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CubeSat launch 27Mar07 6:46:35UT
by Ralph Wallio, W0RPK 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

The next CubeSat launch is scheduled for 27Mar07 6:46:35UT via a ISC Kosmotras Dnepr launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Four-of-seven CubeSats will be using Amateur Radio frequencies and modes as follows: CalPoly PolySat CP3 436.845MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 (Part-5 experimental license) http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ CalPoly PolySat CP4 437.325MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ University of Louisiana CAPE-1 435.245MHz (1W) 9600bps FM FSK AX.25 and CW telemetry during opposite 30sec intervals using call sign K5USL http://ulcape.org/wiki/Main_Page http://ulcape.org/wiki/CAPE1_Telemetry Forward received telemetry to jd.harrist(a)gmail.com Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Colombia) Libertad-1 437.405MHz (400mw) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 http://www.usergioarboleda.edu.co/proyecto_espacial/index.htm http://www.usergioarboleda.edu.co/proyecto_espacial/english_libertad.pdf Also see http://cubesat.atl.calpoly.edu/ and http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/CubeSat.htm for more information. P-POD A (Preliminary) 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29310451 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0071000 198.4663 339.8290 14.52700000 1x P-POD C (Preliminary) 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29311609 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0084000 198.3918 339.9240 14.51600000 1x P-POD B (Preliminary) 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29312766 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0090000 199.4051 339.9000 14.50500000 1x Preliminary First Orbit Schedule 27Mar07 06:46:35UT Launch 07:02 CubeSat separation 07:08 AOS South Africa 07:52 AOS Hawaii 07:59 AOS CalPoly 08:01 AOS Alaska 08:20 AOS Northern Europe 08:25 AOS Central Europe & UK 11:16 First AOS Japan 11:30 CP3/CP4 start transmitting 15:04 First AOS WØRPK-Iowa TNX es 73 de Ralph Wallio, WØRPK W0RPK(a)netINS.net http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/ Hubbert's Peak - The Mother of all Perfect Storms

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Re: receiver sensitivity conversion question
by Grant Hodgson 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

Tyler Usually, an RF voltage is specified as potential difference (PD), i.e. the voltage when connected to a 50 ohm load. To convert uV to dBm :- i) work out the power in Watts :- P=V^2/R so 25uV equates to 12.5pW or 0.0000000000125W. ii) Multiply by 1000 to give the answer in mW; i.e. 0.0000000125mW. iii) Take the logarithm and multiply by 10 to give -79dBm. However, I'm not sure where 12.5uV comes from - a typical VHF receiver needs about 0.25uV or better - that's -119dBm; if your radio really needs 25uV then there is something seriously wrong. regards Grant G8UBN

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Re: CubeSat launch 27Mar07 6:46:35UT
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

Hello Can any of these cubesat' that are constantly being shot up be configured to a linear transponder? This way the non digi types can use them. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Ralph Wallio, W0RPK" <W0RPK(a)netins.net> > The next CubeSat launch is scheduled for 27Mar07 6:46:35UT via a ISC Kosmotras > Dnepr launch vehicle > from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Four-of-seven CubeSats will be using > Amateur Radio > frequencies and modes as follows: > > CalPoly PolySat CP3 > 436.845MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 (Part-5 experimental license) > http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ > > CalPoly PolySat CP4 > 437.325MHz (1W) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 > http://polysat.calpoly.edu/ > > University of Louisiana CAPE-1 > 435.245MHz (1W) 9600bps FM FSK AX.25 and CW telemetry > during opposite 30sec intervals using call sign K5USL > http://ulcape.org/wiki/Main_Page > http://ulcape.org/wiki/CAPE1_Telemetry > Forward received telemetry to jd.harrist(a)gmail.com > > Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Colombia) Libertad-1 > 437.405MHz (400mw) 1200bps FM AFSK AX.25 > http://www.usergioarboleda.edu.co/proyecto_espacial/index.htm > http://www.usergioarboleda.edu.co/proyecto_espacial/english_libertad.pdf > > Also see http://cubesat.atl.calpoly.edu/ and > http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/CubeSat.htm for > more information. > > P-POD A (Preliminary) > 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29310451 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x > 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0071000 198.4663 339.8290 14.52700000 1x > P-POD C (Preliminary) > 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29311609 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x > 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0084000 198.3918 339.9240 14.51600000 1x > P-POD B (Preliminary) > 1 xxxxxU xxxxxxxx 07086.29312766 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0000x > 2 xxxxx 098.0870 161.6633 0090000 199.4051 339.9000 14.50500000 1x > > Preliminary First Orbit Schedule > 27Mar07 06:46:35UT Launch > 07:02 CubeSat separation > 07:08 AOS South Africa > 07:52 AOS Hawaii > 07:59 AOS CalPoly > 08:01 AOS Alaska > 08:20 AOS Northern Europe > 08:25 AOS Central Europe & UK > > 11:16 First AOS Japan > 11:30 CP3/CP4 start transmitting > 15:04 First AOS WØRPK-Iowa > > TNX es 73 de Ralph Wallio, WØRPK > W0RPK(a)netINS.net > http://showcase.netins.net/web/wallio/ > Hubbert's Peak - The Mother of all Perfect Storms > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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FS: Dual receive HT-perfect for satellites
by John Geiger 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

I have available an Alinco DJ-G5T dualband (2m/70cm) HT in very nice condition. This HT will do dual receive, so you can listen to 2 different frequencies at the same time. It will do up to 5 watts out. It comes with 3 batteries (cannot guarantee the condition of these, but each takes a charge), the drop in charger (not a rapid one, but you can charge the battery off of the HT), antenna, belt clip and a copy of the manual on CD. HT works fine, and even has a built in bandscope, so you can see activity on other channels around you. This would make a great satellite HT. It is pretty much Alinco's version of the Icom W32A. I am asking $130 plus shipping for the package. ALways open for trade offers involving other HTs. 73s John W5TD ____________________________________________________________________________________ We won't tell. Get more on shows you hate to love (and love to hate): Yahoo! TV's Guilty Pleasures list. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/265

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ALuminum Rod
by w3vvp 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

3/16 aluminum welding rod is good for making antennas for 2 meters and up.

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WTB: Circular Polarized antenna's and mast mounted preamps
by Stargate 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

Hi all, I am looking for 1 or 2, M2 436CP42 U/G circular polarized antenna's. (or similar) TLC can be needed depending on the price. Also looking for 1 or 2, M2 2MCP22 circular polarized antenna's. (or similar) TLC can be needed depending on the price. Also.... Advanced Receiver Research MSP432VDG-160 preamp in any condition. Condition depicts price.:-) Also.... Advanced Receiver Research MSP144VDG-160 preamp in any condition. Condition depicts price.:-) Also would like to have the Bias T's for the preamps. Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN" LOL :-)

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Re: CubeSat launch 27Mar07 6:46:35UT
by KA2AEV＠aol.com 22 Mar '07

22 Mar '07

Would kind of be really nice even if they could do 70cm & 2m Mike KA2AEV Staten Island, NY In a message dated 3/21/2007 7:57:03 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, w7lrd(a)comcast.net writes: Hello Can any of these cubesat' that are constantly being shot up be configured to a linear transponder? This way the non digi types can use them. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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Re: Antenna aluminum rod source?
by Alan P. Biddle 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

My thanks for all the sources! I have them all collected, and am going to put in an order with Texas Towers. Again, thanks, and very 73s, Alan WA4SCA

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Hamsat Question
by john heath 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hi TO Fred and the list, A good place to get operational updates on most of the Oscars is http://oscar.dcarr.org you can post your own reports on the site. 73 John G7HIA

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Hamsat Question
by W1FC＠aol.com 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Good Morning, I just listened for Hamsat, orbit 10,144 coming down over North Atlantic, didn't hear anything here in Florida. Can some tell me if it is working? Thanks Fred W1FC/4 ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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UI-View32 V2.03 for SatGate
by Mineo Wakita 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

I posted it to the following URL. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/uiview32.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: Mar 21, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Antenna aluminum rod source?
by Alan P. Biddle 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

Hi, I have already done the Google, but was wondering if anyone can recommend a good source of aluminum rods in small quantities for use in antennas? In particular, 3/16" round stock, made of what is usually referred to as aircraft T-5 or T-6 aluminum. The local sources so far have turned out to be rather soft alloys rather than the springy stuff used in beams, etc. And of course any firm with the word "aircraft" in the name wants 10-20X times the price. Alan WA4SCA

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AMSAT at the 2007 Dayton Hamvention
by Gould Smith 21 Mar '07

