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Re: [amsat-bb] GeoSat OSCAR-2024 Positive comments, no, whining....(Was need HEO..please..)
by Joe Leikhim 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

Paul; I fully understand that the transponder is commercial item, which I point out in the thread. Though there is contention from others that the transponders or TWT's are not "spares". I really don't know. The point is, it was done, it works, it is a success and therefore it can be done again. There can be no objection that it is not proven design. Why the negativity that it is not an "amateur (built?) payload? Maybe the next GEO amateur satellite can shoehorn some custom experiment? I anticipated that my words "baby steps" might rankle some. But that indeed is how this return to HEO is being described. Nothing wrong with that, but why not do both? I am trying to blast through this mindset that we cannot do this or that because of debris mitigation, ITAR, money, politics etc. AO-40 was the last big effort in 16 years. There has been really no project approaching the capabilities of AO-40 or any of the P3. AO-40 was audacious and impressive. I got to see it in the clean room in Orlando. it was huge. It was a super car in the world of amateur satellites. It was exciting, I sent a few bucks toward the project, don't tell my wife. For some of us a cubesat is just not enough. On 6/20/2020 12:20 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Joe, > > It’s important to note that QO-100 is not an amateur payload at all. > The two transponders in amateur use are on-orbit commercial spares > modified to tune to amateur frequencies. And, of course, there’s the > risk that the spares may be needed for commercial service some day. > > The issue is that to get an American company to do this, you need > millions of dollars up front and then probably millions of dollars a > year to support it. It’s been looked into multiple times over the > years and no one is willing to just give that away or even quote a > price that’s remotely reasonable. > > I do take issue with your choice of words in describing GOLF-TEE as > “baby steps.” GOLF is a project that AMSAT has committed a large > amount of money and man-hours to. It is a very significant project and > will lead us back to HEO. Our engineering team is doing tremendous > work and deserves the full support and encouragement of the amateur > community. Sadly, I feel that support is often lacking and, frankly, > our volunteers deserve better than that. > > If you want a HEO, support AMSAT and GOLF in any way that you can. > AMSAT is 100% committed and I am personally 100% committed to making > this happen for the community. > > 73, > > Paul Stoetzer, N8HM > Executive Vice President > AMSAT > > On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 00:01 Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > Robert; > > AMSAT has been in HEO before and can get there again. > > The idea of my proposal is to piggy back on a willing commercial > satellite. The owner of that satellite would be handling the > necessary > regulatory issues/problems. This idea has been proposed before but > convincing a commercial satellite owner to attach unproven payload > has > always been an negative argument. No longer, because OSCAR-100 is > proven > hardware and it should be considered. > > Meanwhile GOLF-TEE can continue to take baby steps. > > Looking for ideas to promote this idea. Be positive. > > > -- > Joe Leikhim > > > Leikhim and Associates > > Communications Consultants > > Oviedo, Florida > > JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com > > 407-982-0446 > > WWW.LEIKHIM.COM <http://WWW.LEIKHIM.COM> > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. 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 > > > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> > Virus-free. www.avg.com > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_cam…> > > > <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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GEO sats
by Joe Leikhim 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

Michael; I have no particular interest in EMCOMM, but is silly to think that LEO satellites have much value for that. A GEO would in fact be useful for EMCOMM. I have built an earth station, worked all sorts of satellites AO-10, AO-13, etc. negotiating Doppler etc. In my station had no automatic positioning of the rotors. It was up to me to point to the correct AZ EL. I only more recently got controllers and really it was for the challenge of making them work. So I was pretty busy when there was a pass. But then, those satellites had an apogee where they appeared to stand still and the band would open up for a long time. It was bliss. I never did get to work AO-40. I did have the pleasure of hearing its engineering beacon full quieting on a tiny Standard C508 inside my car on a road trip. Lets be honest, none of that work putting an earth station together is as challenging as putting together AO-40 or any of the predecessor satellites. But those days and those folks are gone. AMSAT in my opinion is in a rut of negative thinking. I have seen the same cycle of projects for years since AO-40. There are a ton of reasons why we cannot do something which is why I want that thread to be a positive one. -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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GEO sats
by Michael Tondee 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

