- Amsat-dc (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

Re: Fwd: inquiry about homebrew az-el systems
by Tom Clark 24 Feb '13

24 Feb '13

I responded to Samudra Haque after a couple of preliminary Emails with this idea on lo-cost az/el rotors. I presented the idea at an AMSAT-DC meeting 3? years ago and showed a working kludge example. Somewhere in my archives I have the Powerpoint from then and I will dig it up if there is any interest, particularly from someone who wants to do some development! The rotor scheme I described in my presentations is based on the DISEQC consumer antenna control protocol (seehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DiSEqC <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DiSEqC>) pushed by EUTELSAT and found in nearly every backyard satellite dish system (see http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/pdf/Diseqc/associated%20docs/position_ap…). The DISEQC scheme superimposes DC (to run the rotors, switches, downconverters, etc) plus RF (typically 500-1500 MHz IF satellite downlinks) plus control (PWM 22 kHz tones) and it has an amazingly rich instruction set. Many BUD (Big Ugly Dish) receivers include DISEQC controllers for controlling antenna position, polarization, bandswitching, etc. Most of the DISEQC rotors cover only 180 degrees and are very suitable for elevation with 1 degree precision (see http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/PowerTech/Sadoun-DG380B_HH_Motor.htm) for example. Sadoun is a main suplier in USA. However I have found one 540 degree DISEQC Azimuth rotor (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=rotr100&d=eagle-aspen-rotr100-one-ca… <http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=rotr100&d=eagle-aspen-rotr100-one-ca…> ). Total cost for a pair of az/el rotors is < $200 but the antennas that could be controlled must be pretty small. My application was for a solar radio telescope using a couple of small DirectTV Ku-band dishes. I'd LOVE to find someone who was interested in developing a microcontroller/interface for DISEQC az/el use. The coding should be pretty simple. Also someone needs to figure out a scheme to adapt the "crooked pipe" on the elevation rotor to couple to a real antenna. Let me know if you can find someone who is interested. Also, if anyone is interested, you might want to browse the Sadoun & Solid Signal web sites where you will also find DISEQC controlled 75 ohm RF switches good for low power use well into the microwave spectrum. 73, de Tom K3IO (ex W3IWI)

1 0

AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 (Planning 1.0)
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 19 Feb '13

19 Feb '13

Dear Bruce WA3SWJ, Dan N8FGV, Steve KS1G and all, May I run a few things by you for your advice and comments regarding our coming spring work- shop? 1. I got a blurb into the next AMSAT Journal that members will see in their snail mail boxes soon. Page 13, nice! We are official. ;-) (See the basic info about this crazy idea below from an earlier post on our amsat-dc list if you need a reminder of the vision of this workshop.) JoAnne was great in helping to make this so. Yayyyy! The day will be lots of fun! 2. Since the workshop will be on site at Goddard, I will need to get every single person's name, nationality and current town of residence into the NASA Goddard security folks so they can make a one-day non-escorted badge for each participant. Unfortunately, we need to emphasize to people to register even if they are not sure they can make it, because registration will close about a week before the event. This is NOT like your weekend hamfest! Problems? Any who wish to attend who are NOT a USA citizen may do so ONLY AS LONG AS they contact me before February 15, because there are special procedures in place to make this so. And they must follow them within other deadlines. Unfortunately, NO exceptions to this procedure. Bonus: there will be NO FEE to use the facilities. YOUR tax dollars at work! But BTW, in the news today, the fiscal cliff has been pushed off until March 1. Our use of the facilities ARE CONTINGENT on these circumstances, and others. Can we accept these caveats? 3. Price Stucture. Trade study/options. In rough order of logic or importance, kinda. . . . OPTION A. No charge to anyone. No coffee in the morning. No lunch on site. No frills. The lunch break would be at noon, normally for an hour. But to get everyone back, on time, will be a disruptive pain. (Been there.) I'd like to end the event by, say, 3:30 PM or what ever you think. (Based on a 9:00 AM start time?) I beleive an off site lunch break will put a damper on our progress. OPTION B. A modest donation requested. $20? That will get us coffee/tea/juice in the morning and Subway sandwiches (catered) with sodas at noonish, enjoyed in place (but not near one's satellite hardware, of course). The event goes through lunch unbroken. We will need a point of contact, actually two. One to collect the money and one to take care of the food, condiments, utinsils, cups, napkins, set up tables, etc. Can you volunteer yourself? Or better yet, have your wife/GF/significant other volunteer to work the food issues? That would be awesome! OPTION C. If we request a donation for admission, then "what if" it is structured? That is, shall we consider a main donation of, say, $25 for "normal" admission, and a lesser fee for either students or for those who bring at least three ("significant") hardware items to set up, show and discuss with others? The lifeblood of this event will be having at least ten stations set up for show and tell. Perhaps an offset of the requested donation amount will encourage people to bring stuff. Thoughts?? OPTION D. Shall we hold one or more raffles or silent auctions? That is, shall we invest in a FUNcube Dongle Pro+, an ARROW antenna or an Elk antenna and then make available raffle tickets? Or a written auction with a minimum donation request? If so, we will need a volunteer to run with this. (I can offer some seed money and accept some risk, but I need to delegate this to a trustworthy individual.) Volunteer? Thoughts? Any leftover dollars can be either donated directly back to AMSAT-NA or invested in needs for a workshop next year. 4. It looks like we are set with the date of Saturday, March 23, with no rain date. We can still set the time. Open doors at 9:00 AM for those who need to set up? With the "program" to begin at 10:00 AM? Or later? Shall we advertise that the program ends at 3:30 PM? Or earlier? Or later? 5. Shall we solicit formal talks or presen- tations too? (I was not planning this initially.) Limit the talk time to ten minutes? Sixty minutes? Then we ought to delegate an individual to coordinate the presenters in advance? Volunteer? Otherwise, No formal talks, but allow individuals to address the group as issues come up at the tables? No volunteer needed to coordinate this. I can probably do it on the fly during the event. 6. I will set up a table with my humble but growing portable satellite station on the evening before the event. Would anyone like to join me, either to move MY gear, or move in YOUR own gear? That way, I/we will be free in the morning to help or direct others as needed. 7. We want this to be a successful workshop. What other important framework item needs to be discussed? Thoughts? Thank you for your support! Cheers, Pat N8PK Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Integration & Test Manager NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Building 5, Mail Code 568 Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: +1-301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov Web: http://simsat.net/ (outreach) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2012 17:32:03 -0500 From: Stephan Greene <ks1g04(a)gmail.com> Cc: "amsat-dc(a)amsat.org" <amsat-dc(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-dc] Re: AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 Proposed Excellent idea! I'm unsure if I can make the entire day or at all but I am very interested. Besides the Arrow & the semi-portable setup (vehicle required!) I used for Field Day, I have 50% of a homebrew antenna setup - 6 element WA5VJB cheap yagi for 2M (I'll add it works FB for meteor scatter, too!). Need to make a 70cm version and possibly a smaller/more portable 2M. And get back on the birds after tearing the station apart for FD and not putting it all back together! 73 Steve KS1G ---------------------------------------------------------------------- On Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 11:46 AM, patrick.l.kilroy(a)nasa.gov wrote: > I WISH TO PROPOSE the AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop > 2013, to take place on Saturday, March 23, at > the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in > Greenbelt, Md. It will be a nearly all-day > event. > > "Workshop on Portable Satellite Ground Stations" > > ... is the title, where attendees will learn > about and develop their own portable ground > station and show off their wares which will > feature one or more of the following: > > 1. One's own laptop computer, with appropriate > software installed, such as for satellite tracking, > SDR receiver control, antenna control (optional), > audio recording and any other apps, for example. > > 2. The FUNcube Dongle Pro receiver or equivalent, > emphasizing *receiving* and not including the > transmit side at this particular time. See the > links below for ideas about software, receivers > and antennas. > > 3. Antennas for 146 MHz and 436 MHz with a > mounting means, such as on a camera tripod, small > mast, homebrew PVC, or other portable creation. > Your antennas can be either the Arrow, Elk or > equivalent, or homebrew. Polarization linear or > circular. Antenna Az-El movement can be by hand > or controller (manual activating or automated, > fully or partially). > > Everything, or almost everything, ought to be > designed to run from a 12-volt source of your > choosing. > > Additional details will be determined by a small > humble steering committee that YOU can influence > early on. And speaking of that, . . . > > May I include you, among others, on my steering > committee? If not, that's okay, but I need to > know if you'd like to participate. Can you > bring in some gear to assemble and to show off > to others attending? > > Perhaps we could meet in person, telecon by > phone, or by EchoLink conferencing soon as a > group to further outline this event? > > Foremost, if needed, an alternate date can be > selected, from either March 9 or 16, or moved > into April on a Saturday AFTER the Greater > Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest of April 6, > as long as we decide in the next week or two. > > Are you in?? > > Can you help organize? Or attend? What might > you bring? > > Thoughts? > > Thanks, > > Pat Kilroy > N8PK > amsat area coordinator > > Links for antenna ideas: > http://arrowantennas.com/ > http://www.elkantennas.com/ > http://www.g6lvb.com/homebrewarrow.htm > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/crow/index.php > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/Az_El_Pos.pdf > http://www.wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/downloads/iROTOR.pdf > http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Satellite-Handbook/ > http://ac6v.com/antprojects.htm > > Links for software ideas: > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/software.php > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/ > http://www.moetronix.com/spectravue.htm > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/resguide.pdf > http://sdrsharp.com/ > > Links for receiver ideas: > http://www.funcubedongle.com/ > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/sats_faq.html > http://www.funcubedongle.com/MyImages/SpectravueConfigurationForFCD.pdf > http://sdrsharp.com/ > > > "People don't care about how much > we know, until they know how > much we care." - Jack Vieira > ----------------------------------------------------------------------

