From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 1 03:12:12 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Mon, 29 Feb 2016 22:12:12 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-01 03:00 UTC Message-ID: <72466.150c83da.4406628c@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-01 03:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Gesamtschule Leverkusen Schlebusch, Leverkusen, Germany, direct via DL?IL The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact was successful: Mon 2016-02-29 12:05:58 UTC 78 deg (***) National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA), Syosset, New York, telebridge VK5ZAI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-01 16:45:18 UTC 53 deg Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, direct via GB4PCS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-03-05 10:55:19 UTC 59 deg Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic. direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg (***) Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg (***) North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-01 03:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1030. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 995. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-01 03:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From richard.siff at verizon.net Tue Mar 1 11:16:51 2016 From: richard.siff at verizon.net (Rich/wa4bue) Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2016 06:16:51 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats In-Reply-To: References: <56D4C642.7000403@burlingtontelecom.net> Message-ID: <075C4A3327F34DBBB70AA4E72A885C28@BanjoPC> In 1979 I worked SIERRA Leone on OSCAR 7 B Mode. Tracking was 10 mins after my window according to my OSCARLATOR. I actually skipped into AO 7 with band enhancements. At the time I received phone calls from several New England hams about the QSO. It is not all about the HORIZON. If there is some way you can look up the old pass you can see that was way out of the window from Virginia Beach, VA back then. My call sign then was WA4BUE. Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds??? 9L1NP West Africa Norman Price 28 February 1978 2232 GMT 432 / 145 Orbit: 15049 B I can scan the QSL if anyone wants to see it. God Bless Rich W4BUE -----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 5:45 PM To: n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats No roof access at my building, but I do have friends with common roof areas and great views northeast. I need to line up a couple of skeds on a low AO-7 pass and go over there! Or move to an apartment on the north side of my building! 73, Paul, N8HM On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Mike Seguin wrote: > Paul, > > We need to get you a better shot to the E-NE. In the last two weeks, > worked > 2 OM's and EW on AO-7 from FN34. > > Mike > > On 2/29/2016 4:03 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> >> Theoretically, it is certainly possible for the eastern United States >> and most of Europe. There are around 130 DXCCs within AO-7's footprint >> of approximately 7,900 km. DXCC was done a few times solely on LEO in >> the late 1970s and early 1980s with AO-6, AO-7, and the early RS >> satellites. >> >> However, most of those have no satellite activity. I have worked 54 >> DXCCs myself, but only 24 of 50 in North America plus 22 in Europe, 6 >> in South America, and 2 in Africa. >> >> The issue is getting activity in many of these other entities! If you >> know of anyone in or going to any of these places, please get them on >> the air! >> >> See the following breakdown (just an estimate, there are likely small >> portions of other entities in the footprint as well) >> >> Worked: >> >> North America (24) >> 4U >> CO >> FG >> FJ >> FM >> FP >> FS >> HH >> J3 >> J6 >> J7 >> J8 >> K >> KL >> KP1 >> KP2 >> KP4 >> PJ5 >> TG >> VE >> VP2M >> VP2V >> XE >> ZF >> >> South America (6) >> 9Y >> FY >> HC >> HK >> PY >> YV >> >> Africa (2) >> CT3 >> EA8 >> >> Europe (22) >> CT >> CU >> DL >> EA >> EI >> F >> G >> GI >> GJ >> GM >> GW >> I >> LA >> LX >> OH >> ON >> OY >> OZ >> PA >> SM >> SP >> TF >> >> Not worked, but within footprint: >> >> North America (26) >> 6Y >> 8P >> C6 >> CY0 >> CY9 >> FO0 >> HI >> HK0 >> HP >> HR >> KG4 >> KP5 >> OX >> PJ7 >> TI >> TI9 >> V2 >> V3 >> V4 >> VP2E >> VP5 >> VP9 >> XF4 >> YN >> YS >> YV0 >> >> Africa (14) >> 3V >> 3X >> 5A >> 5T >> 5U >> 6W >> 7X >> C5 >> CN >> D4 >> EA9 >> EL >> J5 >> S0 >> >> Oceania (1) >> KH6 >> >> Asia (1) >> UA9 >> >> Europe (19) >> C3 >> EA6 >> ES >> GD >> GU >> HB >> I >> JW >> JX >> LY >> OH0 >> OJ0 >> OK >> OM >> TK >> UA >> UA2 >> YL >> ZB >> >> South America (12) >> 8R >> CE >> CP >> HC8 >> HK0 >> OA >> P4 >> PJ2 >> PJ4 >> PY0F >> PY0P >> PZ >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 3:51 PM, Rupert Hamblin >> wrote: >>> >>> Hi All, >>> >>> I was interested to read the ARRL article on KO4MA receiving the DXCC >>> award >>> worked on satellites, which got me thinking. So here's my question... >>> >>> Taking into account today's available / workable amateur satellites - is >>> it >>> possible for an operator based in the UK/Europe or US, to work 100 >>> different countries via satellite..? >>> (Obviously taking into account the station setup..) >>> >>> Thanks for your feedback ! >>> >>> Cheers >>> >>> RH / G0TKZ >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > > -- > > 73, > Mike, N1JEZ > "A closed mouth gathers no feet" > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From w5pfg at amsat.org Tue Mar 1 14:35:28 2016 From: w5pfg at amsat.org (Clayton W5PFG) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 08:35:28 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats In-Reply-To: <075C4A3327F34DBBB70AA4E72A885C28@BanjoPC> References: <56D4C642.7000403@burlingtontelecom.net> <075C4A3327F34DBBB70AA4E72A885C28@BanjoPC> Message-ID: <56D5A8B0.9030300@amsat.org> Rich, Using TLE's from February 17, 1978, I show AO-7 orbit # 15049 giving Virginia Beach, Virginia and Sierra Leone a mutual window from 22:35:00 until 22:37:30. Thanks to N8HM for supplying me the TLE from Space-Track: 1 07530U 74089 B 78048.60121969 -.00001051 +00000-0 -65501-2 0 9992 2 07530 101.5460 091.0106 0013808 094.3378 265.9229 12.53317953149070 73 Clayton W5PFG On 3/1/2016 05:16, Rich/wa4bue wrote: > In 1979 I worked SIERRA Leone on OSCAR 7 B Mode. Tracking was 10 mins > after my window according to my OSCARLATOR. I actually skipped into AO > 7 with band enhancements. At the time I received phone calls from > several New England hams about the QSO. It is not all about the HORIZON. > > If there is some way you can look up the old pass you can see that was > way out of the window from Virginia Beach, VA back then. My call sign > then was WA4BUE. > > Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds??? > > > 9L1NP > West Africa > Norman Price > 28 February 1978 > 2232 GMT > 432 / 145 > Orbit: 15049 B > > I can scan the QSL if anyone wants to see it. > > God Bless > > Rich > W4BUE > > -----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer > Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 5:45 PM > To: n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats > > No roof access at my building, but I do have friends with common roof > areas and great views northeast. I need to line up a couple of skeds > on a low AO-7 pass and go over there! > > Or move to an apartment on the north side of my building! > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Mike Seguin > wrote: >> Paul, >> >> We need to get you a better shot to the E-NE. In the last two weeks, >> worked >> 2 OM's and EW on AO-7 from FN34. >> >> Mike >> >> On 2/29/2016 4:03 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>> >>> Theoretically, it is certainly possible for the eastern United States >>> and most of Europe. There are around 130 DXCCs within AO-7's footprint >>> of approximately 7,900 km. DXCC was done a few times solely on LEO in >>> the late 1970s and early 1980s with AO-6, AO-7, and the early RS >>> satellites. >>> >>> However, most of those have no satellite activity. I have worked 54 >>> DXCCs myself, but only 24 of 50 in North America plus 22 in Europe, 6 >>> in South America, and 2 in Africa. >>> >>> The issue is getting activity in many of these other entities! If you >>> know of anyone in or going to any of these places, please get them on >>> the air! >>> >>> See the following breakdown (just an estimate, there are likely small >>> portions of other entities in the footprint as well) >>> >>> Worked: >>> >>> North America (24) >>> 4U >>> CO >>> FG >>> FJ >>> FM >>> FP >>> FS >>> HH >>> J3 >>> J6 >>> J7 >>> J8 >>> K >>> KL >>> KP1 >>> KP2 >>> KP4 >>> PJ5 >>> TG >>> VE >>> VP2M >>> VP2V >>> XE >>> ZF >>> >>> South America (6) >>> 9Y >>> FY >>> HC >>> HK >>> PY >>> YV >>> >>> Africa (2) >>> CT3 >>> EA8 >>> >>> Europe (22) >>> CT >>> CU >>> DL >>> EA >>> EI >>> F >>> G >>> GI >>> GJ >>> GM >>> GW >>> I >>> LA >>> LX >>> OH >>> ON >>> OY >>> OZ >>> PA >>> SM >>> SP >>> TF >>> >>> Not worked, but within footprint: >>> >>> North America (26) >>> 6Y >>> 8P >>> C6 >>> CY0 >>> CY9 >>> FO0 >>> HI >>> HK0 >>> HP >>> HR >>> KG4 >>> KP5 >>> OX >>> PJ7 >>> TI >>> TI9 >>> V2 >>> V3 >>> V4 >>> VP2E >>> VP5 >>> VP9 >>> XF4 >>> YN >>> YS >>> YV0 >>> >>> Africa (14) >>> 3V >>> 3X >>> 5A >>> 5T >>> 5U >>> 6W >>> 7X >>> C5 >>> CN >>> D4 >>> EA9 >>> EL >>> J5 >>> S0 >>> >>> Oceania (1) >>> KH6 >>> >>> Asia (1) >>> UA9 >>> >>> Europe (19) >>> C3 >>> EA6 >>> ES >>> GD >>> GU >>> HB >>> I >>> JW >>> JX >>> LY >>> OH0 >>> OJ0 >>> OK >>> OM >>> TK >>> UA >>> UA2 >>> YL >>> ZB >>> >>> South America (12) >>> 8R >>> CE >>> CP >>> HC8 >>> HK0 >>> OA >>> P4 >>> PJ2 >>> PJ4 >>> PY0F >>> PY0P >>> PZ >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >>> >>> On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 3:51 PM, Rupert Hamblin >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi All, >>>> >>>> I was interested to read the ARRL article on KO4MA receiving the DXCC >>>> award >>>> worked on satellites, which got me thinking. So here's my question... >>>> >>>> Taking into account today's available / workable amateur satellites >>>> - is >>>> it >>>> possible for an operator based in the UK/Europe or US, to work 100 >>>> different countries via satellite..? >>>> (Obviously taking into account the station setup..) >>>> >>>> Thanks for your feedback ! >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> RH / G0TKZ >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>> Opinions expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official >>>> views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >> >> -- >> >> 73, >> Mike, N1JEZ >> "A closed mouth gathers no feet" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From richard.siff at verizon.net Tue Mar 1 14:59:55 2016 From: richard.siff at verizon.net (Rich/wa4bue) Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:59:55 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats In-Reply-To: <56D5A8B0.9030300@amsat.org> References: <56D4C642.7000403@burlingtontelecom.net> <075C4A3327F34DBBB70AA4E72A885C28@BanjoPC> <56D5A8B0.9030300@amsat.org> Message-ID: That is still out of the window! -----Original Message----- From: Clayton W5PFG Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2016 9:35 AM To: Rich/wa4bue Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats Rich, Using TLE's from February 17, 1978, I show AO-7 orbit # 15049 giving Virginia Beach, Virginia and Sierra Leone a mutual window from 22:35:00 until 22:37:30. Thanks to N8HM for supplying me the TLE from Space-Track: 1 07530U 74089 B 78048.60121969 -.00001051 +00000-0 -65501-2 0 9992 2 07530 101.5460 091.0106 0013808 094.3378 265.9229 12.53317953149070 73 Clayton W5PFG On 3/1/2016 05:16, Rich/wa4bue wrote: > In 1979 I worked SIERRA Leone on OSCAR 7 B Mode. Tracking was 10 mins > after my window according to my OSCARLATOR. I actually skipped into AO > 7 with band enhancements. At the time I received phone calls from > several New England hams about the QSO. It is not all about the HORIZON. > > If there is some way you can look up the old pass you can see that was > way out of the window from Virginia Beach, VA back then. My call sign > then was WA4BUE. > > Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds??? > > > 9L1NP > West Africa > Norman Price > 28 February 1978 > 2232 GMT > 432 / 145 > Orbit: 15049 B > > I can scan the QSL if anyone wants to see it. > > God Bless > > Rich > W4BUE > > -----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer > Sent: Monday, February 29, 2016 5:45 PM > To: n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats > > No roof access at my building, but I do have friends with common roof > areas and great views northeast. I need to line up a couple of skeds > on a low AO-7 pass and go over there! > > Or move to an apartment on the north side of my building! > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Mike Seguin > wrote: >> Paul, >> >> We need to get you a better shot to the E-NE. In the last two weeks, >> worked >> 2 OM's and EW on AO-7 from FN34. >> >> Mike >> >> On 2/29/2016 4:03 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>> >>> Theoretically, it is certainly possible for the eastern United States >>> and most of Europe. There are around 130 DXCCs within AO-7's footprint >>> of approximately 7,900 km. DXCC was done a few times solely on LEO in >>> the late 1970s and early 1980s with AO-6, AO-7, and the early RS >>> satellites. >>> >>> However, most of those have no satellite activity. I have worked 54 >>> DXCCs myself, but only 24 of 50 in North America plus 22 in Europe, 6 >>> in South America, and 2 in Africa. >>> >>> The issue is getting activity in many of these other entities! If you >>> know of anyone in or going to any of these places, please get them on >>> the air! >>> >>> See the following breakdown (just an estimate, there are likely small >>> portions of other entities in the footprint as well) >>> >>> Worked: >>> >>> North America (24) >>> 4U >>> CO >>> FG >>> FJ >>> FM >>> FP >>> FS >>> HH >>> J3 >>> J6 >>> J7 >>> J8 >>> K >>> KL >>> KP1 >>> KP2 >>> KP4 >>> PJ5 >>> TG >>> VE >>> VP2M >>> VP2V >>> XE >>> ZF >>> >>> South America (6) >>> 9Y >>> FY >>> HC >>> HK >>> PY >>> YV >>> >>> Africa (2) >>> CT3 >>> EA8 >>> >>> Europe (22) >>> CT >>> CU >>> DL >>> EA >>> EI >>> F >>> G >>> GI >>> GJ >>> GM >>> GW >>> I >>> LA >>> LX >>> OH >>> ON >>> OY >>> OZ >>> PA >>> SM >>> SP >>> TF >>> >>> Not worked, but within footprint: >>> >>> North America (26) >>> 6Y >>> 8P >>> C6 >>> CY0 >>> CY9 >>> FO0 >>> HI >>> HK0 >>> HP >>> HR >>> KG4 >>> KP5 >>> OX >>> PJ7 >>> TI >>> TI9 >>> V2 >>> V3 >>> V4 >>> VP2E >>> VP5 >>> VP9 >>> XF4 >>> YN >>> YS >>> YV0 >>> >>> Africa (14) >>> 3V >>> 3X >>> 5A >>> 5T >>> 5U >>> 6W >>> 7X >>> C5 >>> CN >>> D4 >>> EA9 >>> EL >>> J5 >>> S0 >>> >>> Oceania (1) >>> KH6 >>> >>> Asia (1) >>> UA9 >>> >>> Europe (19) >>> C3 >>> EA6 >>> ES >>> GD >>> GU >>> HB >>> I >>> JW >>> JX >>> LY >>> OH0 >>> OJ0 >>> OK >>> OM >>> TK >>> UA >>> UA2 >>> YL >>> ZB >>> >>> South America (12) >>> 8R >>> CE >>> CP >>> HC8 >>> HK0 >>> OA >>> P4 >>> PJ2 >>> PJ4 >>> PY0F >>> PY0P >>> PZ >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >>> >>> On Mon, Feb 29, 2016 at 3:51 PM, Rupert Hamblin >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Hi All, >>>> >>>> I was interested to read the ARRL article on KO4MA receiving the DXCC >>>> award >>>> worked on satellites, which got me thinking. So here's my question... >>>> >>>> Taking into account today's available / workable amateur satellites >>>> - is >>>> it >>>> possible for an operator based in the UK/Europe or US, to work 100 >>>> different countries via satellite..? >>>> (Obviously taking into account the station setup..) >>>> >>>> Thanks for your feedback ! >>>> >>>> Cheers >>>> >>>> RH / G0TKZ >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>> Opinions expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official >>>> views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >> >> -- >> >> 73, >> Mike, N1JEZ >> "A closed mouth gathers no feet" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From eric at christensenplace.us Tue Mar 1 14:54:54 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 09:54:54 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? Message-ID: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 I've been wanting to build a quadrifilar helicoidal antenna for a while. Unfortunately I just can't seem to find enough time to figure out what parts I need much less put the thing together. With that in mind, I wonder if this antenna is any good: http://www.antennas.us/store/p/396-UC-AMSAT-KITP-2-m-/-70-cm-Passive-Ama teur-Satellite-Antenna-Kit.html Anyone had any experience with it? 73, Eric WG3K -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW1a00AAoJED4nr8JXHVrFKkkH/RwSa4Q2Cg+nxgpUMyXuEpYa v48RskhVXevF+f5w+6z1CnHgLFg5gR4fyt4FANKd60YyIfciF6i+0IvRgDZYstOW IypfSG1NJcPG3P6lkXH52zRmORew4rKyqtDIhfxEf3AEFt/j7syFT8KpSovu6V7V QLXMSuz1wWHQnhjjrecRKJUQ7/eSI2WDNsMn7SccfO6M6EzKi8oFoWornHwQMhTX G1m7cg6he0PXNvVcEH0DBXaI1AERW5hhILR3Xx2TvEK8+HVPZeT+Qy1yzX+E4yJW rJMm9aPyT99U6WcPQT8Zi1YAU3iHZqDT9HhtrWUYRzNo84E8ERQbdbIXWY9Fdxc= =ZD5F -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 1 15:11:41 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 10:11:41 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> References: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> Message-ID: <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. The 2m model might be a little better for 2m downlinks. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 1, 2016, at 9:54 AM, Eric Christensen wrote: > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA256 > > I've been wanting to build a quadrifilar helicoidal antenna for a > while. Unfortunately I just can't seem to find enough time to figure > out what parts I need much less put the thing together. With that in > mind, I wonder if this antenna is any good: > > http://www.antennas.us/store/p/396-UC-AMSAT-KITP-2-m-/-70-cm-Passive-Ama > teur-Satellite-Antenna-Kit.html > > Anyone had any experience with it? > > 73, > Eric WG3K > > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v2 > > iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW1a00AAoJED4nr8JXHVrFKkkH/RwSa4Q2Cg+nxgpUMyXuEpYa > v48RskhVXevF+f5w+6z1CnHgLFg5gR4fyt4FANKd60YyIfciF6i+0IvRgDZYstOW > IypfSG1NJcPG3P6lkXH52zRmORew4rKyqtDIhfxEf3AEFt/j7syFT8KpSovu6V7V > QLXMSuz1wWHQnhjjrecRKJUQ7/eSI2WDNsMn7SccfO6M6EzKi8oFoWornHwQMhTX > G1m7cg6he0PXNvVcEH0DBXaI1AERW5hhILR3Xx2TvEK8+HVPZeT+Qy1yzX+E4yJW > rJMm9aPyT99U6WcPQT8Zi1YAU3iHZqDT9HhtrWUYRzNo84E8ERQbdbIXWY9Fdxc= > =ZD5F > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n4ufo at yahoo.com Tue Mar 1 15:27:03 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 15:27:03 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats References: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds???Sure... RS-12/13's primary mode was Mode K: 15m uplink and 10m downlink. I worked OK1DIG while the bird was over North America and he was no where in the footprint. In fact, there was a ham that worked DXCC on RS-12/13 alone, arranging Mode K skeds with hams in various countries. At the time, we called it 'skipping' into the bird since one station was using 'skip' propagation to hear and work the bird while the other station was in the footprint. That said, there are no more Mode K birds around...we barely have Mode A. BUT, if one was likely to be able to do any 'enhanced propagation' it would most likely need to be Mode A, since you would need 'enhancement' on both the uplink AND the downlink to complete a QSO. But that is going to be far rarer than the Mode K skipping and I just can't see Mode B of Mode J doing it since it would require some form of enhancement on UHF as well. For that to line up just right would be extremely rare. Maybe something equatorial, but still rare. 73, Kevin N4UFO From n8hm at arrl.net Tue Mar 1 15:29:06 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 10:29:06 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats In-Reply-To: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I think this is where our computer tracking hurts us sometimes. We don't try to access satellites before or after the computer tells us it's AOS time. With OSCARLATORs and other manual tracking methods, there was an error of up to several minutes, so you might try getting in 5-10 minutes before or 5-10 minutes after the satellite was up. You are more likely to get lucky with enhanced propagation when people are trying! 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 10:27 AM, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB wrote: > Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds???Sure... RS-12/13's primary mode was Mode K: 15m uplink and 10m downlink. I worked OK1DIG while the bird was over North America and he was no where in the footprint. In fact, there was a ham that worked DXCC on RS-12/13 alone, arranging Mode K skeds with hams in various countries. At the time, we called it 'skipping' into the bird since one station was using 'skip' propagation to hear and work the bird while the other station was in the footprint. > > > That said, there are no more Mode K birds around...we barely have Mode A. BUT, if one was likely to be able to do any 'enhanced propagation' it would most likely need to be Mode A, since you would need 'enhancement' on both the uplink AND the downlink to complete a QSO. But that is going to be far rarer than the Mode K skipping and I just can't see Mode B of Mode J doing it since it would require some form of enhancement on UHF as well. For that to line up just right would be extremely rare. Maybe something equatorial, but still rare. > > > 73, Kevin N4UFO > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From wa4sca at gmail.com Tue Mar 1 15:29:29 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 09:29:29 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> References: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <000e01d173cf$259ebe80$70dc3b80$@GMAIL.COM> Drew, I have the 2 m version, which is usable, at best, for satellite reception. It has been repurposed to a portable APRS digi where it is doing a good job, though certainly not a cost effective one. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- On Mar 1, 2016, at 9:54 AM, Eric Christensen wrote: <> <> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- <> Hash: SHA256 <> <> I've been wanting to build a quadrifilar helicoidal antenna for a <> while. Unfortunately I just can't seem to find enough time to figure <> out what parts I need much less put the thing together. With that in <> mind, I wonder if this antenna is any good: <> <> http://www.antennas.us/store/p/396-UC-AMSAT-KITP-2-m-/-70-cm-Passive-Ama <> teur-Satellite-Antenna-Kit.html <> <> Anyone had any experience with it? <> <> 73, <> Eric WG3K <> <> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- <> Version: GnuPG v2 <> <> iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW1a00AAoJED4nr8JXHVrFKkkH/RwSa4Q2Cg+nxgpUMyXuEpYa <> v48RskhVXevF+f5w+6z1CnHgLFg5gR4fyt4FANKd60YyIfciF6i+0IvRgDZYstOW <> IypfSG1NJcPG3P6lkXH52zRmORew4rKyqtDIhfxEf3AEFt/j7syFT8KpSovu6V7V <> QLXMSuz1wWHQnhjjrecRKJUQ7/eSI2WDNsMn7SccfO6M6EzKi8oFoWornHwQMhTX <> G1m7cg6he0PXNvVcEH0DBXaI1AERW5hhILR3Xx2TvEK8+HVPZeT+Qy1yzX+E4yJW <> rJMm9aPyT99U6WcPQT8Zi1YAU3iHZqDT9HhtrWUYRzNo84E8ERQbdbIXWY9Fdxc= <> =ZD5F <> -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- <> _______________________________________________ <> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed <> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. <> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <_______________________________________________ I was browsing the AAR29 satellite logger site yesterday (http://aar29.free.fr/sat/indexlogin.html) and noticed that JO2ASQ reported working 24 different stations on a pass of AO-73 on February 28th and 28 on a pass on February 14th. 2016-02-14 00:01:00 JO2ASQ PM85MF JH4MGU JA3FWT JH4RNY JH1EMH JM1SBU JA9AOB JA3PXH JG6CDH JK3HFN JA3HEO JR8QFG JF1CQH JH1UVJ/4 JR0BUL JH3XCU/1 JF2IMU JA1VVH JE4KQH JM1FBF JI3OQO 7L3AEO (28 QSOS, CW&SSB) DE JO2ASQ/3 2016-02-28 01:18:00 JO2ASQ PM85MF JA3PXH JH1RYE JA1VDJ JH4MGU JE4KQH JA3HEO JL1SAM JM1SBU JK3HFN JG6CDH JA1SJV JA1VVH JH6TYD JA3HEO JA7KPI JH1EMH JN1VXL JO1LDY/1 7L3AEO JF2IMU/2 JA3FWT DS2BWU 24 QSOS (CW 22, SSB 2) DE JO2ASQ/2 That's absolutely incredible! I'd love to see a pass like that here in the United States - on any of the many linear transponder satellites we have passing all times of day these days - AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F all work great, but FO-29 passes are the only ones where there is really much activity heard. Let's use the satellites! 73, Paul, N8HM From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 1 15:31:44 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 10:31:44 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] DXCC & HamSats In-Reply-To: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1549109438.1707636.1456846023975.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: I have experienced tropo into and out of FO-29. I suspect my contact with WH6XM in Hawaii last December had some help from Gulf tropo. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 1, 2016, at 10:27 AM, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB wrote: > > Has anyone else experienced enhanced propagation on the birds???Sure... RS-12/13's primary mode was Mode K: 15m uplink and 10m downlink. I worked OK1DIG while the bird was over North America and he was no where in the footprint. In fact, there was a ham that worked DXCC on RS-12/13 alone, arranging Mode K skeds with hams in various countries. At the time, we called it 'skipping' into the bird since one station was using 'skip' propagation to hear and work the bird while the other station was in the footprint. > > > That said, there are no more Mode K birds around...we barely have Mode A. BUT, if one was likely to be able to do any 'enhanced propagation' it would most likely need to be Mode A, since you would need 'enhancement' on both the uplink AND the downlink to complete a QSO. But that is going to be far rarer than the Mode K skipping and I just can't see Mode B of Mode J doing it since it would require some form of enhancement on UHF as well. For that to line up just right would be extremely rare. Maybe something equatorial, but still rare. > > > 73, Kevin N4UFO > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From bruninga at usna.edu Tue Mar 1 15:43:52 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 10:43:52 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS?) Message-ID: <0c2226f2bb8cf2371ac652c3568ba574@mail.gmail.com> Global Ham channel? We should find someone to work with the OUTERNET folks to add an amateur radio channel to their downlink. Their satellites could provide connectivity to 99% of amateur radio operators on earth. In addition, Ham Radio can bring to OUTERNET an uplink capability that they currently don't have. And the uplink can be from the same remote areas where there is no service... How? Like this. They simply take the APRS packet data stream from the global APRS Internet System (APRS-IS) and stream it in their downlink for hams. Then hams anywhere on earth can transmit traffic via HF back into the system. Since the APRS-IS is one of the world's largest HF receiver-diversity receiver networks in the world, then a packet transmitted from almost anywhere on earth has a reasonable chance of being heard at least once at least somewhere and interjected back into the network, where it gets to the OUTERNET and then in the downlink. The only question, is the atrophy of our HF IGates? Years ago, the HF channel on 10,147.2 MHz had receivers all over the world. I have not listened much recently, but maybe there is still a viable network there. And if not, maybe we could re-invigorate it if it meant global APRS connectivity for ham travelers and hams in remote areas. An HF packet transmitter can be as small as a cigar box and solar powered. Has anyone tuned in the OUTERNET downlink? I have heard anyone with OUTERNET's free ORxPi software and a Raspberry Pi can get the OUTERNET content when plugged into a DVB-S tuner. Then there is of course the arm-chair-lawyers concern of rebroadcast of amateur radio content on a non-ham network? Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Thane Richard Sent: Friday, November 13, 2015 1:22 PM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet Hello everyone, My name is Thane and I lead content and business development at Outernet. Some of you may be aware of us but I suspect most are not. I am writing this email to introduce Outernet to AMSAT. Outernet broadcasts a DVB-S signal from six different satellites covering 99% of humans on Earth. We created this information service to reach the 4.3 billion people who do not have Internet access and designed it to overcome the problems the Internet presents, namely download speed and recurring cost. Our datacast is completely free to receive, our bitrate is 90 Kbps (~1 GB/day of content), and you can even build your own receiver with a Raspberry Pi . Right now, the content we send is curated by us and a group of editors but we are working on a Reddit/Wikipedia/YouTube mashup where the contents of our broadcast can be decided publicly. Currently, we broadcast Wikipedia, 30,000+ ebooks, PLOS One journal articles, Khan Academy, CK12 textbooks, music from SoundCloud, and more. I want to invite this community to be involved in Outernet and help us build this project. Our current focus is on developing channels to get devices into schools and generally into countries/areas where Internet penetration is very low. Our forum is very active with users and Outernet staff. Please stop by! Avidly, Thane -- Thane Richard Content and Business Development Lead Outernet *Outernet in the press:* WIRED , Inc.com , TechCrunch , Gizmodo , BBC , CNN , Fast Company , LA Times , Motherboard Our receiver, Lighthouse, is now available! To show how revolutionary Lighthouse is, we installed one in a remote school in Uganda. Watch the video here . _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From eric at christensenplace.us Tue Mar 1 15:56:39 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 10:56:39 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> References: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> Message-ID: <56D5BBB7.3070504@christensenplace.us> On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. 73, Eric WG3K From rgoldham at sbcglobal.net Tue Mar 1 20:38:24 2016 From: rgoldham at sbcglobal.net (Ronald Oldham) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 20:38:24 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] N8RO/P Operations References: <294950826.1879223.1456864704835.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <294950826.1879223.1456864704835.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> During a short road trip next week I will activate the following grids in west Texas: Tuesday March 8, Ft. Davis, TX DM80, FO-29 at ~1951 UTC Wednesday March 9, Marfa, TX DM70, FO-29 at ~1857 UTC Wednesday March 9, Presidio, TX DL79, FO-29 at ~2042 UTC Thursday March 10, Terlingua, TX DL89, FO-29 at ~1946 UTC Saturday March 12, Iraan, TX DM91, FO-29 at ~1942 UTC If you need any of these grids or just want to say hello please give me a call. 73, Ron ? N8RO From k4rgk at arrl.net Tue Mar 1 20:39:46 2016 From: k4rgk at arrl.net (Daryl Young) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 15:39:46 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Activity - JA vs. NA In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56D5FE12.3050207@arrl.net> Hi Paul, I have sent a few emails recently to your ARRL address. I wonder if they are getting stuck in your spam filter. Apologies to all for the BB post. *Daryl K4RGK * On 3/1/2016 10:29 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > I was browsing the AAR29 satellite logger site yesterday > (http://aar29.free.fr/sat/indexlogin.html) and noticed that JO2ASQ > reported working 24 different stations on a pass of AO-73 on February > 28th and 28 on a pass on February 14th. > > 2016-02-14 00:01:00 JO2ASQ PM85MF JH4MGU JA3FWT JH4RNY JH1EMH JM1SBU > JA9AOB JA3PXH JG6CDH JK3HFN JA3HEO JR8QFG JF1CQH JH1UVJ/4 JR0BUL > JH3XCU/1 JF2IMU JA1VVH JE4KQH JM1FBF JI3OQO 7L3AEO (28 QSOS, CW&SSB) > DE JO2ASQ/3 > > 2016-02-28 01:18:00 JO2ASQ PM85MF JA3PXH JH1RYE JA1VDJ JH4MGU JE4KQH > JA3HEO JL1SAM JM1SBU JK3HFN JG6CDH JA1SJV JA1VVH JH6TYD JA3HEO JA7KPI > JH1EMH JN1VXL JO1LDY/1 7L3AEO JF2IMU/2 JA3FWT DS2BWU 24 QSOS (CW 22, > SSB 2) DE JO2ASQ/2 > > That's absolutely incredible! I'd love to see a pass like that here in > the United States - on any of the many linear transponder satellites > we have passing all times of day these days - AO-7, FO-29, AO-73, > XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F all work great, but FO-29 passes are the only > ones where there is really much activity heard. > > Let's use the satellites! > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 1 21:50:21 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 16:50:21 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC Message-ID: <844ed.6d97fbb0.4407689c@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA), Syosset, New York, telebridge VK5ZAI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact was successful: Tue 2016-03-01 16:45:18 UTC 53 deg (***) Terrestrial training session from HERA facility with Wedgewood Elementary, Friendswood, TX, direct via KD5CAA (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be W5RRR (***) The scheduled astronaut is Tracy Caldwell-Dyson KF5DBF (***) Contact was successful 2016-03-01 14:15 UTC (***) Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, direct via GB4PCS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-03-05 10:55:19 UTC 59 deg Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1031. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 996. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. (***) A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From k7trkradio at charter.net Tue Mar 1 22:27:28 2016 From: k7trkradio at charter.net (Ted) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 14:27:28 -0800 Subject: [amsat-bb] LilacSat-2 FM Transponder In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <002201d17409$8a3594b0$9ea0be10$@charter.net> Is she still active? I can't seem to find the right time on MWF...(retirement is a bear!! ) 73, K7TRK -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 11:45 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] LilacSat-2 FM Transponder I have noticed that LilacSat-2's FM transponder has been on nearly continuously for the past four days They may be keeping it active continuously during the holiday period in China. It's worth checking out if you haven't worked it yet. It's got a good signal and can be easier to track than SO-50 because the carrier stays active for a period when not receiving signals. The downlink antenna also uses circular polarization, so there is less fading when using linear antennas than on SO-50. Uplink: 144.350 MHz FM (No PL) Downlink: 437.200 MHz FM Keep in mind that this uplink frequency is not within the normal 145.800 - 146.000 MHz satellite subband on two meters, though this frequency is within the 144.300 - 144.500 MHz "New OSCAR subband" in the ARRL band plan and is allocated to the Amateur Satellite Service (as is the entirety of 144 - 146 MHz). On passes over the United States, quite a few packet signals can be heard through the transponder. If you use LoTW, the satellite name to use when uploading QSOs is 'CAS-3H.' 73, Paul, N8HM _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Tue Mar 1 22:47:10 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 17:47:10 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] LilacSat-2 FM Transponder In-Reply-To: <002201d17409$8a3594b0$9ea0be10$@charter.net> References: <002201d17409$8a3594b0$9ea0be10$@charter.net> Message-ID: The schedule has been quite erratic. It was on the 24th, but hasn't been on since. Check http://www.amsat.org/status/index.php for updates. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 5:27 PM, Ted wrote: > Is she still active? I can't seem to find the right time on > MWF...(retirement is a bear!! ) > > 73, K7TRK > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 11:45 AM > To: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] LilacSat-2 FM Transponder > > I have noticed that LilacSat-2's FM transponder has been on nearly > continuously for the past four days They may be keeping it active > continuously during the holiday period in China. > > It's worth checking out if you haven't worked it yet. It's got a good signal > and can be easier to track than SO-50 because the carrier stays active for a > period when not receiving signals. The downlink antenna also uses circular > polarization, so there is less fading when using linear antennas than on > SO-50. > > Uplink: 144.350 MHz FM (No PL) > Downlink: 437.200 MHz FM > > Keep in mind that this uplink frequency is not within the normal > 145.800 - 146.000 MHz satellite subband on two meters, though this frequency > is within the 144.300 - 144.500 MHz "New OSCAR subband" in the ARRL band > plan and is allocated to the Amateur Satellite Service (as is the entirety > of 144 - 146 MHz). On passes over the United States, quite a few packet > signals can be heard through the transponder. > > If you use LoTW, the satellite name to use when uploading QSOs is 'CAS-3H.' > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all > interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From dirgantara.rahadian at gmail.com Tue Mar 1 23:02:58 2016 From: dirgantara.rahadian at gmail.com (Dirgantara R YE0EEE) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 06:02:58 +0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: <56D5BBB7.3070504@christensenplace.us> References: <56D5AD3E.4030507@christensenplace.us> <17DCAEB7-654E-4CED-BD15-A25054F69171@mindspring.com> <56D5BBB7.3070504@christensenplace.us> Message-ID: hi Eric Iam also use a homebrew QFH Antenna https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207382996000535&set=pcb.10207383000160639&type=3&theater from http://jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php receive is a very good in 2M band for amateur satellite, and also in 70CM see the antena for your reference. Rgds Dirgan YE0EEE On Tue, Mar 1, 2016 at 10:56 PM, Eric Christensen wrote: > On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > > I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the > AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was > worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. > > Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure > out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. > > 73, > Eric WG3K > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From kk5do at arrl.net Tue Mar 1 23:33:43 2016 From: kk5do at arrl.net (Bruce) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 17:33:43 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Cruise With AMSAT Message-ID: <56D626D7.8050808@arrl.net> Just a quick note, if you have placed your booking or are about to and... you have an American Express card, take a look at the AMEX offers. Either in the Apple app (might also be on android) or on Facebook. There is an offer, spend $250.00 in one transaction and get $75 back. Offer looks like it runs from now through April 15. When they have given back their allotment the offer will be deleted. The offer does not appear on my wife's account so I made a $10 deposit towards our total and maybe they will give her the offer. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat From johnag9d at gmail.com Wed Mar 2 01:15:11 2016 From: johnag9d at gmail.com (John Spasojevich) Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2016 19:15:11 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS - Audio for Saturday's Contact Message-ID: Please join us in listening to the ISS contact with participants at the Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, Saturday March 5th. AOS is anticipated at 1053 UTC The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a direct between NA1SS and GB4PCS in Wales. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Audio from this contact will be fed into the: EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) IRLP Node 9010 Discovery Reflector Streaming Audio at: https://sites.google.com/site/arissaudio/ Watch the contact live at: https://principia.ariss.org/Live/ Audio on Echolink & web stream is generally transmitted around 20 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. IRLP will begin just prior to the ground station call to the ISS. Please note that on Echolink there are automatic breaks of 1.5 seconds in the audio transmission. These occur every 2.5 minutes during the event. Breaks on IRLP are manual and occur approximately after every third question. ** Contact times are approximate. If the ISS executes a reboost or other manoeuvre, the AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) time may alter by a few minutes ** 73, John - AG9D ARISS Audio Distribution From dan at post.com Wed Mar 2 02:15:08 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 02:15:08 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS?) In-Reply-To: <0c2226f2bb8cf2371ac652c3568ba574@mail.gmail.com> References: <0c2226f2bb8cf2371ac652c3568ba574@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: You can see the bit rate here: http://status.outernet.is/ It is a 90kbps downlink with pre-determined content. (The speeds could be increased if they paid more to the providers. The tuners are capable of receiving much more) An interesting idea was if this was on an amateur geostationary satellite. The soon to be launched amateur one over Europe/Africa will probably have a beacon or carrier, but what if that carried the outernet data. The receiving dishes would need to be bigger (depending on bit-rate error correction). That would instantly give 1/3 world coverage with uplinking possible (uplink would need 10 watt 2300Mhz amplifier) The uplink sharing could be controlled by the downlink. I am not sure a HF return channel would scale, Coverage and frequencies here: http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/ It is designed to handle DVB-S downlinks are per Outernet standard. On 01/03/2016, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Global Ham channel? > > We should find someone to work with the OUTERNET folks to add an amateur > radio channel to their downlink. Their satellites could provide > connectivity to 99% of amateur radio operators on earth. In addition, Ham > Radio can bring to OUTERNET an uplink capability that they currently don't > have. And the uplink can be from the same remote areas where there is no > service... From Saguaroastro at cox.net Wed Mar 2 05:13:43 2016 From: Saguaroastro at cox.net (Richard Tejera) Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2016 22:13:43 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? Message-ID: I made one for 137mHz to decode the NOAA WX says. Easier than it looks. Cost was about $25. I found an online applet that calculates the dimensions and prints a drilling template If your intersted,let me know and I'll dig up the url. (Bookmarked on another computer) Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On March 1, 2016, at 08:56, Eric Christensen wrote: On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. 73, Eric WG3K _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From daniel at destevez.net Wed Mar 2 09:45:39 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (Dani EA4GPZ) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 10:45:39 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS?) In-Reply-To: References: <0c2226f2bb8cf2371ac652c3568ba574@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <56D6B643.2040603@destevez.net> El 02/03/16 a las 03:15, Daniel Cussen escribi?: > An interesting idea was if this was on an amateur geostationary > satellite. The soon to be launched amateur one over Europe/Africa will > probably have a beacon or carrier, but what if that carried the > outernet data. I think this could be a problem with the regulations for Amateur Radio in several countries. Outernet content is taken from Wikipedia, Youtube and so on. Probably not something you can retransmit freely over Amateur Radio. Also, doing this would probably be considered broadcasting, and Amateurs aren't allowed to broadcast, other than for calling CQ and beacons transmitting a limited amount of information. However, Bob's idea may still be good for the Amateur geostationary satellites. Retransmitting the whole APRS-IS traffic is probably OK with the regulations. I'm wondering how much bandwidth would be required for this. EsHail'2 will be carrying a linear transponder, so in principle there is nothing which prevents a ground station from retransmitting this kind of traffic through the linear transponder, as long bandwidth is OK and if this is considered a good use of the transponder (in principle, it is designed for SSB and other narrowband modes). 73, Dani EA4GPZ. From hello at outernet.is Wed Mar 2 08:13:39 2016 From: hello at outernet.is (Outernet Team) Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:13:39 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS?) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56d6a0b39caad_5365124932411819112.free-jobs-1@email.freshdesk.com> Is that mini geo?definitely going up? If so, when is the launch? The idea you are proposing makes sense. We have three UHF cubesats that should be complete by May. I'm sure there are ways to work together on that.? Follow us?@OuternetForAll, Like us on?Facebook, signup for updates?eepurl.com/Tp87T Share your thoughts and questions with Outernet's community:?http://forums.outernet.is/. On Tue, 1 Mar at 8:15 PM , Dan wrote: You can see the bit rate here: http://status.outernet.is/ It is a 90kbps downlink with pre-determined content. (The speeds could be increased if they paid more to the providers. The tuners are capable of receiving much more) An interesting idea was if this was on an amateur geostationary satellite. The soon to be launched amateur one over Europe/Africa will probably have a beacon or carrier, but what if that carried the outernet data. The receiving dishes would need to be bigger (depending on bit-rate error correction). That would instantly give 1/3 world coverage with uplinking possible (uplink would need 10 watt 2300Mhz amplifier) The uplink sharing could be controlled by the downlink. I am not sure a HF return channel would scale, Coverage and frequencies here: http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/ It is designed to handle DVB-S downlinks are per Outernet standard. On 01/03/2016, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Global Ham channel? > > We should find someone to work with the OUTERNET folks to add an amateur > radio channel to their downlink. Their satellites could provide > connectivity to 99% of amateur radio operators on earth. In addition, Ham > Radio can bring to OUTERNET an uplink capability that they currently don't > have. And the uplink can be from the same remote areas where there is no > service... From dan at post.com Wed Mar 2 11:37:17 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 11:37:17 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS?) In-Reply-To: <56d6a0b39caad_5365124932411819112.free-jobs-1@email.freshdesk.com> References: <56d6a0b39caad_5365124932411819112.free-jobs-1@email.freshdesk.com> Message-ID: On 02/03/2016, Outernet Team wrote: > Is that mini geo definitely going up? If so, when is the launch? The idea > you are proposing makes sense. We have three UHF cubesats that should be > complete by May. I'm sure there are ways to work together on that. It is part of a large geostationary satellite due to launch at the end of 2016 http://www.spacex.com/missions https://spacexstats.com/missions/future I assume at this stage all the equipment is more or less ready waiting for the launch. It is listed on this page as late 2016: Many European stations are getting ready to receive signals with a slightly modified TV LNB, connected to around a 1m dish. Narrow band uplink will probably need a 1m dish and a 10W amplifier on 2300Mhz. Wideband DVB-S uplink is possible but I assume it would need a much larger dish. There is a narrow band DVB-S format with reduced bit-rate. I have lots of experience in this area. From bruninga at usna.edu Wed Mar 2 13:57:11 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 08:57:11 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Free content from six satellites via Outernet (APRS (OUTNET)) Message-ID: <53cc34015d5889b68f5e6315b4b4a188@mail.gmail.com> APRS already has 3 LEO's in orbit and three more that are manifest. These extend the APRS uplink capability to everywhere on Earth and the LIVE feed from the satellites is available on http://ariss.net and http://pcsat.findu.com and the live feed everywhere else is on http://aprs.fi . So, in addition to all the HF IGates, and the VHF Igates and the Satellite Igates, there is worldwide uplink potential (that is "uplink" into the APRS network where then it gets parsed into the OUTERNET uplink). I am only talking about amateur radio content, nothing else meets our rules, but as a 2-way emergency communications capability with more than 2 million licensed amateur radio operators worldwide, it does have potential within our rules. And it lets OUTERENET support a low cost 2-way global communications at virtually no cost to them either. > OUTERNET has three UHF cubesats that should be complete by May. [in > addition to the GEO downlinks]. >> It is a 90kbps downlink with pre-determined content. And we don't have to stream the entire APRS global feed! Only packets with the PATH of "OUTNET" in them. So any ham, anywhere on earth, can route his packet via the APRS satellite, or HF, or VHF terrestrial network and then have it routed into the OUTERNET uplink by including "OUTNET" in his path, and it will get sent on the OUTERNET uplink stream and hence to the OUTERNET GEO downlink. Thus, a 2-way system for Amateur Radio and their Emergency response. The current APRS Satellite traffic is about 1000 packets per day and all are visibile on the above TWO satellite feeds. That works out to about one packet per minute or about 1 byte per second. 1 Baud would not be too much to ask of OUTERNET. Of course, if they turn it on for us, then the rate might increase TEN fold or in a few years, ONE HUDRED FOLD... To 100 baud. Or even one THOUSAND fold and the bit rate would be up to only 1 kbps or less than 1% of their traffic! Oh, and that is supporting thousands of two-way amateur and emergtency communicators globally anywhere on earth! Bob, WB4APR On 01/03/2016, Robert Bruninga wrote: >>> Global Ham channel? >>> >>> We should find someone to work with the OUTERNET folks to add an amateur >>> > radio channel to their downlink. Their satellites could provide > >>> connectivity to 99% of amateur radio operators on earth. In addition, >>> Ham > Radio can bring to OUTERNET an uplink capability that they >>> currently don't > have. And the uplink can be from the same remote >>> areas where there is no > service... _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From eric at christensenplace.us Wed Mar 2 14:02:14 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 09:02:14 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56D6F266.6060808@christensenplace.us> On 03/02/2016 12:13 AM, Richard Tejera wrote: > I made one for 137mHz to decode the NOAA WX says. Easier than it looks. Cost was about $25. I found an online applet that calculates the dimensions and prints a drilling template > If your intersted,let me know and I'll dig up the url. (Bookmarked on another computer) Always interested. Thank you! --Eric From lucleblanc6 at videotron.ca Wed Mar 2 14:24:58 2016 From: lucleblanc6 at videotron.ca (Luc Leblanc) Date: Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:24:58 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? Message-ID: <56D6F7BA.7404.5496E3@lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> I have one homemade built unused and stored since a couple of years. I can send pics if someone is interrested. It cost me 50$ in materials. I can accept the best offer off BB Thank's > I made one for 137mHz to decode the NOAA WX says. Easier than it looks. Cost was about $25. I found an online applet that calculates the dimensions and prints a drilling template > If your intersted,let me know and I'll dig up the url. (Bookmarked on another computer) > > Rick Tejera K7TEJ > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.SaguaroAstro.org > Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org > > On March 1, 2016, at 08:56, Eric Christensen wrote: > > On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > > I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. > > Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure > out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. > > 73, > Eric WG3K Luc Leblanc VE2DWE From e.krome at comcast.net Wed Mar 2 15:10:53 2016 From: e.krome at comcast.net (Ed Krome) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 10:10:53 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <3F1B682A-2D9C-4493-8043-2AD376382695@comcast.net> Google jcoppens.com I just built one cut to 140MHz. Works OK (with rather broad 2M preamp) on both weather sats and cubesats. Doesn't have great input return loss; tweaking wouldn't hurt but I'm not going to mess with it. Get it as high and clear as you can. Ed K9EK Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 2, 2016, at 12:13 AM, Richard Tejera wrote: > > I made one for 137mHz to decode the NOAA WX says. Easier than it looks. Cost was about $25. I found an online applet that calculates the dimensions and prints a drilling template > If your intersted,let me know and I'll dig up the url. (Bookmarked on another computer) > > Rick Tejera K7TEJ > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.SaguaroAstro.org > Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org > > On March 1, 2016, at 08:56, Eric Christensen wrote: > > On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: >> I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. > > Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure > out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. > > 73, > Eric WG3K > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From dan at post.com Wed Mar 2 16:19:49 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 16:19:49 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Video of Goonhilly HAMTV and UK School contact preperation Message-ID: TX factor release a video. It is split in two parts: Goonhilly HAMTV ground station https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afunOPeM6Z0&t=16s School contact preparation for Tim Peake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afunOPeM6Z0&t=16m45s From johnbrier at gmail.com Wed Mar 2 16:36:09 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 11:36:09 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Very First HamTV School Reception with Audio - Norwich Schools Message-ID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raJBzfqi7Gs Daniel Cussen, EI9FHB asked me to try my hand at editing his and F6DZP's HamTV reception together. Since it was a recording after the fact I could use the audio from HamTV and not just the VHF audio. I also used video from the school where the students asked their questions. If anyone from ARISS UK or ARISS wants to use a version of this on an official site without my introduction at the beginning you can use this version instead: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8gae5nr4437u205/HamTV_Norwich_Schools_UK_edited_by_KG4AKV_-_5.mp4?dl=0 John, KG4AKV From n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net Wed Mar 2 16:59:45 2016 From: n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net (Mike Seguin) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 11:59:45 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] want to have some fun ? In-Reply-To: <002701d172ec$729c0190$57d404b0$@upcmail.nl> References: <002701d172ec$729c0190$57d404b0$@upcmail.nl> Message-ID: <56D71C01.4090409@burlingtontelecom.net> Hi Henk, What a huge signal from Grifex! It was 25 dB or so out of the noise. I used HDSDR with my original Funcube. HDSDR was feeding VAC to the UZ7HO modem software. About the only text I saw in the clear was FM CQ to KD8SPS. Antenna here is a KLM 40cx with SSB preamp. Mike On 2/29/2016 7:26 AM, PA3GUO wrote: > For those that are bored with 1k2 from cubesats .. > > GRIFEX (437.485) is this week sending data at 19k2 (FM). > > Quite easy to decode using > - 16 element horizontal yagi > - SSB preamp + 10 meters Aircell coax > - FUNCube dongle (the old one) > - SDR# (on Windows 10) > - UZ7HO soundmodem (on Windows 10) > > Remarkable to see how reliable & stable data download can be at higher > speeds. > With no new investment in equipment ! > > It may not be for many more days, so give it a try before it switches > back to 9k6 (did you try that already?). > > Henk, PA3GUO > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- 73, Mike, N1JEZ "A closed mouth gathers no feet" From ea4cyq at gmail.com Wed Mar 2 17:38:38 2016 From: ea4cyq at gmail.com (Juan Antonio) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 18:38:38 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Low elev. pass AO-07, Europe-USA sole at 18.03 today! Message-ID: <003e01d174aa$5bf3ed30$13dbc790$@gmail.com> I will be there to try some no elevation new stations. Juan Antonio EA4CYQ IM78cx --- El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electr?nico en busca de virus. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From my.callsign at verizon.net Wed Mar 2 18:04:01 2016 From: my.callsign at verizon.net (KO6TZ Bob) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 10:04:01 -0800 Subject: [amsat-bb] NO-84 Message-ID: <56D72B11.9060009@verizon.net> Good 10 meter band conditions for PSK-31 on NO-84 this morning. No one there. KO6TZ Bob W3ADO-5 beacon B 000 34 43 791 254 +13 W3ADO-5 beacon B 001 93 43 782 255 +14 W3ADO-5 beacon B 002 90 42 781 255 +15 W3ADO-5 beacon B 003 93 43 769 252 +16 W3ADO-5 beacon B 004 99 23 780 253 +17 W3ADO-5 beacon B 005 93 44 780 253 +17 W3ADO-5 beacon B 006 99 28 781 253 +17 W3ADO-5 beacon B 007 78 38 783 253 +17 W3ADO-5 beacon B 008 96 37 783 253 +18 W3ADO-5 beacon B 009 71 29 782 253 +18 W3ADO-5 beacon B 010 65 31 782 254 +18 W3ADO-5 beacon B 011 53 24 779 254 +18 W3ADO-5 beacon B 012 90 27 776 252 +19 From eric at christensenplace.us Wed Mar 2 18:41:18 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 13:41:18 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] NO-84 In-Reply-To: <56D72B11.9060009@verizon.net> References: <56D72B11.9060009@verizon.net> Message-ID: <56D733CE.6090500@christensenplace.us> On 03/02/2016 01:04 PM, KO6TZ Bob wrote: > Good 10 meter band conditions for PSK-31 on NO-84 this morning. > > No one there. What antenna are you using? 73, Eric WG3K From my.callsign at verizon.net Wed Mar 2 19:19:33 2016 From: my.callsign at verizon.net (KO6TZ Bob) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 11:19:33 -0800 Subject: [amsat-bb] NO-84 In-Reply-To: <56D733CE.6090500@christensenplace.us> References: <56D733CE.6090500@christensenplace.us> Message-ID: <56D73CC5.2030902@verizon.net> The antennas are: Cushcraft 10 meter Ringo for the up-link KLM 435-18cp for the down link KO6TZ On 03/02/2016 01:04 PM, KO6TZ Bob wrote: > Good 10 meter band conditions for PSK-31 on NO-84 this morning. > > No one there. What antenna are you using? 73, Eric WG3K From saguaroastro at cox.net Wed Mar 2 23:30:35 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 16:30:35 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <013a01d174db$85d0f9a0$9172ece0$@net> here is the link, Save you the google search: http://jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net -----Original Message----- From: Ed Krome [mailto:e.krome at comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 02, 2016 8:11 AM To: Richard Tejera Cc: Eric Christensen; Andrew Glasbrenner; AMSAT Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] I wonder if this commercial quadrifilar helicoidal antenna any good? Google jcoppens.com I just built one cut to 140MHz. Works OK (with rather broad 2M preamp) on both weather sats and cubesats. Doesn't have great input return loss; tweaking wouldn't hurt but I'm not going to mess with it. Get it as high and clear as you can. Ed K9EK Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 2, 2016, at 12:13 AM, Richard Tejera wrote: > > I made one for 137mHz to decode the NOAA WX says. Easier than it looks. Cost was about $25. I found an online applet that calculates the dimensions and prints a drilling template > If your intersted,let me know and I'll dig up the url. (Bookmarked on another computer) > > Rick Tejera K7TEJ > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.SaguaroAstro.org > Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org > > On March 1, 2016, at 08:56, Eric Christensen wrote: > > On 03/01/2016 10:11 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: >> I have the UHF model. It lives on a magnet base stuck to the side of the AC air handler in my garage, and I hang my yard work hat on it. It was worse than a 2m 1/4 wave whip on receive on AO-51. > > Thanks, Drew (and everyone else that responded). I just need to figure > out how to get those M2 yagis up in the air, really. > > 73, > Eric WG3K > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From AJ9N at aol.com Thu Mar 3 01:34:44 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 20:34:44 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-03 01:00 UTC Message-ID: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-03 01:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, direct via GB4PCS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-03-05 10:53:39 UTC 60 deg (***) Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg Congratulations to Scott, Mikhail, and Sergey on your return to earth. (***) Job well done! (***) Exp. 43/44 Scott Kelly Back on earth (***) Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Back on earth (***) Exp. 45 Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Back on earth (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-03 01:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1031. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 996. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Congratulations to Scott, Mikhail, and Sergey on your return to earth. (***) Job well done! (***) Exp. 43/44 Scott Kelly Back on earth (***) Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Back on earth (***) Exp. 45 Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Back on earth (***) Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From johnbrier at gmail.com Thu Mar 3 04:07:39 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Wed, 2 Mar 2016 23:07:39 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] [Video] SO-50 and a giant pile of red clay Message-ID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vAxufyAu0E This is from an SO-50 pass on 2016-01-30 at 2253 UTC These are all the stations I heard. Only listed when I *first* heard them and then again only if I called them or made contact with them. 1:05 NP4JV DM31 Arizona 1:10 W8UM EN82 University of Michigan 1:36 KA4H FM17 Virginia 1:56 AA0CW DM68 Colorado 2:06 AA9LC EN50 Illinois 2:39 KG4AKV calling NP4JV 2:45 NP4JV DM31 Arizona CONTACTED 3:16 KG4AKV calling KA4H 3:21 KA4H FM17 Virginia CONTACTED 3:40 W0DHB 3:44 KG4AKV calling W0DHB 3:56 AA0CW calling KG4AKV 4:06 AA0CW DM68 Colorado CONTACTED 4:09 W5ZZ 4:40 K4FEG EM55 Tennessee 5:05 NX9B EM66 5:25 K??IRC EN37 6:07 KX9X/5 EM42 Mississippi 6:10 W5PFG EM21 Texas 6:42 VFK92 7:33 J3/W8M 7:43 KG4AKV calling KX9X/5 7:49 KX9X EM42 Mississippi CONTACTED 73, John, KG4AKV From kk5do at arrl.net Thu Mar 3 05:21:52 2016 From: kk5do at arrl.net (Bruce) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 05:21:52 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] kenwood thd72a References: <1646466208.2727975.1456982512290.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1646466208.2727975.1456982512290.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> blockquote, div.yahoo_quoted { margin-left: 0 !important; border-left:1px #715FFA solid !important; padding-left:1ex !important; background-color:white !important; } i have had a thd72a for maybe 4-5 years. ?i am on a road trip and decided to try a couple so-50 passes. ?i can only get it to tune 435.775, 435.800, 435.825. ?thus, i only heard the last 2-3 minutes of a 12 minute pass. ?i have not operated with an ht in 15 years. ?need a refresher course as the radio cannot tune in less than 25khz steps. ? i thought i had programmed it with the software when i bought it and slid a 12.5khz step in just cannot find it.? 73...bruce Sent from My iPhone From skristof at etczone.com Thu Mar 3 10:27:47 2016 From: skristof at etczone.com (skristof at etczone.com) Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:27:47 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data Message-ID: <7775c61e6564bff7ada38194de4a010a@etczone.com> I tried to catch the 1005 UTC pass of AO-85 this morning for data collection. I figured with an 88 degree elevation I couldn't miss. It's perfect for my eggbeater antenna. But, using HDSDR and Foxtelem, I only saw about 3 or 4 short transmissions spread out over the whole pass. I didn't decode any data. Does AO-85 only transmit slow DUV when there are voice transmissions? Were the short transmissions that I saw the "fast data" stream? Was anyone on voice on AO-85 this morning? Thanks for your help! Steve AI9IN EM79ji From wa4sca at gmail.com Thu Mar 3 12:16:34 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 06:16:34 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data In-Reply-To: <7775c61e6564bff7ada38194de4a010a@etczone.com> References: <7775c61e6564bff7ada38194de4a010a@etczone.com> Message-ID: <003f01d17546$871eacb0$955c0610$@GMAIL.COM> Steve, Sometimes everybody sleeps in, and you will see only the periodic, short beacons, which does include DUV telemetry. Part of the energy management system. My station was running while I was sleeping, and did capture a few blocks, but I have beams, etc. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <1646466208.2727975.1456982512290.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1646466208.2727975.1456982512290.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <56D853C5.7020605@christensenplace.us> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 On 03/03/2016 12:21 AM, Bruce wrote: > i have had a thd72a for maybe 4-5 years. i am on a road trip and > decided to try a couple so-50 passes. i can only get it to tune > 435.775, 435.800, 435.825. thus, i only heard the last 2-3 minutes > of a 12 minute pass. i have not operated with an ht in 15 years. > need a refresher course as the radio cannot tune in less than 25khz > steps. i thought i had programmed it with the software when i > bought it and slid a 12.5khz step in just cannot find it. Select the "F"unction button and rotate the channel selector knob until STEP shows up on the screen. Use the right arrow (on the multi-directional pad) to all the setting to be changed. You can select 5.0kHz steps for the VFO. Hope this helps. Good luck! 73, Eric WG3K -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW2FPAAAoJED4nr8JXHVrFCAAH/04MdB+aO1bKe7up/88xUKPr 1xYPhiMjqAtvlEX9Vk1vxr5KtbaQvlzObaWOlaupIthZz5IFBL3cowSg1QU1Ztxx fDLHAp93PzOs2XF07IuXvRKKqAl0jsu/yYcMMciv0UAJuoTqFb31nNbs8n58Cwgm NmFUsljvHivpgBLbxYqTV2E4yLSwyyxEDIUNBKTetAim1Cfk3krsQFEMQ97Fy7ay epTURA5coel84HegnUc5MrmDrftQz8OOsXKKm2vYQ4SvPx6JUPS6+EAT1yd5jvrK vzJoJRkV+gQe3vw0EsVhOy4l6SZa/JguvsK2mzNNgnMLWTynUkcw3OI5E0xU7SY= =+hLr -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From lee.ernstrom at rcwilley.com Thu Mar 3 16:43:03 2016 From: lee.ernstrom at rcwilley.com (Lee Ernstrom) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 09:43:03 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] DM28, DM29, DM39 QSLs Message-ID: This morning I mailed out QSLs to everyone I worked in these three grids on February 22 and 23rd during my activation of Great Basin National Park. Preview of these QSLs can be seen on my QRZ.com page. I have also uploaded all these QSOs to LOTW, which is the only way one can receive credit for NP24 in DM29. Thanks to everyone for all the fun, especially to Frank, K4FEG. WA7HQD Lee (Doc) Ernstrom From m5aka at yahoo.co.uk Thu Mar 3 16:56:32 2016 From: m5aka at yahoo.co.uk (M5AKA) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 16:56:32 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] SSTV CubeSat deploys Mar 7 + Goonhilly Video References: <1766154898.4671376.1457024192123.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1766154898.4671376.1457024192123.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> School SSTV CubeSat to deploy from ISS March 7 http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/03/school-sstv-cubesat-to-deploy-from-iss/ Video of Tim Peake and Norwich School contact http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/03/tim-peake-norwich-school-video/ ARISS contact planned for school in Mid Wales, UK , March 5 http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/01/ariss-contact-planned-for-school-in-mid-wales-uk/ ARISS HamTV at Goonhilly in TX Factor Show http://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/27/hamtv-at-goonhilly-in-tx-factor-show/ News reports of Norwich school amateur radio contact with Tim Peake http://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/26/news-reports-norwich-school-tim-peake/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK?http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter?https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK YouTube?https://youtube.com/AmsatUK ---- From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Thu Mar 3 17:14:26 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 12:14:26 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK Message-ID: <8B832E3838B248B0B9F3532F2D80E906@DHJ> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK on 05 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:53 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between GB1SS and GB4PCS. The contact should be audible over portions of the UK and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Powys Combined Schools represent all secondary schools across the county of Powys in Wales. With students from over 90 primary schools and 12 secondary schools, we represent students from the age of 4 up to 18. As Powys Combined Schools, we have a pool of some 7,700 students aged 11-18 and a similar number of 4-11 year olds in the primary schools. Our goal is to leverage our existing relationships with the primaries in each secondary catchment area to organise a county wide event over the months leading up to the ARISS contact. During which time workshops, projects and activities aimed around STEM subjects would be run. Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire (Breconshire), and a small part of Denbighshire - an area of 5,179 km? or 2,000 sq miles, making it the largest county in Wales by land area. Most of Powys is mountainous, with north-south transport being difficult. The majority of the Powys population lives in villages and small towns. The largest towns are Newtown, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, and Welshpool. Powys has the lowest population density of all the principal areas of Wales. Just under a third of the residents have Welsh linguistic skills: Welsh speakers are concentrated mainly in the rural areas both in and around Machynlleth, Llanfyllin and Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (where William Morgan first translated the whole Bible into Welsh in 1588) in Montgomeryshire (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn), and the industrial area of Ystradgynlais in the extreme south-west of Brecknockshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog). Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What training regime did you have to undertake in order to prepare for your mission to the space station? 2. What is your favourite study that you carrying out to show what life is like in space? 3. What objects in space can you see more clearly with your eyes in space? 4. Can you describe the automatic systems on board the ISS to keep you in your current orbit? 5. What research are you currently working on? 6. Do you ever feel sudden vertigo or claustrophobia whilst you are up in space? 7. Do you feel your senses are any different in space compared to being on the ground - for example is your sense of smell more acute? 8. On the Principia website, it says you are looking into a range of research areas including 'novel materials'. Can you describe a new material you are working on? 9. Can you describe what is meant by 'Fluid Physics' and describe any experiments you are conducting using 'Fluid Physics'? 10. On one of your video reports, we can see you watching the 6 Nations Rugby. How can you have a better picture in space compared to us here on earth? 11. What inspires you to keep up the demanding physical exercise routines in space? 12. How long do you expect it to take you to acclimatise when you return to the earths surface? 13. Of the objects you said that you can see with your eyes, what specific detail is better from space? 14. How do you assess your muscular strength in space? 15. Can you describe how you get into and leave the ISS without losing any air? 16. What is your favourite discovery you and the team have made during your time in space so far? 17. How long does it take to prepare for a spacewalk?? 18. Picking one 'novel material', can you describe how it would be used on earth? 19. Of all the experiments you are carrying out on the human body, which one has given you the biggest surprise in terms of results? 20. Which of the communication systems that you use on the ISS to talk to friends and family gives the clearest signal? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 2. Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 3. North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ the ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From eric at christensenplace.us Thu Mar 3 19:13:40 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 14:13:40 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Odd behavior on AO-85? Message-ID: <56D88CE4.4030906@christensenplace.us> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Just tried working the AO-85 pass over Eastern U.S. and heard something... odd. It sounded like the satellite just turned off for a few seconds. I had a really strong signal and then no signal and no sound. I don't *think* it was my side. Did anyone else hear that? 73, Eric WG3K -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW2IzfAAoJED4nr8JXHVrFnI8H/2rZDS3TRcX4ZKONmPp1CKho T4BMhMLoq6qHX+ZdiE18Rs/97MIWKL9vSE2lM3yp/ytUcROX1SrwhYsQrFyc4cux 1OTOYnpdSTgiRCZD0xWyNLZd4IUuU43at5uwJlBJY4wubwmmEzGhl01lxq+pS9Lp K8Q5W7NjcymOVSbWC7EsbOSxChTYFR7PnnVha3/A/gfqL676i9hXpFYP96snaiYx GvYN66RYsjThJqK9Yjzvd/96fXNiDCu/d4gzkOw3QSjYYADVklZefIybI+49U0oH S/vX6TfGmoAOrr6mc1PIHWJAjUmZtG9GuD9bQfZJFV+g/piR8OjoaSf1rQZAg3Y= =EoM2 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From skristof at etczone.com Thu Mar 3 20:07:25 2016 From: skristof at etczone.com (skristof at etczone.com) Date: Thu, 03 Mar 2016 15:07:25 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data In-Reply-To: <1533db3df86-45f1-8396@webprd-m66.mail.aol.com> References: <7775c61e6564bff7ada38194de4a010a@etczone.com> <1533db3df86-45f1-8396@webprd-m66.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: <41baebacbdee9631fa4c89e93ffac007@etczone.com> This is very likely the explanation for my lack of data decoding. If it's only sending two frames at a time, the likelihood of missing data during a transmission is much higher than when the satellite is sending dozens of frames in a transmission. Thank you. Steve AI9IN On 2016-03-03 13:18, David G0MRF wrote: > Hi Steve. > > It will send 2 frames every 2 minutes unless the transponder has been activated. > > When the transponder is activated you get data while it's in use and for about 30 seconds after the last person finishes speaking > > - Same story here in the UK. Lots of passes before dawn, but nobody transmitting- So that usually get me about 12 - 16 frames of data compared to 80 - 110 for a really nice pass. > > 73 > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: skristof > To: amsat-bb > Sent: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 16:48 > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data > > I tried to catch the 1005 UTC pass of AO-85 this morning for data > collection. I figured with an 88 degree elevation I couldn't miss. It's > perfect for my eggbeater antenna. But, using HDSDR and Foxtelem, I only > saw about 3 or 4 short transmissions spread out over the whole pass. I > didn't decode any data. > > Does AO-85 only transmit slow DUV when there are voice transmissions? > Were the short transmissions that I saw the "fast data" stream? Was > anyone on voice on AO-85 this morning? > > Thanks for your help! > > Steve AI9IN > > EM79ji > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb [1] Links: ------ [1] http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Thu Mar 3 20:27:23 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 15:27:23 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Odd behavior on AO-85? In-Reply-To: <56D88CE4.4030906@christensenplace.us> References: <56D88CE4.4030906@christensenplace.us> Message-ID: If AO-85 doesn't detect a 67.0 Hz tone for 60 seconds, it will turn off the transmitter until it hears two full seconds of a carrier with the tone. 73, Paul, N8HM On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 2:13 PM, Eric Christensen wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA256 > > Just tried working the AO-85 pass over Eastern U.S. and heard > something... odd. It sounded like the satellite just turned off for a > few seconds. I had a really strong signal and then no signal and no > sound. I don't *think* it was my side. Did anyone else hear that? > > 73, > Eric WG3K > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v2 > > iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW2IzfAAoJED4nr8JXHVrFnI8H/2rZDS3TRcX4ZKONmPp1CKho > T4BMhMLoq6qHX+ZdiE18Rs/97MIWKL9vSE2lM3yp/ytUcROX1SrwhYsQrFyc4cux > 1OTOYnpdSTgiRCZD0xWyNLZd4IUuU43at5uwJlBJY4wubwmmEzGhl01lxq+pS9Lp > K8Q5W7NjcymOVSbWC7EsbOSxChTYFR7PnnVha3/A/gfqL676i9hXpFYP96snaiYx > GvYN66RYsjThJqK9Yjzvd/96fXNiDCu/d4gzkOw3QSjYYADVklZefIybI+49U0oH > S/vX6TfGmoAOrr6mc1PIHWJAjUmZtG9GuD9bQfZJFV+g/piR8OjoaSf1rQZAg3Y= > =EoM2 > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From eric at christensenplace.us Thu Mar 3 21:12:22 2016 From: eric at christensenplace.us (Eric Christensen) Date: Thu, 3 Mar 2016 16:12:22 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Odd behavior on AO-85? In-Reply-To: References: <56D88CE4.4030906@christensenplace.us> Message-ID: <56D8A8B6.3070402@christensenplace.us> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA256 Ahh, that would explain it. I'm pretty sure I am running the PL on my end but I don't see the requirement on the AO-85 page[0]. Perhaps someone can update it? [0] http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=4690 73, Eric WG3K On 03/03/2016 03:27 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > If AO-85 doesn't detect a 67.0 Hz tone for 60 seconds, it will > turn off the transmitter until it hears two full seconds of a > carrier with the tone. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Thu, Mar 3, 2016 at 2:13 PM, Eric Christensen > wrote: Just tried working the AO-85 pass > over Eastern U.S. and heard something... odd. It sounded like the > satellite just turned off for a few seconds. I had a really strong > signal and then no signal and no sound. I don't *think* it was my > side. Did anyone else hear that? > > 73, Eric WG3K >> _______________________________________________ Sent via >> AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to >> all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not >> reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? >> Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription >> settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v2 iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJW2KixAAoJED4nr8JXHVrFt50IAKmLnJIPGk+50q8m0dZywbqY ploqwmsCN01mMbh+S9QQhpVTu1FePef6C9DcnSfS/keEuhSP4Zj2v+SZ0O9Vfwp+ pfHO/X3R2IitDWOdt/pDHnuuyqE3/KkK5AcVPRJG4T6bZmysZUZhy3IvDevh5iAu Fk+BdpSUlCRqSDb8ZIvphQhpm+XYa+N6GhyjZoPLBznxkPa7/v+UXVsk69oU6d9e YaoRyZEP3idwrQfDK6uNunvBNvAkYpcKJsYSmm1VIN9uf4nQ3ds63WOogQUgKvae VyuslAlidFICDmtzCAbACO2gYrRoZLsBr41giuVRF2sls1RTTJ9KQWNEzqFF4VU= =XKc1 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- From johnbrier at gmail.com Fri Mar 4 05:28:37 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 00:28:37 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] [Video] Equipment I use for ISS reception Message-ID: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3JwOwjYIkM I made this run down of all the equipment I use before receiving an ISS contact with the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) on January 19th, 2016. Some of the equipment I go over: Arrow II Satellite Antenna Backpacker version of the above Arrow duplexer Kenwood TM-261A 25' of DX Engineering Coax Sennheiser HD-202 headphones Zoom H1 audio recorder Jam Audio Bluetooth speaker Kenwood TH-D72A Track: Watami - Tears: https://soundcloud.com/trouttraxx/tears 73, John KG4AKV From dave at druidnetworks.com Fri Mar 4 16:48:40 2016 From: dave at druidnetworks.com (Dave Swanson) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 10:48:40 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] KG5CCI/P EM25 in Oklahoma for AO-7(B) March 6th, 2016 Message-ID: <56D9BC68.9030701@druidnetworks.com> Friends and Colleagues, This Sunday (March 6th, 2016) I'll be in Eastern Oklahoma operating from the top of 'Cavanal Hill' in grid EM25pb. The primary goal of this trip is to activate the state of Oklahoma on the AO-7(B) pass at my AOS of 17:58:26UTC for any interested European stations chasing their Oscar Century award. One of the most common requests I get from operators on the other side of the Atlantic is to go /P from Oklahoma, as it seems to be a rarely heard state on domestic Satellite passes, let alone passes with large DX footprints. The other big reason Oklahoma is rarely heard is that the distances involved make most of the state out of range to all but the highest passes of FO29 and AO7. With this in mind, the AO7 pass on Sunday provides a rare mutual footprint between Northeast OK and most of western Europe. The weather appears to be good, and I've got a spot I've operated successfully from before, so I'm going to try and return the favor to my DX friends, and get something on their list checked off. As a request to the community, can I ask that high power stations, or stations operating CW on AO7 please refrain from hitting the transponder from 1758 UTC until 1803 UTC on Sunday unless you're specifically chasing something. I do not run much power when operating /P, and AO7 is a finicky bird as it is, so I'd like to maximize the number of stations I can work in the 5 minute window I'll have. I plan on operating on top of the 'high spot' in the passband around 145.940, and I will be staying put and calling CQ to maximize the number of works who can work me. This location in Oklahoma is well outside my 200km range for awards, so I've got nothing to gain here except helping folks out. That said, I think everyone knows what I can do with an arrow on a mountain, and I would be really jazzed to hand out a rare Oscar Century Contact to a bunch of folks a long ways away. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request :) For everyone else not 7000km away, I'll be active on all birds from both EM24 and EM25 in both Arkansas and Oklahoma most of the weekend. If there's a specific grid or state you're after, feel free to shoot me an email or tweet me @KG5CCI. Thanks, Good Luck, and 73! -Dave, KG5CCI From AJ9N at aol.com Fri Mar 4 18:48:56 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 13:48:56 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-04 16:00 UTC Message-ID: Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, direct via GB4PCS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Sat 2016-03-05 10:53:39 UTC 60 deg Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss (***) North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. *********** ******************************************************************** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-04 18:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1031. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 996. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-01 22:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From hdskullfire2 at gmail.com Fri Mar 4 17:31:46 2016 From: hdskullfire2 at gmail.com (hdskullfire2 .) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 12:31:46 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is this the correct Doppler.SQL entry for NO-84? Message-ID: Wondering what others have in Doppler.SQL entrys for NO-84? As of now I have the following on a single line and I'm not sure this's all that's needed.. I'm using SATPC32 to track, IC-9100, and FLDIGI for PSK31. Initial results were I can hear the stable beacon and some psk signals (with hard drift). My doppler.SQF is this at the moment..."NO-84,435350,28120,FM,USB,NOR,0,0" I've not made any other entries anywhere else. One issue...My IC-9100 appears to be tuning Ok, but it ends up at 435.340/28.120 each time. not centered on 435.350 like the doppler.sqf file calls out. Any recommendations..?? Steve NS3L From wa4sca at gmail.com Fri Mar 4 19:38:55 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 13:38:55 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is this the correct Doppler.SQL entry for NO-84? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <001a01d1764d$7d8e4450$78aaccf0$@GMAIL.COM> Steve, Here is what I used: NO-84,435347.7,28119.74,FM,USB,NOR,0,0,PSK31 Essentially what you are using, with the fine tuning of the numbers insuring the uplink places the signal exactly where it is supposed to be in the downlink passband, and the downlink is centered. It has been several months since I have tried NO-84, and I recall there was some very slight day-to-day drift. References: <56D9BC68.9030701@druidnetworks.com> Message-ID: <46365E4EC1D74DC89D3636270E9E3EF7@jimPC2> Hi Folks, I have just switched AO-73/FUNcube into continuous transponder mode for the weekend. Plan is, as usual to switch back to autonomous mode on Sunday pm UTC Enjoy the transponder and have FUN!! 73s Jim G3WGM From john at papays.com Fri Mar 4 21:26:54 2016 From: john at papays.com (John Papay) Date: Fri, 04 Mar 2016 16:26:54 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Quadrifilar Antenna at Orlando Hamcation Message-ID: <20160304215711.8342B88AF@lansing182.amsat.org> Salvatore Bologna of Helical Technologies in Rockledge Florida had his new quadrifilar uhf antenna at Orlando Hamcation. Sal wanted to test it on my satellite demo station to see how it performed against the Arrow antenna we were using. We set up an A/B switch on the UHF port of the IC910H so we could switch between their quadrifilar and the Arrow on a tripod. We tried it on FO-29 and SO-50 during two passes. The results were not surprising. The Arrow always did better but the quad did hear stations. They were just down a few db depending on the elevation. Their quad is housed in a pvc tube and was on a 10' pvc mast. It is very stealthy and that's a nice characteristic of the antenna. If you live in antenna restricted area, this antenna will pass for a vent pipe or as part of a flagpole. But there is no way this antenna can perform as well as a 7 el beam adjusted for proper polarity. But it does work and you can hear stations on FO-29. SO-50 is a much weaker bird and signals were weak on the quad. But you could hear stations and you could make contacts. There is a video of my demo station at Hamcation on youtube.com You can see Sal sitting in back of the radio, flipping the A/B antenna switch during the passes. The audio is not perfect so it may be hard to hear the difference between the antennas. They are working on a vhf version. Their website is helicomtech.com Antenna selection depends on many different factors. You write down your objectives and then consider your constraints when making your decision to purchase. Every case may be a little different. 73, John K8YSE From natewac at aol.com Sat Mar 5 00:37:16 2016 From: natewac at aol.com (natewac at aol.com) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 19:37:16 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] de N8WAC Message-ID: <1534434fab3-81c-ce01@webprd-m58.mail.aol.com> I just rx'd CAMSAT . I wasn't aware of what it was so I Googled it. I saw that I was asked to send a report. So here it is. Copied via Fldigi. a:.hzbwzexpabeEI*RE EHHHEUR RMR RUV RK6 R6V R U RRK UU4 RNU TI HS*N TTT TTI TTT TTT FRK VTT CAMSAT CAMSAT E EE*H*J1SB DEH XW2 XW2 AAA RTR RUN RMH RUV RK6 R6V RM4 RRK UU4 RNV TKV 6CR TTT TTT TFT TTT TTI TTT TTT TRK VTT CAMSAT CAMSAT TJ1SB DFH XW2 XW AAA RTR RUR RE RUV RKN R6V Rx'd on 3/4/2016 UTC about 00:15 N8WAC From electricity440 at gmail.com Sat Mar 5 02:28:04 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2016 19:28:04 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] DSA Amateur Radio Club Balloon Launch Message-ID: Hi everyone again, Here is the follow up on my High School's Balloon launch, it was a success, and we had a lot of fun with the launch. Unfortunately APRS did not ever obtain a GPS lock. It only transmitted temperature, humidity, and pressure, with location at (0.000, 0,000), however we were asked to fly just our APRS on the next EOSS launch as part of the STEM outreach, so we will get the GPS portion of the APRS payload fixed up by then. Our other two payloads worked great, however. I created a webpage with all of the details of the launch right here amsatnet.info/#balloon Here is a youtube video of the launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDF-m4ecnA I am still analyzing the crazy amounts of data for our Field Mill payload, so that information is not up yet. I would like to thank the people who donated! This launch would not have been possible without their support. 73, Skyler KD0WHB From dan at post.com Sat Mar 5 09:55:20 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 09:55:20 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK In-Reply-To: <8B832E3838B248B0B9F3532F2D80E906@DHJ> References: <8B832E3838B248B0B9F3532F2D80E906@DHJ> Message-ID: The live stream from the school starts in 10 minutes from this email 10:00UTC and the contact is 50 minutes later 10:53UTC. We don't expect live video from the HAMTV system but you never know. There is a great team in the UK working hard to provide professional live streams. (Below is the questions etc) See here: https://principia.ariss.org/Live/ On 03/03/2016, n4csitwo at bellsouth.net wrote: > An International Space Station school contact has been planned with > participants at Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK on 05 Mar. The event > is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:53 UTC. The duration of the > contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be > direct between GB1SS and GB4PCS. The contact should be audible over portions > of the UK and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on > the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in > English. > > Powys Combined Schools represent all secondary schools across the county of > Powys in Wales. With students from over 90 primary schools and 12 secondary > schools, we represent students from the age of 4 up to 18. As Powys Combined > Schools, we have a pool of some 7,700 students aged 11-18 and a similar > number of 4-11 year olds in the primary schools. > > Our goal is to leverage our existing relationships with the primaries in > each secondary catchment area to organise a county wide event over the > months leading up to the ARISS contact. During which time workshops, > projects and activities aimed around STEM subjects would be run. Powys > covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of > Brecknockshire (Breconshire), and a small part of Denbighshire - an area of > 5,179 km? or 2,000 sq miles, making it the largest county in Wales by land > area. Most of Powys is mountainous, with north-south transport being > difficult. The majority of the Powys population lives in villages and small > towns. The largest towns are Newtown, Ystradgynlais, Brecon, and Welshpool. > Powys has the lowest population density of all the principal areas of Wales. > Just under a third of the residents have Welsh linguistic skills: Welsh > speakers are concentrated mainly in the rural areas both in and around > Machynlleth, Llanfyllin and Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant (where William Morgan > first translated the whole Bible into Welsh in 1588) in Montgomeryshire > (Welsh: Sir Drefaldwyn), and the industrial area of Ystradgynlais in the > extreme south-west of Brecknockshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog). > > > > > > Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: > > > > 1. What training regime did you have to undertake in order to prepare for > > your mission to the space station? > > 2. What is your favourite study that you carrying out to show what life is > > > like in space? > > 3. What objects in space can you see more clearly with your eyes in space? > > 4. Can you describe the automatic systems on board the ISS to keep you in > > your current orbit? > > 5. What research are you currently working on? > > 6. Do you ever feel sudden vertigo or claustrophobia whilst you are up in > > space? > > 7. Do you feel your senses are any different in space compared to being on > > > the ground - for example is your sense of smell more acute? > > 8. On the Principia website, it says you are looking into a range of > > research areas including 'novel materials'. Can you describe a new > > material you are working on? > > 9. Can you describe what is meant by 'Fluid Physics' and describe any > > experiments you are conducting using 'Fluid Physics'? > > 10. On one of your video reports, we can see you watching the 6 Nations > > Rugby. How can you have a better picture in space compared to us here > > > on earth? > > 11. What inspires you to keep up the demanding physical exercise routines in > > > space? > > 12. How long do you expect it to take you to acclimatise when you > > return to the earths surface? > > 13. Of the objects you said that you can see with your eyes, what specific > > > detail is better from space? > > 14. How do you assess your muscular strength in space? > > 15. Can you describe how you get into and leave the ISS without losing any > > > air? > > 16. What is your favourite discovery you and the team have made during your > > > time in space so far? > > 17. How long does it take to prepare for a spacewalk?? > > 18. Picking one 'novel material', can you describe how it would be used on > > > earth? > > 19. Of all the experiments you are carrying out on the human body, which > one > > has given you the biggest surprise in terms of results? > > 20. Which of the communication systems that you use on the ISS to talk to > > friends and family gives the clearest signal? > > > > > > > > PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: > > > > Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the > > International Space Station (ARISS). > > > > To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status > > > > > > Next planned event(s): > > > > 1. Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, > > > direct via > > OK2KYJ > > The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS > > The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI > > Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC > > > > 2. Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via > K6DUE > > The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS > > The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN > > Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC > > > > 3. North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North > > > Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ the ISS callsign is presently > > scheduled to be NA1SS > > The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN > > Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg > > > > ABOUT ARISS > > Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative > venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that > support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, > sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American > Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space > Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration > of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by > organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard > the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the > help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with > large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these > radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about > space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see > www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. > > > > Thank you & 73, > > David - AA4KN > > > > > > > --- > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. > https://www.avast.com/antivirus > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From Saguaroastro at cox.net Sat Mar 5 18:00:54 2016 From: Saguaroastro at cox.net (Richard Tejera) Date: Sat, 05 Mar 2016 11:00:54 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] DSA Amateur Radio Club Balloon Launch Message-ID: <5ehb58j3lcyea1gwbo0i6xry.1457200854153@email.android.com> Congratulations on a successful flight. If your APRS beacon failed, how were you able to track and recover the payload? Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On March 4, 2016, at 19:28, Skyler F wrote: Hi everyone again, Here is the follow up on my High School's Balloon launch, it was a success, and we had a lot of fun with the launch. Unfortunately APRS did not ever obtain a GPS lock. It only transmitted temperature, humidity, and pressure, with location at (0.000, 0,000), however we were asked to fly just our APRS on the next EOSS launch as part of the STEM outreach, so we will get the GPS portion of the APRS payload fixed up by then. Our other two payloads worked great, however. I created a webpage with all of the details of the launch right here amsatnet.info/#balloon Here is a youtube video of the launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDF-m4ecnA I am still analyzing the crazy amounts of data for our Field Mill payload, so that information is not up yet. I would like to thank the people who donated! This launch would not have been possible without their support. 73, Skyler KD0WHB _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From electricity440 at gmail.com Sat Mar 5 18:02:40 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 11:02:40 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] DSA Amateur Radio Club Balloon Launch In-Reply-To: <5ehb58j3lcyea1gwbo0i6xry.1457200854153@email.android.com> References: <5ehb58j3lcyea1gwbo0i6xry.1457200854153@email.android.com> Message-ID: We used the other aprs beacon on board, the Edge of Space sciences had one too. On Saturday, March 5, 2016, Richard Tejera wrote: > Congratulations on a successful flight. If your APRS beacon failed, how > were you able to track and recover the payload? > > Rick Tejera K7TEJ > Saguaro Astronomy Club > www.SaguaroAstro.org > Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club > www.w7tbc.org > > On March 4, 2016, at 19:28, Skyler F > wrote: > > Hi everyone again, > > Here is the follow up on my High School's Balloon launch, it was a success, > and we had a lot of fun with the launch. Unfortunately APRS did not ever > obtain a GPS lock. It only transmitted temperature, humidity, and pressure, > with location at (0.000, 0,000), however we were asked to fly just our APRS > on the next EOSS launch as part of the STEM outreach, so we will get the > GPS portion of the APRS payload fixed up by then. Our other two payloads > worked great, however. > > I created a webpage with all of the details of the launch right here > > amsatnet.info/#balloon > > Here is a youtube video of the launch > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDF-m4ecnA > > I am still analyzing the crazy amounts of data for our Field Mill payload, > so that information is not up yet. > > I would like to thank the people who donated! This launch would not have > been possible without their support. > > 73, > Skyler KD0WHB > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org . AMSAT-NA makes this open > forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From Saguaroastro at cox.net Sat Mar 5 18:21:58 2016 From: Saguaroastro at cox.net (Richard Tejera) Date: Sat, 05 Mar 2016 11:21:58 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] DSA Amateur Radio Club Balloon Launch Message-ID: Cool, always good to have three beacons. My group, Arizona Near Space Research uses three beacons as well. How high did you get? Our last flight at the Yuma hamfest reached 99,600 feet. Good luck on your next flight. Please share your telemetry results once you finish reducing the data. Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On March 5, 2016, at 11:02, Skyler F wrote: We used the other aprs beacon on board, the Edge of Space sciences had one too. On Saturday, March 5, 2016, Richard Tejera wrote: Congratulations on a successful flight. If your APRS beacon failed, how were you able to track and recover the payload? Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On March 4, 2016, at 19:28, Skyler F wrote: Hi everyone again, Here is the follow up on my High School's Balloon launch, it was a success, and we had a lot of fun with the launch. Unfortunately APRS did not ever obtain a GPS lock. It only transmitted temperature, humidity, and pressure, with location at (0.000, 0,000), however we were asked to fly just our APRS on the next EOSS launch as part of the STEM outreach, so we will get the GPS portion of the APRS payload fixed up by then. Our other two payloads worked great, however. I created a webpage with all of the details of the launch right here amsatnet.info/#balloon Here is a youtube video of the launch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adDF-m4ecnA I am still analyzing the crazy amounts of data for our Field Mill payload, so that information is not up yet. I would like to thank the people who donated! This launch would not have been possible without their support. 73, Skyler KD0WHB _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb -- Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From koos at kzdoos.xs4all.nl Sat Mar 5 18:57:07 2016 From: koos at kzdoos.xs4all.nl (Koos van den Hout) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 19:57:07 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Heard the ARISS contact this morning Message-ID: <20160305185707.GA745@kzdoos.xs4all.nl> I listened to the ARISS contact with England (Wales, to be precise) this morning. I followed the preparations via the principia live stream but I went outside with my arrow antenna for the contact itself. Elevation at my location was not too high (maximum of 46 degrees) which was a bit of a problem between the houses. I held up my arrow above my head for maximum reception but that got tiring real quick. So I heard the answers to about 3 or 4 questions. But it is still quite special to hear an astronaut talk live. On the principia live stream I followed the rest of the event. It's good to see the contact is much, much more than just 10 minutes of Q and A. There was a lot of explanation about the ISS, the work Tim Peake does, the influence of space on the human body. Including bits where the scientists say "we don't know why this happens, we're still researching it". The ARISS program and the Tim Peake mission must be a boost for STEM education and amateur radio. Koos PD4KH -- Camp Wireless, the site about wireless Internet | Koos van den Hout access at campsites http://www.camp-wireless.org/ | http://idefix.net/ PGP keyid 0xF0D7C263 | IPv6 enabled! From bruninga at usna.edu Sat Mar 5 19:35:03 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 14:35:03 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Frequency Doubler? Message-ID: Does anyone remember how to make a High level frequency doubler? I need some energy on 902 MHz, and wonder about just blasting some diodes with a 451 MHz transmitter? (followed of course by a filter)... Seems like a full wave rectifier would give a strong 2X frequency component? I wonder if 1N4005's would do? At 50W input the capacitance per diode is around 1 pF Bob, WB4APR From AJ9N at aol.com Sat Mar 5 19:45:13 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 14:45:13 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-05 20:00 UTC Message-ID: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-05 20:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, direct via GB4PCS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be GB1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact was successful: Sat 2016-03-05 10:53:39 UTC 60 deg (***) Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. ********************************** ******************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-05 20:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1032. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 997. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-05 20:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From johnag9d at gmail.com Sat Mar 5 19:56:47 2016 From: johnag9d at gmail.com (John Spasojevich) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 13:56:47 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS Contact Tuesday - Audio Available Message-ID: Please join us in listening to the ISS contact with participants at the Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia on Tuesday March 8th. AOS is anticipated at 1611 UTC The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and K6DUE in Greenbelt, Maryland, USA The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Audio from this contact will be fed into the: EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) IRLP Node 9010 Discovery Reflector Streaming Audio at: https://sites.google.com/site/arissaudio/ Audio on Echolink & web stream is generally transmitted around 20 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. IRLP will begin just prior to the ground station call to the ISS. Please note that on Echolink there are automatic breaks of 1.5 seconds in the audio transmission. These occur every 2.5 minutes during the event. Breaks on IRLP are manual and occur approximately after every third question. Connected repeaters may time out. ** Contact times are approximate. If the ISS executes a reboost or other manoeuvre, the AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) time may alter by a few minutes ** 73, John AG9D ARISS Audio Distribution From ross at topwire.co.nz Sat Mar 5 21:29:46 2016 From: ross at topwire.co.nz (Ross Whenmouth) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 10:29:46 +1300 Subject: [amsat-bb] Frequency Doubler? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56DB4FCA.7030106@topwire.co.nz> Hi Bob, The 1N4005 diode will probably be far to slow for a 451 -> 902 MHz doubler as the intended use of the 1N4005 is as a line-frequency rectifier. The 1N4148 or 1N914 high speed signal diode should a better choice for UHF frequencies. A full wave rectifier is a good way to produce 2nd harmonic content - Charles Wenzel has authored a PDF on this subject that you may find helpful: http://www.techlib.com/files/diodedbl.pdf 73 ZL2WRW Ross Whenmouth From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Sat Mar 5 22:25:32 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 22:25:32 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] W6RO on 2235 UTC AO-7 pass today Message-ID: Hi! I am on the Queen Mary right now, and hope to work the 2235 UTC AO-7 pass from the wireless room as W6RO. Please see my @WD9EWK Twitter feed for photos of the W6RO satellite station. One pass only, and QSLs go to W6RO - not me. Sorry for the last minute notice... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK From af5cc2 at gmail.com Sat Mar 5 22:57:03 2016 From: af5cc2 at gmail.com (John Geiger) Date: Sat, 5 Mar 2016 16:57:03 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] FS: 10 meter beam for AO7 Mode A Message-ID: Here is a great, small sized Mode A receiving antenna! I have a MFJ 1890 2 element Moxon Yagi for sale. It is several months old and works great. Last year with one I worked 103 countries in one weekend with one and it was only 17 feet high. The boom length is around 5 feet and the elements are around 13 feet long. Easy to turn with a TV rotor. I am asking $80 shipped for it and can take paypal/check/MO. 73 John AF5CC From vu2pop at gmail.com Sun Mar 6 13:31:00 2016 From: vu2pop at gmail.com (VU2POP) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 19:01:00 +0530 Subject: [amsat-bb] Adding a Position Indicator to TV Ant Rotator In-Reply-To: <002701d1777d$3ce03900$b6a0ab00$@gmail.com> References: <002701d1777d$3ce03900$b6a0ab00$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <001501d177ac$6e7ed0a0$4b7c71e0$@gmail.com> Hi Guys I just uploaded a video of my old project Adding a Position Indicator to TV Ant Rotator see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuZWFqNJDlM &feature=youtu.be Best 73 Pop VU2POP From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Sun Mar 6 14:42:51 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jeff A. Boyd) Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2016 23:42:51 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] Weekend successes Message-ID: <20160306234251.F03B.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> I decided to make this weekend into Telemetry Weekend. Setting up my FUNCube Dongle Pro+ and a laptop receiving from a Diamond D-150 Super Discone, I managed to do all of the following for the first time: 1. Received images from NOAA-15, -18, and -19: http://i.imgur.com/ZQpGLU4.jpg 2. Decoded a total of 27 packets from FUNCube-1, and for a short time was the sole data provider in the warehouse: http://i.imgur.com/H1zFlWa.png http://i.imgur.com/axGp9aB.png 3. I even managed to get telemetry from UKube-1 although I don't think it was complete: http://i.imgur.com/QzCM2rj.png All in all I'm pretty satisfied at what I managed to do, even though it didn't involve any QSOs. 73 -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From n8hm at arrl.net Sun Mar 6 14:55:51 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 09:55:51 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Weekend successes In-Reply-To: <20160306234251.F03B.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> References: <20160306234251.F03B.