- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Noise level problem
by William Leijenaar 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

Hi Luc, I think when you want you hear and see things that are not there. You just hear/see them because you mind expect it to be there (even you are not aware of it). The face pictures on that webpage remembers me to the "face on Mars" picture taken from the Viking Orbiter 1 haha... Scientist were looking for life on Mars, so when they see the picture they immediatly think of a face... Later it seems to be a mountain :o) 73 William --- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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OSCAR-11 Report
by Clive Wallis 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

OSCAR-11 REPORT 19 August 2006 OSCAR-11 IS BACK! During the period 17 July to 19 August 2006 the satellite was heard on 26 July for a few orbits, and then from 16 August. At the time of writing it is currently transmitting. Observation of the 145.826 MHz. beacon transmission times, indicate that the watchdog timer has timed out for five periods of 20.5 days during the eclipse season. The eclipses have now ended, and the satellite should be in continuous sunlight until next year. If the normal watchdog timer sequence continues, the beacon should switch OFF around 26 August, and restart around 06 September. On 26 July real time clock showed an error of 64.5 days, an increase of 41.7 days since it was last heard on 05 May. The clock is now showing further problems, the date is now 53 July, but is still incrementing. The hours are showing an erratic behaviour. I am indebted to Peter ZL3TC, Dave G1OCN, and Dave WB6LLO for their reports and for monitoring the satellite, during this period. Many thanks. The current status of the satellite is that all the analogue telemetry channels, 0 to 59 are zero, ie they have failed. The status channels 60 to 67 are still working. The spacecraft computer and active attitude control system have switched OFF, ie. the satellite' attitude is controlled only by the passive gravity boom gradient, and the satellite is free to spin at any speed. When telemetry was last received it showed that one of the solar arrays had failed, and there was a large unexplained current drain on the main 14 volt bus. After 22 years in orbit the battery has undergone around 100,000 partial charge/discharge cycles, and observations suggest that it cannot power the satellite during eclipses, or sometimes during periods of poor solar attitude. The watchdog timer now operates on a 20 day cycle. During the three months before May (when the eclipses started), the ON/OFF times were very consistent, and the average of many observations show this to be 20.7 days, ie. 10.3 days ON followed by 10.4 days OFF. However, poor solar attitude may result may result in a low 14 volt line supply, which may cause the beacon to switch OFF prematurely, and reset the watchdog timer cycle. When this occurs, the beacon is OFF for 20.7 days. The Beacon frequencies are - VHF 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry UHF 435.025 MHz. OFF S-band 2401.5 MHz. OFF Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting my website which contains an archive of news & telemetry data. It also contains details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. The URL is www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT124.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace xxxxx by g3cwv)

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Delfi-C3 launch date announced
by Bruce Robertson 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

According to the following link, http://www.delfic3.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=71 Delfi-C3 has a launch date set for 30th June 2007, when it and several other Cubesats will fly onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from India. With an altitude of 630 km, its UV linear transponder, when switched on after 3 months of research, will have a footprint similar to that of VO-52. Hams should heartily encourage and avidly support this large cubesat, which plans to give so much back to the amateur community. 73, Bruce VE9QRP

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Announcement for Area Coordinators about September Hamfests
by Gould Smith 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

Just a reminder to Area Coordinators that Martha will be out of the office, Aug 28 - Sept 8. If you have a hamfest scheduled to do an AMSAT table in the next three weeks you need to get in touch with her ASAP to get your materials. We will not be able to send AC Hamfest boxes out until the about Sept 13th. 73, Gould, WA4SXM Director Field Operations

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High Power 10m Uplink to PCSAT2
by Robert Bruninga 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

We need high power 10 meter CW or PSK stations to test The PCSAT2 10m ==> 2m transponder asap. PCSAT2 mission ends on 30 August (just 8 days away) and To date, no one has reported using the 10m uplink to 435 MHz downlink transponder. We know the transponder Is quite deaf, but to date, for the last several months We have not had any reports of anyone making the transponder Or even trying. We'd sure like to hear someone confirm that they transmitted 500W Or more and are certain that they did not hear anything. Anyone Can hear the downlink with just a simple 435 MHz FM rig. The Downlink carrier comes up just fine. What we need are high power Signals on the 29.401 uplink. CW, PSK, anything. So even if you don't have a KW on 10m, pair up with an HF friend That can generate lots of power and have him transmit on 29.401 MHz During a pass, while you listen on the 235.275 MHz downlink (+/- Doppler). Anyone can SWITCH-ON the transponder by simply sending a 1200 baud Packet CONNECT-REQUEST to "PCSAT2" on 145.825 uplink. That "connection" will trigger The 29.401 to 435.275 MHz transponder to come up for the duration Of the connection or 1 minute which ever ends first. During that time, everyone will hear he downlink which is just The audio out of the 29.401 SSB receiver. We want to see if Anyone can get in on 29.401 or 29.402 MHz CW or PSK uplinnk. Send results... De WB4APR, Bob

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Missing postings to AMSAT-BB
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

Hi all. Why might it be that very occasionally my postings to the AMSAT-BB never seem to arrive? It has happened three times (I think) in the past month or two but I have not established a pattern. It appears to occur whether it is a reply to another message or an original composition. It may happen when there are other addresses in the To: or Cc: list but similar messages do get through. I sent one the other day (a reply to another posting) and included SAREX in the To: list but only the SAREX copy arrived. So could it be an intermittent fault with the AMSAT-BB mailer daemon? All suggestions welcome. 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK

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AMSAT Space Symposium
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

