- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Charlotte NC hamfest this past weekend
by Philip Jenkins 10 Mar '19

10 Mar '19

As part of my flea-market space, I included some AMSAT info - an actual size cardboard model of a cubesat, a copy of the AMSAT Journal, a copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites", the Fox Operating Guide (and another document I prepared which tells which frequencies to receive the FM birds and how to track them, along with some online resources). The thing which got the most attention was my fully assembled Arrow antenna - and I could have sold at least 5 of them had I had any to sell! :-) Most of the questions I fielded were about QO-100. >From this, I have been tentatively invited to give "Satellite 101" presentations at least 2 ham clubs, and possibly a third, (I think I've done about 8 similar presentations over the past 18 months.) This wasn't a full-blown AMSAT only information table like at some hamfests (John KG4AKV and I are doing one (and he's planning to do demos) at the Raleigh Hamfest April 20) with some merchandise from the AMSAT online store; it was a last minute idea since I had some extra space on the table. As an added bonus, it was *completely* unexpected to see Barry WD4ASW there, and get to talk to him for a few minutes both days. I also got to meet Andy N4LAZ, who is fairly new to both ham radio and satellites, and has put EM95 on the air on a fairly regular basis. Philip N4HF

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] Boom For Satellite Array
by Alan 10 Mar '19

10 Mar '19

Mike, I have one. Mostly good, but some bad. From a strength standpoint, it does a good job. The metal center section makes it easy to clamp it without having it either compress the tubing or having it slip. It will handle any likely set of antennas. The bad, and suprising, is that after it was up for 4 years here in Tennessee, I noticed some "glitter" under the array on the roof. The protective coating had spalled off, leaving the very itchy fiberglass exposed. For now, when I work on it I use gloves and a long sleeve shirt. At some point, I will probably paint some sealer, but that will require mostly removing all the antennas and cables. I talked with a local marine dealer, not a big market in Tennessee, who said there were special paints to seal fiberglass. Ironically, according to him it requires special preparation to paint fiberglass in good condition, but much less if the coating is missing or damaged. I would definitely check with a marine dealer there. Previously, I used a fiberglass tube with a large round wooden rod to reenforce it. That was significantly shorter, but lasted 15+ years. 73, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of <radiomb <Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2019 21:18 PM <To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <Subject: [amsat-bb] Boom For Satellite Array < <Hello, < I am redoing my antenna system. I will be putting up a 2MCP14, 436CP30, a <small camera and some kind of 1.2 beam. Anyone using the <M2 FGCB60 Heavy Duty Fiberglass Crossboom Kit. How do you like it? Any <other options? When I get it should I coat it with anything to weather proof it. <The sun is bad in south Florida. Hi Hi <TNX 73 Mike K4MIA <_______________________________________________ <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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

1 0

Boom For Satellie Array
by radiomb 10 Mar '19

10 Mar '19

Hello, I am redoing my antenna system. I will be putting up a 2MCP14, 436CP30, a small camera and some kind of 1.2 beam. Anyone using the M2 FGCB60 Heavy Duty Fiberglass Crossboom Kit. How do you like it? Any other options? When I get it should I coat it with anything to weather proof it. The sun is bad in south Florida. Hi Hi TNX 73 Mike K4MIA

4 3

ANS-069 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Paul Stoetzer 10 Mar '19

