plot the current heigth of ANDE in the graph: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/ande_predict_pa3guo_12dec200… One might conclude from this that from 220km to de-orbit the graph shows ~12 days, so de-orbit today + ~12 days = ~24 Dec. ... BUT: if for any reason ANDE comes down faster we're almost there ! There is a good bunch of activity these days; many stations Igate the packets, many stations make contacts via ANDE in these final days. And: have a look at http://www.ande-deorbit.com for details on the AWARD Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

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Radios with built in duplexers How best to use?
by Michael Tondee 17 Dec '07

17 Dec '07

It looks like I'm going to be able to afford to buy a dual band FM rig which will get me a little more back into the sats but the ones in my price range have built in duplexers. I guess the only way I can use two antennas is to use another duplexer up at the antennas and split the coax there but it seems like I'm going to get signal loss doing that. The other thing I've thought about is going with a dualband antenna where I would have one cable without all the extra connections but I'm wondering if a problem might arise with using a 70 cm preamp in that configuration. Would the 70cm preamp RF bypass relay work when 2meter RF was transmitted? Assuming it would, would it pass the 2 meter TX and RX signals through otherwise? I know I should know this but I'm kind of stumped. Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ AMSAT # 36017

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G8ATE Project Oscar Celebration Successful
by Dave Guimont 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Congratulations are in order for G8ATE's (Rob) thoughtful origination of GB ZERO OSCAR ONE (GB0O1). Marty Davidoff's THE SATELLITE EXPERIMENTERS MANUAL preserved it for posterity....And I would like to see Rob's efforts celebrating it repeated annually by ALL AMSATS worldwide. I quote from Marty's first edition: "And so, on December 12,1961, at 2042 GMT, Discover XXXVI was launched into orbit, carrying into separate orbit OSCAR 1 guided in its flight into history by the thoughts and prayers of thousands of radio amateurs who stand on the threshold of tomorrow." It sent a simple "hi hi", and the speed of transmission gave an indication of its temperature. CERTAINLY AN EVENT WORTH CELEBRATING ANNUALY... During the five day event I was fortunate to make contacts (ssb, FM and cw) on AO7, VO52, VO50 and AO51, and mentioned the GB0O1 callsign on them all, my only option in San Diego, limited by LEO's. A digital carry over did not seem to constitute a CONTACT; my old fingers make it difficult for me to "talk" with them! Tnx agn to Rob, to the other GB'ers who assisted, and to my respondents... A high spot in my 71 year interest in ham radio. I ("bootlegged") on cw in 1937. 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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AO-27 pass 2035 UTC
by Ed Tump 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Folks, I was able to make my 2nd contact using this sat but my tape recorder did not work and neither did my brain. Anyone that knows who I "spoke' to please let me know. I can only remember that is was a gentleman from Washington, DC. Thank you. 73, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

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AMSAT UK Colloquium - Dates for 2008 Event
by Jim Heck 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hi Folks, Please be advised that the dates for the next AMSAT-UK Colloquium are 25/26/27 July 2008. Location and general arrangements will be similar to last year's event. More details later. Please note the date in your diaries NOW. Wish best wishes for the Festive Season HNY es 73 Jim G3WGM Hon Sec AMSAT-UK

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UK Space competition.
by G0MRF＠aol.com 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Further details of the UK schools competition to put an experiment into space are available here. _http://www.spaceexperiment.info/_ (http://www.spaceexperiment.info/) Apparently the experiment will be powered from the host satellite's 28V supply and data will be downlinked via its transmitter. Thanks David G0MRF

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UK AMsat website been hacked!
by Chris Bloy 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hi All, The UK Amsat sites been hacked, anyone on here know who to contact to put it right? www.uk.amsat.org Thanks, Chris

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satscape tv
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

hi folks, thought I would let everyone know that satscape has something called satscape tv now with neat stuff about ham radio and the sats. check it out at http://www.satscape.co.uk/tv.html just in case people dont know about it or want to know about it. 73 kc8gkf p.s. renewing my membership with amsat asap and am going to ask all the hams I know to join.

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Tom Clark, K3IO 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

In a private note, Ed (KL7UW) pointed out that his gain numbers had assumed an aperture efficiency of 55%. Given this ~-3 dB value for the losses, his "gain" and my "directivity" values (as contained in the AMSAT Symposium paper I referenced) are in agreement. Thanks to Ed for explaining his assumptions. 73, Tom

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plethora of birds
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hello With the plethora of commercial satellites whizzing around, specifically the ones that are approaching their "end of life", and being replaced. Is it at all feasable they could be "reconfigured" to accomodate "us". We hams are pretty good at "making due" with just about anything. Just pondering the thought. 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT 28498 Seattle

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ANDE 1 and 2 Report Dec 16 2007: still all is working fine !
by Henk, PA3GUO 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

ANDE 1 and 2 Report Dec 16 2007: still all working fine ! ========================================================= - ANDE now getting to only 210 km height - Footprint getting smaller - AND: still more and more stations make contacts !! ========================================================= 14:35 CET / 50 degrees elevation pass: Was able to logon to ANDE-2 at 20 degrees elevation and set TE 1 (twice, to get value confirmed). Result: ANDE-2 works fine, TE 1 was set to 10 seconds successfully ! 20071216144007 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,OE1VKW: T#013,002,015,014,007,006,01000000,746 20071216143956 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,OE1VKW: T#012,122,154,153,152,155,10101110,746 20071216143947 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,PE1ITR: T#011,135,048,051,048,213,11100001,746 20071216143947 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PE1ITR::ANDE 2 OK ! 20071216143926 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,OE1VKW: T#009,002,050,038,028,024,01000000,746 20071216143916 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,PE1ITR: T#008,122,155,154,153,155,10101110,746 20071216143906 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,OE1VKW: T#007,135,048,051,048,213,11100001,746 20071216143856 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,OE1VKW: T#006,122,168,117,001,029,00000010,746 20071216143846 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,DL8DR: T#005,002,015,014,007,006,01000000,746 <-- as of here 10 seconds interval 20071216143821 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,DL8DR: T#003,122,170,117,001,029,00000010,617 <-- just before this TE 1 was set ... 14:38:13 !TELEMTRY was 1 WAIT <-- confirmation: period was already 10 seconds 14:38:11 !prompt:TE 1 <-- re-issue of TE 1 to get confirmation 14:38:04 !prompt:TELEMTRY was 5 WAIT <-- confirmation of ANDE-2 14:38:02 !TE 1 <-- set telemetry rate to 10 seconds ... 20071216143729 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,DK3WN-1:T#002,002,062,047,036,031,01000000,000 <-- beacon because side B is awake 20071216143657 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAo,DK3WN-1:waking up side B ... 20071216143641 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,PE1ITR: T#001,122,158,158,156,157,10101110,000 <-- beacon due to the wake up of side B 20071216143559 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PE1ITR:waking up side B ... <-- waking up side B 13:05 CET pass: ANDE is now flying faster, so less and less time is available each pass. Tried to logon to ANDE-2 during the 78 degrees elevation pass,but only after 2 attempts I got logged on. However, I was not able to submit the TE 1 command on time. My link got broken as can be seen below: 20071216130702 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PE1ITR::ALL : Hello 20071216130657 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#002,002,015,014,008,007,01000000,696 20071216130628 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PE1ITR:C DISC2 20071216130615 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PA3GUO:TE 1 20071216130410 : ANDE-2]APRS1,SGATE,qAO,PA3GUO::BLN1ANDE :ANDE-1 only wakes up 1 of evry 15s for users. Pse conserve. 20071216130356 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-2*,qAO,PA3GUO:waking up ANDE 2 APRS users: OK1DNT, OE1VKW, PA3GUO, F9XG, DL8DR, SP8RSL, F1IKD-6, F1SRC, SQ2RH APRS QSO: 20071216130748 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,SP7THR-3::OK1DNT : QSL 20071216130711 : OK1DNT]CQ,ANDE-1*,qAO,SM7WSJ::PA3GUO-8 :[email protected] good afternoon OM op. Denis Hello frm Teplice 73! ANDE-1 downlink: 20071216130732 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAo,DK3WN-1::ALL : http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo 20071216130723 : ANDE-1]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#004,135,048,051,048,214,11100001,000 20071216130453 : ANDE-1]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#001,121,141,139,138,137,10101110,000 73 - Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

