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ThumbNet SDR
by E.Mike McCardel 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

I few years ago I acquired a ThumbNet USB Rtl-sdr dongle. They were made available by a group called Thumbsat (thumbsat.com). I have never used it but it appears different than the N3 they now have available. I can’t find any of my documentation. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this item. I hope to try using it with SDR#. The only experience I have in this area is with a funcube dongle, which I have misplaced. If anyone has suggestions or can point me toward some documentation I would appreciate it. 73, EMike EMike McCardel, AA8EM Senior Editor AMSAT News Service Past AMSAT-NA VP Educational Relations

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Activation of CN79 November 30th, December 1st
by Chris Wilford 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Hello AMSAT Friends! I will be on a trip to Powell River, BC (CN79) for the BC Provincial Championships in Volleyball where my daughter is competing. I will be activating this grid on a vacation style schedule during Friday, November 30th and Saturday, December 1st using both linear and FM birds (and hopefully some packet too). I will announce passes ahead of time via Twitter (you see, it is good for something), please follow me @VE7CEW or if you don't have an account you can see my tweets at https://twitter.com/VE7CEW You may also email me at my QRZ email address and I'd be glad to try to setup a SKED with you. 73 Chris Wilford, VE7CEW

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ARISS and Giving Tuesday
by ka3hdo＠gmail.com 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

All, Just a reminder that tomorrow, Nov. 27, is giving Tuesday. I hope some of you get out there and give to your favorite cause. I also hope AMSAT and ARISS are at the top of your lists. The following is on the top page of the ARISS web site. Take a look at: www.ariss.org <http://www.ariss.org> The donate button is there too. So please consider a donation to ARISS. It should also be noted that while folks are giving to their favorite causes tomorrow, the ARISS hardware team will be presenting to NASA the thermal modifications made to the power supply of the ARISS next-generation radio system If we get through this hurdle, our next step is flight hardware fabrication, flight testing and launch! Please wish the ARISS hardware team the best! Thanks for all your interest and support to ARISS! Ad Astra! 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chair AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ************** Tuesday, Nov. 27 is <http://www.givingtuesday.org/> #Giving Tuesday, when many people donate to a favorite cause. Gifts to ARISS on Tuesday or at any time of the year are a wonderful way make a difference to our youth, to our communities and to the amateur radio hobby. All ARISS donations via AMSAT (including Fundrazr) are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. If donating directly to AMSAT, be sure to designate "ARISS" on your check, in the PayPal notes or in your letter. Our readers can consider doing the same thing John Carobine, WB8RFB, did -- here is his letter. I'm not one who considers myself influenced much by advertisements but I recently made a donation to AMSAT-NA to support the ARISS mission of bringing technology awareness to a whole new generation of young people because of one; namely, the Kenwood advertisement on the back page of the July 2018 edition of QST Magazine. I "connected" with it and it made me want to support this program in whatever capacity I can. In part, the ad stated "The ARISS mission is to provide and operate Amateur radio systems in space aboard the International Space Station, helping inspire, educate and engage youth and communities worldwide in science, technology, engineering and mathematics." The last 11 years of my working life were spent as an adjunct instructor of adult education in my local college's GED program. I taught some of those subjects. As I told my students "knowledge is power and power enables one to have many options." The mission statement struck a cord with me having worked in various capacities in each of those areas over the span of my entire working career. I spent twenty years in the U.S. Navy working in various meteorological, oceanographic, electronic and computer maintenance and management capacities. Those activities plus additional formal education opened future employment doors for me in the civilian sector for 30 additional years. Exposing school students via ARISS to the possibilities of careers in STEM is nothing short of positive. As stated so many times before, we never know what lesson, activity, or casual statement will open a person's mind and inspire them to greatness. As I celebrate 47 years in amateur radio, I encourage others to reflect upon what amateur radio has meant and done for them. I hope that you too will be inspired to "pay it forward" and help preserve and promote an avocation that has meant so much to all of us. John Carobine, WB8RFB Life Member Permission to post this letter, originally printed in December 2018 QST, was received from John Carobine, WB8RFB, and ARRL.

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Correction to the original ARISS press release for tomorrow's Troyes, France contact
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Concerning tomorrow's ARISS contact with Ecole Primaire Jean Jaurès et Arnaud in Troyes, France, some of the original student questions have been changed. Refer to our original press release posting on Nov. 24, 2018 for a complete list of the original questions. Below are the new questions. Q1: How are you enjoying your mission? Q7: Were you sad about the Soyuz abort last month? Q11: Will your future travels bring you to Troyes? Q15: When taking photos of Earth, can you see Troyes? Q19: Is there a phone on the ISS and do you ever have the chance to speak with French Astronaut Michel Togini from space? Q22: Do you sleep when it is night outside? Dave, AA4KN ARISS PR --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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FOX-1C predictions
by Pedro Converso 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Thanks! David & Dave for provisional Keps, Predictions/freq/modes for FOX-1C & others available at: http://amsat.org.ar/pass?satx=fox1c,exsee,k2sat,eseo1,jy1-sat Good luck on launch and for early chasers !! 73, lu7abf, Pedro

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VE3FAL in EO60 on SO-50 tonight
by John Papay 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Fred, VE3FAL, will be on the SO50 pass tonight, 27Nov at 0031utc from EO60. The entire USA and Mexico will be in the footprint on this pass. All of the EO grids are rare so this is a great opportunity to put one in the log. QSL via LOTW! 73, John K8YSE --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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UT1FG/MM Update
by John Papay 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Yuri UT1FG/MM will be going into port at Santos Brazil tonight or tomorrow morning to unload. It should take 3-4 days. His next port will be in Argentina where he will load cargo and then proceed to the Baltic Sea. Lots of new grids are anticipated along the way. He has been active on all of the ssb and fm birds and reports contacts with V51 and ZS on AO-7. 73, John K8YSE --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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TE Systems - Model 4450G - 180w 440 MHz
by Paul Andrews 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Satellite OPs: I have a 440 MHz amp available: TE Systems - Model 4450G (Perfect Condition) Input: 5-10w / Output: 180w DC Power: +13.8vdc / Amps: 30 amps max Connectors: N-type (in/out) RF Sense Switching Integrated Preamp Astron SS-50 Power Supply 73 - Paul - W2HRO

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Provisional keps for SSO-A launch
by David G0MRF 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Hi folks. Dave G4DPZ and I have generated some provisional keps for Wednesday's launch from Vandenburg. Usual conditions apply....good for estimates over a couple of days. Assumes 18.32UTC launch and no change in planned altitude / inclination from last week. JY1-Sat 1 50001U 18001A 18332.77000000 .00000000 00000-0 30100-5 0 99962 50001 97.7750 40.4000 0012840 330.5234 141.2700 15.00250000 15 Thanks David G0MRF

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Re: [amsat-bb] software to decode wx2 sats
by Roy Dean 26 Nov '18

26 Nov '18

Some 3rd party "support" still available here: https://wxtoimgrestored.xyz/ --Roy K3RLD > Wxtoimg has been abandoned by the author. I do however have a copy I can > make available. Email or PM me and I will forward a link. Rick Tejera > (K7TEJ) > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.saguaroastro.org > Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club > www.W7TBC.org

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