[amsat-bb] Re: Learning about AMSAT in Dayton

Stephen E. Belter seb at wintek.com
Tue May 15 09:23:31 PDT 2012


Steve,

My recommendation is that you attend at least one of the satellite demos for an FM satellite (AO-27 or SO-50) *and* an analog satellite (AO-7, FO-29, or VO-52).  The techniques and contacts are different for FM and SSB; you will learn from both types of contacts.  Note that the ISS and HO-68 passes will be listening only, and won't involve 2-way QSOs.  Take the time to talk with Keith, Roger and Mark who will be running the demonstrations just outside of the entrance to the Ball Arena.

I would also encourage you to attend the AMSAT Forum, but if your primary goal is to learn about assembling a station and operating the sats, the demonstrations are your best starting point.

I'd also suggest you buy a copy of Gould's revised Getting Started with Amateur Satellites book.  It will be for sale at the AMSAT booth and is a great source of information for those questions you forget to ask at the demos.  There will also be demonstrations of SatPC32 and MacDoppler at the AMSAT booth, so you can see how the tracking software works.

Here is the tentative schedule for the AMSAT demonstrations at Dayton this year:

AMSAT Dayton Demos	18-20 May 2012
N 39.820328		W 84.255224
Time Zone = UTC 	Elevation 296 M
Minimum Elevaton = 10 deg

 WinAos   QTH: -84.3/39.8   T#: 12556   Sat.: 7 [Standard]   
 ----------------------------------------------------------  
     Day     Object       AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl   AZ      
 ----------------------------------------------------------  
 18.05.2012  VO-52        12:37 12:42    05   17  054 - 137  
 18.05.2012  ISS          12:50 12:53    03   13  319 - 020  
 18.05.2012  AO-07        13:30 13:40    10   20  348 - 263  
 18.05.2012  VO-52        14:12 14:19    07   37  355 - 218  
 18.05.2012  HO-68        14:22 14:33    11   27  040 - 153
 18.05.2012  ISS          14:28 14:30    02   11  350 - 033
 18.05.2012  ISS          16:04 16:09    05   28  327 - 090
 18.05.2012  HO-68        16:09 16:22    13   55  007 - 216
 18.05.2012  SO-50        16:44 16:53    09   71  202 - 036
 18.05.2012  FO-29        16:58 17:01    03   12  074 - 115
 18.05.2012  AO-27        17:11 17:13    02   11  071 - 040
 18.05.2012  ISS          17:40 17:46    06   33  287 - 155
 18.05.2012  HO-68        18:02 18:02    00   10  311 - 303
 18.05.2012  SO-50        18:27 18:33    06   18  277 - 009
 18.05.2012  FO-29        18:40 18:50    10   70  009 - 201
 18.05.2012  AO-27        18:46 18:55    09   83  164 - 347
 18.05.2012  AO-07        20:43 20:55    12   27  107 - 002

 19.05.2012  AO-07        12:28 12:43    15   44  005 - 229
 19.05.2012  VO-52        12:53 13:00    07   26  038 - 159
 19.05.2012  ISS          13:34 13:35    01   10  353 - 018
 19.05.2012  HO-68        14:06 14:15    09   20  049 - 141
 19.05.2012  VO-52        14:30 14:36    06   24  342 - 236
 19.05.2012  ISS          15:10 15:15    05   19  334 - 079
 19.05.2012  SO-50        15:33 15:40    07   22  158 - 056
 19.05.2012  HO-68        15:52 16:06    14   70  011 - 206
 19.05.2012  ISS          16:46 16:52    06   68  303 - 135
 19.05.2012  SO-50        17:13 17:21    08   46  235 - 022
 19.05.2012  HO-68        17:42 17:49    07   14  333 - 275
 19.05.2012  FO-29        17:45 17:54    09   36  033 - 165
 19.05.2012  AO-27        18:17 18:27    10   47  143 - 356
 19.05.2012  FO-29        19:31 19:39    08   27  347 - 234
 19.05.2012  AO-07        19:48 19:53    05   11  060 - 023
 19.05.2012  AO-27        19:58 20:05    07   20  221 - 317

 20.05.2012  ISS          12:40 12:41    01   11  346 - 019
 20.05.2012  VO-52        13:10 13:17    07   40  028 - 170
 20.05.2012  AO-07        13:22 13:34    12   22  352 - 257
 20.05.2012  HO-68        13:50 13:56    06   14  059 - 123
 20.05.2012  ISS          14:16 14:20    04   14  347 - 062
 20.05.2012  VO-52        14:48 14:53    05   16  328 - 248
 20.05.2012  HO-68        15:35 15:49    14   83  016 - 197
 20.05.2012  ISS          15:52 15:58    06   55  316 - 115
 20.05.2012  SO-50        16:00 16:09    09   54  194 - 040

73, Steve N9IP
--
-----Original Message-----
I have been interested in AMSAT operation for awhile but have not even began to put together a station for satellite work. I will be attending the Dayton Hamvention this weekend, and in doing so I am hoping to learn enough about satellite work to get on the air over the next few weeks.

With the large collection of AMSAT experts in Dayton, my question is what the group would recommend to a newcomer to try to get out of Dayton in learning some satellite basics. Should I make sure to go to the forum? Are there going to be demonstrations on software and station setup? Should I mainly try to make in-person resource contacts?

Mainly, where should I focus my efforts this weekend? I am hoping to learn as much as possible and hope to finally get involved in satellite operations in the next few months.

Thanks in advance,

Steve, W5IEM
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