21 Mar '07

AMSAT will have a great deal to offer the amateur satellite enthusiast at the 2007 Dayton Hamvention. The dates for Dayton are Friday May 18 - Sun May 20, 2007. The AMSAT Forum will be on Friday afternoon this year from 11:15am to 2:00pm in Forum Room 1. Speakers and topics during the forum are: Moderator: Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA Corporate Secretary Rick Hambly, W2GPS, President, AMSAT-NA "Summary of AMSAT-NA Activities in 2007" Peter Guelzow, DB2OS, AMSAT-DL President and Bob McGwier, N4HY, AMSAT-NA VP - Engineering, "Phase 3-Express: An Update" Jim Sanford, WB4GCS, EAGLE Project Manager "Eagle Status Update" Andrew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA VP-Operations and Gould Smith, WA4SXM, AO-51 Command Station, "AMSAT-NA Satellite Operations and AO-51 Update" Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Director-Human Space Flight, "ARISS and Future SuitSat Missions" Friday night will usher in the first AMSAT/TAPR Banquet, to be held at the Air Force Museum. "Dinner Under the Wings" will be served in the Cold War area of the museum beginning at 6:45pm. The museum will be open until 10:00pm for viewing. Join us Friday night for an enjoyable dinner and experience. The price of the Banquet is $35, tickets must be purchased online at the AMSAT Store or by calling Martha at the AMSAT Office (301) 589-6062. There will no Banquet tickets sales at the AMSAT booth this year, as we have to give the museum a final count on Tuesday before the banquet. For additional information see the AMSAT website front page or the AMSAT at Dayton pages at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/Dayton2007.php See you there! Gould, WA4SXM

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Sapphire NO-45
by john heath 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Listened for Sapphire on the 22:50 pass in range UK. Nothing heard. 73 John G7HIA

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SatPC32 with Windows Vista
by Wayne Estes 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Erich Eichmann DK1TB tested the SatPC32 12.6 I/O functions with a new PC that runs Windows Vista 32. The results are encouraging. Generally, everything seems to be compatible. Below are the details (mostly Erich's words, not mine). A. Installshield setup program: Works on Vista 32. A new installer is required for Vista 64. B. Keplerian data Internet download: Gould Smith and Graham Ratcliff confirmed that it works. C. Speech function: Works on Vista 32. D. Rotor steering via parallel port: I tested the IOPort.SYS driver successfully with the IF-100 on a parallel port. The driver is also used with the FODTrack, the KCT and the RifPC. The latter 2 can't be used with Vista PCs as they require ISA slots. But rotor steering with the FODTrack parallel port interface will work. E. Rotor steering via serial port: Rotor steering via COM 1 works. I tested that with the W0LMD Tracker Mini. So, all serial port rotor controllers (GS-232 and Easycomm1 compatible and EGIS devices) will work. Rotor steering with the Labjack U12 works (the U12 will also work on Vista 64). The Labjack U3 doesn't work at present. I received an error msg when I tested the U3. Labjack says they have no Vista driver for the U3 as yet. F. Rotor steering via USB port: Today I tested the HalloRotor USB controller and it works. I could not get the WinRotor software to install. Maybe I need updated software. I have no experience with other USB controllers such as G6LVB's tracker. G. CAT control via serial port: CAT steering via COM 1 works flawlessly (Graham Ratcliff confirmed the same for Vista 64). H. USB-to-serial adapters: Control of serial devices via a USB-to-Serial adapter will also work, provided the adapter's driver is Vista compatible. CAT steering with my 4-Port Keyspan USB-to-serial adapter didn't work. I have a 3 year old USB 1.1 model, USA-49WLC. This model has been replaced with the USB 2.0 USA-49WG. Keyspan has a Vista compatible driver for the new model, but the driver doesn't work with the older model. I contacted Keyspan and they confirmed that they don't have a Vista driver for the older USA-49WLC. I have no experience with other USB-to-Serial adapters. Summary: There are no problems with SatPC32 12.6 itself under Vista 32. But there are problems with some 3rd party hardware drivers which can only be fixed by their manufacturers. Windows Vista 64 I have created a 12.6 test version for Vista 64. Graham, VK5AGR, has tested it and noticed no problems. It doesn't support parallel port rotor controllers (IF-100, FODTrack), because the IOPort.sys driver is not compatible with Vista 64. All other functions seem to work like they do with the normal SatPC32 under Vista 32, provided Vista 64 compatible hardware drivers are available. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Re: Strong sigs
by Dave Johnson 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

I've had several instances of squelch being broken while scanning, usually from my car using an external mag-mount antenna. In fact, my first (and so far only) QSO on AO-27 was done just this way - I was on my way to work and scanning the channels I have programmed in my HT, when the channel I have programmed for SO-50 broke squelch with a contact occurring. I was able to jump in after going to VFO mode (I can't save V/U or U/V frequency pairs in memory), and at first thought it was SO-50 until I ran pass prediction for the time of the contact. I've had the squelch break on AO-51 passes, as well as many times with ISS passes, mainly during packet transmissions. Dave KC9GHA. On 3/20/07, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 22:10:55 -0400 > From: "Tim Tapio" <tim(a)timtapio.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Strong sigs > To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <000001c76a94$ff0dd870$4101a8c0@D6Z67P91> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > While on the way home from our ham meeting tonight, listening to the > repeater traffic, I was amazed to hear an EM64 as AO-51 broke squelch, > through a rubber duck, sitting in the console of my car on the UHF side of > my IC-W32A > > High pass....muast have been around 1:42Z..... > > 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04....heard in FM05 > >

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Sapphire NO-45 alive?
by Robert Bruninga 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Sapphire, NO-45? Since Sapphire is near the debris field from the Chinese ASAT test, we thought we would look to see any potential collisions. We'd like to also know if anyone has heard Sapphire recently. The SOCRATES engine on the Celestrack.com web page is showing several potential "conjunctions" over the next few days with Sapphire (NO-45) #26932. It would be nice to hear some "before-and-after" signals to confirm or deny a collision. http://celestrak.com/SOCRATES/search.asp The last reported signal (that I have) for Sapphire (KE6QMD) was by Bill Bruno KB2RC on October 30, 2004 8:15 PM. He was using 145.945 up and 437.095 down. Those are the freqs posted on the Amsat site. Even if Sapphire's digipeater is not set, then if it is alive, it still outputs a brief 1 second carrier beacon once every minute I think on that 437.095 freq (+/- Doppler). In another possible mode, those pings might be once every 20 seconds? (If I remember correctly?) If any AMSAT folks hear from Sapphire, let us know of any sightings. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR USNA Satellite Lab

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Re: Transatlantic QSO on FO-29
by i8cvs 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Hi Luc, VE2DWE It was very nice to contact you again in SSB this morning via FO-29 orbit 52287 with the bird at the apogee around MA= 128 I started to hear your carrier while you was tuning at 06:16 UTC and from 06:16 to 06:22 UTC your SSB signal was very well readable over the noise without QSB peaking to an S-7 Hope this new 6742.8 km QSO with you between FN36KA and JN70ES in a LEO will trigger more transatlantic activity on this satellite waiting for P3E Luc. Note: If someone like to try a transatlantic QSO via FO-29 this is the right moment because during descending orbits the satellite foot print is actually maximum with FO-29 near the apogee over the atlantic. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Luc Leblanc" <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 3:09 PM Subject: Re: Transatlantic QSO on FO-29 > On 19 Mar 2007 at 4:17, i8cvs wrote: > > > Hi Luc, VE2DWE > > > > I would like to know from you if you plan or not to try again on FO-29 > > day 20 march orbit 52287 from 06:16 to 06:22 UTC same frequency > > 435.830 MHz > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > HI again Domenico > > Yes i just my apointment sked for tomorrow i will be able to make even if i > have to be on the road early tuesday mornimg some client to be seen. > > I will try to install a preamp on the downlink to check how he perform just > hope desense will not kill the downlink signal but i will also try to make some > test. > > Speaking of killing i probably stuff you mailbox as i sent you my pictures here > is 2 depicting my past december ice/snow storm. > > see you this morning > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Strong sigs
by Tim Tapio 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

While on the way home from our ham meeting tonight, listening to the repeater traffic, I was amazed to hear an EM64 as AO-51 broke squelch, through a rubber duck, sitting in the console of my car on the UHF side of my IC-W32A High pass....muast have been around 1:42Z..... 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04....heard in FM05

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

Awards this week are: We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club. Bob Massey, WA9NBU AMSAT Communication Achievement Award Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE, #445 Greg Drzyzga, NA4N, #446 Fernando Martins, CT2ISG, #447 South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE, #US105 Robert Wyckoff, KB3MBO, #US106 Greg Drzyzga, NA4N, #US107 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on W0KIE Intelsat Americas, T1, 6.8Mhz Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com

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LEO tutorial
by Robert C. Rice 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

http://www.wku.edu/ksgc/sats.pdf Here is a link to a very clear and detailed tutorial on using LEO satellites with minimal equipment. This is the clearest explanation I've seen. The author is Richard Hackney, N1ASA Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Western Kentucky University Director, NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium This is great stuff and would be a good link (or download) to add to the AMSAT webpage for newbies (like me!) Robert WB5PKN

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Full duplex.
by john hackett 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

I agree with Howard. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ......................................................................................................... Hi Robert >http://www.wku.edu/ksgc/sats.pdf > >This is great stuff and would be a good link (or download) to add to the >AMSAT webpage for newbies (like me!) I agree it is especially clear and well written. My only caveat is that I personally feel that the rejection of full duplex capability in the paper promotes blind transmission for longer periods than necessary creating QRM for others. Thinking back to when I cut my teeth, I would have found it particularly frustrating not knowing if I was making it. Just my opinion, and the author is to be applauded for his efforts. 73, Howard G6LVB