4 5

Going Once, Going Twice
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 13 Feb '13

13 Feb '13

Last call . . . Do we have a volunteer to take over the food and planning role? See the details from my previous message as shown below. Or call any time, 301-286-1984. We need to hear asap if not sooner. Thanks. Sincerely, Pat -----Original Message----- Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2013 14:37:16 -0600 From: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov To: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-dc] Special Workshop Volunteer Needed DOES ANYONE KNOW someone who can serve as our chairperson on food and drink for our AMSAT-DC workshop on Saturday, March 23? I know it does not sound like a glorious position, but we need to identify someone soon! By COB this Monday, February 11. What does he or she do? . . . He or she is directly involved in the planning of the food and drink at our nearly day-long event. You can also add purchasing, pickup or delivery, serving or presentation, and accounting. Not a very technical position but extremely important! If we don't get a volunteer for this then it will change a dynamic of our day. We would need to delete coffee and breakfast- type items early on, as well as lunch and snacks later. It would be okay to announce for each person to bring their own brown bag lunch, but that may not be practical, and I really want to avoid the disruption of folks leaving the site during lunch time. Even worse, entertaining starving souls amongst us. BTW, hiring someone to handle all this is possible, but it would drive up the $$ donation for each person attending. Thoughts? Thank you very much. Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Phone: 301-286-1984 voice messages ------------------------------ End of AMSAT-DC Digest, Vol 8, Issue 9 **************************************

1 0

FW: SpotTheStation
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 07 Feb '13

07 Feb '13

An Eyeball opportunity in about an hour if you can try to look for the ISS outside. Simple info below for all in the greater Maryland-DC-NoVa area! Is the sky clear? http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=20771 -----Original Message----- From: united-states-maryland-baltimore-washington-parkway-pm-bounces(a)lists.hq.nasa.gov On Behalf Of noreply(a)nasa.gov Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 7:57 AM To: United-States-Maryland-Baltimore-Washington-Parkway-PM(a)lists.hq.nasa.gov Subject: SpotTheStation Time: Thu Feb 07 7:00 PM, Visible: 3 min, Max Height: 43 degrees, Appears: SSW, Disappears: SE

1 0

Special Workshop Voluteer Needed
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 06 Feb '13

06 Feb '13

DOES ANYONE KNOW someone who can serve as our chairperson on food and drink for our AMSAT-DC workshop on Saturday, March 23? I know it does not sound like a glorious position, but we need to identify someone soon! By COB this Monday, February 11. What does he or she do? . . . He or she is directly involved in the planning of the food and drink at our nearly day-long event. You can also add purchasing, pickup or delivery, serving or presentation, and accounting. Not a very technical position but extremely important! If we don't get a volunteer for this then it will change a dynamic of our day. We would need to delete coffee and breakfast- type items early on, as well as lunch and snacks later. It would be okay to announce for each person to bring their own brown bag lunch, but that may not be practical, and I really want to avoid the disruption of folks leaving the site during lunch time. Even worse, entertaining starving souls amongst us. BTW, hiring someone to handle all this is possible, but it would drive up the $$ donation for each person attending. Thoughts? Thank you very much. Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Phone: 301-286-1984 voice messages

1 0

New Receiver on Way
by Pat Kilroy 23 Jan '13

23 Jan '13

I AM EXCITED about the new FUNcube Dongle Pro+ receiver (part number FCD2-15). One is on its way right now to my home mailbox, directly from Howard G6LVB in London. Should arrive in two days, perhaps sooner. This is the SDR receiver that I hope to show off at our AMSAT-DC Workshop Spring 2013 coming your way on Saturday, March 23. I expect to be running it with either the SpectraVue or the SDRsharp software. If you would like to "join me" in checking it out and bringing yours with you too then keep track of the FUNcube Dongle Web site. Better yet, don't wait until orders are announced as being re-opened to the public on the main Web page. Go straight to: https://funcubedongle.3dcartstores.com/FUNcube-Dongle-Pro_p_8.html and click the button for "Put me on the waiting list" intent to order. Just fill out your e-mail address. At the same time you might want to create an "account" there with your name and address to save time later. The total cost in today's exchange rate is under $214 (US dollars) including shipping and handling. We do NOT have to pay the VAT (tax), and the ordering site knows that from your address. (I hope I don't need a disclaimer to say that I am not benefiting financially from this "sales" pitch.) FYI, if you want to compare the new features of this receiver with the old then browse these pages: New Specs http://www.funcubedongle.com/?page_id=1201 Old specs http://www.funcubedongle.com/?page_id=74 I trust someone will bring one of the "Cheap and Easy SDR" receiver dongles that was recently featured in QST Magazine (January 2013, page 30, 6 pp), to show us as well. QST Digital Copy: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/arrl/qst_201301/index.php The price range is claimed as being "$20 and up" depending on the features of the specific dongle you choose. A large part of the six pages is dedicated to step-by-step tips to get the SDR# software up and running. This is good for everyone! The other major part of the article covers a construction project which is needed only if you want the expanded frequency coverage of HF. Any takers to dive into this for us?? We'll talk later about antennas and tracking as desired. I am dying to hear about the antennas that folks are using or planning to use, especially if anyone expects to experiment either on a band above 70cm in frequency or with small circular polarization (CP) yagi types. Cheers, Pat N8PK n8pk(a)amsat.org

3 3

NASA Announces Student Internships for Summer
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 14 Jan '13