The 2006 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will be held in Foster City CA. The dates are October 6-8. The Banquet speaker will be Bill McArthur, KC5ACR. Bill was the ISS Expedition 12 Commander. An ARISS meeting will be held on Monday, October 9th and Tuesday, October 10th. For more information on the meeting, go to the AMSAT Website (www.amsat.org)

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Re: Missing postings to AMSAT-BB
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

Hmm! Interesting. Which posting(s) was/were rejected? Mostly my postings from this address are fine. 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Angel Peláez, EA4DUT" <angelkilroy(a)yahoo.es> To: "Félim Doyle M3HIM" <Felim.M3HIM(a)ntlworld.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 12:36 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Missing postings to AMSAT-BB > Félim: > > Yahoo put your message as spam.Maybe the reason be > this and is recognising your address as a spam. I > "said" to my Yahoo that your address is fine and is > not spam. > Hopefully this will solve the problem, at least on one > Yahoo address you'll be sure somebody reads your > postings... > Best regards from Madrid > 73 de Angel, EA4DUT. IN80EJ > > --- Félim Doyle M3HIM <Felim.M3HIM(a)ntlworld.com> > escribió: > > > Hi all. > > > > Why might it be that very occasionally my postings > > to the AMSAT-BB never > > seem to arrive? It has happened three times (I > > think) in the past month or > > two but I have not established a pattern. It appears > > to occur whether it is > > a reply to another message or an original > > composition. It may happen when > > there are other addresses in the To: or Cc: list but > > similar messages do get > > through. I sent one the other day (a reply to > > another posting) and included > > SAREX in the To: list but only the SAREX copy > > arrived. So could it be an > > intermittent fault with the AMSAT-BB mailer daemon? > > > > All suggestions welcome. > > > > 73 de > > > > Félim M3HIM > > IO91ot > > Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > > > ______________________________________________ > LLama Gratis a cualquier PC del Mundo. > Llamadas a fijos y móviles desde 1 céntimo por minuto. > http://es.voice.yahoo.com

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Re: Drake 2880
by G0MRF＠aol.com 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

In a message dated 22/08/2006 00:04:17 GMT Standard Time, ve6itv(a)telus.net writes: Hi Folks, i now have my new drake 2880 up on the tower, the one i smoked i had a peek inside and it looks as if it's just the FET transisitor at the front end has gone. Does anyone know of a substitute replacement that would work?. I'd like to give it to another amateur friend if it can be fixed.Any help will be appreciated. 73 de Scott VE6ITV _______________________________________________ The MGA86576 works quite well if you keep the earth leads short. See _www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk_ (http://www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk)

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HITSAT
by Mineo Wakita 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

HITSAT (Hokkaido Institute of Technology Satellite) of Japan will be launched at 23 Sep 2006 by M-V-7. (CW 437.275MHz 0.1W) --------------------------------------------- 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: Aug 17, 2006 ---------------------------------------------

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AO-51 Mod Change Delay
by Michael Kingery 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

The planned mode change for Aug 28 will be pushed back one day to Aug 29 due to a conflict with my schedule. 73 KE4AZN Echo Command Station

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Drake 2880
by Scott Smith 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

Hi Folks, i now have my new drake 2880 up on the tower, the one i smoked i had a peek inside and it looks as if it's just the FET transisitor at the front end has gone. Does anyone know of a substitute replacement that would work?. I'd like to give it to another amateur friend if it can be fixed.Any help will be appreciated. 73 de Scott VE6ITV

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PCSAT2 special Operations Event Update
by Robert Bruninga 22 Aug '06

22 Aug '06

PCSAT2 SPECIAL OPERATIONS RESUME. Operations were suspended When PCSAT2 ran out of sunlight on ISS on the 15th. Operations resumed after ISS changed attitude to XPOP on the 18th. > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Saturday, August 05, 2006 8:41 AM > > PCSAT2 SPECIAL EVENT AND OPERATIONS > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Subj: ISS Packet =>VOICE Contacts: > > For the remaining days of > PCSAT2's operation on ISS, PCSAT2 will be configured for > VOICE response to normal packets transmitted via the normal > ISS digipeater 145.99 uplink / 145.800 downlink. The command > station's voice downlink will be on 437.975 +/- Doppler and > he/she will attempt to acknowledge by voice all packets > seen on the packet uplink or generally chat about the system. > > The UHF downlink will be weak (only 1 Watt) and being UHF > (9dB worse than 2m), will need at least a small beam to hear it. > > Users who want to participate, simply send your packets as > normal VIA ARISS on 145.99 uplink / 145.800 downlink, but > listen on the 437.975 downlink for the combined voice and > packets. This will only work when > PCSAT2 is in range of a participating command station and > there is no guarantee that all command stations will be > available on any given pass. In otherwords, this may be > rare, but fun. > > Right now, passes in the Northern Hemisphere are occuring > in the evening. Passes in the Southern Hemisphere right > now are from midday. > > Best thing to do is simply monitor 437.975 during ISS passes > and if you hear a command station, then send us a 'hello' > packet via the ISS (or PCSAT2) digipeater. > > The PCSAT2 Packet system on 145.825 up and 435.275 is also > operational as well as the 10m to 435.275 transponder (for HIGH > power attempts on 29.401 MHz)... Just connect to PCSAT2 on > 145.825 to bring up the transponder. Still no reports of > anyone attteempting it or being successful. > > de WB4APR > US Naval Academy Satellite Station

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Good quality Cables
by Vincenzo Mone 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