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Transatlantic QSO on FO-29
by i8cvs 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

Hi All, Just made a nice SSB QSO on sked via FO-29 with Luc VE2DWE in FN36KA to day on orbit 52260 from 06:20 to 06:26 UTC The distance from FN36KA and JN70ES is 6742.8 km The last QSO with Luc was via AO40 but the above contact lasted 6 minutes of a very outstanding conversation with no QSB via a LEO satellite with a max elevation for me of 2.5 degrees and 6.5 degrees for Luc. If any one like to try CW or SSB on FO-29 with me in JN70ES please email off list. Tanks Luc for this very interesting experiment with you. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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DK78-79
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Dear friends, I will fly today Saturday morning to the boundary of these grids, I will try to be on AO51 and SO50 and AO27..... Saturday.......SO50 and AO27 in the afternoon pass, AO51 the night pass Sunday.........AO51 morning pass, SO50 and AO27 afternoon pass.... GL all Al XE2AT _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Spaces en Prodigy/MSN Spaces: Crea tu propio espacio. http://spaces.live.com

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W4M on AO-51 Saturday morning
by Doug Shields 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Hello everyone, Please listen for W4M on the Saturday AM passes of AO-51. I will attempt to do a satellite demo at the Martin County, Florida hamfest (grid square EL97). I will be using an HT and an hand aimed Arrow antenna from the middle of the tailgate area. I hope to generate some interest in satellite communications and AMSAT. There will be special QSL certificates available for any contacts made. QSL via K4ZK. The address for K4ZK is good on any callsign lookup database. I hope to work lots of folks Saturday morning. Doug W4DAS

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Echo and Hamsat
by Patrick McGrane 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Greetings, just a short note to say many people are trampling each other on echo while there is hardly anyone on hamsat which is a SSB satellite with a fantastic downlink. You might find some used all-mode UHF and VHF rigs on ebay or at hamfests or by word of mouth. They can also be used on FO-29 and the upcomming eagle and P3E. 73, pat

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Boy scout Camporee
by David J 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Tomorrow, Saturday March 17th, is the date of the Manatee Co. FL Boy Scout Camporee. This year's campout is centered around experiencing amateur radio. There will be several stations setup covering several bands. AMSAT will also have a station operating as many satellites and passes as possible on Saturday. The calls being used will be KU4OS and AA4KN. We would appreciate contacts with as many stations as possible. We invited you to listen out for us and be a part of this event. Dave, AA4KN

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SO50 contact
by Robert C. Rice 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

On Thursday afternoon about 3:45pm (USA Central time) I made contact via SO50 with Chris KG2??? in Idaho (?) possibly grid DM22(?). I was operating HT portable with a long whip from the beach near Corpus Christi, Texas. This was my first satellite contact, and I was so surprised that it all worked I neglected to get it all down. Perhaps Chris lurks here, or someone happened to hear our brief contact and can put me straight on his callsign. Since this was my first satellite contact, I would like to send him a QSL card. Robert Rice WB5PKN

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Successful demo @ 0334-0348 UTC via AO-51, 16 March!
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Hi! My presentation and demonstration for the ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club (W7TBC) last night was a success. This was the radio club that allowed me to use their special callsign W7W during their hamfest in January, and the club invited me to do a presentation and demonstration at this month's meeting. It was a good presentation with various questions, then the AO-51 demonstration during the pass at 0334-0348 UTC, followed by more questions after the pass. In my presentation, I had put in a mention that the club members could attempt to listen to the AO-51 pass while I was doing the demonstration. Several did exactly that. A few with HTs and long antennas (duckies or telescoping whips), along with one member who went to his car and used his mobile station, were able to follow along with their own radios. Other than having an extended question-and-answer session after the pass, I finished my presentation in time to go outside. Several members helped me take my equipment outside and set it up. For the demonstration, I used an Icom IC-2720H mobile radio at 15W (two contacts toward the end of the pass were made at 5W, to show that lower power could work) into an Arrow Antennas handheld 2m/70cm Yagi. Power was from a 12V/20Ah gel-cell battery, and the radio is OK with the battery (4.5A draw when transmitting at 15W on 2m, and about 2.5A draw for 5W TX on 2m). I had a small folding table I put the radio on, and connected three items to one of the IC-2720H's speaker jacks (external speaker for the crowd to listen on, an earphone for me to hear with, and my small Sony digital audio recorder). My location, on the campus of the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale (west-side suburb of Phoenix), was in grid DM33vo. Within a couple of minutes, Don KD6IRE in northern California was calling me and was the first contact I made with my audience watching and listening. Then Manuel XE2BHL called from Tijuana, followed by my only contact from eastern North America - George WA5KBH in Louisiana. I proceeded to make 6 more contacts after that with stations in California, Washington state, Alberta, British Columbia, and - at the end of the pass - Craig KL4E from Alaska showed up for the 9th and final contact of my demonstration. The club members were impressed with the fact they could hear the satellite with their own equipment. It was a high pass (67 degrees maximum elevation for us), which helped with that, but still an impressive sight. They were also impressed with how well the satellite sounded as it was going out of range at the end of the pass. Along with the contacts, we heard two other stations that I was not able to make contact with - N6ADR in California, WA7SDI in Oregon. I tried not to monopolize the pass, especially with George WA5KBH trying to work some of the western stations on this late (for him) pass. Lots of people need to be thanked for the successes last night. First, Gould WA4SXM - one of the AO-51 command stations - for ensuring the satellite would be in the normal FM repeater configuration last night. The ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club, for inviting me to do this - in particular Bob K7UNL (president) and Roger W9NCQ (treasurer - he invited me to do this event), plus the other members whose names escape me that helped me haul stuff to and from my car for the demo. And the 9 stations in the USA, Canada, and Mexico who made contacts with me (Don KD6IRE, John KD6PAG, James KE7KQA, Craig KL4E, Ron VE6RVT, John VE7CBZ, George WA5KBH, Bob WA7HYD, and Manuel XE2BHL). Being able to make contacts with stations spread out in western North America - plus WA5KBH in Louisiana - helped show that the satellite's footprint covers a large area. If anyone wishes to see the slideshow I presented before the on-air demonstration, along with copies of flyers I have distributed at the meeting last night plus the recent Phoenix-area hamfests, I have all of them on my web page in PDF format. Follow the link on the home page, and get them there. My web pages are on free web space at Geocities, so there are bandwidth limits enforced. If anyone has problems in downloading those files, please e-mail me directly and I will send them to you. I can also provide an MP3 with the audio from this pass, for anyone that is interested in hearing what we heard last night (MP3 won't be posted on a web page, but available via e-mail). Thanks again, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Ofcom Update: Award of available spectrum: 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz - discussion document on 10 GHz and the London 2012Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
by Trevor 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

The consultation document is concerned with the Auction Segments that are affected - 10.125-10.225 GHz and 10.475-10.575 GHz (para 3.4) The implication from para 3.3 is that the whole of 10.00-10.68 GHz could be used (with preferred sub-bands of 10.30-10.45). It wouldn't suprise me to see S-Band (2+ GHz) also being requiring on a temporary basis and some of the 112 MHz of UHF spectrum freec by digital TV switchover. 73 Trevor M5AKA ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of unwanted email? Get leading protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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UO-11 telemetry Mar.16
by Mineo Wakita 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

145.826MHz FM http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/70316u11.wav PCM 8000kHz 8bit monaural samples, 819KB Decoded by uo11dem.exe UOSAT-2 070247104 000000010001020002030003010004050005060006070007080008090009 100001110000120003130002140005150004160007170006180009190008 20000221000322000022000124000625000726...................... 30000131000232000133000030000735000636000537000438000....... 400004410005420006430007440000450001460002470003800C49000D.. 50000551000452000753000654000155000056000357000258000D59000C 60800E615FC162010563330564 002658E0C662AC467000168000E69.... --------------------------------------------- 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: Mar 16, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Trasantlantic QSO on FO-29
by Luc Leblanc 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

For DXers eyes only. There is actually very good mutual window pass between eastern europe north east africa coast and eastern north and south america when FO-29 travel over mid atlantic. I just made one QSO at 0629Z 03-16 with Walt ON5NY both side report 57 and the whole passband remain empty for the rest of the pass. If some EU or African stations wants to planned sked just e-mail me off list. Pretty boring to hear only his own voice spread over the Atlantic in the middle of the night here. The bad part of the story you have to set your alarm clock in a way to not disturb the whole sleeping house. "-" "It is not the class of license the amateur holds, but the class of the amateur that holds the license." Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: SO50 NOT HEARD???
by David Bird 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

HI AMSATS, SO50 NOT HEARD ON 3/15/07 UTC PASS 03;11 OR PASS 0453. HOPE SO50 WILL BE BACK ON SOON. DE KC7USS. _________________________________________________________________ The average US Credit Score is 675. The cost to see yours: $0 by Experian. http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=660600&bcd=EMAILFOOTERAV…

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AO-51 demonstration tonight (0334-0348 UTC Friday, 16 March)
by Don Ferguson 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Patrick, You did an outstanding job with the satellite demo tonight. I don't believe I have heard anyone make as many contacts from Mexico to Alaska and you were extremely readable for the entire pass. Your audience must have been very impressed. Way to go. Don Kd6ire

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Re: SO50 NOT HEARD???
by John Mock KD6PAG 16 Mar '07

16 Mar '07

Luc Leblanc VE2DWE wrote: > I was on it on the 2 evening passes and signal was s6 to s9 make a couple of > QSO on it on one pass sigan was very low but on the other all was normal Thanks for the report! I tried SO-50 today on a 6.8 degree transcontinental pass but i only heard a couple of stations and was not able to hear my own downlink (or work anyone). By contrast, i worked several stations on AO-27 on a 3.7 degree pass (including Maryland) and heard my own downlink clearly. Later, when SO-50 on an essentially overhead pass (88 degrees to the east), i was able to work a couple of stations but with difficulty. So it seems to be working but not well. I've noticed that SO-50 has bad days from time to time, and hopefully that's all this is. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) [Note: If i'm in your address book, please replace 'qsl.net' with 'amsat.org'.]

