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P4-A / Es’hail-2 launches in a few days!
by Peter Guelzow 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

The launch of Es'hail-2 from Qatar with the first AMSAT P4-A transponder in geostationary orbit is only a few days away. https://amsat-dl.org/p4-a-eshail-2-launches-in-a-few-days Also check out this article: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/11/spacex-return-action-lsp-status-upg… pre-launch static fire test of Falcon 9 rocket for the Es'hail-2 mission is currently planned for November 11th. If everything goes well, launch is expected for November 15th with a launch window from 20:46 UTC to 22:29 UTC. P4-A is a joint project by Es’hailSat – the Qatar Satellite Company, QARS – the Qatar Amateur Radio Society and AMSAT-DL.

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XW2 sats
by Eli Caul 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

Wow! In the last 12 hours I've gotten several _very_ helpful responses. I somehow didn't understand that this was all SSB, I get it now, and I'm going to see if I can put together the FT-290 I bought from an AMSAT member and an AIRSpy SDR to try this stuff out. It sounds like a much different experience than FM, and I'm looking forward to giving it a try. This is a very helpful, friendly group. I've always been impressed by the quality of the operators on the satellites, and the response I got to this (admittedly stupid) question is very encouraging to me for the hobby and Ham Radio in general. Thank you very much! - Eli Caul Director of Customer Care Sonic 707-237-6201 Direct 707-521-0131 Faxline

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Thank You's
by Francis Geraci 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

To All the Sat Guy's that offered advice to me about the "confusion" with the Keps in HRD. As a "past" Help Desk guy, it couldn't have been a better experience. I could have opened a "trouble ticket" with a certain software company, and waited, weeks maybe, months to get, a *maybe* solution. This community, is the BEST !! Good solid thoughts. Advice from past experience. What could be BETTER. I'M YELLING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS. Um, Sorry Mom. Thank You ALL. Best - WB1FXX

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Help needed
by Butch 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

I cannot hear any signals with this setup, even with >80 deg. passes: Long wire antenna elev. 10M, SDRPlay 2, SDRuno, SatPC32, Com0Com, Win 10 Core i5. Freq. and doppler shifts sync OK. Have screen shots. What am I missing? Pls contact Butch K8KO occamrazr yahoo com. Tnx.

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APRS satellite dual hop
by Robert Bruninga 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

My bad. I misread it as a dual hop. The dual *s put in by some TNC's confused me. Here is how a 2 hop packet transmitted as ARISS,ARISS would look on the downlink in a normal TNC: PSAT,ARISS,RS0ISS* going one way or (least likely) RS0ISS,PSAT,ARISS* going the other (more possible) And remember, no one will find these on the ARISS or PSAT downlink pages because most likely only the first hop will be captured and the second hop will be rejected as a dupe. That is why everyone should always watch the downlink live if they want to capture one of those rare 2-hop APRS packets. HERE IS HOW TO DO IT: Challenges: Since PSAT has only a 0.2W transmitter, the ISS is simply never going to hear it. But the chance of PSAT hearing the ISS is 20 times better. SO the best chance of success is via ISS first then PSAT. But if they both hear the uplink packet, then PSAT will be transmitting at the same time ISS is and so a dual hop is blocked. So here is the best scenario for dual hop success: 1) Transmit stations via ARISS,ARISS on one continent hitting only ISS and NOT hitting PSAT at same time 2) PSAT in footprint of ISS but also over mostly ocean so it might hear ISS without lots of user QRM 4) Receiving station on a distant continent looking out over water towards PSAT. Then chances could be good. Notice, the transmitting stations can be any users as long as they are using the ARISS,ARISS path. So the only person that has to do any planning is simply coastal receiving stations. With both ISS and PSAT now operational, this would be a good time for all users to be using the transmit dual hop path of ARISS,ARISS to maximize someone else on some other continent receiving them! -----Original Message----- > Fm N0AN-10 To CQ Via PSAT*,ARISS* <UI pid=F0 Len=43 >[14:50:57] > =4206.15N/09402.30W`73 v. ISS de Hasan N0AN > > Fm WD9EWK To APK002 Via PSAT*,ARISS* <UI pid=F0 Len=21 >[14:51:11] > :N0AN-10 :hi dm43{N