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FO-29 schedule Dec.-Jan.
by Mineo Wakita 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Time UTC 2007 Dec. 18 3:06 - 19 3:56 - 20 3:00 - 21 3:51 - 22 2:56 -, 4:45 - 23 3:46 - 24 2:52 -, 4:38 - 25 None 26 2:47 - 27 3:37 - 28 2:43 - 29 3:33 - 30 2:40 -, 4:25 - 31 1:45 -, 3:28 - 2008 Jan. 1 2:33 -, 4:20 - 2 1:38 -, 3:25 - 3 2:30 -, 4:15 - 4 None 5 2:25 -, 4:10 - 6 3:15 -, 5:00 - 7 None de JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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KJ6KO L-band amps
by Andrew Glasbrenner 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

I'm curious how these are working out for folks. I have had mine for several weeks but haven't used it yet. Has anyone come up with a source for a good relay to use it on 1296, or a nifty design to switch the amp on and off? 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Tom Clark, K3IO 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Ed, KL7UW said: > Have to agree with Drew even if this reduces signal levels at extreme > latitudes. I would assume that the P4 centered on the NA&SA would > boresight the equator with a beam chosen to match the earth's > apparent angular size = arcsin (8000/23500) = 19.9 deg. which > corresponds with an antenna with 19.5 dB. At 2.4 GHz an 18-inch dish > has about 19.7 dB gain. Such a footprint would only be 3 dB down at the poles. Ed -- I think you calculated for the gain over a dipole and not dBi. The Isotropic would be ~2 dB higher (22.4 dBi for a beam that is about 3.5 dB down at the edge of the earth). I derived the number in my paper on phased arrays presented at the last (Pittsburgh) AMSAT Space Symposium; see pages 1&2 and Table 1 in http://mysite.verizon.net/w3iwi/electronic_scanning_antennas.pdf. In my EAGLE paper, I made the calculation for the altitude of a GEO satellite, since that approximates the altitude we would get with EAGLE with a rocket boost from GTO. Also, strictly speaking, your number is the directivity. Directivity refers to the beam size without considering any ohmic or scattering losses in a real antenna. The real "gain" of an antenna is always poorer than the directivity by a factor of typically 50% or so. To divert any incoming questions: Yes, my symposium paper describes my thoughts on antennas for EAGLE in an elliptical HEO orbit, where we have to expend some effort on pointing the antenna from a spinning spacecraft. My phased array ideas are based on the notion that (a) we will want to point at the earth even when we are away from apogee, and (b) trying to mechanically point an antenna (or the spacecraft itself) is wayyyyy! beyond the limits of amateur technology. Item (b) points to one of the big advantages of the piggyback-to-GEO P4 possibility -- the "parent" bus will provide a platform, stabilized to a degree or better, so we can use "simple" antennas (probably dishes) for the microwave frequencies [saving me the hassle of designing a "real world" electronically steered phased array]. To get a feeling for the "antenna farm" we might have for P4, Google yielded a few interesting photos: 1. http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sda… shows the DoD IRIS payload riding in the space we might occupy 2. http://www.cnes.fr/web/print-6086-intelsat-11-optus-d2.php shows an Intelsat satellite being mated to an Ariane 5 3. Intelsat 10, launched on 2004: http://www.astrium.eads.net/families/daily-life-benefits/communications/int… 4. The 2005 Sealaunch of IA-8: http://www.dailywireless.org/2005/06/23/intelsat-spotbeam-launched <http://www.dailywireless.org/2005/06/23/intelsat-spotbeam-launched/> 73 & Season's Greetings de Tom, K3IO

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Robert Mcqwier
by Fred A Parker 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hello, First: I want to thank every one that supported me through some very trying times. Second: Some members of Amsat have suggested to me that they plan on holding out membership renewal and donations. I do not condone that action as of yet. 75% of the members, volunteers and officers of Amsat are a great bunch of dedicated people who want only to please the members and are great to work with. With the goal of getting some birds in the sky for Amsat members and the general ham community at large. To punish them would do no service to them and the Amsat members and ham radio at large. As any corporation Amsat does from time to time need to clean house and through out the trash. In my opinion the first and worse case is that of Robert McQwier. As vice president of engineering Bob has been a total failure. In example he allowed Dick Jansen to spend hundreds if not thousands of hours designing Eagle and then coming up with a new design so every thing has to start from day one. In my case he had me spend in the neighborhood of three hundred hours on a very difficult module design to manufacture. To truly manufacture these parts they should have been done with custom forming dies costing upwards off $20.000.00 each. I did manage to do the job by designing and building a custom sheet metal brake. Only to have Bob decide they will not work. When in the very beginning I suggested the design that he now has on the drawing board. I could go on and on but think this is enough. To work for him, just read the email I have included with this post and let your imagination go to work for you. No wonder Amsat has trouble finding volunteers and donors. As it stands now Eagle is behind from when I started. Amsat has lost the full services of Dick Jansen over this fiasco and as present I do not know of any one who has replaced him. Bob Davis is doing some of the work but does not have enough time devote to get it done promptly. The final straw is his slandering and degrading of senior citizens members of Amstat. No organization can tolerate such an attitude and expect to survive. I suggest all members of Amsat to contact the board of directors concerning this matter and giving them your opinion. Then we volunteers and others can get together and get some birds in the sky in any form that is decided on. Myself I am chomping at the bit to get to work. Thanks Again Fred KF0AK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert McGwier" <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> To: "Fred A Parker" <fparker(a)paulbunyan.net> Cc: "'AMSAT BoD'" <bod(a)amsat.org>; "senior-officers" <Senior-officers(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2007 1:14 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle > Fred A Parker wrote: >> Just a suggestion, Has Amsat explored the idea of hiring a professional >> to help in some of the day to management and fund raising? When Amsat >> has a potential consumer base of 700,000 hams. If things were done >> right money should be no problem. Amsat needs to do a better job of >> selling itself. Then money should be no problem. >> Fred > > > Not only have we considered it Fred but you continue to demonstrate your > ignorance and hostility by not knowing that we have done exactly that. > You do not know that all sorts of efforts have been made at raising > funds. We are told at every step what basic axioms there are in fund > raising. You have to have something to sell to the interested party. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > No one is interesting in funding a private repeater for 20 guys to talk > to each other about their brand new scars and brand new meds and we > would be FOOLS to kowtow to people who will be dead or uninterested > before we get into orbit. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We have a professional fund raiser hired and > contracted. We have a professional manager who is doing a DAMN GOOD > job, better than when I was a director 15 years ago. > > It really is time for you to basically shut up and go do some > investigation before you make a further complete fool of yourself. > Barry asked me if I was shooting the messenger on an unpleasant message. > I have made a very successful career out of promoting and working with > unpleasant messengers. I have never promoted a single one who fired all > cannons in a public forum with wrong facts, open hostility, and just > plain dumb ignorance. > > Really Fred, you are well over the line. This is personal, ad hominem, > and of no utility to the organization you ostensibly support. > > Bob > > -- > AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, > TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair > “An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why > must the pessimist always run to blow it out?” Descartes > >

8 9

Explain Photo?
by jkelly＠home 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Can someone explain to me what actually is happening in this photo? http://www.eanet.com/kodama/astro/2007/1110a/7.htm Jeff KT2K

5 6

2007 AMSAT President's Report Posted
by JoAnne Maenpaa 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hello everyone, The AMSAT web page at http://www.amsat.org has been updated with a summary of the 2007 President's Report which Rick W2GPS presented in person during the Annual General Meeting segment of the Symposium. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Orators and Engineers...
by Bob Bruninga 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Hey, no one's perfect. >> No one is interesting in funding a private >> repeater for 20 guys to talk to each other ... > Did you *really* say that? ... > Diplomacy is called for.. I wish evryone would back off. Bob is one heck of an engineer and technical leader, and that is his job. He is not the silver tongued BS manager. He is not a diplomat and he says what the thinks. We all have rough edges, but as again, I have leared over my 45 years in ham radio... Let those people with ideas and know how, and initiative and interest PROCEED forward. Get out of the way. Support them where they can. Trying to complain and convince someone else to do what *you* want done in a volunteer progam like ham radio ALWAYS FAILS to make progress and even worse, usually causes those that are leading the charge to give up in disgust over all the ankle biting and nit-pickers... When I first met Bob I was a little surprised at his frankness and some things that he said, but over the last few years as I have watched him proceed with his ideas and great techincal competance, and I now chuckle at it and leared to take his comments with a grain of salt, to appreciate his initiative and to hang on for the ride! Let the orators and BS masters hone their craft. And let the engineers get on with building us a fantastic new capabiliity and a new -position- of responsibility within the EmCom organizations that will assure our continued future success. Bob Bruninga WB4APR

2 1

AO-7 Mode A 10m Rx ant.?
by Joe Krepps 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Just how big/complicated of an antenna do I need to get the 10m downlink from AO-7's Mode A? I'm looking for something that's portable. I'd be incredibly pleased if the 10m element stuck in my Diamond MV3A, magmounted to my Outback's roof would do it. (I could stick the 10m element in the side holder if need be - the antenna can accomodate 2 elements at once.) Tnx & 73 Joe WB3CFN

3 2

Safekeep Sat Radios
by sco＠sco-inc.com 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Has anyone thought about the idea/need/way to safeguard a few ham radio sets in an area in case of EMP? A nuclear device set off above ground will wipe out all modern electronics (ham sat radios) within a large distance from the epicenter. Even if the radios are outside the blast and radiation areas they would be useless because of the EMP (electro magnetic pulse). I would think that HS might be willing to fund a way to create some safe rooms to store some ham gear around the country. Perhaps even a large "safe box"? Ham satellite gear should be in this category. Les W4SCO

8 9

Private Posts
by clintbrad4d＠earthlink.net 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

..you should know that anything said in a private email can be considered public domain, and *will* get repeated... Legally, you are entirely incorrect. It is a moral issue - an issue of lack of private integrity - when someone reposts a private message in public forums. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

2 1

AO-51 SSET success
by Mineo Wakita 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

SSET (Satellite Simulated Emergency Test) UI-View32, up 1268.700 MHz, down 435.150 MHz, 9600 bps FSK Time JST JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:45:13] <UI R>: =3523.05N/13936.61E- Yokohama Japan {UIV32N} JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:47:25] <UI R>: :EMAIL :[email protected] /SatSE Test via AO-51 JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:48:41] <UI R>: =3615.39N/13909.03E-KAMISATO JAPAN {UIV32N} JA5BLZ>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:51:31] <UI>: GM to ALL http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a51.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a52.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a53.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a54.jpg --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Dec 16, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Looking for G-5500 part
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Would anyone happen to have the lower half casting for a G-5500 they would sell? I can imagine Yaesu will be very expensive after getting a price on a motor a while back. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Edward Cole 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Drew, I have direct personal experience with this when I was a TVRO installer up here in Alaska. Before the mid-1980's TV-satellites pointed their antennas at mid America around Kansas - Nebraska. Due to Alaska being not only at the far northern fringe but also western edge of the beam, signals were down around 6 to 10 dB (from memory). This meant that to receive the signal in Alaska one needed at minimum a 12 to 14 foot dish. IN Barrow (Lat=70) it took 16 to 20 foot dishes pointed a few degrees above the horizon (7-deg max due south). As time went on the satellite industry re-pointed some of the satellites to better favor Alaska and Hawaii resulting in being able to use 8 to 10 foot dishes. Today we get ku-band sat-TV with the use of a 30-inch dish (you use an 18-inch dish in the lower-48). We find that we need a 1-1.2 m dish to overcome rain/snow fading, though. OK how does this relate to P4? For far-north or far-south stations, it will require careful ham station antenna location that can see a clear low horizon elevation angle and probably more antenna gain to overcome being on the fringe of the satellite antenna "footprint". If the sub-satellite (straight down) position on the equatorial orbit is too far east or west of one's local longitude, there will be no view above the horizon for the extreme latitude stations. This will have no technical cure. So hopefully the orbit positions that can be obtained will be favorable to the maximum population. I would expect P4A and P4B will ride to mid-America and European positions. The Pacific sat probably would be the last launched if one were trying to reach the maximum ham population centers (only logical). So you can see why Alaskan satellite operators are hoping for the launch of P3E and Eagle. Otherwise we may be in for a long wait till P4C! PS: I'm taking the liberty of assigning the designations P4A, P4B, P4C (not AMSAT terminology). Following the saga with interest - and hope! 73, Ed - KL7UW At 08:50 AM 12/14/2007, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: >I noticed the new release of SATPC32 12.7 includes Intelsat >spacecraft in one of the keplerian/satellite options. You can scroll >through them and get an idea of the possibilities and range of >footprints. Real life performance will be, as Bob suggests, >dependent on our antenna pattern. Other services are usuable from >the poles, such as Inmarsat, given enough gain and a clear horizon. >MTI uses this as a selling point for their phone with the 4 ft >dishes we S-band types are so fond of. So we might work fairly well >out to the edge, again, dependent on the antenna. > >73, Drew KO4MA > > >From: Robert McGwier <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> > > > >We do not know the answer yet. Our request is for multiple payloads, > >covering with subsat over Atlantic, Pacific, and Central U.S. We would > >need one over the Indian Ocean to cover the 2 pi radians of the equator > >with antenna pattern. The north and south pole would be left out so I > >am sure the emperor penguins and polar bears would be upset! > > > >Bob > > > >Simon Brown wrote: > >> Where would this GEO be positioned? Even rough information would be > >> interesting. > >> > >> Simon Brown, HB9DRV > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Phase 4 versus Eagle discussion seen from Copenhagen, Europe
by OZ1MY 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi all, I do not want to go into this discussion from a political point of view - just technical. >From my point of view looking at it from Copenhagen, the most interesting thing is where the GEO is placed. A fast look at NOVA manipulating existing GEO satellite keps makes it clear that a position at around 90 degrees West will put NA and SA into the footprint (including Hawaii and Alaska). This position will place me outside the footprint - and most of Europe as well. If shifted to 60 degrees West I can just make it :-) That is with an elevation of 2.4 degrees and a range around 41400 km. If I can make it will amongst other factors depend upon the radiation pattern of the antennas on the satellite. Regarding frequencies I agree with Ed, KL7UW. Lots of us have the equipment and antennas to work L/S. Also any station able to work L2/S2 on AO-40 should be able to make it. The comments above assumes SSB - but if we add the possibilities to use digital forms of (voice) modulation, we can add the advantage of Forward Error Correction. A non technical comment: Go for both. 73 OZ1MY Ib

3 2

Recording both transmit & receive on IC-910H?
by Rick Mann 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi. I'm getting ready for an important contact. I'm new to all this, and only owned my 910H for a couple weeks. I want to connect the audio to my computer to digitize it, but I want to get both my transmissions and the received audio out, when transmitting on one frequency and receiving on another. Can the radio do this? How would I safely connect it? TIA, Rick

1 0

To explain a photo
by Bato, Andras 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi Jeff, Certainly Luke Skywalker was switching to cosmic speed. :) gl de ha6nn Andras

1 0

Re: EXTREMELY LONG
by Joe Krepps 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Thank you, Bob, for your lengthy message! I've been in a similar situation, with another hobby of mine, where giving folks "both barrels" meant 16" shells from a battleship, not a shotgun! It's a tough message to write. I appreciate the time it took you to compose it. I've been sitting on the fence about whether to join AMSAT or not. I have yet to have a QSO via any satellite. I was waiting to have a QSO to decide if it was worth it or not. (I _do_ love 20m! It's a whole lot easier to get a QSO on 20m Vs. a satellite.) Your transparency/openness and integrity have swayed me. So much truth was in your message about the future of Ham Radio! The relentless bickering on this list had me ready to unsubscribe for the 2nd time. I hope it's over! I'll be joining ASAP. Three cheers for Echo and P3! (I see the value of a geostationary satellite for emergencies but it seems too much like just another 2m repeater otherwise....but that's purely my own opinion!) Tnx & 73, Joe WB3CFN <-future AMSAT member :)

1 0

Clearance for Arrow II antenna when mounted?
by Rick Mann 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi. I have an Arrow II Yagi crossed 7x7 (440 MHz) and dual-band 3x7 (144 MHz & 440 MHz). The manufacturer rates them at 10 W max while hand-held, but if I mount them, they're rated at 150 W max? I have an IC-910H, max 100W on 144 MHz and 75W on 440 MHz. There are two scenarios: 1) On a tripod that someone will stand next to, and manually orient. 2) On a tracking telescope mount I have. My other concern here is that EMI will interfere with the telescope's on-board computer. In each case, how far should I keep away from the antenna? Sadly, they don't publish radiation patterns. If it's manually oriented, I suppose I can have a friend run out to it when not transmitting, re-point the beam a bit, then run away before I transmit. Any suggestions? TIA, -- Rick

1 0

Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Fred A Parker 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Just a suggestion, Has Amsat explored the idea of hiring a professional to help in some of the day to management and fund raising? When Amsat has a potential consumer base of 700,000 hams. If things were done right money should be no problem. Amsat needs to do a better job of selling itself. Then money should be no problem. Fred

7 6

Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Tom Clark, K3IO 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

N4HY stated > We are spending a significant amount of money THIS YEAR producing a > hardware frame for the Eagle spacecraft. The electronic systems are > very similar. Intelsat will have more capability than Eagle as we > currently understand what we THINK the situation is because we will have > a) a better antenna platform and b) much more power. One thing the members should realize is that the "amateur radio" portion of the satellite programs constitutes only about 10% of the programmatic effort. IMHO, if things go in the direction I'd like to see, the GEOstationary P4 possibility has several other advantages to be added to Bob's list: c) A major portion of the P3 satellite effort, going all the way back to P3A (that achieved an aquatic orbit way back in 1980), has involved the need for us to become real "rocket scientists" by flying our own propulsion systems to achieve the HEO orbit. With the GEO P4possibility, someone else worries about the motors. That lops off (at least) 30-40% of the 90% non-radio overhead (and helps to prevent ulcers among the volunteer builders). d) Flying as a piggyback on somebody else's spacecraft means that they will handle all the attitude control problems. This removes the need for earth sensors, magnetorquers and an incredibly labor intensive effort to use the magnetorquers to actually point the spacecraft (remember that you are trying to push a gyroscope and all pushes cause the spin axis to precess). We had to be really good at pointing the spacecraft because the spin axis has to be properly aligned in the orbit plane in just the right direction in order to fire the kick motor! e) (expanding on Bob's item b) -- The current GEO plans would have the main spacecraft provide us with power. The solar panels needed for EAGLE would have cost us upwards of $2 million (unless we were to find a really generous sugar-daddy). And the power levels we have been discussing with the GEO supplier are about twice what we would have been able to generate on EAGLE, meaning signals will be stronger. f) There has been a lot of discussion here about launch availability and cost. So far, we have had a hard time identifying an affordable launch for a single EAGLE. It appears that the GEO piggyback may well cost LESS than an EAGLE launch to GTO. g) An even more important aspect of (f) is that these launches are a renewable resource. Unless we blow the opportunity badly, we can launch additional payloads every year or so. (Some info on the most recent launch in October is seen at http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=629). The places we might be able to get a ride to can be seen by clicking on either the HTML or FLASH item at http://www.intelsat.com/network/satellite/. h) The pricetag for either EAGLE or a GEO P4 may well be more than we, as amateurs, are able to raise. We are actively pursuing new funding sources. Right now, one of the most promising is from the US Gov't under the aegis of Homeland Security. Amateur Radio is well known as a very competent "first responder" of communications services. The HS people learned from Katrina that there is a need for 24/7 rapid response capabilities that can cover a sizable area where the infrastructure has collapsed. Some commercial sources have responded with multi-Billion dollar proposals. We think that they will be responsive to a grant request of a few percent of this, including the provision of ground terminals which would be deployed at a number of locations around the country (like at your QTH?). As a Board member I have wholeheartedly embraced the P4 GEO concept as the best (and perhaps only) act in town. I hope that the rest of the AMSAT members are similarly enthusiastic about the idea. As of now, it still is only an idea. It may not happen. But I can guarantee that we are guaranteed to fail if we don't try; and to try we need to know that the community is behind the effort. Remember that AMSAT is an all-volunteer effort, and YOU ARE AMSAT. Season Greetings and wishes for a successful 2008 -- Tom Clark, K3IO

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ISS Packet activity? I'm having problems and getting frustrated
by Michael Tondee 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Since for the moment I am down to just a two meter mobile for ham equipment, I have been trying to get a setup going for packet and APRS. At the moment I have only been experimenting with the receive side of things but I'm not having much luck. I'm using a 4 element beam with Az/El tracking that I used to use when working the LEO's along with SatPC32 for rotor control. I'm setup with AGWPE and UIview32 using a soundcard. I've tried several passes tuned to 145.825 and so far on just one I was able to get one small packet to decode on the UIView32 terminal screen. I'm not seeing any APRS stations appear on the map and on the last three good passes I've tried I've heard little if any packet activity at all. What am I doing wrong here? Is it possible there is no activity on some of the passes? Even when I've heard packets I've only successfully decoded one. Tnx for any advice or pointers someone could give, 73, Michael, W4HIJ AMSAT # 36017

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Re: Satellite Antennae
by Joe Krepps 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

> http://www.tech-software.net/antennae/ > > Some photos of my antenna antics How many of these did it take for your neighbors to think you were trying to contact the mothership? ;) :) Nice work. Thanks for sharing. I get looks when I stick the 20m element on top and the 40m element in the side of the Diamond MV3A magmounted to my Subaru. Nice conversation starter. Joe WB3CFN

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IC-PCR1500 DopplerSoftware ??
by CE3SOC Raul Romero 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

any info have icom pcr1500 need software for automatic doppler any help Raul CE3SOC

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ANDE Dec 15: cruising now below 215km
by Henk, PA3GUO 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

