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

Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest - ARRL MD State Convention
by Martha 03 Feb '11

03 Feb '11

The 2011 Greater Baltimore Hamboree and Computerfest, one of the largest events of its kind in the Mid-Atlantic area is on March 26 & 27th. It is also the ARRL MD State Convention. Would/Could anyone volunteer to "man" the booth? -- 73- Martha

1 0

Spring Meeting
by Bruce Semple 03 Feb '11

03 Feb '11

Hello Pat - I like the idea of building something - the SDR kits are intriguing - however I noticed that most of them utilize SMT components. I have yet to build anything utilizing SMTs. Will there be someone there who can help the SMT neophytes out if they want to attempt one of these projects? just to get the discussion rolling ... Bruce WA3SWJ

1 0

A Spring 2011 Gathering?
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 01 Feb '11

01 Feb '11

Hi, How have you been? I will participate in organizing another AMSAT-DC workshop this spring or summer if there is enough interest. To hold a workshop we need firm support and action in all three categories of planning, conducting and attending/attendance. Focus: To BUILD AND TEST something. Pick one from the following: 1. a PICetSat II flight module on a printed (thru-hole) circuit board of my design similar to that module shown at http://simsat.net/carrollsat/ or 2. the SDR SoftRock Ensemble RXTX transceiver of a tried and true design, as shown at http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble/ or 3. the BETA model SoftRock VHF receiver as shown at http://www.wb5rvz.com/sdr/ensemble_rx_ii_vhf/ or 4. the SDR Cube transceiver as shown at http://www.sdr-cube.com/ or 5. a photovoltaic system battery charging regulator for two 12V deep-cycle 90AH batteries for an array size of TBD at a cost of under TBD. However, we will need a knowledgeable volunteer to contact me ASAP to lead this Emergency Communications task. Such a workshop for any of these five projects will take nearly a whole day on which to make good progress. We need a free or low cost place. (I have a free facility in GSFC Greenbelt which I can obtain for us but it will require passing through Security like we did for our workshop last time.) BUT, . . . Is there enough interest? PLEASE RESPOND soon, by Tuesday, February 7, 5 PM, to this public amsat-dc list (preferred) or privately (to me at n8pk(a)amsat.org). I will need good help, a good team. It can be a great time. A great opportunity! Please pass the word. Will you help or attend? What part or parts? Can you provide actionable intelligence? :) Or thoughts? Thank you! Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area P.S. For anyone who wishes to conduct a gathering of topics/discussion/papers/showNtell like that of yester-year then I will help as an advisor, facility option provider and an MC, but you will plan and conduct all other operations. Any takers? Serious inquiries only on this particular topic, please. ----------------------------------------- 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 ----------------------------------------- "Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life." - Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Outreach: http://simsat.net/

1 0

CQ ex-GWU ham radio operators
by Samudra Haque 27 Jan '11

27 Jan '11

Hello, I am a graduate student at the mech and aerospace engineering dept at George Washington University. I did some investigation, and am continuing to find information about the old GWU ham radio station that evidently was on the 4th floor (ECE Dept) situated in Tompkins Hall utilizing an HF beam and 2M dual polarization multielement yagi. Does anybody have the history of this station? I haven't gone up to that roof top location yet (weather issues) but both of the masts seem to have a rotator. The RF coax cables are last reported "seen" 10 years ago, and led to a room on the 4th floor (or perhaps 3rd floor). The roof top height + mast height might be approximately 10 stories from ground level. I'm interesting in getting info from former GWU students who may still be active hams/amsat members if they remember if any equipment was left around the place, in a closet somewhere and what the specs of the system were when the station was active. If you are a current ham and attend classes at the Foggy Bottom campus, please contact me, I'm trying to organize a request to School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to let me restart using the rooftop for ham radio and amateur satellite ground station operation. For reference: Google Earth KMZ attached Google Earth Snapshot attached Any ideas? Regards, Samudra, N3RDX

1 0

utility/educational electronic kits for sale cheap - source located (Kensington, MD)
by Samudra Haque 01 Dec '10