Rather than respond to the other thread and have it construed as negativity or "whining" I'll just put this here. Honestly, while I recognize the emcomm value of a Ham Geosat, I have absolutely no interest in it otherwise. Why? Although not active in it now, I got into this side of the hobby for the challenge. At one time I much enjoyed building my own tracking device and rotator and interfacing them to my PC and radio. I also enjoyed building and experimenting with a variety of homebrew antennas. I even enjoyed the challenge of doppler tuning! Somehow, the point the antenna once and forget about it nature of a Geo sync satellite just doesn't appeal to me and I don't think it ever will. I also used to bristle at the term "Easysat" and the constant efforts by AMSAT to convince rank and file amateurs how "easy" it is to work FM sats. "Easy" isn't why I got into this. Unfortunately I missed AO-40 and it appears P3-E will never fly but I think that part of sats is where my passion will always lie. Something along the lines of "We choose to got to the moon....not because it's easy....but because it's hard" is what drives me. Just my two cents, I mean to each their own, and all that being said, I did buy an SDR Play awhile back with the idea of begrudgingly getting back on the FM sats and being active in this part of the hobby again despite being extremely unhappy with the direction of AMSAT over at least the last decade. I guess I'm coming back, but I'm coming back kicking and screaming...LOL 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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GeoSat OSCAR-2024 Positive comments, no whining....(Was need HEO..please..)
by Joe Leikhim 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

Ok ; Now that I have your attention; I want this to be a positive thread. If it goes somewhere it provides a selling tool for potential stakeholders, donors, commercial entities, etc. There are 3,440 members of AMSAT, not huge by any means. ARRL has 161,000 members. Add some of the other groups, AMRAD, SVHFS, AMRAD, TAPR, any others? Sure there is some overlap, but those members will be more likely to contribute. How many would contribute to a GEO program? 35,000? if the average were $300, if collected over 4 years, a small amount. $10,500,000. The project would have to be well spelled out and provide interest to a wide number of experimenters. The funds would have to be earmarked for the project. Can we leverage on huge success of the QO-100??? ............................. The Spacecraft; A commercial ride along. This would solve a lot of problems such as: 1. Orbital Debris Mitigation 2. Solar Power 3. Redundancy 4. Thermal Control 5. Longevity (Please feel free to add problems _solved_. Lets be positive for once) ........................... The transponder: 1. Qatar-OSCAR 100 design sure seems achievable! It is proven to Amateur and commercial community. When can we sign the order? 2. 2.4 GHz S band uplink 10 GHz X band downlink 3. Bent pipe VS digital argument: Why not do both? NB side stays analog, WB side digital like P4XT proposal ................. Who benefits:? 1. Most importantly, boomers like me who have SSB equipment need only to build one or two transporters. Not really that hard. 2. Newbies techs who want to experiment and communicate digitally 3. SAR and EM teams can actually have 365/24/7 emergency satellite transponders both analog and digital without the huge monthly outlay. 4. Universities, ARISS, etc can up link from LEO satellites and ISS via OSCAR-2024 to simple ground stations. Uplink Doppler could be controlled by having those space terminals monitor a polling/beacon from a ground station and adjusting accordingly. Similarly experiments deployed in jungles can use the satellite. With coordination and MOU with Qatar-OSCAR 100, both satellites and hemispheres could each benefit from a wider footprint of both satellites. 5. AMSAT ARRL, AMRAD, SVHFS, AMRAD, TAPREtc through increased interest in satellites, digital experimentation and ham radio in general 6. Commercial entities gaining recognition by providing in-kind services. Elon Musk SpaceX, etc. Who else benefits? Those who benefit will donate. Again _positive _comments right now. Problems can be fixed later. ................. -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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Re: [amsat-bb] Linux WXtoImg support?
by Roy Dean 20 Jun '20

20 Jun '20

> > Does anyone know of an online support community or discussion group for > people playing around with the Linux version of WXtoImg? Are people talking > somewhere about receiving NOAA weather satellite images with Raspberry Pi > and an RTL-SER dongle? If so, where are they hiding??? Thanks in advance. > 73 > -- > Mark D. Johns, KØJM There are also some discussions (occasionally) on the QRZ and SatNOGS forums. I think after people get them up and running, they lose interest after a few hundred captures. I had an automated station that would forward pictures to a web server and after a couple of weeks I decided I had better things to do with that RPi.... I think that one turned into a satnogs station. But I still have WXtoIMG on my shack computer and will capture images occasionally with my big antennas (I'm using Ubuntu 18.04). Do you have any specific questions? --Roy K3RLD

