Walter Jackson Elementary School - ARISS contact
Walter Jackson Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass.
Many thanks to the ARISS team for making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the development of the minds of young students growing to be our future leaders.
Here is a link to a short article with some video of the event by our local newspaper:
http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/walter-jackson-students-speak-to-spac...
We are looking for some video from space during the Walter Jackson Elementary School contact if there is anything with Timothy Peake. It would also be nice to find pictures or video on things he talked about like performing experiments, drawing blood, floating around the ISS, lighting on Earth, the aurora viewed from ISS, and the exterior view of the ISS with Earth in background. This would be really meaningful in assembling a video for those students and the school. If you know where any of these things can be found or obtained we would like to hear from you.
We had members from several groups participating in the event from AMSAT, the Decatur Amateur Radio Club, the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club, and the Marshall Space Flight Center Amateur Radio Club.
At the Huntsville ARC club meeting on Friday night, one of the members played an 8 minute recording captured on the downlink from the ISS using only an HT and a hand held beam antenna. The signal quality was very good on this simple setup demonstrating what can be accomplished. This has really turned out to be a fantastic event to promote interest in Amateur Radio Satellite Communications. Several hams throughout the state have made inquiries about our equipment setup. What a great way to promote interest in Amateur Radio and satellite communications.
73's,
Tim - N8DEU
Wow! The cut and past from editor to email was really reformatted. Let me try that again...
Walter Jackson Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass.
Many thanks to the ARISS team for making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the development of the minds of young students growing to be our future leaders.
Here is a link to a short article with some video of the event by our local newspaper:
http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/walter-jackson-students-speak-to-spac...
We are looking for some video from space during the Walter Jackson Elementary School contact if there is anything with Timothy Peake. It would also be nice to find pictures or video on things he talked about like performing experiments, drawing blood, floating around the ISS, lighting on Earth, the aurora viewed from ISS, and the exterior view of the ISS with Earth in background. This would be really meaningful in assembling a video for those students and the school. If you know where any of these things can be found or obtained we would like to hear from you.
We had members from several groups participating in the event from AMSAT, the Decatur Amateur Radio Club, the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club, and the Marshall Space Flight Center Amateur Radio Club.
At the Huntsville ARC club meeting on Friday night, one of the members played an 8 minute recording captured on the down-link from the ISS using only an HT and a hand held beam antenna. The signal quality was very good on this simple setup demonstrating what can be accomplished. This has really turned out to be a fantastic event to promote interest in Amateur Radio Satellite Communications. Several hams throughout the state have made inquiries about our equipment setup. What a great way to promote interest in Amateur Radio and satellite communications.
73's,
Tim - N8DEU
Walter Jackson Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass.
Many thanks to the ARISS team for making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the development of the minds of young students growing to be our future leaders.
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
See here: http://www.m2inc.com/amateur/cross-boom-hd-fg-11/
You might be able to source something locally, but most fishing pole rods are hollow. You can use a straight coupler to join metal to non metal sections e.g.: http://www.radioworld.co.uk/wall_brackets_etc/1_25_inch_mast_coupler_with_6_...
On 25/03/2016, Scott [email protected] wrote:
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
Scott,
I just got fiberglass tubing for my new setup, it's 2" diameter and I put a 1¾" inside it to eliminate any flexing.
http://www.dxengineering.com/search/department/rigid-tubing/brand/dx-enginee...
Dave-KB1PVH
Sent from my Samsung S4
Another trick for strengthening fiberglass tubing is to get wood round stock at Lowes or Home Depot that will just fit inside the tubing. Years ago I found something which was a perfect friction fit, though obviously it depends on the tubing. Cut the wood about 2" shorter than the tubing, and center it leaving a 1" space at each end. I stood the tubing on end, and filled the top with RTV. After it hardened, I reversed the tubing and repeated the process. The result was lighter than a solid fiberglass rod, waterproof, and lasted for 15 years until the whole thing came down in a windstorm.