10 Mar '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-069 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat dot org. In this edition: * Out of This World Auction Sponsored by ARISS * AMSAT-F Space Meeting is First Live DATV Conference via QO-100 * GNU Licensed KLog Logbook Software v.0.9.7 Released * How to Support AMSAT * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-069.01 ANS-069 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 034.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. March 10, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-069.01 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT relies on your donations to Keep Amateur Radio in Space Please consider a one-time or recurring donation today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Out of This World Auction Sponsored by ARISS March 6, 2019 — The ARISS-US team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) will auction two very unusual items in its first-ever auction! Picture yourself as the winning bidder and proud owner of a unique JVC Kenwood TS-890S signed by astronauts! Or, you could be top bidder on a special astronaut-signed 6-volume boxed set 2019 ARRL Handbook! Bidding starts April 8th at 12:00 UTC and ends April 14th at 22:00 UTC. You could own this one-of-a-kind beautiful Kenwood TS-890S; your ham station would boast the only Kenwood in the world showcasing astronaut signatures. Your top bid on the limited edition boxed-set 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications would mean your bookshelf includes astronaut signatures among your book collection. JVC Kenwood, a proud supporter of ARISS, generously gave a brand new TS-890S for ARISS to auction. They first offered the radio for sale in the US in the last half of 2018. Kenwood has been a super support- er of ARISS for years, and it was the company’s idea for this radio, with astronaut signatures, to be an exclusive that just one ham opera- tor could own! The company hopes you’ll be a bidder who wants to sup- port ARISS. The limited edition 2019 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications sold out fast once ARRL posted their ad. It was the first time that ARRL divided the Handbook into volumes, which nestle in a hard slipcase. ARRL, an ARISS sponsor along with AMSAT and NASA, saved back one boxed set to give ARISS for the fund-raiser auction. When you bid in this auction you could be the crucial person who helps ARISS launch its new custom-built higher-power radio system in 2019 with its voice repeater and improved packet APRS and SSTV capability that thousands of hams enjoy. The new system will replace the aging, problematic units currently on the ISS. You may be the winning bidder who helps ARISS continue introducing ham radio to thousands of students, teachers, parents, and whole communities—and inspiring students about science, technology, engineering, math, and radio! Don't forget; set yourself a reminder: bidding starts April 8th at 12:00 UTC and ends April 14th at 22:00 UTC. Be the winning bidder for one or both of these two exclusive offerings and you’ll own a rare article that makes your ham station a classic! More auction details will soon be posted at www.ariss.org including that winning bidders will be responsible for shipping costs and for handling any required customs paperwork. ARISS thanked JVC Kenwood and ARRL for their generous support. And if you don’t do auctions, please contribute a donation to help ARISS launch its new radio system into space—look for the Donate but- ton near the top right corner of the www.ariss.org page. Thank you! About ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a coopera- tive venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation ( AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educa- tors, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. Media Contact: Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn at amsat.org [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-F Space Meeting is First Live DATV Conference via QO-100 AMSAT-Francophone offered live DATV video of their 2nd Space Meeting on March 9-10, 2019. AMSAT-F (http://site.amsat-f.org/) and Electrolab (https://www.electrolab.fr/) have deployed a DATV ground station to operate via the QO-100 transponder. The DATV team led by Yannick Avelino and with the support of Evariste, F5OEO developed the station that will transmit live the conference. The team was in contact with AMSAT-DL and AMSAT-UK for permission to operate the satellite during these days. They thank AMSAT-DL for allowing these transmissions. [ANS thanks AMSAT-Francophone for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 marks AMSAT’s 50th Anniversary of Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. To help celebrate, we are sponsoring the AMSAT 50th Anniversary Awards Program. Full details are available at https://www.amsat.org/amsat-50th-anniversary-awards-program/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ GNU Licensed KLog Logbook Software v.0.9.7 Released Jaime, EA4TV, released KLog v.0.9.7, a multiplatform free hamradio logging program which is able to run in Linux, Windows and macOS. The latest release allows the user to add, remove or edit satel- lites to the KLog DB allowing import or export of satellites data. KLog supports ADIF as a default file format. Additional features of KLog include QSO management, QSL management, a DX-Cluster client, DXCC management, ClubLog integration, WSJT-X, and DX-Marathon support. Several languages are supported including Catalan, Croatian, Danish, English, Finish, Italian, Japanese and Spanish. Additional information and access to downloads can be found at: https://www.klog.xyz/ [ANS thanks Jaime, EA4TV for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ How to Support AMSAT AMSAT relies on the support of our members and the amateur radio community to Keep Amateur Radio in Space. How can you help? *Join AMSAT Both you and AMSAT will benefit when you join. You get the AMSAT Journal bimonthly and support from AMSAT Ambassadors. Member dues and donations provide AMSAT’s primary support. Join today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ *Become a Life Member Becoming a Life Member has never been easier. Now you can become a Life Member with 12 monthly payments of $74 through our online store. See https://www.amsat.org/product/lifetime-membership/ for details. *Donate to AMSAT Make a one time or recurring donation to AMSAT today. Even as little as one dollar a month can make a difference! Donate today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ *Purchase AMSAT gear on our Zazzle storefront. AMSAT receives 25% of the price of each sale on AMSAT logo merchandise from our Zazzle storefront located at https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear *Volunteer for AMSAT AMSAT relies on volunteers for nearly all of our activities. If you have an idea for how to help, please let us know, Details on volunteering can be found at https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Executive Vice President Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $17,255 raised or about 12% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations +Eureka Nunavut (ER60, EQ79) February 3, to March 29, 2019 Eureka ARC, VY0ERC, will be QRV from Eureka, NU (NA-008), February 3 until March 29, 2019. Time and weather permitting, they expect to be on the FM satellites from ER60 and EQ79. Announcements will be posted on Twitter at https://twitter.com/vy0erc. +Poland, Lithuania, Kaliningrad, St Petersburg, Aland Island, and Finland February 24 to March 13, 2019 I am on the first of four flights now on the way for another one of my signature trips. This voyage will take me to Poland (Feb 24-28), Lithuania (Feb 28-Mar 4), Kaliningrad (Mar 4-7), Saint Petersburg (Mar 7-11), Åland Islands (Mar 11-13), and Helsinki (Mar 13-14). I think the most desired entities are going to be UA2 and OH0 (unfortunately OH0 is gonna be quick, get in in the evening and leave in a morning, so two nights and one full day). I’m hoping to make US contacts from every entity and will try to hit as many grids as feasible (I’ll have a car in Vilnius and Kaliningrad), but good transatlantic locations will take precedence over grids. Don’t expect me on every pass, I’m traveling with family and we’ll be doing touristy stuff, but I’ll make my best effort to be on the great AO-7 and FO-29 passes across the ocean, updates will be on Twitter @AL6D_Alaska. I’m operating ninja portable like the good ole days, QRP with two FT-817NDs and an arrow, hopefully that doesn’t attract too much negative attention from customs in Russia. 73, Gabe “Harambe” Zeifman AL6D/VE6NJH/Harambe1 +France (JN07) March 10, 2019 Jérôme, F4DXV, will be in JN07 on Sunday with his family. Due to the rarity of this grid on amateur satellites, Jérôme hopes to be on the 16:55 utc AO-7 pass for South American and North American grid chasers. Being part of a family trip, keep an eye on Jérôme’s Twitter feed for updates: https://twitter.com/F4DXV [ANS Thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ For a limited time, new and renewing AMSAT members will receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Join or renew your AMSAT membership today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Satellite Shorts from All Over + AMSAT has secured permission to redistribute orbital data provided by the US Department of Defense Joint Force Space Component Commander for another year. Thanks to the work of Ray Hoad, WA5QGD and Perry Klein, W3PK, the world's best source of orbital elements for amateur radio satellites will continue via the KEPS mailing list and www.amsat.org/tle/ + Eduardo, PY2RN, in Brazil reports working RAST club station HS0AJ in Bangkok, Thailand via QO-100. The distance between PY2RN in GG66lw and HS0AJ in OK03fp is 16,445.3 km. (Via PY2RN on the AMSAT Facebook page) + A new distance record was claimed on IO-86's FM transponder: 5,157 km. PU4JOE in GH91ac <> @hp2vx in FJ09ga. 02-Mar-2019 at 17:25 UTC https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/ (Via N8HM) + Radio World has published an article about amateur radio and ARISS by Brian Clark, KF6FES. Read it at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-069-RW + K5EM has added a zoomable grid map on his satmatch.com site: https://www.satmatch.com/maiden It works like the other google maps - the more you zoom in the more detail you get. (Via K5EM) + JAMSAT has posted a video demonstrating the FO-99(NEXUS) Digitalker. View it at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-069-FO99 (via JAMSAT) + In ANS-061, it was reported that the University of Virginia's CubeSat constellation due for launch next month will carry UHF packet repeaters. However, due to licensing issues, the satellites will operate in non-amateur spectrum at 401 MHz. KQ9P, from the UVA team reports that they are hopeful that their next CubeSat project will carry an amateur payload. (via KQ9P) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