ANDE is still doing fine, and many stations grab the opportunity to make a quick APRS QSO during the last days in space of our friend: 5P22U]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,PA3GUO::F1SRC :copy, 59 tnx F1SRC]CQ,ANDE-1*,qAO,PA3GUO:73, 5P22U de F1SRC qsl qsl 5P22U]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAo,ON7EQ::G0ISW :59 qsl Based on todays keppler set & NOVA, I took the average height of ANDE and updated the plot: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/ande_predict_pa3guo_15dec200… Have look yourself on that graph, the end is coming soon ! Will ANDE celebrate its first birthdate / 1 year in SPACE ? Who dares to make a prediction in the amsat-bb on which date ??? Then: this may be a false alarm, but for the first time ever ANDE-2 did not execute a command properly. After I set the telemetry rate to 10 seconds, it did in reality take a period of 16 seconds: 20071215150027 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,DL8DR:T#006,119,146,142,156,168,10101110,770 20071215150009 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,DL8DR:T#005,130,048,051,048,213,11100001,770 20071215145953 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAo,ON7EQ:T#004,118,175,112,001,030,00000010,770 20071215145937 : ANDE-2]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#003,119,146,142,156,167,10101110,641 First sign of heat ? Well: maybe not, but click here and you see the TEMP trend: http://www2.findu.com/cgi-bin/tele1.cgi?call=ANDE-1&cycle1=10&last=168&para… ... it's going up slowly ! Why not join and provide the telemetry data yourself ?! Just wake up ANDE and press now and then an APRS message, only then telemetry will be transmitted by ANDE-1. Simply IGate the data to (using ALogger or UIView) and you make a difference ! U APRS VIA ANDE @145.825 is all you need ! Coming days I expect: - ANDE to fly faster and faster - ANDE to fly lower (more doppler effect) - Kepplers to be updated at least every day - Kepplers to become less accurate Watch the health of ANDE 'live' here: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/andeTLM1.html Or decode it yourself: ANDE-1]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#012,009,176,121,002,131,00100010,515 Can be analysed with the software of Mike, DK3WN: http://www.dk3wn.info/files/ande.zip Who will receive the very last packet ? Can your station grab each day a packet ? Did you make an APRS QSO ? Look at http://www.ande-deorbit.com for the AWARD. The official ANDE central source of information is here: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-ops.html The 'live' traffic: http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi Stay tuned (better: tune in)- it's getting very exciting ! 73 - Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (my own satellite weblog)

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Re: [Mw] Dish reflector density (and Kaguya)
by Michael Fletcher 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Loren Moline WA7SKT wrote: > Hello, Hi, CC:ing AMSAT-BB in case somebody wants to quit the keyboard and do something cool for a change ;-) > Is there anything that says what the maximum space or hole size in a not solid dish should be. Depends on the thickness and hence fringe effects (the cutoff is half a wavelength, but for all practical reasons (the "thinness" of the material), you can take 10 - 20 % of the freespace wavelength. > I have been told that a barbque grill antenna works better if you cover with 1/4" or smaller hardware cloth adhering to the curvature of the original dish shape. Well, the grill design is linearly polarised, so for circular polarisation (with a suitable feed also), making the reflector more complete can give you up to 3 dB gain (circular over linear). Tonight I used a +- 45 degree linearily polarised W-LAN patch, outer dimensions 8 * 10 cm, with a commercial preamp specified at 1.2 dB NF; solid copy with the naked ear, even through double glazing (i.e. the antenna is seeing a lot of ambient noise temperature too). This thing is extremely difficult to make non-audible by the ear. I just did pretty much the ultimate test and used a QBFH omnidirectional: no problem hearing Kaguya by the ear. What this means is you can hear the 2.2 GHz carrier from the moon whilst mobile, no DSP, SDR, nothing... > Loren Michael, OH2AUE -- "Life is too short for Sudoku"

1 0

AO-16 and IO-26 MBL telemetry
by Mike Rupprecht 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi, both Microsat satellites , AO-16 and IO-26 are in MBL state and sending telemetry (1k2 PSK) PACSAT AO-16 Dec 15, 2007 1220 UTC ############################ +10V Battery Bus : 0,00 V (sensor faulty) Battery Charge Reg : 0,78 mA Base Temp : 29,68 °C PSK RF Out : 1,81W +5V RX Bus : 4,91 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8,50 V +10V RX Bus : 10,89 V ITAMSAT IO-26 Dec 15, 2007 1310 UTC ############################ +10V Battery Bus : 10,89 V Battery Out Current: 37,80 mA Base Temp : 17,50 °C TX Power : 0,00 NC +5V RX Bus : 4,92 V +8.5V RX Bus : 8,36 V +10V RX Bus : 10,23 V 73, Mike DK3WN

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satpc32 labjacj question
by Nick Pugh 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi All I am using satpc32 and labjack for the rotator control. Is there a switch that detect a rotator stall? nick

1 0

RG213 @ 435 MHz
by Andrew Rich 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

I have 15 meters of RG213 @ 435 MHz. I worked out arounf 2dB loss. If I move to heliax, is it going to make that much of a difference ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net

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Re: Robert Mcqwier,
by Fred A Parker 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Sorry about the misspelling error. As I am vision impaired and when I make a typing error it is hard for me to catch it if the spellchecker does not pick it up. Fred

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One satellite or many?
by Patrick McGrane 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Greetings from Patrick N2OEQ Sorry to see so much disagreement over future satellites. Echo came close to the right idea for amsat. It was advertised as a high power satellite anyone with a home station could use. Thats why I joined up and made a meager donation towards the launch. If amsat thought outside the membership box and designed and built for great numbers of people, more people would donate and join! Instead, amsat makes it hard with uncommon operating bands and greater hardware requirements. If I can be constructive, amsat should design for simplicity of operation more than one satellite. Eagle would be good for those who insist on a technical challenge. P4 Payload should be designed for universal simplicity. Why not have both! Regarding the coverage afforded by P4, may I suggest the lowest frequency possible with gain dual band directional antennas deployed to the sides after launch much like P3E. That should provide semi-spherical coverage of the earth or about half the globe. On another note, last august I corresponded with NOAA suggesting or asking if they could add an amateur payload to one of their satellites as they are a prolific satellite builder. The idea was forwarded to others there so keep your hopes up for another possibility. It seemed plausible since noaa nws has an existing relationship with amateurs regarding weather conditions. Think in terms of expanding the satellite hobby, not making it a small exclusive aspect of the hobby. Go P4!!! I was psyched when I heard about it. Good YOB men ( and women ) Take care all, pat

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A0-7 ?????
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hello Iwas just on AO-7 when at 0147Z it just seemed to quit. I looked outside and the antenna was still there. Anyone else hear the same or do I have a problem. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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One satellite or many?
by Fred A Parker 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

I second your motion. Fred

1 0

Satellite Antenna
by Lisandro M. Arends 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

W7LRD can you send me the plans? Thank you p43l(a)arubanet.com Lisandro P43L

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Re: Satellite Antennae
by John Marranca, Jr 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Sorry. I messed up your name. Andrew. Jobe well done! -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: Satellite Antennae
by John Marranca, Jr 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Rich: Excellent job, for sure! Thank you for the diversion from the division. Please send me the plans for the Quadrifilar Helix! Cheers! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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RHCP LHCP
by Andrew Rich 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Building a helix, the last one I did was LHCP Begs me to ask the question. What are the CP birds RHCP LHCP ? Should I favour one over the other ? Makes a big diff with the linear ones. Cheers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net

1 1

Working ANDE and ISS 2 hops
by Robert Bruninga 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Just noticed that ISS is leading ANDE by about half-a-footprint. And since ANDE is going faster, that means the next few orbits this afternoon could possibly support dual hops when they are very close. Time now is 2100z on Friday. ANDE is going so fast, that it will pass ISS and be out of conjuncion in just 4 to 6 hours or so.. Bob, WB4APR

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Amateur Satellite Afficienados
by Dave Guimont 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

What in the world is happening to some radio amateurs interested in amateur satellite radio?? Most of the "dial-ogres" I see on the bb, I never hear on the air...I do a lot of listening, mostly receive antenna comparisons...Come on guys and gals, use what we've got.... Sort of reminiscent of when I could first afford my first FM HT, had to buy (or grind) crystals to change frequency... I was in the San Rafael,CA area, anxious to try it out so I called "CQ de wb6llo". The prompt response was "you are not supposed to call CQ on this frequency, just say listening!" I responded with a "sorry 'bout dat", and asked if the requirement to identify your station had also changed!!! NO RESPONSE *************** HAS SOMETHING CHANGED IN HAM RADIO?? I don't think so... Have a question?? ASK Have a comment?? EXPRESS IT See a baiter?? Most of us have delete keys.. These constant recriminations?? INDESCRIBABLE Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL and your families... Dave wb6ll0 Leanore ka6ucd 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Working ANDE before re-entry
by Ed Tump 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Folks, Being new to the sats, using voice and packet, I would like to work ANDE before "it" re-enters. Any special path to use for APRS? Anything special to do for tracking? I am using Orbitron and updated my keps today. 73, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