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Office Closed
by Martha 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

The AMSAT Office will be closed Monday, November 12th and Tuesday, November 13th. We will reopen on the 14th -- 73- Martha

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FUNcube Warehouse Testing
by David Johnson 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

Hi, A big thank you to all those who contributed packets to testing the new warehouse this week. Sat ID 2 FC1 7 ESEO (Pre launch) 11 Nayif1 19 Jy1Sat (Pre launch) +----+--------+---------------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+-------------------------+ | id | number | first_upload_date | latest_upload_date | satellite_id | site_alias | site_id | +----+--------+---------------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+-------------------------+ | 1 | 11647 | 2018-09-17 10:04:05 | 2018-11-09 10:31:45 | 19 | NULL | g4dpz | | 2 | 6440 | 2018-10-14 08:03:30 | 2018-11-09 16:11:55 | 7 | NULL | g4dpz | | 3 | 1000 | 2018-10-19 09:59:05 | 2018-10-19 10:02:40 | 1 | NULL | g4dpz | | 4 | 720 | 2018-10-19 10:06:25 | 2018-11-05 21:24:40 | 11 | NULL | g4dpz | | 5 | 3012 | 2018-11-04 15:15:40 | 2018-11-06 21:38:55 | 2 | NULL | g4dpz | | 6 | 666 | 2018-11-05 16:06:30 | 2018-11-07 03:27:35 | 2 | NULL | kb6lty | | 7 | 768 | 2018-11-05 17:11:50 | 2018-11-07 05:55:40 | 11 | NULL | kb6lty | | 8 | 580 | 2018-11-05 17:34:25 | 2018-11-06 08:36:20 | 2 | NULL | HB9MFL | | 9 | 449 | 2018-11-05 18:06:45 | 2018-11-06 08:25:30 | 2 | NULL | Goonhilly_Earth_Station | | 10 | 447 | 2018-11-05 18:07:40 | 2018-11-06 09:58:25 | 2 | NULL | G3VZV_Graham_QTHR | | 11 | 452 | 2018-11-05 18:57:30 | 2018-11-07 10:13:35 | 2 | NULL | G0IIQ | | 12 | 34 | 2018-11-05 18:58:20 | 2018-11-05 19:01:35 | 2 | NULL | F6HDW | | 13 | 113 | 2018-11-05 19:18:15 | 2018-11-06 09:42:20 | 11 | NULL | G3VZV_Graham_QTHR | | 14 | 192 | 2018-11-05 19:45:10 | 2018-11-05 23:05:15 | 2 | NULL | VK5GU | | 15 | 99 | 2018-11-05 20:51:25 | 2018-11-06 09:47:30 | 11 | NULL | Goonhilly_Earth_Station | | 16 | 222 | 2018-11-05 23:06:25 | 2018-11-06 00:48:35 | 11 | NULL | VK5GU | | 17 | 29 | 2018-11-05 23:37:10 | 2018-11-05 23:39:25 | 2 | NULL | PV8DX | | 18 | 152 | 2018-11-06 06:42:20 | 2018-11-06 17:40:45 | 2 | NULL | G7SVI | | 19 | 202 | 2018-11-06 09:43:10 | 2018-11-06 12:56:30 | 11 | NULL | G7SVI | | 20 | 254 | 2018-11-06 09:43:45 | 2018-11-07 12:33:55 | 11 | NULL | G0IIQ | | 21 | 75 | 2018-11-06 09:46:05 | 2018-11-06 09:52:50 | 11 | NULL | dk3wn | | 22 | 77 | 2018-11-06 16:03:25 | 2018-11-07 15:47:40 | 11 | NULL | KA9GDO | | 23 | 66 | 2018-11-06 17:37:40 | 2018-11-06 17:44:00 | 11 | NULL | k9jkm | | 24 | 114 | 2018-11-06 17:39:10 | 2018-11-06 17:49:05 | 2 | NULL | dk3wn | | 25 | 170 | 2018-11-06 20:26:50 | 2018-11-08 12:11:45 | 11 | NULL | G7gqw | | 26 | 129 | 2018-11-07 08:33:35 | 2018-11-08 20:01:20 | 2 | NULL | G7gqw | | 27 | 35 | 2018-11-09 12:29:00 | 2018-11-09 12:30:35 | 11 | NULL | GW7ERI | +----+--------+---------------------+---------------------+--------------+------------+-------------------------+ 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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ANS-313 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - Fox-1Cliff Currently Scheduled for November 19th Launch
by Paul Stoetzer 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-313.01 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-313.01 ANS-313 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 313.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD DATE November 9, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-313.01 Fox-1Cliff Currently Scheduled for November 19th Launch AMSAT is counting down to the launch of the next Fox-1 satellite, Fox-1Cliff. Per Spaceflight Now, the launch of Spaceflight's SSO-A SmallSat Express mission, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, is currently scheduled for November 19, 2018 at 18:32 UTC. Fox-1Cliff carries the Fox-1 U/v FM repeater, AMSAT’s L-Band Downshifter, the flight spare of the AO-85 Vanderbilt University Low Energy Proton (LEP) radiation experiment, and the standard Fox-1 Penn State University–Erie MEMS gyroscope experiment. Virginia Tech provided a VGA camera which is the same as AO-92's but will provide images at a higher 640 x 480 resolution. Additional information about the launch and early operations phase (LEOP) will be released prior to launch. As part of the preparations for the launch of Fox-1Cliff, AMSAT is making the “Getting Started With Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 186 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out AMSAT’s other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Be sure to view your cart before going to checkout. If you add a membership and then go directly to checkout, you’ll never see an option to add your free gift. Fox-1Cliff is named in honor of long-time AMSAT member, contributor, and benefactor Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR (SK), who passed away in 2016. Cliff’s contributions to AMSAT and other amateur satellite programs, including serving as an adviser during the initial development of the CubeSat specification at California Polytechnic State University, earned him the Lifetime Achievement Award from Project OSCAR in 2006. /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers life memberships, and 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 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73 and Remember to help keep Amateur Radio in space, This week's ANS Contributing Editor, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org

