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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) corrected
by Robert Bruninga 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Corrected email: I guess the fact that it is the same radio and just a new replacement TNC means that things should mostly be the same. But then again, nothing is ever exactly the same. Just the slightest difference in audio tone levels out of the new TNC could make a slight difference and for those who may have been on the good side of the "edge" might just get bumped over to the bad side of the edge. It was only a theory. Thanks to DAVE for clarifying what is new... Back under my rock... Bob -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank Karnauskas Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 10:42 AM To: 'AMSAT -BB' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) Bob, your guess would be more likely if the ground station was using an external TNC whereby the settings might have gotten mucked up somewhere along the way. But, I, for one, am using the same TH-D74 and the same TM-D710G I was using before. It's unlikely that both radios went weird at the same time. I really wish the problem was on my end. It's a lot easier to fix things on the ground than it is up there! 73, Frank FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW N1UW(a)GOKARNS.com 612-644-9174 -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Robert Bruninga Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2019 7:39 AM To: AMSAT -BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?) Im gonna take a stab with zero current knowledge. Butover the years, one DIGI on ISS uses a radio and an external TNC with audio connections. The other digi on ISS used a Kenwood with internal TNC directly connected to the discriminator and modulator. One has a flat response and the other has the normal preemphasis and deemphasis. So if one transmits tones that are inbalanced, then one system does better than the other. And in fact, with just a few dB of inbalance in the wrong direction, no amount of RF power will correct that. It simply will not decode. You can hear this on terrestrial packet frequencies. Probably 80% of all the signals on the air "work" but have terribly misconfigured tones. People just hook'em'up and "it works" to the local digi, but they are not aware that it might not work at all in weak signal realm where tone settings must be ideal. On my mobile, I see some signals that are dead full quieting with all signal bars that do not decode, and then I see another kenwood with only 3 bars and noisy that does just fine. Tone balance is exteremely critical. Everyone should look at their tones on an oscope or at least listen to their tones compared to a good known signal. (Factory TNC in a k enwood). Though, when you listen to or look at "your " tones, the characteristics of the audio in that receiver can also have a skew. And, do NOT look at them one at a time. That tells you nothing. Since the speech circuits will adjust them to the same level usually... Look at the relative amplitudes of the two. You can fix them with the right capacitor either in series to improve the high tone, or in parallel to diminish the high tone. But the right cap must perfectly match the impedance of your particular set up. Bob, WB4aPR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Fernando Ramirez Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 9:43 PM To: walterh(a)k5wh.net Cc: AMSAT -BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? I have tried two different radios, an Icom IC-2820h and a Kenwood TM-V71A. No luck with the Icom at full power on a high elevation pass. Better luck with the Kenwood but only on higher passes and transmitting with 50w. Other operators have been able to get their packets digipeated with Kenwood APRS-Ready HTs, so it's kind of puzzling. I'm using a Mobilinkd TNC3. I have no problem hitting distant terrestrial digipeaters with both setups. 73 Fernando, NP4JV On Tue, Feb 12, 2019, 7:37 PM <walterh(a)k5wh.net> wrote: > I definitely have to agree with you. > > The signal does seem to be less than half of what it used to be, and I > have yet to hit it myself. When it used to be so easy. > > Not sure what has changed, but it's certainly not the same as it was > before the shut down several weeks ago. > > Walter/K5WH > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank > Karnauskas > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:19 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? > > Is it me or does the APRS signal not sound as strong as it was before > and is it not hearing quite as well? > > I am having a heck of a time pinging the digipeater and the signal > seems to be down a bit. > > Could entirely be something on my end, but I would appreciate others' > opinion. > > 73, > Frank > > FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW > N1UW(a)GOKARNS.com > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? (tone skew?)
by Robert Bruninga 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Im gonna take a stab with zero current knowledge. Butover the years, one DIGI on ISS uses a radio and an external TNC with audio connections. The other digi on ISS used a Kenwood with internal TNC directly connected to the discriminator and modulator. One has a flat response and the other has the normal preemphasis and deemphasis. So if one transmits tones that are inbalanced, then one system does better than the other. And in fact, with just a few dB of inbalance in the wrong direction, no amount of RF power will correct that. It simply will not decode. You can hear this on terrestrial packet frequencies. Probably 80% of all the signals on the air "work" but have terribly misconfigured tones. People just hook'em'up and "it works" to the local digi, but they are not aware that it might not work at all in weak signal realm where tone settings must be ideal. On my mobile, I see some signals that are dead full quieting with all signal bars that do not decode, and then I see another kenwood with only 3 bars and noisy that does just fine. Tone balance is exteremely critical. Everyone should look at their tones on an oscope or at least listen to their tones compared to a good known signal. (Factory TNC in a k enwood). Though, when you listen to or look at "your " tones, the characteristics of the audio in that receiver can also have a skew. And, do NOT look at them one at a time. That tells you nothing. Since the speech circuits will adjust them to the same level usually... Look at the relative amplitudes of the two. You can fix them with the right capacitor either in series to improve the high tone, or in parallel to diminish the high tone. But the right cap must perfectly match the impedance of your particular set up. Bob, WB4aPR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Fernando Ramirez Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 9:43 PM To: walterh(a)k5wh.net Cc: AMSAT -BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? I have tried two different radios, an Icom IC-2820h and a Kenwood TM-V71A. No luck with the Icom at full power on a high elevation pass. Better luck with the Kenwood but only on higher passes and transmitting with 50w. Other operators have been able to get their packets digipeated with Kenwood APRS-Ready HTs, so it's kind of puzzling. I'm using a Mobilinkd TNC3. I have no problem hitting distant terrestrial digipeaters with both setups. 73 Fernando, NP4JV On Tue, Feb 12, 2019, 7:37 PM <walterh(a)k5wh.net> wrote: > I definitely have to agree with you. > > The signal does seem to be less than half of what it used to be, and I > have yet to hit it myself. When it used to be so easy. > > Not sure what has changed, but it's certainly not the same as it was > before the shut down several weeks ago. > > Walter/K5WH > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Frank > Karnauskas > Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2019 5:19 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS APRS Signal Quality? > > Is it me or does the APRS signal not sound as strong as it was before > and is it not hearing quite as well? > > I am having a heck of a time pinging the digipeater and the signal > seems to be down a bit. > > Could entirely be something on my end, but I would appreciate others' > opinion. > > 73, > Frank > > FRANK W. KARNAUSKAS, N1UW > N1UW(a)GOKARNS.com > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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

