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Modernized/Efficient Voting [was: Ballots?]
by Ev Tupis 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

The wisdom of the crowd is coming into focus. -Ev, W2EV Doug Faunt N6TQS wrote: Print, sign, scan, email should be an acceptable solution. 73, Doug Jean Marc Momple <jean.marc.momple(a)gmail.com> worte: Therefore, I strongly suggest that electronic vote be put in place or at least the ballots should be sent trough e-mail and scan sign copy of the duly filled document be valid for far away members.

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HEO junk?
by Clint Bradford 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

While looking for the comet from Southern California last night (too low to see through city lights), I saw something right above me … moving … Way too slow to be what I would call “low-earth” stuff … Which meant is was much higher? Is there “HEO junk” out there? Puzzled, Clint K6LCS

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AO7 yesterday
by Joseph Trombino, Jr 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Howdy Gang. Got my SSB preamps installed yesterday and listened for AO7 just for grins. Listened on the beacon frequency 145.700Mhz+/- for a few minutes past AOS and heard nothing. Tuned down into the passband heard a couple of stations…believe I copied KB1HY in FN31 on SSB. Is the beacon still working on AO7? Just getting my feet wet after quite a few years. 73, Joe W2KJ

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W0AAE GRID ROVING TO EN47 AREA
by Ham Radio Essentials 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Hello all, Sorry this information is a little late. I've been busy with other stuff. I will be going to the North Shore of Minnesota, July 26-29 . I'm hoping to activate a few grids on this trip. Grids will probably be EN47, EN46, or around those grids. I will only be doing AO-91 and AO-92 satellites, and maybe some SO-50. This will be a relaxing trip, so I will get on the satellites when I can. Thanks everybody! 73 de W0AAE

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Re: [amsat-bb] Ballots?
by Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-717-1197 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

It's pretty sad we can't vote online. I had to use up one of my stock of stamps- how 20th century, like checks. 73, doug

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FM Satellite HT Night Proposal
by Douglas Tabor 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

I really like Walters’ idea of having an HT only (or QRP) time for an FM satellite. Once a week or even month would be fine. I have special memories of using my TH-D72 with a long whip getting into AO-91 and working ZL3GAV (from RF73 to RE66) back in 2018. My thought is this non-QRO time would allow new-to-sat hams and those testing portable equipment an opportunity to experience the wonder of satellites without having to wedge themselves between other QSOs. And to Walters’ final comment about operating with an HT and an Arrow That was my experience for two years with ONLY SO-50 available and a Yaesu FT-530 running 2.5 watts. The competition for SO-50 was intense with other rovers and QRO stations. Hector (congrats GridMaster #13) suggested I use a larger battery for full 5 watts from the FT-530. This could be one of potential results for an operator using this ’special’ time for HT-only FM sat usage. 73 and Dream On Walter. Great idea! Doug, N6UA Douglas Tabor dtabor52(a)gmail.com

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RS-44 orbit
by ok2gz 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Hi Bob and Nico, I want to add some info about this problem. If You have the ARRL Satellite Handbook, see page A-8 (Appendix A - Satellite Orbits). There is Equation 13a, which give us the value - rate of change of argument of perigee in degrees per day. The value for RS-44 with current TLE data is -2.3331333 degrees per day. A negative value means that the ARGP angle will be smaller tomorrow. For example 180 degrees divided by -2.3331333 is approx. -77.1495471 days. So, in 77.15 days the positions of the apogee and perigee will be swaped. And yet, if we have apogee in the best position for some rare qso with RS-44 transponder, this situation will be repeated 2.366 times per year. My calculation: 360/2.3331333 = 154.2989 and 365 days / 154.2989 is 2.366 With the same equation 13a we can calculate the famous angle of 63.435 degrees of inclination with zero drift as Nico says. This angle was used by the old Russian Molnia satellites at a time when it was still difficult to reach a geostationary orbit. My favorite FO-29 (now probably nice history) has Rate of change ARGP -2.573348 deg/day. Yet, AO-91 with elliptical orbit (apogee 811.8 km /perigee 453.6 km) has Rate of change ARGP = -3.251476 degrees/day, so it takes -55.359 days for exchange apogee and perigee positions.. It is very good to check the ARGP angle in the TLE data when working via elliptical orbiting satellites. For example, for the qso between the eastern costs of the USA and Europe, we need an orbit height of approximately 950 km (for OK stations). FO-29has an apogee height of 1320.8 km, perigee 801.2 km. It was not possible to make with the apogee in the wrong position QSO USA-Europe... 73 Jarda ok2gz -- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. https://www.avg.com

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RS-44 orbit
by 73 Bob W7LRD 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Hi-RS44 varies in altitude from about 1180 to about 1525. Seemingly always in the southern hemisphere. I'm trying to wrap my head around the orbital mechanics and getting nowhere. Does the maximum height ever get to the northern hemisphere? I'm obviously missing something here, a little help please. 73 Bob W7LRD

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Re: [amsat-bb] FM Satellite HT Night Proposal
by Koos van den Hout 25 Jul '20

25 Jul '20

Quoting Walter Holmes via AMSAT-BB who wrote on Sat 2020-07-25 at 00:49: > Any idea what the chances would be of having something like 1 night a week or month, on ONE of the FM birds, that could be reserved for HT access only? > > My thinking on this would be a great way for people to test out their portable or limited satellite stations with a great deal less collisions against all the other much stronger stations. > > I have heard from plenty of people that would like to try a temporary or portable station on the birds, but we all know that’s not even a remote possibility unless your on super early in the morning or late at night. As it happens I was trying a new radio for a portable setup last evening (I bought a KG-UV1K to get full-duplex capabilities). On a not-to-high pass yesterday evening (max 21 degrees elevation with lots of buildings around) I did hear AO-92 and could understand some of the callsigns, but could not get in at all. Mister Ollaaaa was also active on some occassions. I will try again on a higher pass. My plan is to bring it along on an upcoming holiday, which will be in a somewhat rare grid. But since it's a holiday and I'm not sure when a pass will be at a usable time, I'm not going to announce it as an activation. I may just make a few contacts. So I'm the 'target audience' for your idea, and I really think it's a good idea. Koos PE4KH -- Amateur station PE4KH https://pe4kh.idefix.net/

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Re: [amsat-bb] HEO junk?
by Bruce Perens 24 Jul '20

24 Jul '20

Looks like this one, so you may be right: https://mobile.twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1284565484344672256

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