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Project Oscar Pioneer
by john heath 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hi Tim, Thanks for sharing Dick Esneault's memories with the list. First time I had heard that Oscar 1 had presidential blessing. 73 John G7HIA

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REC48000 And Willow
by Stan,WA1ECF 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hello The Net: Could someone point me to the software demodulator/decoder willow ? Plan is to use a ICOM PCR-100 with PCR1000 software for XP to a DEMI 2400=144 MHz RX down converter using the wideband FM demodulator. Thanks Stan, W1LE Cape Cod, MA FN41sr ZZZZZ

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Re: ISS Columbus Antennas
by joseph Murray 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Dear Fred ( KF0AK) Very interesting: What is the earth station dish antenna diameter and F/D that will match the MW patch antenna you are constructing for Eagle. With the day of increased interference approaching, the narrower band width of a patch versus a helical feed may be needed. The question: is the same antenna good for P3e earth station? If Stan Woods say's it good that's all I need. I would like a price per unit with Stan's TLC all over it. Best 73's Joe K0VTY Amsat # 860 ============================= Clip > > Hi. > I am currently working on the microwave patch antenna's for > Eagle > with Lou Mc Faddin W5DID and Stan Wood. Pay me for the materials > and > I will make you a few copies. I can even alter them to your > mounting > configuration. I am sure Lou and Stan could tweak them for a > nominal > fee. Materials should cost less than 100.00$ US. I could not in > good > conscience be a part in any way to paying anyone 100 grand for a > couple > simple antenna's. > > Fred, KF0AK > _______________________________________________ Clip > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >

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Re: Ofcom Update: Award of available spectrum: 10 GHz, 28 GHz, ...
by RogerKola＠aol.com 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

In a message dated 3/15/07 3:08:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time, david.barber(a)dbelectronics.co.uk writes: > Ofcom today published a discussion document on 10 GHz and the London 2012 > Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The document proposes a condition that > could be included in the licences that are awarded if Ofcom concludes that > it may need to make the spectrum available to meet the needs of the Games. > A great reason to propose Amateur Radio as a "secondary" user to a Reserved Government Band of frequencies as we have here in the states. That way they can be assured that there will be no "financial claims" if they need to "take back" the frequencies for some event AFTER 2012 . Roger WA1KAT ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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Re: Ofcom Update: Award of available spectrum: 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz - discussion document on 10 GHz and the London 2012Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
by David Barber 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Note the Response Due Date! Ofcom today published a discussion document on 10 GHz and the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The document proposes a condition that could be included in the licences that are awarded if Ofcom concludes that it may need to make the spectrum available to meet the needs of the Games. Ofcom continues to consider how to proceed with awarding wireless-telegraphy licences to use the 10 GHz, 28 GHz, 32 GHz and 40 GHz bands and plans to publish further documents in the spring. Responses to the discussion document published today are due by 12 April 2007. Further information can be found at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/2012olympics/

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AO-51 demonstration tonight (0334-0348 UTC Friday, 16 March)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hi! I will be doing a presentation at the ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club in Glendale, Arizona, this evening. As part of the presentation, I plan to have my portable satellite station on hand for a demonstration using the AO-51 satellite on the 0334-0348 UTC pass (provided AO-51 is back in the normal FM repeater configuration). This pass will favor western North America. For those in the Phoenix area, the meeting will be in the Yount Building on the Thunderbird School of Global Management campus at 59th Avenue and Greenway Road in Glendale. The meeting starts at 7pm (0200 UTC), and my presentation will start after the club finishes the business part of its meeting. The club has a web page with a map of the Thunderbird campus and the meeting site at: http://www.w7tbc.org/Nextmeeting.html Thanks and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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[amsat-bb] Project OSCAR Pioneer Richard "Dick" Esneault, W4IJC -- SK
by Tim Cunningham 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/117179376861630… Project OSCAR member Richard "Dick" Esneault, W4IJC -- SK I recently learned that Richard "Dick" Esneault, W4IJC, passed away. My first encounter with Dick was many years ago when Gene Marcus, W3PM, mentioned that Mr. Esneault was involved with Project OSCAR and he was going to be part of the AMSAT Forum with me at the Huntsville Hamfest. The Forum was a big hit as Dick displayed articles on hardboard for display and the most spectacular item was the OSCAR-1 model that you could pick up and hold in your hands. Not just a model, but very much the same as the real model that went into space. The only other known model is in the Smithsonian Institution and here is this guy in Huntsville, Alabama carrying an OSCAR-1 prototype model in the trunk of his car to hamfests, field day sites, and local club meetings. Mr. Esneault was never short on words. He could talk about the history of Project OSCAR and capture your attention. It was not until recent years that we thought we should really capture some of his conversation on videotape. So, we had him visit the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club a few years ago to share his memories. Mr. Esneault always had an impressive display when he set-up to talk about Project OSCAR His wife told him to tell us how they got the parts for OSCAR-1 and Dick with a big grin responded, "Well, well, they were acquired". He always said that Jack Kennedy hit a home run with Project OSCAR as a peaceful use of space. When asked what kind of battery was used on OSCAR-1 he responded, "It was a fancy battery, it wasn't cheap". Later discussion would reveal that perhaps it was one of those acquired items. Things that just appeared. When asked about the callsign used (HI) on OSCAR-1 he responded, "Hey, after Kennedy kicked the front door of his office wanting to get it up.. that made no difference.. we could have got up there and did anything, because he wanted it done.. it was sort of a blessing he got in on it.". When asked if there was any budget for OSCAR-1 or was it just all acquired Dick responded, "Budget to covert the cost of OSCAR? (pause) No, nobody would ever admit it, it just happened." When asked how President Kennedy received project OSCAR, Dick responded, "Everret R Morrow (not sure if this name is spelled correctly), who Kennedy knew, heard about it in Washington and said let me talk to Jack about that. (pause) there was a big scream behind the closed door's. why isn't that blank, blank, blank thing up in the air now. and that is how Project OSCAR was received by the President." Last year, I ran into Dick at the 2006 Huntsville Hamfest and he was looking in good health, but it was apparent his memory was slipping away. I could tell by the look his wife's eyes that he was not himself, so I played along with his conversation. The next day I called his son and he confirmed that his father was having some memory issues as I had detected. Mr. Esneault was a pioneer (at the right place at the right time) in the satellite community as one of those enabler's to pave the way where we are today. We will certainly miss his stories as he had so many. His picture can still be found in the Satellite Experimenters handbook (Directors of the Project OSCAR Association) the last time I checked. 73's, Tim - N8DEU Huntsville, Alabama

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RAFT in GF15AC
by Carlos Guillermo Vahnovan 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Equipment: IC-271A, KPC9612 TNC, half wave cross-dipoles turnstile with ground plane at 15 meters over the ground 05:13:43R RAFT>BEACON,SGATE Port=1 <UI Len=39>: T#092,081,002,036,034,087,10000000,999 05:14:03R RAFT>BEACON,SGATE Port=1 <UI Len=39>: T#094,081,002,035,035,087,10000000,999 05:14:23R RAFT>BEACON,SGATE Port=1 <UI Len=39>: T#096,081,002,036,034,086,10000000,999 05:15:13R RAFT>BEACON,SGATE Port=1 <UI Len=39>: T#101,081,002,036,034,086,10000000,999 73's - -- Carlos Guillermo Vahnovan LW1EXU http://www.lw1exu.com.ar http://gacw.no-ip.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org iD8DBQFF+N5PIjwYD/uz16kRAl1oAJ4tT39orkze5VSSwB97cGeaPJWfLACdF5tN fBIvhQtLLI9xuPHFGcRIQno= =SKFi -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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general
by Nick Adiletto 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Bruce, I believe his call sign was K1uxb, but I'm not sure. Alice (his wife)