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WD9EWK @ DM31 tomorrow (14 February)...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Hi! On my way to the Yuma Hamfest which starts on Friday, I will make a detour to grid DM31 in southern Arizona once again tomorrow. I am only planning to work 4 passes from there: two on AO-92 (1647 & 1821 UTC), and two more on AO-91 (1800 & 1933 UTC). These 4 passes cover the continental USA, for those who may have missed my day-long trip to DM31 a couple of weekends ago. I am also hoping to pick up some new grids, so I can obtain a satellite VUCC award for operating from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument area (basically grids DM31 and DM32 in Arizona's Pima County). I currently have confirmed contacts with 99 different grids, from my trips to the national monument over the past 9+ years (25 of those came from my most-recent trip on 2 February). All QSOs made from DM31 tomorrow will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. If you would like a QSL card to confirm a contact with WD9EWK, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. No need to first send me a card or SASE to get my card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

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Fwd: Re: [UKMicrowaves] OSCAR-100
by Graham Shirville 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

A relay from the UK Microwave group with a request from the Chairman of BATC which is fully supported by AMSAT-UK of course. Please be patient. 73 Graham G3VZV -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: [UKMicrowaves] AR100 Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2019 01:57:19 -0800 From: Dave G8GKQ <dave.g8gkq(a)gmail.com> Reply-To: UKMicrowaves(a)groups.io To: UKMicrowaves(a)groups.io The Narrowband transponder has been switched on for testing this morning. Whilst there are some stations ignoring the request from AMSAT-DL to leave the transponder free for the testing activities, we request that other stations do not join in until the transponder is declared open for general use. However, the increased noise floor provides a good check that you are receiving OK. Dave, G8GKQ _._,_._,_ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#47958) <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/message/47958> | Reply To Group <mailto:UKMicrowaves@groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BUKMicrowaves%5D%20AR100> | Reply To Sender <mailto:dave.g8gkq@gmail.com?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BUKMicrowaves%5D%20AR100> | Mute This Topic <https://groups.io/mt/29733212/439954> | New Topic <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/post> Your Subscription <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/editsub/439954> | Contact Group Owner <mailto:UKMicrowaves+owner@groups.io> | Unsubscribe <https://groups.io/g/UKMicrowaves/leave/3245739/1639649023/xyzzy> [graham(a)shirville.com] _._,_._,_

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Remove hard stop in G5400B?
by Roy Dean 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Has anybody considered (or actually gone through with) removing the hard stop in a G5400B azimuth rotator, and setting it up as a 450° rotator (or whatever the G5500B is)? I'm wondering if this might be a novel way of getting more utility out of it. I think it may even be possible in the Fox-Delta and G-Predict to increase these limits more. Obviously coax management must be considered. ---Roy K3RLD

