Hi Everybody,
After a 15 year hiatus from being an active satellite operator, I am in the process of pulling my satellite ground station together to operate the various LEO birds that are available to us today. While almost all of the equipment I have is new, I have one vintage item that I would like to put to use in my shack but I am going to need some help. While I was working at SSTL back in the early 90s, I purchased two of the JAMSAT TrakBox kits developed by JA6FTL, JG6MCG, SM0TER et al from AMSAT-UK. As I understand it the kit was made available by TAPR here in the states for a while as well. I built one kit up at the time and sent it to my Dad, KB5ZPK (SK) for him to use in his newly acquired store-and-forward ground station here in Texas. Since I was operating from the Command Center at the University of Surrey, I put the other one aside for use at a later time. Well, the later time turned out to be now and of course since that time the world has dealt with Y2K and all of the associated software upgrades and changes that had to be done. It miraculously appears that I haven't lost any of the components for the kit so from a hardware standpoint I think I am set but I am concerned about the availability of post Y2K software to run in the system. So my question is, can anyone tell me if there is any post Y2K software available for the Trakbox and if so, how can I go about getting a copy of it? While I realize there are now other options available for autotracking, for sentimental reasons I would like to get my kit up and running so any help that I can get would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to working many of you on the birds once I become QRV.
Thanks for reading my note.
73
Doug Loughmiller, W5BL (EX KO5I, G0SYX)
Doug,
The TAPR site lists software versions after Y2K
http://www.tapr.org/kits_trakbox.html
http://www.tapr.org/software_library.php?dir=/software_lib/sat/trakbox
You can also find it here:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftpsoft.html
under Firmware near the bottom of the page
73, Joe kk0sd
P.S. Keep me posted, I have a kit that I hope to finally assemble this winter.
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Doug Loughmiller Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 6:13 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Help for an old timer
Hi Everybody,
After a 15 year hiatus from being an active satellite operator, I am in the process of pulling my satellite ground station together to operate the various LEO birds that are available to us today. While almost all of the equipment I have is new, I have one vintage item that I would like to put to use in my shack but I am going to need some help. While I was working at SSTL back in the early 90s, I purchased two of the JAMSAT TrakBox kits developed by JA6FTL, JG6MCG, SM0TER et al from AMSAT-UK. As I understand it the kit was made available by TAPR here in the states for a while as well. I built one kit up at the time and sent it to my Dad, KB5ZPK (SK) for him to use in his newly acquired store-and-forward ground station here in Texas. Since I was operating from the Command Center at the University of Surrey, I put the other one aside for use at a later time. Well, the later time turned out to be now and of course since that time the world has dealt with Y2K and all of the associated software upgrades and changes that had to be done. It miraculously appears that I haven't lost any of the components for the kit so from a hardware standpoint I think I am set but I am concerned about the availability of post Y2K software to run in the system. So my question is, can anyone tell me if there is any post Y2K software available for the Trakbox and if so, how can I go about getting a copy of it? While I realize there are now other options available for autotracking, for sentimental reasons I would like to get my kit up and running so any help that I can get would be greatly appreciated.
I look forward to working many of you on the birds once I become QRV.
Thanks for reading my note.
73
Doug Loughmiller, W5BL (EX KO5I, G0SYX)
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At 04:12 PM 12/17/2009, you wrote:
Hi Everybody,
After a 15 year hiatus from being an active satellite operator, I am in the
Hi Doug,
Wow! It has been a long time...nice to see your smiling face here again..
Doug, I use PC32, and not sure there is a better one around...I work just the cw/ssb birds, and keeps my IC-910 smack on freq., but I rarely find a cw around anymore, but the ssber's are a fine group as before. And the tracking will keep any gain antenna you can swing right on target....
AMSAT has on sale, but believe you can still get a freebee to test it....The free just won't retain settings, but 10 to 1, you'll buy...
I see you changed your cs again!!
Again, nice to hear from you, and I'll bet again you'll hear from a bunch of the old fogies like me!!
Very best holiday season to all your family from me and Leanore...
73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1@san.rr.com
Disagree: I learn....
Pulling for P3E...
participants (3)
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Dave Guimont
-
Doug Loughmiller
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Gary "Joe" Mayfield