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ISS Columbus Antennas
by Fred A Parker 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Hi. I am currently working on the microwave patch antenna's for Eagle with Lou Mc Faddin W5DID and Stan Wood. Pay me for the materials and I will make you a few copies. I can even alter them to your mounting configuration. I am sure Lou and Stan could tweak them for a nominal fee. Materials should cost less than 100.00$ US. I could not in good conscience be a part in any way to paying anyone 100 grand for a couple simple antenna's. Fred, KF0AK

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Re: SO-50
by KC2MHU 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Stefan - Yes, I did send the tone. Unfortunately, I was involved in something else at the time & could not call, but I was listening. As others have reported, it was a bit weak, but usable on the following pass where I made 2 contacts. Bob, KC2MHU FN10 Stefan Wagener wrote: > Did you turn it on? > > Stefan VE4NSA > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of KC2MHU > Sent: March-14-07 3:13 PM > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SO-50 > > Tim, > > I also monitored that pass and heard nothing. > > Bob, KC2MHU FN10 > > Tim Tapio wrote: > >> Anyone work SO-50 during the 1842Z pass? I didn't hear a >> thing...wondering if my receive went deaf.... >> >> > > >> >> 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04 >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > >

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Re: SO50 NOT HEARD???
by David Bird 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

HI AMSATS, SORRY ABOUT MY EARLIER POST ON SO50 NOT BEING HEARD MUST BE MY ANTENNAS ACTING UP. 73 DE KC7USS _________________________________________________________________ Rates near 39yr lows! $430K Loan for $1,399/mo - Paying Too Much? Calculate new payment http://www.lowermybills.com/lre/index.jsp?sourceid=lmb-9632-18226&moid=7581

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[hpsdr-dev] Odyssey Siren A success
by Joe Leikhim 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

Is there a website where this experiement is described? I tried TAPR but couldn't find anything. -----Original Message----- From: Robert McGwier [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:36 PM To: High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List Cc: amsat bb Subject: [hpsdr-dev] Odyssey Siren A success We had a complete breakthrough on the Odyssey Siren in the past two weeks. It will be used in Suitsat 2, in a terrestrial linear repeater experiment by Viktor Kudielka OE1VKW and friends, who supported its development, and we are already leaping all over the place to applications. Frank Brickle and I will be doing our SDR code on it over the next several days. The board as shown in the schematic needs some modifications to fix the 3 - ish volt power supply for the Codec and a modified oscillator circuit but we are certain it will all work now. On the 10.7 MHz IF, I measured 0 dBm max into a 50 ohm load and less than -120 dBm MDS and > 80 dB dynamic range. This is with a BOM of < $50 in parts and about a $20 dsp pic chip! Yesterday in Rick's lab, with W2GPS, K3IO, we made the above measurements, hacked on code and turn the thing into a bent pipe transponder. I also did the hilbert transform to make it an inverting transponder. It all worked perfectly. http://www.cnssys.com/~w2gps/amsat_files/suitsat/ has detected audio in an SDR-IQ SDR as well as captured IF from the SDR-IQ of the transponder. We have to balanced for image and do DC offset correction but the thing works and sounds great as you can hear for yourself! 73's Bob N4HY -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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ISS Columbus Antennas
by Trevor 15 Mar '07

15 Mar '07

ISS Columbus Antennas http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2007/ariss_antenna_donations.htm 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 --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Copy addresses and emails from any email account to Yahoo! Mail - quick, easy and free. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/trueswitch2.html

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AO-51 to switch to V/S 38k4 for 25 hours at 15MAR07, 0100Z
by Andrew Glasbrenner 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

At the request of the ALMASAT team AO-51 will switch to V/S 38k4 digital operation from about 0100Z on 15Mar2007 to 0200Z 16Mar2007. The frequencies will be as follows: Downlink 2401.200 MHz, FM digital, 38k4 bps Uplink 145.86 MHz, FM digital, 9600 bps ALMASAT is an Italian university microsat mission with both U and S band downlinks. As the only operative 38k4 S-band satellite we will support the testing of the ground stations of soon to be launched amateur satellites whenever possible. It is my personal hope that continued cooperation will result in more amateur payloads being made available to the AMSAT community. I apologize for the late notice on this mode change. Over the next two weeks we will be testing the automatic scheduler software, and myself or someone else from the team will make announcements regarding modes and times. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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SO-50
by Tim Tapio 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Anyone work SO-50 during the 1842Z pass? I didn't hear a thing...wondering if my receive went deaf.... 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04

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WD9EWK at Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 10 March 2007
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Hi! I was at another Phoenix-area hamfest last weekend, the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" at Scottsdale Community College. The AMSAT table that had been at two other Phoenix-area hamfests this winter was in Scottsdale, and with me there was Gerry VE4GTB/KD7MDB (from Winnipeg, but spends the winter in Arizona) and Larry W7LB (from Tucson AZ) to take care of questions, sales, and the satellite demonstrations. We had a visitor who stuck around the table for much of the morning (AO-51 regular Brock W6GMT, on his road trip from southern California to Minnesota), helping with the questions and the satellite demonstrations. With great weather and turnout, this was a successful event. Ron W6ZQ from southern Arizona also stopped by the table, another AO-51 regular. As with most hamfests in the Phoenix area, things get started at 0600 local time (1300 UTC). There were two AO-51 passes that we planned for our demonstrations - 1445 and 1625 UTC. Even with the crowds on both passes, WD9EWK was heard on both passes and contacts were made. We had 9 contacts logged on the 1445 UTC pass , and 4 contacts on the 1625 UTC pass. For those 13 contacts, 9 were with USA stations, 3 were with Mexican stations, plus one maritime-mobile contact with W3PM/MM who was in the eastern Pacific Ocean (grid CM60) at the end of the later pass. The next-to-last contact on the later pass, with Manuel XE2BHL in Tijuana, was the 2000th satellite contact for WD9EWK - something I did not realize until I logged these contacts at home later in the weekend. By noon (1900 UTC), the hamfest was wrapping up. Most of the sellers were either getting ready to leave or had already left, and we closed up our AMSAT table. Lots of flyers on how to work AO-51 and the other FM satellites had been picked up, and we sold almost $200 in AMSAT merchandise. This was the third time I had been part of an AMSAT table at a hamfest, probably the last time until the next hamfest season here in the Phoenix area next fall/winter, and once again I enjoyed it. Thanks to Gerry Baker VE4GTB/KD7MDB for his efforts in getting the AMSAT merchandise and for taking his time while enjoying the Arizona winter to be at the AMSAT tables for these 3 hamfests, and Larry Brown W7LB for making it up to Phoenix for 2 of these 3 hamfests with his shade and tables. Also, thanks to Brock Thomsen W6GMT, who spent much of the morning around the AMSAT table talking with us and anyone else stopping by with questions about AMSAT or satellite operating. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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JA3GEP Email Address
by Luciano G. Nachif 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Hello folks! I would like to get Mr. Mikio Mouri JA3GEP email address. Are there any Japanese operators on this BB that could help me, please? I thank you in advance. Best 73, Luciano Gasparini PT9KK

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Correction
by Edward Cole 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

> I was fortunate to have a few hams help me on my table when they > saw I needed some help. KK7YY(sk) flew to Alaska a couple years > running and did the Leo demos for me as well as helping at the table. Sorry, my memory failed: I meant Jerry, KK5YY. If there is a KK7YY, my apology! 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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ARISS Mission Viejo Post Contact Media
by Matt Bennett 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Thanks to many of you who tuned in on Friday morning to listen to Mission Viejo's second attempt to contact the Commander Michael Lopez-Alegria on the International Space Station! The direct connection to the station was established at 7:23 AM PST and lasted for seven full minutes before the station dropped behind our local Saddleback Mountains. Since the event, we have updated the website to include new photos, an MP3 recording of the contact, video recordings straight from the contact room, and a link to the article written about it in the Orange County Register last Saturday. Please take some time to view this new media at: http://ucisat.eng.uci.edu/uplink Thank you all very much for your interest and support in this exciting event! We appreciate it very much. Best regards, Matt Bennett KF6RTB K6UCI Control Operator for Mission Viejo / ISS Contact --------------------------------- It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar.