73s,
Alan WA4SCA
<-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dave Webb KB1PVH <Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 5:36 AM <To: AMSAT -BB [email protected] <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? < <Scott, < <I just got fiberglass tubing for my new setup, it's 2" diameter and I put a <1?" inside it to eliminate any flexing. < <http://www.dxengineering.com/search/department/rigid-tubing/brand/dx-enginee... <engineering-fiberglass- <tubing?autoview=SKU&N=4294951163%2B401126&sortby=Default&sortorder=Ascending < <Dave-KB1PVH < <Sent from my Samsung S4 <_______________________________________________ <Sent via [email protected]. 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
Granger sells fiberglass poles. But my understanding is that it is critical on crossbooms so you don't distort the pattern. I am not sure it is needed for the mast. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Rolf. NR0T On Mar 25, 2016 12:52 AM, "Scott" [email protected] wrote:
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Max Gain Systems sells lots of fiberglass tubing in 2ft increments and much of it is specifically sized to sleeve together. Wholesale down to single qty. They were nice to work with last time I ordered from them.
Dan AD0CQ
I was going to order some from them a few years ago, but they wanted crazy money for shipping and DX Engineering was cheaper for the same stuff.
Dave-KB1PVH
Sent from my Samsung S4 On Mar 25, 2016 9:05 AM, "Dan White" [email protected] wrote:
Max Gain Systems sells lots of fiberglass tubing in 2ft increments and much of it is specifically sized to sleeve together. Wholesale down to single qty. They were nice to work with last time I ordered from them.
Dan AD0CQ _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Years ago there was a test report on the differences between metal and plastic crossbooms. It was shown that there is no measurable difference between the two if the antennas are installed with elements 45 degrees from the crossboom. Here is one of the discussions from 2002...
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200206/msg00896.html
I had to drive about 160 miles roundtrip to purchase a 2 inch diameter 12 foot solid fiberglass boom that I used to build my Oscar class station in 1997. Now I use the metal crossbooms supplied with my antenna's in my two sat stations. If it really made a measurable difference wouldn't Cushcraft (AOP-1), and M2( Leo pack) used a non metallic boom? Anyway there is plenty of talk about this in the archives, and if your going to use fiberglass I would go with the solid rod as it will last much longer then a tube. I still have mine stored on the ground in NJ, if anyone want's one, it's free.....
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: Scott Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 1:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting?
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Yes, I confirm, no noticeable influence here using aluminum tube cross boom with the vhf and uhf yagis fixed in X. Although this may affect if the antenna will be used to other objectives such as terrestrial DX or EME, not because the aluminum cross boom but because of the X position. 73 EdPY2RN
From: Jeff [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 11:19 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting?
Years ago there was a test report on the differences between metal and plastic crossbooms. It was shown that there is no measurable difference between the two if the antennas are installed with elements 45 degrees from the crossboom. Here is one of the discussions from 2002...
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200206/msg00896.html
I had to drive about 160 miles roundtrip to purchase a 2 inch diameter 12 foot solid fiberglass boom that I used to build my Oscar class station in 1997. Now I use the metal crossbooms supplied with my antenna's in my two sat stations. If it really made a measurable difference wouldn't Cushcraft (AOP-1), and M2( Leo pack) used a non metallic boom? Anyway there is plenty of talk about this in the archives, and if your going to use fiberglass I would go with the solid rod as it will last much longer then a tube. I still have mine stored on the ground in NJ, if anyone want's one, it's free.....
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: Scott Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 1:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting?
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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
www.mgs4u.com
They have round tubes, square tubes, solid round rod, in many (nesting) sizes. I have used them and their quality is excellent. The only negative I've experienced with dealing with them, and it is not really their fault, is the surcharge that UPS charges for 8 foot lengths. If your project can be handed with 4 foot pieces, your shipping charge will be much lower. If you need some big (8 foot) pieces, it is worthwhile checking to see if any hams in your area could also use some fiberglass, because the extra pieces cost nothing extra to ship, due to the surcharge by UPS for long packages which ship at the 60 pound rate if I recall correctly.
I have no ties to this company other than being a satisfied customer for many years.
John, W0JT
On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 12:52 AM, Scott [email protected] wrote:
In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe).
What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size?
I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess.
Appreciate any suggestions.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
participants (10)
-
Alan -
Dan White -
Daniel Cussen -
Dave Webb KB1PVH -
Eduardo PY2RN -
Jeff -
John Toscano -
Rolf Krogstad -
Scott -
Tim N8DEU