In a message dated 16/06/2010 22:09:24 GMT Daylight Time, vlfiscus@mcn.net writes:
Why does everything always have to be FM all the time.
KB7ADL
But doesn't Arissat-1 include a linear transponder ??
David
At 05:11 PM 6/16/2010 -0400, G0MRF@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 16/06/2010 22:09:24 GMT Daylight Time, vlfiscus@mcn.net writes: Why does everything always have to be FM all the time. KB7ADL
But doesn't Arissat-1 include a linear transponder ??
David
Arissat will be fun, but objects launched from the ISS don't stay in orbit all that long. The linear transponder is going to have to compete for time with all the other downlink modes & experiments the bird can do. I'm thinking the linear transponder probably won't be turned on much, because it might upset the FM'ers.
KB7ADL
Vince,
When I saw the ARISSat-1 prototype operating at the Dayton Hamvention, the linear transponder, the CW beacon, and the FM telemetry/announcements/SSTV all operated *simultaneously*.
Note that ARISSat-1 does not have an FM repeater mode. The FM transmitter is used alternately for telemetry, voice announcements, and slow-scan TV pictures.
Gould's presentation on ARISSat-1 from the AMSAT Forum at Dayton is on the AMSAT website. It includes slides with diagrams of the uplink and downlink frequency plan, and a waterfall display of the transmitter output. The waterfall clearly shows the linear transponder, CW beacon, and the FM channel.
My expectation is that the linear transponder will be operational as long as either the battery or the solar cells are providing power.
73, Steve N9IP
I can't for the life of me understand the point in people using terms that tend to divide AMSAT into different groups or warring factions. The last thing in the world this organization needs right now is to be divided about anything. I don't think the people you derisively refer to as " FM'ers" would be at all upset if some type of linear transponder flew on any new bird. I think when you get right down to it, everybody wants the same thing which is a variety of sats with different mode capabilities that will interest and accommodate all sat operators. I think all of us want an HEO if at all possible. The thing is though some of us seem to be more in tune with the realities of the modern world and realize that the launches are not financially feasible. We don't live in some type of fantasy land where we think launch opportunities grow on trees. We make due with what we have and try to enjoy ourselves instead of pining away for the "good old days". We try to support the BOD in whatever endeavor or direction that they feel is best for the organization right now. Do you honestly think they are lying to you when they tell you that financially feasible HEO launches are not available at present? Or that it's not possible to include a linear transponder in a cubesat which appears to be the only viable option we have for launches right now? That must be it! It must be some kind of conspiracy that has been hatched by those dastardly scourge of the earth "FM'ers". :-) Right now I'm an "FMer" because that's all the capability I have right at present. I could have bought another TS-2000X like I used to have and be on the existing linear birds but I blew my wad on a Flex 5000 because frankly, I feel it is a far superior radio to anything else on the market. It will take me quite sometime to save the money for the upcoming V/U module that will give me linear transponder access again, maybe even a couple of years, but for now I'm I try to be happy with the capability I do have which is a portable FM sat setup. I don't think that myself or anyone else should be labeled and looked down upon for simply trying to enjoy ourselves on the birds in the best way we can. 73, Michael, W4HIJ
On 6/17/2010 3:06 PM, Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL wrote:
At 05:11 PM 6/16/2010 -0400, G0MRF@aol.com wrote:
In a message dated 16/06/2010 22:09:24 GMT Daylight Time, vlfiscus@mcn.net writes: Why does everything always have to be FM all the time. KB7ADL
But doesn't Arissat-1 include a linear transponder ??
David
Arissat will be fun, but objects launched from the ISS don't stay in orbit all that long. The linear transponder is going to have to compete for time with all the other downlink modes& experiments the bird can do. I'm thinking the linear transponder probably won't be turned on much, because it might upset the FM'ers.
KB7ADL
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I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls.
Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc.
I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear.
73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana.
Ditto Larry- I believe we should use what we have till we wear them out!
