----- Original Message ----- From: amsat-bb-request@amsat.org To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 9:00 PM Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 631
Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to amsat-bb@amsat.org
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to amsat-bb-request@amsat.org
You can reach the person managing the list at amsat-bb-owner@amsat.org
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..."
Today's Topics:
- Re: simplest USB rotor interface (H. Vordenbaum)
- Ao-51 at 2100z today (ryan woods)
- Re: Ao-51 at 2100z today (Clint Bradford)
- Re: Ao-51 at 2100z today (Rick Tejera)
- Re: simplest USB rotor interface (Thomas Doyle)
- Re: simplest USB rotor interface (Stefan Wagener)
- AO-27 questions -- so why the silence. (Tom Schuessler)
- Re: ARISSat-1 (37772) decay (Nico Janssen)
- Re: AO-27 questions -- so why the silence. (Andrew Glasbrenner)
- Re: Fwd: Mystery of the Lunar Ionosphere (Tony Langdon)
- HR3288 Bill to Reduce ITAR Restrictions on Commercial Satellites (JoAnne Maenpaa)
- ChubuSat-1 (Trevor .)
- Re: ChubuSat-1 (Andrew Glasbrenner)
- Grid Squares (n0jy@lavabit.com)
Message: 1 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:51:46 -0600 From: "H. Vordenbaum" tower2@stx.rr.com To: "Wayne Estes" w9ae@charter.net, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: simplest USB rotor interface Message-ID: D64209A8073846A0B44B0C2749E81912@MRHARVEY Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=response
The LVB Tracker is small. The switch buttons are for calibration mainly. The switches on the G-5400/G-5500 can be used for manual control. With the USB interface you don't need to fool with another serial port. 73, Harvey K5HV
----- Original Message ----- From: "Wayne Estes" w9ae@charter.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 11:27 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] simplest USB rotor interface
As an AMSAT Area Coordinator, I occasionally get questions about rotor interfaces. So I need to become better informed about the interface options.
I'm well aware of the LVBtracker, but to me it seems to be overkill for the intended purpose. It's not necessary for a rotor interface to have a big box, display, and control switches. The interface really only needs to contain A/D and D/A converters. All displays and controls can be implemented "virtually" on the computer's screen.
Is there a simple and cheap USB interface for the G-5500 rotor? Something small and simple like FODtrack, but with a USB port? I'm aware of WinRotor USB, but nobody in North America seems to use it.
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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
Message: 2 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:19:47 -0800 (PST) From: ryan woods kd8atf@yahoo.com To: "amsat-bb@amsat.org" amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Ao-51 at 2100z today Message-ID: 1321564787.33812.androidMobile@web125517.mail.ne1.yahoo.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Well this was the first time for me to work any satellites in a really long time just wanted to day AO-51 still sounds great and i hope it stays that way for a long time. Im running a wouxon ht to an arrow on a tripod it works good but not as well at my th-d7a. Anyway just want to get some input while im writing this....... I am always portable when im on the birds and can never really get my logging down so just wanted to know How everyone else goes about it?......... Thanks in advance
73 de KD8ATF
Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
Message: 3 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:01:46 -0800 From: Clint Bradford clintbrad4d@earthlink.net To: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ao-51 at 2100z today Message-ID: 60C03798-0F06-4474-A18D-DD3E6B2776A3@earthlink.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
... how do you all write down callsigns?
I am not sure what your problem is. I mean ...
-one hand for the Yagi -one hand for the radio -one hand for the speaker-mic -one hand for the clipboard -one hand for the pencil -one hand for the tall glass of iced tea -one hand for your smartphone with its satellite tracking program running
(grin)
I will sometimes use a smartphone voice recorder app to record passes, for later review. In a shirt pocket, to free up my other six hands.
