- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Office Closed
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

This is a reminder that the AMSAT Office will be closed on Monday, February 19th in observance of Presidents' Day. Martha AMSAT Manager

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Invitation to Big-Dish EME Project
by Mikio_Mouri 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

Dear Satellite friends, You may be interested in having EME QSO with your antenna and rigs! A Japanese EME group is, with many organizations (including us), setting up 32m-Dish EME station in Ibaragi, Japan. Target is to QRV 144MHz, 432MHz, 1296MHz and 5.6GHz from 23 Feb to 24 March at possible windows. Please check his home page and you will find its progress: http://8n1eme.jp/modules/news/ Thank you for your interest and support. Best regards, JA3GEP, Mikio Mouri, JAMSAT

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How to de-ice your antennas and rotors by K1XT
by Kyle Yoksh 16 Feb '07

16 Feb '07

Hi everyone, I found this the other day while surfing the web. Hope you get a good laugh like I did: Many years ago on a cold winter morning I was at the house of good ham friend of mine during a contest. A small ice storm had passed through during the night and the antennas had refused to turn. "Jim. The Yagi is frozen," I said. "We'll get it turning," he said calmly. "Come on." I followed him to the door and before stepping out, he grabbed a 410 shotgun that had been standing by the door. We walked out into the back yard, and I watched him as he proceeded to fire several rounds of bird shot at the yagi and rotor. It was humorous to say the least as I watched the ice explode from the elements at each shot. In short, that took care of it. And when up working on the antennas that spring, I never noticed any damage to them. "Over the years I have perfected the load," he told me one day. "I load about dozen shells in the fall in anticipation." Funny to see, but it sure worked. Bill K1XT 73, Kyle Yoksh K0KN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 2, Issue 102
by Robert Roy 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Scott: none of the 4 URL's worked here...."page cannot be found"...Rob Roy W4pza ,Robroyy(a)comcast.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 2:00 PM Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 2, Issue 102 > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. ANDE Voice Repeater (PA3GUO) > 2. RAFT VOICE Contest: waiting for the first mp3 from outside > Europe (PA3GUO) > 3. Re: AO-51 this week (Luc Leblanc) > 4. FCAL telemetry received (PA3GUO) > 5. Looking for some new tracking hardware? (Jack KZ4USA) > 6. HPSDR Janus and Ozy Board Production Announcement (Scott Cowling) > 7. KF4OTN -> W4OTN (Eric Christensen) > 8. RAFT 'Voice' QSO made (PA3GUO) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:27:13 +0100 > From: "PA3GUO" <pa3guo(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ANDE Voice Repeater > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <004e01c75001$2d8dde10$9d02a8c0@waalre> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > Just as an FYI to ANDE users: > > Although ANDE is much stronger in downlink signal compared > to RAFT, you need to be aware that its spoken messages are > transmitted at a lower output power. > > So do not tune up the squelch too much when you work > ANDE, as you will hear the APRS transmissions, but may > miss the audio/voice transmissions. > > Good luck ! > > Henk, PA3GUO > > ps: > ANDE VOICE needs to be enabled by a commandstation > each pass, so it will not always be ON. Monitor the traffic. > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:35:43 +0100 > From: "PA3GUO" <pa3guo(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT VOICE Contest: waiting for the first mp3 from > outside Europe > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <005201c75002$5c5d3f00$9d02a8c0@waalre> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > These evenings RAFT is very strong over Europe. If you > can work the APRS digipeater, try to get RAFT speaking ! > > Voice Contest rules: > 1 point for each APRS message you get spoken by RAFT or ANDE > 2 points for each message to another HAM you get spoken by RAFT or ANDE > > Examples: > "DK3WN says Hello Europe" will give 1 point > "PE1ITR says DK3WN 59" will give 2 points > > Enrollment is simple: > - email the mp3 recording to pa3guo @ amsat.org (max 200kb, edit yourself > !) > - attach a picture of yourself/shack/station (optional, pls keep filesize > small) > - include the digipeated packet & timestamp (to identify RAFT or ANDE) > > VOICE Contest website with mp3's of current submissions: > http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/voice.html > > Waiting for the first mp3 from outside Europe ! > > Henk, PA3GUO > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 04:39:56 -0500 > From: Luc Leblanc <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 this week > To: amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org > Message-ID: <45D2929C.643.44DD0C2(a)lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > On 11 Feb 2007 at 23:33, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > >> There are several new pieces of software that need to be uploaded and >> tested >> this week on AO-51. Additionally the S band transmitter will be on for an >> as >> of yet undetermined number of daylight passes over the Air Force Academy >> ground station in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These passes will be used >> for >> the ground station checkout on S