January 2008 - Amsat-florida (INACTIVE)

Fw: [amsat-bb] ISS repeater
by Andrew Glasbrenner 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

This is by far the easiest voice satellite to hear with minimum antennas. Let's be sure to talk about this on the net tonight. Uplink: 437.8000 MHz FM Downlink 145.8000 MHz FM Remember you must tune the uplink for doppler shift, tune 5 to 10 khz low at the beginning of the pass (437.790, 437.795), and high at the end of the pass (437.805, 437.810). 73, Drew KO4MA -----Forwarded Message----- >From: Håkan Harrysson <sm7wsj(a)telia.com> >Sent: Jan 31, 2008 3:03 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS repeater > >Hello, > >Looks to me the ISS repeater was right now activated as i heard some strange activity on 145800. Short after that i heard UA1TDZ calling CQ. > >Lets hear from people along the path. > >73 Hakan SM7WSJ > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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AO-16 reconfigured.
by Andrew Glasbrenner 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Since AO-16 was recovered approximately 6 months ago, the command team has attempted to reload the satellite software almost a dozen times without success. Subsequently a series of memory tests were performed which points towards a hardware failure which prevents restarting the spacecraft software successfully. This team included Bruce Rahn WB9ANQ and Jim White WD0E advising Mark Hammond N8MH as the primary groundstation. Mark put in many early hours during the multiple reloads and test sessions, with Bruce, Jim, and others advising. Thank you to all involved for your hard work. After the conclusion that the spacecraft computer system was damaged and as discussions about decommissioning were taking place, Jim recalled a series of low level commands included in the spacecraft design by Tom Clark, K3IO during construction. One of these commands allows an uplink receiver to be directly tied to a downlink transmitter. The twist is that the uplink is regular FM but the downlink via the BPSK transmitter is DSB (Double Sideband). Mark placed the satellite in this mode early this week and some testing was undertaken. The satellite hears VERY well, and the reduced bandwidth by using either USB or LSB on the groundstation receiver allows for a very robust downlink. Tuning the downlink is just like on a linear transponder, meaning it is tight and with fast Doppler. Uplink tuning is not required, just as with the FM mode V/U satellites. QSOs were made between N8MH, WD4ASW, KO4MA, K5QXJ, and WA6FWF. My personal observations include being able to access and hear the satellite within one degree of the horizon, much lower than any other current bird for my QTH. This should be an easy satellite with omni antennas and a 70cm preamp. With that explanation, I'm happy to open the satellite to general use on voice for a test period. Please submit reports either to the -bb or to ao16(a)amsat.org . The uplink is 145.920 FM, and the downlink is 437.026 SSB +/- Doppler shift. Please restrict your uplink power to a reasonable level, and do not transmit without being able to hear the downlink. All the general single-channel guidelines apply. Enjoy this bird's new life! 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-16 reconfigured.
by stefan_wagener 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Excellent work by the team! Congratulations. Stefan, VE4NSA -----Original Message----- From: "amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> on behalf of "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 6:47 PM To: "pacops(a)amsat.org" <pacops(a)amsat.org>, "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Cc: "amsat-florida(a)amsat.org" <amsat-florida(a)amsat.org>, "ans-editor" <ans-editor(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-16 reconfigured. Since AO-16 was recovered approximately 6 months ago, the command team has attempted to reload the satellite software almost a dozen times without success. Subsequently a series of memory tests were performed which points towards a hardware failure which prevents restarting the spacecraft software successfully. This team included Bruce Rahn WB9ANQ and Jim White WD0E advising Mark Hammond N8MH as the primary groundstation. Mark put in many early hours during the multiple reloads and test sessions, with Bruce, Jim, and others advising. Thank you to all involved for your hard work. After the conclusion that the spacecraft computer system was damaged and as discussions about decommissioning were taking place, Jim recalled a series of low level commands included in the spacecraft design by Tom Clark, K3IO during construction. One of these commands allows an uplink receiver to be directly tied to a downlink transmitter. The twist is that the uplink is regular FM but the downlink via the BPSK transmitter is DSB (Double Sideband). Mark placed the satellite in this mode early this week and some testing was undertaken. The satellite hears VERY well, and the reduced bandwidth by using either USB or LSB on the groundstation receiver allows for a very robust downlink. Tuning the downlink is just like on a linear transponder, meaning it is tight and with fast Doppler. Uplink tuning is not required, just as with the FM mode V/U satellites. QSOs were made between N8MH, WD4ASW, KO4MA, K5QXJ, and WA6FWF. My personal observations include being able to access and hear the satellite within one degree of the horizon, much lower than any other current bird for my QTH. This should be an easy satellite with omni antennas and a 70cm preamp. With that explanation, I'm happy to open the satellite to general use on voice for a test period. Please submit reports either to the -bb or to ao16(a)amsat.org . The uplink is 145.920 FM, and the downlink is 437.026 SSB +/- Doppler shift. Please restrict your uplink power to a reasonable level, and do not transmit without being able to hear the downlink. All the general single-channel guidelines apply. Enjoy this bird's new life! 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Fw: [amsat-bb] Longwood (Orlando FLA)
by Andrew Glasbrenner 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2008 1:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Longwood (Orlando FLA) > Im looking for a ham volunteer near Longwood Florida. > This is NE Orlando. > > This is related to the Meteor Scatter 6m project we mentioned > before. > > This is kinda short fuse. We have located a few dozen 6 meter > radios in a warehouse there, but only have 5 days to act on it. > We may need someone to go take a look and make sure this is not > a pig in a poke. > > Reply to bruninga(a)usna.edu > > Bob, WB4APR > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Florida AMSAT net tonight, with AMSAT-NA President Rick Hambly, W2GPS
by Andrew Glasbrenner 17 Jan '08

17 Jan '08

Tonight's Florida AMSAT net will feature the President of AMSAT-NA, Rick Hambly, W2GPS, discussing current AMSAT projects and developments including a question and answer session. All interested parties are encouraged to participate regardless of location. The net meets at 7:30PM Eastern on the NI4CE and N4HHA repeater systems covering most of central Florida. RF frequencies may be found here: http://www.ni4ce.org/ni4ce.htm and here: http://n4hha.org/ . Echolink users may check in via KG4YZY-R, node number 4429. Please configure all echolink systems to suppress local courtesy tones and IDs over the link. Interested parties may also listen to a live streaming link at mms://repeater.aprsfl.net:2222/ . I hope to hear many familiar calls tonight on the net! 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: [amsat-bb] GPredict for Windoze
by Keith N4ZQ 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Thanks everyone for your help. Google keep pointing me to http://groundstation.sourceforge.net/gpredict/index.php but as was pointed out, it was under the the older 0.8.0 version and not the newest 0.9.0. Duh !! Keith N4ZQ -- "Keith N4ZQ" <n4zq(a)netzero.net> wrote: Anyone know where I can find the file gpredict-x.y.z-win32.zip ? Google not helping much.. Keith N4ZQ _____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _____________________________________________________________ Click here to save cash and find low rates on auto loans. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4uZMZGzTLCmDfZ0gBtUlJp…

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GPredict for Windoze
by Keith N4ZQ 10 Jan '08

10 Jan '08

Anyone know where I can find the file gpredict-x.y.z-win32.zip ? Google not helping much.. Keith N4ZQ _____________________________________________________________ Click now to save big on brand name luggage. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tn9Ym6EWxaQnG3hmycdok…

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