Hi to the list, due to change the antenna cables, I would like to know which is the better one at least price For the Satellites activates. Unfortunately I have to use a long descent. I want also install my old 23 elements antenna for the 1,2 GHz. So the cable should be all for the satellites activates and should be for 2 meters 70 centimetres 23 centimetres I would like also to get a Mast preamplifier for the 23 centimetres. I already have the Mast preamplifier for the 2 meters and the 70 centimetres. They are both from Dressler and both has the EVV Interface. Please let me know which one is the better one at least price and if it needs also of the interface. Please let me know prices and where to get them Any suggestion will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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Good quality Cables
by Vincenzo Mone 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

Hi to the list, due to change the antenna cables, I would like to know which is the better one at least price For the Satellites activates. Unfortunately I have to use a long descent. I want also install my old 23 elements antenna for the 1,2 GHz. So the cable should be all for the satellites activates and should be for 2 meters 70 centimetres 23 centimetres I would like also to get a Mast preamplifier for the 23 centimetres. I already have the Mast preamplifier for the 2 meters and the 70 centimetres. They are both from Dressler and both has the EVV Interface. Please let me know which one is the better one at least price and if it needs also of the interface. Please let me know prices and where to get them Any suggestion will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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Mirage Preamp Setting
by Richard Lawn 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

I'm about to mast mount a new Mirage 70cm preamp. It has a high/low setting. Any suggestions from the group as I'm sure many of you are using this preamp. Is the high setting too much gain? I got tired of forgetting I had the ARR preamp on an frying it by sending too much RF into it. 73 Rick W2JAZ Richard Lawn, Dean College of Performing Arts University of the Arts 215-717-6125

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Noise level problem
by Luc Leblanc VE2DWE 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

We are always struggling with the noise level. On HF VHF UHF and on microwaves it is our worse enemy. We are playing with preamps, fliters, low loss feed lines but it seems we forget one source of noise 'The voices from the deads..' or the voices of the other side. If you live near a cemetery could be your noise figure can be higher than normal! Did any one ever check this possible noise source? For those who wants to push their own investigations just go on: http://www.aaevp.com/index.htm In the recent interference thread, nobody mentioned this world-wide noise source, An interresting new way to have fresh news about our future HEO launch... :) Or at least it can help some with a good QSO to get a second advice warning on our moves? Could be AO-7 has been awakened from the deads by theses voices? If you enter in a discussion just ask your other party if he/she can do something about AO-40? He probably switch on their frequencies that's why we loose it on our side. In our present situation could be asking the deads can produce more results! if not nobody will notice... Business as usual... "-" The medium is the message...The content is the audience...;) Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe

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UO-11 heard...
by Dave G1OCN 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

....also this morning at 0807 GMT here at IO80SM the Island of Portland, Dorset. Cheers, Dave.

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up-11/1200 baud sat
by Mr Jeffrey Ross 21 Aug '06

21 Aug '06

Hi, all, heard a good signal off uo-11 just now over Michigan USA., and a steady dcd lite on the tnc, but no data. anyone else? KC8GKF West Michigan

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Re: Missing postings to AMSAT-BB
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 20 Aug '06

20 Aug '06

I should have mentioned ... None of the message are bounced. They simply disappear! 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Félim Doyle M3HIM" <Felim.M3HIM(a)ntlworld.com> To: "AmSat BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 9:15 PM Subject: Missing postings to AMSAT-BB > Hi all. > > Why might it be that very occasionally my postings to the AMSAT-BB never > seem to arrive? It has happened three times (I think) in the past month or > two but I have not established a pattern. It appears to occur whether it is > a reply to another message or an original composition. It may happen when > there are other addresses in the To: or Cc: list but similar messages do get > through. I sent one the other day (a reply to another posting) and included > SAREX in the To: list but only the SAREX copy arrived. So could it be an > intermittent fault with the AMSAT-BB mailer daemon? > > All suggestions welcome. > > 73 de > > Félim M3HIM > IO91ot > Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK >

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PS4A polarity switcher
by Scott Smith 20 Aug '06

20 Aug '06

Hi, i have a Cushcraft PS4A switcher, and would like to know the power required on the wires comming into the shack to change the polarity. I guess i'll also need to install a toggle switch for right and left. 73 de Scott VE6ITV

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SatPC32 G5500 Flip or 450 deg Turnpoint analysis
by Simon 20 Aug '06

20 Aug '06

Hello, Has anyone any thoughts on what is the best way to go with SATPC32's options that allows you to select either an elevation of 0-180 degrees thus enabling Flip Mode, OR selecting the extended Azimuth option of 0 - 450 degrees. The latter disables Flip mode though. I am unsure which choice will give the most benefit for both Leo's and EME tracking? Thanks Simon, VK3ZSJ

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NASA - SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler
by Trevor 20 Aug '06

20 Aug '06

This latest announcement might help increase the number of launch opportunities for small amateur satellites in the years to come: NASA invests in private sector space flight with SpaceX, Rocketplane-Kistler http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2006/nasa_private_sector.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.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 or email: editor at southgatearc.org --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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(no subject)
by Charles Heisler -K3VDB- 20 Aug '06

20 Aug '06

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PO-28 or POSAT1
by Vincenzo Mone 19 Aug '06

19 Aug '06

Hi to the list, this is a third request: Pse can anybody tell me the health of the PO-28 or POSAT1 bird? I am trying to listen on 429.950 MHz but not hear nothing. Is the frequency right or it has been changed? Can anybody tell me about it? Thanks 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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AO-40
by Sergey Meshcheryakov 19 Aug '06

19 Aug '06

Dear Colleagues, Dear Mr. Stacey E. Mills, Are you still have a deal with the satellite AO-40, and may I have a question on it? Sorry to spend your time. Sincerely your Sergey Meshcheryakov, Dr. SMeshcheryakov(a)gmail.com