band prior to the launch of Falconsat-3 >> satellite, now scheduled in late February. FS-3 carries an amateur >> payload >> along with its primary science mission. > >>From WIKIPEDIA > > FalconSAT-3 - contains 5 experiments, including a gravity gradient boom, > launch adapter shock ring, and several DARPA sponsored payloads, including > MPACS (Micro Propulsion Attitude Control System), FLAPS (Flat Plasma > Spectrometer), > and PLANE (Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Experiment). As of summer 2005, > the project has completed qualification phase and construction of the > flight > model > is in progress. The launch, aboard an Atlas V 401 from LC-41 at Cape > Canaveral, > was scheduled to occur on December 8, 2006, however as this was on the > same > day as the scheduled launch of STS-116, and a 48-hour turnaround was > required, > it was delayed. Launch is now scheduled for 22 February 2007. When the > scientific > mission of the program is completed, the satellite will be placed into > amateur > repeater > mode and opened to use by amateur radio operators. > > > > > FalconSat 3 [USAF] > > FalconSAT-3, is a 50 kg microsatellite being developed by faculty and > cadets, > and is the Air Force Academy?s first attempt at achieving three axis > attitude > determination and control (ADCS). FalconSAT-3 will carry three payloads to > conduct > DoD research. The attitude requirements for FalconSAT-3 include pointing > the > satellite > within +/- five degrees of ram direction, as well as attitude knowledge to > within one degree. > FalconSAT-3 will provide sophisticated characterization of plasma > turbulence in > the F region > ionosphere. Significant advances in technology have enabled > miniaturization of > instruments > that enable comprehensive measurements of both ambient and > spacecraft-specific > turbulence. > > The three primary experiments include > > * the Flat Plasma Spectrometer (FLAPS), a planar electrostatic analyzer > used to measure > ion spectra differential in energy with a DE/E ~ 4%; > > * the Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Environment (PLANE) experiment, a > bifurcated retarding > potential analyzer capable of distinguishing between ambient and > Spacecraft-induced turbulence > > * the Micro-Propulsion Attitude Control System (MPACS), consisting of a > set > of Teflon-fueled > pulsed plasma thrusters used to stabilize satellite attitude. > > The FalconSAT-3 satellite bus is custom fabricated at the United States > Air > Force Academy (USAFA) > and is manifested for launch into a 35? inclination, 560 km circular orbit > in > late 2006. Satellite operations > will be managed from the USAFA ground station. Complementary ground-based > observations of the > ionosphere will be taken both at USAFA and at remote locations at low > magnetic > latitudes, where > equatorial ionospheric processes are particularly effective at stimulating > plasma turbulence. > > >>From a NASA agency NSSDC Master Catalog Display: Spacecraft > > FALCONSAT > > NSSDC ID: 2000-004D > Other Names > > * 26064 > > Launch Date: 2000-01-27 > Description > > FALCONSAT is an American military microsatellite that was released from > JAWSAT. > > It is reported to be a technology testing mission. > Discipline of surveillance and other Military uses. (edited) > > Sponsoring Agency/Country > > Unknown/United States > > > If you read this past post on AMSAT-NA BB > > On 10 Feb 2007 at 9:02, Jeff Davis wrote: > >> Just looking at some interesting images and stats from the CenterForSpace >> Web site. The quick stats are 3,100 spacecraft orbiting earth with >> two-thirds of those no longer active. Nearly 7000 pieces of man-made >> debris >> large enough to be tracked. And the satellite recently destroyed by China >> created more than 900 pieces of large debris. >> >> Take a good look at the various images depicting the debris. >> >> http://www.centerforspace.com/asat/ >> >> 73, >> -- >> Jeff, KE9V > > > Did AMSAT-NA will condemned military endeavour or support it? Or it is the > end > result who make's amateur radio supporting a military program acceptable > eg: > producing debris or not? or helping in producing military technology as > stated > by NASA "It is reported to be a technology testing mission. > Discipline of surveillance and other Military uses. (edited)". > > > I know i wrote in the past that AMSAT'S should be "innovative" but not to > a > point to prostitute with any military action or operation. > > Probably another inconsiderate and unplanned move by AMSAT-NA where the > BOD is > again out of control driven by any floating interest who probably > blackmailed > them "AGAIN" If AMSAT-NA wants to be a military puppet, here is a song > lyrics > from James blunt probably the BOD inspiration source. > > Out of my mind > > Judging by the look on the organ-grinder, > He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit. > It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder. > He's waiting for the day when he gets me, > But I don't need no alibi - I'm a puppet on a string. > I just need this stage to be seen. > We all need a pantomime to remind us what is real. > Hold my eye and know what it means. > > I'm out of my mind. > > Judging by the look on the organ-grinder, > He'll judge me by the fact that my face don't fit. > It's touching that the monkey sits on my shoulder. > He's waiting for the day when he gets me, > But I won't be your concubine - I'm a puppet not a whore. > I just need this stage to be seen. > Won't you be a friend of mine to remind me what is real? > Hold my heart and see that it bleeds. > > I'm out of my