01 Dec '10

Hi Amrad, Amsat folks. Some of you may appreciate picking up a few of these utility electronic kits, for yourself, or your younger generation SWL/DX and ham radio friends: they are all useful for your radio shack. I am planning to pick up a few myself if I have the time. Perhaps we could pool together a purchase lot? Please contact the original seller, Robert Lavoie for purchase: sale-r3rbj-2087904408(a)craigslist.org Huge assortment of Velleman/CanaKit audio kits, factory fresh in sealed original boxes, unopened. original buyer, perfect for audio hobbyists or electronics minded. There are literally over 80 kits in this assortment, everything from power supply kits to audio amplifiers, led displays, etc. Retail value of these items today exceeds $2000.00. Liquidation. Could make excellent XMAS gift(s). Individual kits are available. Also available are numerous Radio Shack black ABS project boxes, Calrad VU meters, potentiometers, Plitron low voltage toroidal transformers, many values, lots and lots of stuff. All negotiable Might be good for a school or laboratory for electronics. All prices negotiable . Velleman K2637 Super Mini 2.5 watt audio amplifier (quantity 21) current retail $12.50 Velleman MK 138 Thermostat (quantity 1) Velleman K4001 7 watt audio amplifier (quantity 2) current retail 14.69 Velleman MK 105 signal generator (quantity 7) current retail $5.23 Velleman K2570 universal pwr supply 5-14 volts (quantity 6) current retail $16.15 Velleman K2573 Stereo RIAA correction kit (quantity 3) current retail $14.73 Velleman KK4102 guitar preamplifier/headphone amp (quantity 7) current retail $32.77 Velleman K2032 3 digit panle meter (quantity 3) current retail $55.90 Velleman K4900 telephone amplifier (quantity 4) current retail $14.15 Velleman K1823 1 amp pwr supply (quantity 1) current reail $12.31 Velleman K4003 2 by 30 watt stereo amplifier (quantity 2) current retail $28.00 Velleman K2579 stop/start timer (quantity 1) current retail $ 13.38 Velleman K6001 temperature sensor kit (quantity 1) current retail $22.92 Velleman K7203 3-30 volt/ 3 ampere pwr supply (quantity 3) current retail $43.54 Cana Kit UK 193 20 watt bridged audio amplifier ( quantity 2) current retail $35.90 Cana Kit UK 205 mini sine wave generator (quantity 2) current retail $17.95 Cana Kit R 290 2 by 35 watt RMS audio amplifier (quantity 9) current retail $70.00 Cana Kit CK 161 10 watt amplifer w.microphone preamplifer (quantity 1) current retail $22.95 Cana Kit UK 3405 + -- 5 volts/300 and 100 ma pwr supply (qunatity 2) current retail $10.00 Cana Kit CK008 dynamic microphone amplifier (quantity 2) current retail $13.95 Cana Kit R146 advanced stereo tone control (bass/treble.volume/pan) (quantity 1) current retail $26.45 Cana Kit CK 104 SQ 5 led VU display (quantity 1) current retail $12.95 Cana Kit CK 151 2.5 watt microphone preamplifier (quantity 3) current retail $17.95 73 de N3RDX

1 0

CarrollSat-2 Debrief & Next Flight Planning Reminder
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

High-Altitude Balloon Experiment Results and More . . . A MEETING REMINDER Our follow up meeting is on! The CarrollSat-2 "post-mortem" meeting and a planning session for the next flight will be held this Saturday afternoon, November 20, in the large conference room at the Eldersburg Public Library starting at 2:00 P.M. EST. You are invited! Go to http://simsat.net/carrollsat/ for details and directions. NOTES We recovered the "expendable" payload!! It will be on display. Tall stories to tell. This technical event is open to the public. You may in turn invite a friend, a student or a teacher. Carpooling is encouraged. PLEASE park across the street in the large shopping area lot! Pretty Please. Depending on attendance the meeting will last up to two hours, with provision for a wee bit more time if needed. Bring your Wi-Fi laptop, cell phone, net book, iPad, whatever. Free public Wi-Fi. Bring a USB thumb drive for yummy data and files that will be shared. Cameras and recording devices are welcome. The news media has been notified, both print and documentary video type groups. DISCLAIMER: Amateur Satellites, Technology, jargon, Microcontrollers, Ham radio, Computers, Education, software, STEM things and more will be spoken here. At the end we will entertain a motion to meet at a local restaurant immediately after if desired. Even taller stories to be telled. To Near Space and Beyond! Sincerely, Pat -----Original Message----- From: Kilroy, Patrick L. Subject: CarrollSat-2 Separate Followup Meeting Set Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 Importance: High At the recent Mason-Dixon Hamfest ... THE HIGH DRAMA of the balloon lift experiments and the ear-splitting interference on the downlink frequency competed ferociously to scrub our flight, but perseverance paid off. Big time! Not only did we achieve our mission objectives, not only did we soar to near space well above and beyond our goal altitude, but we set [TWO] national records -- 1st Place -- in [two categories] as well. We all have stories to tell! And many of you to thank. And a public to tell. So, we will hold a "CarrollSat-2 Debrief and Lessons Learned Meeting" soon and you are invited. Mark your calendar for Saturday afternoon, November 20, 2010 starting at 2:00 P.M. in Carroll County. Go to http://simsat.net/carrollsat/ for details and directions. Can you make it? Hope to see you then! Cheers, Pat Kilroy, N8PK SimSat P.I. ----------------------------------------- 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 ----------------------------------------- "Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life." - Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