2 1

AO-51 IC-32A
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Hello When using a 32A on AO-51 what are the best frequencies to program in for doppler correction. I assume we leave the uplink channel in one place. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Andrew Glasbrenner 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

I noticed the new release of SATPC32 12.7 includes Intelsat spacecraft in one of the keplerian/satellite options. You can scroll through them and get an idea of the possibilities and range of footprints. Real life performance will be, as Bob suggests, dependent on our antenna pattern. Other services are usuable from the poles, such as Inmarsat, given enough gain and a clear horizon. MTI uses this as a selling point for their phone with the 4 ft dishes we S-band types are so fond of. So we might work fairly well out to the edge, again, dependent on the antenna. 73, Drew KO4MA >From: Robert McGwier <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> > >We do not know the answer yet. Our request is for multiple payloads, >covering with subsat over Atlantic, Pacific, and Central U.S. We would >need one over the Indian Ocean to cover the 2 pi radians of the equator >with antenna pattern. The north and south pole would be left out so I >am sure the emperor penguins and polar bears would be upset! > >Bob > >Simon Brown wrote: >> Where would this GEO be positioned? Even rough information would be >> interesting. >> >> Simon Brown, HB9DRV

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Re: passive reflector links?
by Clare Fowler 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

A local amateur here wanted to check out his 2.4 GHz transverter. We are about 20 kilometers apart and not line of site due to the local terain. He wanted to try it anyway. We coordinated on 2 meters. I have a 1.2 m dish and he was using a loop yagi. He hand held the yagi and as he moved it around I soon heard him. It didnt take long to realize that when he was pointed at a local water tower well off to the side I received a very strong signal. It doesnt take much of a metal object to reflect at 2.4 Ghz. This is a major problem with local low power interference. Even though you have a very directional antenna with low side lobes, reflections and rereflections from buildings and structures on the sides and in front can be very significant. Clare VE3NPC ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Bruninga" > What I want to try is taking the ubiquitous 3m satelite dish and > point it at the local water tower, and then find another such > ham to do the same, and see what kind of 2.4 GHz links we can > establish... > > We have a 600' tower across the river, and with a total of about > 50 dB gain from the two dishes, it would seem to be a viable way > of communicating. > > Not much else to do with all these BUD's. Bob, WB4APR

1 0

Coordinates and FindU
by Ed Tump 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Folks, I have been using my coordinates off of my GPS receiver at home as 4251.71N/08813.40W. Once I TX them to the local APRS or the ISS packet system Findu.com locates them on a map easily 30 miles plus down the road. They should smack me right next to Camp Lake in Trevor, WI is anyone else having this issue? 73, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

2 1

Re: 144 Mhz contact made using ISS as passive reflector
by Greg D. 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Hi Tony, Ah, good point. Six gigawatts EIRP is certainly a little more than the average Ham station can muster. So, now the next question... How to do this best? It occurs to me that we should be able to predict when the Station is in a favorable attitude, presumably using the solar panels as reflectors like the Iridium Flares. There are several programs out there to do this for Iridium; could they be adapted to the ISS? For extra credit, predict the times when the solar panels are favorable to a QSO between your station and another? Greg KO6TH ---------------------------------------- > Date: Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:16:00 -0500 > To: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > From: aa2tx(a)comcast.net > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: 144 Mhz contact made using ISS as passive reflector > > At 11:49 PM 12/11/2007, Greg D. wrote: > >>I thought of doing this back in October, when all the Sputnik-1 / >>early satellite discussion was happening. Echo-1, and all >>that. But, I would think that NASA (if not the crew) would frown on >>a bunch of folks on the ground hurling a few megawatts EIRP at their >>home in outer space. If Bob had to have a bazillion levels of >>safety in place for the little PCSAT-2 transmitter, I would think >>this would be right up there in the safety category, no? >> >>I haven't done the math yet... Are we far enough away that 1/x**2 saves us? >> >>Greg KO6TH > > Hi Greg, > > The ISS flies through the 217 MHz AFSSS Radar Fence 6 times a day and > it has an ERP of over 6,000 megawatts. It is only for about a second > at the peak but even the sidelobes are much higher than anything > a ham station could possibly come up with - no problem. > > 73, > Tony AA2TX > > _________________________________________________________________ The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox 360 Console. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/

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Re: Putting The Cart Before The Horse
by Fred A Parker 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

First in my original post I wanted to stimulate a debate on the feasibility of Phase 4. I received to many e-mail's off line to count all afraid to say anything on the bb. Everyone supporting my opinion not one negative, thank you all for the support. I did also receive emails from Rick Hambly and Robert McGuire attesting to my lack of intellectual capacity. (attack the messenger not the message) In his Email to me Mr. McQwier also challenged me to submit a resolution to the BOD and he would second it. My plans are to take him up on it. I actually plan on submitting two off them. First: To form a committee of amateurs in and out of Amsat with technical skills to asses the viability of SDR. The number one reason for this is after three years I have not been able to find one instance where anyone has produced a working SDR transponder. Second: One night recently while talking on two meter ssb to a local retired ham, a retired collage professor with a PHD. Who rights his own SDR software. When explaining what Amsat was trying to do his words were good luck. If this SDR is such a good thing those behind it should welcome a full per review and prove me wrong. Second: To form a committee of hams to survey hams both in and out of Amsat on what they want in a future satellite. With the goal of bringing in new hams for increasing membership in Amsat. This is my opinion and I feel free to express it because over the last three years I have donated at least $30,000.00 US dollars in CNC Machine shop work to Amsat. Especially to the Eagle project. As I see it now the project actually has gone backward. How would you feel if you spent a whole winter working on the Eagle Module's pro bono and just because you did not agree with something that your intelligence would be attacked. I just got off Eagle Pedia and could not find updated mechanical drawings as the old design has been scrapped. I want again to state this is my opinion. It is my believe that Rick Hambly and his phase 4 are just a diversion to cover up his past failures with the hardware and software for present projects. How does Amsat realistically plan on paying for such a project that when I confronted him via email that he did not deny would cost a minimum of $5 million dollars. As for the rest, it is being covered pretty well on this bb. Fred

7 9

UK Schools - Space experiment contest launched
by Trevor 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

UK Schools - Space experiment contest launched UK schoolchildren are being offered the chance to design an experiment for a small satellite in an effort to boost interest in space science. The contest, organised by the British National Space Centre (BNSC) and Surrey Satellite Technology (SSTL), is open to students between the ages of 14 and 18. The winning experimental package should be about the size of a lunch box, weighing no more than 1kg but it will be given a developmental budget of up to £100,000. The deadline for receiving initial proposals is 28 February 2008. In March, entries will be whittled down to a shortlist of six finalists who will then be invited to submit more detailed proposals. The winning proposal will be announced at the congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Glasgow in October 2008. Full BBC Story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7139356.stm Howard Long G6LVB - Build Your Own Satellite http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/Build%20Your%20Own%20Satellite.doc or http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/Build%20Your%20Own%20Satellite.htm or http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/Build%20Your%20Own%20Satellite.mht AMSAT-UK is the Amateur Radio Satellite organisation for the United Kingdom and they publish a quarterly newsletter full of Amateur Satellite information. Join now online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subscription/ For further details contact the secretary Jim Heck G3WGM Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Website: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ ---- 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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UK small satellite contest
by andy thomas 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Gang: Competition for UK young people 14-18 to develop £100k (>$200) satellite See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7139356.stm 73 de andy G0SFJ __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail - a smarter inbox http://uk.mail.yahoo.com

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Nice! one.
by john hackett 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Hello Bob, Just thought I'd let you know your video's are extreemly useful to the potential newcomer in Europe too. Well done! mate. 73 John. EU-Amsat chief cook and bottle washer. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> Homepage <http://www.observations.biz> _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

