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Yaesu G-5500 meters and readings to LVB tracker not working
by John Brier 12 Oct '20

12 Oct '20

Hi fellow satops, I have a Yaesu G-5500 I got used a couple years ago. In February I hooked it up for the first time on the ground with an LVB Tracker and MacDoppler. At the time the azimuth needle sometimes bounced all over the place, if I tapped the box it affected it too. Sometimes the azimuth meter swung all the way right to 450 degrees and seemed stuck. Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4jse3mykh58iy1/VID_20200208_222436.mp4?dl=0 (Note towards the end of the video you can see the readings on the LVB tracker and the Azimuth needle simultaneously while the needle bounces around. The readings on the LVB tracker are "bouncing" too) When the reported Az was stuck at 450 degrees, MacDoppler didn't adjust Az at all. In February I did take the cover off and loosen and retighten some screws, including screws that held the meters in (IIRC). This didn't help. When I had it open I noticed even if I barely touched the frame sometimes the needles would bounce. I want to say there were times where I could just get my finger very close to it, without touching, and it would make the meters move. Perhaps capacitance. When the LVB tracker is disconnected, the up, down, left, and right controls work fine. The rotators turn completely and stop at their stop points. But still, the meters don't always work. Today I recorded a video of the azimuth rotator rotating it's full 450 degrees, but the meter barely moved at all: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9592okxvx1rv0x/PXL_20201003_183543916.mp4?dl=0 Today, initially the elevation meter didn't move at all. It was stuck at 0 degrees. Later, it worked perfectly going smoothly from 0 to 180, I think accurately, as I held down the up button. Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/q6ttqcvs7n2nnvo/PXL_20201003_183351247.mp4?dl=0 I think the elevation meter is in better shape than the azimuth meter, because it occasionally works. Earlier when I tried to track a low elevation pass with SatPC32 the elevation rotator turned what looked like a full 180 degrees. The meter and what ServerSDX read showed the actual degrees were 0. Video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/k88egwg3d7yvz1k/PXL_20201003_191350061.mp4?dl=0 (skip to 01:38 for AOS) It seemed like SatPC32 instructed the rotator to turn and I guess it just kept instructing it to turn, waiting for the reading to show, 3 or 4 degrees elevation or whatever the satellite was. Since the reading never changed from 0 it went all the way to its stop point. I think, anyway. It did stop part way through the 180 degrees. Please send me suggestions on things to try to fix this or get more information to troubleshoot the issue. If anyone would prefer to help me over the phone because it's faster, that is welcome too. 73, John Brier KG4AKV

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PREDICT-2.2.7 Released for Linux, Unix, Android, and Raspberry Pi Platforms
by John Magliacane 12 Oct '20

12 Oct '20

Today I am pleased to announce the release of PREDICT version 2.2.7, an Open Source satellite tracking / orbital prediction application for Linux and Unix computing environments, including PCs, laptops, and Raspberry PIs. New in this release is a version of PREDICT that operates on Android platforms under a Termux environment. Now you can carry your smartphone in your shirt pocket while voice announcements made by PREDICT's "vocalizer" tell you where to locate the ISS, Hubble, or other visible satellites in the night sky! There's even an alarm to alert the observer when the spacecraft enters into eclipse or into sunlight. Android screenshots are available here: https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/SingleTrack-Android.jpg https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/MultiTracking-Android.jpg The Linux/Unix version of PREDICT-2.2.7 is available here: https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict-2.2.7.tar.gz And the Android/Termux release is available here: https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict-2.2.7-termux.tar.gz Both versions are source code releases. An included "configure" script will configure and compile PREDICT and its associated utilities for your specific platform while you wait. Termux is an Android terminal emulator and Linux environment application that is available at no cost through Google Play. Further details are available at: https://termux.com/ Further details on PREDICT are available at: https://www.qsl.net/kd2bd/predict.html Stay safe, stay well, and Happy Tracking! 73 de John, KD2BD

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Items for sale
by Mark Johns, K0JM 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

I'm preparing to sell a couple of items that would be of interest to satellite operators: Kenwood TH-D7A(G) full-duplex VHF/UHF FM hand-held radio equipped with a built-in TNC (1200/9600) and APRS capability. Also, 200 memories (100 each band), CTCSS, and backlit keys. RF output is 2 to 6 watts, depending on type of battery pack or external DC supply. This comes with original box and manuals, "rubber duck" antenna, SMA to BNC antenna adapter, SMC-34 speaker-mic, wall-wart charger, PB-39h 9.6v 1450 mAh battery with belt clip. Control box ONLY (no motor) for a 24vac Yaesu G-550 elevation rotator. Note, this box is only for the elevation rotor, not to be confused with the G-5500 Az/El system. This elevation-only control box is brand new, never used except to test. No manual or other documentation included, but available online. E-mail me off list for prices, photos, etc. -- Mark D. Johns, KØJM AMSAT Ambassador & News Service Editor Brooklyn Park, MN USA EN35hd ----------------------------------------------- "Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." ---Mark Twain

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Pacsat Ground Station and Mac OSX
by Brian Wilkins 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

Anyone been able to get Pacsat Ground Station SW working on Mac OS X? My serial device shows up as /dev/cu.SLAB_USBtoUART However Pacsat shows None for serial connection. I am unable to pick my device. I can connect to the TNC via Serial which is an app on the App Store successfully and command it -- Brian Wilkins KO4AQF

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Re: [amsat-bb] Funcube Dongle Pro+ w/GQRX (Ubuntu)
by Roy Dean 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

