OBSERVATIONS FROM NORWAY. 26-04-2007.
INTERNET REMOTE BASE STATIONS FOR SATELLITES.
Love 'em or hate 'em ... IRB'as are a part of amateur radio.
So ... why would LA2QAA want to use one?. Well, they can! be used for operating satellites.
On a recent (unsheduled) visit to the local horse-spittle ... (I don't like these places, they're always full of sick! people) ... the surgeons positively refused !! to allow me to set up the satellite array in the intensive care unit while they performed renovation work on the pig's heart in LA2QAA's chest ... (oink!).
(PAPPA INDIA GOLF as in smoked bacon, not two legged creature with badge).
Their excuse was that the rotor noise might disturb the other patients snoring ... so lying connected to various hospital type spectrum analysers and other pieces of apparatus has a tendency to put a serious crimp in satellite operating for a while and it initiated the reasoning behind why LA2QAA might want to use an IRB, to get round the issue of being denied aerial privilages.
The following is a short article destined for the Observations from Norway pages on http://observations.biz
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AMATEUR SATELLITES AND IRB's
(IRB station = Internet Remote Base station).
FOR PEOPLE WISHING TO OPERATE AMATEUR SATELLITES BUT DON'T HAVE THE EQUIPMENT OR KNOW-HOW.
(The know-how can be found elsewhere on this website).
Visitors to the http://www.observations.biz/ web page will soon become aware that LA2QAA & GM1SXX are always trying to help newcomers to amateur satellite operating by providing hints and tips in their satellite related articles.
Two of the main excuses used by potential newcomers for *NOT* operating on satellites are ...
1) The sophisticated equipment that is necessary is too expensive ...
and ...
2) I don't have the possibility of erecting rotatable beams ...
The facts are, neither of the above arguments are valid because ...
1) You don't *NEED* sophisticated equipment ...
and ...
2) Rotatable beams are *NOT* necessary to work satellites that are in low earth orbit (LEO).
While it is true that AMSAT (The Amateur Satellite Corporation) prefer to promote satellites with "cutting edge" technology that require expensive equipment, there ARE satellites that only require relatively simple equipment ... a flying FM repeater like AO-51 and analogue ... (CW/SSB) ... satellites like AO-7 and VO-52.
Even if you don't have the necessary equipment at home to use any of these satellites, providing you have access to the Internet with at least a 300bps modem (preferably faster) you *CAN* work these satellites using only your computer!!.
Unlike Echolink, which is a 100% Internet based system, an IRB (Internet Remote Base) station transmits and receives via the ionosphere just like any "normal" amateur radio and aerial system. You only connect via the Internet to the remote base station ... the IRB transmits and receives your signal to and from the satellite via the ionosphere.
You can control all aspects of the remote rig directly from your computer keyboard or even use a 3G mobile phone. (LA2QAA has actually done it like this using Remote Desktop for Mobile phones software).
With the VK3UR IRB you can even turn the 70cm aerial remotely as well as choosing an appropriate power level setting, different modes, filters, adjust AF and RF gain etc just as if you were actually sitting in front of the rig. The VK3UR IRB uses a TS2000 transceiver so there are a lot of options.
Before reading further, it would be advisable to read "HOW MUCH POWER IS ENOUGH", part 1 on ...
HOW TO OPERATE THE VK3UR REMOTE BASE STATION FOR AO-7.
First ... read the instructions !!! and familiarise yourself with the rig's controls for changing frequency and the use of filters, operating modes and rotor control etc.
Next, tune the TX to 432.150 Mhz LSB, press "S" on your keyboard, this will put the radio into SPLIT mode, then tune the RX to 145.941 Mhz USB ... make sure you have a suitable tracking program on your desktop that calculates the azimuth and elevation as well as the necessary doppler offset. (LA2QAA uses NOVA). Now you can remotely turn the 70cm yagi towards AO-7 and operate just as if you were operating from your own shack.
REMEMBER !!! ... set up your tracking software QTH as Victoria, Australia ... *NOT* your home QTH ... otherwise the passes will be (literally) half a world !! off.
Also remember ... to stay legal, you have to identify at least every 10 minutes so you operate with the callsign VK3/YOUR CALL ... it is advisable to mention you're operating via the VK3UR IRB in Victoria, Australia so that the Ozzies don't think you're a pirate playing Silly Sods.
The coordinates for VK3UR are ... 37 degrees, 33 minutes, 43 seconds SOUTH and 143 degrees, 49 minutes, 7 seconds EAST in Victoria, Australia. (Enter these coordinate into your tracking program).
At the time of writing (24-04-07) the IRB is not set up for FULL duplex operation but you should have no trouble at all working ANALOGUE LEO satellites like AO-7 or VO-52 using this method. The station is already set up for FM use with automatic doppler tracking and tuning for AO-51 or The ISS ... (see the SETUP menu "special settings", satellite operations).
As well as having the radio interface on my desktop I have NOVA + the doppler corrections visible. Of course, this won't be FULL duplex operation but you won't have any problem at all working ANALOGUE satellites with this set-up.
As with all satellite operating ... get into the habit of using those rather wierd things stuck to the side of your head ... (he means EARS, folks). LISTEN before you speak. Where appropriate, listen to the beacon BEFORE transmitting and "guesstimate" your power accordingly ... (now you know why FULL duplex is recommended for operating via satellite).
Actually, the MONITOR facility "could" be used if the IRB software was "tweaked" slightly.
You can obtain a password for operating the VK3UR IRB by sending the owner a copy of your current licence ... (providing it's a reciprocal licence with VK) ... to dave@daves-portal.com
The service requires no registration or donation fee.
Have fun!.
73 LA2QAA John. la2qaa@amsat.org .......................................................................................................................................
One very useful feature is that an IRB in a location remote from your normal operating position allows you to perform propagation comparisons.
Another is ... (in my particular case) ... soon after I lose AO-7 on certain passes at Frei Island, Norway ... (home QTH) ... I can pick it up again from Reston, Virginia ... (IRB).
The main advantage next to the aerial restriction issue is that an IRB allows those amateurs whom don't have the necessary equipment to try their hand at satellite operation, therefore, hopefully, bringing in some new recruits.
73 John. la2qaa@amsat.org