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> Message-ID: Jeff, The FUNcube Dashboard has never been updated to properly show UKube-1 telemetry, but it does forward the data to the Data Warehouse where it is displayed properly ( http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/realtimefc2.html?satelliteId=1). Perhaps the Warehouse will be updated when the satellite is handed over to AMSAT-UK as its primary mission has been completed for a few months now. 73, Paul, N8HM On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Jeff A. Boyd wrote: > I decided to make this weekend into Telemetry Weekend. Setting up my > FUNCube Dongle > Pro+ and a laptop receiving from a Diamond D-150 Super Discone, I managed > to do > all of the following for the first time: > > 1. Received images from NOAA-15, -18, and -19: > http://i.imgur.com/ZQpGLU4.jpg > 2. Decoded a total of 27 packets from FUNCube-1, and for a short time was > the > sole data provider in the warehouse: http://i.imgur.com/H1zFlWa.png > http://i.imgur.com/axGp9aB.png > 3. I even managed to get telemetry from UKube-1 although I don't think it > was > complete: http://i.imgur.com/QzCM2rj.png > > All in all I'm pretty satisfied at what I managed to do, even though it > didn't > involve any QSOs. > > 73 > > -- > J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B > the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp > http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ > http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS > Twitter: @Minus2_C > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org . AMSAT-NA makes this open > forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Sun Mar 6 15:05:48 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jeff A. Boyd) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2016 00:05:48 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] Weekend successes In-Reply-To: References: <20160306234251.F03B.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> Message-ID: <20160307000548.F03F.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> On Sun, 6 Mar 2016 09:55:51 -0500, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Jeff, > > The FUNcube Dashboard has never been updated to properly show UKube-1 > telemetry, but it does forward the data to the Data Warehouse where it is > displayed properly ( > http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/realtimefc2.html?satelliteId=1). > > Perhaps the Warehouse will be updated when the satellite is handed over to > AMSAT-UK as its primary mission has been completed for a few months now. Ah, thanks, now I see that I did upload one packet. Yay! -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Sun Mar 6 15:09:13 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 10:09:13 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] =?iso-8859-1?q?Upcoming_ARISS_contacts_with_Slovansk?= =?iso-8859-1?q?=E9_Gymn=E1zium_Olomouc=2C_Olomouc=2C_Moravia=2C_Cz?= =?iso-8859-1?q?ech_Republic?= Message-ID: <3029FC9AD185404CBF04C67F5152F31F@DHJ> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic on 08 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:22 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and OK2KYJ. The contact should be audible over the Czech Republic and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. It will be the first ARISS event ever in the Czech Republic. There are three high schools from Olomouc taking part in the ARISS contact project. All of them have about the same study programmes and equipment common for the 21st century. Students are divided into three different study programmes lasting four, six, and eight years. All schools have invested into the latest technology, enable access to Wi-Fi throughout the schools for the students to access online learning and be competent with the use of computers and the internet in their lessons. They can also be proud of their libraries and other facilities such as study areas and canteens. All schools offer various after-school programmes and activities including the ones connected with the ARISS and ISS projects. Slovanske gymnazium (SG) has selected students aged 11 to 19, some of them studying the French bilingual programme and is of a very good standard concerning teaching programmes and students? results which are believed to contribute to the ARISS project and make studying of Physics even more attractive to the students. It is possible to see some of their preparations and promotion of ARISS in a short video at www.sgo.cz Gymnazium Olomouc - Hejcin is renowned as one of the top high schools and the biggest school in the Czech Republic. Through a rigorous study program, students are challenged to succeed academically and prepared to excel at the university level. Some of the students study English bilingual programme - both Czech teachers and native English speaking teachers participate and cooperate in the teaching process. Gymnazium Cajkovskeho is a school for 11 to 19 year old selected students. The school offers Spanish bilingual programme and courses for international certificate German language. Students and teachers took part in many projects with well-respected results. The school also has a strong sports section. While taking part in the ARISS contact project, the school has been implying a stronger impact on Science. As the school has been on the waiting list for a radio contact for more than two years now, some of the students have reached the university by now, and took part in forming the UP Crowd. UP Crowd is a guild of students of scientific disciplines and other science enthusiasts from University of Palacky in Olomouc. They have been cooperating on the ARISS project with the 0K2KYJ radio club (see www.ok2kyj.cz) for the last year and half. Through their members they have an extensive connection with the famous scientists and astronomers in the Czech Republic. They had promoted ARISS-Olomouc project at many past events such as University popularization event of Physical kaleidoscope 2015, The Open day of Scientific faculty of UP, "The Night of the scientists" event at Scientific faculty of UP, high schools lectures for first and second grade students of elementary schools and high schools, Lecture event for kids (age 15 - 18) of Mensa Czech Republic. There is a website presenting information about the ISS and ARISS http://exfyz.upol.cz/didaktika/iss/ One of our partners ONYX has greatly contributed to the realization of such a project and tries to reach a wide audience of readers and followers at http://onyx.cz/clanek/587 and https://www.facebook.com/ONYX.engineering/posts We are planning to contact some famous scientists and astronomers to join the lectures planned before and after the actual radio connection, and hope to contribute to spread more interest in both astronautics and radio contact fields of science. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What is it like eating in zero gravity? 2. How can you relax on the ISS? Do you have time to watch movies? 3. Is the day/night cycle the same as on Earth? Are you on shifts? 4. What was the most difficult or strangest thing to get used to on the ISS? 5. Does your stay in space have any influence on your health and if so, how? 6. What do you miss most from gravity on Earth? 7. How do you deal with the isolation from your family? 8. Is it possible to catch a cold on the ISS or is it a completely sterile environment? 9. Can you use a 3D printer in the same way as on Earth? 10. How do you overcome weightlessness when back on Earth? 11. Does time pass slower or faster in your daily routine aboard the ISS compared to life on Earth? 12. Do you access the Internet in the same fashion as on Earth? 13. Do you have any musical instruments on the ISS? 14. Are you planning a stay of a small pet aboard the ISS? 15. Are there any special items that you carry with you all the time? 16. What do you think is the biggest problem for humans to go beyond low earth orbit? 17. How are you being filmed during a spacewalk? 18. Is it possible to compare life on ISS to somewhere on Earth? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss 2. North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From g0kla at arrl.net Sun Mar 6 16:13:39 2016 From: g0kla at arrl.net (Chris Thompson) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 11:13:39 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] FoxTelem patch version 1.03h Message-ID: I have released a patch to Version 1.03 of FoxTelem. This fixes two minor issues that have been reported to me: 1. The measurements were being displayed incorrectly, so it appeared that they were not being collected. 2. Sometimes a small number of frames were not sent to the sever. If you are not experiencing these issues, then you don't need to upgrade. You can find the patch here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip It is only 1 file and you just copy it into the installation directory and overwrite the file that is there. You know it has worked if the version number is now 1.03h. 73 Chris g0kla / ac2cz -- Chris E. Thompson chrisethompson at gmail.com g0kla at arrl.net From mccardelm at gmail.com Sun Mar 6 18:56:38 2016 From: mccardelm at gmail.com (E.Mike McCardel) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 13:56:38 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins Message-ID: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-066 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * One Million Telemetry Packets Received by AO-85 Ground Network * ARISS Countdown to 1000th Contact * School SSTV CubeSat to deploy from ISS * First satellite QSO to Antartica * AMSAT's Fox-1E Likely to Get a Lift from NASA * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-066.01 ANS-066 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 066.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE March 06, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-066.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- One Million Telemetry Packets Received by AO-85 Ground Network At 10:31:06 UTC on March 3rd 2016, the millionth telemetry packet from AO-85 was submitted by PB0AHX to AMSAT's Fox Internet Telemetry System (FITS). Led by Chris Thompson, G0KLA, AMSAT has built a worldwide network of ground stations that can effectively monitor spacecraft health as well as collect experiment data for our university partners. The FITS development team is international in nature, with contributors from the US, Canada and the UK. There is plenty of work to go around, if you are interested in helping please contact volunteer at amsat.org [ANS thanks AMSAT/NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Countdown to 1000th Contact The ARISS contact between Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, with Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI was on Saturday represented the 997th successful ARISS contact in ARISS history. ARISS is posed to celebrate its 1000th contact as early as this week. Below is the list of currently scheduled events for ARISS. Each one will have to be successful for the numbering to be correct. As of right now, the March 10 contact with North Dakota (the first for that state) is in the prime slot to be the 1000th contact. School: Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic (Kopra) #998 Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg School: Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia (Peake) #999 Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg via K6DUE School: North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota (Kopra) #1000 Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg via W6SRJ As stated above, if all of the above contacts are successful it looks as if the contact between Tim Kopra KE5UDN and North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC) in Grand Forks, North Dakota Thursday 2016- 03-10 19:08:55 UTC will be contact 1000. The contact will be telebridged via W6SRJ. Kopra will use the callsign NA1SS. In celebration of the 1000th contact NASA is producing videos touting the importance of amateur radio on the ISS. The first of these to be released can be viewed at https://youtu.be/bTOiiBd2dCo [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- School SSTV CubeSat to deploy from ISS A Slow Scan TV (SSTV) CubeSat developed by students at Saint Thomas More Cathedral School (STM) in Arlington, VA, is set to be deployed from the International Space Station on March 7 between 8-11am EST. STM is thought to be the first Elementary school to build their own satellite, even Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade students were involved in the project. The satellite, a 1U CubeSat called STMSat-1, will transmit a SSTV signal on 437.800 MHz. Middle School Students took the initiative to begin exploring how to receive data from the CubeSat and formed a Ham Radio Club. There, they learned the basics of operating a ham radio station and explored Slow Scan Television as an option for receiving images once the satellite is deployed. How Did 400 Grade School Students Built A Nano-Satellite? http://jewelbots.tumblr.com/post/134465599599/how-did-400-grade- school-students-built-a STMSat-1 https://twitter.com/STMSAT11 https://www.facebook.com/stmsat1/ http://www.stmsat-1.org/ Be advised that the deployment could be delayed or postponed depending on demands on the crew's time [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK* for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- First satellite QSO to Antartica On Feb-28 2016, first satellite QSO from Antartica to mainland Argentina thru SO-50. Photos & details (spanish) on https://www.lu4aa.org/wp/historico-primer-qso-desde-la-antartida/ [ANS thanks Pedro C0nverso for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT's Fox-1E Likely to Get a Lift from NASA NASA has accepted the Fox-1E cubesat - a joint effort between AMSAT and Vanderbilt University - to be part of its CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) program. The satellite, also known as RadFxSat-2, will carry a radiation effects experiment developed by Vanderbilt as well as a 30-kHz wide amateur radio linear transponder with an uplink on 2 meters and a downlink on 70 centimeters. This will be in place of the FM repeater carried by most amateur cubesats. The project received a #1 priority out of 20 accepted proposals and has been offered a launch date by NASA. This is the second collaboration between AMSAT and Vanderbilt. The first - RadFxSat/Fox-1B - is also part of NASA's CSLI program and is scheduled for launch next January. http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com/2016/02/amsats-fox-1e-likely-to-get- lift-from.html [ANS thanks the CQ Newsroom for theabove information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Events Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations). *Saturday and Sunday, 12-13 March 2016 - ScienceCity science fair, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson AZ *Friday/Saturday, 18-19 March 2016 - presentation for the BVARC Houston Hamfest Fort Bend County Fairground demo on Saturday *Saturday, 19 March 2016 - Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Spring Hamfest 2016 in Scottsdale AZ *Saturday, 26 March 2016 - Tucson Spring Hamfest in Tucson AZ *Friday through Sunday, 29 April-1 May 2016, ARRL Nevada State Convention in Las Vegas NV *Saturday, 7 May 2016 - Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ *Saturday, 14 May 2016 - Matanuska Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Wasilla AK *Saturday, 4 June 2016 - White Mountain Hamfest in Show Low AZ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Gesamtschule Leverkusen Schlebusch, Leverkusen, Germany and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BV using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 03-01 16:45 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via VK5ZAI. ARISS Mentor was AA4KN. This was the 995th ARISS contact. + A Successful contact was made between National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA), Syosset, New York and Astronaut Tim Kopra KE5UDN using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began [YEAR, Month, Date Time] UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was[direct/telebridge] via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was KA3HDO. This was the 996th ARISS contact. + A Successful contact was made between Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK, and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign GB1SS. The contact began [YEAR, Month, Date Time] UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via GB4PCS. ARISS Mentor was KA3HDO. This was the 997th ARISS contact. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] Watch http://www.ariss.org/upcoming-contacts.html for information about upcoming contacts as they are scheduled. [ANS thanks ARISS, and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over Russian Mayak Satellite Says Bright Enough to Rival Solar System Visible Objects Just something interesting that came across the wires this morning. Russian crowd funded project, apparently testing a solar sail/aerodynamic braking satellite: Once Mayak begins its sun-synchronous orbit above the Earth, the spacecraft will unfold a 16 square meter pyramid of reflectors that will reflect the Sun's rays, creating a man-made star visible from Earth and bright enough to rival any other solar system. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russian_Crowdfunded_Satellite_Set_t o_Become_the_Night_Skys_Brightest_Star_999.html [ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org From peteparisetti at gmail.com Sun Mar 6 23:18:08 2016 From: peteparisetti at gmail.com (Pete Parisetti) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 23:18:08 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] attic antenna Message-ID: Having read about some mighty satellite antenna installations in the attic - one in particular... - I wanted to run a few tests of my local conditions before going ahead with a similar project. I built a GP for 146 MHz using wire hangers (SWR flat across the entire 144 and 430 MHz bands....), placed it in my attic and fed it with 45' of Ecoflex 10. On a dry day, today I could hear the FO-29 beacon from about 10 degrees to about 10 degrees. I find this extraordinary. I don't know if ther roof slates will attenuate more when wet (this may be a urban legend...), but on a day like today I think the difference attic/outside is almost negligible. 73 Pete MM0TWX From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Sun Mar 6 23:36:11 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2016 23:36:11 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Long Beach CA presentation on 4 March & W6RO satellite activity on 5 March - report Message-ID: Hi! I'm back home, after a quick two-day trip to southern California for a presentation and some sightseeing. Not as much radio operating on this trip compared to some of my other recent trips to California, but still a great time! I had agreed to give another satellite-related presentation to the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach, after giving a presentation there in April 2015. Where my original presentation focused a lot on the history of amateur radio satellites, the presentation I gave on Friday (4 March) evening would focus more on current and upcoming projects. So I left home on Friday morning for the 6-hour drive from Phoenix to Long Beach, with two stops to work AO-85 passes at Palm Springs and Riverside, both in grid DM13 in southern California. Before the meeting, I had dinner with some hams who would be at the meeting later in the evening. Endaf KG6FIY, the ARALB president, along with Tom WA0POD and Jim AA6QI from Pasadena, met me at a restaurant near the meeting site. After dinner, we drove south to the meeting. Unlike with last year's presentation where I gave demonstrations of working FO-29 and SO-50, my options were limited to XW-2F and XW-2C passes that partially overlapped, about 30 minutes before the 7pm (0300 UTC) meeting time. With a nice crowd, I set up my portable station - FT-817ND, SDRplay SDR receiver with HDSDR on a Windows tablet, Elk log periodic - to work the two satellites. XW-2F came up first, and I made a quick contact with KJ6MSU in southern California. Unfortunately, no QSOs were logged on XW-2C. The crowd could see the transponder, along with the digital telemetry and CW beacons, on the tablet's screen. We also saw some strong adjacent signals just above the XW-2F transponder while working that satellite. There was a nice turnout for this meeting. I'm not used to groups here in Arizona having Friday evening meetings, but it works for the ARALB. After some club business, I gave my presentation. It is really nice to talk about the different satellite and satellite-related projects that are taking place now. It was also fun to answer the questions from the crowd. Since most of my recent California trips have included additional driving and operating from different places, and I have not done much sightseeing, I wanted to be more of a tourist this time. Endaf KG6FIY gave me some suggestions on what I could see and do on a Saturday, and I went with that. Before I met him to start the touristy stuff, I worked an SO-50 pass from a shopping center parking lot. Once I picked up Endaf, we first drove to the Griffith Observatory, overlooking downtown Los Angeles. It was a nice day to walk around with the clouds over the area, not too hot or cold. >From there, we took our time driving back through Los Angeles down to the Long Beach harbor and the Queen Mary. I have been to Long Beach in the past, and have driven near the Queen Mary, but have never been on the ship. Endaf had arranged for me to go on the ship, and visit the wireless room. Some insist on calling the room a "radio room", and signs on the ship refer to it by both names. At the room, I met David Akins N6HHR. David, a member of the ARALB, is the manager of the W6RO station on the Queen Mary. He invited Endaf and me to come in the room, sign a visitor's log, and then sign a radio operators' log. David verified that we held amateur licenses, so we could use the radios. Endaf began to work HF from one operating position, as I looked around the room and took pictures. Then, a surprising offer... David explained that the W6RO station included a satellite station - a Yaesu FT-847, 2m and 70cm Yagis, along with a Yaesu az/el rotator. Even though the FT-847 can also work HF and 6m, it is only used at W6RO for satellites, and had not been used in some time. It had been installed in the days of AO-13. David asked if there were any satellite passes that could be worked, and I saw an AO-7 pass just after 2.30pm (2230 UTC). With a half-hour to quickly get acquainted with the radio and rotator controller, I started reading the satellite section of the FT-847's operating manual. I also posted on Twitter and the AMSAT-BB my intent to work the AO-7 pass as W6RO. The satellite station is not computer controlled, but the FT-847 has the functionality to work satellites without the computer. The rotator controller could also be worked manually, moving it to follow the track I saw on my AmsatDroid Free tracking app. The pass had a maximum elevation of just over 70 degrees, making it a good pass to try from W6RO. I have never used an FT-847 to work satellites, but had figured the radio out sufficiently to give it a go. I had posted that I was going to try working below the center of the AO-7 transponder, but ended up working slightly above the center of the transponder. As I was trying to line myself up, I found that the SUB-TUNE knob on the FT-847 would only tune downward - even if turned it clockwise. This meant to adjust my uplink higher in SAT mode, I would have to disengage the SAT mode and swap VFOs briefly to use the large VFO knob to make the adjustment, then swap VFOs again and press the button to reengage SAT mode. After a few minutes, I was able to hear myself, and hear Dave KG5CCI answering my calls. Dave was the first station I put in the W6RO log. After some challenges with how I had to tune the uplink frequency, I was able to log two more stations before LOS - Larry WA6DIR in the Los Angeles area, followed by Bryan KL7CN/W6 near Sacramento in northern California. At W6RO, operators are asked to log QSOs and give out a QSO number. For my satellite QSOs, those numbers started with "I" followed by 3 digits. I did this, along with giving out the DM03 grid locator for Long Beach with each of these QSOs. The QSOs have been entered in the W6RO log, and the W6RO QSL manager will be able to properly confirm the QSOs I logged - including the notation that these were satellite QSOs. Please look up W6RO on QRZ.com for the address and other information. W6RO only handles paper QSLs, and does not use any of the electronic QSLing systems like LOTW or eQSL. While I was operating, Endaf was taking pictures and made a couple of short video clips. The pictures were being tweeted using his @endaf_99 Twitter feed. If you do not use Twitter, you can still see the pictures without having to sign up for a Twitter account at: https://twitter.com/endaf_99/media Endaf's two video clips are on YouTube, at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-cQ09H-Ll8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg2QFB3ubRQ I had also tweeted photos of the W6RO station and antennas, along with other photos from throughout the two days I spent in California, using my @WD9EWK Twitter feed. Just like with Endaf's Twitter feed, mine is also visible without first signing up for Twitter at: https://twitter.com/WD9EWK For just the photos I tweeted, use: https://twitter.com/WD9EWK/media After I put my QSOs in the W6RO log, and David verified everything looked OK, we left the ship. Endaf and I had dinner at his house, before I drove home. On the way home, I made a couple of stops to work some late-evening SO-50 passes. The first stop was at a rest area along I-10 in Yucaipa, in grid DM14. I logged 8 QSOs from this location on a pass just after 8.30pm (0430 UTC). Then back to the driving, and I went about 45 miles east to Thousand Palms, east of Palm Springs in DM13. After filling the car's fuel tank, I logged 4 more QSOs on the 10.10pm (0610 UTC) SO-50 pass, and then made the drive from the Palm Springs area to my driveway in just over 3.5 hours. Thanks to the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach for their hospitality once again. In particular, the club president Endaf Buckley KG6FIY and the W6RO station manager on the Queen Mary, David Akins N6HHR. I hope the ARALB is able to put the W6RO satellite station on the air again, and often. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Mon Mar 7 04:34:27 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (J. Boyd (JR2TTS)) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2016 13:34:27 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] Must have been tropo this morning Message-ID: <20160307131923.61B1.THE2BELO@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> I got unexpectedly good results on both FUNCube-1 and UKube-1 this morning here in JA during three separate passes between 0000 and 0400 UTC, that I suspect was helped out by tropospheric ducting. My QTH (PM85jl) is on the side of a mountain overlooking a valley, so there is no direction I can look where I can see the horizon other than a small sliver to the SSW. The mountain to the north wipes out the sky up to 40? elevation, and the hills east and west cover up to at least 20?. Despite this, I received 10 packets from AO-73 with my Diamond D-150 discone at 10m height, despite the bird being only being 11? maximum el, and a fantastic 70 packets during its next higher pass, where I heard the beacon loud and clear almost immediately after AOS, despite it being far down behind the mountain. I later got 26 packets from UKube-1 as it passed far to the west, with the last one having been received *after* LOS, something that had not happened to me before. With all of the terrestrial obstructions between me and the bird at that moment, I can only think that tropo had given it a boost. At 739th place in the rankings and rising fast, watch out world... -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From tjoppen at acc.umu.se Mon Mar 7 09:38:21 2016 From: tjoppen at acc.umu.se (Tomas =?ISO-8859-1?Q?H=E4rdin?=) Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2016 10:38:21 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Frequency Doubler? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1457343501.5085.10.camel@acc.umu.se> A bridge rectifier should make a fine frequency doubler. I have doubts a 1N4005 could do the job though, considering it's a rectifier diode. Try digging around on digikey for RF diodes that can handle at least 1 amp (50W into 50Ohm -> 1.4A peak, but only half of that on average). The?HSMP-382x series seems like a decent starting point - some of them come with dual diodes in one package I did some quick calculations in Octave, and a full bridge will give 4x the power on the 2nd harmonic compared to a half wave rectifier (single diode). Hope that helps 73 /Tomas, SA2TMS On Sat, 2016-03-05 at 14:35 -0500, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Does anyone remember how to make a High level frequency doubler???I > need > some energy on 902 MHz, and wonder about just blasting some diodes > with a > 451 MHz transmitter? (followed of course by a filter)... > > Seems like a full wave rectifier would give a strong 2X frequency > component? > > I wonder if 1N4005's would do???At 50W input the capacitance per > diode is > around 1 pF > Bob, WB4APR > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views > of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From johnbrier at gmail.com Mon Mar 7 16:37:14 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 11:37:14 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] In addition to a Baefong UV-5R, what should one get to work SO-50? Message-ID: I'm pretty active on the amateur radio forum on Reddit [1] and last night I posted about the upcoming ISS contacts this week [2). This morning someone must have been reminded of me by that post and they sent me this private message: "Hey quick question on working SO-50 and other birds - I have a Baofeng UV-5R right now and want to get a second for satellite work. What am I looking for in a second HT since I already have a cheap one and which would I use for TX/RX? Thanks!" Patrick in particular, I know you have done a lot of testing with the Chinese Radios, at least for AO-85, can you advise what this ham should get and which one to use for up/down to work SO-50 in addition to what they already have? I assume the purpose is to work full-duplex. 73, John KG4AKV 1) https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/ 2) https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/49ajui/iss_school_contacts_tuesday_over_nyc_and_thursday/ From tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com Mon Mar 7 16:38:06 2016 From: tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com (Thomas Doyle) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 11:38:06 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] attic antenna In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Pete, I have been using an inside antenna for many years. The rafters in the attic made it difficult to install anything but a ground plane up there so I converted an extra bedroom into an antenna farm. This enabled me to put in beams for 2M and 70cm with a Yaesu rotor. I am able to copy beacons down to the horizon. The house has vinyl siding so that might help. Older homes with aluminum siding might have more problems. There are also special "energy saving" shingles around that have a layer of aluminum embedded in a conventional asphalt shingle, these might also be more of a problem. Like you I also found that at my location I believe the performance of the inside antennas is very close to outside antennas on 70cm and below with LEO satellites. This is empirical data. It is also nice not to have to worry about wind, snow, ice and rain or climb around on a tower to make adjustments.. My antennas and preamps look like new. I suspect that in the unlikely event we ever have another HEO satellite or on frequencies above 70cm the inside antenna might be more or a problem. All my work with HEO sats back in the glory days used outside antennas so I do not have any empirical data. If the signal strength is high enough almost anything can work. I Think about that every time I use my smart phone in an elevator to check my email. W9KE Tom Doyle On Sun, Mar 6, 2016 at 6:18 PM, Pete Parisetti wrote: > Having read about some mighty satellite antenna installations in the attic > - one in particular... - I wanted to run a few tests of my local conditions > before going ahead with a similar project. > > I built a GP for 146 MHz using wire hangers (SWR flat across the entire 144 > and 430 MHz bands....), placed it in my attic and fed it with 45' of > Ecoflex 10. > > On a dry day, today I could hear the FO-29 beacon from about 10 degrees to > about 10 degrees. I find this extraordinary. I don't know if ther roof > slates will attenuate more when wet (this may be a urban legend...), but on > a day like today I think the difference attic/outside is almost negligible. > > 73 Pete MM0TWX > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Sent from my computer. tom ... From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Mon Mar 7 16:59:56 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 11:59:56 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia Message-ID: <39FBF45B85564548BF820A10324E5940@DHJ> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia on 08 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 16:11 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and K6DUE. The contact should be audible over portions of the east coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The Atlanta Science Festival, launched in 2014, is an annual, weeklong celebration of local science and technology. Approximately 45,000 curious people of all ages explore the science and technology unique to Atlanta and see how science is connected to all parts of our lives in a variety of hands on activities, facility tours, presentations, and performances throughout the metro Atlanta region. The ARISS radio contact will be a highlight of the 2016 Atlanta Science Festival, which enhances our objective to connect the public with STEM professionals and launch the dreams of thousands of young Atlantans toward careers in STEM and innovation. The students participating in our proposed ARISS contact event will be comprised of teachers and students from the 12 metro Atlanta region public school districts and local independent schools. The opportunity both to learn about space science and radio technology and to connect students in conversation with an astronaut in space would yield a powerful event that is both inspirational and educational. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What inspired you to become an astronaut? 2. What kinds of things are you hoping to discover on this mission? 3. How have you handled emergencies or unexpected events while working on the International Space Station? 4. What would you say is the most useful invention that you have had to use on the International Space Station? 5. While on the International Space Station, what is your favorite thing that you have seen so far? 6. When preparing your spacesuit for a spacewalk, do you attach different tools to it based on the assigned mission? 7. Have you ever seen anything that has made you think that there is possibly other life in outer space? 8. What was the greatest disappointment you had to face in space? 9. How long does it take to become and astronaut and what process do you have to go through? 10. What are your thoughts during your first ten seconds of flight? 11. How do you exercise while in space? 12. When in space, what do you do in your free time? 13. What type of gear to your need to remain safe in space? What protocols do you have in place if your gear malfunctions? 14. What are the risks of having space debris aimed at the space stations? How does it affect normal operations? 15. With problems such as poverty and global warming going on in the world, why do you feel that it is important to fund space exploration? 16. What did you do to mentally prepare for your trip to space? 17. On your first mission to space, how nervous were you? 18. What was the most difficult part of your astronaut training? 19. How does it feel when you complete a mission? 20. If space travel was open to the general public, what would be a pro and a con for public participants? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08 UTC ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu Mon Mar 7 17:29:28 2016 From: Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu (Brandon Shirley) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 17:29:28 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Open Systems Architecture and Modularity Survey - Thank you Message-ID: <2ff2ded2233942e28209f2072e39193b@Ek.usurf.usu.edu> I'd like to thank everyone who participated in the Open Systems Architecture and Modularity survey; the Open Systems Architecture and Modularity survey has now closed. I will notify the winners of this survey's drawing within 1 week. The winners of the overall survey set will be notified after the entire survey set closes. *** The next survey will start tomorrow. The next survey will be the Security Survey. *** V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu From daniel at destevez.net Mon Mar 7 17:35:03 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (Dani EA4GPZ) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 18:35:03 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] In addition to a Baefong UV-5R, what should one get to work SO-50? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56DDBBC7.5010302@destevez.net> El 07/03/16 a las 17:37, John Brier escribi?: > "Hey quick question on working SO-50 and other birds - I have a > Baofeng UV-5R right now and want to get a second for satellite work. > What am I looking for in a second HT since I already have a cheap one > and which would I use for TX/RX? Thanks!" > > Patrick in particular, I know you have done a lot of testing with the > Chinese Radios, at least for AO-85, can you advise what this ham > should get and which one to use for up/down to work SO-50 in addition > to what they already have? I assume the purpose is to work > full-duplex. What about a second UV-5R? This is a nice radio for its price, so getting a second one seems like the obvious solution. The only problem that could happen is that the Baofeng as TX is not so clean or the RX filters are not very good and you get desense. I think this won't happen, but I've never tested it. I could test it, because I have a couple of UV-5R, but probably somebody else already knows. Of course, the drawback of using a UV-5R as RX is that the receiver is not so sensible, but I don't think that would be much of a problem to work SO-50 if you have a decent antenna. For me, a pair of UV-5R's seems like the best low cost solution to work FM satellites full-duplex. At 20$ or 30$ on ebay each, the pair can be cheaper than the full-duplex Chinese handhelds that suffer desense when working V/U. Has anyone tested if this works as well as it seems? 73, Dani EA4GPZ. From dan at post.com Mon Mar 7 19:23:17 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 19:23:17 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK In-Reply-To: References: <8B832E3838B248B0B9F3532F2D80E906@DHJ> Message-ID: Here is the youtube recording from this event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znhEOMaGk2U&t=5m38s Actual contact starts at 51 minutes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znhEOMaGk2U&t=51m38s From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Mon Mar 7 20:34:02 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 20:34:02 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] In addition to a Baefong UV-5R, what should one get to work SO-50? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: John, I saw your direct e-mail as well as this post on the -BB, but will answer you in the public forum for the benefit of others as well. I have used a pair of the Baofeng HTs for working SO-50. I have tried two UV-5Rs, two UV-82s, and mixing one UV-5R and one UV-82. When mixing the radios, same or different models, I swapped which radio was used as the transmitter and receiver. I even posted a YouTube video with audio from working one hamfest demonstration with the UV-82/UV-5R combination in 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cLx9h-vNRA ?I added photos and slides with text to the audio, in making the video, as I did not have actial video of the demonstration.? In the video, I went with the UV-5R for the transmit radio, since it has a two-way PTT that can directly key either VFO, and a speaker-mic that could also key either VFO directly. This let me put 145.850 MHz in both VFOs for working SO-50, using different PL tones in each VFO for waking the satellite vs. talking through the FM repeater. ?A second UV-5R could work to make a full-duplex station for SO-50. Many have used two UV-5Rs, or a UV-5R with another Baofeng (or other low-priced Chinese-made HT) to make a full-duplex station. The price is obviously low enough to do that, without breaking the bank. It can be done, but there are almost as many that have had frustrations with the two-Baofeng setup for satellite work as those who have had success doing. If the budget for the second radio is more than the price of a UV-5R or UV-82 type of radio, I'd recommend going to something like one of the traditional ham manufacturers, or possibly Wouxun - radios that generally have better receivers than the Baofengs, no matter which Baofeng model you choose?. The unfortunate facts about ?many of the Chinese-made HTs - outside of possibly newer Wouxuns - is quality control on the assembly line borders on the nonexistent. One UV-5R might be working well and within the appropriate technical requirements for use on the amateur bands, where the next unit off the assembly line is horrid. There was a recent QST article that addressed this point, based on ARRL testing of HTs at Dayton last year. From my testing, I'd prefer to use a Wouxun KG-UV8D over almost anything Baofeng (or the other HTs based on the UV-5R, sold under a zillion different names), especially on the receive side. Even better, in terms of a Chinese-made HT, would be a Wouxun KG-UV9D - the one Chinese HT that seems to have a nice receiver that finally starts to approach what comes from the traditional ham manufacturers. The KG-UV8D and KG-UV9D will also work full-duplex for AO-85, where the uplink is on 70cm, but both fail for full-duplex using 2m uplinks (SO-50, LilacSat-2). ?I have not put any of my Baofeng or Wouxun HTs (or the others from different Chinese brands) on test equipment. All of my testing is from buying the radios, trying them out, and seeing what happens when working the satellites. I have not tried the two-Baofeng combination for AO-85 yet, as most of my Baofeng testing was done in 2014 when we only had SO-50. I did more testing recently with Chinese-made HTs, trying to clear up some misstatements online on whether or not any of those HTs could be used to work AO-85 full-duplex. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWk http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK Patrick in particular, I know you have done a lot of testing with the > Chinese Radios, at least for AO-85, can you advise what this ham > should get and which one to use for up/down to work SO-50 in addition > to what they already have? I assume the purpose is to work > full-duplex. > > From johnbrier at gmail.com Mon Mar 7 20:38:07 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Mon, 7 Mar 2016 15:38:07 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] In addition to a Baefong UV-5R, what should one get to work SO-50? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: This is great! Thanks Patrick. I only sent you an email directly to make sure you would notice it. :-) Definitely agree this should be public information. Thanks again, John KG4AKV On Mon, Mar 7, 2016 at 3:34 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote: > John, > > I saw your direct e-mail as well as this post on the -BB, but will > answer you in the public forum for the benefit of others as well. > > I have used a pair of the Baofeng HTs for working SO-50. I > have tried > two UV-5Rs, two UV-82s, and mixing one UV-5R and one UV-82. When > mixing the radios, same or different models, I swapped which radio > was used as the transmitter and receiver. I even posted a YouTube > video with audio from working one hamfest demonstration with the > UV-82/UV-5R combination in 2014: > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cLx9h-vNRA > > I added photos and slides with text to the audio, in making the > video, as I did not have actial video of the demonstration. In > the video, I went with the UV-5R for the transmit radio, since it > has a two-way PTT that can directly key either VFO, and a speaker-mic > that could also key either VFO directly. This let me put 145.850 > MHz in both VFOs for working SO-50, using different PL tones in > each VFO for waking the satellite vs. talking through the FM repeater. > > A second UV-5R could work to make a full-duplex station for SO-50. > Many have used two UV-5Rs, or a UV-5R with another Baofeng (or other > low-priced Chinese-made HT) to make a full-duplex station. The price > is obviously low enough to do that, without breaking the bank. It > can be done, but there are almost as many that have had frustrations > with the two-Baofeng setup for satellite work as those who have had > success doing. > > If the budget for the second radio is more than the price of > a UV-5R or UV-82 type of radio, I'd recommend going to something > like one of the traditional ham manufacturers, or possibly Wouxun - > radios that generally have better receivers than the Baofengs, > no matter which Baofeng model you choose. The unfortunate facts about > many of the Chinese-made HTs - outside of possibly newer Wouxuns - > is quality control on the assembly line borders on the nonexistent. > One UV-5R might be working well and within the appropriate technical > requirements for use on the amateur bands, where the next unit off > the assembly line is horrid. There was a recent QST article that > addressed this point, based on ARRL testing of HTs at Dayton last > year. From my testing, I'd prefer to use a Wouxun KG-UV8D over > almost anything Baofeng (or the other HTs based on the UV-5R, sold > under a zillion different names), especially on the receive side. > Even better, in terms of a Chinese-made HT, would be a Wouxun > KG-UV9D - the one Chinese HT that seems to have a nice receiver > that finally starts to approach what comes from the traditional > ham manufacturers. The KG-UV8D and KG-UV9D will also work full-duplex > for AO-85, where the uplink is on 70cm, but both fail for full-duplex > using 2m uplinks (SO-50, LilacSat-2). > > I have not put any of my Baofeng or Wouxun HTs (or the others from > different Chinese brands) on test equipment. All of my testing is > from buying the radios, trying them out, and seeing what happens when > working the satellites. I have not tried the two-Baofeng combination > for AO-85 yet, as most of my Baofeng testing was done in 2014 when > we only had SO-50. I did more testing recently with Chinese-made > HTs, trying to clear up some misstatements online on whether or > not any of those HTs could be used to work AO-85 full-duplex. > > 73! > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWk > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ > Twitter: @WD9EWK > > > >> Patrick in particular, I know you have done a lot of testing with the >> Chinese Radios, at least for AO-85, can you advise what this ham >> should get and which one to use for up/down to work SO-50 in addition >> to what they already have? I assume the purpose is to work >> full-duplex. >> > From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 8 07:45:06 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 02:45:06 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-08 07:30 UTC Message-ID: Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-08 07:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg (***) Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-17 14:46:07 UTC 30 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-08 07:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1032. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 997. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-05 20:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From g4bbh at btinternet.com Tue Mar 8 16:17:28 2016 From: g4bbh at btinternet.com (Richard Ferryman) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 16:17:28 -0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 and FT-991 Message-ID: <5EA39611DB864884A402021E7E9F05A4@G4BBHSAMSUNG2> I just added an FT-991 to my collection of rigs. Does anyone know how or if I can control this transceiver from SatPC32..The command structure is quite different to my FT-817 and FT-897D. I do need doppler correction. Dick G4BBH From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 8 16:37:46 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 11:37:46 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 and FT-991 Message-ID: <4793672.1457455068032.JavaMail.wam@elwamui-polski.atl.sa.earthlink.net> I asked Erich, the author, a few weeks ago about this and the short answer is not yet. He has not secured the use of a 991 yet to develop the new addition to the software. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Richard Ferryman >Sent: Mar 8, 2016 11:17 AM >To: amsat-bb at amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 and FT-991 > >I just added an FT-991 to my collection of rigs. Does anyone know how or if I can control this transceiver from SatPC32..The command structure is quite different to my FT-817 and FT-897D. I do need doppler correction. >Dick G4BBH >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From david.maciel at outlook.es Tue Mar 8 19:32:19 2016 From: david.maciel at outlook.es (David Maciel) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 13:32:19 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Amsat LVB Tracker - Orbitron Message-ID: Hello Group, who works the LVB Tracker AMSAT with Orbitron ..? I have some trouble setting with WispDDE, I would like some help screens to configure .. From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 8 23:09:54 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 18:09:54 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-08 23:00 UTC Message-ID: <10e81b.7fc00c33.4410b5c2@aol.com> Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic, direct via OK2KYJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact was successful: Tue 2016-03-08 08:22:43 UTC 82 deg (***) Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia, telebridge via K6DUE The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact was successful: Tue 2016-03-08 16:11:05 UTC 53 deg (***) Watch for live stream at http://atlantasciencefestival.org/ariss North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:08:55 UTC 56 deg Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-17 14:46:07 UTC 30 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-08 23:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1034. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 999. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-08 23:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From johnag9d at gmail.com Wed Mar 9 01:24:24 2016 From: johnag9d at gmail.com (John Spasojevich) Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2016 19:24:24 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Audio for ARISS #1000 - Thursday Message-ID: Please join us in listening to the ISS contact with participants at the *North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota USA *on Thursday March 10th. AOS is anticipated at 1908 UTC The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ in Santa Rosa, California. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Audio from this contact will be fed into the: EchoLink *AMSAT* (101377) IRLP Node 9010 Discovery Reflector Streaming Audio at: https://sites.google.com/site/arissaudio/ Audio on Echolink & web stream is generally transmitted around 20 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. IRLP will begin just prior to the ground station call to the ISS. ** Contact times are approximate. If the ISS executes a reboost or other manoeuvre, the AOS (Acquisition Of Signal) time may alter by a few minutes ** 73, John AG9D ARISS Audio Distribution From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Wed Mar 9 05:04:16 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 00:04:16 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota Message-ID: <2D6E189EF7C349FFA3E92DE489B485A9@DHJ> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota on 10 March. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 19:08 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The University of North Dakota (UND) is located in Grand Forks, a vibrant eastern North Dakota college town of 53,000 located on the Red River of the North. Approximately 15,000 students are enrolled in over 225 fields of undergraduate and graduate study at UND. The beautiful 549-acre wooded campus is a unique blend of classic ivy-covered halls, high-tech complexes, and research centers. The University has earned an international reputation for its academic and research programs. In the early 1980s, John D. Odegard, the Dean of the College of Aerospace Sciences, invited Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the Moon, to come to UND to help organize a space education program within the college. Aldrin's contributions included recommending the appointment of Dr. David Webb, a member of the 1985-1986 Presidential Commission on Space, to design the space studies program and to serve as the first Chair of the Department. In 1986, Dr. David Webb initiated the founding of the Department of Space Studies as an integral part of the UND College of Aerospace Sciences. Today, the Department of Space Studies has approximately 25 M.S. students on campus and more than 100 students in the distance program. Nearly 700 Master of Science Degrees in Space Studies have been awarded since the program's inception in 1987. Space Studies graduates have careers in a variety of different space-related disciplines including government, business, science, law, medicine, education, military, and public relations. In fall of 2012, the 25th anniversary year of the Space Studies Department, the Ph.D. program in Aerospace Sciences was established in collaboration with the Department of Aviation. The Department of Space Studies is also headquarters to two state-wide NASA-funded programs: the ND NASA EPSCoR, which is aimed at enhancing NASA-relevant research capabilities in the state and the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium, which promotes STEM education at both K-12 and college levels in North Dakota through "hands on" projects and provides student summer internships at NASA centers, scholarships, and research fellowships. Leading up to the ARISS call, members of the Space Grant team and college student volunteers made several visits to classrooms to get students excited about the event. They worked with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders at Emerado Elementary in Emerado, ND, 2nd graders at Highland Elementary in Crookston, MN, 3rd graders at Century Elementary in Grafton, ND, 4th graders at Century Elementary in Grand Forks, ND, and 5th graders at Discover Elementary in Grand Forks, ND. These hands-on activities included building and launching rockets, building and testing parachutes like the ones used on NASA's Orion capsule, designing and testing neutrally buoyant objects, and working in teams to discover and explore new planets like NASA's Kepler Space Telescope. These students along with a few more K-12 classrooms, and University of North Dakota students will be attending the event early March. The questions will come from students in kindergarten all the way through graduate school. Many of the students attending the event come from smaller rural communities, so it is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in such an event. Some families from the area will be attending as well, along with the winning 10th grade team from Space Grant's high altitude balloon competition last fall, as one of the prizes for the competition was a question slot for a member of the team. There are over 350 students, teachers, and chaperones currently registered for the event. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What do you do for fun on the space station? 2. What activities do you do to keep your muscles strong in micro-gravity? 3. Is it challenging to communicate with astronauts from other countries while working on the space station? 4. What kind of training does an astronaut have to go through and how was your experience? 5. Besides micro-gravity, what experimental conditions does the International Space Station provide that cannot be replicated here on Earth? 6. What was the hardest part of becoming an astronaut and what helped you get past this obstacle? 7. What advice would you give to students, such as myself, who wish to work for NASA one day? 8. What features of North Dakota, such as lakes, snow cover, or oil flares, can you see from the International Space Station? 9. Do you feel disconnected from the real-world whenever you hear about any major news story? If so, how do you find ways to reconnect? 10. We recently learned that astronauts make regular journal entries for research purposes. Do you find this exercise beneficial to your time on station? 11. What is your current interaction with medical professionals, regarding your health in space? 12. If you've seen or read "The Martian", how realistic was it compared to how things actually are on the space station? 13. Have you always wanted to go to space and become an astronaut? If so, what inspired you? 14. How often do you go on space walks and do you ever get scared? 15. What kind of experiments are you conducting on the space station? 16. We learned about Scott Kelley's year in space. How long have you been onboard and would you consider staying for a full year? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From kayakfishtx at gmail.com Wed Mar 9 15:05:16 2016 From: kayakfishtx at gmail.com (Clayton Coleman) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 09:05:16 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] W5PFG/P - EM24tq (Arkansas) March 14-18 Message-ID: Next week I'll be operating satellites from EM24 near Mena, Arkansas. Thanks to KG5CCI's recent operations, this grid is not as rare as it once was for many. I will casually operate satellite passes as convenient to my leisure schedule. If someone needs this grid confirmed via paper card or Logbook of the World, I'd be glad to schedule QSO's. Send any requests via email. I will post updates via Twitter @w5pfg during my trip. 73 Clayton W5PFG From kayakfishtx at gmail.com Wed Mar 9 17:11:24 2016 From: kayakfishtx at gmail.com (Clayton Coleman) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 11:11:24 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite op AC0RA tops '15 ARRL August UHF contest Message-ID: The results of the ARRL August 2015 UHF contest have been out for a while. This article, with short description of AC0RA/R's winning effort, is now posted online: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ContestResults/2015/2015%20ARRL%20UHF%20Contest%20-%20Full%20Results%20-%20Version%20%201_0.pdf or shortened URL: http://bit.ly/1U3M8lL Wyatt, AC0RA, is a life member of AMSAT and a very active portable operator here in the US on satellites. 73 Clayton W5PFG From AJ9N at aol.com Wed Mar 9 21:05:40 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 16:05:40 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-09 21:00 UTC Message-ID: <1233f9.4d059aa.4411ea24@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-09 21:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-10 19:07:08 UTC 58 deg (***) Live stream video for the event can be accessed at: http://realmedia.aero.und.edu/ndsgc.html (***) Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-17 14:46:07 UTC 30 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-09 20:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1034. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 999. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-08 23:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From w7lrd at comcast.net Wed Mar 9 22:43:09 2016 From: w7lrd at comcast.net (Bob- W7LRD) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 22:43:09 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator Message-ID: <478460123.480147.1457563389374.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> trying to set up Satpc32 on a win7 computer-can not get passed the "must run as administrator" part. Being "digitally challenged" how do I get it to run? 73 Bob W7LRD From kevin at eaglecreekobservatory.org Wed Mar 9 23:34:44 2016 From: kevin at eaglecreekobservatory.org (Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE) Date: Wed, 9 Mar 2016 17:34:44 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator In-Reply-To: <478460123.480147.1457563389374.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <478460123.480147.1457563389374.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <003a01d17a5c$43393ea0$c9abbbe0$@org> If you are running Windows 7 right click on the menu item or desktop icon and select Properties. Then click the "Advanced" button. There should be a checkbox that says "Run as Administrator" Check it. If YOU don't have administrator rights it's going to ask for the administrator password. Just click OK all the way out and the next time you run it you should be ok. The other option is to right click on the menu item and select "Run as Administrator" instead of just clicking on it. Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Grid EL09uf Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org I can melt ice with my mind, it just takes a few minutes. -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bob- W7LRD Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2016 4:43 PM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator trying to set up Satpc32 on a win7 computer-can not get passed the "must run as administrator" part. Being "digitally challenged" how do I get it to run? 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From g0iiq at outlook.com Thu Mar 10 08:06:21 2016 From: g0iiq at outlook.com (David Pykett) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 08:06:21 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator Message-ID: HI Bob Nit quite sure what happened to my email I think it may have gone direct to you? Right click on the setup.exe file once you have unzipped it into a folder and select run as Administrator, this resolved it for me on Win 10 PC and also on ?Windows Vista so hopefully it will work for you. I read through the instructions on using SatPC32 a number of times before I had it configured correctly, but now its so easy your virtually right on frequency every time on every Satellite, it takes time and effort to set up but well worth it in the end. 73 Dave G0IIQ From: Bob- W7LRD Sent: 09 March 2016 22:43 To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator trying to set up Satpc32 on a win7 computer-can not get passed the "must run as administrator" part. Being "digitally challenged" how do I get it to run? 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From g0iiq at outlook.com Thu Mar 10 11:44:03 2016 From: g0iiq at outlook.com (David Pykett) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 11:44:03 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] FW: run as administrator Message-ID: HI Bob Right click on the setup.exe file once you have unzipped it into a folder and select run as Administrator, this resolved it for me on Win 10 PC and also on Windows Vista so hopefully it will work for you. I read through the instructions on using SatPC32 a number of times before I had it configured correctly, but now its so easy your virtually right on frequency every time on every Satellite, it takes time and effort to set up but well worth it in the end. 73 Dave G0IIQ From: Bob- W7LRD Sent: 09 March 2016 22:43 To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] run as administrator trying to set up Satpc32 on a win7 computer-can not get passed the "must run as administrator" part. Being "digitally challenged" how do I get it to run? 73 Bob W7LRD _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Thu Mar 10 16:27:18 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:27:18 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ ScienceCity in Tucson AZ (12-13 March 2016) Message-ID: Hi! I will be part of the booth for the University of Arizona's radio club (K7UAZ) for this weekend's ScienceCity science fair, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson AZ. This is a two-day event, on Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 March 2016). The event will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm (1630 to 0030 UTC) each day. More information about the ScienceCity event is available at: http://sciencecity.arizona.edu/ I was part of the K7UAZ booth for the Saturday of last year's ScienceCity event, where over 60000 people came through the campus. This year, I wanted to attend for both days, since last year's event saw an estimated total of over 130000 people attending both days. As part of the K7UAZ activity, I will demonstrate satellite operating during each day. For these demonstrations, I will use the radio club's K7UAZ call sign. The University of Arizona campus, in the center of Tucson, in grid DM42. K7UAZ will also be on the HF bands each day. If anyone works K7UAZ and wishes to receive a QSL card, please look up K7UAZ on QRZ.com for the mailing address to send your QSL request with SASE. K7UAZ isn't currently participating in online QSL services like LOTW or eQSL. For up-to-the-minute news of my plans to work different passes, and photos from ScienceCity and the K7UAZ booth, please follow my @WD9EWK Twitter feed. For those who don't use Twitter and want to see my tweets, you can visit http://twitter.com/WD9EWK using a web browser. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From ka3hdo at verizon.net Thu Mar 10 19:34:55 2016 From: ka3hdo at verizon.net (KA3HDO) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:34:55 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS Contact #1000!! Message-ID: <00d701d17b03$ed8c7aa0$c8a56fe0$@verizon.net> Phenomenal ARISS contact today with Astronaut Tim Kopra and the students participating in the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium contact-ARISS contact #1000! Our telebridge team at W6SRJ Santa Rosa, CA, USA, led by Tim Bosma, W6MU, picked up Tim Kopra a few seconds into the pass with 20 questions answered. Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, who was station operator for Contact #1 in December 2000 was the moderator for this 1000th contact. Thanks to all for making this astounding achievement possible!! 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chair AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs From AJ9N at aol.com Thu Mar 10 21:53:22 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 16:53:22 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-10 21:00 UTC Message-ID: <13bfec.37cbf895.441346d1@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-10 21:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact was successful: Thu 2016-03-10 19:07:08 UTC 58 deg (***) Live stream video for the event can be accessed at: http://realmedia.aero.und.edu/ndsgc.html This was ARISS contact number 1000 and the 84th ARISS contact for W6SRJ. Congrats to all! (***) **************************************************************************** ** Yes, indeed, this was ARISS contact #1000. I had the luck of the draw to be the control operator for ARISS contact #1 in Burbank, IL back on December 21, 2000. Now once again, the luck of the draw has allowed me to be the mentor and moderator for this 1000th contact. Here is to the second 1000 contacts. 73, Charlie AJ9N One of the ARISS Operation Team Mentors **************************************************************************** ** Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-10 21:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1035. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1000. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: (***) Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-10 21:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Fri Mar 11 00:21:16 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 19:21:16 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS News Release no. 16-02 Message-ID: <161FC9101A8C427EA96907ED34BE4CA8@DHJ> Please find attached ARISS News Release no. 16-02 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From electricity440 at gmail.com Fri Mar 11 01:03:49 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 20:03:49 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Colorado Amateur Satellite net Begins in 1 hour Message-ID: This is a reminder that the Colorado Amateur Satellite net will begin in 1 hour from now (7PM mountain time Thursday). 6PM Pacific 7PM Mountain 8PM Central 9PM Eastern Please visit us on *AMSATNET.INFO * *IRLP* 9870, the Denver Reflector *ALLSTAR LINK* 40764, direct hookup to the repeater here. 41715, KC9ZHV hub at a data center if I am out of bandwidth. More info on AllStar - amsatnet.info/#node *ECHOLINK* *AMSAT* unless there is an ARISS contact, then go direct to KD0WHB-L *LOCAL RF* 449.625 (-) 141.3 ( W?KU Lookout Mountain) 447.225 (-) 141.3 (The STEM school repeater we set up) 447.850 (-) 141.3 (AC?KQ's repeater where he lives on TOP of saddleback mountain) 147.450 SIMPLEX (Aurora, CO) 446.275 (-) 100.0 Galena St. Local repeater at my house, giving a whopping 5 blocks of great coverage *REMOTE RF* Your Repeater here!, Email me if you want to link in or me to link your echolink or allstar repeater in automatically (no automatic IRLP linking supported) Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From n0jy at amsat.org Fri Mar 11 05:59:37 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2016 23:59:37 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS Contact #1000!! In-Reply-To: <00d701d17b03$ed8c7aa0$c8a56fe0$@verizon.net> References: <00d701d17b03$ed8c7aa0$c8a56fe0$@verizon.net> Message-ID: <56E25EC9.5030407@amsat.org> Congratulations to the ARISS Team for making this, the preceding 999, and hopefully the next 1000 contacts a reality! I had to head to an appointment and happened to hit the road out just before AOS here in Texas, and heard ISS on my mobile rig very well for about the last 5 minutes of the telebridge pass. It was great fun to listen to! Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/10/2016 13:34, KA3HDO wrote: > Phenomenal ARISS contact today with Astronaut Tim Kopra and the students > participating in the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium contact-ARISS > contact #1000! Our telebridge team at W6SRJ Santa Rosa, CA, USA, led by Tim > Bosma, W6MU, picked up Tim Kopra a few seconds into the pass with 20 > questions answered. Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, who was station operator for > Contact #1 in December 2000 was the moderator for this 1000th contact. > > > > Thanks to all for making this astounding achievement possible!! > > > > 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO > > ARISS International Chair > > AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From m5aka at yahoo.co.uk Fri Mar 11 21:08:10 2016 From: m5aka at yahoo.co.uk (M5AKA) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:08:10 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Tim Peake talks about Amateur Radio on the ISS References: <1768974651.13058688.1457730490592.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1768974651.13058688.1457730490592.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Tim Peake talks about Amateur Radio on the ISS http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/11/tim-peake-talks-about-amateur-radio-on-the-iss/ Get press publicity by receiving ISS school contacts http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/10/press-publicity-receiving-iss/ Video of Tim Peake and Powys Combined Schools contact http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/07/tim-peake-powys-schools-video/ Deployment of STMSat-1 SSTV CubeSat postponed http://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/03/school-sstv-cubesat-to-deploy-from-iss/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK?http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter?https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK YouTube?https://youtube.com/AmsatUK ---- From Mvivona at yahoo.com Fri Mar 11 21:38:28 2016 From: Mvivona at yahoo.com (Mvivona) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:38:28 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] FoxTelem patch version 1.03h In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Is the site down for the Fox Telemetry software? I am getting: "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable". Michael KC4ZVA On Mar 6, 2016, at 11:13 AM, Chris Thompson wrote: I have released a patch to Version 1.03 of FoxTelem. This fixes two minor issues that have been reported to me: 1. The measurements were being displayed incorrectly, so it appeared that they were not being collected. 2. Sometimes a small number of frames were not sent to the sever. If you are not experiencing these issues, then you don't need to upgrade. You can find the patch here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip It is only 1 file and you just copy it into the installation directory and overwrite the file that is there. You know it has worked if the version number is now 1.03h. 73 Chris g0kla / ac2cz -- Chris E. Thompson chrisethompson at gmail.com g0kla at arrl.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n0jy at amsat.org Fri Mar 11 22:32:14 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 16:32:14 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] FoxTelem patch version 1.03h In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56E3476E.7020109@amsat.org> Yes, the site has been down for about 24 hours. I am working with GoDaddy to get it returned to service. I'll post when it's fixed. Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/11/2016 15:38, Mvivona via AMSAT-BB wrote: > Is the site down for the Fox Telemetry software? > I am getting: "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable". > > Michael KC4ZVA > > On Mar 6, 2016, at 11:13 AM, Chris Thompson wrote: > > I have released a patch to Version 1.03 of FoxTelem. This fixes two minor > issues that have been reported to me: > 1. The measurements were being displayed incorrectly, so it appeared that > they were not being collected. > 2. Sometimes a small number of frames were not sent to the sever. > > If you are not experiencing these issues, then you don't need to upgrade. > > You can find the patch here: > http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip > http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip > http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip > > It is only 1 file and you just copy it into the installation directory and > overwrite the file that is there. You know it has worked if the version > number is now 1.03h. > > 73 > Chris > g0kla / ac2cz > From n0jy at amsat.org Sat Mar 12 02:02:49 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 20:02:49 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] FoxTelem patch version 1.03h In-Reply-To: <56E3476E.7020109@amsat.org> References: <56E3476E.7020109@amsat.org> Message-ID: <56E378C9.8070500@amsat.org> The FoxTelem download site http://amsat.org/FoxTelem is back up now. GoDaddy is sorry for the inconvenience! :-) Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/11/2016 16:32, Jerry Buxton wrote: > Yes, the site has been down for about 24 hours. I am working with > GoDaddy to get it returned to service. I'll post when it's fixed. > > Jerry Buxton, N?JY > > On 3/11/2016 15:38, Mvivona via AMSAT-BB wrote: >> Is the site down for the Fox Telemetry software? >> I am getting: "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable". >> >> Michael KC4ZVA >> >> On Mar 6, 2016, at 11:13 AM, Chris Thompson wrote: >> >> I have released a patch to Version 1.03 of FoxTelem. This fixes two minor >> issues that have been reported to me: >> 1. The measurements were being displayed incorrectly, so it appeared that >> they were not being collected. >> 2. Sometimes a small number of frames were not sent to the sever. >> >> If you are not experiencing these issues, then you don't need to upgrade. >> >> You can find the patch here: >> http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/windows/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip >> http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/mac/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip >> http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/linux/foxtelem_1.03h_patch.zip >> >> It is only 1 file and you just copy it into the installation directory and >> overwrite the file that is there. You know it has worked if the version >> number is now 1.03h. >> >> 73 >> Chris >> g0kla / ac2cz >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From dphelps1 at ameritech.net Sat Mar 12 02:17:48 2016 From: dphelps1 at ameritech.net (Douglas Phelps) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 02:17:48 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website References: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Is FEMA jumping the gun or is the ride share opportunity approved? ?The full Artical, from FEMA, is posted below. NavigationSearchLanguages - Blog - Blog Disclaimers & Policies Main Content Supporting Disaster Communications from Space Author:?Rafael LemaitreHume Center Director of Research Robert McGwier (right) and research associate Zachary Lefke are building radio antennas that will be used in the Virginia Tech Ground Station. Photo Credit: Virginia TechConventional lines of communication can be impacted after a disaster. This we know. Phone lines can go down, cell service can be overrun with calls, texts, and emails and it can be difficult for survivors as well as first responders to get in touch. This isn?t a far-fetched scenario or intellectual exercise. It?s a reality we?ve seen happen over and over during disasters small and large.?Enter Amateur Radio?or what those involved in the hobby refer to as "ham radio."Amateur radio enthusiasts?or ?hams? as they?re often called?often step in during emergencies to help bridge communication gaps between first responders to keep people safe when smartphones, cell towers, and internet technologies we rely on every day go down. Volunteer hams also serve as a valuable source of information during the initial states of an emergency.? Often, hams provide this public service in association with volunteer groups like Community Emergency Response Teams, who are always ready to spring into action quickly and effectively.1We owe it to these volunteers to do everything we can to support their work to help communities bounce back when disaster strikes.? That?s why we?ve partnered with the American Radio Relay League and researchers from Virginia Tech?s?Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology?in Blacksburg, Virginia?one of the leaders in amateur radio technology?to develop a new communications satellite that will help amateur radio operators transmit radio signals across the United States 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ?After all, disasters can happen any place and any time.With this new satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017, Hams involved in supporting disaster communications will have a more reliable connection and a new level of capability in their communications.2?Right now, radio signals used by amateurs must often be bounced off the ionosphere to accommodate communication over long distances.? Unfortunately, this type of radio propagation isn?t reliable because signal reach and quality can be impacted or even halted by space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms.2??This satellite is unique because it will provide another layer of support for emergency services? by providing a dedicated communications hub for hams orbiting above the U.S. in geosynchronous orbit every day. It will help emergency managers deployed to disasters support long-term communications for first responders on the ground?and become another invaluable tool at their disposal.2Amateur radio operators have come to the rescue on more than one occasion?like during Hurricane Sandy?when landlines and cell phones were left out of commission throughout New York and New Jersey.Hams also made a difference in 2013, when Colorado was hit with historic flooding. As floodwaters ravaged areas across the state, they threatened a wastewater plant that served over 80,000 people. Volunteers from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?the American Radio Relay League?s disaster communications arm?leapt into action, creating a network to monitor the situation and collect data. As a result, they were able to take remote control of the facility and helped prevent any wastewater from spilling out with the floods.3This new partnership with hams will help make our communities more resilient, and we look forward to a successful launch.?Editor?s Note: Jessica Stapf contributed research to this post.Sources: - Amateur Radio Relay League Page: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication - Virginia Tech Press Release: "First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications." - Case Study: Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply From afeller at ieee.org Sat Mar 12 02:20:41 2016 From: afeller at ieee.org (Arthur Feller) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 21:20:41 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website In-Reply-To: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: He?s the link with Bob?s profile!! https://www.fema.gov/blog/2016-03-07/supporting-disaster-communications-space 73, art?.. W4ART Arlington VA > On 11-Mar-2016, at 09:17 PM, Douglas Phelps wrote: > > Is FEMA jumping the gun or is the ride share opportunity approved? The full Artical, from FEMA, is posted below. > NavigationSearchLanguages > - Blog > - Blog Disclaimers & Policies > > Main Content > Supporting Disaster Communications from Space > Author: Rafael LemaitreHume Center Director of Research Robert McGwier (right) and research associate Zachary Lefke are building radio antennas that will be used in the Virginia Tech Ground Station. Photo Credit: Virginia TechConventional lines of communication can be impacted after a disaster. This we know. Phone lines can go down, cell service can be overrun with calls, texts, and emails and it can be difficult for survivors as well as first responders to get in touch. This isn?t a far-fetched scenario or intellectual exercise. It?s a reality we?ve seen happen over and over during disasters small and large. Enter Amateur Radio?or what those involved in the hobby refer to as "ham radio."Amateur radio enthusiasts?or ?hams? as they?re often called?often step in during emergencies to help bridge communication gaps between first responders to keep people safe when smartphones, cell towers, and internet technologies we rely on every day go down. Volunteer hams also serve as a valuable source of information during the initial states of an emergency. Often, hams provide this public service in association with volunteer groups like Community Emergency Response Teams, who are always ready to spring into action quickly and effectively.1We owe it to these volunteers to do everything we can to support their work to help communities bounce back when disaster strikes. That?s why we?ve partnered with the American Radio Relay League and researchers from Virginia Tech?s Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia?one of the leaders in amateur radio technology?to develop a new communications satellite that will help amateur radio operators transmit radio signals across the United States 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After all, disasters can happen any place and any time.With this new satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017, Hams involved in supporting disaster communications will have a more reliable connection and a new level of capability in their communications.2 Right now, radio signals used by amateurs must often be bounced off the ionosphere to accommodate communication over long distances. Unfortunately, this type of radio propagation isn?t reliable because signal reach and quality can be impacted or even halted by space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms.2 This satellite is unique because it will provide another layer of support for emergency services? by providing a dedicated communications hub for hams orbiting above the U.S. in geosynchronous orbit every day. It will help emergency managers deployed to disasters support long-term communications for first responders on the ground?and become another invaluable tool at their disposal.2Amateur radio operators have come to the rescue on more than one occasion?like during Hurricane Sandy?when landlines and cell phones were left out of commission throughout New York and New Jersey.Hams also made a difference in 2013, when Colorado was hit with historic flooding. As floodwaters ravaged areas across the state, they threatened a wastewater plant that served over 80,000 people. Volunteers from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?the American Radio Relay League?s disaster communications arm?leapt into action, creating a network to monitor the situation and collect data. As a result, they were able to take remote control of the facility and helped prevent any wastewater from spilling out with the floods.3This new partnership with hams will help make our communities more resilient, and we look forward to a successful launch. Editor?s Note: Jessica Stapf contributed research to this post.Sources: > - Amateur Radio Relay League Page: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication > - Virginia Tech Press Release: "First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications." > - Case Study: Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts. -Leo Rosten, author (1908-1997) http://afeller.us From dphelps1 at ameritech.net Sat Mar 12 02:27:25 2016 From: dphelps1 at ameritech.net (Douglas Phelps) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 02:27:25 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website In-Reply-To: References: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <37765657.123135.1457749645211.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> I tried to copy and paste the article the link goes to but it did not work. ?The question remains, Does this mean the satellite is a go? From: Arthur Feller To: Douglas Phelps Cc: AMSAT BB Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 8:20 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website He?s the link with Bob?s profile!!? https://www.fema.gov/blog/2016-03-07/supporting-disaster-communications-space 73, art?.. W4ART? Arlington VA > On 11-Mar-2016, at 09:17 PM, Douglas Phelps wrote: > > Is FEMA jumping the gun or is the ride share opportunity approved?? The full Artical, from FEMA, is posted below. > NavigationSearchLanguages? >? - Blog? ? ? >? ? ? - Blog Disclaimers & Policies > > Main Content > Supporting Disaster Communications from Space > Author: Rafael LemaitreHume Center Director of Research Robert McGwier (right) and research associate Zachary Lefke are building radio antennas that will be used in the Virginia Tech Ground Station. Photo Credit: Virginia TechConventional lines of communication can be impacted after a disaster. This we know. Phone lines can go down, cell service can be overrun with calls, texts, and emails and it can be difficult for survivors as well as first responders to get in touch. This isn?t a far-fetched scenario or intellectual exercise. It?s a reality we?ve seen happen over and over during disasters small and large. Enter Amateur Radio?or what those involved in the hobby refer to as "ham radio."Amateur radio enthusiasts?or ?hams? as they?re often called?often step in during emergencies to help bridge communication gaps between first responders to keep people safe when smartphones, cell towers, and internet technologies we rely on every day go down. Volunteer hams also serve as a valuable source of information during the initial states of an emergency.? Often, hams provide this public service in association with volunteer groups like Community Emergency Response Teams, who are always ready to spring into action quickly and effectively.1We owe it to these volunteers to do everything we can to support their work to help communities bounce back when disaster strikes.? That?s why we?ve partnered with the American Radio Relay League and researchers from Virginia Tech?s Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia?one of the leaders in amateur radio technology?to develop a new communications satellite that will help amateur radio operators transmit radio signals across the United States 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.? After all, disasters can happen any place and any time.With this new satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017, Hams involved in supporting disaster communications will have a more reliable connection and a new level of capability in their communications.2 Right now, radio signals used by amateurs must often be bounced off the ionosphere to accommodate communication over long distances.? Unfortunately, this type of radio propagation isn?t reliable because signal reach and quality can be impacted or even halted by space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms.2? This satellite is unique because it will provide another layer of support for emergency services? by providing a dedicated communications hub for hams orbiting above the U.S. in geosynchronous orbit every day. It will help emergency managers deployed to disasters support long-term communications for first responders on the ground?and become another invaluable tool at their disposal.2Amateur radio operators have come to the rescue on more than one occasion?like during Hurricane Sandy?when landlines and cell phones were left out of commission throughout New York and New Jersey.Hams also made a difference in 2013, when Colorado was hit with historic flooding. As floodwaters ravaged areas across the state, they threatened a wastewater plant that served over 80,000 people. Volunteers from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?the American Radio Relay League?s disaster communications arm?leapt into action, creating a network to monitor the situation and collect data. As a result, they were able to take remote control of the facility and helped prevent any wastewater from spilling out with the floods.3This new partnership with hams will help make our communities more resilient, and we look forward to a successful launch. Editor?s Note: Jessica Stapf contributed research to this post.Sources:? >? - Amateur Radio Relay League Page: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication >? - Virginia Tech Press Release: "First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications." >? - Case Study: Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts. ? ? -Leo Rosten, author (1908-1997) ? http://afeller.us _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n0jy at amsat.org Sat Mar 12 02:55:30 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 20:55:30 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website In-Reply-To: <37765657.123135.1457749645211.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1287037433.133939.1457749068964.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> <37765657.123135.1457749645211.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <56E38522.7070206@amsat.org> The conditions of the rideshare make it hard to publicly post information. Not unlike our NDAs with NASA, Spaceflight, and such, where I have to generalize launch dates and things like that. The P4B project is still in process, Virginia Tech and AMSAT are working on the payload integration, but I can't specifically say anything more. Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/11/2016 20:27, Douglas Phelps wrote: > I tried to copy and paste the article the link goes to but it did not work. The question remains, Does this mean the satellite is a go? > > > From: Arthur Feller > To: Douglas Phelps > Cc: AMSAT BB > Sent: Friday, March 11, 2016 8:20 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Geosync Ham Sat Posting on the FEMA Website > > He?s the link with Bob?s profile!! https://www.fema.gov/blog/2016-03-07/supporting-disaster-communications-space > > 73, art?.. > W4ART Arlington VA > > >> On 11-Mar-2016, at 09:17 PM, Douglas Phelps wrote: >> >> Is FEMA jumping the gun or is the ride share opportunity approved? The full Artical, from FEMA, is posted below. >> NavigationSearchLanguages >> - Blog >> - Blog Disclaimers & Policies >> >> Main Content >> Supporting Disaster Communications from Space >> Author: Rafael LemaitreHume Center Director of Research Robert McGwier (right) and research associate Zachary Lefke are building radio antennas that will be used in the Virginia Tech Ground Station. Photo Credit: Virginia TechConventional lines of communication can be impacted after a disaster. This we know. Phone lines can go down, cell service can be overrun with calls, texts, and emails and it can be difficult for survivors as well as first responders to get in touch. This isn?t a far-fetched scenario or intellectual exercise. It?s a reality we?ve seen happen over and over during disasters small and large. Enter Amateur Radio?or what those involved in the hobby refer to as "ham radio."Amateur radio enthusiasts?or ?hams? as they?re often called?often step in during emergencies to help bridge communication gaps between first responders to keep people safe when smartphones, cell towers, and internet technologies we rely on every day go down. Volunteer hams also serve as a valuable source of information during the initial states of an emergency. Often, hams provide this public service in association with volunteer groups like Community Emergency Response Teams, who are always ready to spring into action quickly and effectively.1We owe it to these volunteers to do everything we can to support their work to help communities bounce back when disaster strikes. That?s why we?ve partnered with the American Radio Relay League and researchers from Virginia Tech?s Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia?one of the leaders in amateur radio technology?to develop a new communications satellite that will help amateur radio operators transmit radio signals across the United States 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After all, disasters can happen any place and any time.With this new satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017, Hams involved in supporting disaster communications will have a more reliable connection and a new level of capability in their communications.2 Right now, radio signals used by amateurs must often be bounced off the ionosphere to accommodate communication over long distances. Unfortunately, this type of radio propagation isn?t reliable because signal reach and quality can be impacted or even halted by space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms.2 This satellite is unique because it will provide another layer of support for emergency services? by providing a dedicated communications hub for hams orbiting above the U.S. in geosynchronous orbit every day. It will help emergency managers deployed to disasters support long-term communications for first responders on the ground?and become another invaluable tool at their disposal.2Amateur radio operators have come to the rescue on more than one occasion?like during Hurricane Sandy?when landlines and cell phones were left out of commission throughout New York and New Jersey.Hams also made a difference in 2013, when Colorado was hit with historic flooding. As floodwaters ravaged areas across the state, they threatened a wastewater plant that served over 80,000 people. Volunteers from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?the American Radio Relay League?s disaster communications arm?leapt into action, creating a network to monitor the situation and collect data. As a result, they were able to take remote control of the facility and helped prevent any wastewater from spilling out with the floods.3This new partnership with hams will help make our communities more resilient, and we look forward to a successful launch. Editor?s Note: Jessica Stapf contributed research to this post.Sources: >> - Amateur Radio Relay League Page: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication >> - Virginia Tech Press Release: "First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications." >> - Case Study: Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts. > -Leo Rosten, author (1908-1997) > > > http://afeller.us > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Sat Mar 12 03:28:19 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2016 22:28:19 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida Message-ID: An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida on 14 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 15:48 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and W4SVI. The contact should be audible over Florida and portions of the eastern U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Booker T. Washington Senior School is a grade 9-12 public school within the urban school district of Miami Dade County Public Schools. It is a tuition free school, with an open admission policy. It is located in an historical area in the town of Miami, Florida. The school is a school with two magnet programs and career and technical education academies. The school is the only high school in South Florida with a state of the art planetarium, in which astronomy themed STEM education is taught. This planetarium is the centerpiece for the new advanced level astronomy magnet program at the school, developed by the Department of Mathematics and Science. The astronomy magnet is the host program for this 2016 ISS Contact. There is a strong emphasis on STEM education at the school site as of the past few years, which is a part of a reform effort to make the high school a STEM high school. The student body is made up of about 980 students from all over the Miami-Dade County area (Students outside of the general feeder pattern are can attend the high school via one of its magnet programs). The school has about 45 classroom teachers, 24 special area teachers, five interventionist and many agencies on campus who all offer academic assistance such as tutoring and standardized testing preparation. Being one of the oldest high schools in the county and state, the school's mission is to envision the future while recapturing the past, which creates a formula for success. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What was the biggest issue you've encountered during a mission on the ISS? 2. How do you maintain the ISS in terms of new technology? 3. If someone wanted to travel to space how would they prepare? 4. How is your breathable oxygen maintained on the ISS? 5. After being in space for so long, what is it like when you get back to Earth? 6. Have you considered the possibility that you could die in space or 'enroute' to space? 7. Do humans age differently in space compared to on Earth? 8. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being in space? 9. How would you respond to an incident like a fire aboard the ISS (beyond using a standard fire extinguisher)? 10. Are there any technical routines you need to adhere to every morning when you wake up? 11. While exercising in space does your muscle mass develop differently? 12. Is there a particular area of the planet you always see when you pass/cross the ascending node or descending node within your orbit around the Earth? 13. Did you take into consideration your family's feelings before going on your mission to space? 14. What is your hygiene routine on the ISS? 15. Since there are no hospitals in space is the crew medically trained if someone gets sick? 16. How often do you conduct space walks? 17. When conducting a spacewalk how do you get back into the ISS? 18. How to you prevent yourself from moving too far out during a spacewalk? 19. Does the ISS have probes to collect telemetry such as space gas composition and concentration? 20. How do you slow down enough to dock the Soyuz on the ISS? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53 UTC ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From jimlist at zoho.com Sat Mar 12 08:48:06 2016 From: jimlist at zoho.com (Jim Heck G3WGM) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 08:48:06 -0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-73/FUNcube mode switch In-Reply-To: <1768974651.13058688.1457730490592.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1768974651.13058688.1457730490592.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1768974651.13058688.1457730490592.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Folks, I switched AO-73/FUNCube to continuous transponder mode last night at about 2300 UTC. Apols for the late notification Plan as usual is to switch back to Education Mode on Sunday pm UTC. 73s Jim G3WGM From david.xe3dx at gmail.com Sat Mar 12 14:58:26 2016 From: david.xe3dx at gmail.com (David Maciel (XE3DX)) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 08:58:26 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] LVB with Orbitron Message-ID: Hello Group, who works the LVB Tracker AMSAT with Orbitron ..? I have some trouble setting with WispDDE, I would like some help screens to configure .. -- Saludos David Maciel XE3DX Enviado desde mi IPHONE From f1rrj at free.fr Sat Mar 12 17:22:48 2016 From: f1rrj at free.fr (F1RRJ) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 18:22:48 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] JN09 SQUARE on AO-7 at 5:30PM. Message-ID: <01db01d17c83$cd1ee8d0$675cba70$@fr> Hello all, I'll be on AO-7 from JN09 SQUARE for North American stations, at 5:30pm near of the satellite frequency 145.945. 73s. Francis, F1RRJ. From AJ9N at aol.com Sat Mar 12 20:21:13 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 15:21:13 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-12 20:00 UTC Message-ID: <165ed2.6e0a170c.4415d439@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-12 20:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-12 20:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1035. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1000. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-10 21:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From david.pykett at ntlworld.com Sat Mar 12 22:14:52 2016 From: david.pykett at ntlworld.com (David Pykett) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 22:14:52 -0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Run as administrator Message-ID: <000301d17cac$99c46860$cd4d3920$@ntlworld.com> Hi Bob Did you have any success installing Satpc32? 73 Dave G0IIQ From mccardelm at gmail.com Sun Mar 13 00:55:15 2016 From: mccardelm at gmail.com (E.Mike McCardel) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 19:55:15 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-073 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins Message-ID: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-073 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * ARISS Celebrates School Contact #1000! * AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention * Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D Waiting for delivery to Spaceflight Industries * The CBS "This Morning" show reportsa on STMSat-1 * Supporting Disaster Communications from Space * Proposal Window for Scheduled US Contacts is Open * Application Window Open for ARISS Europe Region * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-073.01 ANS-073 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 073.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. March 13, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-073.01 ARISS Celebrates School Contact #1000! March 10, 2016: Today the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station team (ARISS team) proudly celebrated its 1000th school radio contact! The very first ARISS contact took place in 2000, and Astronaut Tim Kopra, amateur call sign KE5UDN, on the International Space Station (ISS) did the honors for today?s 1000th link-up to the University of North Dakota. Kopra spoke in real time to excited scholars in Grand Forks at the event organized by the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC). An additional program milestone?this was the first amateur radio contact with the ISS that has been hosted in North Dakota. During the 10-minute ARISS contact Astronaut Kopra answered questions formulated by 20 different pupils in kindergarten all the way up to graduate school. A member of the winning 10th grade team from the Space Grant?s high altitude balloon competition last fall was awarded one of the slots to interview Kopra. An ARISS event is more than the amateur radio contact, and in this case the NDSGC team that included college student volunteers made multiple visits to pupils in the second through fifth grades at Emerado Elementary (Emerado, ND); Highland Elementary (Crookston, MN); Century Elementary (Grafton, ND); Century Elementary (Grand Forks, ND); and Discover Elementary (Grand Forks, ND). The university teams led the young students in hands-on activities and learning about aerospace, priming the youth for the interview with Kopra. The students, many from smaller rural communities, built and launched rockets, crafted and tested parachutes similar to those on NASA?s Orion capsule, and designed and tested neutral buoyant objects. Students in today?s audience for the 1000th contact numbered 500. TV and newspaper reporters captured the action; the university media team filmed it, and live-streaming was handled by John Spasojevich, amateur radio call sign AG9D. One student asked Tim, ?What advice would you give to students, such as myself, who wish to work for NASA one day?? Tim advised: ?Study very hard and work hard in school because if you do well in school you'll learn a lot and it's like money in the bank for you and your future career.? A UND staff member said, ?Experiential learning has proven to be the most effective method of knowledge retention, so this [ARISS] experience would grant them [students] the skills necessary to be successful individuals in their future careers. The problem-solving, creativity, and perseverance required by radio communications are cross-disciplinary skills that students can utilize as they enter STEM fields and careers, enhancing the NASA- relevant workforce of North Dakota.? Frank Bauer, International Chairman for ARISS congratulated the ARISS team on this noteworthy accomplishment: ?With the outstanding support of NASA and the International Space Agencies participating in ISS, the ISS on-orbit crew members encompassing all 48 expeditions and the hundreds of ARISS volunteers world-wide, the ARISS team has reached a tremendous milestone: 1000 ARISS contacts between schools on the ground and the ISS crews on- orbit. Since our first contact in December 2000 to today?s contact in North Dakota, hundreds of thousands of students have participated in hands-on STEM learning that ARISS affords and many millions from the general public have witnessed Human Spaceflight in action through an ARISS contact. My congratulations to the ARISS international team and our ARISS stakeholders and sponsors on this phenomenal accomplishment!? The NASA ISS Program Office produced several videos to celebrate the achievement of ARISS contact #1000, and the first three are online at: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTOiiBd2dCo&feature=em-uploademail ARISS: 1,000 Calls and Counting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwtLkTpgNMM&feature=em-uploademail ARISS: Talking to Astronauts https://youtu.be/Z-yHD9lVbH8 ARISS telebridge station W6SRJ operators Tim Bosma, W6MU, and Don Dalby, KE6UAY, in Santa Rosa, California, skillfully supported the North Dakota ham radio linkup as the ISS passed overhead, relaying astronaut Tim Kopra?s radio signal to the students. Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, the ARISS Mentor from the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and the lead operator for ARISS Contact #1, guided the UND Dakota Student Amateur Radio Association and the FORX Amateur Radio Club in all aspects of the ARISS contact. Congratulations go to the entire ARISS team on its #1000 successful amateur radio contact with ISS astronauts and cosmonauts! About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the ISS (ARISS) Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention The tenth annual joint AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held on Friday evening, May 20th. This dinner is one of the main AMSAT activities during the Hamvention. Tickets ($35 each) may be purchased from the AMSAT store at www.amsat.org. The banquet ticket purchase deadline is Tuesday, May 17th. The Banquet will take place at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center, 4572 Presidential Way, Kettering, OH 45429 (just south of Dayton). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a cash bar with the buffet dinner served at 7:00 p.m. AMSAT and TAPR alternate the task of providing a speaker for the banquet. It is AMSAT?s responsibility this year. Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, will present "It?s just software, right?" She will survey the AMSAT Ground Terminal: Who, what, when, where, why, and how we?re designing open source radio solutions for the next generation of AMSAT payloads. Michelle is AMSAT?s Team Leader for the design and execution of the AMSAT Ground Terminal. The goal is to create a ?5 and Dime? (5 and 10 GHz) digital SDR transceiver that will support both voice and data modes, for both general QSOs and emergency communication, for the Phase 4B satellite and for future AMSAT projects. This is an effort to design an inexpensive ground terminal for amateurs that would cost tens of thousands of dollars commercially, for as much under $1,000 as we can get it. A true renaissance woman, in addition to being an engineer and a licensed amateur radio operator, Michelle has worked for Qualcomm, attends Burning Man, and is a longtime DEFCON participant. She is also the lead for Organ Donor (an AI pipe organ). Her Phase 4B Weekly Ground Engineering Reports are fascinating reading. Seating is limited to the number of meals we reserve with the Kohler caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Tickets purchased online may be collected at the Books, Shirts & Memberships corner of the AMSAT booth (445-446). [ANS thanks Steve N9IP and the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D Waiting for delivery to Spaceflight Industries Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D successfully finished environmental testing on February 8 and are now ready and waiting for delivery to Spaceflight Industries for integration into their Sherpa payload dispenser which will be making its maiden flight. Launch is on target to occur in in the first half of 2016 on a SpaceX Falcon 9. The CubeSats will be kept in a clean condition sealed in anti-static bags, opened occasionally to charge the batteries so that they are fully topped off for delivery. Launched into a sun synchronous orbit, Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D will both carry an FM repeater as Fox-1A (AO-85) has, as well as a camera experiment built by students at Virginia Tech which will take images of Earth for downlink in the high speed Data Mode. Fox-1Cliff will also contain a radiation experiment from Vanderbilt University ISDE like that in AO-85, and Fox-1D will host the University of Iowa HERCI (High Energy Radiation CubeSat Instrument) experiment to map the Van Allen radiation belts. With Fox-1Cliff and Fox-1D completed, the Fox Engineering Team is focusing on RadFxSat/Fox-1B which is currently set to launch in January, 2017. [ANS thanks Jerry N0JY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- The CBS "This Morning" show reports on STMSat-1 The CBS This Morning show reports on an amateur radio SSTV satellite built by elementary students which is to be deployed in space in the coming days Astronauts on the International Space Station have conducted hundreds of experiments and launched many satellites, but now they are set to deploy a satellite that elementary age students at a school in Virginia built. Their satellite hitched a ride on a NASA rocket late last year, and it will be released into space in the next few days. Mark Albert reports. Watch the CBS report at http://tinyurl.com/ANS073-STMSat-on-CBS For the latest deployment date check the STMSat-1 Twitter account https://twitter.com/STMSAT11 Deployment Update In a tweet from STMSAT-1 on Saturday: "Looks like I will be a houseguest just a bit longer. With 4 launches in the next 20 days. astronauts are quite busy! Try again. 3 weeks." [ANS thanks CBS and Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Supporting Disaster Communications from Space Conventional lines of communication can be impacted after a disaster. This we know. Phone lines can go down, cell service can be overrun with calls, texts, and emails and it can be difficult for survivors as well as first responders to get in touch. This isn?t a far-fetched scenario or intellectual exercise. It?s a reality we?ve seen happen over and over during disasters small and large. Enter Amateur Radio?or what those involved in the hobby refer to as "ham radio." Amateur radio enthusiasts?or ?hams? as they?re often called?often step in during emergencies to help bridge communication gaps between first responders to keep people safe when smartphones, cell towers, and internet technologies we rely on every day go down. Volunteer hams also serve as a valuable source of information during the initial states of an emergency. Often, hams provide this public service in association with volunteer groups like Community Emergency Response Teams, who are always ready to spring into action quickly and effectively.1 We owe it to these volunteers to do everything we can to support their work to help communities bounce back when disaster strikes. That?s why we?ve partnered with the American Radio Relay League and researchers from Virginia Tech?s Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology in Blacksburg, Virginia?one of the leaders in amateur radio technology?to develop a new communications satellite that will help amateur radio operators transmit radio signals across the United States 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After all, disasters can happen any place and any time. With this new satellite, scheduled to launch in 2017, Hams involved in supporting disaster communications will have a more reliable connection and a new level of capability in their communications.2 Right now, radio signals used by amateurs must often be bounced off the ionosphere to accommodate communication over long distances. Unfortunately, this type of radio propagation isn?t reliable because signal reach and quality can be impacted or even halted by space weather events like solar flares and geomagnetic storms.2 This satellite is unique because it will provide another layer of support for emergency services? by providing a dedicated communications hub for hams orbiting above the U.S. in geosynchronous orbit every day. It will help emergency managers deployed to disasters support long- term communications for first responders on the ground?and become another invaluable tool at their disposal.2 Amateur radio operators have come to the rescue on more than one occasion?like during Hurricane Sandy?when landlines and cell phones were left out of commission throughout New York and New Jersey. Hams also made a difference in 2013, when Colorado was hit with historic flooding. As floodwaters ravaged areas across the state, they threatened a wastewater plant that served over 80,000 people. Volunteers from the Amateur Radio Emergency Service?the American Radio Relay League?s disaster communications arm?leapt into action, creating a network to monitor the situation and collect data. As a result, they were able to take remote control of the facility and helped prevent any wastewater from spilling out with the floods.3 This new partnership with hams will help make our communities more resilient, and we look forward to a successful launch. FEMA Editor?s Note: Jessica Stapf contributed research to this post. Sources: Amateur Radio Relay League Page: Amateur Radio Emergency Communication http://www.arrl.org/amateur-radio-emergency-communication Virginia Tech Press Release: "First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications." http://tinyurl.com/ANS073-VTGeo Case Study: Amateur Radio Volunteers Protect Community Water Supply http://tinyurl.com/ANS073-CaseStudy [ANS thanks Rafael Lemaitre and FEMA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposal Window for Scheduled US Contacts is Open Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 ? April 15, 2016 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2016. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Application Window Open for ARISS Europe Region Schools and Youth organizations in the ARISS-Europe Region (Europe, Africa and Middle East) interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut onboard the International Space Station are invited to submit an application and an educational project. The application submission window will be open February 1 to April 30, 2016, for space conversations that will tentatively be scheduled in the period extending from February to June 2017. Please see http://www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts for details and an application. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Slovansk? Gymn?zium Olomouc, Olomouc, Moravia, Czech Republic and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2016-03-08 08:22 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via OK2KYJ. ARISS Mentor was Armand SP3QFE. This was the 998th ARISS contact. + A Successful contact was made between Atlanta Science Festival, Atlanta, Georgia and Astronaut Tim Kopra KE5UDN using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2016-03-08 16:11 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge] via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC. This was the 999th ARISS contact. + A Successful contact was made between North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC), Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA and Astronaut Tim Kopra KE5UDN using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2016-03-10 19:07:08 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Charlie AJ9N. This was the 1000th ARISS contact. Editor's Note: Last week the Mentors for the successful ARISS contacts were misreported. AA8EM assumes full responsibility for the error. Below are the correct mentors for contacts #995, #996 and #997. The mentor for contact #995 on 2/29/2016 between Tim Kopra KE5UDN and Gesamtschule Leverkusen Schlebusch, Leverkusen, Germany, was Peter IN3GHZ. The Mentor for contact #996 on 3/1/2016 between Tim Kopra KE5UDN and National Urban Alliance for Effective Education (NUA), Syosset, New York, was Dave AA4KN. The mentor for contact #997 on 3/5/2016 between Timothy Peake KG5BVI and Powys Secondary Schools, Mid Wales, UK was Ciaran M?XTD. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Thu 2016-03-17 14:46:07 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Patrick Stoodard WD9EWK will be part of the booth for the University of Arizona's radio club (K7UAZ) for this weekend's ScienceCity science fair, on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson AZ. This is a two-day event, on Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 March 2016). The event will be open from 9.30am to 5.30pm (1630 to 0030 UTC) each day. More information about the ScienceCity event is available at: http://sciencecity.arizona.edu/ [ANS thanks Patrick WD6EWK for the above information] + Space Station 360: Zarya Explore the Space Station?s first module with your mobile phone or virtual-reality headset. http://tinyurl.com/ANS073-SpaceStationTour [ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM (Former KC8YLD) kc8yld at amsat dot org From clintbradford at mac.com Sun Mar 13 02:08:35 2016 From: clintbradford at mac.com (Clint Bradford) Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2016 18:08:35 -0800 Subject: [amsat-bb] Congrats to ARISS! Message-ID: Congratulations on 1,000 successful ARISS projects! Clint K6LCS School Coordinator, ARISS Contact 721 From w7lrd at comcast.net Sun Mar 13 19:15:32 2016 From: w7lrd at comcast.net (Bob- W7LRD) Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 19:15:32 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] one on one satpc32 Message-ID: <1419134694.703942.1457896532718.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> I could use some 1 on 1 satpc32 help setting up on a newer win7 computer. I got the computer talking to the LVB tracker but can not get the computer to talk to my IC-910. Volunteers? 73 the digitally challenged Bob W7LRD From kellyrkeeton at gmail.com Sun Mar 13 21:31:47 2016 From: kellyrkeeton at gmail.com (Kelly Keeton) Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 14:31:47 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] one on one satpc32 In-Reply-To: <1419134694.703942.1457896532718.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1419134694.703942.1457896532718.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: I could possibly ... Depends where are you located - I'm in Renton ;) Sent from a mobile device. > On Mar 13, 2016, at 12:15 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > > I could use some 1 on 1 satpc32 help setting up on a newer win7 computer. I got the computer talking to the LVB tracker but can not get the computer to talk to my IC-910. Volunteers? > 73 the digitally challenged > Bob W7LRD > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From rgoldham at sbcglobal.net Sun Mar 13 21:53:08 2016 From: rgoldham at sbcglobal.net (Ronald Oldham) Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 21:53:08 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] N8RO/P Ops References: <1695077442.1267079.1457905988863.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1695077442.1267079.1457905988863.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> My recent road trip to West Texas has been completed. I was able to activate six grids that included DM70, DM80, DM81, DM91, DL79 and DL89. A total of 61 contacts were made on three SO-50 and four FO-29 passes. This operation completes my 90th unique grid while operating portable. Many thanks to all for the contacts made along the way. I will soon upload all contacts to LOTW. I will use my call, N8RO, without any portable designation. Cards will also be mailed for all contacts. 73, Ron ? N8RO From g.shirville at btinternet.com Sun Mar 13 22:00:55 2016 From: g.shirville at btinternet.com (Graham Shirville) Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2016 22:00:55 -0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 operations Message-ID: Hi All, Just to report that FC1 is now operating in its autonmous switching mode and should remain so until Friday even (UTC time) 73 Graham G3VZV From ea4gqs at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 09:57:07 2016 From: ea4gqs at gmail.com (Felix Paez EA4GQS) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 10:57:07 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer Message-ID: Hi everybody, I want to share with you all that this August I will try to activate Gibraltar (ZB) the EA9 zone from Ceuta on portable on any avaliable FM satellite in the time I will be there. Also I will try to activate all the no frequent grids from Madrid to the South of Spain in my way. I don't know how many passes and which satellites I will be able to use until I know the exact date of the trip but I will try to plan it so I can work at least one pass from Gibraltar and another one from Ceuta. I will share the details on June or July in this list. All QSOs will be confirmed by LOTW. I am really sorry that I don't have at the moment any SSB portable transceiver. I know it would be great for our not European friends. We will see if something can be done about it these months.. Thanks F?lix - EA4GQS From ec4tr.luis at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 10:51:09 2016 From: ec4tr.luis at gmail.com (EC4TR Luis) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 11:51:09 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56E6979D.7090704@gmail.com> Hi Felix We will be all ears :-) 73 Luis EC4TR El 14/03/2016 a las 10:57, Felix Paez EA4GQS escribi?: > Hi everybody, > > I want to share with you all that this August I will try to activate > Gibraltar (ZB) the EA9 zone from Ceuta on portable on any avaliable FM > satellite in the time I will be there. Also I will try to activate all the > no frequent grids from Madrid to the South of Spain in my way. > > I don't know how many passes and which satellites I will be able to use > until I know the exact date of the trip but I will try to plan it so I can > work at least one pass from Gibraltar and another one from Ceuta. > > I will share the details on June or July in this list. All QSOs will be > confirmed by LOTW. > > I am really sorry that I don't have at the moment any SSB portable > transceiver. I know it would be great for our not European friends. We will > see if something can be done about it these months.. > > Thanks > > F?lix - EA4GQS > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From peteparisetti at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 13:02:13 2016 From: peteparisetti at gmail.com (Pete Parisetti) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:02:13 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] more on attic antennas Message-ID: I am truly amazed. My "wire hanger" 2m GP in the attic (which works perfectly on 70cm as well) gave me 2 qsos on FO29, certainly not the loudest of birds, and I was still going through at 5 deg elevation, with the satellite at over 2,200 km from me. Nothing new or eart-shattering, for sure, but amazing nevertheless. Pete MM0TWX From johnbrier at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 16:11:43 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 12:11:43 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS Miami Booker T. Washington contact sounded great in North Carolina Message-ID: Sounded great in Raleigh, NC FM05 with a 15 degree pass. My pass started about one minute before and ended about two minutes before Miami's pass. Picked up establishment of contact within seconds of the beginning Miami's pass full quieting S7-S9 and held that quality and signal strength through the answer to question 15. I heard almost nothing after that but my pass was about over by then. Congrats to all involved. 73, KG4AKV From Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu Mon Mar 14 17:18:27 2016 From: Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu (Brandon Shirley) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 17:18:27 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Security - New Survey Message-ID: <346cd7efd49947f1b6b1737c80c6b86e@Ek.usurf.usu.edu> Dear AMSAT community members, I'm Brandon Shirley, I am conducting a set of surveys about space systems and software development for my PhD research at Utah State University. I really need your participation. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Reading this wordy email will probably take more time than actually taking the survey. Thanks. I sent you this email because I thought you might have relevant experience and greatly need your participation. The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) SISDPA : Core Concepts????????????????????????????? ? SISDPA : Development Preferences??????????????????????? ? SISDPA : Open Systems Architecture and Modularity SISDPA : Security <========= We are here ========= SISDPA : Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity SISDPA : Network V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu See?http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb at usu.edu From Mat_62 at charter.net Mon Mar 14 17:46:15 2016 From: Mat_62 at charter.net (Michael) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 13:46:15 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator Message-ID: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the azimuth portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install sat antenna's up above the HF beam using the elevation rotator. Is this where using the "separation kit" comes into play? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the installation parameters. Thanks and 73, Michael W4HIJ From wa4sca at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 19:03:51 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 14:03:51 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> Message-ID: <000001d17e24$3f5a25d0$be0e7170$@GMAIL.COM> Michael, Yes. The standard package assumes you will mount the pair together, and has a bracket which attaches them to each other. If you want to separate them, you need another mast clamp and some other bits of hardware. I have mounted the azimuth rotator at the bottom of the tower which rotates the mast, and the elevation rotator above the top, which is mechanically equivalent to what you are doing. Works well, and removes the lateral stress on the azimuth rotator. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> Message-ID: <398F0E67-271B-40A1-B9FA-ADFFF9FCEE9F@comcast.net> Sure. Why not? Lots of folks mount an azimuth rotator inside the tower then a mast with the elevation rotator above the tower top on the side of the mast. My mast continues up and supports 6m, 10m, 1296 and wxsat stuff. Ed Krome K9EK Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 14, 2016, at 12:46 PM, Michael wrote: > > I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the azimuth portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install sat antenna's up above the HF beam using the elevation rotator. Is this where using the "separation kit" comes into play? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the installation parameters. > Thanks and 73, > Michael W4HIJ > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From normanlizeth at gmail.com Mon Mar 14 20:02:52 2016 From: normanlizeth at gmail.com (Norm n3ykf) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 16:02:52 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: <398F0E67-271B-40A1-B9FA-ADFFF9FCEE9F@comcast.net> References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <398F0E67-271B-40A1-B9FA-ADFFF9FCEE9F@comcast.net> Message-ID: Not a seperation kit. You'll need the same bracket that goes on top of the azimuth portion of the rotator. This bolts to the bottom of the U shaped piece of stamped steel that connects the azimuth and el portions of the rotator. GC0-038 is the ##. Take care to provide enough clearance so that the satellite gear (el rotator) can rotate vertically as well as clearing the drooping coax loops. Once it's on the tower up top, getting at this stuff is a problem. I use a 20' stick of 25g, a rotator plate, top cap, mid tower guy band and a tilt base. All Rohn. Trouble? Just lean over slow and easy. One man job. On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 3:28 PM, Ed Krome wrote: > Sure. Why not? Lots of folks mount an azimuth rotator inside the tower then a mast with the elevation rotator above the tower top on the side of the mast. My mast continues up and supports 6m, 10m, 1296 and wxsat stuff. > > Ed Krome K9EK > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 14, 2016, at 12:46 PM, Michael wrote: >> >> I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the azimuth portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install sat antenna's up above the HF beam using the elevation rotator. Is this where using the "separation kit" comes into play? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the installation parameters. >> Thanks and 73, >> Michael W4HIJ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From richard.siff at verizon.net Mon Mar 14 23:50:25 2016 From: richard.siff at verizon.net (Rich/wa4bue) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 19:50:25 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] KC4YLD Message-ID: <348CFADE76C84DA4AFCA0E5355A644E1@BanjoPC> Hi All For several weeks I have been looking for KC4YLD Mike. Can anyone locate him. I have the Cube Sat Simulator to return and I need his new address. God Bless R W4BUE K4AMG Club From n8hm at arrl.net Mon Mar 14 23:53:35 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 19:53:35 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] KC4YLD In-Reply-To: <348CFADE76C84DA4AFCA0E5355A644E1@BanjoPC> References: <348CFADE76C84DA4AFCA0E5355A644E1@BanjoPC> Message-ID: His new call is AA8EM 73, Paul, N8HM On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 7:50 PM, Rich/wa4bue wrote: > Hi All > > For several weeks I have been looking for KC4YLD Mike. > > Can anyone locate him. > > I have the Cube Sat Simulator to return and I need his new address. > > God Bless > > R > W4BUE > K4AMG Club > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From david.xe3dx at gmail.com Tue Mar 15 02:41:28 2016 From: david.xe3dx at gmail.com (David Maciel (XE3DX)) Date: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 20:41:28 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] 4A1DX on SAT Message-ID: *To celebrate 11 years of existence Grupo DXXE, Mexico?s top contest and DX radio club, will operate the special event callsign 4A1DX between March to June 14th 2016.* *This will be an SAT. now only FM (**SO-50, AO-85 y Lilacsat-2)* *The QSL manager is Dick N7RO. Don?t send your QSL cards to the Mexican bureau since we will not have QSLs to answer. Make sure you bureau QSL card is clear marked via N7RO.* *We will be uploading the log to LoTW at the end of our operation (June 2016), and all the Log will be on CLUBLOG too.* *QSOs with this station are good for the DXXE Award. You don?t need to physically send the QSL cards to obtain it.* *Operators via SAT are:* *Ismael XE1AYDavid XE3DX* *DK79, **EK36, **EK08, **EK09.* David Maciel XE3DX *http://www.qsl.net/xe3dx/ * *david.xe3dx at gmail.com * From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 15 05:23:40 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 01:23:40 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-15 05:30 UTC Message-ID: <1b1988.7f61c2d7.4418f65c@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-15 05:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, direct via W4SVI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact was successful: Mon 2016-03-14 15:48:48 UTC 52 deg (***) Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. ************************************************************************* ****** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-15 05:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1036. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1001. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-15 05:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From johnbrier at gmail.com Tue Mar 15 07:09:12 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 03:09:12 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Video of my reception of Booker T. Washington Miami ARISS contact Message-ID: https://youtu.be/Bs2hqQlUaLA This was an excellent reception for me in Raleigh, North Carolina with just a 15 degree pass. My pass started about one minute before Miami's pass started and ended about two minutes before Miami's pass ended. I picked up Tim Peake establishing the contact full quieting (no noise) with a signal strength of S7 to S9 on the S-meter (where 9 is the highest) and held that quality and signal strength through the answer to question 15. I heard nothing after that but my pass was about over by then. The school reported they got through question 16 but couldn't get more due to buildings blocking the signal, so I got all but one of the answers on a relatively low height/elevation pass of only 15 degrees. Not bad. My satellite setup: http://imgur.com/a/Ez7dL This is my reception of the International Space Station talking to Booker T. Washington Senior High in Miami, Florida on Monday March 14th, 2016 at 15:48 UTC. The school was using callsign W4SVI and British astronaut Tim Peake was using callsign NA1SS. My callsign is KG4AKV. Time Satellite Azm Elv Mag Range S.Azm S.Elv -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miami 2016-03-14 11:47:29 ISS 310.0 0.0 3.2 2383 136.4 51.3 2016-03-14 11:52:53 ISS 231.1 41.7 1.0 590 138.2 52.1 2016-03-14 11:58:16 ISS 151.2 0.0 5.7 2369 140.0 52.8 Raleigh 2016-03-14 11:46:36 ISS 293.5 0.0 3.1 2385 144.1 45.7 2016-03-14 11:48:10 ISS 283.1 5.0 2.7 1842 144.6 45.9 2016-03-14 11:51:25 ISS 232.1 14.8 2.3 1204 145.6 46.3 2016-03-14 11:54:39 ISS 180.9 5.1 3.9 1828 146.7 46.7 2016-03-14 11:56:13 ISS 170.2 0.0 4.9 2368 147.2 46.8 73, John KG4AKV From nss at mwt.net Tue Mar 15 16:33:43 2016 From: nss at mwt.net (Joe) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 11:33:43 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Message-ID: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> Has anyone built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims being made? http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com From jim at k6ccc.org Tue Mar 15 16:46:46 2016 From: jim at k6ccc.org (Jim Walls) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 09:46:46 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> Message-ID: I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with it. I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. Jim - K6CCC ---------------------------------------- From: "Joe" Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims being made? http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Tue Mar 15 17:11:35 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:11:35 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> Message-ID: Jim, The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax (and/or a preamp). As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here in the city. Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: > I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with it. > I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or two > packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. Only had > about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. > > Jim - K6CCC > > > > > > ---------------------------------------- > From: "Joe" > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM > To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > Has anyone built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the > claims being made? > > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > Joe WB9SBD > -- > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From g0mrf at aol.com Tue Mar 15 17:16:37 2016 From: g0mrf at aol.com (David G0MRF) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:16:37 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1537b4781f1-6b66-df6b@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> Hi Felix Make sure you apply for your ZB licence in plenty of time. I went there several years ago and found they are not part of the CEPT agreement. Good luck. ZB2 is on my 'wanted list' David -----Original Message----- From: Felix Paez EA4GQS To: amsat-bb Sent: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 9:57 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer Hi everybody,I want to share with you all that this August I will try to activateGibraltar (ZB) the EA9 zone from Ceuta on portable on any avaliable FMsatellite in the time I will be there. Also I will try to activate all theno frequent grids from Madrid to the South of Spain in my way.I don't know how many passes and which satellites I will be able to useuntil I know the exact date of the trip but I will try to plan it so I canwork at least one pass from Gibraltar and another one from Ceuta.I will share the details on June or July in this list. All QSOs will beconfirmed by LOTW.I am really sorry that I don't have at the moment any SSB portabletransceiver. I know it would be great for our not European friends. We willsee if something can be done about it these months..ThanksF?lix - EA4GQS_______________________________________________Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum availableto all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressedare solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From g0mrf at aol.com Tue Mar 15 17:16:44 2016 From: g0mrf at aol.com (David G0MRF) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:16:44 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1537b479ce9-6b66-df6d@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> Hi Felix Make sure you apply for your ZB licence in plenty of time. I went there several years ago and found they are not part of the CEPT agreement. Good luck. ZB2 is on my 'wanted list' David -----Original Message----- From: Felix Paez EA4GQS To: amsat-bb Sent: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 9:57 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer Hi everybody,I want to share with you all that this August I will try to activateGibraltar (ZB) the EA9 zone from Ceuta on portable on any avaliable FMsatellite in the time I will be there. Also I will try to activate all theno frequent grids from Madrid to the South of Spain in my way.I don't know how many passes and which satellites I will be able to useuntil I know the exact date of the trip but I will try to plan it so I canwork at least one pass from Gibraltar and another one from Ceuta.I will share the details on June or July in this list. All QSOs will beconfirmed by LOTW.I am really sorry that I don't have at the moment any SSB portabletransceiver. I know it would be great for our not European friends. We willsee if something can be done about it these months..ThanksF?lix - EA4GQS_______________________________________________Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum availableto all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressedare solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From nss at mwt.net Tue Mar 15 17:27:04 2016 From: nss at mwt.net (Joe) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 12:27:04 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> Message-ID: <56E845E8.9020708@mwt.net> Bummer! I'm looking for some sort of an Omni ant to use with NO-84 Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/15/2016 11:46 AM, Jim Walls wrote: > I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with it. > I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or two > packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. Only had > about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. > > Jim - K6CCC > > > > > > ---------------------------------------- > From: "Joe" > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM > To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > Has anyone built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the > claims being made? > > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > Joe WB9SBD > -- > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > From bruninga at usna.edu Tue Mar 15 17:32:22 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 13:32:22 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> Message-ID: My 2 cents: The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 dBi... Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. They are 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they are 10 dB stronger. The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times stronger). See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to close the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just cannot happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on VHF, it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees where it acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all directions and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. And no omni antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the way down on the horizon where they are 10 times weaker. And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty easy to construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it cannot hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it can see most of the sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. And it is not bad... The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the satelile is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. Then the circula hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its pattern. But you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. And a low noise preamp is essential... Just my 2 cents... Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM To: jim at k6ccc.org Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Jim, The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax (and/or a preamp). As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here in the city. Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: > I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with it. > I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or > two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. > Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. > > Jim - K6CCC > > > > > > ---------------------------------------- > From: "Joe" > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM > To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone > built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims > being made? > > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > Joe WB9SBD > -- > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From daniel at destevez.net Tue Mar 15 17:34:13 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (Dani EA4GPZ) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:34:13 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <1537b4781f1-6b66-df6b@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> References: <1537b4781f1-6b66-df6b@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: <56E84795.7080609@destevez.net> El 15/03/16 a las 18:16, David G0MRF via AMSAT-BB escribi?: > Hi Felix > > Make sure you apply for your ZB licence in plenty of time. I went there several years ago and found they are not part of the CEPT agreement. > > Good luck. ZB2 is on my 'wanted list' Hi David, That's good to know. I'm not the original poster (and I'm in fact looking forward to his future trip), but I had the wrong impression that either a UK licence or a CEPT licence could be used in ZB (actually none of those are valid there). More info: http://www.gra.gi/communications/amateur-radio-reciprocal-licence Also note that operation is restricted to the 6m, 4m, 2m and 70cm bands and the maximum power is 100W ERP. So watch out for the maximum power on 70cm, as it is easy to surpass it if you use a high gain antenna. For instance, on a 7 element yagi (say 9.82dBd gain), the maximum output power you can use is about 10W. 73, Dani EA4GPZ. From ea4gqs at gmail.com Tue Mar 15 18:28:26 2016 From: ea4gqs at gmail.com (=?utf-8?Q?F=C3=A9lix_P=C3=A1ez?=) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 19:28:26 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <1537b479ce9-6b66-df6d@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> References: <1537b479ce9-6b66-df6d@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> Message-ID: <56e85434.465ec20a.25769.792e@mx.google.com> Hi David, Thanks for the advice? I have just send them an email to be sure If I need an authorization? I need to know too If I need something for Ceuta, but I don?t think so? Felix Enviado desde Correo para Windows 10 De: David G0MRF Enviado: martes, 15 de marzo de 2016 18:16 Para: ea4gqs at gmail.com; amsat-bb at amsat.org Asunto: Re: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer Hi Felix Make sure you apply for your ZB licence in plenty of time.?? I went there several years ago and found they are not part of the CEPT agreement. Good luck.?? ZB2 is on my 'wanted list' David -----Original Message----- From: Felix Paez EA4GQS To: amsat-bb Sent: Mon, 14 Mar 2016 9:57 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer Hi everybody, I want to share with you all that this August I will try to activate Gibraltar (ZB) the EA9 zone from Ceuta on portable on any avaliable FM satellite in the time I will be there. Also I will try to activate all the no frequent grids from Madrid to the South of Spain in my way. I don't know how many passes and which satellites I will be able to use until I know the exact date of the trip but I will try to plan it so I can work at least one pass from Gibraltar and another one from Ceuta. I will share the details on June or July in this list. All QSOs will be confirmed by LOTW. I am really sorry that I don't have at the moment any SSB portable transceiver. I know it would be great for our not European friends. We will see if something can be done about it these months.. Thanks F?lix - EA4GQS _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From bruninga at usna.edu Tue Mar 15 18:50:03 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:50:03 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: <56E845E8.9020708@mwt.net> References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> <56E845E8.9020708@mwt.net> Message-ID: NO84 is only 300 mW compared to 2W for the original PCSAT and 5W for the ISS (currently). You need gain to hear it... If you want a non-moving fixed antenna to hear NO84, I'd try a 58" vertical whip over a large metal ground plane. This would give you up to 7 dBi above about 30 degrees. Then you would hear it every day, but only for the better passes above 25 degrees. But you would hear it then. And I modeled it in EZNEC and just a vertical over say 4 radials is not the same thing. That helps matching, but does not block the 3db part of the pattern into the ground. You need a real "ground plane" of a metal roof, or about 6 feet or more of chicken wire. Easy for me to say, because I have not built one yet... Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- > Bummer! I'm looking for some sort of an Omni ant to use with NO-84 From bruninga at usna.edu Tue Mar 15 20:11:08 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:11:08 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) Message-ID: Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design that does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the same thing I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd love to see a cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... -----Original Message----- From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna My 2 cents: The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 dBi... Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. They are 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they are 10 dB stronger. The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times stronger). See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to close the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just cannot happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on VHF, it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees where it acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all directions and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. And no omni antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the way down on the horizon where they are 10 times weaker. And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty easy to construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it cannot hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it can see most of the sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. And it is not bad... The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the satelile is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. Then the circula hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its pattern. But you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. And a low noise preamp is essential... Just my 2 cents... Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM To: jim at k6ccc.org Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Jim, The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax (and/or a preamp). As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here in the city. Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: > I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with it. > I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or > two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. > Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. > > Jim - K6CCC > > > > > > ---------------------------------------- > From: "Joe" > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM > To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone > built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims > being made? > > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > Joe WB9SBD > -- > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From whattwood at gmail.com Tue Mar 15 20:34:40 2016 From: whattwood at gmail.com (Bill Attwood) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:34:40 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56E871E0.3020400@gmail.com> Bob, I understand you feel strongly (for good reason) about using a vertical for satellite purposes. However, do some of these other antenna designs do a better job of dealing with polarity mismatch than a vertical would? I ask because I simply don't know. Thanks, Bill VE6WK On 2016-03-15 2:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design that > does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the same thing > I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd love to see a > cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > My 2 cents: > > The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds > good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. > There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain > approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches > 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 > dBi... > > Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. They are > 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. > So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. > > Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! > (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they > are 10 dB stronger. > > The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing > antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times > stronger). > > See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html > > BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to close > the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just cannot > happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. > > So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground > plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on VHF, > it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees where it > acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. > > Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. > And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. > > So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all directions > and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. And no omni > antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the way down on the > horizon where they are 10 times weaker. > > And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty easy to > construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it cannot > hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it can see most of the > sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. > And it is not bad... > > The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the satelile > is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. Then the circula > hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its pattern. But > you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. > > And a low noise preamp is essential... > > Just my 2 cents... > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM > To: jim at k6ccc.org > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > Jim, > > The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for > satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax > (and/or a preamp). > > As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in > Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I > can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. > Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very > well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. > > Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from > AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. > I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here > in the city. > > Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of > "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban > center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving > system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no > noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work > fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from > the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with > it. >> I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or >> two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >> >> Jim - K6CCC >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> From: "Joe" >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >> built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >> being made? >> >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> -- >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all > interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From nss at mwt.net Tue Mar 15 20:45:14 2016 From: nss at mwt.net (Joe) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:45:14 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, anyone got a short piece? Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/15/2016 3:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design that > does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the same thing > I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd love to see a > cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > My 2 cents: > > The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds > good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. > There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain > approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches > 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 > dBi... > > Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. They are > 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. > So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. > > Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! > (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they > are 10 dB stronger. > > The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing > antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times > stronger). > > See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html > > BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to close > the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just cannot > happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. > > So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground > plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on VHF, > it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees where it > acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. > > Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. > And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. > > So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all directions > and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. And no omni > antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the way down on the > horizon where they are 10 times weaker. > > And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty easy to > construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it cannot > hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it can see most of the > sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. > And it is not bad... > > The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the satelile > is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. Then the circula > hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its pattern. But > you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. > > And a low noise preamp is essential... > > Just my 2 cents... > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM > To: jim at k6ccc.org > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > Jim, > > The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for > satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax > (and/or a preamp). > > As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in > Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I > can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. > Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very > well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. > > Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from > AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. > I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here > in the city. > > Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of > "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban > center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving > system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no > noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work > fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from > the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with > it. >> I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or >> two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >> >> Jim - K6CCC >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> From: "Joe" >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >> built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >> being made? >> >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> -- >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all > interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 15 20:52:35 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:52:35 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> References: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> Message-ID: <0A606766-A611-4B8E-A6FE-9D0558DE2974@mindspring.com> I have a 500' roll. Send me a stamped padded envelope or label for a usps flat rate box and how many feet you'd like. In about 10 years of offering I've never had a taker though. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 15, 2016, at 4:45 PM, Joe wrote: > > Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, > > anyone got a short piece? > > Joe WB9SBD > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com >> On 3/15/2016 3:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: >> Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design that >> does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the same thing >> I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd love to see a >> cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM >> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna >> >> My 2 cents: >> >> The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds >> good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. >> There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain >> approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches >> 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 >> dBi... >> >> Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. They are >> 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. >> So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. >> >> Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! >> (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they >> are 10 dB stronger. From bruninga at usna.edu Tue Mar 15 21:43:56 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:43:56 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: <56E871E0.3020400@gmail.com> References: <56E871E0.3020400@gmail.com> Message-ID: <7493548118f5d6051a92c987a2af85a8@mail.gmail.com> Good question. I guess I am glossing over some things... With APRS SatGates polarization mismatch does not really matter that much since we have lots of satgates listening. With them, we want a strong packet when we hear them to decode, but if the polarity mismatches, then another satgage somewhere else has a good chance of hearing it. So we are not trying to get all packets, but the ones we do get at each individual station, the stronger the better. Hence we focus on gain above the horizon and using the simplest fixed antenna so more people will do it. -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bill Attwood Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) Bob, I understand you feel strongly (for good reason) about using a vertical for satellite purposes. However, do some of these other antenna designs do a better job of dealing with polarity mismatch than a vertical would? I ask because I simply don't know. Thanks, Bill VE6WK On 2016-03-15 2:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design > that does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the > same thing I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd > love to see a cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > My 2 cents: > > The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) > sounds good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. > There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain > approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain > approaches > 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 > dBi... > > Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. > They are 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. > So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. > > Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! > (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where > they are 10 dB stronger. > > The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a > non-pointing antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is > 10 times stronger). > > See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: > http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html > > BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to > close the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just > cannot happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. > > So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal > ground plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or > so on VHF, it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 > degrees where it acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. > > Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. > And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. > > So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all > directions and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. > And no omni antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the > way down on the horizon where they are 10 times weaker. > > And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty > easy to construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, > since it cannot hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it > can see most of the sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. > And it is not bad... > > The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the > satelile is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. > Then the circula hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer > nulls in its pattern. But you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. > > And a low noise preamp is essential... > > Just my 2 cents... > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM > To: jim at k6ccc.org > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > Jim, > > The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can > work for satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of > very good coax (and/or a preamp). > > As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in > Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic > whip. I can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. > Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it > very well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. > > Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success > from > AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. > I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup > here in the city. > > Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented > here of "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a > major urban center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that > in any receiving system, you are looking for an optimal signal to > noise ratio. If you have no noise, you don't need much signal and > omnidirectional antennas might work fine. If you have a ton of noise, > you are going to need a lot of signal from the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed >> with > it. >> I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or >> two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >> >> Jim - K6CCC >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> From: "Joe" >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >> built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >> being made? >> >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> -- >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From daniel at destevez.net Tue Mar 15 22:00:44 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (Dani EA4GPZ) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 23:00:44 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <56e85434.465ec20a.25769.792e@mx.google.com> References: <1537b479ce9-6b66-df6d@webprd-a25.mail.aol.com> <56e85434.465ec20a.25769.792e@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <56E8860C.7030809@destevez.net> El 15/03/16 a las 19:28, F?lix P?ez escribi?: > > > Hi David, > > Thanks for the advice? I have just send them an email to be sure If I need an authorization? > > I need to know too If I need something for Ceuta, but I don?t think so? Dear Felix, In Ceuta you can just use your Spanish licence. There is no need for any additional paperwork and there are no special restrictions. From an administrative viewpoint, you can use the call EA9/EA4GQS or just EA4GQS while operating from there. Beware if you decide to use just EA4GQS, as people may not be able to claim the EA9 DXCC (I'm not sure on what are the conditions for DXCC). Regards, Dani EA4GPZ. From ah6ez01 at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 00:13:41 2016 From: ah6ez01 at gmail.com (Dick Illman) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:13:41 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Egg beater antenna Message-ID: I have successfully used UHF and VHF Egg Beaters in my attic for years. I used a TS2000 and ARR transceiver preamps (TS2000 is pretty deaf). I had 100 feet of 9913 cable. 73 Dick Illman AH6EZ/W7 From dphelps1 at ameritech.net Wed Mar 16 00:33:17 2016 From: dphelps1 at ameritech.net (Douglas Phelps) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 00:33:17 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> References: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> Message-ID: <1282975968.714100.1458088397841.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> This may not be a lot of help but you want RG-62. ?You can buy it by the foot but I do not have any, ?I used mine up working on the WRAPS rotor. ?RG-62 uses an RG-59 connector. DougK9DLP From: Joe To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 3:45 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, anyone got a short piece? Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/15/2016 3:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design that > does address those same issues.? If that works, then that is the same thing > I was talking about and seems to be a good approach.? I'd love to see a > cookoff between the two antennas.? Bob... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > My 2 cents: > > The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) sounds > good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. > There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni.? The closer its gain > approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain approaches > 0 dBi.? Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 > dBi... > > Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located.? They are > 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. > So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. > > Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 degrees! > (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where they > are 10 dB stronger. > > The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing > antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times > stronger). > > See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html > > BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to close > the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon.? It just cannot > happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. > > So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground > plane.? Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on VHF, > it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees where it > acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. > > Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. > And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. > > So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all directions > and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed.? And no omni > antenna is going to? hear these weak satellites all the way down on the > horizon where they are 10 times weaker. > > And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty easy to > construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it cannot > hear to the horizon anyway.? So jjust put it where it can see most of the > sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an Omni. > And it is not bad... > > The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the satelile > is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon.? Then the circula > hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its pattern.? But > you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. > > And a low noise preamp is essential... > > Just my 2 cents... > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM > To: jim at k6ccc.org > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > Jim, > > The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can work for > satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very good coax > (and/or a preamp). > > As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in > Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic whip. I > can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. > Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it very > well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. > > Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from > AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. > I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup here > in the city. > > Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented here of > "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major urban > center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any receiving > system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you have no > noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might work > fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of signal from > the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with > it. >> I built it to use for a sat igate.? I was able to decode maybe one or >> two packets per day.? Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >> >>? Jim - K6CCC >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >>? From: "Joe" >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >> built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >> being made? >> >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> -- >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all > interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From bruninga at usna.edu Wed Mar 16 02:08:18 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:08:18 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (make 100 ohm line) Message-ID: > Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, But one only needs 13" of the 100 ohm line at VHF and only 4.5" at UHF so just make it. Cut a piece of RG59 say 40% longer than the right length. Strip off the outer jacket and also slide off the shield. Now cut the dialectric and center conductor to the right length. NoW, then slide on enough heatshrink or wrap the dialectric with enough electrical tape to build up the diameter of the dialectric with something to bulk up the diameter until you get the right center to outer ratio to be 100 ohms. Then slide the shield back over it, heat shrink the whole thing, and you just made yourself a piece of 100 ohm coax, or any other impedance you want. Have I ever done this? No. But it should work if you can get the expanded diameter right, and what you stuff it with has a reasonable diaelectric constant. At least it would be fun to take the challenge. Or if you are very lucky, there may be a piece of larger 50 ohm line that if you could slide out the center conductor and slide in a smaller one of the right diameter you could do it that way too. Hey, it?s a hobby... of course you would need a dipper or antenna analyzer to test it. Just put a 200 ohm resistor on the end and see how close you get to 1.0 SWR. The more I think about it the more likely it would be to find some cheap RG59 that the center conductor slides out of. It has happened to me enough times when I try to strip some cheap junk that the center conductor pulls right out of short coax pieces... Then just stuff back in a smaller center conductor. Maybe? Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Douglas Phelps Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 8:33 PM To: Joe; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) This may not be a lot of help but you want RG-62. You can buy it by the foot but I do not have any, I used mine up working on the WRAPS rotor. RG-62 uses an RG-59 connector. DougK9DLP From: Joe To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 3:45 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, anyone got a short piece? Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/15/2016 3:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: > Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web page: > http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html > > It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design > that does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the > same thing I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd > love to see a cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > My 2 cents: > > The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) > sounds good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. > There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain > approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain > approaches > 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 > dBi... > > Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. > They are 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are > overhead. > So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the horizon. > > Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 > degrees! > (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees where > they are 10 dB stronger. > > The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a > non-pointing antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is > 10 times stronger). > > See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: > http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html > > BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to > close the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just > cannot happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB > gain. > > So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal > ground plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or > so on VHF, it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 > degrees where it acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. > > Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger then. > And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. > > So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all > directions and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. > And no omni antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the > way down on the horizon where they are 10 times weaker. > > And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty > easy to construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, > since it cannot hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it > can see most of the sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about > all you can on an Omni. > And it is not bad... > > The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the > satelile is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. > Then the circula hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer > nulls in its pattern. But you give up gain where it is most needed to get > that. > > And a low noise preamp is essential... > > Just my 2 cents... > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul > Stoetzer > Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM > To: jim at k6ccc.org > Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna > > Jim, > > The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can > work for satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of > very good coax (and/or a preamp). > > As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in > Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic > whip. I can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 > degrees. > Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard it > very well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. > > Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success > from > AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. > I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of setup > here in the city. > > Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented > here of "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a > major urban center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that > in any receiving system, you are looking for an optimal signal to > noise ratio. If you have no noise, you don't need much signal and > omnidirectional antennas might work fine. If you have a ton of noise, > you are going to need a lot of signal from the satellite, which means a > beam with decent gain. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed >> with > it. >> I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or >> two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >> >> Jim - K6CCC >> >> >> >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >> From: "Joe" >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >>built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >>being made? >> >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> -- >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the > official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From saguaroastro at cox.net Wed Mar 16 04:22:46 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2016 21:22:46 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Trouble programming a TS-2000 Message-ID: <012401d17f3b$7e3a19f0$7aae4dd0$@net> All, Cross posting from the amsat-na fb page: OK TS-2000 users, I finally have some time and decided to program the sat memories in my TS-2000. Now according to the manual you put the downlink into VFO-A and the uplink into VFO-B. Straight forward enough, problem is when I select VFO-A on the sub receiver to add it, I can't seem to make it find the 2m band. It goes from 70cm to 6m. I have no idea why it's doing this. Anyone else have this problem? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net From tommypnq at centrum.cz Wed Mar 16 08:27:53 2016 From: tommypnq at centrum.cz (=?UTF-8?B?VG9tw6HFoSBVcmJhbmVj?=) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:27:53 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna In-Reply-To: References: <56E83967.4000608@mwt.net> <56E845E8.9020708@mwt.net> Message-ID: <56E91909.8060707@centrum.cz> I have built this antenna both for VHF and UHF years ago, I am using now just the UHF version for the NO-83 and NO-84 monitoring. I have mounted the LNA on mast just below the antenna and in the shack I have splitter for two SDRs to automatically record every pass. The sats can be seen in the waterfall from horizon to horizon, for the decoding of beacons I need some 5-10degs elevation. The crucial point of the setup is low noise background = I have it deployed at home in small village. I tried it in the city, but the SDRs AGC where pushed some 20dBs by ISM signals and there were just overhead traces from the strongest sats. So do the experiment and you will see. Tomas OK2PNQ Dne 15.3.2016 v 19:50 Robert Bruninga napsal(a): > NO84 is only 300 mW compared to 2W for the original PCSAT and 5W for the > ISS (currently). You need gain to hear it... > > If you want a non-moving fixed antenna to hear NO84, I'd try a 58" > vertical whip over a large metal ground plane. This would give you up to > 7 dBi above about 30 degrees. Then you would hear it every day, but only > for the better passes above 25 degrees. But you would hear it then. > > And I modeled it in EZNEC and just a vertical over say 4 radials is not > the same thing. That helps matching, but does not block the 3db part of > the pattern into the ground. You need a real "ground plane" of a metal > roof, or about 6 feet or more of chicken wire. > > Easy for me to say, because I have not built one yet... > > Bob, WB4APR > > -----Original Message----- >> Bummer! I'm looking for some sort of an Omni ant to use with NO-84 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From on4cjq at telenet.be Wed Mar 16 08:54:10 2016 From: on4cjq at telenet.be (on4cjq at telenet.be) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:54:10 +0100 (CET) Subject: [amsat-bb] Eggbeater Message-ID: <529807923.97448721.1458118450981.JavaMail.root@telenet.be> Hello A nice article about eggbeaters. Never build one myself yet. http://on6wg.pagesperso-orange.fr/Page%201.html 73's Jerry,ON4CJQ From rico.van.genugten at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 09:04:20 2016 From: rico.van.genugten at gmail.com (Rico van Genugten) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:04:20 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Egg beater antenna In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Guys, The main problem I'm having with omni antennas for sat work is the mounting height. In short, this is the dilemma: - Mount it too low: horizon is obstructed badly - Mount it too high: antenna radiation pattern is distorted badly In a lot of simulations you find online the ground systems of omni antennas (radials, screen, you name it) are modeled in the same plane as the earth surface, simulating a situation where the antenna is mounted very low. Or worse: the antenna is modeled over perfect earth, as if the ground system was solid, perfectly conducting and infinite in size (could be a good approximation at sea, but definitely not in a typical home situation). To simulate a more realistic situation I modeled the ground system (radials) at the actual mounting height above the earth surface, with the radiating elements above it. In my case the antenna would be mounted at about 10 meters (33 feet) height to get a clear view of the horizon. What I see when I simulate that situation is that the ground system (radials) on an eggbeater works perfectly to fix the near field of the antenna, i.e. to get a nice SWR and even push the radiation pattern upwards, but it does little about the far field of the antenna. What you typically see when you mount a (partially) horizontally polarized omni at several times the wavelengths above earth, you get very deep peaks and throughs varying with elevation. This is because the signal arrives via several paths: it arrives directly, but also via earth reflections. This results in constructive or destructive interference depending on the elevation angle. This can be clearly observed in this eggbeater simulation: Eggbeater at 10m: http://postimg.org/image/p973lofrz/ Other (partially) horizontal omni's show the same effect. For example this is a Lindenblad as I have built (EZ Lindenblad design by Tony Monteiro AA2TX): Lindenblad at 10m: http://postimg.org/image/rrssmd1i7/ Of course these simulations don't take into account that the antenna isn't mounted in free space but that there are buildings, trees, etc. nearby, but the effect was pretty pronounced when I was testing my Lindenblad at about 10m height at a recent ARISS contact, notice the sharp signal drops every now and then. This is not caused by polarization mismatch since a Lindenblad is cross polarized for every elevation angle, unlike an eggbeater which becomes horizontal near the horizon. Contact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H6lqluWLwc Antenna situation: https://twitter.com/tete_de_moine/status/706085371873005569 For uplink this is not a problem, since even with 5 watts the uplink power is usually orders of magnitude bigger than the downlink power and I don't really notice the peaks and throughs. But on downlink this could really be a dealbreaker on difficult QSO's, but of course as always, ymmv. The amount of peaks and throughs increases as you mount the antenna higher, so if you are able to mount the antenna very low and still see the horizon this might not be an issue. Now I'm wondering, would you see the same effect with a yagi when it is mounted at several wavelengths height and pointed to the horizon? Especially near sea this effect should be pretty pronounced. Did anyone ever experience this? Maybe I should spend some simulation time on this.. 73, Rico PA3RVG On Wed, Mar 16, 2016 at 1:13 AM, Dick Illman wrote: > I have successfully used UHF and VHF Egg Beaters in my attic for years. I > used a TS2000 and ARR transceiver preamps (TS2000 is pretty deaf). I had > 100 feet of 9913 cable. > > 73 Dick Illman > AH6EZ/W7 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From mattpatt at 1starnet.com Wed Mar 16 14:30:23 2016 From: mattpatt at 1starnet.com (Matt Patterson) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 09:30:23 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna (correction) In-Reply-To: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> References: <56E8745A.20205@mwt.net> Message-ID: <56E96DFF.6000708@1starnet.com> There are several listings on ebay.... RG-62 Belden 9269 73 Matt W5LL On 3/15/2016 3:45 PM, Joe wrote: > Main problem seems to be the 93 ohm coax,,, > > anyone got a short piece? > > Joe WB9SBD > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 3/15/2016 3:11 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: >> Although my comments are true, I had not looked at the "updated" web >> page: >> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >> >> It appears he addressed all those issues and has an eggbeater design >> that >> does address those same issues. If that works, then that is the same >> thing >> I was talking about and seems to be a good approach. I'd love to see a >> cookoff between the two antennas. Bob... >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:32 PM >> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna >> >> My 2 cents: >> >> The problem with Eggbeaters is that their design goal (omni coverage) >> sounds >> good but also means, by definition, equally poor in all directions. >> There is no such thing as "gain" for an omni. The closer its gain >> approaches 3D omni, in all directions, then the closer its gain >> approaches >> 0 dBi. Of course, placed over a ground plane, then they can achieve 3 >> dBi... >> >> Now, on the other hand, satellites are nowhere near omni located. >> They are >> 10dB or more farther away on the horizon than when they are overhead. >> So you don't need as much gain at all overhead as you need on the >> horizon. >> >> Further, satellites spend more than 70% of all pass times below 22 >> degrees! >> (where they are weak) and only 5% of their time above 45 degrees >> where they >> are 10 dB stronger. >> >> The last thing then that you need for "omni" coverage for a non-pointing >> antenna, then, is gain that is UP (where the satellite is 10 times >> stronger). >> >> See the scale drawings of a LEO pass: http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html >> >> BUT on the other hand, most cubesats simply do not have the power to >> close >> the link to an OMNI antenna when it is on the horizon. It just cannot >> happen due to the distance and the omni only being at best 3 dB gain. >> >> So the BEST "omni" in my opinion is a 19" whip over a large metal ground >> plane. Not only does it provide 5 dBi gain above 15 degrees or so on >> VHF, >> it also provides almost 7 dBi gain on UHF above about 30 degrees >> where it >> acts as a 3/4 wave vertical.. >> >> Yes, it has a null overhead, but the satellite is 10 times stronger >> then. >> And the satleilte is only in that null less than 2% of all pass times. >> >> So the 19" vertical gives good gain from above the horizon in all >> directions >> and sacrificaes some gain overhead wehre it is not needed. And no omni >> antenna is going to hear these weak satellites all the way down on the >> horizon where they are 10 times weaker. >> >> And a 19.25" vertical piece of wire over some chicken wire is pretty >> easy to >> construct, AND it does not need to be on the top of a tower, since it >> cannot >> hear to the horizon anyway. So jjust put it where it can see most of >> the >> sky above abouit 15 degrees and you will hear about all you can on an >> Omni. >> And it is not bad... >> >> The value of a true circular hemispherical antenna is only when the >> satelile >> is strong (ISS) and it can be heard even on the horizon. Then the >> circula >> hemispherical antenna has the advantage of fewer nulls in its >> pattern. But >> you give up gain where it is most needed to get that. >> >> And a low noise preamp is essential... >> >> Just my 2 cents... >> Bob, WB4APR >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul >> Stoetzer >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 1:12 PM >> To: jim at k6ccc.org >> Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org >> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna >> >> Jim, >> >> The key words here are "noise floor." Omnidirectional antennas can >> work for >> satellites when you have a low noise floor and short runs of very >> good coax >> (and/or a preamp). >> >> As an example, I've listened for SO-50 a couple of times from here in >> Washington, DC with my Baofeng UV-3R+ and Nagoya NA-774 telescopic >> whip. I >> can hear the satellite a bit, but still quite nosily, above 45 degrees. >> Back in August, I was in a field in the middle of nowhere and heard >> it very >> well from 5-7 degrees above the horizon. >> >> Another example is that some people report decent telemetry success from >> AO-73 (when in high power mode) using nothing more than 1/4 wave whip. >> I've never been able to decode a single packet with that type of >> setup here >> in the city. >> >> Most people live somewhere between the two extremes I've presented >> here of >> "field in the middle of nowhere" and "apartment building in a major >> urban >> center" so your mileage may vary. Just keep in mind that in any >> receiving >> system, you are looking for an optimal signal to noise ratio. If you >> have no >> noise, you don't need much signal and omnidirectional antennas might >> work >> fine. If you have a ton of noise, you are going to need a lot of >> signal from >> the satellite, which means a beam with decent gain. >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Tue, Mar 15, 2016 at 12:46 PM, Jim Walls wrote: >>> I built one about a decade or so ago and was grossly underwhelmed with >> it. >>> I built it to use for a sat igate. I was able to decode maybe one or >>> two packets per day. Everything else was lost in the noise floor.. >>> Only had about 20 feet of RG-214 cable to the receiver. >>> >>> Jim - K6CCC >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ---------------------------------------- >>> From: "Joe" >>> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:37 AM >>> To: "amsat-bb at amsat org" >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Homebrew Up-Dated Eggbeater Antenna Has anyone >>> built this antenna, and what are your opinions? Meet all the claims >>> being made? >>> >>> http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Eggbeater_2.html >>> >>> Joe WB9SBD >>> -- >>> Sig >>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>> Idle Tyme >>> Idle-Tyme.com >>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >>> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all >> interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the >> official >> views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views >> of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views > of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From py4zbz at yahoo.com Wed Mar 16 16:19:36 2016 From: py4zbz at yahoo.com (Roland Zurmely) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:19:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas References: <912207350.923653.1458145176376.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <912207350.923653.1458145176376.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Comparing DCA, QFH, Lindenblad and turnstile (eggbeater) antennas : < http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/4ant.htm?> 73 de Roland. From py4zbz at yahoo.com Wed Mar 16 16:21:36 2016 From: py4zbz at yahoo.com (Roland Zurmely) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:21:36 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas References: <1876838034.946472.1458145296154.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1876838034.946472.1458145296154.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> From bruninga at usna.edu Wed Mar 16 16:29:58 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:29:58 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas plots (nulls) Message-ID: > Comparing DCA, QFH, Lindenblad and turnstile (eggbeater) antennas : > http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/4ant.htm All but the QFH show significant (10 dB) nulls all over the place. I'm sorry, I cannot read the language, but does he say anything about these nulls and the height of the antenna over ground? And what kind of ground was used in the model? Perfect or real... or free-space Since all of the antnnas are multi-element, those lobes could all simply come from the multi elements more or less independent of the ground reflection... Bob, WB4aPR From zleffke at vt.edu Wed Mar 16 16:42:12 2016 From: zleffke at vt.edu (Zach Leffke) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:42:12 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas plots (nulls) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56E98CE4.9040703@vt.edu> the second plot and third plot with the patterns overlaid is for 7m above ground, doesn't specify what type of ground. -Zach, KJ4QLP On 3/16/2016 12:29 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: >> Comparing DCA, QFH, Lindenblad and turnstile (eggbeater) antennas : >> http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/4ant.htm > All but the QFH show significant (10 dB) nulls all over the place. > I'm sorry, I cannot read the language, but does he say anything about these > nulls and the height of the antenna over ground? And what kind of ground > was used in the model? Perfect or real... or free-space > > Since all of the antnnas are multi-element, those lobes could all simply > come from the multi elements more or less independent of the ground > reflection... > > Bob, WB4aPR > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From py4zbz at yahoo.com Wed Mar 16 17:57:22 2016 From: py4zbz at yahoo.com (Roland Zurmely) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 17:57:22 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas References: <1644170921.983704.1458151042422.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1644170921.983704.1458151042422.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all, Please use Google translate (from portuguese). The 4 first plots are in FREE SPACE (espa?o livre). The 5 next plots are for 7 meter above REAL GROUND (as indicated in english in the plots...) The other plots are in free space?(as indicated in english...) only to show the componentsof circular polarization (V and H pol.) 73 de Roland? From rwmcgwier at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 18:10:33 2016 From: rwmcgwier at gmail.com (Robert McGwier) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 14:10:33 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders Message-ID: I would like to consider adding optical shaft encoders to augment or replace the hall effect sensors in use on an Alfa Spid az/el installation. We have the high resolution sensors and are experiencing some annoying anomalies that have been very difficult to trace and are detrimental to autonomous operation at our ground station at Virginia Tech. Any information or help would be appreciated. 73s Bob N4HY From py4zbz at yahoo.com Wed Mar 16 22:29:47 2016 From: py4zbz at yahoo.com (Roland Zurmely) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 22:29:47 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas plots (nulls) References: <506079841.1160403.1458167387445.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <506079841.1160403.1458167387445.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Hi Bob WB4APR, ANY antenna above ground, has multiple lobes.You can simulate this with any program like MMANA or EZNEC... 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ From dan at post.com Wed Mar 16 22:53:58 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 22:53:58 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: You could use an interface like this one: http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ to read the optical/hall effect encoders. One of the main problems with this setup is that there is no absolute position sent, so any pulses missed result in increasing and increasing errors. Also if there is no end stop switches you can end up moving too far damaging coax cables. Normally it is recommended to use separate screened cables for the sensors to try prevent noise pickup. Can you link to the sensors you are using and what exact problems are occurring? On 16/03/2016, Robert McGwier wrote: > I would like to consider adding optical shaft encoders to augment or > replace the hall effect sensors in use on an Alfa Spid az/el installation. > We have the high resolution sensors and are experiencing some annoying > anomalies that have been very difficult to trace and are detrimental to > autonomous operation at our ground station at Virginia Tech. > > Any information or help would be appreciated. > > 73s > Bob > N4HY > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From wa4sca at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 23:37:09 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:37:09 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 and FT-100? Message-ID: <000301d17fdc$c29dcff0$47d96fd0$@GMAIL.COM> Got a question from someone asking about using a Yaesu FT-100 with SatPC32. It does have CAT capability, but does anyone know whether it is compatible with the other non-satellite rigs SatPC32 supports? 73s, Alan WA4SCA ----------------------------------- Keep Calm and Carry On From wa4sca at gmail.com Wed Mar 16 23:37:22 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 18:37:22 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 and TAPR TrakBox? Message-ID: <000401d17fdc$ca2107b0$5e631710$@GMAIL.COM> Another question, same source. IIRC, the TAPR TrakBox has a command mode which is almost but not quite EasyCom compatible. Anyone know whether any of the various tracking interfaces supported by SatPC32 will work with the command mode? It has its own tracking capability of course, but it would be nice to be able to switch it by SatPC32. 73s, Alan WA4SCA ----------------------------------- Keep Calm and Carry On From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Thu Mar 17 01:59:13 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2016 21:59:13 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama Message-ID: An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama on 18 March. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 13:53 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and N8DEU. The contact should be audible over the state of Alabama and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. Walter Jackson Elementary School is located in Decatur, AL. Decatur lies in Morgan County which borders Madison County, home of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. United Launch Alliance (ULA) also builds rockets in Decatur. Because of our proximity to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and ULA, space, aeronautics, and robotics are a part of our school's curriculum. Approximately 300 students attend, from kindergarteners to fifth graders.Our teachers have high expectations for students and we are known for excellence in math, science, technology, and reading. Students here excel on math teams, participate in hands-on science demonstrations, utilize up-to-date technology, and engage in reading across all subjects. Besides being known for our innovative use of technology, our school has an international outlook. Our 34 North program allows students in each grade to learn about a city or country that lies along the 34 North line of latitude, the same latitude of our school. For students that attend all six years at our school, they leave with an appreciation and understanding of many cultures that shape our world. In summary, Walter Jackson is a growing school in a tight-knit Southern town. We enjoy the small-town benefits of teachers really getting to know students and families while simultaneously having access to cutting-edge resources. We look forward to adding the International Space Station to our ever- expanding global network! Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Please describe how you communicate with your family. How did you feel about leaving them? 2. Are common illnesses like colds and headaches common? How do you treat them? 3. What training and education are involved in becoming an astronaut? 4. Please describe your daily jobs on the ISS. 5. How are animals used in experiments on the ISS? What have you learned from them? 6. Have you had any frightening moments or emergencies while on the ISS? 7. How do you celebrate holidays on the ISS? 8. We learned that astronauts get weekends off. How do you spend your weekends? 9. Please describe a spacewalk. What are they for and have you had a memorable one? 10. How do you find your way around the ISS? Did you have to memorize the layout or is there a map? 11. Please describe some of the experiments on which you have worked. What kind of experiments do you find most interesting? 12. What is your biggest challenge in space: microgravity, separation from Earth, fatigue, or something else? 13. Did you take any items from Earth with you to the ISS? 14. Is breaking a bone in space any different than on Earth? How would it be treated? 15. Does microgravity affect snoring? 16. Do you grow plants or food on the ISS? If so, how is that done? 17. What are some of your favorite sights from the ISS? 18. Does the ISS search for alien life? If so, have you discovered any signs of it? 19. What is it like living with astronauts from different countries? Do you have anything in common? 20. Do you use robots on the ISS? If so, how? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): TBD ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Thu Mar 17 04:26:43 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 04:26:43 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ ScienceCity (Tucson AZ) on 12-13 March 2016 - report Message-ID: Hi! Last weekend's (12-13 March 2016) ScienceCity science fair on the University of Arizona campus in Tucson was a great opportunity to show off amateur radio, and amateur satellites in particular, to a crowd much larger than a typical ham-related event. With good weather at the start of the spring break week for the university, and a book fair (Tucson Festival of Books) also taking place on the campus, well over 130000 people visited the campus during the weekend according to local media reports. This was a great crowd, knowing that the US Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration team flew for crowds on both Saturday and Sunday at the nearby Davis- Monthan Air Force Base, a few miles/km southeast of the university. The aerial demonstrations were visible to the crowds at the university, a bonus for those of us who didn't go to the air base. :-) The University of Arizona's radio club, K7UAZ, had a booth on the campus mall complete with an HF station, a demonstration of software-defined radio using an "RTL-SDR" dongle to copy ADS-B aircraft transponders along with a HackRF One, and my portable gear for amateur satellites. The club also had a small 2.4 GHz dish above its tent, used to connect to the amateur mesh network that covers the UA campus and the surrounding Tucson area for access to high-speed data without relying on commercial Internet services. Even though SO-50's pass times didn't line up with the science fair, I still had AO-85 for an FM satellite, along with 3 other satellites I used for the satellite demonstrations (AO-7, AO-73, FO-29). Unlike when I was in Tucson for this event in 2015, I used the club's K7UAZ call sign for my operating during the weekend. Thanks to everyone who called K7UAZ over the weekend, as these calls led to a total of 41 contacts logged over 11 passes on these 4 satellites. I used a variety of equipment on the different passes - from an IC-2730A for AO-85, to a single FT-817ND for FO-29, to a pair of FT-817NDs for AO-7 and one AO-73 pass Saturday morning, and my FT-817ND/SDRplay combination on one AO-73 pass Sunday morning. Contacts were made with stations across the continental USA, along with Canada and Mexico. With the SDR display at the K7UAZ booth, there was a lot of interest from the club when I used my SDRplay receiver and 8-inch Windows 10 tablet as the downlink receiver on the AO-73 pass I worked Sunday morning. Dave KB5WIA, in northern California, was my only contact on that pass. This was no problem, as Dave was able to talk about his station, which was similar to what I was using. We chatted for a few minutes, and after the pass I answered more questions about my SDR setup. If you followed my @WD9EWK Twitter feed over the weekend, I tweeted a steady stream of photos from ScienceCity, along with other tweets related to my operations as K7UAZ. If you want to see those photos but don't use Twitter, you can view them at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK/media And for all of my tweets, those can be seen at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK If you worked K7UAZ over the weekend and want a QSL card, whether on HF or satellites, please send your QSL card with SASE to the K7UAZ club. The club has the log of satellite contacts, and will be happy to answer your QSL requests. Thanks to Mathias Gibbens K0WBG, the K7UAZ club president, and the K7UAZ club for inviting AMSAT back to their effort at the 2016 ScienceCity. The K7UAZ club, which is the campus radio club, also welcomes membership from the Tucson area. There was a nice mix of students and non-students, along with support from other local radio clubs (Radio Society of Tucson, Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club), at the K7UAZ booth. All in all, a fun way to spend a weekend... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Thu Mar 17 04:51:56 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 04:51:56 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ "Springfest" hamfest (Scottsdale AZ) - Saturday, 19 March 2016 Message-ID: Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's annual "Springfest" hamfest on Saturday morning, 19 March 2016. The hamfest will be at the Scottsdale Bible Church's Mountain Valley Campus on 17800 N. Perimeter Drive in Scottsdale AZ. The hamfest site is next to the AZ-101 Pima Freeway, near exit 36 for Princess Drive. More information about the hamfest, including a map, is available from the club's web site: http://scottsdalearc.org/ WD9EWK will be on various satellite passes during the hamfest, which is scheduled to run from 6am until 12 noon (1300-1900 UTC). If you hear me on the satellites Saturday morning, please call WD9EWK and be a part of the demonstrations. The hamfest site is in grid DM43, a few miles/km north of my house - a much shorter drive than last weekend's trip to Tucson for the ScienceCity event. :-) I will upload my log from the demonstrations to Logbook of the World after the hamfest, and I will be happy to send QSL cards to anyone who works WD9EWK at the hamfest. Just e-mail me with the QSO details - if you're in the log, I'll send a card. No need to send me a QSL card or SASE. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From z_kevino at hotmail.com Thu Mar 17 10:36:43 2016 From: z_kevino at hotmail.com (kevino z) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 06:36:43 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question Message-ID: Pretty excited I heard my first satellite tonight, but not without beginner's mistakes. I was not trying to hit the satellite with TX tonight, just listening to learn the proper exchange. I think I did my homework and have programmed SO-50 frequencies in my TH-D72a correctly. I put the radio TX in the VFO "B" position, and all of the RX in the "A" and turned on full duplex. I left the squelch one up from open. I hooked my arrow antenna up, and held the antenna right at the satellite. Nothing. Then I switched to VFO A (RX) and held the monitor (squelch open) and heard some folks. While still in VFO A, I switched memory locations while holding the monitor on, to make sure I was on frequency (these RX memories account for doppler). When I heard a QSO, I let go of the monitor and the signal did not break squelch. So my question: Must I leave squelch all the way wide open when working FM satellites? If so, I guess that I need to buy some headphones so I do not introduce feedback into the TX side while in full duplex. Could some of you seasoned satellite folks help a new guy out? thank you Kevin (KK4YEL) No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced ! From daniel at destevez.net Thu Mar 17 11:36:08 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (=?UTF-8?Q?Daniel_Est=c3=a9vez?=) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:36:08 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56EA96A8.1000803@destevez.net> El 17/03/16 a las 11:36, kevino z escribi?: > So my question: Must I leave squelch all the way wide open when working FM satellites? > > If so, I guess that I need to buy some headphones so I do not introduce feedback into the TX side while in full duplex. Dear Kevin, Yes and yes. It is usual to leave the squelch open. Although during most of the pass the signal would be enough to open your squelch if you leave it in the lowest setting, really the squelch setting is the last thing you should be worrying about. Using headphones to avoid feedback is a must. It also helps you a little to pick signals out of the noise in bad conditions. 73, Dani EA4GPZ. From bruninga at usna.edu Thu Mar 17 14:01:34 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 10:01:34 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas plots (nulls) In-Reply-To: <506079841.1160403.1458167387445.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <506079841.1160403.1458167387445.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <506079841.1160403.1458167387445.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: > ANY antenna above ground, has multiple lobes. > You can simulate this with any program like MMANA or EZNEC... > Yes, and that is my point too. To get the good gain at medium elevations from an omni, one need a large ground plane (screen, not radials) going out several wavelengths in all directions. In my emails I talk about being over a metal roof or large chicken wire ground plane to properly hide the real ground reflections and to block energy going down (which lose 3 dB) and hence all those high angle nulls. Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Roland Zurmely via AMSAT-BB Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2016 6:30 PM To: AMSAT Subject: [amsat-bb] 4 omni antennas plots (nulls) Hi Bob WB4APR, ANY antenna above ground, has multiple lobes.You can simulate this with any program like MMANA or EZNEC... 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From jim at k6ccc.org Thu Mar 17 14:19:14 2016 From: jim at k6ccc.org (Jim Walls) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 07:19:14 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Short answer is yes. Jim - K6CCC ---------------------------------------- From: "kevino z" Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 4:17 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question Pretty excited I heard my first satellite tonight, but not without beginner's mistakes. I was not trying to hit the satellite with TX tonight, just listening to learn the proper exchange. I think I did my homework and have programmed SO-50 frequencies in my TH-D72a correctly. I put the radio TX in the VFO "B" position, and all of the RX in the "A" and turned on full duplex. I left the squelch one up from open. I hooked my arrow antenna up, and held the antenna right at the satellite. Nothing. Then I switched to VFO A (RX) and held the monitor (squelch open) and heard some folks. While still in VFO A, I switched memory locations while holding the monitor on, to make sure I was on frequency (these RX memories account for doppler). When I heard a QSO, I let go of the monitor and the signal did not break squelch. So my question: Must I leave squelch all the way wide open when working FM satellites? If so, I guess that I need to buy some headphones so I do not introduce feedback into the TX side while in full duplex. Could some of you seasoned satellite folks help a new guy out? thank you Kevin (KK4YEL) No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced ! _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From zleffke at vt.edu Thu Mar 17 16:08:56 2016 From: zleffke at vt.edu (Zach Leffke) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 12:08:56 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> This will be "Too Long - Did not read". Sorry. But for those with Alfa Radio HR model rotators, maybe you have same/similar issues? So first off, Bob is basically asking if anyone has built a custom optical shaft encoder to replace the magnetic hall effect sensors in the High Resolution Big-Ras rotators. Machining, circuit design, performance.....? But to answer your question about the exact problem: Pinning down the 'exact problem' has been the trick since installing these rotators. I now believe it has been a series of problems that presented a mish-mash of symptoms. Every time one problem is resolved it removes some of the symptoms to reveal others. I will attempt to describe the symptoms and the *fixes* so far. The specific sensors IC used in the Alfa Radio High Resolution kits are the AM4096 chips from RLS. The output of this is a pair of signals in phase quadrature. The lead or lag of one signal relative to the other gives the direction of rotation, while the pulse count (together with gearing ratios) gives the angle. Best I can figure the AM4096 output is sine wave with only about two volts peak to peak, but the output of the HR sensor assembly is square pulses with 0V at low and 12V at peak, still in quadrature, so there must be additional circuitry in the sensor housing. The first major symptom was noise Noise NOISE on the feedback lines. When first installed, I could turn on the control box and the feedback would start counting away as if the rotator was moving without even touching the U/D/L/R buttons. One day the issue would be on azimuth, next day it would be on elevation, sometimes both, sometimes not at all (very elusive and hard to re-create the conditions to troubleshoot). I have about 85 feet of cable from the MD-01 control box to the rotator, basically a massive antenna. The noise voltage was 1 or 2 volts peak to peak when measuring the lines with an o-scope. The guidance for best performance is to have a three conductor cable (two wires plus shield) for each sensor: azimuth feedback plus shield on one cable, elevation feedback plus shield on the next, power/ground plus shield on the third. The shields of the cables are connected together at the connector on the rotator (8 pin MIC connector) and at the connector on the MD-01 control box. The shield is also jumpered to a good station ground at the control box. The major fix to the noise issue was bypass capacitors. I installed these inside the sensor interface box on the rotator between each feedback signal line and ground as well as on the terminal block interface on the control box. This massively helped suppress the noise (less than 100mV pk-pk) on the feedback lines. So at this point no more random 'angle incrementing' when the motors weren't even turning. This just revealed the next issue. The 12V high square pulses going into the control box had a major notch right in the center of the pulse going almost down to 0 volts. Since the signals are in quadrature, this notch lined up almost perfectly with the rising edge of the other signal. The result of this was when I push the "up" button the elevation readout starts counting DOWN. Push the 'left' button (which should decrement the angle) and the feedback counts up. Basically, whatever direction a motor turns, the feedback goes in the OPPOSITE direction. My guess here is that the quadrature 'reader' in the control box sees a rising edge on one signal and then checks the other signal, if its high, the motors are turning one way, if its low they are turning the other. Since this Notch is present (lined up with the rising edge of the 'trigger' signal) what it should detect as a high it falsely detects as a low and thinks the motor is turning the 'other' direction. The fix for this was more capacitors on the control lines. Lots of experimentation with cap values was required to find one with a time constant such that it held the feedback signal high across the notch period but decayed fast enough to not overly distort the falling edge of the signal. Which leads to the current state of the system. It works reliably maybe 90% of the time. occasionally though I'm experiencing what I call the 'runaway feedback' problem. Every now and then the motor is in some perfect position that causes the feedback to start counting away again. This happens randomly on both the elevation and azimuth motors (one or the other, never both at once so far). This is similar to the first symptom I described but is different (took me a while to realize the symptoms were slightly different). In the case where noise was the issue, the incrementing (or decrementing) of the feedback was random and sporadic. In the current situation it keeps counting away at a fairly constant rate (though the rate does vary from incident to incident). I can turn the box off and back on and it picks right up and keeps counting. The only fix for this is a "nintendo cheat code" button press maneuver I have to do where I place the MD-01 in calibration mode, zero the feedback, and then press a motion button to "bump" the motor to turn a bit all in less than a second. I have to zero the feedback first because the reported position in the controller is usually far outside the software position limits programmed into the box and the motor won't turn when I press the button. As soon as the motor moves a small amount, the feedback stops counting away. I then have to go through a manual calibration process to re-align the antennas to a known az el (0 and 0) and then reset the positions in the controller. 99.9% of our operation is remote or automated. So I have custom software that is responsible for interfacing with the MD-01 control box via ethernet. I detect this runaway feedback problem via angular speeds. I *KNOW* that the antennas can't actually move faster than say 2.75 degrees per second. I query the box 4 times a second for feedback and then compute angular speed based off of the current pointing angle and the previous pointing angle (and the approximate quarter second interval between each reading). When the rate exceeds the threshold of 2.75 degree/sec threshold, the custom sw issues a STOP command to the box, and then shuts down the control thread to stop sending SET commands. I'd have to comb back through the logs, but the reported angular rates are anywhere from maybe 10 deg/s to hundreds of deg/sec (not physically possible). Since the physical position of the motor shaft seems to matter with this problem, I'm leaning away from an EMI/RFI issue and more towards some kind of mechanical problem. I've experienced this problem with multiple control boxes and multiple rotators (swapping rotators was fun with an already built H-Frame and a pair of UHF antennas and pair of VHF antennas to get out of the way!). I've tried three separate sensor cables, with similar/same results. The big difference seems to be "loaded vs unloaded." I have a second rotator/control box installed for the next antenna system (this one has about 110 ft of sensor cable at the new antenna location) and have not experienced the problem at all. The rotator is on the tower, but no antenna is installed yet. So it seems that there is a mechanical difference here that has something to do with it. Bob's theory that I'm currently working with is that some kind of mechanical resonance is occurring in the VHF/UHF H-Frame stack causing something to mechanically "glitch out" the hall effect sensor. I'm experimenting with counterweight balancing to try to manipulate the resonant frequency of the stack to avoid hitting that perfect alignment that jams up the sensor. So that's about it in a 'nutshell.' I've tried one or two other things that I've left out of the description because they seem to have minimal effect on the problem. Very elusive problem, which makes troubleshooting very difficult since I can't manually re-create the conditions that cause the problem. Any thoughts, comments, similar experiences, would be very useful and appreciated. Sorry If I maxed out your inbox's storage space. -Zach, KJ4QLP Research Associate Ted & Karyn Hume Center for National Security & Technology Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Work Phone: 540-231-4174 Cell Phone: 540-808-6305 On 3/16/2016 6:53 PM, Daniel Cussen wrote: > You could use an interface like this one: > http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ > > to read the optical/hall effect encoders. One of the main problems > with this setup is that there is no absolute position sent, so any > pulses missed result in increasing and increasing errors. Also if > there is no end stop switches you can end up moving too far damaging > coax cables. > > Normally it is recommended to use separate screened cables for the > sensors to try prevent noise pickup. > > Can you link to the sensors you are using and what exact problems are occurring? > > On 16/03/2016, Robert McGwier wrote: >> I would like to consider adding optical shaft encoders to augment or >> replace the hall effect sensors in use on an Alfa Spid az/el installation. >> We have the high resolution sensors and are experiencing some annoying >> anomalies that have been very difficult to trace and are detrimental to >> autonomous operation at our ground station at Virginia Tech. >> >> Any information or help would be appreciated. >> >> 73s >> Bob >> N4HY >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From saguaroastro at cox.net Thu Mar 17 16:37:53 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 09:37:53 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <009701d1806b$5a552300$0eff6900$@net> Sounds like you're ready to transmit. Two things to add. First, And I presume you've already done this, but make sure you a 67.0hz PL tone programmed on the uplink frequencies and on with a 74.4hz tone, so you can turn it on if needed. Next, I set the Audio balance (menu 120) to A band, mute the Tx band. A headset is a good idea for the reason you state. You can use a set of ear buds and still use the Mic. I use a Heil traveler head set with boom mike. I like it since it has interchangeable interfaces for different radios. I've got the adaptors for all my radios. Unfortunately Heil realized they can sell more headsets by discontinuing this model rather than just selling $10.00 adapters. I fashioned a Y cord for mine so i can plug a digital recorder into the downlink side of the headset. Fits between the headset and the radio. Enjoy yourself, trust me, the only thing better than the first time you hear your signal on the downlink. is making your first QSO. Still remember mine like it was yesterday. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jim Walls Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 7:19 AM To: kevino z; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question Short answer is yes. Jim - K6CCC ---------------------------------------- From: "kevino z" Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2016 4:17 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Squelch setting on TH-D72a for FM birds - newbie question Pretty excited I heard my first satellite tonight, but not without beginner's mistakes. I was not trying to hit the satellite with TX tonight, just listening to learn the proper exchange. I think I did my homework and have programmed SO-50 frequencies in my TH-D72a correctly. I put the radio TX in the VFO "B" position, and all of the RX in the "A" and turned on full duplex. I left the squelch one up from open. I hooked my arrow antenna up, and held the antenna right at the satellite. Nothing. Then I switched to VFO A (RX) and held the monitor (squelch open) and heard some folks. While still in VFO A, I switched memory locations while holding the monitor on, to make sure I was on frequency (these RX memories account for doppler). When I heard a QSO, I let go of the monitor and the signal did not break squelch. So my question: Must I leave squelch all the way wide open when working FM satellites? If so, I guess that I need to buy some headphones so I do not introduce feedback into the TX side while in full duplex. Could some of you seasoned satellite folks help a new guy out? thank you Kevin (KK4YEL) No trees were killed in the sending of this message. However, a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced ! _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From rupert.hamblin at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 19:16:35 2016 From: rupert.hamblin at gmail.com (Rupert Hamblin) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 19:16:35 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection Message-ID: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Hi All, Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator setup correctly and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs correctly (it appears). I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both 2M & 70CM, and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - which I know are working ok. The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / high pass, SSB or FM, high power or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and hence so far have no QSO's ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have setup incorrectly...? Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) Cheers RH / G0TKZ From gjd1958 at verizon.net Thu Mar 17 20:14:11 2016 From: gjd1958 at verizon.net (Greg) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:14:11 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection In-Reply-To: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> References: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Message-ID: Are you having issues adjusting for Doppler? greg N3MVF On Mar 17, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin wrote: Hi All, Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator setup correctly and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs correctly (it appears). I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both 2M & 70CM, and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - which I know are working ok. The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / high pass, SSB or FM, high power or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and hence so far have no QSO's ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have setup incorrectly...? Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) Cheers RH / G0TKZ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From johnbrier at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 20:23:51 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:23:51 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection In-Reply-To: References: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Message-ID: If he can hear the FM sat SO-50 he shouldn't have to worry about doppler. He doesn't have to find himself like on an SSB sat's passband. Rupert, can you get into terrestrial repeaters? Verify in a simple way that transmit works. On Mar 17, 2016 4:14 PM, "Greg" wrote: > Are you having issues adjusting for Doppler? > > greg > N3MVF > > > On Mar 17, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin > wrote: > > Hi All, > > Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! > > Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator setup > correctly > and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs > correctly (it appears). > I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. > > I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both 2M > & 70CM, > and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - > which I know are > working ok. > > The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / high > pass, SSB or FM, high power > or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and hence > so far have no QSO's > ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have setup > incorrectly...? > > Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) > > Cheers > > RH / G0TKZ > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From rupert.hamblin at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 20:25:11 2016 From: rupert.hamblin at gmail.com (Rupert Hamblin) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:25:11 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection In-Reply-To: References: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Greg, It's difficult to say, I can track the Doppler of the received signal ok, but as I've never yet received my own signal i'm not sure if that's a problem... I've tried whilst on a good pass adjusting the sub tune - but I never find my signal. My initial thoughts were either a sub tune issue, or perhaps a problem with the antenna alignment..? Cheers RH / G0TKZ On 17 Mar 2016 8:14 p.m., "Greg" wrote: > Are you having issues adjusting for Doppler? > > greg > N3MVF > > > On Mar 17, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin > wrote: > > Hi All, > > Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! > > Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator setup > correctly > and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs > correctly (it appears). > I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. > > I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both 2M > & 70CM, > and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - > which I know are > working ok. > > The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / high > pass, SSB or FM, high power > or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and hence > so far have no QSO's > ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have setup > incorrectly...? > > Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) > > Cheers > > RH / G0TKZ > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From rupert.hamblin at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 20:29:40 2016 From: rupert.hamblin at gmail.com (Rupert Hamblin) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 20:29:40 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection In-Reply-To: References: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi John, I'll give that a try, either that or a walk round test with a hand-held... Cheer RH / G0TKZ On 17 Mar 2016 8:23 p.m., "John Brier" wrote: > If he can hear the FM sat SO-50 he shouldn't have to worry about doppler. > He doesn't have to find himself like on an SSB sat's passband. > > Rupert, can you get into terrestrial repeaters? Verify in a simple way > that transmit works. > On Mar 17, 2016 4:14 PM, "Greg" wrote: > >> Are you having issues adjusting for Doppler? >> >> greg >> N3MVF >> >> >> On Mar 17, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin >> wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! >> >> Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator >> setup correctly >> and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs >> correctly (it appears). >> I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. >> >> I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both >> 2M & 70CM, >> and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - >> which I know are >> working ok. >> >> The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / >> high pass, SSB or FM, high power >> or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and >> hence so far have no QSO's >> ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have >> setup incorrectly...? >> >> Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) >> >> Cheers >> >> RH / G0TKZ >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > From gjd1958 at verizon.net Thu Mar 17 20:32:40 2016 From: gjd1958 at verizon.net (Greg) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:32:40 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Connection In-Reply-To: References: <56EB0293.9030404@gmail.com> Message-ID: <52E49538-99EB-4F5D-B623-84CD05976C74@verizon.net> Good point re: SO-50. G MVF On Mar 17, 2016, at 4:23 PM, John Brier wrote: If he can hear the FM sat SO-50 he shouldn't have to worry about doppler. He doesn't have to find himself like on an SSB sat's passband. Rupert, can you get into terrestrial repeaters? Verify in a simple way that transmit works. On Mar 17, 2016 4:14 PM, "Greg" wrote: Are you having issues adjusting for Doppler? greg N3MVF On Mar 17, 2016, at 3:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin wrote: Hi All, Would be grateful for any advice or your thoughts on the following...! Ok, so I have my station virtually completed now. I have the rotator setup correctly and with the LVB Tracker interface unit and SatPC32 now tracking SATs correctly (it appears). I have a 4 ELE (2M) and 9 ELE (70cm) on the rotator. I can receive very good copy of downlinks from quite low passes on both 2M & 70CM, and I have recently had the FT-847 lab repaired and tested on output - which I know are working ok. The problem I have is - whichever satellite i try to work, low pass / high pass, SSB or FM, high power or low power - I am unable to hear my own signal on the downlink and hence so far have no QSO's ....Any suggestions or clues as to what I may be doing wrong or have setup incorrectly...? Would appreciate any clues / tips here ! :-) Cheers RH / G0TKZ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From kk5do at arrl.net Thu Mar 17 21:59:26 2016 From: kk5do at arrl.net (Bruce) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 16:59:26 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Menu for Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Message-ID: <56EB28BE.3070207@arrl.net> I have just updated the menu at the AMSAT online store for the festivities this year. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat From wageners at gmail.com Thu Mar 17 22:05:12 2016 From: wageners at gmail.com (Stefan Wagener) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:05:12 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Menu for Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet In-Reply-To: <56EB28BE.3070207@arrl.net> References: <56EB28BE.3070207@arrl.net> Message-ID: Hi Bruce, I assume it is: "crusted" salmon and not "curst"ed salmon :-) Thanks, Stefan On Thu, Mar 17, 2016 at 4:59 PM, Bruce wrote: > I have just updated the menu at the AMSAT online store for the festivities > this year. > > 73...bruce > > -- > > Bruce Paige, KK5DO > AMSAT Director Contests and Awards > AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 > ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE > Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* > Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com > Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes > Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News > http://www.arrl.org > > AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From electricity440 at gmail.com Fri Mar 18 00:03:46 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:03:46 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Colorado Amateur Satellite net Begins in 1 hour Message-ID: This is a reminder that the Colorado Amateur Satellite net will begin in 1 hour from now (7PM mountain time Thursday). 6PM Pacific 7PM Mountain 8PM Central 9PM Eastern Please visit us on *AMSATNET.INFO * *IRLP* 9870, the Denver Reflector *ALLSTAR LINK* 40764, direct hookup to the repeater here. 41715, KC9ZHV hub at a data center if I am out of bandwidth. More info on AllStar - amsatnet.info/#node *ECHOLINK* *AMSAT* unless there is an ARISS contact, then go direct to KD0WHB-L *LOCAL RF* 449.625 (-) 141.3 ( W?KU Lookout Mountain) 447.225 (-) 141.3 (The STEM school repeater we set up) 447.850 (-) 141.3 (AC?KQ's repeater where he lives on TOP of saddleback mountain) 147.450 SIMPLEX (Aurora, CO) 446.275 (-) 100.0 Galena St. Local repeater at my house, giving a whopping 5 blocks of great coverage *REMOTE RF* Your Repeater here!, Email me if you want to link in or me to link your echolink or allstar repeater in automatically (no automatic IRLP linking supported) Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From zg3410 at gmail.com Fri Mar 18 10:29:52 2016 From: zg3410 at gmail.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 10:29:52 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> References: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> Message-ID: >for those with Alfa Radio HR model rotators, maybe you have same/similar issues? I do not have a HR model, but I do have a similar system and we are seeing similar problems. First off there is no end stop safety switches. This means if the control box becomes confused it can damage coax cables and move elevation to positions to damage antennas etc. Second, there is no absolute position sent, meaning if it gets confused it cannot reset itself as only the amount of movement is sent, not the actual current position. Over time this means errors accumulate and grow. The basic Yaesu G5500 has both safety protections meaning it is unlikely a confused control box will result in damaged antennas or coax. >So first off, Bob is basically asking if anyone has built a custom optical shaft encoder to >replace the magnetic hall effect sensors in the High Resolution Big-Ras rotators. >Machining, circuit design, performance.....? I do not know, however I have nearly added safety switches to a similar model to turn off the motor to protect the coax cables. This is also very important if the relays stick in the control box. Others have removed or replaced position sensors with more accurate absolute positions sensors. In particular the HH-12 is used by a lot of large EME stations as it is both accurate, cheap and absolute position. If you connect it using a rubber hose it will protect itself from damage if you try turn it too much. http://www.vk5dj.com/hh-12.html Mounting it to the Big-Raz is unknown, but here is a similar project: http://e-kutz.eu/seite10.html Here is a complete controller with two sensors: http://f1frv.free.fr/main3o_AZ_EL_Display.html >The noise voltage was 1 or 2 volts peak to peak when measuring the lines with an o->scope. This is not good. > The shields of the cables are connected together at the connector on the rotator (8 pin >MIC connector) and at the connector on the MD-01 control box. The shield is also >jumpered to a good station ground at the control box. To reduce noise the recommendation it to only connect the shield AT ONE END, and not both ends. Normally only at the shack end. I think this prevents ground loops. >So that's about it in a 'nutshell.' So in my case we have a similar sensor. All the HAMTV ground stations in Europe (6) are using Prosistel Az/El with uses hall magnetic sensors with thousands of pulses per second. We too are seeing positions change with the motor stop, so much so thousands of pulses must be read while stopped. The solutions we have used so far: 1) Multiple screened cables as you suggest grounded at one end 2) Adding filters to the motor wiring to reduce motor noise/cross talk 3) I experimented with stepping up rotation feedback from 0/5V to 0/20V 4) I am working on a replacement control box, where we can modify the code 5) I am adding safety switches to protect the coax. The real solution would be for the manufacturer to use absolute position feedback. There is complete controllers available, if you can manage to connect their sensors to your existing system using belts/gears/cogs etc. Another option I think you should consider is using your own control box. We found that the Prosistel supplied control box was flawed in some ways. The open source control box is already designed to take pulse inputs, and seems to work with thousands of pulses per second. You can even just hook the inputs in parallel to see if the problem is the control box or the sensor outputs. All you need is an arduino (mega preferably) and the correct version of the code. It will display a second opinion of the position, so you can determine if the control box has issues too. We found our control box misses some pulses, we think it is busy updating the LCD or talking to the computer and misses pulses. Other features of this is a master/slave option, meaning the controller can be mounted at the antenna, meaning only short cable runs to the position sensor. http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ In the long term absolute position sensors combined with safety switches are the only real solution. For HF even a bog standard potentiometer would probably work better. Some suppliers use 3 or 10 turn potentiometers to allow 360 degrees or 1.5 turns rotation. From w7lrd at comcast.net Fri Mar 18 17:42:51 2016 From: w7lrd at comcast.net (Bob- W7LRD) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 17:42:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] cheap radio Message-ID: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> found this on Ebay-Patrick will know if it works well on satellites. I got one just because it's so cheap. http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT 73 Bob w7LRD From skristof at etczone.com Fri Mar 18 18:24:45 2016 From: skristof at etczone.com (skristof at etczone.com) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 14:24:45 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] cheap radio In-Reply-To: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <796e959c8fd8655a9631c0284afae773@etczone.com> You can use two of them and work semi-duplex. I use two Baofeng UV82 radios and an Arrow antenna on SO-50 and LilacSat. (I know, the ideal is to work full-duplex. I apologize if I have ever stepped on anyone by working semi-duplex.) By the way, does anyone know China's email address? I want to ask them to turn the LilacSat transponder back on. Steve AI9IN On 2016-03-18 13:42, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > found this on Ebay-Patrick will know if it works well on satellites. I got one just because it's so cheap. > http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT [1] > 73 Bob w7LRD > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb [2] Links: ------ [1] http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT [2] http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Fri Mar 18 19:25:28 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 19:25:28 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] cheap radio In-Reply-To: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: Hi Bob! Depending on the quality control on the assembly line when that radio was made, it could be useful for semi- or half-duplex FM satellite work. Use two of them, and you could work FM satellites full-duplex. The unfortunate part with most of the Chinese-made HTs is the lack of consistentcy in their performance. Some will have good receivers and clean transmitters, where others aren't so good - and that is within the same make and model number. With all of that said, I have used pairs of Baofeng HTs to work FM satellites. They can work, but other radios generally have better receivers that can handle the weak satellite downlinks. I have not tried any of my Baofengs (UV-5R or UV-82) with AO-85, but I have previously written about using some of those other radios with AO-85 full-duplex. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 5:42 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > found this on Ebay-Patrick will know if it works well on satellites. I got > one just because it's so cheap. > > http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT > 73 Bob w7LRD > > From saguaroastro at cox.net Fri Mar 18 22:11:24 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:11:24 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Trouble programming a TS-2000 In-Reply-To: References: <012401d17f3b$7e3a19f0$7aae4dd0$@net> Message-ID: <004a01d18163$1c420850$54c618f0$@net> Tom, Craig, N6RSX has been corresponding with me off list and mentioned that the radio in sat mode is cross band. That turned on the light. Exactly what you noted. When i was trying to enter the 2m downlink into VFO A, VFO B was already in 2m. So i set VFO B to 6m and bingo, VFO A was able to go into 2m. Once I put in the downlink, I was able to switch VFO B to 70cmnd program that in. Thanks to Craig for a lot of other good advice and You as well Tom for confirming the problem for others. Now to see if I can get on the air....... 73 Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net From: Tom Moretto [mailto:tom.moretto at gmail.com] Sent: Friday, March 18, 2016 7:59 AM To: Rick Tejera Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Trouble programming a TS-2000 Hi Rick, just a tip, because it happened to me ;-) When you're going to program one vfo, make sure the other is not on the same band or you won't be abble to enter the qrg. 73, Tom F8COD 2016-03-16 5:22 GMT+01:00 Rick Tejera : All, Cross posting from the amsat-na fb page: OK TS-2000 users, I finally have some time and decided to program the sat memories in my TS-2000. Now according to the manual you put the downlink into VFO-A and the uplink into VFO-B. Straight forward enough, problem is when I select VFO-A on the sub receiver to add it, I can't seem to make it find the 2m band. It goes from 70cm to 6m. I have no idea why it's doing this. Anyone else have this problem? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From saguaroastro at cox.net Fri Mar 18 22:36:31 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 15:36:31 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] cheap radio In-Reply-To: References: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <005e01d18166$9e6d8540$db488fc0$@net> Steve, if you're using two radios, you're working Full Duplex.... Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of skristof at etczone.com Sent: Friday, March 18, 2016 11:25 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] cheap radio You can use two of them and work semi-duplex. I use two Baofeng UV82 radios and an Arrow antenna on SO-50 and LilacSat. (I know, the ideal is to work full-duplex. I apologize if I have ever stepped on anyone by working semi-duplex.) By the way, does anyone know China's email address? I want to ask them to turn the LilacSat transponder back on. Steve AI9IN On 2016-03-18 13:42, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > found this on Ebay-Patrick will know if it works well on satellites. I got one just because it's so cheap. > http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName =STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT [1] > 73 Bob w7LRD > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb [2] Links: ------ [1] http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPage Name=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT [2] http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From afeller at ieee.org Fri Mar 18 23:49:46 2016 From: afeller at ieee.org (Arthur Feller, W4ART) Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2016 19:49:46 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Terms Message-ID: <08B4D80D-92A8-449F-92BE-F2E6916FE96C@ieee.org> Hi!! Seems that many folks need clarification of some common operational terms. Here are definitions from the radio regulations (2012 edition). RR 1.125 simplex operation: Operating method in which transmission is made possible alternately in each direction of a telecommunication channel, for example, by means of manual control2. RR 1.126 duplex operation: Operating method in which transmission is possible simultaneously in both directions of a telecommunication channel2. RR 1.127 semi-duplex operation: A method which is simplex operation at one end of the circuit and duplex operation at the other.2 2 1.125.1, 1.126.1 and 1.127.1 In general, duplex operation and semi-duplex operation require two frequencies in radiocommunication; simplex operation may use either one or two. I hope this helps. 73, art?.. W4ART Arlington VA To thrive in life, you need three bones: a wish bone, a back bone, and a funny bone. - Reba McEntire http://afeller.us From AJ9N at aol.com Sat Mar 19 06:07:38 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 02:07:38 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC Message-ID: <174617.6d209171.441e46a9@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact was successful: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From skristof at etczone.com Sat Mar 19 12:22:41 2016 From: skristof at etczone.com (skristof at etczone.com) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 08:22:41 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Terms In-Reply-To: <08B4D80D-92A8-449F-92BE-F2E6916FE96C@ieee.org> References: <08B4D80D-92A8-449F-92BE-F2E6916FE96C@ieee.org> Message-ID: So, I can't talk and listen at the same time, which is simplex, but the guy at the other end of the satellite knows what he's doing and can talk and listen at the same time, which is duplex, therefore we are doing semi-duplex. I think that's what I said before, but I deleted that stuff already. Steve AI9IN On 2016-03-18 19:49, Arthur Feller, W4ART wrote: > Hi!! > > Seems that many folks need clarification of some common operational terms. Here are definitions from the radio regulations (2012 edition). > > RR 1.125 simplex operation: Operating method in which transmission is made possible > alternately in each direction of a telecommunication channel, for example, by means of manual > control2. > > RR 1.126 duplex operation: Operating method in which transmission is possible > simultaneously in both directions of a telecommunication channel2. > > RR 1.127 semi-duplex operation: A method which is simplex operation at one end of the > circuit and duplex operation at the other.2 > > 2 1.125.1, 1.126.1 and 1.127.1 In general, duplex operation and semi-duplex operation require two frequencies > in radiocommunication; simplex operation may use either one or two. > > I hope this helps. > > 73, art..... > W4ART Arlington VA > > To thrive in life, you need three bones: a wish bone, a back bone, and a funny bone. > - Reba McEntire > > http://afeller.us [1] > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb [3] Links: ------ [1] http://afeller.us [2] http://afeller.us/ [3] http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com Sat Mar 19 21:37:01 2016 From: tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com (Thomas Doyle) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 16:37:01 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B Message-ID: Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from their ground station. If so please give me a shout. tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle -- Sent from my computer. tom ... From lucleblanc6 at videotron.ca Sat Mar 19 22:06:20 2016 From: lucleblanc6 at videotron.ca (Luc Leblanc) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:06:20 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56EDCD5C.2820.1E6A56@lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> I'm a tracking station for flighttracker24 https://www.flightradar24.com/45.45,-75.25/7 > Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from their > ground station. If so please give me a shout. > > tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle > > -- > > Sent from my computer. > > tom ... > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb Luc Leblanc VE2DWE From cspacone at socal.rr.com Sat Mar 19 22:06:38 2016 From: cspacone at socal.rr.com (Chris Spacone) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 15:06:38 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Alinco 440 FM - FS, 10% to AMSAT Message-ID: <001701d1822b$9c980c70$d5c82550$@socal.rr.com> All, Hopefully I'm not violating any rules regarding posting items for sale. I'm cleaning out the garage and have an Alinco 435 for sale. The link points to pictures on dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0j8r3xe5zlekrdr/AADbEZkWB3-r9VvjduFe1qJva?dl=0) If you are interested please contact me off-list. 10% of sale goes to AMSAT! Asking $200.00 plus shipping of your choice (example, USPS Priority, first class, UPS Fedex) with payment via PayPal. 73, Chris Spacone, KD6OUB 2516 Maricopa St. Torrance, CA 90503 cspacone at socal.rr.com From w5pfg at amsat.org Sat Mar 19 22:11:11 2016 From: w5pfg at amsat.org (Clayton W5PFG) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 17:11:11 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders (Alfa Spid RAS-HR & BIG RAS-HR) In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56EDCE7F.9010205@amsat.org> Since my Alfa Spid RAS-HR after Christmas was installed, it requires calibration to 0 azimuth and 0 elevations weekly. In a given week, elevation and azimuth both tend to drift 10-15 degrees. It varies based on the number of tracked satellites in the given period. Not only is this issue annoying to a manned station, it makes remote operation of my station especially annoying. Finally, as others have mentioned, there is a potentially dangerous situation that has occurred more than once. While I have feed line and rotor loops for approximately 720 degrees of rotation, it is not a parameter I would like to utilize. I would prefer to stay somewhere in the range of 540 degrees to be safe and not stretch any cabling. On more than one occasion, the MD-01 controller decided it lost its mind and was continuing to turn far past the command that had been sent to it. Fortunately on these occasions, I was watching the rotor interface closely and was able to manually send a stop command. Thanks to Zach Leffke, I will now refer to this Alfa Spid RAS-HR & MD-01 feature as undocumented "runaway feedback" mode. I'm using shielded #18 wire running approximately 50' from the rotor sensor output to the controller. There are 6 conductors in the same bundle which I'm breaking out for the 2 rotors (az & el.) Had there been better documentation (any,) I might have used two separate, shielded 3 conductor cables. As others have stated, the Alfa Spid RAS-HR (or it's big brother) have been very reliable minus this strange anomaly. One course of action in my shack recently has been to bypass SatPC32's spid.exe and utilize PstRotator. It has some added benefit to allow me to use greater than 450 degrees of azimuth rotation. It also allows me to set fixed limits on az and el rotation capabilities of the Alfa Spid. However, it will not prevent the runaway feedback. 73 Clayton W5PFG On 3/16/2016 13:10, Robert McGwier wrote: > I would like to consider adding optical shaft encoders to augment or > replace the hall effect sensors in use on an Alfa Spid az/el installation. > We have the high resolution sensors and are experiencing some annoying > anomalies that have been very difficult to trace and are detrimental to > autonomous operation at our ground station at Virginia Tech. > > Any information or help would be appreciated. > > 73s > Bob > N4HY > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Sat Mar 19 22:22:43 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:22:43 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] SAT PC 32 AND YAESU FT-847 Message-ID: If I turn the vfo knob on the ft847 too fast , it will change modes from lsb to usb on the radio.if I turn off cat cotrol And turn it on again it cures the problem. I have two ft 847 radios,it have tried both of them with the same results. What am I doing wrong ? Jeff WB8RJY From wageners at gmail.com Sat Mar 19 23:23:31 2016 From: wageners at gmail.com (Stefan Wagener) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 18:23:31 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: <56EDCD5C.2820.1E6A56@lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> References: <56EDCD5C.2820.1E6A56@lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> Message-ID: Hi Tom, what do you need to know? I am running F-CYQK1 .... 24/7, Stefan On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 5:06 PM, Luc Leblanc wrote: > I'm a tracking station for flighttracker24 > > https://www.flightradar24.com/45.45,-75.25/7 > > > Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from > their > > ground station. If so please give me a shout. > > > > tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle > > > > -- > > > > Sent from my computer. > > > > tom ... > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From josepharmbruster at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 01:05:59 2016 From: josepharmbruster at gmail.com (Joseph Armbruster) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 21:05:59 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] cheap radio In-Reply-To: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1185060151.4383910.1458322971476.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: You can find them on amazon for slightly cheaper. And... if you're a prime member, free shipping! Joe On Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 1:42 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > found this on Ebay-Patrick will know if it works well on satellites. I got one just because it's so cheap. > http://www.ebay.com/itm/111917016904?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT > 73 Bob w7LRD > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From ku4os at cfl.rr.com Sun Mar 20 02:07:29 2016 From: ku4os at cfl.rr.com (Lee McLamb) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:07:29 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-080 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins Message-ID: <56EE05E1.8090405@cfl.rr.com> AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-080 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * AMSAT Forum Speakers at Dayton * Just-Launched ISS Expedition 47/48 Crew Increment Includes Two Radio Amateurs * UK Student Balloon Crosses Pacific SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-080.01 ANS-080 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 080.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. March 20, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-080.01 AMSAT Forum Speakers at Dayton The AMSAT forum will be Saturday morning from 11:15 a.m. through 1:30 p.m. in Forum Room 5. See the commercial vendor layout map in the Hamvention program or the Hamvention website for the location of Forum Room 5 (same as the last few years). The following speakers will be presenting at the AMSAT Forum: Moderator: Mark Hammond, N8MH "AMSAT Status Report" Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA President, will highlight recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news. "AMSAT-NA Satellite Program" Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT-NA Engineering Vice President, will review the upcoming launches of four Fox spacecraft and exciting new engineering developments. "AMSAT's HEO and GSO Plans" Bob McGwier, N4HY, AMSAT-NA Director, will discuss AMSAT-NA opportunities for High Earth Orbit and Geo-Synchronous Orbit satellites. "AMSAT Satellite Operations" Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA Operations Vice President, will survey the current operational amateur satellites, as well as those planned for launch in the next year. "ARISS Report 2016" Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight, will discuss ARISS developments & operation on the International Space Station. "Teaching STEM Using the Fox Satellites? Joe Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT-NA Educational Relations Vice President, will explain how the Fox MEMS gyroscopes, radiation experiments, and cameras will be used to teach Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). [ANS thanks Steve, N9IP, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Just-Launched ISS Expedition 47/48 Crew Increment Includes Two Radio Amateurs The Expedition 47/48 crew increment of Astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, and Cosmonauts Oleg Skripochka, RN3FU, and Alexey Ovchinin, is on its way to the International Space Station (ISS). Their Soyuz TMA-20M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 18 at 2126 UTC. The trio now is safely in orbit. ?During their 6-month mission, the expedition crew members will facilitate approximately 250 research investigations and technology demonstrations not possible on Earth,? NASA said. ?Science conducted also will enable future long- duration human and robotic exploration into deep space and on the agency?s journey to Mars.? Williams, Skripochka, and Ovchinin will join Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra, KE5UDN, European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake, KG5BVI/GB1SS, and cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP. Williams will take command of the station on June 4 for Expedition 48. The three will return to Earth in early September. This mission marks Williams? fourth spaceflight and will be his third long- duration stay on the orbiting laboratory ? a first for an American. It?s also his first time back to the ISS since its completion in 2011. By the time his duty tour ends in September, Williams will become the new American record holder for cumulative days in space ? 534 ? surpassing Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly, who wrapped up his 1-year mission on March 1. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- UK Student Balloon Crosses Pacific On Thursday, March 17 the UBSEDS14 balloon, launched by University of Bristol students, had successfully crossed the Pacific and was above Arizona, having traveled over 24,500 km since launch. By March 19 the balloon had crossed the United States and was headed out across the Atlantic Ocean. The University of Bristol Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (UBSEDS) launched their balloon on Monday, March 8. Powered by a single AA Lithium Energiser Battery (LR91) the balloon has been transmitting about 5dBm of Contestia 16/1000 on 434.600 MHz USB at 4 minute intervals as well as APRS during its flight at an altitude of about 11,000m. The balloon uses the error-correcting Contestia 16/1000 mode on 434.6MHz USB. The transmission power on this band was measured to be +5dBm on a similar board, which is well below the +10dBm limit for ISM band operation. Each packet was preceded by 10 seconds of 1Hz pips for manual alignment and a RSID tone for automatic alignment with suitable software (dl-fldigi for example). For many countries the balloon transmits APRS packets on local frequencies. In particular this is 144.8MHz in Europe, 144.66MHz in Japan and 144.39MHz in North America. The balloon has a diameter of 1.5m and the payload weighs just 21.3 grams. Despite the weight constraints the team have managed to employ sophisticated Geofencing technology to prevent the balloon transmitting when over certain countries and also to select different APRS frequencies depending on the territory being overflown. UBSEDS14 information is available at http://www.bristol-seds.co.uk/hab/flight/2016/03/07/ubseds14.html UBSEDS14 balloon launch http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2016/march/ubseds14_balloon_launches_today.htm One of the students involved in the project is Richard Meadows M0SBU. He took the amateur radio courses run by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) at Danbury in Essex. Further information on the courses is available from the CARS Training Manager Email: training2016 at g0mwt.org.uk Web: http://g0mwt.org.uk/training [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 02:13:27 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:13:27 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Two arrow antennas & tripod for sale Message-ID: 146/437-10 arrow with duplexer. 146/437 Alaskan arrow ,no duplexer Almost no use, in Excellent condition. $100 ea.$7 ship ea. Also Argus ALL ALUMINUM camera Tripod.No CHINESE junk. $25. $10 SHIP .WB8RJY jeff broughton From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 02:59:05 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 22:59:05 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Alaskan Arrow sold, thanks all. Message-ID: jeff broughton From richard.siff at verizon.net Sun Mar 20 03:44:58 2016 From: richard.siff at verizon.net (Rich/wa4bue) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 23:44:58 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Dayton Youth Forum Message-ID: <75205BAD047A4C7AA560AE3E0136ACCD@BanjoPC> Hope KM4IPF will be speaking at the the forum ?Having Fun with SATs. Also Hope spoke at a Luncheon for an open house sponsored by the Engineering Department at Old Dominion University to about 200 local middle and high school students from local schools touring the campus. Event coordinated by K4AMG Club, K4AMG.org. God Bless R From mlunday at nc.rr.com Sun Mar 20 04:01:56 2016 From: mlunday at nc.rr.com (Mark Lunday) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 00:01:56 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: References: <56EDCD5C.2820.1E6A56@lucleblanc6.videotron.ca> Message-ID: <004201d1825d$3f92f4e0$beb8dea0$@rr.com> Me too, Tom. RTL-SDR USB stick and SDR Sharp. Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg at arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Wagener Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2016 7:24 PM To: Thomas Doyle Cc: AMSAT BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ADS-B Hi Tom, what do you need to know? I am running F-CYQK1 .... 24/7, Stefan On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 5:06 PM, Luc Leblanc wrote: > I'm a tracking station for flighttracker24 > > https://www.flightradar24.com/45.45,-75.25/7 > > > Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from > their > > ground station. If so please give me a shout. > > > > tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle > > > > -- > > > > Sent from my computer. > > > > tom ... > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum > > available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > > views of > AMSAT-NA. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > > Subscription settings: > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From wa4sca at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 04:07:57 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2016 23:07:57 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] SAT PC 32 AND YAESU FT-847 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <000601d1825e$162e12f0$428a38d0$@GMAIL.COM> Jeff, What baud rate are you using on the CAT? 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <56EDCE7F.9010205@amsat.org> Message-ID: I don't own a Alfa Spid, or any other rotator at the moment. I started building a custom rotator and writing my own controller, using quadrature encoders, pots, and 9DOF sensors to determine position. While researching my options, I discovered that rotary encoders don't like long lengths of wire. They work best with short runs of low capacitance wire. I2C is even more picky. I had all kinds of issues when I was using cheap patch cables for the i2c interface on the 9DOF board. I decided early on to locate the controller in the rotator and keep the wire runs short, with final control via ethernet. I can't imagine that 50' wire runs are noise free. Is there any way to locate the controller closer to the rotators? Perhaps interface to the controller via ethernet? Ethernet can handle long runs quite well. I'm surprised that so much of the ham equipment still requires serial ports. Steve KD8QWT On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 6:11 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: > Since my Alfa Spid RAS-HR after Christmas was installed, it requires > calibration to 0 azimuth and 0 elevations weekly. In a given week, > elevation and azimuth both tend to drift 10-15 degrees. It varies based on > the number of tracked satellites in the given period. > > Not only is this issue annoying to a manned station, it makes remote > operation of my station especially annoying. > > Finally, as others have mentioned, there is a potentially dangerous > situation that has occurred more than once. While I have feed line and > rotor loops for approximately 720 degrees of rotation, it is not a > parameter I would like to utilize. I would prefer to stay somewhere in the > range of 540 degrees to be safe and not stretch any cabling. On more than > one occasion, the MD-01 controller decided it lost its mind and was > continuing to turn far past the command that had been sent to it. > Fortunately on these occasions, I was watching the rotor interface closely > and was able to manually send a stop command. Thanks to Zach Leffke, I > will now refer to this Alfa Spid RAS-HR & MD-01 feature as undocumented > "runaway feedback" mode. > > I'm using shielded #18 wire running approximately 50' from the rotor > sensor output to the controller. There are 6 conductors in the same bundle > which I'm breaking out for the 2 rotors (az & el.) Had there been better > documentation (any,) I might have used two separate, shielded 3 conductor > cables. > > As others have stated, the Alfa Spid RAS-HR (or it's big brother) have > been very reliable minus this strange anomaly. > > One course of action in my shack recently has been to bypass SatPC32's > spid.exe and utilize PstRotator. It has some added benefit to allow me to > use greater than 450 degrees of azimuth rotation. It also allows me to set > fixed limits on az and el rotation capabilities of the Alfa Spid. However, > it will not prevent the runaway feedback. > > 73 > Clayton > W5PFG > > > > On 3/16/2016 13:10, Robert McGwier wrote: > >> I would like to consider adding optical shaft encoders to augment or >> replace the hall effect sensors in use on an Alfa Spid az/el installation. >> We have the high resolution sensors and are experiencing some annoying >> anomalies that have been very difficult to trace and are detrimental to >> autonomous operation at our ground station at Virginia Tech. >> >> Any information or help would be appreciated. >> >> 73s >> Bob >> N4HY >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion." --George Orwell From on4hf at telenet.be Sun Mar 20 08:30:23 2016 From: on4hf at telenet.be (Eric Knaps, ON4HF) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 09:30:23 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] SAT PC 32 AND YAESU FT-847 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56EE5F9F.1070800@telenet.be> Hello Jeff, I have the same problem here. Changed baudrate and all kind of settings. Nothing helps. If you go to the "cat" menu in satpc32 you can change the cat speed x1, x5 or x10. Only at speed x1 i have no problem, but than the radio is changing its frequency every second. At cat speed x5 it's much better but than the radio changes modes when turning the vfo. My solution was simple, I connected another radio :-) I use a ic-910 now and no problem anymore and i use the FT-847 as backup radio. 