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Re: driveway WAS AO-51
by John W Lee 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Hi Bob, Well, a preamp sure helps a lot no matter what antenna you have. I always use a preamp when operating portable with the Arrow. That way you can hear the distant passes, as well as being able to hear the bird from horizon to horizon with a decent signal. Couple of examples: 46 states, 164 grids operating portable from Alabama in about 3 weeks. 28 states, 60 grids operating portable from New Mexico in 1 week. 27 states, 60 grids operating portable from Maryland in 1 week. With an HT, Arrow, ARR preamp. The way things are going, you'll probably get WAS on FM long before we get another HEO. It's been a LONG wait. 73, John, K6YK On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:23:26 -0800 Mark VandeWettering <mvandewettering(a)gmail.com> writes: > w7lrd(a)comcast.net wrote: > > Hello > > I have set a new goal to accomplish. I recently received an Arrow > antenna. So armed with my IC-W32A I'm going to work WAS from my > driveway. Is a preamp needed for my configuration? Should you hear > me give me a call. I'm running out of things to do while waiting > for the next HEO. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle

1 0

Satellite user "communities"
by Bob Stewart 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

With the "range war" that's going on right now, it seems like there are at least two communities of satellites users: one that wants simple, easy to use transponders and doesn't mind the windows of availability (and perhaps enjoys it for the added simple technical challenge), and another that wants an HF band type of experience with perfect propagation. There may be other subsets that I haven't noticed, yet, but these seem to be the two main groups. Both have their merits. Bob - AE6RV

6 5

Re: Bob's Message
by Joe Krepps 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

> Dave Guimont wrote: > > >>>The reason for Echo (a two-user FM voice) escapes me also, Greg. >>> >>>To me, money down the tubes... >>> >>> > > I'll agree with that one also, a whole bird with one "Channel" seems > like a HUGE waste. Cool? Yeah,, but single user uh,, nah. I respectfully disagree. I'm very happy to get involved with birds for the second time, thanks to Echo. There was a time when I had an IC-820H, Yaesu dual axis rotors, HyGain(?) CPs for 2m & 70cm. It was all just a bit much. This was (probably) before MacDoppler so I was struggling with tracking and predictions. It sure was cool looking but I never got my use out of it. Sold the stuff for a song. Not a good song either! Getting my feet wet...again...with an Arrow and my FT-817ND and/or FT-470 is perfect for my current situation! I wouldn't be on this list if it were not for the FM birds. If no one else will stand up for them, I will! Not arguing the value of HEOs but my sincere thanks to those who made the LEOs possible! If it gets more people involved, why not? If it keeps them around for HEOs, isn't that good? "Real soon now" I'd love to take a stab at AO-7 with my setup + extra bits (preamp, maybe a bigger antenna.), correct modes of course. Will I get many complaints if I only shoot 5w, CW/SSB, at AO-7 from my LEO rig???? I'm really a 20m guy. (Well, what else can you do with 5w when you're mobile?) 73s, Joe WB3CFN

2 1

Project Oscar Anniversary
by Dave Guimont 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Come on gang, where is everybody? I was alone on VO52 this am, an signals were very strong, but talking to myself about GB0O1..... I made 4 contacts on AO51 yesterday...the anniversary date... I was fortunate that I made contact on VO52 with Rick, WA4NVM on VO52....Now I have an AO7 contact to make to complete the circuit... Perhaps I am more emotionally involved...I personally knew three of the designers and builders of Oscar 1, thru low band contacts with them....I was on active duty in a Squadron on an aircraft carrier so I had no chance to actively participate, other than to encourage those three individuals...The three of them are now cq'ing from above.... My first chance to set up a station was Oscar 7, and subsequently got to meet all three in person...Harley Gabrielson lived here in San Diego, and saw him often throughout the years.... It is certainly a highlite in AMATEUR SATELLITE RADIO, it was Project Oscar at the time, became AMSAT, and now it seems AMSAT-NA cares not to acknowledge the facts, Kudos to Rob G8ATE, in Jolly Old, for initiating... GB0O1 GB ZERO OSCAR ONE the callsign for five days to commemorate the launch of O1 and celebrate PROJECT OSCAR... Come on guys, get in the act!! Don't forget the Genesis of all AMSATS, and a means, in my mind, to promote peace in a small but meaningful way.... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

2 2

One camp versus another
by John Marranca, Jr 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Hey all. Wow...there is quite a bit of division, for sure. However, it shouldn't be that way. Be it FM Easy Sats, or the CW/SSB Linear sats, or the digital Packet sats, we are still united in the love for satellite operation. Period. Some like the FM birds. Some don't. Each is entitled to their opinions. I for one, see FM satellites as a stepping stone to working the Linears..almost how the Novice Ham license was intended. As far as AMSAT leadership goes...if the members as a whole don't approve of what's going on, or the direction of the organization, then it is up to said members to remove what they don't like. That's how a healthy democracy works. Anyway...the debate in an open forum is also a good thing, as each opinion is voiced, problems are posed, and solutions are offered. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

3 2

driveway WAS AO-51
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Hello I have set a new goal to accomplish. I recently received an Arrow antenna. So armed with my IC-W32A I'm going to work WAS from my driveway. Is a preamp needed for my configuration? Should you hear me give me a call. I'm running out of things to do while waiting for the next HEO. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

3 2

Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Fred A Parker 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Fred A Parker wrote: > Just a suggestion, Has Amsat explored the idea of hiring a professional to help in some of the day to management and fund raising? When Amsat has a potential consumer base of 700,000 hams. If things were done right money should be no problem. Amsat needs to do a better job of selling itself. Then money should be no problem. > Fred Not only have we considered it Fred but you continue to demonstrate your ignorance and hostility by not knowing that we have done exactly that. You do not know that all sorts of efforts have been made at raising funds. We are told at every step what basic axioms there are in fund raising. You have to have something to sell to the interested party. No one is interesting in funding a private repeater for 20 guys to talk to each other about their brand new scars and brand new meds and we would be FOOLS to kowtow to people who will be dead or uninterested before we get into orbit. We have a professional fund raiser hired and contracted. We have a professional manager who is doing a DAMN GOOD job, better than when I was a director 15 years ago. It really is time for you to basically shut up and go do some investigation before you make a further complete fool of yourself. Barry asked me if I was shooting the messenger on an unpleasant message. I have made a very successful career out of promoting and working with unpleasant messengers. I have never promoted a single one who fired all cannons in a public forum with wrong facts, open hostility, and just plain dumb ignorance. Really Fred, you are well over the line. This is personal, ad hominem, and of no utility to the organization you ostensibly support. Bob -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair "An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?" Descartes

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FM LEO satellites
by Wayne Estes 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Joe WB9SBD wrote: a whole bird with one "Channel" seems like a HUGE waste. Cool? Yeah,, but single user uh,, nah. Wayne W9AE replies: AO-51 runs TWO transmitters most of the time. I'm NOT a big supporter of LEO FM satellites, and I definitely wasn't happy about the "bait and switch" after the first Eagle fund-raising campaign. But in retrospect, AO-51 was VERY timely because it was launched shortly after the demise of UO-14. UO-14 was probably the most popular hamsat ever, measured by the number of ground stations who made contacts. Also, the AO-51 digital payload came online when we were down to (I think) only one, and sometimes NO working digital satellites. In addition, AO-51's experimental modes help fill a vacuum while we wait for the next HEO/microwave satellite. We ground station operators get to dabble with bands V/S and L/S, and modes SSB/FM, and PSK/FM. In general, I believe that the large AMSAT organizations (NA and DL) should concentrate on HEO satellites and let the universities and smaller AMSAT groups build LEO satellites. Satellites like VO-52 from AMSAT-India, and KiwiSAT from AMSAT-ZL. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik AMSAT Area Coordinator, President's Club Member