Additionally, I have built a little tray wide enough to accommodate my HT on the boom of my Yagi. Helps free another hand, as well as "counter-balancing" the front-heavy antenna. Photos at ...
http://web.me.com/clintbradford/k6lcs/Photos/Photos.html
... and ...
http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/My_Gear.html
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
Message: 4 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:37:46 -0700 From: "Rick Tejera" saguaroastro@cox.net To: "'Clint Bradford'" clintbrad4d@earthlink.net, "'AMSAT BB'" amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ao-51 at 2100z today Message-ID: 20111117224144.FERK3766.fed1rmfepo202.cox.net@fed1rmimpo109.cox.net Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Not having as many hands as Clint, I use a y chord on the receive Cable from my headset to a small digital voice recorder. I still write the calls down on a log I created, since I'll forget at least half of it by the time I'm ready to key up :)
After the pass I play the recording and get the time of the QSO by adding the elapsed time to the start of the pass.
Clear Skies
Rick Tejera Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, Arizona www.saguaroastro.org saguaroastro@cox.net K7TEJ, AMSAT 38452
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Clint Bradford Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2011 15:02 To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Ao-51 at 2100z today
... how do you all write down callsigns?
I am not sure what your problem is. I mean ...
-one hand for the Yagi -one hand for the radio -one hand for the speaker-mic -one hand for the clipboard -one hand for the pencil -one hand for the tall glass of iced tea -one hand for your smartphone with its satellite tracking program running
(grin)
I will sometimes use a smartphone voice recorder app to record passes, for later review. In a shirt pocket, to free up my other six hands.
Additionally, I have built a little tray wide enough to accommodate my HT on the boom of my Yagi. Helps free another hand, as well as "counter-balancing" the front-heavy antenna. Photos at ...
http://web.me.com/clintbradford/k6lcs/Photos/Photos.html
... and ...
http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/My_Gear.html
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com _______________________________________________ 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
Message: 5 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:59:56 -0600 From: Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: simplest USB rotor interface Message-ID: CAHnRQRLnU26Qwpn10BWONRHGvJ3UagTQy97WcR4OnTSveBuUVA@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
The saebrtrack from AMSATs own Mark Hammond is probably the best documented DIY board. The processor is a bit expensive and slow but the one I built does work. I had a FoxDelta ST3 for a while but had problems with it right from the start. I was able to return it without any trouble. It is probably the best deal out there. The easiest part of building your own is the software. The program does not do much so it is straightforward and easy to write. An lcd display of some type is invaluable in troubleshooting but you can use a terminal emulation program on a computer for set up. The buttons are not needed if you have a G5500. The case and cables are the most work.
http://sites.google.com/site/marklhammond/saebrtrack
The LVB Tracker from AMSAT is great in that you can "have it your way". Buy only what you need from a bare board to a completed unit. It is also a nice way to help out AMSAT.
http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=Hardware
Sent from my computer.
73 W9KE tom ...
Message: 6 Date: Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:26:14 -0600 From: Stefan Wagener wageners@gmail.com To: Wayne Estes w9ae@charter.net Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: simplest USB rotor interface Message-ID: CAKu8kHAse8Q=S0QOPaaeE8e4=gWYq9YgNQZxoOAhD5AVxFLxGw@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Take a look at:
http://easy-rotor-control.com/
Something for every taste and budget.
Stefan, VE4NSA
On Thu, Nov 17, 2011 at 11:27 AM, Wayne Estes w9ae@charter.net wrote:
As an AMSAT Area Coordinator, I occasionally get questions about rotor interfaces. ?So I need to become better informed about the interface options.
I'm well aware of the LVBtracker, but to me it seems to be overkill for the intended purpose. ?It's not necessary for a rotor interface to have a big box, display, and control switches. ?The interface really only needs to contain A/D and D/A converters. ?All displays and controls can be implemented "virtually" on the computer's screen.
Is there a simple and cheap USB interface for the G-5500 rotor? Something small and simple like FODtrack, but with a USB port? I'm aware of WinRotor USB, but nobody in North America seems to use it.
Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik _______________________________________________ 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
Message: 7 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:48:16 -0600 From: "Tom Schuessler" tjschuessler@verizon.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-27 questions -- so why the silence. Message-ID: 008601cca5f8$b9362e70$2ba28b50$@net Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Several weeks ago I posted a question about the status of the AO-27 web site and the TOPR scheduling for that satellite. Recently Clint Bradford K6LCS posed a similar question and got really no relevant response. Can someone from AMSAT (or AMRAD) leadership give some insight into the state of that program and whether the turn on schedule is still running on times predicted via the AO-27 Scheduler program which cannot receive updates because of the lack of the ao27.org site.