mind. > > > ??????? > > > > "-" > "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 > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:09:25 +0100 > From: "PA3GUO" <pa3guo(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] FCAL telemetry received > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <004701c74fff$4b937c00$9d02a8c0@waalre> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > FCAL Telemetry of Feb 13, Time is UTC: > > !S 20:08:53 !KD4HBO>TELEM,TELEM <UI C>:Analog > 000A000300F200DB00AA000700DE0009 N 0000001E > !S 20:09:38 !KD4HBO>TELEM,TELEM <UI C>:Analog > 0009000200F000D900A9000B00DC0009 N 0000001E > > HW: > - 7 elements beam > - no pre-amp > - 71 degrees elevation pass > SW: > - Alogger > > Henk, PA3GUO, The Netherlands > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 18:49:38 -0500 > From: "Jack KZ4USA" <videorov(a)hughes.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Looking for some new tracking hardware? > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <000601c74f00$7cd1b160$0100a8c0@internet> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Im going to be using a TS-2000 and TRX-manager with the G-5400 rotors. Who > is making some hardware trackers nowadays. > > > Jack > KZ4USA > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 23:12:26 -0700 > From: Scott Cowling <scotty(a)tonks.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] HPSDR Janus and Ozy Board Production Announcement > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: <6.1.2.0.2.20070212231221.05d896a8(a)mail.tonks.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > > > *** TAPR ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF HPSDR JANUS OZY BOARDS *** > High Performance Software Defined Radio Project (HPSDR) > > *IMPORTANT* > > TAPR and HPSDR need your input! > > Please help us by visiting Dale's (WA8SRA) HAMSDR website (see below) and > let us know if you are interested in purchasing Janus and/or Ozy bare or > assembled boards for delivery by May. > > THIS IS NOT PLACING AN ORDER; IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST SO THAT WE > CAN MORE ACCURATELY DETERMINE HOW MANY BOARDS TO ORDER AND ASSEMBLIES TO > MAKE! > > This opportunity will end on Tuesday, February 20th at 0200 UTC. > > To register your interest you need to go to the Dale's (WA8SRA) HAMSDR > website, in the projects section. > > If you are a member and have previously expressed interest in these > projects, log in and re-enter your quantities of each board. > > NOTE: Previous quantities have been reset to zero so you WILL HAVE TO > RE-ENTER QUANTITIES. > > If you are new to HPSDR and Dale's Website, please join for instant access > by providing the information requested. > > Go to: <http://www.hamsdr.com/>HTTP://www.hamsdr.com > > Login and go to Projects > TAPR-HPSDR and click on <Indicate Your > Interest> > button to create a new record for entering your quantities. > > What is HPSDR? <http://hpsdr.org/>http://hpsdr.org > What is an Ozy? > <http://hpsdr.org/ozy.html>http://hpsdr.org/ozy.html > What is a > Janus? <http://hpsdr.org/janus.html>http://hpsdr.org/janus.html > > There are many other HPSDR projects in design and testing; most will > require the Janus and Ozy boards. > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 21:53:33 -0500 > From: Eric Christensen <kf4otn(a)ericsatcom.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] KF4OTN -> W4OTN > To: undisclosed-recipients:; > Message-ID: <45D279AD.9030906(a)ericsatcom.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > After ten years of using KF4OTN I thought I'd give a new call sign a > spin. The FCC issued me W4OTN today. > > I'll be slowly changing over my e-mail address and such but I'll keep > all the old addresses forwarding properly for a while. > > 73s, > Eric W4OTN (ex KF4OTN) > www.ericsatcom.net > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.5 (MingW32) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - http://enigmail.mozdev.org > > iQIVAwUBRdJ5qlPETzpAxiDcAQIQfxAAk4/QmoNCujlxh0Se1F6Zd2neNF2DS1ER > zUYAQ4joJfQLwqyMSECU9Ux00HBzASY0viXFos+USCR4LoDVJ0QB7EFwh4xCNvfi > ZTdbOeLbv6IB8u2N2DKD3jHPz7EKafahiC5tDXjVEoyWGBYquM8KaFENUeYCjAva > pCrdM5ZLH72DMcJ47EpM5kN7X/gWIWZGbtCq9ScNyFbjeZAuaWuyqmYvXorTIoSo > 61Nl/c10SKtwYmz0aahKkg12Wgc+amTfocCddwlxNp6ZhaQkmnMvdCuyWGV6AaV2 > QRt/LJly6EoFk7w7IhhDZKyq2KdEt/byqPOriGcu/AabsWNIO11Bj+R1zbWgtIkv > znWeyjmSKgv5GOEbE8W0nZFnVXe1SY4+F4NxHIE5XPzOCYar+jWfHst3bRzs1rC1 > X0YiXwg0hc48rMeDG0w0Lg6FKtFKzQwXVsA0E5lS7xrXiGbqaB3HVT6M7u3cqj9F > 5/UkfKUPKnBcKbbo4Xyy7/vxzsSbDzJ4PXrwEi/HHmV/CDVZ9k828pchqQ9LGWAZ > eVu8ybPnz8xcePscar8d8a89pqhsNtc5vPxnEf1r4ct1iOBsN9PEs+cRCHDvJysC > Y+tsFVIkkhmO45s3R6OymFlAaLahcL42Q7AJbNfVWZoywJSPFsfJbZasA1sAT/g8 > UUC8KlinN4I= > =LNc5 > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 07:15:11 +0100 > From: "PA3GUO" <pa3guo(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT 'Voice' QSO made > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <004a01c74fff$800bf2f0$9d02a8c0@waalre> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > Dear all, > > These days RAFT is very strong during its evening > passess over Europe. After a simple C RAFT and > then on the terminal typing > :TALK :Hello who wants to talk? > you can made a real QSO, without much delay. > > http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/voice10_raft_13022007_2116_p… > > DK3WN says "Hello Henk PA3GUO 59 from Mike". > PA3GUO says "Hi Mike 59 here also". > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > 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 2, Issue 102 > **************************************** >