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S band rx system for sale
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 14 Mar '07

14 Mar '07

Hello I put together an S band system for a friend. He changed his mind, tried to sell it at a flea market, no go. I will try this list before ebay. It is a 24x19 inch dish, 5 1/2 turn helix feed, 3731aa downconverter with power supply, and mounting brackets to fit over elevation rotor. Pictures and more details upon request. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: An automation system that works (so far)
by Wayne Estes 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

RoD KD0XX wrote: Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on this. You DON'T have to buy an expensive satellite tracking program such as Nova or whatever, to have automation. Wayne replies: That's good to know. But I encourage people to purchase SatPC32 because the author, Erich DK1TB, donated his work to AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and AMSAT-UK. SatPC32 sales help fund amateur satellite programs. Perhaps the name should change after Erich gets new I/O drivers to make SatPC32 compatible with Windows Vista 64. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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W6GMT/5
by John W Lee 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

OK Boys, W6GMT/5 will be on AO-51 tonight from DM84 in New Mexico. He was on AO-27 this afternoon. 73, John K6YK

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Icom CI-V question - 271/471 with Piexx board
by Jonny 290 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

I'm looking at buying a pair of Piexx computer interface boards to put in Icom 271 and 471 radios. I'm going to want to control these radios with the WiSP DDE client(I think, suggest another if there's a better one). It does not have an "Icom 751" option on the radio dropdown box, which is normally what one would use with this board. However, it does have a field to manually input the address. Here's my question. Can I select "Icom 275" or any other similar type of radio in the WiSP DDE box and then set the address manually, to my radios' addresses? From what I understand, the only radio-specific information in a CI-V command is the address value, and since I'll be sending legal frequencies to these radios, I'm thinking this will work...but want to make sure before I spend $300 on interfaces. The PIexx interfaces appear to be standard CI-V interface devices, usually set up to be addressed at $20 for 271's and $22 for 471's. 73, Matt

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Odyssey Siren A success
by Robert McGwier 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

We had a complete breakthrough on the Odyssey Siren in the past two weeks. It will be used in Suitsat 2, in a terrestrial linear repeater experiment by Viktor Kudielka OE1VKW and friends, who supported its development, and we are already leaping all over the place to applications. Frank Brickle and I will be doing our SDR code on it over the next several days. The board as shown in the schematic needs some modifications to fix the 3 - ish volt power supply for the Codec and a modified oscillator circuit but we are certain it will all work now. On the 10.7 MHz IF, I measured 0 dBm max into a 50 ohm load and less than -120 dBm MDS and > 80 dB dynamic range. This is with a BOM of < $50 in parts and about a $20 dsp pic chip! Yesterday in Rick's lab, with W2GPS, K3IO, we made the above measurements, hacked on code and turn the thing into a bent pipe transponder. I also did the hilbert transform to make it an inverting transponder. It all worked perfectly. http://www.cnssys.com/~w2gps/amsat_files/suitsat/ has detected audio in an SDR-IQ SDR as well as captured IF from the SDR-IQ of the transponder. We have to balanced for image and do DC offset correction but the thing works and sounds great as you can hear for yourself! 73's Bob N4HY -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair "Taking fun as simply fun and earnestness in earnest shows how thoroughly thou none of the two discernest." - Piet Hine

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Re: [hpsdr-dev] Odyssey Siren A success
by Christopher T. Day 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Cool! When do we all get boards for our PCR-100's? Chris - AE6VK -----Original Message----- From: Robert McGwier [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:36 PM To: High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List Cc: amsat bb Subject: [hpsdr-dev] Odyssey Siren A success We had a complete breakthrough on the Odyssey Siren in the past two weeks. It will be used in Suitsat 2, in a terrestrial linear repeater experiment by Viktor Kudielka OE1VKW and friends, who supported its development, and we are already leaping all over the place to applications. Frank Brickle and I will be doing our SDR code on it over the next several days. The board as shown in the schematic needs some modifications to fix the 3 - ish volt power supply for the Codec and a modified oscillator circuit but we are certain it will all work now. On the 10.7 MHz IF, I measured 0 dBm max into a 50 ohm load and less than -120 dBm MDS and > 80 dB dynamic range. This is with a BOM of < $50 in parts and about a $20 dsp pic chip! Yesterday in Rick's lab, with W2GPS, K3IO, we made the above measurements, hacked on code and turn the thing into a bent pipe transponder. I also did the hilbert transform to make it an inverting transponder. It all worked perfectly. http://www.cnssys.com/~w2gps/amsat_files/suitsat/ has detected audio in an SDR-IQ SDR as well as captured IF from the SDR-IQ of the transponder. We have to balanced for image and do DC offset correction but the thing works and sounds great as you can hear for yourself! 73's Bob N4HY -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair "Taking fun as simply fun and earnestness in earnest shows how thoroughly thou none of the two discernest." - Piet Hine _______________________________________________ hpsdr-dev mailing list hpsdr-dev(a)lists.tapr.org https://lists.tapr.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/hpsdr-dev

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Re: [amsat-dc] Timonium
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Scott - Thanks so much for volunteering. To date, we have ONE volunteer, Jeff Griffin, KB2M from NJ!!! Where are the locals? I will be sending Jeff a box for the hamfest. Why don't you contact him directly (kb2m(a)comcast.net). Again, many thanks for your help. 73- Martha ----- Original Message ----- rom: "n3asa(a)arrl.net" <shstevens1(a)comcast.net> To: "MARTHA SARAGOVITZ" <amsat(a)verizon.net> Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 1:40 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-dc] Timonium > Hi Martha, > > What do you need? What hours? Will materials already be in place? > > Scott > > -------------- Original message -------------- > From: "MARTHA SARAGOVITZ" <amsat(a)verizon.net> > >> It now appears we have NO ONE to handle Timonium on March 31st and April >> 1st. Would someone PLEASE volunteer to "man" the booth on Saturday? 73- >> Martha >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Via the AMSAT-DC mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA >> AMSAT-DC(a)amsat.org >> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-dc

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RAFT and ANDE OPS
by Bob Bruninga 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

RAFT did a reset over the weekend, but was restored today by Ian ZL1AOX. RAFT text-to-speech voice should again be operational. But RAFT is overcharging in the sun and needs more use. If we can keep her loaded on the sunny side, then she WILL work. But without a heavy load, the batteries overcharge and the higher voltage causes the receiver to be deaf. So we are going to change the operating authority to include unattended beacons VIA RAFT. Please include in your beacon your power, antenna gain and beacon rate. UNPROTO paths VIA ARISS, APRSAT, RELAY and WIDE should work. Also, A CONNECT to RAFT will turn on the voice synthesizer and then it will speak any APRS messages sent to TALK. ANDE will also digipeat these paths if in view too. Enjoy! Bob, WB4APR

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AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at Dayton 2007
by Gould Smith 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

I am pleased to announce the first AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held Friday evening May 18,2007 at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH in conjunction with the 2007 Dayton Hamvention. The two groups share many members and this gives everyone the opportunity to attend both dinners. The "Dinner Under the Wings" festivities will begin at 18:00 with a cash bar and appetizers in the Air Power Gallery (World War II). The buffet dinner will be served at 19:00 in the Cold War area. Following a few AMSAT and TAPR announcements after dinner you will be free to roam the museum. The price for the dinner is $35.00 per person and includes appetizers, salad, meal, dessert, coffee, iced tea, tax and gratuity. See http://afmuseum.com/ for information about the museum. See the AMSAT web site for complete information http://www.amsat.org Reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased online at the AMSAT Store. There will be no Banquet ticket sales at the AMSAT booth this year. We expect this to be a very popular event, so reserve your tickets early. Reservations will close this year on Monday night, May 14,2007 to allow us to give the museum a count on Tuesday. At 5:00 PM on Friday afternoon there will be a special showing of the IMAX movie "Space Station". This movie is approximately 47 minutes long and contains about 4 minutes of amateur radio contacts between school children and the International Space Station. The IMAX theater is located in the museum building off the main lobby area. Attendees at the movie will be able to go to the banquet at 6:00 PM when the doors open about 10 minutes after the movie is over. The lobby contains restrooms, telephones and some seating. At least 50 people must sign up for the movie in advance. Call the museum IMAX theater on (937)-253-IMAX to make reservations. Special rates apply for children and seniors. Adults are $6.00, seniors are $5.50 and children 8 through college 22 (student ID required) are $4.50.

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Update
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Half of the 30 rooms for Dayton are now gone! Don't hesitate to call me for your room. DO NOT CALL THE HOTEL!!!!. 73- Martha

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An automation system that works (so far)
by Stargate 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Hi all, Just a quick note to let everyone know of an automated rotor combination that DOES work very well with Orbitron. I have a Dell PIII 650mhz computer with 1 serial, and 1 USB port running Windows 2000 pro. I am using the following.... The G6LVB tracking board. The Yaesu G-5500 rotor. Orbitron Software. The most current Wisp device driver. The serial port controls the radio frequency for Doppler correction, while the USB port is connected to the G6LVB tracking board. The G6LVB tracking board uses either a standard serial port or the optional FTDI USB adaptor which simulates a serial port as far as the computer is concerned. I'm using the USB option. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up on this. You DON'T have to buy an expensive satellite tracking program such as Nova or whatever, to have automation. Again, "hats off" to Sebastian for his KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) approach to the software. It is one of the most intuitive and easy to learn satellite software's out there and works VERY well. http://www.stoff.pl/ to download Orbitron Just my opinion. 73's RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

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EU Commission Decision on UWB below 6 GHz
by Trevor 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

European Commission Decision on UWB below 6 GHz http://www.uk.amsat.org/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ___________________________________________________________ What kind of emailer are you? Find out today - get a free analysis of your email personality. Take the quiz at the Yahoo! Mail Championship. http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/evt=44106/*http://mail.yahoo.net/uk