14 Jan '13

Please pass this bulletin along to students and schools. Thanks! SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-013.01 ANS-013 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 013.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. Januray 3, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-013.01 [snip] NASA Announces Student Internships for Summer College Level Internships ------------------------- NASA says they are accepting applications for college level summer internship positions among several NASA field centers. "But don't wait until the deadline," advises NASA mentor and fellow AMSAT member, Pat Kilroy, N8PK. "The opportunities to work on a CubeSat team, for example, are exciting but pretty competitive." It is thought that students who know the "AMSAT way" and who have an Amateur Radio license and some hands on experience have a distinct advantage in the midst of such competition. "That worked for me," said Pat. Students can view opportunities and apply for them in one place. To start, the prospective student should go to: https://intern.nasa.gov/ then click the Student Opportunities tab then select Internships, which will bring you to the OSSI:NIFS page describing the overall internship program. Using the Search Opportunities tab from there, scroll down to the bottom for the "Enter keywords" box and enter "cubesat" without the quotes to view the variety of different opportunities in this field. Pat Kilroy will be the lead mentor for two of the opportunities described. The first, under the title of "CubeSat Engineering Design Team Project," applicants are called to develop a CubeSat spacecraft bus (i.e., the solar panel and battery charging, power regulation and distribution "EPS" subsystem, the RF communications "COM" subsystem, the command and data handling/processing avionics "C&DH" subsystem, the attitude determination and control "ADAC" subsystem, and the mechanical structures "MECH" subsystem) and one instrument (i.e., a camera/ telescope payload). Hardware and software skills will be well represented. The team will need a student Systems Engineer as well. Each intern will consult with a NASA engineer in their area of specialty throughout the summer. In the second, under the title "PICetSat Module Development," one or two student interns are called to perform any of a number of tasks, including one to develop a "dual-use" ground station for CubeSats and high-altitude balloon and sounding rocket experiments. This task will involve satellite and balloon tracking, RF systems, test equipment and antennas and antenna control automation. Additional details are available on the OSSI:NIFS site including how to contact the lead mentor for technical questions, and the procedure on how to apply for one of these Goddard Greenbelt positions as well as many others. High School Internship Applications at NASA ------------------------------------------- The application process for high school students to apply for a summer internship can be found on the same OSSI:NIFS Web site as given above for the summer at one of many locations around the country. As noted in the opportunity description already mentioned, up to two local high school seniors will be selected to participate on the CubeSat team in Greenbelt. [ANS thanks NASA for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [snip]

1 0

Re: AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 (Planning 1.0)
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 11 Jan '13

11 Jan '13

Hi Steve, Thanks for your message too! 2. Thanks, sounds good! The Evite system sounds like a good back up to the one proposed by Bruce WA3SWJ as sponsored (if possible) by the MARC group. . . . Agreed about the cliff! 3. In the development of any price structure, your thoughts were taken into account when I answered Bruce. But, yes, a simplified bag lunch approach is still on the discussion table. . . . Any raffle or auction needs further definition. And a delegate. If no one feels strongly about heading this up then it is okay if we hold the idea until next year. 4. The start time will likely be determined when I lock in a building and room. I am trying to negotiate a space that will allow me to set up my portable station the night before, and then walk around helping others from the get go during the event. 5. Except for the SDR topic (hmmmm) I might suggest to work the presentation issue the other way around. That is, perhaps look for a person to do the speaking, and then go for a hot topic that he/she is likely very good. You know. Tom Clark, Bob Bruninga, John Franke, YOU, Richard Crow, A.J. Farmer, . . . Either way, any of these or any other candidates?? This is a question - like all others - to ALL, not just to whom I am replying. 7. PUBLICITY is very important. Everyone: Please get this event on your local club net, in your newsletters and on your Web pages. The date, location and title is locked in! You can't lose! We need to get the word out. Now! WE LOVE the "cheap yagi" series and I hope more folks build them, especially the CP types! Thank you, thank you, Pat N8PK From: Stephan Greene [mailto:ks1g04@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 9:31 PM To: Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) Subject: Re: [amsat-dc] AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 (Planning 1.0) Pat: This is great news! Oh, happy 2013! My thoughts below: 2. Since the workshop will be on site at Goddard, I will need to get every single person's name, nationality and current town of residence into the NASA Goddard security folks so they can make a one-day non-escorted badge for each participant. Unfortunately, we need to emphasize to people to register even if they are not sure they can make it, because registration will close about a week before the event. This is NOT like your weekend hamfest! Problems? None for me. Might cause "issues" with last minute folks. Not much we can do about it vs. the location. Suggest using an online system (Evite?) for self-registration, assuming folks are OK providing the info that way (no SSN or DL number, so I'd think it'd be OK). But BTW, in the news today, the fiscal cliff has been pushed off until March 1. Our use of the facilities ARE CONTINGENT on these circumstances, and others. Can we accept these caveats? Sure. We can write all our congress critters and tell them sequestration of the NASA Goddard budget MUST NOT HAPPEN or a VITAL EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL DIE! (and it's for the children. Or the terrorists will win. Or something.) OTOH, if we go "over", and my contract gets bit, I'll have lots of "free" time to help. And learn to use my FCD Pro+ properly, reassemble the station, start an ebay business making "Cheap Yagis" at a loss (but we'll make it up on volume until MFJ buys us out and PROFIT!), learn to build an Arduino rotor controller, and learn to make lemonade from life's lemons. Ok, I have definitely gotten too punch here. BTW, according to at least one internet source I saw, a group of baboons is called a "congress" (as in a "congress of baboons"). This explains much. 3. Price Structure. Trade study/options. In rough order of logic or importance, kinda. . . . OPTION A. No charge to anyone. No coffee in the morning. No lunch on site. No frills. The lunch break would be at noon, normally for an hour. But to get everyone back, on time, will be a disruptive pain. (Been there.) I'd like to end the event by, say, 3:30 PM or what ever you think. (Based on a 9:00 AM start time?) I beleive an off site lunch break will put a damper on our progress. Agree. Although I am self-contained for ITAR-grade coffee and have the bike-battered thermos to prove it. Try to keep everyone on-site. OPTION B. A modest donation requested. $20? That will get us coffee/tea/juice in the morning and Subway sandwiches (catered) with sodas at noonish, enjoyed in place (but not near one's satellite hardware, of course). The event goes through lunch unbroken. We will need a point of contact, actually two. One to collect the money and one to take care of the food, condiments, utinsils, cups, napkins, set up tables, etc. Can you volunteer yourself? Or better yet, have your wife/GF/significant other volunteer to work the food issues? That would be awesome! Simplify funds collection by linking registration to PayPal? Could work for me. Can't volunteer family for catering support. Option B.1: $5/$10 donation and we provide coffee & breakfast fat pills, soda. People encouraged to pack a bag lunch or they needed to lose some weight anyway. OPTION C. If we request a donation for admission, then "what if" it is structured? That is, shall we consider a main donation of, say, $25 for "normal" admission, and a lesser fee for either students or for those who bring at least three ("significant") hardware items to set up, show and discuss with others? The lifeblood of this event will be having at least ten stations set up for show and tell. Perhaps an offset of the requested donation amount will encourage people to bring stuff. Thoughts?? Hmmm - interesting idea. I'd bring a setup anyway. OPTION D. Shall we hold one or more raffles or silent auctions? That is, shall we invest in a FUNcube Dongle Pro+, an ARROW antenna or an Elk antenna and then make available raffle tickets? Or a written auction with a minimum donation request? If so, we will need a volunteer to run with this. (I can offer some seed money and accept some risk, but I need to delegate this to a trustworthy individual.) Volunteer? Thoughts? I like this idea. I may have some decent equipment to donate (I recently acquired a FCD Pro+, so I have the old FC available if I ever manage to find it!). I could make a contribution towards acquiring an Elk. Do you think AMSAT-NA, Elk, Arrow, AMSAT-UK would donate one or more items? The donation could even be a coupon good for 1 of the relevant item, so no cost to the vendor unless it actually "sells". If we have any items leftover, will there be an AMSAT table at the Baltimore 'fest? I have no personal preference for silent auction vs. raffle. Any leftover dollars can be either donated directly back to AMSAT-NA or invested in needs for a workshop next year. I'd lean towards the donation to AMSAT-NA unless you think we have someplace to place the remaining funds. I would not want to be responsible for securing the balance for 12 months. 4. It looks like we are set with the date of Saturday, March 23, with no rain date. We can still set the time. Open doors at 9:00 AM for those who need to set up? With the "program" to begin at 10:00 AM? Or later? Shall we advertise that the program ends at 3:30 PM? Or earlier? Or later? I think I'm good with that date. I am busy 3/24 (Sunday, running the Reston Half-Marathon, assuming my knees hold up for the next 12 weeks. I realize this belies the stereotypical physically inactive ham/geek. What can I say?), but looks like I can be available all day 3/23. I'd go with 10AM program start, 3:30 wrapup (everyone out by 4-4:30). Could be persuaded to go with a 9AM start (8AM setup). Does GSFC place limits on in/out times? 5. Shall we solicit formal talks or presentations too? (I was not planning this initially.) Limit the talk time to ten minutes? Sixty minutes? Then we ought to delegate an individual to coordinate the presenters in advance? Volunteer? Maybe one or 2. Keep the focus on 1-on-1 idea exchanges and the show & tells. Question would be if it was beginner-focused, or something more "advanced". Otherwise, No formal talks, but allow individuals to address the group as issues come up at the tables? No volunteer needed to coordinate this. I can probably do it on the fly during the event. 6. I will set up a table with my humble but growing portable satellite station on the evening before the event. Would anyone like to join me, either to move MY gear, or move in YOUR own gear? That way, I/we will be free in the morning to help or direct others as needed. Beltway traffic on Fridays. I can be there early on Saturday; but Friday's are usually difficult (unless Ellen wants to go to the West Coast Swing party at Cherry Hill and we can get there for a little while before hand. So don't count on me for this.). 7. We want this to be a successful workshop. What other important framework item needs to be discussed? Publicity. I can talk it up at LARG and SPARC (Loudoun, Sterling). Do we have any contacts for AMRAD, other clubs? I don't know the groups in DC and MD. Website for status, publicity. Facebook page? Periodic mentions in AMSAT email/news, ARRL web site. Thoughts? What I am thinking of doing: * Arrow on tripod (if I get really motivated, convert a bike trailer setup I've been thinking about for VA QSO Party HF mobile). * 2M Cheap Yagi (+70cm if I ever get around to building it!) * FT817 * Maybe my FT857 (allows full duplex linear ops, unless I score an 817 at Vienna Winterfest or figure out how to use an FCD w SatPC32 for RX) * Outboard amp (just in case, yah know) * Funcube Dongle Pro+ (need to get it working) * Netbook running SatPC32 If I get really motivated, sawhorse mounted yaesu az/el + 2M yagi + 70cm circ-polarized (obviously not bike-portable!) Thank you for your support! Cheers, Pat N8PK Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Integration & Test Manager NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Building 5, Mail Code 568 Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: +1-301-286-1984<tel:%2B1-301-286-1984> E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov<mailto:Patrick.L.Kilroy@nasa.gov> Web: http://simsat.net/ (outreach) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 6 Dec 2012 17:32:03 -0500 From: Stephan Greene <ks1g04(a)gmail.com<mailto:ks1g04@gmail.com>> Cc: "amsat-dc(a)amsat.org<mailto:amsat-dc@amsat.org>" <amsat-dc(a)amsat.org<mailto:amsat-dc@amsat.org>> Subject: [amsat-dc] Re: AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 Proposed Excellent idea! I'm unsure if I can make the entire day or at all but I am very interested. Besides the Arrow & the semi-portable setup (vehicle required!) I used for Field Day, I have 50% of a homebrew antenna setup - 6 element WA5VJB cheap yagi for 2M (I'll add it works FB for meteor scatter, too!). Need to make a 70cm version and possibly a smaller/more portable 2M. And get back on the birds after tearing the station apart for FD and not putting it all back together! 73 Steve KS1G ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com<mailto:ks1g04@gmail.com> <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com<http://gmail.com> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 3