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big wheel on sats
by pcalvi＠bluewin.ch 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Hello everybody. Has anybody had a practical, hands on experience with big wheel antennas with LEOs? I know the radiation pattern does not favor higher elevations, but I don't know ho actually low the radiation angle is, and looking for somebody with experience. Thanks, Piero HB9DSU

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Info needed.
by Stargate 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

Hi all, Well, It's time to start considering antennas for my satellite station. (tax refund:-) I am trying to pack as many modes into my station as I can. I have the following so far.... Yaesu FT-847 AOR 8600 MK2 receiver (dc-3ghz) Icom IC-706MK2G Mirage 2530 (300 watt 2 meter amplifier) Astron RS-70M power supply G-5500 rotor LVB tracking board SAT688 tracking board Orbitron tracking software Andrew CF2P coax (2.7db loss 100' @ 450mhz) I will be running the coax in about 50-70' runs from the shack to the antennas. I would like to have mode S receive as well but the loss gets rather high with this coax so hardline or a mast mounted downconverter may be the way I go. I'm pretty sure I want circular polarized antennas unless someone talks me out of it. Switchable for LHCP or RHCP?? Whatever VHF and UHF antennas I choose will also be used for terrestrial work as well. Unfortunately, my terrestrial work is somewhat limited due to the topography of where my house is. I will also be adding mast mounted preamps sometime in the future. I'm confusing myself with all the modes and options so what do you recommend? All comments appreciated very much. 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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OSCAR-11 Report
by Clive Wallis 15 Feb '07