1 0

Placement of Preamp
by WA2NDV 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

Hello all, So on a lark I purchased a Chinese preamp that claims to cover almost DC to light LOL. seen here On 440 uplinks I was swamping my 2 meter RX so I have a 4 pole 2 meter bandpass filter inline now. My question is where is the best place to place the preamp, output or input of the bandpass filter. Right now its on the input to the filter. Does anyone have some real world experience with this ? I have a single coax dual band antenna feeding a 2/440 duplexer. 2 Meter radio is Yaesu FT-817 and 70cm radio is a FT-991A so this filter and amp are fed from the duplexer 2 meter port. I just heard XW-2C at 3 degrees—never heard that before so it is working. I appreciate your comments. 73 Frank WA2NDV

1 0

switch satellites automatically?
by EDWARD KROME 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

Hi all I am trying to train SatPC32 to automatically switch satellites as they become visible. I am using an SDRPlay RSP1, controlled by HDSDR. Works. SatPC32 is connected to HDSDR through virtual com ports. That also works. The satellites of interest are in a separate subdirectory. They are prioritized through prior.sqf. In SatPC32, when I click C+ for control of the RSP1, it works just fine. But when I click A+ (which is supposed to switch to automatic satellite control as the satellite is visible), it does not do so. I know I've missed something here... help, please. Thanks! Ed K9EK

1 0

CM94 SO-50
by Bob Keating 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

Will be on the 21:41 utc pass if SO-50 from CM94. Bob N6REK Sent from my iPhone

1 0

Fox Delta
by James Brown 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

I do have two FOX Delta SD 2(USB) controllers available! One I used with the G5500 the other never used (spare) They work fine with SAT 32 Jim KI6WJ

1 0

Alfaspid ras 2 rotator
by Claus Bjeverskov 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

I have an icom 910, I use sat pc 32 and a modem from zlp electronic to control the frequency automatically. As a rotor I have an Alfaspid race 2, how do I control the rotor automatically.

2 1

Re: [amsat-bb] Hawaii contact.
by Mark Pisani 09 Mar '19

09 Mar '19

Hi Bob, Last year I took my Kenwood TH-D72 HT with a Diamond RH77CA whip antenna to Maui, BL10 and was able to have QSOs with Chris VE7CEW, Christy KB6LTY and Lyle WB7VUF via some low western AO91 passes. I also worked Gabe AL6D when he was in Maui & Oahu from my QTH in DM04 via SO-50 earlier this year. 73 de Mark KK6OTJ

1 0