Please, no crickets chirping. Be nice to have an explanation or guidance.
Thanks, 73 and see you on the birds.
Tom Schuessler N5HYP
Message: 8 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:05:57 +0100 From: Nico Janssen hamsat@xs4all.nl To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ARISSat-1 (37772) decay Message-ID: 4EC66645.9080808@xs4all.nl Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi,
So far all my analyses of the evolution of the orbit of ARISSat 1 have resulted in a predicted decay date sometime in December 2011. Actually my current predicted decay date for this satellite is December 17. Obviously it depends very much on how solar activity develops in the coming weeks.
So now we have seen decay predictions ranging from December 2011 to April 2012. Let's see how we converge to the actual decay date.
73, Nico PA0DLO
On 2011-11-16 20:28, Fabio Azzarello wrote:
Hello Everybody, I totally agree with you James... the process is a continuous evolution.
I did my prediction on October 6th for the "Chicken Little Competition" and my date was January 23rd 2012.
It surprisingly agrees with your prediction done almost one month later, this make me think that my assumptions were right, up to now at least.
73s Fabio IW8QKU/5
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the update on your AMSAT Journal article. There are several people on the bb who are following this topic and are busy plotting data. Any futher thoughts you have, as we move towards January would, I am sure be of interest.
73 John G7HIA
From: DeYoung Jamesdeyoung_james@yahoo.com To: amsat-bbamsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, 15 November, 2011 17:29:31 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISSat-1 (37772) decay
Greetings,
First, thank you Mineo for reading the AMSAT Journal and making several of my papers available on your web site. My AMSAT Journal paper published in the March/April 2011 issue is actually still fairly valid for the scenarios shown in the paper. The solar flux has turned out to be somewhat higher than was used/predicted in the paper. This has caused the atmospheric densities to be higher which results in higher decay rates. When I wrote the paper I had this nagging feeling that stopping the release height scenarios at 370-km was not going to be high enough. We are very fortunate that the ISS was boosted to such a height before release of ARISSat-1 and not after release!
There is a valuable lesson, I think, to be made with respect to predicting satellite decay dates far into the future. The future state of the atmosphere, i.e. the atmospheric density that the satellite will pass through is poorly predictable in the long-term, say starting greater than a week or two into the future. Predictions of satellite decay dates months in the future should be evaluated with the understanding that your date of prediction errors may be large. The errors are due to the future uncertainties of the orbital path which grow quickly with time in a prediction. The atmospheric density is not the only source of error. Your orbit model, the integrator, and the accounting of the gravitational and drag forces among others will affect your results. Predictions of satellite decay dates are not do-and-forget. The general process is to make a prediction, get new measured observations of the height in the future, and at some point re-do your prediction when the errors become significant to you. With that all said here is my current prediction using the same tools used in the AMSAT J. paper and produced as of 2011 November 13th. The decay of ARISSat-1 (37772) will happen nominally on 2012 January 30th with a 10% rule-of-thumb error allowance of 18 days around this date. The errors may be larger than the rule-of-thumb indicates! Jim, N8OQ _______________________________________________ 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 _______________________________________________ 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
Message: 9 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:31:27 -0500 (GMT-05:00) From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com To: Tom Schuessler tjschuessler@verizon.net, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-27 questions -- so why the silence. Message-ID: 8046624.1321626687665.JavaMail.root@mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Hi Tom,
Just for the record, AO-27 is not an AMSAT bird, and AMSAT has no input or inside track into what goes on with the satellite. I know who the command stations are, but as long as the birds running, there really isn't IMO much reason to bug them.
From my observations and experience, you really don't need a scheduler to work AO-27. It's neat, but superfluous. Right now the satellite is turning on a little further south than normal, somewhere around 25 degrees latitude. This drifts just a tad earlier/further south each day, until one of the command stations resets it. So, if you listen to a pass, note when and where it turns on, and now you know where and when to look tomorrow and even next week.