1 0

O/OREOS amateur radio beacon info
by Samudra Haque 17 Nov '10

17 Nov '10

Hello AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DC, I have been requested to spread the word to the amateur community for the O/OREOS 3U cubesat to be launched this Friday on a Minotaur IV from Kodiak Island, relayed from Dr. Pascale Ehrenfreund of The George Washington University, Space Policy Institute. AX.25 437.305 MHz Beacon decoding information: http://beacon.engr.scu.edu/BeaconProcessingSystem/OOREOSBeaconDecoding.pdf If you are able to capture the beacon telemetry, please take the time to file a report at http://beacon.engr.scu.edu/Submission.aspx which is an interface to the Beacon Data Processing System. The O/OREOS project is co-sponsored by Santa Clara University, Ohlone College and NASA Note the same system is used for reporting beacon data from GeneSat, PharmaSat and NanoSail-D. I am interested to hear about your attempts, and discuss the results, on the AMSAT-NA list. 73 de N3RDX Samudra Haque

1 0

CarrollSat-2 Separate Followup Meeting Set
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 08 Nov '10

08 Nov '10

At the recent Mason-Dixon Hamfest ... THE HIGH DRAMA of the balloon lift experiments and the ear-splitting interference on the downlink frequency competed ferociously to scrub our flight, but perseverance paid off. Big time! Not only did we achieve our mission objectives, not only did we soar to near space well above and beyond our goal altitude, but we set a national ARHAB record -- 1st Place -- in a special category as well. We all have stories to tell! And many of you to thank. And a public to tell. So, we will hold a "CarrollSat-2 Debrief and Lessons Learned Meeting" soon and you are invited. Mark your calendar for Saturday afternoon, November 20, 2010 starting at 2:00 P.M. in Carroll County. Go to http://simsat.net/carrollsat/ for details and directions. Can you make it? Hope to see you then! Cheers, Pat Kilroy, N8PK SimSat P.I. 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

1 0

CarrollSat-2 Announcement Using PICetSat Module
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 08 Oct '10

08 Oct '10

News! http://simsat.net/carrollsat/ Looking for a few guys to help out on a few tasks . . . 1. Repeater Net Control Station for coordination. 2. Two guys to work together on balloon filling operations, flight train fabrication, payload (PICetSat module) attachment and hold for launch command. 3. Balloon Trajectory updating (Michael KB3UZS) 4. On site ground stations set up and operation. 5. Remote ground station operation (several) to capture data and share. 6. Beta Tester/builder for the next PICetSat I. 7. Down Range Safety Officer (needs to also recruit remote mobile stations to strategically place themselves downrange based on flight day balloon trajectory predictions) with mobile VHF and cell phone. 8. Help with set up and knock down at launch site. 9. Take pictures or video (several). Important. 10. Other tasks as needed or assigned. Any takers? Thoughts? Thanks, 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 ----------------------------------------- "Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life." - Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Outreach: http://simsat.net/

1 0

FW: Goddard CubeSat/SmallSat Workshop
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-5680) 08 Oct '10

08 Oct '10

Any one going to the GSFC CubeSat conference next week? I may be tied up in TMR prep meetings but wanted to make sure you knew about this gathering. I'm not sure how interesting it may be to those who are not either a NASA employee or contracting personnel, for any of a number of reasons. See below and attached. Cheers, Pat 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/<http://patkilroy.com/simsat> (outreach) From: owner-568all(a)listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov On Behalf Of Powell, Wesley A. (GSFC-5600) Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 7:43 AM To: 560all(a)listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov Subject: Goddard CubeSat/SmallSat Workshop Everyone, The Goddard CubeSat/Smallsat Workshop will be held next Wednesday (10/13) from 10AM-5PM in the B21-183 conference room. Please let me know if you plan to attend so we can get a head count. Thanks, Wes ___________________________ Wesley A. Powell Assistant Chief for Technology Electrical Engineering Division NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771 301.286.6069

1 0