Re: AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 (Planning 1.0) > re-attempt
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

Hi Steve, Thanks for your message too! 2. Thanks, sounds good! The Evite system sounds like a good back up to the one proposed by Bruce WA3SWJ as sponsored (if possible) by the MARC group. Bennett Kobb suggested another one possible: Wufoo.com . . . Agreed about the cliff! 3. In the development of any price structure, your thoughts were taken into account when I answered Bruce. But, yes, a simplified bag lunch approach is still on the discussion table. . . . Any raffle or auction needs further definition. And a delegate. If no one feels strongly about heading this up then it is okay if we hold the idea until next year. 4. The start time will likely be determined when I lock in a building and room. I am trying to negotiate a space that will allow me to set up my portable station the night before, and then walk around helping others from the get go during the event. 5. Except for the SDR topic (hmmmm) I might suggest to work the presentation issue the other way around. That is, perhaps look for a person to do the speaking, and then go for a hot topic that he/she is likely very good. You know. Tom Clark, Bob Bruninga, John Franke, YOU, Richard Crow, A.J. Farmer, . . . Either way, any of these or any other candidates?? This is a question - like all others - to ALL, not just to whom I am replying. 7. PUBLICITY is very important. Everyone: Please get this event on your local club net, in your newsletters and on your Web pages. The date, location and title is locked in! You can't lose! We need to get the word out. Now! WE LOVE the "cheap yagi" series and I hope more folks build them, especially the CP types! Thank you, thank you, Pat N8PK From: Stephan Greene [mailto:ks1g04@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, January 04, 2013 9:31 PM To: Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) Subject: Re: [amsat-dc] AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 (Planning 1.0) Pat: This is great news! Oh, happy 2013! My thoughts below: 2. Since the workshop will be on site at Goddard, I will need to get every single person's name, nationality and current town of residence into the NASA Goddard security folks so they can make a one-day non-escorted badge for each participant. Unfortunately, we need to emphasize to people to register even if they are not sure they can make it, because registration will close about a week before the event. This is NOT like your weekend hamfest! Problems? None for me. Might cause "issues" with last minute folks. Not much we can do about it vs. the location. Suggest using an online system (Evite?) for self-registration, assuming folks are OK providing the info that way (no SSN or DL number, so I'd think it'd be OK). But BTW, in the news today, the fiscal cliff has been pushed off until March 1. Our use of the facilities ARE CONTINGENT on these circumstances, and others. Can we accept these caveats? Sure. We can write all our congress critters and tell them sequestration of the NASA Goddard budget MUST NOT HAPPEN or a VITAL EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM WILL DIE! (and it's for the children. Or the terrorists will win. Or something.) OTOH, if we go "over", and my contract gets bit, I'll have lots of "free" time to help. And learn to use my FCD Pro+ properly, reassemble the station, start an ebay business making "Cheap Yagis" at a loss (but we'll make it up on volume until MFJ buys us out and PROFIT!), learn to build an Arduino rotor controller, and learn to make lemonade from life's lemons. Ok, I have definitely gotten too punch here. BTW, according to at least one internet source I saw, a group of baboons is called a "congress" (as in a "congress of baboons"). This explains much. 3. Price Structure. Trade study/options. In rough order of logic or importance, kinda. . . . OPTION A. No charge to anyone. No coffee in the morning. No lunch on site. No frills. The lunch break would be at noon, normally for an hour. But to get everyone back, on time, will be a disruptive pain. (Been there.) I'd like to end the event by, say, 3:30 PM or what ever you think. (Based on a 9:00 AM start time?) I beleive an off site lunch break will put a damper on our progress. Agree. Although I am self-contained for ITAR-grade coffee and have the bike-battered thermos to prove it. Try to keep everyone on-site. OPTION B. A modest donation requested. $20? That will get us coffee/tea/juice in the morning and Subway sandwiches (catered) with sodas at noonish, enjoyed in place (but not near one's satellite hardware, of course). The event goes through lunch unbroken. We will need a point of contact, actually two. One to collect the money and one to take care of the food, condiments, utinsils, cups, napkins, set up tables, etc. Can you volunteer yourself? Or better yet, have your wife/GF/significant other volunteer to work the food issues? That would be awesome! Simplify funds collection by linking registration to PayPal? Could work for me. Can't volunteer family for catering support. Option B.1: $5/$10 donation and we provide coffee & breakfast fat pills, soda. People encouraged to pack a bag lunch or they needed to lose some weight anyway. OPTION C. If we request a donation for admission, then "what if" it is structured? That is, shall we consider a main donation of, say, $25 for "normal" admission, and a lesser fee for either students or for those who bring at least three ("significant") hardware items to set up, show and discuss with others? The lifeblood of this event will be having at least ten stations set up for show and tell. Perhaps an offset of the requested donation amount will encourage people to bring stuff. Thoughts?? Hmmm - interesting idea. I'd bring a setup anyway. OPTION D. Shall we hold one or more raffles or silent auctions? That is, shall we invest in a FUNcube Dongle Pro+, an ARROW antenna or an Elk antenna and then make available raffle tickets? Or a written auction with a minimum donation request? If so, we will need a volunteer to run with this. (I can offer some seed money and accept some risk, but I need to delegate this to a trustworthy individual.) Volunteer? Thoughts? I like this idea. I may have some decent equipment to donate (I recently acquired a FCD Pro+, so I have the old FC available if I ever manage to find it!). I could make a contribution towards acquiring an Elk. Do you think AMSAT-NA, Elk, Arrow, AMSAT-UK would donate one or more items? The donation could even be a coupon good for 1 of the relevant item, so no cost to the vendor unless it actually "sells". If we have any items leftover, will there be an AMSAT table at the Baltimore 'fest? I have no personal preference for silent auction vs. raffle. Any leftover dollars can be either donated directly back to AMSAT-NA or invested in needs for a workshop next year. I'd lean towards the donation to AMSAT-NA unless you think we have someplace to place the remaining funds. I would not want to be responsible for securing the balance for 12 months. 4. It looks like we are set with the date of Saturday, March 23, with no rain date. We can still set the time. Open doors at 9:00 AM for those who need to set up? With the "program" to begin at 10:00 AM? Or later? Shall we advertise that the program ends at 3:30 PM? Or earlier? Or later? I think I'm good with that date. I am busy 3/24 (Sunday, running the Reston Half-Marathon, assuming my knees hold up for the next 12 weeks. I realize this belies the stereotypical physically inactive ham/geek. What can I say?), but looks like I can be available all day 3/23. I'd go with 10AM program start, 3:30 wrapup (everyone out by 4-4:30). Could be persuaded to go with a 9AM start (8AM setup). Does GSFC place limits on in/out times? 