Keeping a satellite running is a lot of work, and I can only imagine it's tedious after 18 years. Webpages and widgets come second after that.
73, Drew KO4MA
-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Schuessler tjschuessler@verizon.net Sent: Nov 18, 2011 8:48 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-27 questions -- so why the silence.
Several weeks ago I posted a question about the status of the AO-27 web site and the TOPR scheduling for that satellite. Recently Clint Bradford K6LCS posed a similar question and got really no relevant response. Can someone from AMSAT (or AMRAD) leadership give some insight into the state of that program and whether the turn on schedule is still running on times predicted via the AO-27 Scheduler program which cannot receive updates because of the lack of the ao27.org site.
Please, no crickets chirping. Be nice to have an explanation or guidance.
Thanks, 73 and see you on the birds.
Tom Schuessler N5HYP
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
Message: 10 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:23:23 +1100 From: Tony Langdon vk3jed@gmail.com To: Luc Leblanc lucleblanc6@videotron.ca, amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: eu-amsat@yahoogroups.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Fwd: Mystery of the Lunar Ionosphere Message-ID: 4ec57b57.09b5e00a.192e.ffffa865@mx.google.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 07:59 PM 11/17/2011, Luc Leblanc wrote:\
I just got a flash is it possible the moon bounce signal where reflected on this "ionosphere" instead of the moon surface or both or is it the moon libration signal often reported by moon bouncer a kind of signal mix the one reflected over the surface and the one reflected by the ionosphere back to the moon surface working against each other?
This could be one of many interesting questions to try and answer. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
Message: 11 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 11:03:36 -0600 From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" k9jkm@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] HR3288 Bill to Reduce ITAR Restrictions on Commercial Satellites Message-ID: 001d01cca614$03cb3eb0$0b61bc10$@net Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hello everyone,
I found out about H.R. 3288: Safeguarding United States Satellite Leadership and Security Act of 2011 via an article posted at UniverseToday.com (http://tinyurl.com/6r3nb4m).
HR3288 proposes to reduce ITAR restrictions on commercial satellite development. I found additional information, including a link to the text of the bill, list of the co-sponsors, and a progress-tracking overview posted at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h112-3288
Perhaps something good will come out of congress. I now have something constructive to write to my congresscritters about instead of messages counting the days to the next election.
Hopefully it bodes well for amateur satellite projects worldwide.
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm@amsat.org
Message: 12 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:11:50 +0000 (GMT) From: "Trevor ." m5aka@yahoo.co.uk To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] ChubuSat-1 Message-ID: 1321643510.46353.YahooMailClassic@web27204.mail.ukl.yahoo.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Google English article on ChubuSat-1, launch 2012-13, carries a V/U configuration using AX25, see
http://tinyurl.com/CubuSat1Article
See also ChubuSat-1 on IARU satellite pages at http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=199
73 Trevor M5AKA
Message: 13 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:37:52 -0500 (GMT-05:00) From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com To: "Trevor ." m5aka@yahoo.co.uk, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ChubuSat-1 Message-ID: 7790483.1321645073377.JavaMail.root@mswamui-billy.atl.sa.earthlink.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
50kg! to SSO? I hope they manage to get a repeater or transponder on there along with whatever digital relay it looks like they are planning. It might be a good opportunity for a PE1RAH transponder, or the L/U repeater AMSAT-OZ was developing!
73, Drew KO4MA
-----Original Message-----
From: "Trevor ." m5aka@yahoo.co.uk Sent: Nov 18, 2011 2:11 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] ChubuSat-1
Google English article on ChubuSat-1, launch 2012-13, carries a V/U configuration using AX25, see
http://tinyurl.com/CubuSat1Article
See also ChubuSat-1 on IARU satellite pages at http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=199
73 Trevor M5AKA
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
Message: 14 Date: Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:57:56 -0600 (CST) From: n0jy@lavabit.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Grid Squares Message-ID: 17004.170.49.217.220.1321646276.squirrel@lavabit.com Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
Does anyone know of an application for a Blackberry phone that will take the Blackberry GPS location and convert it to the grid square?
Thanks Jerry N?JY
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 631
participants (1)
-
Wilhelm Hartinger