> > Might be a USB Host scheduler bug, indicating that something wanted to > talk to a USB device, but the kernel thought it didn't have enough of > the 12 Mbit/sec (or 480 Mbit/sec in USB2.0 HS, or something GBit/sec in > SuperSpeed, etc.) bus to satisfy the request. > > This got me thinking and I tried it again on the laptop that has a USB 3.0 port. I tried it directly in that port (no hub), although I DID use a USB 3.0 extension cable. It works! So the problem (at least on this laptop), is that it needed the USB 3.0 port? I thought that it was supposed to work on any USB port? *shrug* It doesn't appear to work on the cheapo amazon USB hub that is plugged into a different USB port (but I can't say for sure that that port is USB 3.0 or not, though). Thanks for the tips! Regardless of what was wrong, it's working now! --Roy K3RLD

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Re: [amsat-bb] Funcube Dongle Pro+ w/GQRX (Ubuntu)
by Roy Dean 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

And after running GQRX, there are hundreds of these comments after running "dmesg": [ 332.396482] usb 1-1.2: cannot submit urb 0, error -28: not enough bandwidth --Roy K3RLD

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Re: [amsat-bb] Funcube Dongle Pro+ w/GQRX (Ubuntu)
by Roy Dean 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

Update (still not working): Turned off the Funcube Dongle via Config tab in pavucontrol. Didn't seem to affect anything. GQRX behaves the same. dmesg yields: [ 89.628088] usb 1-1.2: new full-speed USB device number 5 using ehci-pci [ 89.739007] usb 1-1.2: New USB device found, idVendor=04d8, idProduct=fb31 [ 89.739013] usb 1-1.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0 [ 89.739016] usb 1-1.2: Product: FUNcube Dongle V2.0 [ 89.739018] usb 1-1.2: Manufacturer: Hanlincrest Ltd. [ 89.741208] hid-generic 0003:04D8:FB31.0005: hiddev1,hidraw2: USB HID v1.11 Device [Hanlincrest Ltd. FUNcube Dongle V2.0 ] on usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.2/input2 [ 89.930743] usb 1-1.2: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x81 [ 89.933232] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio [ 90.010218] usb 1-1.2: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x81 [ 90.050461] usb 1-1.2: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x81 lsusb yields: Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0461:4dfe Primax Electronics, Ltd Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04d8:fb31 Microchip Technology, Inc. Bus 001 Device 003: ID 138a:003d Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS491 Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub Bus 003 Device 002: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub Are there any diagnostic utilities for the FCDPP? (like "rtl_test" for the rtl-sdr? Wishful thinking, perhaps....) --Roy K3RLD

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Help on BY70-2 Proxy
by Vincenzo Mone 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

Hello there, I would like to know if there is anybody to uses Linux to decode BY70-2 And can help me how to do. I have all set ( It seems ), I can decode the satellite but I do not get any incoming data into the Proxy. I have downgrade the Tornado how it says in the Doc file but still no success. Anybody able to help me may be off the list? Thanks in advance 73's de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 ********************************* ****** GSM +39 328 7110193 ****** ***** SMS +39 328 7110193 ***** *********************************

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Re: [amsat-bb] PSAT is ON (Dual hop testing?)
by Robert Bruninga 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

> > > I am working with a HT and a hand held arrow, so it can be challenging. > > If I understand correctly, My packet would travel this path. > > ME>>>ISS>>PSAT>>ME > > yes, in the sense that the first ME is a TX, the next two are DIGIpeats and the last one is RX. But you have to set the correct PATH callsigns in your APRS radio. That would be NA1SS,PSAT for a dual hop. NA1SS would hear it first and then transmit it via the path of PSAT which then (if it heard it amongst all the other QRM on the channel) would then digi eat it too. Doing the dual hops in this direction (assuming they can see each other (rare) is because the chance of the ISS hearing the weak 0.25W XMTR form PSAT is very small compared to PSAT hearing the 10W signal from ISS. So a dual hop path in this direction has a 16 dB better chance than one attempted in the opposite direction. And that is Huge. Bob, wb4APR > > On Sat, Oct 10, 2020 at 4:53 PM Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB < > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > >> Robert NcHale KE6BLR has turned on PSAT for digipeating. >> I have no idea if it has the power budget to support it, but we will see. >> If the telemetry counter gets above 90 (minutes) then it is surviving >> eclipses >> See http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/raw.cgi?call=psat,psat-1&time=1&start=12 >> >> Have fun. Try some double hops from ISS to PSAT using the path NA1SS,PSAT >> >> If you simply used APRSAT,APRSAT, then PSAT might digi the first hop too >> and then be clobbered when ISS also does it. Then the second hop will not >> go via PSAT beacuse by then it is a dupe. >> >> Bob, WB4APR >> >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >

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Funcube Dongle Pro+ w/GQRX (Ubuntu)
by Roy Dean 11 Oct '20

11 Oct '20

Does anybody have experience with this combination? I've been having issues with my dedicated FoxTelem Raspberry Pi station, so I've taken it down in favor of my APRS SatGate (which uses an RTL-SDR instead of the FCDPP) - and decided to use the FCDPP for my Rx in my normal everyday shack operations. However I can't seem to connect to the dongle at all with GQRX. GQRX is doing something, but there is no waterfall and no audio. I'm somewhat concerned that the issue with my FoxTelem station was with the dongle itself, as I seem to remember successfully connecting to the dongle with GQRX in the past. I've tried the dongle on two separate pcs running Ubuntu 18.04 with no luck. I am able to start FoxTelem on a raspberry pi and it seems to start decoding as expected (however the failure mode is when it's left unattended for a couple of days, it ends up stalling with a USB access error). Any suggestions welcome. Thanks. --Roy K3RLD

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