5. Shall we solicit formal talks or presentations too? (I was not planning this initially.) Limit the talk time to ten minutes? Sixty minutes? Then we ought to delegate an individual to coordinate the presenters in advance? Volunteer? Maybe one or 2. Keep the focus on 1-on-1 idea exchanges and the show & tells. Question would be if it was beginner-focused, or something more "advanced". Otherwise, No formal talks, but allow individuals to address the group as issues come up at the tables? No volunteer needed to coordinate this. I can probably do it on the fly during the event. 6. I will set up a table with my humble but growing portable satellite station on the evening before the event. Would anyone like to join me, either to move MY gear, or move in YOUR own gear? That way, I/we will be free in the morning to help or direct others as needed. Beltway traffic on Fridays. I can be there early on Saturday; but Friday's are usually difficult (unless Ellen wants to go to the West Coast Swing party at Cherry Hill and we can get there for a little while before hand. So don't count on me for this.). 7. We want this to be a successful workshop. What other important framework item needs to be discussed? Publicity. I can talk it up at LARG and SPARC (Loudoun, Sterling). Do we have any contacts for AMRAD, other clubs? I don't know the groups in DC and MD. Website for status, publicity. Facebook page? Periodic mentions in AMSAT email/news, ARRL web site. Thoughts? What I am thinking of doing: * Arrow on tripod (if I get really motivated, convert a bike trailer setup I've been thinking about for VA QSO Party HF mobile). * 2M Cheap Yagi (+70cm if I ever get around to building it!) * FT817 * Maybe my FT857 (allows full duplex linear ops, unless I score an 817 at Vienna Winterfest or figure out how to use an FCD w SatPC32 for RX) * Outboard amp (just in case, yah know) * Funcube Dongle Pro+ (need to get it working) * Netbook running SatPC32 If I get really motivated, sawhorse mounted yaesu az/el + 2M yagi + 70cm circ-polarized (obviously not bike-portable!) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com<mailto:ks1g04@gmail.com> <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com<http://gmail.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

FW: Suborbital Flight Opportunities for Small Spacecraft Technologies
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 11 Dec '12

11 Dec '12

FYI From: Yost, Bruce D (ARC-R)[IPA-ARC] Sent: Monday, December 10, 2012 7:39 PM Subject: Suborbital Flight Opportunities for Small Spacecraft Technologies Subject: Suborbital Flight Opportunities for Small Spacecraft Technologies To: Small Spacecraft Technologists: This note is to bring your attention to an open solicitation from NASA's Flight Opportunities Program. They are extending the proposal submission deadline to January 17, 2013 for the next selection of projects to fly on parabolic aircraft flights, high altitude balloon flights, and suborbital flights (AFO #6). The parabolic aircraft flights provide 25-second periods of microgravity that are repeated up to 40 times on each flight. During those periods of microgravity, subsystems or entire small spacecraft can be tested inside the aircraft cabin. Likewise, high-altitude balloon and suborbital flights can expose test units to an external environment approaching the conditions of space. Proposals will be selected based on their merit, as described in the solicitation, and although no funding is provided for project or payload development, the flight opportunity is provided at no cost to the research team. This could be an excellent opportunity for small spacecraft technology teams with relatively mature hardware to validate their systems in near-space conditions. It could also provide an opportunity to test new innovations in spacecraft design. We encourage you to consider this opportunity. For more information please see: https://flightopportunities.nasa.gov/afo The article at the link below includes some examples of recent parabolic flight-testing that involved small spacecraft technology. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/zero-g-flight-honors-armstrong.… Small Spacecraft Technology Program

1 0

AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013 Proposed
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

I WISH TO PROPOSE the AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop 2013, to take place on Saturday, March 23, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. It will be a nearly all-day event. "Workshop on Portable Satellite Ground Stations" ... is the title, where attendees will learn about and develop their own portable ground station and show off their wares which will feature one or more of the following: 1. One's own laptop computer, with appropriate software installed, such as for satellite tracking, SDR receiver control, antenna control (optional), audio recording and any other apps, for example. 2. The FUNcube Dongle Pro receiver or equivalent, emphasizing *receiving* and not including the transmit side at this particular time. See the links below for ideas about software, receivers and antennas. 3. Antennas for 146 MHz and 436 MHz with a mounting means, such as on a camera tripod, small mast, homebrew PVC, or other portable creation. Your antennas can be either the Arrow, Elk or equivalent, or homebrew. Polarization linear or circular. Antenna Az-El movement can be by hand or controller (manual activating or automated, fully or partially). Everything, or almost everything, ought to be designed to run from a 12-volt source of your choosing. Additional details will be determined by a small humble steering committee that YOU can influence early on. And speaking of that, . . . May I include you, among others, on my steering committee? If not, that's okay, but I need to know if you'd like to participate. Can you bring in some gear to assemble and to show off to others attending? Perhaps we could meet in person, telecon by phone, or by EchoLink conferencing soon as a group to further outline this event? Foremost, if needed, an alternate date can be selected, from either March 9 or 16, or moved into April on a Saturday AFTER the Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest of April 6, as long as we decide in the next week or two. Are you in?? Can you help organize? Or attend? What might you bring? Thoughts? Thanks, Pat Kilroy N8PK amsat area coordinator Links for antenna ideas: http://arrowantennas.com/ http://www.elkantennas.com/ http://www.g6lvb.com/homebrewarrow.htm http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/crow/index.php http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/Az_El_Pos.pdf http://www.wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/downloads/iROTOR.pdf http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Satellite-Handbook/ http://ac6v.com/antprojects.htm Links for software ideas: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/software.php http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/ http://www.moetronix.com/spectravue.htm http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/resguide.pdf http://sdrsharp.com/ Links for receiver ideas: http://www.funcubedongle.com/ http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/sats_faq.html http://www.funcubedongle.com/MyImages/SpectravueConfigurationForFCD.pdf http://sdrsharp.com/ "People don't care about how much we know, until they know how much we care." - Jack Vieira Outreach: http://simsat.net/