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Re: F9FT Tonna 432 skeleton antenna?
by richard＠g3rwl.demon.co.uk 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Dave hartzell wrote: > Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this antenna. A couple surfaced and the price was right, but no one knew anything about the antennas at the time. As you noted, its a 432 antenna not 435, and it is NOT optimum at 435. I had one of these several years ago; I wrote to the company for modification info (to 435) but they never replied. Nevertheless, it WILL work; just not quite as well as one optimised at the higher frequency. 73 Richard G3RWL

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Re: fixed elevation.
by KA2AEV＠aol.com 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Just to let everyone know that the majority of the answers came back within the 20-25 degree range 73 de Mike KA2AEV ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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sat tracking
by Patrick McGrane 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

hello tim- look for SATSCAPE tracking software links on the amsat homepage from tools to software. I downloaded it recently and it seems to work fine with windows XP. You can make custom pass predictions for whenever or however long you like. Very nice little program. 73, pat n2oeq

2 1

Sequencer
by Stargate 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

Is a sequencer needed when using a 160w switchable preamp from ARR? (Advanced Receiver Research) Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

4 5

Orbit prediction
by Tim Tapio 13 Mar '07

13 Mar '07

All, What's the easiest method by which I can print out a week's worth of visible passes with pertinent information (I'm using WinXP) 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04

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F9FT Tonna 432 skeleton antenna?
by Dave hartzell 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone knows anything about this antenna. A couple surfaced and the price was right, but no one knew anything about the antennas at the time. 73, Dave N0TGD

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AEA ST-1
by David 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Greetings. I have an AEA ST-1 tracker unit that I would like to find drivers for DOS and Windows. I am using a 233MMX with windows 98 and running Nova for DOS which controls my 736R ok, but will not load the DOS driver that I have. Can anyone point me in the right direction or tell me what I am doing wrong besides running old programs. Thanks. Dave VA7DG

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Re: Sequencer
by joseph Murray 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

This issue might best include VOX and full duplex in a round table on HEO. Just in case Joe K0VTY ==================== On 12 Mar 2007 14:18:32 -0500 tosca005(a)umn.edu writes: > On Mar 12 2007, Edward Cole wrote: > > >At 05:15 AM 3/12/2007, Stargate wrote: > >>Is a sequencer needed when using a 160w switchable preamp from > ARR? > > > >Let's analyze this: > > > >You send a voltage to run the preamp. It needs voltage to switch > to > >Tx mode. When RF from your transmitter arrives it switches over to > > >bypass the preamp. I would guess if you turn off the power to the > > >unit, it can't operate correctly, so how is a sequencer going to > >help? I have not owned one of these units so not familiar with > their > >power wiring. If you have two 12 volt power contacts then you > might > >run the preamp separately from a sequencer. > > Sequencers don't have to only apply/remove DC power in a set > sequence. In > fact, in the general case, a sequencer has a series of switch > contacts that > are enabled in the proper order and disabled in the opposite order. > The > switch contacts could be configured as NO (normally open) or NC > (normally > closed). These can either provide and remove DC power, or short the > > pre-amp's own PTT circuit to ground to take it out of receive mode > (or, > depending on the model of preamp, maybe +12 is PTT instead of GND). > The > Down East Microwave sequencer has a DPDT relay for each of the > sequence > stages, so you get two independent NO and NC contact sets to play > with as > you wish. > > If (like the ARR models) the preamp has built-in bypass switching, > one > issue that remains is how quickly and completely the preamp gets > switched > out of the transmit path. If slow to switch, and/or if the isolation > is > insufficient, a spike of RF may still enter the very sensitive > preamp and > fry it. With a sequencer, you can (usually) select whatever > switching delay > is needed for the isolation relays to reach a fully switched > position, and > you also get to pick the isolation relays themselves, with attention > to > power dissipation and degree of isolation needed. I believe that ARR > says > that the built-in RF-sensing relay is good for up to 160 watts, but > a > sequencer with a separate isolation relay could basically allow you > to use > 1.5 kW, if you had an awfully darn good reason to use so much power, > ;) > that is. > > On my 144, 222, and 432 bands, I have an RF Concepts "brick" > amplifier with > an internal preamp and RF-sensed automatic switching. On 144 and > 432, these > are "soft keyed" (i.e. keyed by sensing RF). On 222, which is done > with a > transverter instead of directly out the back of my FT-847, I went to > the > effort to "hard key" the amp/preamp by using its PTT input (which I > had to > re-configure as PTT to GND instead of PTT to HI). Both "soft" and > "hard" > switching methods work OK, but on 144 and 432 it is best to briefly > pause > after keying the mic before you start talking, to insure that the PA > is > switched in, and when you unkey, you have to hope that the person on > the > other end pauses briefly before responding because it takes a > noticeable > amount of time for the amp/preamp relay to switch back to receive > mode. > (The delay is intentional, to prevent relay chattering.) On 222, > since the > radio, transverter, and external PA/preamp are all hard-switched by > their > own PTT signal, the send/receive cycle is much smoother, no excess > delays, > no chance of relay chattering if the loudness of your voice drops > low for a > moment, etc. So I definitely prefer the "hard keyed" method of > operation. > One of these days, I will get around to modifying the 144 and 432 > amps for > hard keying also... > > On 902, 1296, 2305, and 3456 MHz, my transverters were built with > split > Tx/Rx, which makes it simpler to connect a preamp (if needed) to the > Rx and > a power amp to the Tx, and of course you need a T/R coax relay > external to > the transverter. So far, because my PA's on these bands are low > power, I > hard-key the T/R relay but it is not sequenced -- radio PTT = > transverter > PTT = T/R relay PTT, all at the "same" time. When I move up to the > high-power class of operation, I will install a sequencer on each. > We have > local folks here who have had the experience I am trying to avoid, > namely > simultaneous switching works ok at low power, but add in some REAL > output > power and things fry if not sequenced. These bands have PA's of > 40-120 > watts waiting to be integrated. (This is for terrestrial work, not > satellites, by the way, as you can probably figure from the high > powers and > non-satellite bands/sub-bands mentioned...) > > 73 de W0JT > AMSAT-NA LM#2292 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the > author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >

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Timonium
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

It now appears we have NO ONE to handle Timonium on March 31st and April 1st. Would someone PLEASE volunteer to "man" the booth on Saturday? 73- Martha

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Fw: Dayton
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

----- Original Message ----- From: "MARTHA SARAGOVITZ" <amsat(a)verizon.net> Subject: Dayton OK - I have 30 non-smoking rooms- 10 singles, 20 doubles for Dayton. We are staying at the Fairborn Hampton Inn. To hold a room, you need to call me (301-589-6062) with: 1. dates of room nights 2. daytime phone number 3. charge card number Remember - If you snooze, you lose! 73- Martha

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Hy-gain DB218SAT Oscar antenna experience?
by Alan P. Biddle 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Hi, I see that Hy-Gain/MFJ still at least lists the old Hy-gain Oscar antennas: http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?catid=7 Like the old Cushcraft AOP-1, they were a bit short on gain for P3 birds, but otherwise seemed to be a relatively simple way and reasonably priced way to get coverage with switchable circularity. Certainly good enough for current LEOs and possibly the newer P3 birds. I was asked by someone just getting started about them, and wondered if anyone had practical experience? We have discussed the many alternatives, so I would rather keep to just this antenna. Alan

3 2

Fixed Elevation LEO Orbit figure
by Robert Bruninga 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

To help clarify the elevation discussion, I have added a drawing of a LEO orbit passes relative to a station's antenna to the web page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/rotator1.html It clearly shows how most satellite times are below 30 deg, and 10 dB more gain is needed to work satellites at those near horizon angles compared to above 50 degrees where satellites are 10 dB closer and spend less than 5% of their time.\ I think the visualization helps a lot in these discussions and shows how only a simple TV rotator and small beam is needed for all LEO's.. By the way, I am not pushing the rotator interface indicated in the web page above. That web page is over 6 years old, and I only keep it on-line to encourage all other Satellite Tracking programs to add the same simple 2-bit TV rotator interface that would make LEO satellite operation so simple and innexpensive, that it would help newcommers join the satellite operations at minimal cost. There just is no need for a "typical OSCAR array" for LEO operation. We do ourselves a disservice by only having tracking programs that can only control $1000 rotators when a simple $70 one will do perfectly for LEO's. Bob, WB4APR

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(no subject)
by Patrick McGrane 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

I noticed some spots about satellite beams for fm birds. After 2 years of trying different anrtennas etc, I now have my ideal setup. I tried 3 different homebrew beams. I learned that for a fixed elevation on azimuth rotator, the optimum beam was 7 elements at 10 degrees elevation with a DELTA match on the driven element. I have great reception using a hamtronics preamp (lnk-450) on the shack end of a 15 foot run of 9913 coax. The reception is good to great from just a few degrees above the horizon up to the zenith or overhead. I tried 8 elements with a gamma match but was too sharp with little overhead gain. I tried a 7x7 cross yagi fixed at 20 dgrees with minimal success. The horizontally polarized 7 element delta match outperforms it vastly. I'm guessing the delta match helps with the higher angles. ( Delta match looks like a triangle at the center of the driven element.) Consult the antenna book by ARRL or search for information. Photo of antennas at: http://members.aceweb.com/n2oeq Hope this helps someone. 73, pat