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The Space Race is On--and We're Behind...
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

You guys do know AMSAT NA is going to be putting up our own geostationary satellite at some point right? From amsat.org about P4B: Virginia Tech continues to investigate opportunities to fly an amateur payload aboard a geostationary or geosynchronous satellite. A Payload Accommodation Study showed that an amateur payload could be carried on a U. S. Government satellite, but that satellite has been delayed indefinitely. Virginia Tech expects to have a further status update by summer 2018. So I'd say it's a matter of time before that happens. Be patient and I'm sure it will happen soon as well. As for P3E (Molyina orbit sat like AO-10/13) In July 2015, Virginia Tech approached the U. S. Government with a proposal to fly AMSAT-DL’s Phase 3E satellite spaceframe with both a scientific payload for the Government and an amateur radio payload to a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO). Under this proposal, AMSAT would have operated the amateur radio payload on the mission. Although the U. S. Government approved the proposal to fly Phase 3E on a classified flight, the Government required Virginia Tech to partner with a contractor in order to ensure on-time integration of the payload. Fulfilling this requirement would have caused the project to exceed the allocated budget by several million dollars which resulted in its cancellation. The Phase 3E satellite spaceframe remains in storage in Germany. Hopefully soon we get more information on P4B status, possibly at Dayton this year? At the end of the day we are held at the mercy of launch costs/payload providers. Nick, KE8AKE

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SatPC32
by NA1SA Loon ?? 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Setting up SatPC32 .... Under the CAT menu, what interval settings are you running on SSB/CW and FM/PKT? Thanks Loon NA1SA

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-02-13 00:00 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 13 Feb '19

13 Feb '19

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-02-13 00:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: College Park School, Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada, direct via VA5ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Wed 2019-02-13 20:10:09 UTC 64 deg Faith Christian Academy, Orlando, FL, direct via W9DWJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is David St-Jacques KG5FYI Contact is go for: Thu 2019-02-14 14:30:29 UTC 42 deg Watch for live stream at https://live.faithassembly.org/ (***) 2019-02-08 to 2019-02-10 Possible ARISS requested SSTV. ARISS Contact Applications (United States) The ARISS-US program’s education proposal window open Oct. 1 - Nov. 30, 2018 has now closed. The next window should go open in the spring of 2019. 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, click here. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Keigo Komuro, JA1KAB, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) ****************************************************************************** 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? 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 **************************************************************************** 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 112 (***) **************************************************************************** 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. 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 2019-02-13 00:00 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 Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1290. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1233. 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 **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2019-02-07 04:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf 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 Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.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 **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Delaware
by BeetleJerald Oliver 12 Feb '19

12 Feb '19

Is Delaware still in the U.S.? Need the state for WAS.....Be willing to sked with someone for contact.....It is the only state I have not confirmed..... KJ4EU Jerry

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ISS reception
by k6vug＠sbcglobal.net 12 Feb '19

12 Feb '19

Wanted to try to capture a few pics via ISS SSTV instead heard the following via the ISS Digipeater - 1:Fm VE7JMN-1 To U0RYVT Via RS0ISS* <UI R Pid=F0 Len=32> [16:24:34R] [+++] '0Lkl -/]LOGAN LAKE,BC CO90ol= 1:Fm VE7JMN-1 To U0RYVT Via RS0ISS* <UI R Pid=F0 Len=32> [16:25:39R] [+++] '0Lkl -/]LOGAN LAKE,BC CO90ol= 1:Fm VE7JMN-1 To U0RYVT Via RS0ISS* <UI R Pid=F0 Len=32> [16:25:47R] [+++] '0Lkl -/]LOGAN LAKE,BC CO90ol= 1:Fm RS0ISS To CQ <UI R Pid=F0 Len=36> [16:25:51R] [+++] >ARISS - International Space Station 1:Fm K7III To T7TUZZ Via RS0ISS* <UI R Pid=F0 Len=19> [16:26:40R] [+++] `2.{l![/>"5A}73 ^ 1:Fm BIRDBT To APTT4 Via WIDE1-1 <UI R Pid=F0 Len=50> [16:28:38R] [-++] HELLO! THIS IS APRS-DIGIPEATER OF BHUTAN-1 CUBESAT ISS Pass: NW to SE, about 15% degree max elevation, on Feb 10 2019, 00:25 UTC in CM97an Fremont California, However, I'm not sure how BHUTAN-1 CUBESAT appears in this set. Did both ISS and Bhutan-1 CubeSat passed around the same AOS and used the same frequency ?! 73! Umesh k6vug

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