2 1

AMSAT Net Tomorrow Eve (Tuesday)
by Pat Kilroy 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fieldops/events.php ------------------------------------------------- THE AMSAT-NA EAST COAST net is listed on HF for Tuesday evenings 9:00 PM local on 3.840 MHz. Does anyone know the recent status of this net? Who is usually the NCS? Are there many check-ins? How long does it normally last? I am not on 75/80-meters right now, so if you are -- and available -- then I'd love to visit you and your shack just to check in and see what's happening. That is, if you can get on 3.840 moble/portable/fixed someplace between where I work (Greenbelt, MD) and where I live (Sykesville, MD), including along the way (like Columbia, MD). FYI, I am on 40m & above at home, so I will likely try the AMSAT-International net on Sunday at 2:00 PM EST on 14.282 MHz, and then EchoLink, but I don't wanna get ahead of myself on 75/80 now. Thoughts? Thanks, Pat Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/nets.php

1 0

Does anyone have a faraday cage that I could borrow?
by Samudra Haque 25 Oct '12

25 Oct '12

Hi AMSAT and AMRAD folks, I would like to inquire if any experimenter has a RF faraday cage locally around Washington, DC. Is it portable, and/or would you let me use it ? I am conducting EMC investigations at GWU in the area of micro cathode arc thrusters and would like to test the various systems we are developing. I am a Ph.D student in Aerospace Engineering at present. 73 Samudra N3RDX

1 0

Attention Harbor Freight Shoppers!
by Daniel Schultz 27 Sep '12

27 Sep '12

We've all shopped at Harbor Freight. It seems they have a new competitor, "Hazard Fraught Tools". Here is their latest flier: http://hooniverse.com/2012/09/24/truth-in-advertising-hazard-fraught-tools/… Dan Schultz N8FGV

1 0

OPEN HOUSE INVITATION and Fwd: [WA3NAN] GARC Success on ARISS Contact Thursday, September 13
by Pat Kilroy 14 Sep '12

14 Sep '12

http://tinyurl.com/9q939u3 There are a bunch of AMSAT members to thank for their support of our ARISS contact yesterday in Greenbelt. See link below. YOU ARE INVITED. Please come to our club Open House at our new station location next week, Wednesday, September 19, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM for fun, free food, friendship, and thanks. Text of invitation and DIRECTIONS are given way below. Cheers, Pat N8PK -----Original Message----- -------------------------------------------------------------- This message traffic is of, by and for members and friends of the NASA Goddard Amateur Radio Club (GARC) and WA3NAN. -------------------------------------------------------------- THE FIRST VIDEO from our successful ARISS contact yesterday was released. More pictures and videos will follow later. Great job, team! The Goddard Amateur Radio Club (GARC) made a major impact around the Center by supporting this event! At our Open House next week on Wednesday we will again thank those members who volunteered their support to our success. For now, please enjoy this link. (CTV) Prince George's Co. Community TV: http://tinyurl.com/9q939u3 Please feel free to share this with your family and friends. Cheers, Pat N8PK ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ----------------------------------------- "People don't care about how much we know, until they know how much we care." - Jack Vieira Outreach: http://simsat.net/ ----- Goddard Amateur Radio Club (GARC) OPEN HOUSE ? NEW AMATEUR RADIO STATION Wednesday, September 19, 2012; 5:30 PM ? 7:30 PM EDT at the new club trailers in Area 100 next to the softball fields YOU ARE INVITED Free food, friendly people! Bring a friend or family member! (No security badges needed at Site 100) DIRECTIONS >From the NASA main campus, exit the north gate on Hubble Road to Soil Conservation Road. Go north to Beaver Dam Road and turn right (east). Proceed about one mile to the softball fields/Area 100 gate entrance on the right (?B? on map). Drive through gate and back to the right; pass through the softball fields; look for the tall antenna poles and Club trailers on the right. Call Tom Capon at (301) 286-4210 for more info. Hams: Talk in on repeater WA3NAN, 146.835 MHz, no pl tone. ---------------------------------------------------- Visit our Web site at http://wa3nan.net CQ CQ CQ DE WA3NAN ? Calling all persons who want to find friends locally and around the world, share interests in communications technology, provide related community services and education opportunities. Already a ham? - Please join us for our Weekly Information Net every Thursday night at 9:00 PM local time on the GARC repeater WA3NAN/R on 146.835 MHz FM or via EchoLink. ? New to Amateur Radio? We sponsor classes and can help you get your license. Morse Code is no longer a requirement. ? Interested in digital comm, electronics, antennas, building projects? We have a lab with bench space and test equipment. ? Interested in DX, QRP, Rag Chewing, Field Day operations, contests, demonstrations, Amateur Radio contacts with the International Space Station (ARISS), going to Hamfests? ? We do that too! ? Related member activities in High-Altitude balloon experiments, satellite telemetry and tracking, radio controlled model aircraft, emergency communications, and solar power. -- ##-- ----------------------------------------------------

1 0

live video stream link for Cubesat Summer Workshop 2012
by Samudra Haque 12 Aug '12

12 Aug '12

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cubesat-summer-workshop-2012 Hi, from USU. Samudra N3RDX (202) 812-3325

1 0

Does anyone have an LVB tracker locally?
by Stephan Greene 24 Jun '12

24 Jun '12

As in a reasonable distance from Northern Virginia/DC area. I am going to add automated tracking to my station (G5400B az/el rotors), probably one of the LVB Trackers AMSAT-NA sells. When I tried a rotor controller back in the AO-13/40 days, (I do not recall which controller - may have had a serial or parallel port dongle), I recall there was a problem with the signal from one of the rotors (azimuth?) causing the controller to go into a reset mode and traverse to pointing south - possible an intermittent in the position sensor. The analog meters on the Yaesu controller do not show any problems, and the rotors have been working well over the past several weeks and the just-concluded Field Day. If possible, I'd like to verify my rotors and an LVB will get along well together before making the purchase, by testing the controller with my system. I can bring the rotor and a PC to your QTH, so you don't even have to let yours out of your sight. Replies to ks1g(a)amsat.org. 73 Steve KS1G -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

AMSAT-DC RE: IC-821 and SatPC32 weirdness solved
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 18 Jun '12