73 Bob W7LRD
AO-7 fan
----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Gerhardstein" W7IN@montana.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:58:04 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] My $0.02 worth
I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls. Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc. I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear. 73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana. _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
While we are collecting cents! AO-40 a HEO was available for up to 12 hours each pass. Doppler and antenna pointing happened slowly for most of the pass. I had one antenna on a step ladder the other on a tripod. A slight adjustment every half hour was all that was needed. I worked 10 foreign countries and all across the US. I could set up and work at my leisure as many Stations as I wanted to. 1/2 to one hour QSO's were common. It was not rush and set up your gear have a 5 minute hair raising QSO experience, controlling Doppler on two frequencies using one knob, or throwing out a perfectly good operating radio because the computer control doesn't work. Art, KC6UQH
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Larry Gerhardstein Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:58 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] My $0.02 worth
I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls.
Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc.
I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear.
73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana.
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AO-40 (sobsob) every once in a great while I'll throw a little RF at it, just in case.
73 Bob W7LRD
----- Original Message ----- From: "Art McBride" kc6uqh@cox.net To: W7IN@montana.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 10:10:12 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: My $0.02 worth
While we are collecting cents! AO-40 a HEO was available for up to 12 hours each pass. Doppler and antenna pointing happened slowly for most of the pass. I had one antenna on a step ladder the other on a tripod. A slight adjustment every half hour was all that was needed. I worked 10 foreign countries and all across the US. I could set up and work at my leisure as many Stations as I wanted to. 1/2 to one hour QSO's were common. It was not rush and set up your gear have a 5 minute hair raising QSO experience, controlling Doppler on two frequencies using one knob, or throwing out a perfectly good operating radio because the computer control doesn't work. Art, KC6UQH
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Larry Gerhardstein Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2010 6:58 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] My $0.02 worth
I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls.
Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc.
I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear.
73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana.
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The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5205 (20100617) __________
The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Ditto on Larry's comments. Coming off my KH6 Dxpedition in March/April, I can concur there are not enough users on the current linear satellites. Out of the 50 passes that I worked, mostly on SSB. I only made 50 contacts! On about 3/4 of the passes, I had the satellite all to myself! This included FO29, VO52, AO7 and HO68!
One day, I had one pass that was deep into CONUS on HO68. I had previously announced my intent on the AMSAT BB to be on the pass. During the entire pass over CONUS I did not work one single station. I eventually heard one of the KH6 stations on Oahu pop-up to say hi as he felt bad that I could not work a single station during the entire pass. Go figure!
The same happened on several passes over Japan. I was asked to make an effort to work JA's as KH6 is difficult and rare for them. Again I announced the passes I would be on. I tried eight different passes often calling and calling. I eventually made contact with two stations one stormy evening. I was later told the passes I was on were usually at 4PM in the afternoon when most stations are at work.
Let's use the resources we have. We have four great LEO's: FO29, VO52 and HO68; and AO7 when she behaves. Let's get more activity going on these satellites. I know there are many operators with single SSB Multimode rigs. Half duplex does work with SatPC, see my DXpedition article on the Caymans last year. I have already had several email on how to do this from interested operators. We should encourage newer operators to take the plunge even with just one radio, with some assistance from the AMSAT community to get it right. Let's get on the air!
My 2 cents.
73, Adrian AA5UK
________________________________ From: Larry Gerhardstein W7IN@montana.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thu, June 17, 2010 8:58:04 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] My $0.02 worth
I don't feel a bit sorry for those who gripe on this BB about there not being enough HEO birds, too many FM birds (operators), not enough linear transponders, or the like. Yesterday, I encountered a nice FO-29 pass with maxEL about 60 degrees here at my QTH. I heard no one, yet I could hear my CW/SSB downlink signal from the bird loud and clear. For awhile the footprint covered the entire 48 state region. I thus called CQ for nearly 15 minutes, but no one (that's zero, na-da) came back to my calls.
Then later there was a good VO-52 pass and I did manage to work N6PAA, very good clear SSB signals both ways. But during the 10-15 minutes of that pass, I heard no one else in a QSO or calling CQ etc.
I think before we start making complaints about the current state of affairs, we seriously consider making use of those resources we do have at present. And then make a financial donation to the various AMSAT's and teams working to make future birds possible. We all want another HEO with lots of modes/bands, but complaining will not make one magically appear.
73, Larry W7IN, DN27, Plains Montana.
participants (8)
-
Adrian Engele -
Art McBride -
Bob- W7LRD -
G0MRF＠aol.com -
Larry Gerhardstein -
Michael Tondee -
Stephen E. Belter -
Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL