- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Antenna SWR question
by skristof＠etczone.com 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

I've been having trouble getting into the FM satellites lately. It's the same rig I've been using for a couple of years and I have not had problems before. I bought a digital meter to measure power out from the handhelds and to measure SWR on the antennas. According to the meter I'm getting 4.9 W out of the handhelds, which is expected. For SWR I've got values of 1.7 at 70 cm and 2.0 at 2 m. The antenna is an Arrow. Are those acceptable SWR values? Should I try to get them lower? Can you even adjust the tuning on an Arrow antenna? Steve AI9IN

3 3

Re: [amsat-bb] OUTERnet becomes OTHERnet (APRS geo feed)
by Matthew J Wolf 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

I gota Dreamcatcher Data Radiowhen they where on sale for $49. I can confirm that you can replace the supplied USB WiFi NIC with the TP-Link TL-UE3000 USB Ethernet NIC. I have to use a Pringles can on the LNB to get a marginalsignal, SNR -12.5 to -14 dB. Every time it rains I have to readjustthe LNB. I have senta few test ARPS messages from N4MTT-2 via rf to a local i-gate. The messages then were seen on the down link via a text file. The Skylark operating system has a "Messages" application that displays the text file. APRS Link can display the history of the messages sent to OUTNET, https://aprs.link/app/aprs/stations/messages-OUTNET I noticed the messages I sent to OUTNET did not receive a REPLY ACK. There where duplicate messages on the down link from another SSID. I wanted to avoid sending duplicate messages. In Xastir I canceled the messages after the first message transmission. I agreethatit "is a powerful capability" . -Matt, N4MTT > Since about 2 years ago, the APRS satellite ground station captures have > been made available worldwide via three GEO satellites for reception > anywhere on earth. > > But I recently found that the OUTERnet system has changed to a new GEO > satellite constellation and no longer uses INMARSAT L band satellites but > is now using a KA band downlink over the USA. And that they are now > selling a new receiver kit for this satellite. > Has anyone kept up with them? > Here is my original WEB page but with the links changed from OUTnet to > OTHERnet: > http://aprs.org/othernet.html > > If anyone has one of their receivers or is receiving the downlink and/or > wants to help me get my web page all cleaned up to what has changed over > the last two years, let me know. > > This is a powerful capability. I hope we can keep it working. > > Bob, Wb4APR

1 0

AO-85 is still kicking...
by Andrew Glasbrenner 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Mark, N8MH and I did some testing tonight on AO-85 as it is almost back in full sun. The transmitter and COR repeater came on, but not the telemetry/IHU. Repeater sounded good but stayed keyed without an uplink signal. We shut the transmitter back off since that was an unexpected state. We'll do some more testing tomorrow. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations

6 9

DopplerPSK - No 1 kHz-autotracking radio
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Yes what Tom and Scott said is what I do and is the correct way of working NO-84. You cannot just tune the 10m uplink like you would a linear transponder with SatPc32. It will make the PSK31 signal on the transponder undecodeable. The only real way to work it is with Doppler PSK. My setup consists of a FT-847 on the 70cm downlink, with SatPC32 correcting the doppler on the downlink which by the way I have no issues with. Then I have my FT-950 doing the uplinking on 10m (I use the FT-847 for VHF/UHF/Sat Only and FT-950 for HF only). I use a homebrew dipole that is actually for 40/80m but it tunes up on 10 meters just fine and works well for the uplink on NO-84. I then use FLdigi to decode the PSK31 signals as FLDigi allows multi-decoding for PSK31 which allows me to decode multiple signals in the passband at once. And of course I use DopplerPSK for the generation and correction of the PSK31 signal. Hope this helps. Unfortunately there is not a lot of activity on the PSK31 transponder but I hope that changes with the upcoming launch with Psat-2. - Nick KE8AKW

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] DopplerPSK - No 1 kHz-autotracking radio
by tjschuessler＠verizon.net 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

DopplerPSK is a great program for dealing with doppler shift on the 10 meter uplink. The point being made that Yes, all mode rigs can do very small tuning steps in VFO mode as can my FT847. If I were going to use that one rig for NO-84, even with SatPC32, I would turn the doppler correction for uplink "OFF" and only track the 435 downlink FM so I could hear the FM carrier throughout, but let doppler PSK adjust audio tone for doppler and that will nicely keep the PSK signal stable AT the Satellite, inside the 28.120 + 3Khz receive passband. The cool thing is that you can still use just an FM mobile rig to receive the FM downlink, and 5Khz steps will still work pretty much just fine. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP EM12ms 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, TX 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Mobile) N5hyp(a)arrl.net

1 0

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-06-13 20.:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-06-13 20.:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Peninsula Grammar, Melbourne, Australia, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV Contact was successful: Thu 2019-06-13 11:10:52 UTC 79 deg (***) GBPOU RM "Saransk Polytechnic College", Saransk Russia, direct via R4UAB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Konenenko Contact is go for Sat 2019-06-15 10:39 UTC Smithsonian Air and Space – Udvar-Hazy, Chantilly, VA, USA, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV Contact is go for: Sat 2019-06-15 18:11:51 UTC 42 deg Rowan Preparatory School, Claygate, United Kingdom, direct via GB4RPS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV Contact is go for: Thu 2019-06-20 12:48:55 UTC 53 deg Watch for live stream at https://live.ariss.org/ King Island District High School, Currie, TAS, Australia, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Wed 2019-06-19 08:49:20 UTC 58 deg Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2019-06-13 20:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2019-06-13 20:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf The ARISS webpage is at http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html ARISS Contact Applications (United States) The ARISS webpage is at http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April. Please refer to details and the application form at www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts. Applications should be addressed by email to: school.selection.manager(a)ariss-eu.org ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia) Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator. For the application, go to: http://www.ariss.org/ariss-application.html. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD email to: ve3tbd(a)gmail.com ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ email to: ariss(a)iaru-r3.org, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) http://www.jarl.org/ ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) https://srr.ru/ ****************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. ******************************************************************************* All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? Please note that the HamTV system has been brought back to earth for troubleshooting. Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest news on the troubleshooting efforts. If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net The HamTV webpage: https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/ **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 135 Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 117 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed, and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1316. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1259. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 58 on orbit Oleg Konenenko David St-Jacques KG5FYI Anne McClain Exp. 59 on orbit Christina Koch Aleksey Ovchinin Nick Hague KG5TMV **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] DopplerPSK - No 1 kHz-autotracking radio tuning
by Robert Bruninga 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Question. All FM-only rigs of course only do 5 KHz steps anyway. Are we finding that multi-mode rigs when placed in FM mode can actually step smaller under CAT control? If so, then we must point that out to users, since it will not work for PSK31 even in FM. Thanks for the reminder. If rigs do that, then I will add this to the PSAT web page. The advice to not use auto-radio tuning except for 5 KHz steps on the downlink. IE, not smaller steps. Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of aflowers--- via AMSAT-BB Sent: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 10:58 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; Scott <scott23192(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DopplerPSK Scott, Roy, Umesh, et al; Part of the problem with PSK31 is that it required the adjustment for changes in Doppler shift to be to be phase-continuous. I think the Doppler rate (delta-Doppler shift) at even 10m is too fast for most radios--what you often get with CAT control, even if you can update while transmitting, is PSK31 that jumps more than 31Hz per update, and that totally destroys the phase continuity required to tell a '1' from '0'. This was the "fun" problem that spurred me to take a swing at it over a summer vacation. When DopplerPSK applies "anti-doppler" on the transmitted signal, it does so at the baseband audio level. This works fine for 3Khz passbands on a 10m uplink, but if you want to do it with SSB transponders and VHF and UHF you'll need an SDR where you aren't limited by an IF filter. The same algorithm in DopplerPSK could be used on a complex signal in the SDR architecture, and it could work equally on TX and RX in the processing chain. To the accuracy of the orbital elements everyone uses, if everyone corrects their uplink and downlink properly there is no perceived frequency drift by anyone using the satellite. Just what you need for a GHz-range LEO with a narrow-band transponder, eh? Since the downlink of NO-84 is FM there is no Doppler shift in the baseband audio of the downlink--you hear what the satellite hears. If we get a mode-K satellite it might be worthwhile to do a baseband demodulator in a soundcard since the total change in Doppler shift will be small enough to fit in a conventional HF radio's IF passband in both directions. If the antiquated hosting site doesn't come back I'll get off my duff and find a "proper" place for it. It's nice to see people playing around with it. (Thanks for bridging the gap in the meantime, Peter.) Andy K0SM/2 On Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 9:24:12 PM EDT, Scott via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: While it might certainly be possible to put together a solution that would compensate your uplink so that its corresponding downlink through the transponder holds stationary on a single spot on the downlink audio spectrum, there are two reasons (at least) that I can think of to not go to that trouble: #1, the DopplerPSK app takes care of it perfectly already. The work has been done. #2, if memory serves, some radios do not respond to CAT frequency adjustments when transmitting. In this mode, your uplink radio is transmitting non-stop for the entire ~10 minute pass. If you have a hardware/software setup that can only change RF frequency when in receive mode, that will never happen during an NO-84 pass. Lastly, like much satellite work, the uplink and downlink are two completely separate discussions in this mode. While the 10m uplink works extremely well with the DopplerPSK software and the HF radio of your choice, receiving & demodulating the PSK31 downlink can be done by any antenna/FM radio(or SDR), and computer combination of your liking. Just as one example, my setup is: TX: Windows PC > DopplerPSK > Signalink > FT-857d > MyAntennas EFHW-8010 RX: 70cm X-Quad > SDRPlay RSP1 > HDSDR on Windows PC (doppler track w/ Orbitron) > FLDigi -Scott, K4KDR ============================== On Wed, Jun 12, 2019 at 8:20 PM k6vug(a)sbcglobal.net <k6vug(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: > I'm very curious about this, thanks for sharing the links. > > Looks like the program adjusts the PSK modulation within the pass band of > the uplink, and at 10 meters, that would be relatively small. It makes > sense, however would this work if SatPC32 manages the uplink ? > > Secondly, I came across this on the website: > > "DopplerPSK does not provide any PSK31 demodulation; you should use a > separate program for that purpose. DopplerPSK does not provide any > compensation for downlink Doppler (which you would need for fully linear > transponders)." > > Question 2 - why not use something like HRD for everything (doppler, psk, > rotator, logging, etc) ? > (I believe I tried it sometime back by routing of the downlink audio back > into HRD) > > 73! > Umesh > k6vug > > > > > > On Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 8:10:11 AM PDT, Scott via AMSAT-BB < > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > > I originally used the link on 2M0SQL's excellent how-to page: > > https://www.2m0sql.com/2018/10/29/using-the-no-84-psat-psk-transponder/ > > ... which is: > > http://www.frontiernet.net/~aflowers/dopplerpsk/dopplerpsk.html > > If that link isn't available, you're welcome to the copy I downloaded > which > has just been put at: > > https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr//downloads/DopplerPSK_0.2.zip > > -Scott, K4KDR > > ========================== > > On Wed, Jun 12, 2019 at 10:53 AM Roy Dean via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > > wrote: > > > With all this talk of NO-84, and me finally having a semi-operational > > ground station - I went looking for DopplerPSK, but every link I found > was > > broken. Where can I get this software? > > > > --Roy > > K3RLD > _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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