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WTB: Dualband Yagi
by Fred A Parker 19 Aug '06

19 Aug '06

Check this one out. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&i… Contact me direct for further info. Fred (KF0AK)

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2m antenna
by Wallace Strom 19 Aug '06

19 Aug '06

Hello, I'm looking for an antenna design for 2 meters that is on 22cm tall. I would like to mount the antenna on my car and be able to drive my garage without removing the antenna. Of course I would like to have rhcp to work satellites. I have modeled a couple of cross-loop antenna but can't get the SWR below 3. Questions - should I model for 50 ohm or 100 ohm? Any suggestions would be helpful. 73, Wally KG4YUW

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VERY IMPORTANT!!!
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 19 Aug '06

19 Aug '06

FOR THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND THE 2006 AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM IN FOSTER CITY CA, PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CUT-OFF DATE FOR THE HOTEL IS SEPTEMBER 13TH. AFTER THAT DATE, THE PRICE FOR THE ROOM CAN GO UP. THE HOTEL PHONE NUMBER IS 650-570-5700. OUR BOOKING CODE IS AMS. 73- Martha

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Kenwood 1.2ghz module
by Stargate 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Anyone know if the TS-2000 1.2ghz module can be purchased and installed by the end user? Most websites say it has to be sent to Kenwood for installation. Thanks, RoD KD0XX

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WTB: Dualband Yagi
by John Geiger 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

I am looking for a 2m/70cm dualband yagi to use on the satellites, and for some tropo work. Something like the Cushcraft 270-10S would be great. Must use a single feedline. Let me know your price including shipping to zip 73507-Lawton, OK. 73s John W5TD __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Some rare Washington grids
by Zachary Schrempp 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Hey guys, I am going over to CN77 on Thursday and Friday. I'll see if I can get into CN76, which is one of those grids where just a sliver of it skims the coast. Maybe CN86 too. I'll take the Arrow and run on AO-51 and SO-50. 73, Zach -- Zachary Schrempp, KM7I Age 15 AMSAT #36023

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Re: 8 SSTV pictures received from ISS Space Station.
by Cor 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Hello Felim, I have often e-mail contact with Miles (from www.marexmg.org ). The SSTV pics which I received I also have sended to Miles. 73's Cor PD0RKC http://www.pd0rkc.com >I believe that MAREX Marexmg(a)comcast.net is >the repository for any received >pictures but by all means send them to Cor as >well. >73 de >Félim M3HIM

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8 SSTV pictures received from ISS Space Station.
by Cor 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Hello All, Russian commander Pavel is testing the SSTV equipment aboard the ISS Space Station. The latest ISS SSTV pics where sended on the 145.800Mhz downlink frequency. There are some equipment problems so it is only switched on when Pavel is near the transceiver, mostly in his presleep time on the passes (for his friends) in Moscow. You can see the 8 ISS SSTV pictures on my website: http://www.pd0rkc.com In case someone have more ISS SSTV pics please send to: skyman(a)hetnet.nl 73's Cor PD0RKC ISS info: http://www.pd0rkc.com

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Cheap LEO antennas
by Grant Zehr 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

I would also stongly recommend the "Cheap Yagi" design, especially for 435 mc. band. I used a 3/4 square wood boom and a full length 435 mc. "AMSAT" cheap yagi design. I built one for my AO-40 uplink and another for LEO's both worked great. Sand the wood so it is nice and smooth. If you can find a drill press you will have nicely squared elements. To paint it I use a white "exterior wood primer" from the hardware store which is for priming the wood surfaces on the outside of your house. If you get the good kind, it takes 2-3 days to dry completely. Then I painted it with aluminum colored enamel ("rustoleum" or similar). I picked up some Coaxial cables at a flea market with BNC connectors, cut one in half and used that 2 antenna drive cables. From the ground it looks just like a "store bought" antenna and more important it really lasts. My LEO antenna has been up for about three years and still looks like new. The other thing is to be really careful about letting water get into the coax. Just use some caulking and be sure to loop your coax near the driven element to form a "drip loop". Gravity will keep things dry. Don't crush the wood while tightening the mounting bracket. It is easy to clip the driven element to tune the SWR. If you have time use a file to trim it when you get close to the best SWR. This is a GREAT antenna, just use exterior primer and enamel paint to protect it. I prefer wood to PVC (and I have used PVC for other projects). I used it today to work EB1FG on FO-29 on an east coast pass which peaked at less than 1 degree elevation here! Grant Zehr AA9LC

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MSNBC SpaceCam1 Article
by Farrell Winder 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Suggest take a look at the following MSNBC web address for a current article regarding Amateur Radio which reflects the efforts of AMSAT and other Amateur Radio team groups. Editor Alan Boyle of the "Cosmic Log" section has provision for feedback from all readers and would appreciate any comments on this article: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/08/17/2213.aspx Farrell Winder, W8ZCF, Cincinnati, Ohio

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Mode S
by Scott Smith 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Hi folks, is there a bird up there where i can test my new mode S antenna?. 73 de Scott VE6ITV

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SpaceCam1 now on MSNBC
by Trevor 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

Ham Radio's Space Vision http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2006/08/17/2213.aspx 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.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 --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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Doppler Shift :-)
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 18 Aug '06

18 Aug '06

>From the September 2006 edition of the RSGB publication RadCom ... Doppler Shift - the tendency for daft ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK

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FO-29 turns 10
by ANTHONY JAPHA 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