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IC-910H C-IV control port pinout?
by Rick Mann 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Does anyone have pinouts for the Icom IC-910H's C-IV port? I'm hoping to fashion a USB-to-serial adaptor for it, rather than buying Icom's expensive little box. I'm concerned, though, because it looks like it uses a mono plug, so I don't know exactly how it communicates. TIA, Rick

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Putting Thr Cart Befor The Horse
by Fred A Parker 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

After receiving a mailing today from Amsat written by Richard Hambly. I find it imposable to keep quite any longer. Has anyone heard of the saying, putting the cart before the horse. Amsat needs to finish at least one of there present projects before moving on to what in the end may well turn out to be a bunch of pipe dreams. I am speaking of the Mars mission and Geostationary packages. One year ago I was told that Cubesat II would be launched in the fall of 2007. As far as I know very little is done yet. Especially in the electronics end. Don't get me wrong all these ideas are great but lets get back to the basics and finish what we have started befor taking on anything new or nothing will get done. Fred KF0AK

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AO-51 with UI-View32
by Mineo Wakita 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

UI-View32, up 1268.700 MHz, down 435.150 MHz, 9600 bps FSK PACB-1>TIME-1 [12/13/07 19:13:38] <UI>: PHT: uptime is 046/06:08:36. Time is Thu Dec 13 10:17:40 2007 PACB-1>AMSATN-1 [12/13/07 19:13:40] <UI>: >1 Dec 2007 ... FM Repeater ON ... L-Band uplink PBBS ON ... 73 WA4SXM JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/13/07 19:12:40] <UI R>:Hello via AO-51 JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/13/07 19:14:06] <UI R>:Hello via AO-51 JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/13/07 19:14:40] <UI R>:from JAPAN JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/13/07 19:14:56] <UI R>:from JAPAN JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/13/07 19:15:42] <UI R>:using by UI-Vew32 [UI-View32_MonLog_20071213.TXT] http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ao51aprs.htm --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Dec 13, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Re: [eu-amsat] Fw: AO-7 2000 QSO.
by John Hackett 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Gene, Here's an explanation. Some days UA9CS Igor works as many as 7 stations on a pass. Each of these stations enters his callsign - 5 or more passes a day gives a *LOT* of points. Now maybe people can understand what I was rambling on about these last months re: "points" in the log. A few months ago, Igor was well behind me, now he's well ahead. It all depends on how active a person is. Note that the actual figures I quote above are THEORETICAL. Igor doesn't always work 7 stations per pass. There were *VERY* few stations who worked AO-7 in the 70's. Mostly Americans. The JH station in 7th place has ammassed several hundred points without one single QSO ... which of course makes a complete mockery of the points system. As I have mentioned on both reflectors several times. The log is an ACTIVITY log ... *NOT* a contest log. The "points" system is an ill-advised design in my opinion - others may disagree. Accumulative errors from sloppy entries will eventually make the log show incorrect results. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ............................................................. > To: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com > From: genek(a)hot.ee > Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:27:47 +0200 > Subject: Re: [eu-amsat] Fw: AO-7 2000 QSO. > > Hello group, > > 2000 QSO just via AO-7, this "old bird".... > Hm-m... > How to find so many "uers" of AO-7? > May be he worked via AO-7 during all those 30+ years, even, when > bird was "dead"? > Who has more via AO-7? > May be it was his QSO "number 2000 via satellites" in his logbook? > > Strange, that I meet Igor firstly on satellites only in 2005 (VO-52) > and never before... > In my lodbook only 3843 QSO via satellites (RS, AO-7, AO-10 e.t.c...) > Very poor result... > > 73! Gene ES1RF/ES3RF > > > On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 01:18:07 +0200, SV1BSX <sv1bsx(a)yahoo.gr> wrote: > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "TERRY BROMLEY" <terry.bromley(a)btinternet.com> > > > > Subject: AO-7 2000 QSO. > > UA9CS CONGRATULATIONS IN YOUR 2000 QSO'S ON THE OLD BIRD. > > WELL DONE IGOR MY FRIEND. > > > > 73 TERRY G1WPR. > > > > > > > > > > -- > Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eu-amsat/ > > <*> Your email settings: > Individual Email | Traditional > > <*> To change settings online go to: > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eu-amsat/join > (Yahoo! ID required) > > <*> To change settings via email: > mailto:[email protected] > mailto:[email protected] > > <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > eu-amsat-unsubscribe(a)yahoogroups.com > > <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >

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Oscar 1 Anniversary
by Dave Guimont 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

First contacts to celebrate Project Oscar 1 Anniversary!! Make one, and get in on the ground floor... Congrats to Rob, G8ATE, for the initiation... Tnx to the following N5ZNL, Rick; N5UXT, Angelo; N2BX, Paul; XE1HON, Manny for making it possible on AO51 Echo.... ~0150Z on 13 dec. I was only running 5 watts uplink, ICOM 910, homebrew self-designed quadrifilars on both up and downlinks, with antennas at ~45° EL, on the same mast, and rotating manually using a U100 rotor ( I think that is the name?? an inexpensive, age-old TV rotor). Freq. control with SatPC32..... Plans for the antennas on my website: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads/ quadfil.exe My own downlink was blasting me, and I had a problem cranking the gain down, to listen. ONE contact would have been enough to comply with the celebration....Of course, digital would be possible with you, Rob, but in my opinion a voice or cw contact is the requirement, and impossible with you in the absence of a HEO... So I wasn't HOGGING, just answering those that called me, and pulled the big switch after the aforementioned contacts... Tnx es QSL to them... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Dan Briner 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Tom said "As a Board member I have wholeheartedly embraced the P4 GEO concept as the best (and perhaps only) act in town. I hope that the rest of the AMSAT members are similarly enthusiastic about the idea. As of now, it still is only an idea. It may not happen. But I can guarantee that we are guaranteed to fail if we don't try; and to try we need to know that the community is behind the effort. Remember that AMSAT is an all-volunteer effort, and YOU ARE AMSAT." Well put Tom, if we do not strive to take advantage of the Phase 4 opportunity we will lose the chance to take Amateur Radio to the next level of technology and experimentation. Eagle is a progressive step Phase 4 is a leap. We give up nothing in what needs to be developed for Eagle to peruse the Phase 4. I see our chance to open a whole new dimension for AMSAT and Amateur Radio to be the biggest plus of Phase 4. 73, and best wishes for this holiday season a wonderful New Year Dan Briner AB3EN ab3en(a)amsat.org .- -... ...-- . -.

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by tjjapha＠earthlink.net 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Bob and all, Could you estimate how long it will take to be ready for a launch opportunity for(a) Phase 4 and (b) for Eagle (assuming you have the funds to build everything needed for the one selected to go first)? The merits of one versus the other is only relevant if they're both realistic options, and I know that that is not clear now. So going down a path from which you can move in either direction makes sense. My surprise is that there appears to be a strong presumption in some of the messages that Phase 4 should be the higher priority. That may be the case, but I don't think we've been given enough information to agree with it or disagree with it. By the way, will the higher power made available on Intelsat mean that a Phase 4 bird will need a much higher power output? If so, are there any implications for the design? 73, Tony, N2UN

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VE3VRW Satellite Gateway Video
by Jeff Davis, KE9V 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Mac users already know the handiwork of Don Agro, VE3VRW. His MacLoggerDX logging application and MacDoppler satellite tracking software is top notch. Don also runs a satellite gateway in Toronto that automatically tracks AO51, AO27, SO50 and ISS and ports the audio into the local repeater network. An outstanding video production of the entire operation can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tOJX-oOZ2Q It's very well produced and certainly worth a look! 73, Jeff KE9V

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What is *real* ISS APRS frequency?
by jon 12 Dec '07

12 Dec '07

I was googling around to find out the ISS APRS Packet frequency, and I get several answers: Up/Down 145.825/145.825 145.99/145.800 145.800/145.800 What is the correct pair? I am guessing 145.825/145.825. Even Bob gives two different freqs on two different pages. ;) 73s, Jon K7PGB

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