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2m / 70cm ssb electronics
by Rafael Pena 19 Jun '20

19 Jun '20

I've been using the 70cm pre-amp for a little while and a few days ago added a brand new 2m one. Both of them are installed on a small Glen Martin tripod at roof top. GM holds the Leo pack which connects to Icom 9100. Each ant has surge arrestors from Array Solutions Could they live happy each other in that close range? I noticed something strange with my hearing my voice yesterday that I've never experience before. At some point, I sounded muddy but not to the other person. It looks like I will have some good passes today. I will be able to hear it again or not. Rafael / NN3RP

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Linux WXtoImg support?
by Mark Johns, K0JM 19 Jun '20

19 Jun '20

Does anyone know of an online support community or discussion group for people playing around with the Linux version of WXtoImg? Are people talking somewhere about receiving NOAA weather satellite images with Raspberry Pi and an RTL-SER dongle? If so, where are they hiding??? Thanks in advance. 73 -- 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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Re: [amsat-bb] Satellite Users on Macs
by Douglas B Tabor 19 Jun '20

19 Jun '20

A comment about Java on Macs was made … I find using the G0KLA tracker application quite easy and very useful. No problems running this Java app. Someday when my Tuit changes to circular, I’ll play with FoxTelem and maybe then feel the same about Apple’s interpretation of Java. 73, Doug, N6UA Douglas Tabor dtabor52(a)icloud.com

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Re: [amsat-bb] Satellite Users on Macs
by Richard Lawn 19 Jun '20

19 Jun '20

Thanks to everyone for their replies. There were many more replies than there used to be which is a positive sign for the Mac community. I used them for decades before switching in retirement but after looking at some of the features that Don's software now supports, I might just convert back to a Mac this fall/winter. My WIndows PC is probably getting a little long in the tooth anyway. I was surprised to learn that there are a few responses I received from the EME community, though most of them are Windows folks. TNX, 73 and stay safe! Rick, W2JAZ

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Please Help Fund the Creation of Thrusters for Cubesats and PocketQube Satellites
by Bruce Perens 19 Jun '20

19 Jun '20

The canonical version of this appeal is at http://perens.com/static/AppliedIon/ <https://perens.com/static/AppliedIon/> , please re-publish it widely! Donate at GoFundMe <https://gf.me/u/x9vnv2> >From Bruce Perens K6BP: <https://perens.com/> Michael Bretti is designing electric thrusters so that Amateur and Educational microsatellites can maintain or change their orbits. Some of his designs are small enough to work on a PocketQube <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PocketQube>, a satellite literally so small that it fits in your pocket. Michael has so far created several working thruster designs, as Open Source Hardware. Below Michael's photo is his gridded pulsed plasma thruster firing in a vacuum chamber he's put together in his home. And the photo below that is another of his thruster designs being readied to fly as part of the GENESIS N and L satellites <http://perens.com/static/AppliedIon/AMSAT-EA-Newsletter_11-2019.pdf>. That's his thruster between the two measuring tapes. Michael calls his project Applied Ion Systems, and you can follow his work at @Applied_Ion <https://twitter.com/Applied_Ion> on Twitter. I've been following Michael's work for about a year, and this is a tremendously important project for Amateur and Educational satellites. It will provide them with thrusters that are easily affordable on their slim budgets, and allow them to maintain or change their orbits like the big boys! To test the thrusters, he uses a vacuum chamber that duplicates the *hard vacuum* of low-earth orbit. Vacuum is hard, and hard vacuum is harder, and hardly cheap. Due to his shoestring budget of literally pocket money - he has no significant funding and works on his own time - Michael's work has been plagued by failures of his roughing pump <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roughing_pump>. That's a pump which creates a medium vacuum and supports another pump that provides the space-quality vacuum. He bought and attempted to rebuild a worn-out roughing pump - all that he could afford - but this effort failed. Michael can't go on with testing until he gets a reliable roughing pump. That would allow him to move forward confidently in creating thrusters for our satellites. Michael would like to buy an Edwards RV12, which is available for no more than $4200 Please help to fund the new pump. With the ability to achieve a space-quality vacuum again, Michael will proceed with new designs. Not every one succeeds, because space is hard, but enough do. You'll be able to watch his efforts and - soon enough - perhaps you'll communicate through some of the satellites he supports. Donate at GoFundMe <https://gf.me/u/x9vnv2>

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