FO-29 is a wonderful, reliable bird. Here on the east coast, it's possible to work DX (Eu.) with low power and the equivalent of an Arrow ant. (My own experience is that the Arrow doesn't do well because of overload on 70cm, but when put on 2 booms--2 mtrs on 1, and 70cm on the other-- using 2 small tripods, it's usually fine.) On a recent trip to several QTHs up and down the west coast, FO-29 was almost always heard from predicted AOS to LOS, though without much activity. Sometimes a preamp was used, which made life easier, but that's by no means essential for routine QSOs. A big disappointment on that trip was AO-7, which, even when it's in mode B (I didn't have mode A capability operating portable at oceanside QTHs), was nearly impossible to get into. I was using 5 watts on both FO-29 and AO-7 from excellent QTHs. I was not able to make a single QSO on AO-7, though a few stations were heard. I have seen reports of good success with 5 watts and small antennas on AO-7, but I can't verify that experience. I'd appreciate your thoughts on whether I should buy a 20 watt amp. and try that on AO-7. Long live FO-29! 73, Tony, N2UN

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Re: HITSAT
by Mineo Wakita 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Yes, you must NOT uplink untill GSC announce. --------------------------------------------- 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: Aug 18, 2006 ---------------------------------------------

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Coax
by CHUCK 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

I have for sale 99 feet of Davis RF 50 ohm bury flex with "N" connectors on each end. This coax is in good condition and is 3 years old. It was removed from my tower eariler this year. I am asking $40.00 OBO plus shipping from 95121. Thanks for reading this ad.

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Re: NEW GRIDS !!! XE2AT
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Hi! > Dear boys and girls Bernardo XE2HWB will make a trip to DL27-37 from 17th to > 20th of this month, is in Baja California for the 10GHZ and UP contest, I > sent a small 6 ele yagi and he will be in AO51 from those new grids. > I think he will try to be in DL28 after the 20th so keep in touch, I will > advise to BB about the status from Bernardo. I talked with Bernardo on AO-51 this morning, and he said he will be in DL37 (a desert in southern Baja California) tomorrow. He previously mentioned via e-mail his plans to be on from there and other grids in the area (DL27, DL28, and DL38) between Friday 18th and Monday 21st, saying he would spend the most time in DL27 and DL37 with maybe one pass each for DL28 and DL38. All of the satellite work will be via AO-51. The rest of the weekend will be spent working the ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest from down there. Bernardo's English is pretty good, but please use the phonetic alphabet when calling him - or call him in Spanish. :-) He has antennas and a new duplexer for his satellite work, in addition to what XE2AT sent him, so hopefully he can show up from those spots. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Office Closed
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

The office will be closed from August 28th - September 8th. I will be going on my first 2 week vacation in over 25 years! 73- Martha

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New Satellite Award from JAMSAT
by Mikio_Mouri 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Hello, Alls, On behalf of the JAMSAT(Japan-AMSAT) board, it is my great honor to draw your attention to our brand new award, named JAMSAT Five Stars Award. Issuing of this award is intended to get more higher activity of radio amateur communication over satellites and eventually to have more fellows in this field and protect the frequency allocation given to the amateur satellites use. This Award is opened for world wide, with following terms and conditions. 1.The applicant is required to establish a QSO with five(5) different stations over five (5) different Satellites.(Total 25 QSL Cards required) 2. One specific satellite is counted once, even the QSO was made on different mode or band on the same satellite. 3. Valid only 2way QSOs. Cross mode QSOs are not valid on this award. 4.The QSOs using Digital mode and SSTV are valid, however you are requested to get QSL Cards. (e-QSL is not acceptable) 5.No specific endosement (eg. CW, SSB) is provided. 6. QSOs made after the January 1st, 2006 00:00 UTC are valid. 7. As for the application, no specific format is provided. You can use your own QSO list, however it is recomended to use a format of ARRL or JARL. Please send your GCR, certified by 2 radio amateurs, but please DO NOT send QSL cards to us. (We can not take any responsiblity against it) 8. Fee on the application >From abroad, Ten(10) "NEW" IRCs should be sent with the application form. For the domestic application, 800yen should be remited by Postal Money Order. (If you were member of the JAMSAT, then 400yen is applicable) 9. Donatios are welcomed This is not a duty, but your any donations to build new amateur satellites will be most welcomed by us. If you were agree with this, then please add some amount on top of the award application fee. JAMSAT will surely remit those your warm donations to the AMSAT-DL and/or AMSAT-NA accordingly. (Please understand that the JAMSAT-Board is entitled to divide the sum of donations for each party and project.) 10. Mailing address--Please forward your application to the following. JAMSAT AWARD OFFICE For the attenion of Mr. S. Muramaki PO Box 26, Mizushima Post Office, Kurashiki, Okayama 712-8691, Japan 11. Query If you have had any query, please send your message by e-mail to: madoguchi(a)jamsat.or.jp Mikio Mouri JA3GEP President of the Japan-AMSAT (JAMSAT) August 17, 2006

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Yaesu UT-20 23CM module
by Stargate 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Can the UT-20 1.2ghz module be purchased anywhere? All the websites I have seen says the factory has to install it. I have an offer of a 4 month old TS-2000 with M60 Desk Mike, Kenwood HT Dual Bander TH-D7AG, and a M2 9 element SSB antenna. I really want 1.2ghz for terrestrial work and satellites. (if they put another one on 1.2ghz someday:-) I'm still looking to trade my mint FT-1000MPMK5 for a TS-2000X + something extra. Thanks RoD KD0XX

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Florida AMSAT Net
by Robert Davies 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