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Re: [amsat-bb] Making a phasing line for 70cm polarity switch
by Gregory Beat 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

You can see the 70cm phasing cabling in this photo. http://www.gulfalphaantennas.com/satellite%20yagi%20sub%20index.html Matching and Phasing Stubs for Two Antennas, by SV1BSX Common for satellite antennas for polarity switching. https://www.qsl.net/sv1bsx/antenna-pol/polarization.html#phase%20delay === Pete, WB4CGA (Gulf Alpha Antennas) retired in June 2015. However, in April 2016 Arrow Antennas LLC of Cheyenne, Wyoming acquired the rights to the designs of all Gulf Alpha VHF, UHF, and Satellite antennas as well as the rights to manufacture and sell those products. Parts inquiries should be submitted to Arrow Antennas LLC. http://www.arrowantennas.com/main/mail.html — Note from Pete, a few years ago: Important Notice about phasing cables and connectors on the Gulf Alpha circular polarity antennas. For a long time Gulf Alpha used LMR 400-75 as the cable of choice for the phasing of our satellite CPs. Because this cable is so stiff and the bends required to connect the cables on the 70cm antennas was very tight, the crimps were too stressed and sometimes the cable pulled out of the connector. We used the non crimp solder type for a while. These had their own problems in that they would twist and the braid would become totally disconnected. Again the cable would pull out of the connector. We are now shipping these antennas with LMR 240-75. This cable is smaller than it's larger counterpart and should solve the problem. All antennas including 2 meters will have top quality Type N four hole flange female connectors on the T match blocks. No more SO 239's and PL259's. Cable ends are prepared with Times MicroWave strip tools designed for this cable. === Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2018 08:26:19 -0800 From: Bob Hammond, WL7CQX To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Making a phasing line for 70cm polarity switch I would like to know how to make a 1/2 wave phasing line for my Gulf Alpha 70cm polarity switch. I've lost the original one while moving. I understand that using a SWR meter is how it's done but I'm not sure of the details. Is there a better way? I'd appreciate some help. Bob WL7CQX Sent from iPad Air

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Re: [amsat-bb] android
by Roy Dean 09 Nov '18

09 Nov '18

For predictions in the future, I use AmsatDroid. For realtime tracking, I use: http://www.amsat.org.ar/pass in a browser window. > Hi - The best tracking program for a Motorola android is? > Thanks 73 Bob Johnson W7LRD

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