4 5

BIRDS-3 deploy from ISS at 17th June
by Masahiro Arai 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

JAXA announced BIRDS-3 satellites, NepaliSat-1 (Nepal), Raavana-1 (Sri Lanka) and Uguisu (Japan), deploy from ISS at 17th June. The live will be start at 0835z on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrw3cMw10nQ&feature=youtu.be The three satellites operate on same frequency. 437.375MHz CW beacon, GMSK 4800bps More info is on BIRDS-3 Project web site. https://birds3.birds-project.com Happy chasing! Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japan

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] DopplerPSK - No 1 kHz-autotracking radio tuning
by Joe 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

On 6/13/2019 8:03 AM, Joe wrote: > Hopefully if the bird is functional on Field Day we will be putting a > rig to test. > > Transmit will be an IC-7300 with dopplerpsk and a 43 foot vertical, > should have a lot of high lobes > > Recv a yagi of some sort and an IC-9100. > > Remember the old VHF multi mode rigs with VFO's that had the > discriminator centering meter display? > For when you are using FM you centered the meter to be spot on in > frequency. > > The 9100 has a similar thing, BUT also it has a mode where it > automatically follows the signal keeping it centered if it drifts. So > might be awesome! > > Joe WB9SBD

1 0

agw_onlinekiss_plus.exe on Linux with Wine
by Hans BX2ABT 13 Jun '19

13 Jun '19

Banging my head against the wall right now. Help me!!!! Have been trying to get DK3WN's software to work on my Linux systems. The decoders start up, only AGW Onlinekiss Plus refuses to start. Using a win32 setup on a 64 bit Linux install. VB6run is installed with winetricks, all the OCX requirements are met. When running "$wine agw_onlinekiss_plus.exe I get a "Runtime error '9' Subscript out of range" error screen. The command line doesn't give me any hints on what might be wrong. And to be complete: different computers, different Kubuntu versions, still the same error message. What is the problem here and more important, what is the solution? Anyone....please........ Cheers and 73 Hans BX2ABT

3 9