The Florida AMSAT Net will meet at the regular time of 07:30 ET, 23:30 UTC this Thursday evening. Access to the net is through the NI4CE repeater system (see www.NI4CE.org <http://www.ni4ce.org/> for details), the N4HHA Orlando repeater on 443.1 MHz w/103.5 pl, the N4LEM 2M repeater on 147.36 MHz w/ 107.2 pl in Cocoa Fl., and finally over echolink over N4HHA-R and KG4YZY-R. All amateur are welcome to check in. -- KI4HXT EL97af Robert Davies AMSAT Area Coordinator AMSAT Member#35649 AMSAT President's Club Bronze Sustaining Donor IFC#2880

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ATTEN: Paul Williamson KB5MU
by Greg Higgins 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

The new amsat mailer has blocked ALL of my previous messages when addressed to kb5mu(a)amsat.org. Please provide an alternative e-mail address and I'll try to send you the information you asked for in regards to the multiple messages. Thanks! Greg Higgins KB5GLV

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1270 MHz Linear Amplifier
by Bruce 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

BB I'am looking for a copy of tech setup sheet for a 1270 Mhz Linear 70 watt output amplifier mfg by Modultechnik Prinz. Square brass box mounted on a 3/4 thick alum backing plate. 73 Bruce KG4YEV

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Yaesu FT-100D and Satellites
by Luciano G. Nachif 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Hi folks! I would like to get in contact with those who have been working the easy sats with a FT-100D. I sold my Icom IC-W32A and from now on will use the above mentioned gear to work whatever I can. I heard about a software that would make things easier if a satellite radio isn't available. I thank you in advance. 73, Luciano Gasparini PT9KK

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FO-29 turns 10
by dave 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

G'day all, Came across my qsl card from the JARL and saw that FO-29 was launched 0153 on 17 August 1996 UTC - 10 years ago tomorrow and still goinf strong. I hope it's around for another 10 years. 73 de David VK5DG

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Re: Problems with my 9600 baud stuff
by James Cottle 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Hi Tom, Tnx for your advice. I have now diagnosed several problems successfully. 1) I am using RHCP, which makes signals from AO-51 weak, complicated by the fact that I have a 15KHz offset which is further complicated by doppler and 2) turns out that, when one puts the 910H in "satellite mode" the data port receive gets switched as well. This morning I was able to copy strong TECHSAT beacons throughout its pass and strong voice on ECHO (The passes conflict right now). THanks for your guidance. SOmone needs to document this stuff for others!!!! maybe on a web page somewhere (in my spare time). Once again you pointed me in the right direction. Thanks for the hints. The offset on the 910H is well known...what is NOT well known is that, when you get down and dirty in there, you cannot adjust it out with the standard XTAL PLL oscillator. I have some pretty good test gear here....all of the tools but none of the talent (hi hi). 73 Jim N6FO Thomas McDaniel wrote: > Hi Jim, > > AO-51 is RHCP for voice and LHCP for digital -- I'm using the KLM > 435-40CX with the switching relay. I also find that GO-32 works > pretty well using LHCP so I leave my system set for LHCP when I'm > working digital. > > I too use a SYMEK (TNC3S) TNC but I don't know about the IC910 hook > ups as I use an old modified FT-736. If you have access to an > oscilloscope, you might want to look at the data out of the radio to > make sure that it is where it should be. It seems like I heard that > there are separate data ports for each side of the IC-910 -- does sat > mode combine them or do you need to use somekind of a "Y" cable for > digital sats? Hook-ups can be tricky. > > I am surprised to hear about the frequency problems, while I haven't > used the IC-910, I have had good luck with other Icom equipment. > Being 15 KHz off on the UHF band will certainly be a problem tuning > the receive -- the data would be outside the passband! I think I > would call Icom service and ask them about this. If you are using > computer control (like SatPC32) you might be able to set an off-set to > compensate, but it still shouldn't be that far off -- its hard enough > to tune to compensate for doppler shift without an inaccurate receiver! > > 73 Tom n0ntx > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Cottle" > <jim_cott(a)earthlink.net> > To: "Thomas McDaniel" <tmcdanielsprint(a)earthlink.net> > Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 12:10 AM > Subject: Problems with my 9600 baud stuff > > >> Hi Tom, >> Thank you for your generous offer. I am using an ICOM IC910h and >> interfacing it thru its mini DIN data port to a SYMEK 9600 TNC3. I >> was able to get a couple of passes of TECHSAT beacons thru and then >> something changed. Now I get no joy on any pass. I believe that I may >> have problems with the data port on the 910. I seem to be tracking >> the satellites fine, I can hear the downlink voice channels on ECHO >> with no problems. >> Also, I am running a RHCP M2 432CP30. Is it true that ECHO wants to >> see LHCP? I may be seeing a serious degradation in signal strength >> due to the mismatch. I have never been able to get a good DCD from >> AO-51. I did get a couple of beacons from TECHSAT until something >> that I cannot identify changed. I may have switched to the MINI DIN >> port thinking it was a more elegant solution. >> The frequency accuracy on the 910H is very poor. I tried, in vain >> to adjust the PLL and could not bring it in line. So i have ordered >> the CR-293 high stability XTAL option, hoping that this will pull the >> rig closer to its indicated frequency. It is typically 15 Khz off on >> U band and about 40KhZ off on L band. This makes tuning a real >> challenge on these short LEO passes. There is not a lot of >> documentation available that I have found on problems such as I am >> having, so I appreciate your help very much. >> Jim N6FO >> > > >

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Re: Cheap LEO antennas
by Joe Kononchik 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Does anyone know if PVC (Schedule 40) can be used as a substitute for wood?