18 Jun '12

Hi Steve, Thanks for the follow up. Very helpful! Good luck in the contest! Cheers, Pat N8PK -----Original Message----- Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2012 3:00 PM To: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org RE: IC-821 and SatPC32 weirdness solved (Stephan Greene) From: Stephan Greene <ks1g04(a)gmail.com> Re: my message from the other day....problem was in the radio. Somehow the satellite mode had become set such that the repeater offsets (+600 kHz or -5 MHz depending on band) activated on my uplink whenever SatPC32 sent a doppler frequency change during transmitting. Made it hard to find my signal, let alone make QSOs with computer control of frequency. Manual control of the radio worked fine. Go figure. Full reset of the radio has solved the problem. Easily found my downlinks and made QSOs on AO-7 Mode B and VO-52 Mode B earlier this evening with computer control of my radio. Boy - do I wish I took the time to figure out how to do that! Lesson: Problems with computer control of a radio are not always the fault of the computer or software. For those who have seen my old garden-cart backyard portable AO-13 system, I'm reusing pieces of it. Same Yaesu G5400, but on a sawhorse this time, bottom section of the 70cm HyGain satellite antenna, and a 4 element KLM yagi I had for 2M. Landwher and ARR preamps, although I don't really need it on 2M and using it results in a S5-6 noise level on 2M when the antennas are pointing at my house or the neighbors. Now if I could just do something about all the trees my everyone (including me!) planted over the past 10+ years. Nice to be back on the birds! 73, Steve KS1G ks1g(a)amsat.org --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

Equipment Racks Available
by A.J. Farmer 07 Jun '12

07 Jun '12

All, I have several 42U equipment cabinets which are suitable for rack mount radio equipment or desktop type equipment on a shelf; perfect for a repeater site or for organizing your radios or test equipment. They are also good for server and networking equipment (their original intent). Dimensions are 24" wide x 40" deep, by 78" tall. I have them for sale on eBay, Craiglist, and local classifieds, but I am more than happy to donate to a club or individual that needs one. Let me know if you have any interest as they are going fast. Available for pickup in Hollywood, MD A.J. Farmer, AJ3U

1 0

IC-821 and SatPC32 weirdness solved
by Stephan Greene 06 Jun '12

06 Jun '12

Re: my message from the other day....problem was in the radio. Somehow the satellite mode had become set such that the repeater offsets (+600 kHz or -5 MHz depending on band) activated on my uplink whenever SatPC32 sent a doppler frequency change during transmitting. Made it hard to find my signal, let alone make QSOs with computer control of frequency. Manual control of the radio worked fine. Go figure. Full reset of the radio has solved the problem. Easily found my downlinks and made QSOs on AO-7 Mode B and VO-52 Mode B earlier this evening with computer control of my radio. Boy - do I wish I took the time to figure out how to do that! Lesson: Problems with computer control of a radio are not always the fault of the computer or software. For those who have seen my old garden-cart backyard portable AO-13 system, I'm reusing pieces of it. Same Yaesu G5400, but on a sawhorse this time, bottom section of the 70cm HyGain satellite antenna, and a 4 element KLM yagi I had for 2M. Landwher and ARR preamps, although I don't really need it on 2M and using it results in a S5-6 noise level on 2M when the antennas are pointing at my house or the neighbors. Now if I could just do something about all the trees my everyone (including me!) planted over the past 10+ years. Nice to be back on the birds! 73 Steve KS1G ks1g(a)amsat.org -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

Need SatPC32 troubleshooting help
by Stephan Greene 04 Jun '12

04 Jun '12

Getting back onto the satellites in prep for Field Day (and I've had my 1st QSOs on AO-7, SO-50, and this evening, VO-52 - yay!). Running into weirdness now with SatPC32 controlling the transmit frequency on my Icom 821. This is one of those, "well' I think it WAS working correctly" situations (and no I don't know what I did, if anything, to bugger it up). Or it may have always been there and I didn't notice it until I started trying more passes and closer to max elevation/max rate of doppler shift. While transmitting, when the program sends the radio a frequency correction (due to any combination of doppler and uplink tuning via the screen controls), the transmit frequency shifts 5 MHz down on 70cm (at least on AO-7, down from 435.x to 430.x) and up 1MHz (145.x to 146.x) when the uplink is on 2M. Goes back to normal after I stop transmitting and wait for the next correction, or toggle CAT control off and back on. So far, I've seen this on at least AO-7 and VO-52, and confirmed it on the FO-29 settings. Frustrating - I now have to switch off the radio control and find my d/l the old fashioned-way. Radio is otherwise responding to CAT commands normally. The RX frequency is unchanged throughout. Radio is configured in satellite-R mode, main band as d/l and sub-band as u/l. I've tried different settings of baud rate and CAT command delay without effect. I also tried a 100% uninstalling and reinstalling SatPC32 (pretty sure everything cleared because I had to reconfig the program from scratch) without stopping this behavior. Version is latest (SatPC32 12.8b), registered (AMSAT-NA of course), running on Windows7 64 (run it as administrator from my user account). CAT control of the radio is otherwise fine, addresses for main & sub bands appear correct, CAT baud rate is 19k2, and CAT delay is 70, "use sattelite mode" box is checked. Slower baud rates and longer delays did not clear the problem. RF feedback into the control cable (USB with built in serial converter) is plausible (I get some pickup on the PC speakers on 2M, full power), not sure I have a good way to test for that. Assuming I don't find and fix the problem 5 seconds after I hit "send", any suggestions to fix? The problem is very repeatable and very frustrating. Thanks & 73 Steve KS1G -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Greene ks1g04(a)gmail.com <kay ess one gee zero four>@gmail.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0

Who is driving out to the Dayton Hamvention? Space Day is May 5 at Udvar-Hazy Center
by Perry Klein 29 Apr '12

29 Apr '12

Dave Sumner just delivered ARRL's operating OSCAR 1 and CubeSat models to me to demonstrate on Space Day next Saturday, May 5 from 10 - 3 at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. We are supposed to return them to ARRL at the Dayton Hamvention. Is anyone driving to Dayton with room to carry these precious packages? Everyone is invited to Space Day. It's a good chance to see the Shuttle Discovery which will be featured. Parking is $15, but if you're willing to help with the AMSAT display, we should be able to arrange free parking. 73, Perry, W3PK w3pk(a)amsat.org

1 0

Dee Interdonato, NB2F
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 16 Apr '12

16 Apr '12

The notice below came as a shock to me. Dee was a good friend to many fellow AMSAT members in the greater Maryland-DC area. You may leave a message to his wife Ginny at the guestbook noted below or just offer good thoughts. Dee will be surely missed by me and many. -Pat ---------------------------------------------- SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-106.01 ANS-099 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 106.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. April 15, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-106.01 [snip] Silent Key: Dee Interdonato, NB2F AMSAT has received the sad news of the passing of Dee Interdonato, NB2F on April 8, 2012. Dee was one of the editors of the AMSAT News Service and an AMSAT New Jersey Area Coordinator. He was the main point of contact for many amateurs as he covered most of the New Jersey hamfests on behalf of AMSAT. Dee was one of the mainstay vol- unteers for AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention for years. He also gave satellite presentations for the clubs in New Jersey. Dee helped where ever he could, often behind the scenes. He worked on QSL duties for SAREX, ARISS, and ARISSat-1 missions so many of you have likely received a card from him. Dee was a well known and respected mentor for amateur satellite oper- tors, helping them understand the technical details and make success- ful radio contacts via satellites. Dee's other amateur radio activities in Northern New Jersey included the Bergen Amateur Radio Association, Bergen County CERT, AMSAT, and he was the treasurer of the Bergen County FM Association. Dee, and his wife Ginny, N2EYN always participated in the Dayton Hamvention and AMSAT Symposiums. Dee was the principal trumpet player for the Rutherford Community Band and a member of the Waldwick and Westwood Community Bands. He was also an avid hunter and a member of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs. Before retiring he was the supervisor of the Radio Shop of the Port Authority of NY/NJ. The funeral was held on Friday, April 13 in his hometown of Lodi, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Rd., Suite 100, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 or AMSAT, 850 Sligo Road, Suite 600, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Dee Interdonato, NB2F obituary: http://tinyurl.com/NB2F-Obituary (santangelofuneralhome.com) Guestbook for Dee Interdonato, NB2F http://tinyurl.com/NB2F-Guestbook (santangelofuneralhome.com) [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- [snip] /EX [snip] Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. And with that please keep in mind the memory of ANS Editor Dee Interdonato, NB2F who became a Silent Key this week. This was Dee's week for the bulletins. Take a moment and wish him 73 and offer thanks for all Dee did for AMSAT. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org _______________________________________________ Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