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Re: 1.2ghz useful??
by Terry Carrell 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Uplink on 1.2GHz [23cm band in the (Amateur) Satellite Service] (FM & Linear Modes) will be used by KiwiSAT which is planned for launch late 2008 early 2009 - finances permitting. See http://www.kiwisat.org [Note: The uplink frequency is not 1.298 Ghz as some might suggest but in the satellite segment more correctly referred to as 1.268 GHz] Terry, ZL3QL. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stargate" <stargatesg1(a)verizon.net> To: "Amsat-Bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 3:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 1.2ghz useful?? > Is 1.2ghz (uplink or downlink) planned for any of the upcoming sat's? > > Thanks, > RoD > KD0XX > > A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, > A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... > > > "DAMN THAT WAS FUN" > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.8/717 - Release Date: 10/03/2007 > 2:25 p.m. > >

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1.2ghz useful
by Stargate 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Well, I guess I should have been a bit more accurate. Is 1296mhz going to be used in any future satellites or will it be 1268MHZ. The reason for asking is I have the opportunity to purchase a DEMI 1296-144 transverter. P.S. I need an answer soon please:-) Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

5 4

Grade 10 Learner from Kimberley will speak from space
by Trevor 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

It case anyone hasn't heard the latest on SumbandilaSat see http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2007/sumbandilasat.htm It's good to see that SA AMSAT are actively involving young people in the project. 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 --------------- ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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Re: Puyallup Wa. fleamarket
by Wayne Estes 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Bob W7LRD wrote: This is a very large flea market in Western Washington... We (AMSAT) should have some exposure at these events... I'm only one person, so next year I would like put AMSAT on the map there. I have no idea how to go about it. Any advice, volunteers, sugestions and how to do this would be appreciated. Wayne W9AE replies: I think several AMSAT area coordinators (including myself) would be willing to give you some advice. It's not particularly difficult to run an AMSAT booth at a hamfest. Sign up for a table (preferably with electricity so you can demonstrate tracking software on a laptop computer). Inform Martha 3 weeks before the hamfest, and she will send you a big box that contains AMSAT books/software/trinkets to sell, and also a big AMSAT banner to display. I will run an AMSAT booth at the SEAPAC hamfest in Seaside, Oregon in June. You are welcome to help me out to see how it's done. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

2 1

Re: fixed elevation category
by KA2AEV＠aol.com 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Whats the accepted elevation for fixed? Sounds like something to try instead of using my omni antennas! 73 de Mike KA2AEV ************************************** AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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WD9EWK
by Tim Tapio 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Patrick, Looks like you had plenty of QSOs to demonstrate at the Scottsdale Hamfest today. Great copy! 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04kx

2 1

1.2ghz useful??
by Stargate 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Is 1.2ghz (uplink or downlink) planned for any of the upcoming sat's? Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

3 2

couldn't resist this one
by Bruce 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

I have been looking for a new car. Been checking out a particular manufacturer. I have not been happy with the dealers in Houston so I started looking out of town where I will be going on a short vacation next week. I found one dealer and have been talking with a sales rep. The dealership phone number is XXX-599-5959. Don't want them to get a zillion calls. I wonder if they even have a ham working there. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on W0KIE Intelsat Americas, T1, 6.2/6.8Mhz Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org

4 3

Puyallup Wa. fleamarket
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Hello This is a very large flea market in Western Washington. This year there was very little satellite type gear. The only thing of mention was a IC-1271A for $700 (good deal). The lack of "our" type of equipment and exposure I find a bit troubling. I was selling a complete "S" band downlink system for a reasonable price, lots of looking but no sale. We (AMSAT) should have some exposure at these events. There must have been over 1000 + hams roaming around all the goodies. I'm only one person, so next year I would like put AMSAT on the map there. I have no idea how to go about it. Any advice, volunteers, sugestions and how to do this would be appreciated. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

2 1

UO-11 turned on Today
by Edward Chuang 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Hi Clive, UO-11 turned on again, here is the report on Mar.11,2007: QTH: PL04vq 09:35z Not heard (Max. elev. 23 Deg.) 11:11z Copied (Max. elev. 20 Deg.) 73 de Edward / BX1AD -----

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Re: Hit-Sat Oscar 59?
by Mineo Wakita 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

It is the situation that the electricity income and expenditure does not match HIT-SAT by eclipse, and it continues intermittently, and transmit CW. HIT-SAT ground-control station says that let restoration use continue sequentially. --------------------------------------------- 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: Mar 11, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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General
by Nick Adiletto 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

To whom it may concern: This is to inform you of Nicholas Adiletto death on February 3rd. Could you please put a notice out to let other know. Thank you very much. Alice Adiletto, his wife

2 1

Hit-Sat Oscar 59?
by john heath 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

Hi Listened for this one a few times but no CW telemetry. Is anybady copying this one ? 73 John G7HIA

1 0

EST/EDT time change this week end
by Luc Leblanc 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

Hi all fellow readers As another stupidity (the first one was to change time EST-EDT) we will have to change our clock sooner than it was in the last decades over this week end. I will have to uncheck the automatic time adjustment in my Win XP as i made all the last updates and none of them seems to be correcting that. I heard Microsoft was supposed to issued a patch but i found noting in the same updates. This new time deal as important as the invention of sliced bread was made to "saved energy" Why not ban SUV big trucks and 4X4 made for mountain and hard and difficult roads? as near all of them are running on streets cities roads and highways? Resistance is futile you are aging and you will die too. http://www.popartuk.com/frames/select/frame.asp?pid=3363 "-" "It is not the class of license the amateur holds, but the class of the amateur that holds the license." Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: EST/EDT time change this week end
by Edward Cole 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

At 06:13 AM 3/10/2007, Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] wrote: >Try this link for time update support. >http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cp_dst > >Kenneth - N5VHO tzedit will not unzip on my computer --- I am using win2000pro --- too old I guess 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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Re: Mobile RFI
by Kyle Yoksh 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

----- Original Message ----- > Don't forget to check it for birdies before buying. I have a 1998 > Saturn SC2 that has a *nasty* noise emission on 2m right smack on top > of the calling frequency. > > -- > 73 de Maggie K3XS Hi Maggie (and the list), This is a very common issue w/ Saturn vehicles. I worked for a Saturn dealer until 1998, and found the problem myself in every SL and SC I drove. It also occurs in my 91 SL1, and the official cause is said to be the ECU (main computer). My vehicle is very well grounded, although I haven't built a copper box around the ECU yet.. hi hi It's also a good idea on these vehicles to attach ground straps from the trunk lid to the chassis.. I used the braid from some old CATV coax, with ring terminals crimped onto each side. Anyone using a trunk-mounted antenna with a Saturn might want to add these.. This cured some pretty strange antenna problems I was having, as it did for others folks I know.. Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249

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W3PM trip ?
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

Hi friends, who know about the schedule of W3PM/MM trip ? He will be on AO27 and SO50 also ? TNX Al XE2AT Happy weekend to all _________________________________________________________________ Crea tu propia página de enrada con todo lo que te gusta http://live.com

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Thanks
by Tim Tapio 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

To those that worked me today....I've finally gotten a good receive side (if I quit turning the rotator the wrong way) 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04

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Satellite QRP.
by John Hackett 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

Hello Al, Here are a couple of QRP QSL's from AO-13. As you'll see, they're endorsed for either 3 watts or 5 watts (15 or 25w EIRP). I have DXCC confirmed with such AO-13 QRP QSL's but was just too bone idle to apply for the award. The "grand tally" though is for CW QRP (217 countries), SSB QRP (143 countries) RTTY QRP (211 countries) all on 20m on the homebrew phased vertical array that appeared in various 'rags'. The AO-13 QSL's ought illustrate that you *DON'T* need to follow "mine's bigger than yours !!" recommendations for equipment. (You know my !!! economy). Since I've got me' bragging hat on I'll bat this over to the group as well. Fine! if you can afford the latest all singing - all dancing rig but it's *NOT* necessary. Recommended reading for satellite ops at <http://www.observations.biz/> "How much power is enough". (we might as well give THE TWISTED PAIR efforts a plug as well) 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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FO-29 CW telemetry Mar.10
by Mineo Wakita 10 Mar '07

10 Mar '07

[Analyzed by exterm.exe and fo29cwts.exe] HI HI A6 C3 88 D5 8F F3 05 25 00 24 4C 67 6F 63 9B 97 B0 60 9F 9C 9E 9F 9D Solar Current 1088.2 [mA] Battery Current 59.6 [mA] Battery Voltage 16.7 [V] Middle Voltage 7.3 [V] Bus Voltage 17.3 [V] JTA Tx Power 525.9 [mW] Structure1 Temp 20.1 [C] Structure2 Temp 21.3 [C] Structure3 Temp 20.5 [C] Structure4 Temp 20.1 [C] Battery Cell Temp 20.9 [C] http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/fo29cwts.htm http://homepage3.nifty.com/ja3thl/ --------------------------------------------- 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: Mar 10, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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