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 1, Issue 1
by Robin Midgett 17 Aug '06

17 Aug '06

Schedule 40 & schedule 80 are simply different wall thicknesses for pressure ratings. I believe the gray PVC is intended for electrical conduit purposes, and it is more resistant to UV, but the color has nothing to do with the schedule grade. > > >The white stuff can tend to get brittle out in the sun. Painting it >will help with this somewhat. My 70cm antenna was modeled after the >cheap yagi design and had a white PVC boom that had been painted >gray. When lowering the mast to do some rotator maintenance the >antenna brushed a nearby dogwood tree that the XYL refuses to let me >cut down. The boom snapped right at one of the elements. This could >have been brittleness or just the fact of where it struck. I can't >comment on the tan (CPVC) pipe as I haven't used it. My >replacement antenna will be using schedule 80 which is gray in color >and much more rigid for the boom. >73, >Michael, W4HIJ > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 7 >Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:56:47 -0700 >From: James Cottle <jim_cott(a)earthlink.net> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Any 9600 orbital sources up? >To: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Message-ID: <44E27B5F.9080702(a)earthlink.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >Hello there, > I am having some difficulty. Are there any amateurs consistently >receiving 9600 beacons or TLM from either POSAT, ECHO or TECHSAT? It has >been some time since I heard anything from these. Thanks. >Jim >N6FO >San Francisco > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 8 >Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:20:22 -0700 >From: "Zachary Schrempp" <zach.km7i(a)gmail.com> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Some rare Washington grids >To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Message-ID: > <eab046d0608152120y48e042c8nd19b2e1f4e837e82(a)mail.gmail.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > >Hey guys, > >I am going over to CN77 on Thursday and Friday. I'll see if I can get >into CN76, which is one of those grids where just a sliver of it skims >the coast. Maybe CN86 too. I'll take the Arrow and run on AO-51 and >SO-50. > >73, Zach > >-- >Zachary Schrempp, KM7I >Age 15 >AMSAT #36023 > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 9 >Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 20:33:27 -0700 >From: "kc6uqh" <kc6uqh(a)cox.net> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cheap LEO antennas >To: "Michael Tondee" <mat_62(a)netcommander.com>, "Joe Kononchik" > <kononchik(a)sbcglobal.net> >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Message-ID: <000801c6c0e4$bcabf3e0$72b7b546@kc6uqh> >Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > >Mike, > >From an electrical point yes, but mechanical strength is poor especilly in >warm weather. > >Art, KC6UQH >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Michael Tondee" <mat_62(a)netcommander.com> >To: "Joe Kononchik" <kononchik(a)sbcglobal.net> >Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 7:01 PM >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cheap LEO antennas > > > > Joe Kononchik wrote: > >> Does anyone know if PVC (Schedule 40) can be used as a substitute for > >> wood? > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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! > >> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >> > >> > >> > >> > > The white stuff can tend to get brittle out in the sun. Painting it will > > help with this somewhat. My 70cm antenna was modeled after the cheap > > yagi design and had a white PVC boom that had been painted gray. When > > lowering the mast to do some rotator maintenance the antenna brushed a > > nearby dogwood tree that the XYL refuses to let me cut down. The boom > > snapped right at one of the elements. This could have been brittleness > > or just the fact of where it struck. > > I can't comment on the tan (CPVC) pipe as I haven't used it. My > > replacement antenna will be using schedule 80 which is gray in color and > > much more rigid for the boom. > > 73, > > Michael, W4HIJ > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 10 >Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:21:31 -0700 >From: Emily Clarke <emily(a)planetemily.com> >Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS Commander Bill McArthur is AMSAT's Keynote > Speaker >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Message-ID: <7.0.1.0.2.20060815211951.05575a50(a)planetemily.com> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > >ISS Commander McArthur to Keynote at AMSAT Symposium > >AMSAT is excited to announce that ISS Expedition 12 Commander William >(Bill) S. McArthur, KC5ACR, will be the keynote speaker at the 2006 >AMSAT Space Symposium to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster >City, California, October 6-8, 2006. Commander McArthur is well >known to ham radio operators - during his six months aboard the ISS >he became the most active radio amateur ever to serve in space. >Commander McArthur logged more than 1800 QSOs, and earned the ARRL >Worked All States Award. His impressive track record also included a >record 37 school contacts, Worked All Continents (including >Antartica) and 130 DXCC entities. > >Astronaut McArthur is a veteran of four space flights that include: > * STS-58 - October 1993 (Spacelab Life Sciences Mission 2) > * STS-74 - November 1995 (Shuttle-Mir Docking Missing 2) > * STS-92 - October 2000 (ISS Assembly Mission 3A) > * Expedition 12 - October 2005 >In addition Bill has made four spacewalks (two each aboard STS-92 and >Expedition 12) and was on backup crews of Expeditions 8, 9 and >10. He will be featured during the Annual Banquet on Saturday >evening, October 7, 2006. > >The 2006 Space Symposium will be a joint meeting with the ARISS >International Delegates and will also include the IARU Satellite >Advisory Panel annual meeting, and a meeting of AMSAT International >Delegates. For additional information please visit the AMSAT >website at http://www.amsat.org. Click on the 2006 Space Symposium >link in the left side menu. > >This year you can register for the Space Symposium online. Online >Registration can be found at http://www.amsat-na.com/symposium > > >73, > >Emily Clarke, N1DID >Symposium Chair > > > >------------------------------ > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > >End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 1, Issue 1 >************************************** Thanks, Robin Midgett K4IDC 615-322-5836 office - rolls to pager 615-835-7699 pager 615-301-1642 home K4IDC(a)comcast.net http://www.people.vanderbilt.edu/~robin.midgett/index.htm