1 0

FW: Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Goddard, Land in Virginia
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

FYI, more details on Space Shuttle Discovery fly over. You DON'T want to miss it! -n8pk From: GSFC-Communications Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 2:37 PM To: GSFC-DL-ALL Subject: Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Goddard, Land in Virginia Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Goddard En Route to Virginia On Tuesday, April 17, bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets to the Goddard Mall (grass area in front of Building 8) at 10:00 a.m. for a celebration of human spaceflight as we watch Space Shuttle Discovery fly over Goddard's Greenbelt campus. The flight is contingent upon weather, so check the Center-wide e-mail that will be disseminated the morning of Tuesday, April 17 for confirmation of the event and additional event details. The flyover is expected to occur by 11:00 a.m. Share Your Images of Space Shuttle Discovery Bring your camera to the viewing of Space Shuttle Discovery's flyover on the Goddard Mall and then share your images with the Office of Communications. We will publish a photo slideshow on the Goddard homepage<http://www.nasa.gov/goddard> and Goddard's Flickr<http://www.flickr.com/groups/discoverygoddard/>(r) page following the event. Selected images will also be featured in Goddard View. You can upload your images to the Goddard Flickr<http://www.flickr.com/groups/discoverygoddard/>(r) Group or you can Webdrive<https://webdrive.gsfc.nasa.gov/trader.html> your images using the GSFC file transfer system. Or, you can e-mail your pictures to earthsciencephoto(a)gmail.com Details of Space Shuttle Discovery's Flight NASA's acclaimed Space Shuttle Discovery will take its final flight aboard a modified Boeing 747 en route to its new home at the National Air and Space Museum's Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. As Discovery approaches, the National Air and Space Museum will update its Web site<http://discovery.si.edu/> with Discovery's current location and will provide that information to local radio stations. Smithsonian Activities at the Udvar-Hazy Center, April 17-22 The Space Shuttle Discovery activities do not end with the fly over on Tuesday, April 17. In celebration of Discovery's arrival, the Smithsonian Institute, in collaboration with NASA, plans to host a series of inspirational and educational events, exhibits, and activities through Sunday, April 22 at the Udvar-Hazy Center. After the week's activities, Discovery, NASA's longest-serving orbiter that has flown more missions than any other shuttle, will continue to be on permanent display at the Udvar-Hazy Center. For information on the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, check out: http://www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy. Additional Information The primary resource for Discovery arrival activity information is at the National Air and Space Museum's special Web site: http://discovery.si.edu. For information on Space Shuttle Discovery, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/orbitersdis.…. Questions can be directed to Amy Pruett<mailto:Amy.E.Pruett@nasa.gov>, the Office of Communications.

1 0

Thank You in Timonium & Followup
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 12 Apr '12

12 Apr '12

Announcing AMSAT results of the GBHC.org Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest: THE HAMFEST IN TIMONIUM, Maryland, a week or two ago (forgive me, I just got back from a family vacation) was fantastic, in fact, much better than I imagined it would be! I offer a big THANK YOU to KEN PERKO, WA3WHE (recently retired from NASA HQ and the longtime Goddard microwave branch head, Code 567), and DAVE TAYLOR, W8AAS (longtime ARISS school contact coordinator and ground station K6DUE operator), who helped me run the huge AMSAT booth and displays. What a team! We had a really good turn out for the new one-day-only event this year. I personally had a great time. Ken and Dave claimed the same! We got to see a lot of old friends who stopped by, made some new friends, took a few photos, received a lot of donations and AMSAT membership renewals, chatted with many and showed off demos, including one of the FUNcube Dongle Pro in action on a big screen. A big hit! I expect to submit a photo or two to the editors of the AMSAT Journal in case they wish to share it widely. Let's do it again next year. Tentative date: Saturday, April 6, 2013 Don't miss it! Respectfully submitted, Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area -----Original Message----- Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:15:58 -0500 From: patrick.l.kilroy(a)nasa.gov To: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-dc] Enjoy the Hamfest ... The AMSAT booth will be in the Cow Palace. We will have Dave Taylor, W8AAS, and Ken Perko, WA3WHE, staffing the booth with me! Do drop in! See details below. And see Bob WB4APR's message way below too. 73 de Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator (one of 'em) -------------------------------------------- Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest Saturday, March 31, 2012 (Now one day only!) Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds 2200 York Road Timonium, Maryland 21093 Served by MD 45 (York Rd), Interstate 83 (I-83), and the Timonium Light Rail stop. Admission $9 per person. The Baltimore Amateur Radio Club (BARC), sponsor of The GBH&C, targets Amateur Radio and electronics enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds. The Maryland State Fairgrounds is located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic Region and adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay attracting civilian, government, and military attendees from Maine to Florida every year. The show has one building with Commercial and Flea Market style vendors. It is Saturday ONLY from 7am to 3pm for attendees. No need to worry about rain or inclement weather, the entire show will be indoors, the building will also be heated if necessary. Food will be available for purchase. There is free parking available in the Midway of the Fairgrounds and limited handicapped parking. HANDICAPPED PARKING IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED! No additional spaces will be reserved. Door prizes will be given throughout the day and you must be present to win. DXCC, WAS and VUCC card checking will be available from 9 am to 12 pm and VE Exams will be held at the nearby Crowne Plaza Hotel. Talk-in on 146.670 MHz- (PL 107.2) The show will be held rain or shine and is one of the largest shows on the East Coast. Even more info at: http://www.gbhc.org Do not miss this event. -------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2012 Baltimore Amateur Radio Club -------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: ARRL Members Only Web site [mailto:memberlist@www.arrl.org] Sent: Friday, March 30, 2012 10:33 AM To: Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) Subject: Timonium Hamfest Tomorrow and Info on a Balloon Launch * Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest * Trackers needed for balloon launch ===> Tomorrow from 7am to 3pm is the Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest. Card checking will be available for DXCC, WAS, and VUCC from 9am - 12pm. There will a Laurel Amateur Radio Club VE Test Session at the Crowne Plaza Hotel 2004 Greenspring Drive, Timonium, Md beginning at 9am. Saturday, March 31, 2012 Greater Baltimore Hamboree & Computerfest Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds 2200 York Road Timonium, MD Website: www.gbhc.org Sponsor: Baltimore Amateur Radio Club Type: ARRL Hamfest Talk-In: 146.67 (Pl 107.2) Public Contact: Bill Dobson, N3WD PO Box 120 Reisterstown, MD 21136 Phone: 443-590-1444 Email: w3ft67(a)yahoo.com Note: The Maryland Emergency Phone Net, MEPN, will hold it's meeting at this hamfest. The precise location and time is to be announced. Listen at 6:00 PM EST daily on 3820 kHz for details. ******************************* ===> Here's a request from TC Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for folks to track a balloon launch . . . We are launching a balloon from US Naval Academy tonight Thursday 29 March about 6:30 PM which will have only a CW beacon on 28.223 MHz (Dial USB). We will depend on DF bearings and signal strength to track it. It will only be at about 16,000 feet, no where near the normal height of balloons. But it could last 10 days. See details on http://aprs.org/balloons.html WB4APR, Bob -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Maryland-DC Section Section Manager: James E Cross III, WI3N wi3n(a)arrl.org --------------------------------------------------------------------

1 0