15 Feb '07

OSCAR-11 REPORT 15 February 2007 TELEMETRY & NEWS ARCHIVES I have now uploaded an archive of the telemetry for 2006 to my website. The zip package contains 86 individual telemetry files. The names of the files are date coded, and there are accurate date/time stamps within the data. I have also uploaded an archive of all these reports for 2006, as a single file. www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ TELEMETRY AND REPORTS WANTED! To investigate the on-board clock's hour problem, mentioned below, I would welcome some telemetry from differents parts of the world, at times when the orbits do not pass over the UK. These times are approximately from 10:00 to 16:00 and from 19:00 to 04:00 UTC. If you don't have a decoder, I can now accept short WAV files of good audio, duration up to 30 seconds. I would also like reports of reception around the times of expected beacon switch ON and OFF. No telemetry wanted, just when you listen, and whether you heard, or didn't hear the bird. Please e-mail to the address below. -------------------- During the period 23 January to 14 February 2007, the satellite was heard from 28 January to 08 February. Good steady signals have beeen heard on most passes, and good copy of the telemetry obtained. The on-board clock has maintained accurate time. Over the reporting period, no change could be detected! However the hour counter sometimes shows an error of of 10 hours, ie. in its most significent digit. The 'day of the week' counter operates reliably, zero representing Thursday. The date counter appears to be incrementing correctly, but the day of the month is not reset to one, at the end of each month. On 07 February it reset to 41, showing that the unused bit representing 40 permanently is stuck at a one. This means that the clock error is now 37.21453 days slow. If the satellite's watchdog timer continues to operate normally, the beacon should switch ON around 18/19 February 2007. The satellite is in full sunlight at the present time, and will remain in this state until mid-April 2007, when eclipses start again. I am indebted to David G8OQW, Mark KU7Z, Jay KD4QoV, Etienne ZS6Y, Jeff KB2M and Geoff ZL6GA for their reports. 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. The ON/OFF times have tended to be very consistent. 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. If you need to know what OSCAR-11 should sound like, there is a short audio clip for you to hear. The website contains an archive of news & telemetry data. It also contains details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. The URL is www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT130.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace xxxxx by g3cwv)

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '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 Huson, WA7HYD Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE Fernando Martins, CT2ISG AMSAT Sexagesimal Award Carlos Roy i Garcia, EB3FYM, #143 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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DE-xpedition Announcement
by melachri＠speakeasy.net 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

I am planning a short trip to Delaware (a DE-xpedition, so to speak) to operate the FM satellites, and give others a chance to work this state. The trip is tentatively planned for 24 February 2007, during the local afternoon and early evening. My location is going to be close to 39.82N-75.55W, in the northwest corner of FM29. This is where I was for a previous DE-xpedition on PSK31. Equipment will be a Yaesu VX5R with a handheld Arrow dual-yagi and an MP3 recorder. Thanks to Patrick WD9EWK, I have some predictions of satellite passes from this location, and have selected the following: AO-27 2003z-2019z AO-27 2145z-2157z (dinner break) SO-50 2318z-2329z AO-51 2333z-2346z SO-50 0057z-0110z (UTC 25 Feb) AO-51 0111z-0125z (UTC 25 Feb) This schedule is subject to change, based on weather or other logistical issues. I hope this trip will be of interest to the satellite community. I do have two requests: 1. Since I will be operating half-duplex (due to radio limitations), I would appreciate it if anyone who is able to record these passes would email the recordings to me afterwards. 2. I'd also like to gauge interest in this trip, so if you are specifically interested in working me (for either the state or the grid), please let me know via direct email. Thanks. 73, Steve Melachrinos W3HF (@arrl.net)

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antenna construction
by randy 14 Feb '07

14 Feb '07

I have been wanting to put up long boom oscar antennas for 2 meter and 435 bands but the prices are very high. Are there any websites out there with plans that show how to build a cross polorized antenna for these two bands. I'm sure one could be built for half the price of the M2 satellite antennas. Also i have search the internet for plans that show how to build the circular polorization switch for LHCP/RHCP but have yet to find one. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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