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Recording off-air
by John Wright 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

I recently purchased, for a completely non-amateur purpose, a Gemini i-key USB recording device. It now occurs to me how useful this could be for recording your satellite activity Basically it is an audio interface that digitizes at 44khz, and stores the digital audio as an MP3 or more importantly, as a WAV file, onto more or less any USB pen drive. With a set of 2100mAh NiMh cells, it will record about 4 hours of audio, onto your pen drive, so you can just plug it into your PC, and there ya go!, your last 4 hours of activity. Plenty on Ebay, specs at >> http://www.ikey-audio.com/ Comments welcome

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IMPORTANT!!!
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

If you have not mailed your AMSAT ballot , now is the time to do so! The ballot has to arrive at the office by September 15th. Look over the bios on our website and VOTE!!! VOICE YOUR CHOICE. 73- Martha

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HF Amp..
by Frank A Cahoy 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

I know that this is totally off subject but lets face it, there isn't much to discuss satellite wise especially if you're a DXer! I'm wondering if someone out there has a small 500/600 watt HF amp that's just gathering dust, like my AO-40 station? Perhaps someone got hot and heavy into HF and their attention is now UHF or satellite.. If you fit into this catagory and have such a "critter" sitting unused I'd like to hear from you. Just hit the reply button so we don't take any more of the BB bandwidth. Thanks in advance and 73 to all. Frank, K0BLT 100 w. just is too much work for a tired old DXer!!

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PO-28 or POSAT1
by Vincenzo Mone 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

Hi to the list, is there anybody which has heard the PO-28 or POSAT1 in the last days? It is a while I don not hear it any more on the 429 MHz. Is it sill alive? Anybody can tell me about its health? Thanks in advance 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

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Instantrac Problem
by Mike Hooles 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

Hi, often when trying to come out of Instantrac to revert to XP my display goes blank and I have to restart the machine to regain control. Has anybody else had this and is there a foolproof method of overcoming this minor nuisance? Regards Mike G3LGR

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Any 9600 orbital sources up?
by James Cottle 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

Hello there, I am having some difficulty. Are there any amateurs consistently receiving 9600 beacons or TLM from either POSAT, ECHO or TECHSAT? It has been some time since I heard anything from these. Thanks. Jim N6FO San Francisco

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ISS Commander Bill McArthur is AMSAT's Keynote Speaker
by Emily Clarke 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

ISS Commander McArthur to Keynote at AMSAT Symposium AMSAT is excited to announce that ISS Expedition 12 Commander William (Bill) S. McArthur, KC5ACR, will be the keynote speaker at the 2006 AMSAT Space Symposium to be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City, California, October 6-8, 2006. Commander McArthur is well known to ham radio operators - during his six months aboard the ISS he became the most active radio amateur ever to serve in space. Commander McArthur logged more than 1800 QSOs, and earned the ARRL Worked All States Award. His impressive track record also included a record 37 school contacts, Worked All Continents (including Antartica) and 130 DXCC entities. Astronaut McArthur is a veteran of four space flights that include: * STS-58 - October 1993 (Spacelab Life Sciences Mission 2) * STS-74 - November 1995 (Shuttle-Mir Docking Missing 2) * STS-92 - October 2000 (ISS Assembly Mission 3A) * Expedition 12 - October 2005 In addition Bill has made four spacewalks (two each aboard STS-92 and Expedition 12) and was on backup crews of Expeditions 8, 9 and 10. He will be featured during the Annual Banquet on Saturday evening, October 7, 2006. The 2006 Space Symposium will be a joint meeting with the ARISS International Delegates and will also include the IARU Satellite Advisory Panel annual meeting, and a meeting of AMSAT International Delegates. For additional information please visit the AMSAT website at http://www.amsat.org. Click on the 2006 Space Symposium link in the left side menu. This year you can register for the Space Symposium online. Online Registration can be found at http://www.amsat-na.com/symposium 73, Emily Clarke, N1DID Symposium Chair

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New Mailing List Software
by Paul Williamson 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

The mailing lists at amsat.org have been converted over to a new program. Instead of Majordomo, we are now using GNU Mailman. Everybody's subscription was transferred over automatically, so you don't have to take any action to continue to receive your current mailing lists. The big difference is that subscribing and unsubscribing is now done on the web instead of by sending email. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change any of a number of new options for email delivery, start on http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo and select the mailing list of interest. From there, the forms are intended to be self-explanatory. You can also get to the forms using the web link at the bottom of every message from the mailing list. One thing has not changed: if you need help from a human, send email to listmaint(a)amsat.org. Don't send any requests for help, subscribe/unsubscribe requests, or test messages to the mailing lists. Daily digests are handled a bit differently in Mailman. Instead of separate mailing lists (for example, amsat-bb for individual messages and amsat-bb-digest for the digest), there is a single mailing list (amsat-bb) and each user can set various options, including digest mode. Subscribers to digest mailing lists were transferred to the single mailing list, with the digest option enabled. If you're one of the few subscribers who were getting both individual messages and the digest for the same list, that is no longer possible. More on AMSAT's mailing list services at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/maillist.php or click on Mail Services on AMSAT's main web page. I hope the transition will be smooth for everybody. If you notice any problems or have any questions, send mail to listmaint(a)amsat.org. 73 -Paul kb5mu(a)amsat.org Director, Electronic Communications

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Dead satellites
by Stargate 16 Aug '06

16 Aug '06

Just out of curiosity, how often are "supposedly dead" satellites listened for? I was wondering if any effort is applied to checking if past dead satellites have "come back from the dead" like AO-7 did a few years ago. Thanks, RoD KD0XX

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