73, Eric. Amateur radio station ON4HF Satellite manager UBA Member Amsat-NA #39595 Member Amsat-UK Member Amsat-ON http://www.on4hf.be Op 19/03/2016 om 23:22 schreef jeffory broughton: > If I turn the vfo knob on the ft847 too fast , it will change modes from > lsb to usb on the radio.if I turn off cat cotrol > And turn it on again it cures the problem. > I have two ft 847 radios,it have tried both of them with the same results. > What am I doing wrong ? > Jeff > WB8RJY > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb --- Dit e-mailbericht is gecontroleerd op virussen met Avast antivirussoftware. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From pista01 at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 12:25:11 2016 From: pista01 at gmail.com (Steven Kalmar) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 08:25:11 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Tom, I run a raspberry pi with an RTL-SDR outside in a plastic box with a home made coaxial collinear antenna. The range will be better once I mount it higher than the current 5 feet. Sometimes I have to restart the wifi bridge, but it's mostly hands off. https://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/Pista01 Steve KD8QWT On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 5:37 PM, Thomas Doyle wrote: > Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from their > ground station. If so please give me a shout. > > tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle > > -- > > Sent from my computer. > > tom ... > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion." --George Orwell From wouterweg at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 15:03:24 2016 From: wouterweg at gmail.com (Wouter Weggelaar) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 16:03:24 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I have been running the RT820 and Ettus USRP with gr-air-modes with success using just a simple ground plane antenna. (http://pa3weg.nl/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/wpid-DSC_0210.jpg) What is it you need? Wouter PA3WEG On Sun, Mar 20, 2016 at 1:25 PM, Steven Kalmar wrote: > Tom, > I run a raspberry pi with an RTL-SDR outside in a plastic box with a home > made coaxial collinear antenna. The range will be better once I mount it > higher than the current 5 feet. Sometimes I have to restart the wifi > bridge, but it's mostly hands off. > > https://flightaware.com/adsb/stats/user/Pista01 > > > Steve > KD8QWT > > On Sat, Mar 19, 2016 at 5:37 PM, Thomas Doyle > wrote: > >> Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from their >> ground station. If so please give me a shout. >> >> tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle >> >> -- >> >> Sent from my computer. >> >> tom ... >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > > > > -- > "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of > rebellion." > --George Orwell > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8deu at outlook.com Sun Mar 20 15:11:26 2016 From: n8deu at outlook.com (Tim N8DEU) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 10:11:26 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Walter Jackson Elementary School - ARISS contact Message-ID: Walter Jackson Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass. Many thanks to the ARISS team for making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the development of the minds of young students growing to be our future leaders. Here is a link to a short article with some video of the event by our local newspaper: http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/walter-jackson-students-speak-to-space-station/article_255a3b95-08bb-521f-b35e-ac8c9d795d86.html We are looking for some video from space during the Walter Jackson Elementary School contact if there is anything with Timothy Peake. It would also be nice to find pictures or video on things he talked about like performing experiments, drawing blood, floating around the ISS, lighting on Earth, the aurora viewed from ISS, and the exterior view of the ISS with Earth in background. This would be really meaningful in assembling a video for those students and the school. If you know where any of these things can be found or obtained we would like to hear from you. We had members from several groups participating in the event from AMSAT, the Decatur Amateur Radio Club, the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club, and the Marshall Space Flight Center Amateur Radio Club. At the Huntsville ARC club meeting on Friday night, one of the members played an 8 minute recording captured on the downlink from the ISS using only an HT and a hand held beam antenna. The signal quality was very good on this simple setup demonstrating what can be accomplished. This has really turned out to be a fantastic event to promote interest in Amateur Radio Satellite Communications. Several hams throughout the state have made inquiries about our equipment setup. What a great way to promote interest in Amateur Radio and satellite communications. 73's, Tim - N8DEU From n8deu at outlook.com Sun Mar 20 16:24:20 2016 From: n8deu at outlook.com (Tim N8DEU) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 11:24:20 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Walter Jackson Elementary School - ARISS contact In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Wow! The cut and past from editor to email was really reformatted. Let me try that again... Walter Jackson Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass. Many thanks to the ARISS team for making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the development of the minds of young students growing to be our future leaders. Here is a link to a short article with some video of the event by our local newspaper: http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/walter-jackson-students-speak-to-space-station/article_255a3b95-08bb-521f-b35e-ac8c9d795d86.html We are looking for some video from space during the Walter Jackson Elementary School contact if there is anything with Timothy Peake. It would also be nice to find pictures or video on things he talked about like performing experiments, drawing blood, floating around the ISS, lighting on Earth, the aurora viewed from ISS, and the exterior view of the ISS with Earth in background. This would be really meaningful in assembling a video for those students and the school. If you know where any of these things can be found or obtained we would like to hear from you. We had members from several groups participating in the event from AMSAT, the Decatur Amateur Radio Club, the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club, and the Marshall Space Flight Center Amateur Radio Club. At the Huntsville ARC club meeting on Friday night, one of the members played an 8 minute recording captured on the down-link from the ISS using only an HT and a hand held beam antenna. The signal quality was very good on this simple setup demonstrating what can be accomplished. This has really turned out to be a fantastic event to promote interest in Amateur Radio Satellite Communications. Several hams throughout the state have made inquiries about our equipment setup. What a great way to promote interest in Amateur Radio and satellite communications. 73's, Tim - N8DEU > > Walter Jackson Elementary School in > Decatur, Alabama had a successful ARISS radio contact > this past Friday morning. All 20 students received an answer to their > questions with full quieting reception for 90-95% of the pass. > > > > Many thanks to the ARISS team for > making these contacts a reality in Amateur Radio and in the > development of the minds of young students growing to be our future > leaders. > From n4ufo at yahoo.com Sun Mar 20 17:26:19 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:26:19 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] rover trips to nevada References: <1515136672.1833161.1458494779779.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1515136672.1833161.1458494779779.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Hello all, I've been planning a trip out west for about 6 months now and have plans to go through Nevada and take a whole week to operate from rare grids there. My plans have been firming up and I am looking at being there during the first half of May. Someone just told me that there is another ham, they did not know who, that is ALSO planning a trip to Nevada in May. I would like to find out who and where so that we can coordinate and not cause each other any problems, not to mention any chaos and confusion on the birds. I welcome someone else going... it will take pressure off of me as some of those grids are very rare and I would like a little time to sight see. It would just be nice if we could go at different times so that everyone has maximum chance to work those grids and the two of us not duplicate efforts. - Not to mention it would be nice if they went before or after me, so I'd get a chance to work them and vice versa. =^D If anyone can foreward me any information, i would certainly appreciate it! Also, I will be posting info about my trip so a special QRZ page as well as a special twitter account. https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P https://twitter.com/UFOrover Thanks & 73! Kevin N4UFO From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 18:14:37 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:14:37 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Arcing noise on VHF sat sub band Message-ID: I have been experiencing an arcing noise all over the vhf sat sub band and the 17m band for months.Finally decided to look for it.As soon as I walked out the door with H.T. in hand, it disappeared. Searching the house found it to be both Verizon phone chargers.Unplugged them,problem gone on vhf and 17m. They must be mini switchers. jeff broughton From dirgantara.rahadian at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 16:11:27 2016 From: dirgantara.rahadian at gmail.com (Dirigantara R) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 23:11:27 +0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] ADS-B In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi Tom Iam running T-WIII6. With raspberry pi and RTL dongle , antena only 8 meters from ground, also flightfeeder 73 de YE0EEE Sent from my iPhone > On 20 Mar 2016, at 04.37, Thomas Doyle wrote: > > Anyone have any experience receiving and decoding ADS-B signals from their > ground station. If so please give me a shout. > > tnx & 73 W9KE Tom Doyle > > -- > > Sent from my computer. > > tom ... > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From bryan at kl7cn.net Sun Mar 20 21:14:58 2016 From: bryan at kl7cn.net (Bryan Green) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 14:14:58 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Arcing noise on VHF sat sub band In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Found the same thing with an Apple iPhone charger a couple years ago. Apple have improved now. And yes they are often little switched power supplies. Sent from my mobile emitter > On Mar 20, 2016, at 11:14, jeffory broughton wrote: > > I have been experiencing an arcing noise all over the vhf sat sub band and > the 17m band for months.Finally decided to look for it.As soon as I walked > out the door with H.T. in hand, it disappeared. Searching the house found > it to be both Verizon phone chargers.Unplugged them,problem gone on vhf > and 17m. > They must be mini switchers. > > jeff broughton > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From tjschuessler at verizon.net Sun Mar 20 22:33:35 2016 From: tjschuessler at verizon.net (Tom Schuessler) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:33:35 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Coax jumper lenths -- Math help please. Message-ID: <002101d182f8$8b020240$a10606c0$@net> Hello all, I have a question for those of you much more experienced than I. It relates to a satellite antenna installation I am working to accomplish this Spring. I have two cross polarity yagis, one for 145 and the other for 435. Each of these antennas has two separate feeds for the H and V polarities. The two meter antenna has two feeds, both at about 14 inches from the end of the antenna boom. Jumpers from the connectors will be secured to the very end of the boom and trail off to main feed line connectors below the AZ rotor. The mount point of this boom is 5' 2" from the end of the boom with the driven element. The 70CM yagi is an end mount but the two connection points are offset from each other. One is 17 inches from the back end of the boom and the other is 24. Coax jumpers will again be attached to the boom and will trail off to connections below my AZ rotor. I will be using two separate rotors, (A G5400 or G5500 is not in the paycheck right now), an elevation rotor with a 4'2" boom to mount the two antennas and an azimuth rotor which will have a probably 2' maximum mast from there to the EL rotor mount. All this will mount to an only half extended push-up-pole, which is ground mounted but attached to the apex of my single story house. Total height off the ground will probably be 20 feet when all is said and done. I will be running 4 runs of not that flexible 9913 up to just below the AZ rotor and from there want to attach jumpers of more flexible LMR 400 Flex to make the runs out to the antennas mentioned above. My question is for your more math savvy or just plain experienced folks, is how long should the jumpers be in total for each antenna to allow for a 360 degree rotation and 180 degree elevation shift based on the parameters I described above??? I was guessing 10 to 11 foot jumpers from antennas to the barrel connectors just below the AZ rotor but wanted to make sure that that was long enough, or if they could be shorter, say maybe 9 feet. Of course the 70 CM antenna with it's one feed point 7 inches further up the antenna would need to be that much longer I guess. I also understand that the 2 meter swing will be greater because of the more center mount rather than the end mount on the 70 cm antenna. Clear as mud??? This is new territory for me so I am wanting to make sure that all the decisions are right before I need to do things over, and over, and over to get it right. I can take some pictures if someone needs to see what I described. Email me and I will give you my cell if you would rather talk or ask questions verbally. Thank you to the group in advance for your help and thoughts. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP n5hyp at arrl.net From rjlawn at gmail.com Sun Mar 20 23:52:17 2016 From: rjlawn at gmail.com (Richard Lawn) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 19:52:17 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-847 Problems Message-ID: Make sure you are using a Null modem serial cable not a straight through cable. 9600 baud and it should work. If you still have problems try a USB to serial adapter that uses the FTDI chip set. Rick, W2JAZ From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Mon Mar 21 03:31:55 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 03:31:55 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - report Message-ID: Hi! I had an AMSAT table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" hamfest, held in a church parking lot yesterday (Saturday, 19 March) morning. This hamfest is one of the 3 major hamfests for the Phoenix area in the non-summer season, and the good weather helped to bring the crowds out. Lots of buyers and sellers, and lots of interest in AMSAT and amateur satellites. With the launches of AO-85 and the 9 Chinese amateur satellites in the past 6 months, many hams are taking a closer look at this part of the hobby. For some, the recent launches and projects currently in the pipeline are bringing some back to the satellites. Along with talking about satellites, many copies of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" flew off my AMSAT table. Demonstrations, whether at 6am (1300 UTC) or 11am (1800 UTC), had nice crowds. It was nice to have AO-85 available during the morning, as SO-50 was not passing by during the morning. I also had 4 other satellites that were used for demonstrations - AO-73, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F. The three XW-2 satellites were passing by in the first couple of hours, and AO-73 and AO-85 came by later in the morning. For all of these passes, I used my SDRplay SDR receiver for the downlinks, connected to an 8-inch Windows10 tablet and HDSDR software running on the tablet. As I have seen at other recent events, using an SDR receiver makes for more conversations - and not just in the context of working satellites. With all of these satellites employing a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink, I didn't have to worry so much about the sunlight making the tablet's LCD panel unreadable. Once I set my downlink frequency on the tablet, and for AO-85 activate AFC in HDSDR to track the downlink, I only had to worry about using the wheel on a Bluetooth mouse for fine-tuning. Despite some QRM in the area of the hamfest site, northeast of a nearby airport, the SDRplay did a decent job hearing all of these downlinks. For AO-73 and AO-85, I was able to play back the RF recordings I made with HDSDR later at home, so I could upload telemetry to each satellite's telemetry server from those passes. By the way, HDSDR's recordings do a much better job picking up AO-73 telemetry than I ever saw when I used the FUNcube Dashboard to directly receive the telemetry and then upload the data to the FUNcube data warehouse server. Same thing for copying AO-85 telemetry - HDSDR's RF recordings do better for capturing the data than I saw when using the FoxTelem software to directly control my FUNcube Dongle Pro+. For those who worked WD9EWK during those demonstrations - THANK YOU! The demonstrations make a positive impression on this part of the hobby for the crowds. My mockup of the AO-85 satellite - a 4-inch cube of wood, with two whips representing the antennas coming out of two sides - also helps to reinforce that small satellites can do more than "beep" in orbit. AO-73 and AO-85, in particular, are great examples of what we can do with small satellites. I have uploaded my log to Logbook of the World from these demonstrations, and am happy to send QSL cards to anyone who would like one for QSOs during the hamfest (just e-mail me with the QSO details - no need to send me a card and self-addressed stamped envelope). Thanks again, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From n4ufo at yahoo.com Mon Mar 21 11:48:16 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:48:16 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 References: <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4? I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) 73, Kevin N4UFO From drsurfacert at hotmail.com Mon Mar 21 01:09:05 2016 From: drsurfacert at hotmail.com (Dennis Pitts) Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:09:05 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface? Message-ID: Just returned back to the Sats in November (have not been on the since the Oscar 13 days). I see things have changed a lot. Seems like I am now trying to catch up. At the moment I am using fixed elevation antennas, but would like to have computer control of the azimuth to help out and/or see if that is better than me trying to control manually. I would like to know if SatPC32 will work with the MDS RC1-Y (DCU-1 protocol) to accomplish control of the azimuth rotor (Yaesu G-800SA)? Thanks for any info or help, Dennis KK4CF From Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu Mon Mar 21 15:38:32 2016 From: Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu (Brandon Shirley) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:38:32 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Security Survey - Reminder Message-ID: <3c4115d6b23b421f93e66f50194dd764@Ek.usurf.usu.edu> To whom it may concern, To whom it may concern, This is a reminder email for a Security Survey. I sent you this email because I thought you might have relevant experience in developing space software and hardware systems. I really need your participation. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Thanks. Please note that the link is anonymous, so you are getting this reminder even if you have already taken the survey. The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) Core Concepts Development Preferences Open Systems Architecture and Modularity Security <========= We are here ========= Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity Network V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu See http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb at usu.edu. From ec4tr.luis at gmail.com Mon Mar 21 16:21:18 2016 From: ec4tr.luis at gmail.com (EC4TR Luis) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:21:18 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 In-Reply-To: <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <56F01F7E.4010909@gmail.com> Hi Kevin I?m using this similar one with FT-817 http://www.box73.com/product/1 it works great, the adio improves and get better punch, also have voice keyer. Very useful for me when I make SOTA. 73 Luis EC4TR El 21/03/2016 a las 12:48, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB escribi?: > Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4 I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. > > If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) > > 73, Kevin N4UFO > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From AJ9N at aol.com Mon Mar 21 17:01:28 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:01:28 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC Message-ID: <1b80a6.eaace35.442182e8@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From n4ufo at yahoo.com Mon Mar 21 19:16:00 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:16:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Re; rover trips to nevada References: <954460338.2583591.1458587760125.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <954460338.2583591.1458587760125.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Thank you to those that sent me tips on who the 'other Nevada rover' might be. I have in fact found out who it is and we have had a very lengthy and productive chat. He lives in Nevada, has a motor home and has plans to take a weekend to go operate from a rare grid not terribly far from his home. He is not a new sat op, but 'grid roving' is a new aspect he is in the process figuring out. He has asked for my help on working out a few details as to gear, logging, etc. I am only too happy to assist. I will let him announce his own plans, as that is only polite, but I will say that if everything goes as planned, our schedules will not conflict. He should be operating the weekend BEFORE I arrive in Nevada, with him wrapping up the same day I cross the state line. =^) Hopefully between the two of us, we can work everyone that needs that grid (DM19). And hey, if he works everyone who presently needs it, I already have another spot I can go. =^D My only regret may be that I won't be home to work him myself... but I'm really glad he is going! Also, I will be operating with my portable gear as much as possible during April, in order to get well acquainted with my new gear and work out any bugs. If you hear me on, feel free to give me a holler. I might even work from a few nearby grids for anyone that needs them. Again, I will be posting info about my trip to a special QRZ page as well as sending out last minute updates on a special twitter account. Use the link: https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P or look up N4UFO/P on QRZ (must add the /P). The link to my twitter is there and you do not have to have a twitter account to watch it. I also plan to have APRS going during my trip and links will be on that page when ready to go. 73 to all and will be looking for all you grid chasers on the birds!? Kevin N4UFO ? From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Tue Mar 22 15:19:23 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:19:23 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A while back I was looking for a ux 910 1.2 ghz module for my ic 910h to get ready for 3 new L band sats this year. I ended up with an extra one in its original box. Installed it in my 910 and it tested to factory specs. I decided I don't need an extra one sitting on the shelf.i am selling it for what I paid for it.It was not cheap,but close to what it sold for originally. $499 free ship. WB8RJY.JEFF 517 202 7862 cell jeff broughton From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 22 16:19:23 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:19:23 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC Message-ID: <242cb1.466f1988.4422ca8b@aol.com> Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From n4ufo at yahoo.com Tue Mar 22 21:33:54 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:33:54 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] IRLP node interference to FO-29 References: <1893781611.3468810.1458682434145.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1893781611.3468810.1458682434145.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> On today's 1915-1930z pass of FO-29, there was an FM signal coming over the transponder... really loud, S9 at times. I was able to tune in and listen to a net and caught the callsign of the station conducting the net who was in Houston. It was not necessarily his station and/or node that was the problem, the signal could have been coming from any number of nodes across the US that might have been connected. I am having limited success communicating with the individual who's callsign I heard. I got one reply from his phone in response to a message I sent through the IRLP website. He is apparently not getting any e-mails from me directly despite being the same e-mail address. I'm trying to confirm what reflector & channel(?) he was connected to and then see if there is any way to research with IRLP to find out what other nodes may have been connected at the time. You know, detective work. Does anyone have experience with this? with IRLP? Anyone know how to research the stations on the IRLP side of things or who to contact? Has anyone there been receptive in the past regarding resolution of interference with the sats? It's all very frustrating as I don't see any central point of contact on their website and not getting any more communication from the one guy I heard in Houston doesn't help either. I made every effort to be polite and respectful in my communications (honey versus vinegar), but with some people that just equates to a license to 'blow you off'. =^) Thanks in advance for any help... prefer replies off list. 73!? Kevin N4UFO From PeteW2JV at verizon.net Tue Mar 22 21:56:42 2016 From: PeteW2JV at verizon.net (W2JV) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 17:56:42 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] J8 on SO-50 Message-ID: <520B53CB7B7B4B529CF912F94FA69168@PeterPC> Good Afternoon: Sorry for the short notice: N2IEN, Pat will be on the 22:29 U pass of SO-50, FN 30 time, as J8/WW2DX- FK-93, he will be on the island to the 26th, have fun! 73 Peter W2JV From n4ufo at yahoo.com Tue Mar 22 21:57:28 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:57:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] IRLP node interference to FO-29 References: <1769960393.3515476.1458683848261.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1769960393.3515476.1458683848261.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> UPDATE: I got another reply from the individual who's callsign I heard... he is forwarding information to a couple folks with IRLP. Fingers crossed. If any AMSAT gurus, hear from some IRLP gurus, there you go... ball is hopefully rolling. Time for my daily walk. =^) 73,Kevin N4UFO From electricity440 at gmail.com Tue Mar 22 22:24:21 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:24:21 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] IRLP node interference to FO-29 In-Reply-To: <1769960393.3515476.1458683848261.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1769960393.3515476.1458683848261.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1769960393.3515476.1458683848261.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Could you tell me what frequency would the IRLP node have been on the input up to the sat? I can do a search based on frequency (Given that the user stated the frequency on the IRLP status page). I'll search on AllStar too, it could be an AllStar node. At a minimum, I can eliminate nodes it was not. What net was this, next time the net comes along, I can check the reflector status, and see all of the nodes that connected. What region would the satellite have covered at this time? 73, Skyler On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 3:57 PM, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB wrote: > UPDATE: I got another reply from the individual who's callsign I heard... > he is forwarding information to a couple folks with IRLP. Fingers crossed. > If any AMSAT gurus, hear from some IRLP gurus, there you go... ball is > hopefully rolling. Time for my daily walk. =^) > 73,Kevin N4UFO > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Tue Mar 22 22:36:18 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 18:36:18 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] sad to hear the malicious qrm on so50 Message-ID: Very sad to hear this on so50 on the 22:30 pass today. jeff broughton From n8hm at arrl.net Tue Mar 22 22:40:57 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 18:40:57 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] sad to hear the malicious qrm on so50 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I never jump to the conclusion that it's malicious. Someone's PTT could have gotten stuck. But the lengthy dead keying has happened on a few passes recently, so who knows. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 6:36 PM, jeffory broughton wrote: > Very sad to hear this on so50 on the 22:30 pass today. > > jeff broughton > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From rwmcgwier at gmail.com Wed Mar 23 01:53:57 2016 From: rwmcgwier at gmail.com (Robert McGwier) Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:53:57 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: References: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> Message-ID: This is an awesome conversation and we are extremely grateful. Zach is trying to build a robust repeatable super ground station. Bob On Mar 18, 2016 6:30 AM, "Daniel Cussen" wrote: > >for those with Alfa Radio HR model rotators, maybe you have same/similar > issues? > > I do not have a HR model, but I do have a similar system and we are > seeing similar problems. > > First off there is no end stop safety switches. This means if the > control box becomes confused it can damage coax cables and move > elevation to positions to damage antennas etc. > > Second, there is no absolute position sent, meaning if it gets > confused it cannot reset itself as only the amount of movement is > sent, not the actual current position. Over time this means errors > accumulate and grow. > > The basic Yaesu G5500 has both safety protections meaning it is > unlikely a confused control box will result in damaged antennas or > coax. > > >So first off, Bob is basically asking if anyone has built a custom > optical shaft encoder to >replace the magnetic hall effect sensors in the > High Resolution Big-Ras rotators. >Machining, circuit design, > performance.....? > > I do not know, however I have nearly added safety switches to a > similar model to turn off the motor to protect the coax cables. This > is also very important if the relays stick in the control box. > > Others have removed or replaced position sensors with more accurate > absolute positions sensors. In particular the HH-12 is used by a lot > of large EME stations as it is both accurate, cheap and absolute > position. If you connect it using a rubber hose it will protect itself > from damage if you try turn it too much. > > http://www.vk5dj.com/hh-12.html > Mounting it to the Big-Raz is unknown, but here is a similar project: > http://e-kutz.eu/seite10.html > Here is a complete controller with two sensors: > http://f1frv.free.fr/main3o_AZ_EL_Display.html > > >The noise voltage was 1 or 2 volts peak to peak when measuring the lines > with an o->scope. > > This is not good. > > > The shields of the cables are connected together at the connector on the > rotator (8 pin >MIC connector) and at the connector on the MD-01 control > box. The shield is also >jumpered to a good station ground at the control > box. > > To reduce noise the recommendation it to only connect the shield AT > ONE END, and not both ends. Normally only at the shack end. I think > this prevents ground loops. > > >So that's about it in a 'nutshell.' > > So in my case we have a similar sensor. All the HAMTV ground stations > in Europe (6) are using Prosistel Az/El with uses hall magnetic > sensors with thousands of pulses per second. We too are seeing > positions change with the motor stop, so much so thousands of pulses > must be read while stopped. > > The solutions we have used so far: > 1) Multiple screened cables as you suggest grounded at one end > 2) Adding filters to the motor wiring to reduce motor noise/cross talk > 3) I experimented with stepping up rotation feedback from 0/5V to 0/20V > 4) I am working on a replacement control box, where we can modify the code > 5) I am adding safety switches to protect the coax. > > The real solution would be for the manufacturer to use absolute > position feedback. There is complete controllers available, if you can > manage to connect their sensors to your existing system using > belts/gears/cogs etc. > > Another option I think you should consider is using your own control > box. We found that the Prosistel supplied control box was flawed in > some ways. The open source control box is already designed to take > pulse inputs, and seems to work with thousands of pulses per second. > You can even just hook the inputs in parallel to see if the problem is > the control box or the sensor outputs. All you need is an arduino > (mega preferably) and the correct version of the code. It will display > a second opinion of the position, so you can determine if the control > box has issues too. We found our control box misses some pulses, we > think it is busy updating the LCD or talking to the computer and > misses pulses. > > Other features of this is a master/slave option, meaning the > controller can be mounted at the antenna, meaning only short cable > runs to the position sensor. > > http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ > > In the long term absolute position sensors combined with safety > switches are the only real solution. For HF even a bog standard > potentiometer would probably work better. Some suppliers use 3 or 10 > turn potentiometers to allow 360 degrees or 1.5 turns rotation. > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From johnbrier at gmail.com Wed Mar 23 05:10:48 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 01:10:48 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] [Video] Walter Jackson Elementary Reception from Raleigh, North Carolina Message-ID: Frank's First ISS Reception - Walter Jackson Elementary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxrOhKytmbU I met Frank, NF2O on Facebook. I shared my last video of the Miami Florida school ISS contact reception on the Ham Radio Operators Facebook group, of which Frank was a member. He saw the video and recognized the landfill park I filmed the video at. He commented on my video saying that, and that it was his favorite place to work satellites from. After chatting we agreed to meetup for the next ISS reception. This video is a result of that. Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg Time Satellite Azm Elv Mag Range S.Azm S.Elv -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decatur 2016-03-18 09:52:34 ISS 310.6 0.0 2.5 2385 108.1 23.3 2016-03-18 09:58:04 ISS 224.5 71.8 -0.8 428 109.1 24.4 2016-03-18 10:03:32 ISS 138.2 0.0 3.6 2371 110.0 25.5 Raleigh 2016-03-18 09:53:53 ISS 299.4 0.0 2.6 2388 115.1 29.4 2016-03-18 09:55:19 ISS 292.7 5.1 2.1 1839 115.4 29.7 2016-03-18 09:59:03 ISS 229.6 23.2 1.0 905 116.1 30.4 2016-03-18 10:02:47 ISS 166.0 5.0 3.0 1832 116.8 31.1 2016-03-18 10:04:11 ISS 159.3 0.0 3.7 2366 117.1 31.3 73, John KG4AKV in Raleigh, NC FM05 From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Wed Mar 23 14:09:51 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:09:51 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data mode Message-ID: <08cb01d1850d$aaec3190$00c494b0$@com> All, This morning and yesterday morning I switched AO-85 into high-speed data mode over the SE USA. This was necessary for some testing of ground station components prior to the launch of Fox-1Cliff and -1D coming up. I apologize for any interruption in doing so. I hope everyone had their telemetry program on "auto" and caught a few high speed frames! 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Wed Mar 23 14:41:12 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jeff A. Boyd) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:41:12 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data mode In-Reply-To: <08cb01d1850d$aaec3190$00c494b0$@com> References: <08cb01d1850d$aaec3190$00c494b0$@com> Message-ID: <20160323234112.6147.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> On Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:09:51 -0400, "Andrew Glasbrenner" wrote: > All, > > This morning and yesterday morning I switched AO-85 into high-speed data > mode over the SE USA. This was necessary for some testing of ground station > components prior to the launch of Fox-1Cliff and -1D coming up. I apologize > for any interruption in doing so. I hope everyone had their telemetry > program on "auto" and caught a few high speed frames! Any chance of leaving it in high-speed mode for a full orbit sometime in the future so us non-Unitedstatesians can have a crack at those decodes? :) -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Wed Mar 23 14:47:32 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:47:32 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data mode Message-ID: <08ec01d18512$ee7bc790$cb7356b0$@com> Unfortunately, high speed data mode only runs for 15 minutes, then back to transponder mode. Europe and South America get the ends of Ascending and Descending passes where we enable it, but JA is just too far from a command station. Sorry! 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Jeff A. Boyd Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 10:41 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data mode On Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:09:51 -0400, "Andrew Glasbrenner" wrote: > All, > > This morning and yesterday morning I switched AO-85 into high-speed > data mode over the SE USA. This was necessary for some testing of > ground station components prior to the launch of Fox-1Cliff and -1D > coming up. I apologize for any interruption in doing so. I hope > everyone had their telemetry program on "auto" and caught a few high speed frames! Any chance of leaving it in high-speed mode for a full orbit sometime in the future so us non-Unitedstatesians can have a crack at those decodes? :) -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Wed Mar 23 15:10:13 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (Jeff A. Boyd) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 00:10:13 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 data mode In-Reply-To: <08ec01d18512$ee7bc790$cb7356b0$@com> References: <08ec01d18512$ee7bc790$cb7356b0$@com> Message-ID: <20160324001012.614B.63087B45@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> On Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:47:32 -0400, "Andrew Glasbrenner" wrote: > Unfortunately, high speed data mode only runs for 15 minutes, then back to > transponder mode. Europe and South America get the ends of Ascending and > Descending passes where we enable it, but JA is just too far from a command > station. Sorry! Ah, well that explains why I never had any of them then. It was worth a try! Perhaps when I go to the US this coming August... -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From sford at arrl.org Wed Mar 23 15:37:50 2016 From: sford at arrl.org (Ford, Steve, WB8IMY) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 15:37:50 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] DCC Call for Papers Message-ID: <6BDF4F7F3613DC4E90A42F93921B47BD176E9720@EXCHANGE.ARRLHQ.ORG> Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 35th Annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC), to be held September 16-18 in St Petersburg, Florida. Papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings. Authors do not need to attend the conference to have their papers included in the Proceedings. The submission deadline is July 31, 2016. The ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference is an international forum for technically minded radio amateurs to meet and present new ideas and techniques. Paper/presentation topic areas include -- but are not limited to -- software defined radio (SDR), digital voice, digital satellite communication, digital signal processing (DSP), HF digital modes, adapting IEEE 802.11 systems for Amateur Radio, Global Positioning System (GPS), Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), Linux in Amateur Radio, AX.25 updates and Internet operability with Amateur Radio networks. Submit papers to via e-mail or via post to Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Papers will be published exactly as submitted, and authors will retain all rights. From n8deu at outlook.com Wed Mar 23 15:56:50 2016 From: n8deu at outlook.com (Tim N8DEU) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 10:56:50 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] [Video] Walter Jackson Elementary Reception from Raleigh, North Carolina Message-ID: John, That is awesome! Thanks for sharing your experience from Raleigh, NC. We had some people share a similar experience using handheld beams with their HT at our local club meeting last Friday night. They were very excited to hear the transmissions from the ISS. It makes you wonder how many people were attempting to hear the same conversation. We received reports of people hearing the signals on their HT using the standard antenna attached as the ISS approached maximum elevation. Thank You, Tim - N8DEU Sent from my Windows Phone ________________________________ From: John Brier Sent: ?3/?23/?2016 12:10 AM To: AMSAT BB Cc: Tim N8DEU Subject: [Video] Walter Jackson Elementary Reception from Raleigh, North Carolina Frank's First ISS Reception - Walter Jackson Elementary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxrOhKytmbU I met Frank, NF2O on Facebook. I shared my last video of the Miami Florida school ISS contact reception on the Ham Radio Operators Facebook group, of which Frank was a member. He saw the video and recognized the landfill park I filmed the video at. He commented on my video saying that, and that it was his favorite place to work satellites from. After chatting we agreed to meetup for the next ISS reception. This video is a result of that. Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, direct via N8DEU The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-03-18 13:53:49 UTC 69 deg Time Satellite Azm Elv Mag Range S.Azm S.Elv -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decatur 2016-03-18 09:52:34 ISS 310.6 0.0 2.5 2385 108.1 23.3 2016-03-18 09:58:04 ISS 224.5 71.8 -0.8 428 109.1 24.4 2016-03-18 10:03:32 ISS 138.2 0.0 3.6 2371 110.0 25.5 Raleigh 2016-03-18 09:53:53 ISS 299.4 0.0 2.6 2388 115.1 29.4 2016-03-18 09:55:19 ISS 292.7 5.1 2.1 1839 115.4 29.7 2016-03-18 09:59:03 ISS 229.6 23.2 1.0 905 116.1 30.4 2016-03-18 10:02:47 ISS 166.0 5.0 3.0 1832 116.8 31.1 2016-03-18 10:04:11 ISS 159.3 0.0 3.7 2366 117.1 31.3 73, John KG4AKV in Raleigh, NC FM05 From tosca005 at umn.edu Wed Mar 23 21:58:24 2016 From: tosca005 at umn.edu (John Toscano) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 16:58:24 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: References: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> Message-ID: Bob et. al.: Would something like this: https://www.adafruit.com/products/2472 ...be useful for the purpose of determining absolute position without relying on mechanical linkages of gears, belts, pulses, potentiometers, etc.? It uses 3-axis magnetometers, 3-axis gyros, and 3-axis accelerometers, and a Cortex M0 ARM to do all the hard computations that combine the three types of data into a viable position indication. It is inexpensive enough that I will probably install one when I finally get around to raising a tower at my new QTH, and using it only for readouts at first. I have been using and will resume using Yaesu rotators when the tower goes up, so no urgent need to add safety limit switches etc. In many years of operation at my prior QTH, the rotator never got "confused" about its position except when somebody put tension on the cable plugged into the back of the control box and loosened some of the connections between plug and socket. I do realize that even the G1000SDX model I was/will be using is not hefty enough for some applications, but again it served me well for many years in spite of temperature swings from -40F to +105F. (Yeah, it turned a bit slower at the begining of a contest when the temp was -40F and the wind chill was -60F. OK, wind chill doesn't apply to inanimate objects, but -40F actual is pretty darned cold. Plus the ice and snow added on didn't help.) :-) 73 de W0JT/5 EN34js -> EL09vu On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 8:53 PM, Robert McGwier wrote: > This is an awesome conversation and we are extremely grateful. > > Zach is trying to build a robust repeatable super ground station. > > Bob > On Mar 18, 2016 6:30 AM, "Daniel Cussen" wrote: > > > >for those with Alfa Radio HR model rotators, maybe you have same/similar > > issues? > > > > I do not have a HR model, but I do have a similar system and we are > > seeing similar problems. > > > > First off there is no end stop safety switches. This means if the > > control box becomes confused it can damage coax cables and move > > elevation to positions to damage antennas etc. > > > > Second, there is no absolute position sent, meaning if it gets > > confused it cannot reset itself as only the amount of movement is > > sent, not the actual current position. Over time this means errors > > accumulate and grow. > > > > The basic Yaesu G5500 has both safety protections meaning it is > > unlikely a confused control box will result in damaged antennas or > > coax. > > > > >So first off, Bob is basically asking if anyone has built a custom > > optical shaft encoder to >replace the magnetic hall effect sensors in the > > High Resolution Big-Ras rotators. >Machining, circuit design, > > performance.....? > > > > I do not know, however I have nearly added safety switches to a > > similar model to turn off the motor to protect the coax cables. This > > is also very important if the relays stick in the control box. > > > > Others have removed or replaced position sensors with more accurate > > absolute positions sensors. In particular the HH-12 is used by a lot > > of large EME stations as it is both accurate, cheap and absolute > > position. If you connect it using a rubber hose it will protect itself > > from damage if you try turn it too much. > > > > http://www.vk5dj.com/hh-12.html > > Mounting it to the Big-Raz is unknown, but here is a similar project: > > http://e-kutz.eu/seite10.html > > Here is a complete controller with two sensors: > > http://f1frv.free.fr/main3o_AZ_EL_Display.html > > > > >The noise voltage was 1 or 2 volts peak to peak when measuring the lines > > with an o->scope. > > > > This is not good. > > > > > The shields of the cables are connected together at the connector on > the > > rotator (8 pin >MIC connector) and at the connector on the MD-01 control > > box. The shield is also >jumpered to a good station ground at the > control > > box. > > > > To reduce noise the recommendation it to only connect the shield AT > > ONE END, and not both ends. Normally only at the shack end. I think > > this prevents ground loops. > > > > >So that's about it in a 'nutshell.' > > > > So in my case we have a similar sensor. All the HAMTV ground stations > > in Europe (6) are using Prosistel Az/El with uses hall magnetic > > sensors with thousands of pulses per second. We too are seeing > > positions change with the motor stop, so much so thousands of pulses > > must be read while stopped. > > > > The solutions we have used so far: > > 1) Multiple screened cables as you suggest grounded at one end > > 2) Adding filters to the motor wiring to reduce motor noise/cross talk > > 3) I experimented with stepping up rotation feedback from 0/5V to 0/20V > > 4) I am working on a replacement control box, where we can modify the > code > > 5) I am adding safety switches to protect the coax. > > > > The real solution would be for the manufacturer to use absolute > > position feedback. There is complete controllers available, if you can > > manage to connect their sensors to your existing system using > > belts/gears/cogs etc. > > > > Another option I think you should consider is using your own control > > box. We found that the Prosistel supplied control box was flawed in > > some ways. The open source control box is already designed to take > > pulse inputs, and seems to work with thousands of pulses per second. > > You can even just hook the inputs in parallel to see if the problem is > > the control box or the sensor outputs. All you need is an arduino > > (mega preferably) and the correct version of the code. It will display > > a second opinion of the position, so you can determine if the control > > box has issues too. We found our control box misses some pulses, we > > think it is busy updating the LCD or talking to the computer and > > misses pulses. > > > > Other features of this is a master/slave option, meaning the > > controller can be mounted at the antenna, meaning only short cable > > runs to the position sensor. > > > > http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ > > > > In the long term absolute position sensors combined with safety > > switches are the only real solution. For HF even a bog standard > > potentiometer would probably work better. Some suppliers use 3 or 10 > > turn potentiometers to allow 360 degrees or 1.5 turns rotation. > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions > > expressed > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > > AMSAT-NA. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From ea4gqs at gmail.com Wed Mar 23 22:25:59 2016 From: ea4gqs at gmail.com (=?utf-8?Q?F=C3=A9lix_P=C3=A1ez?=) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:25:59 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <56f2fb8c.2106c20a.717c5.53d1@mx.google.com> References: <56f2fb8c.2106c20a.717c5.53d1@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <56f317de.83301c0a.2c64.ffffb943@mx.google.com> Hi all, I am very sorry to inform you that after requesting formal permission to use VHF/UHF HAM satellite band from Gibraltar (by using the avaliable Gibraltar Regulatory Autorithy form they have send me by email to fill), they have denied me the permission to broadcast from its territory. They have told me that Spain licenses are not recognized by the colony. This may not affect other nationalities, so if you have a license from another country You can try if you visit the colony. Anyway, my main goal is to activate the autonomous city of Ceuta (DXCC entity Ceuta & Melilla) and all seems to be fine for this. I still can not specify the exact date but It will be in mid-August (probably between days 12-21). It is very possible that I will only be able to be in the city ?one or two days, but because this visit if flexible to me I will try to do it one day with a good pass of SO-50 and Fox 1A (and maybe Lilacsat if it is active). 73s, Felix De: amsat-bb-request at amsat.org Enviado: martes, 22 de marzo de 2016 22:34 Para: amsat-bb at amsat.org Asunto: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 88 Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to ??????????????? amsat-bb at amsat.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit ??????????????? http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to ??????????????? amsat-bb-request at amsat.org You can reach the person managing the list at ??????????????? amsat-bb-owner at amsat.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." Today's Topics: ?? 1. Coax jumper lenths -- Math help please. (Tom Schuessler) ?? 2. FT-847 Problems (Richard Lawn) ?? 3. AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - report ????? (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) ?? 4. inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 (Kevin M) ?? 5. SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface? (Dennis Pitts) ?? 6. Security Survey - Reminder (Brandon Shirley) ?? 7. Re: inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 (EC4TR Luis) ?? 8. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00?? UTC ????? (AJ9N at aol.com) ?? 9. Re;? rover trips to nevada (Kevin M) ? 10. UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H (jeffory broughton) ? 11. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 16:00? UTC ????? (AJ9N at aol.com) ? 12. IRLP node interference to FO-29 (Kevin M) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:33:35 -0500 From: "Tom Schuessler" To: Subject: [amsat-bb] Coax jumper lenths -- Math help please. Message-ID: <002101d182f8$8b020240$a10606c0$@net> Content-Type: text/plain;??????????? charset="us-ascii" Hello all, I have a question for those of you much more experienced than I.? It relates to a satellite antenna installation I am working to accomplish this Spring. I have two cross polarity yagis, one? for 145 and the other for 435.? Each of these antennas has two separate feeds for the H and V polarities.? The two meter antenna has two feeds, both at about 14 inches from the end of the antenna boom.? Jumpers from the connectors will be secured to the very end of the boom and trail off to main feed line connectors below the AZ rotor. The mount point of this boom is 5' 2" from the end of the boom with the driven element.? The 70CM yagi is an end mount but the two connection points are offset from each other.? One is 17 inches from the back end of the boom and the other is 24.? Coax jumpers will again be attached to the boom and will trail off to connections below my AZ rotor.? I will be using two separate rotors, (A G5400 or G5500 is not in the paycheck right now), an elevation rotor with a 4'2" boom to mount the two antennas and an azimuth rotor which will have a probably 2' maximum mast from there to the EL rotor mount.? All this will mount to an only half extended push-up-pole, which is ground mounted but attached to the apex of my single story house.? Total height off the ground will probably be 20 feet when all is said and done.? I will be running 4 runs of not that flexible 9913 up to just below the AZ rotor and from there want to attach jumpers of more flexible LMR 400 Flex to make the runs out to the antennas mentioned above. My question is for your more math savvy or just plain experienced folks, is how long should the jumpers be in total for each antenna to allow for a 360 degree rotation and 180 degree elevation shift based on the parameters I described above???? I was guessing 10 to 11 foot jumpers from antennas to the barrel connectors just below the AZ rotor but wanted to make sure that that was long enough, or if they could be shorter, say maybe 9 feet.? Of course the 70 CM antenna with it's one feed point 7 inches further up the antenna would need to be that much longer I guess.? I also understand that the 2 meter swing will be greater because of the more center mount rather than the end mount on the 70 cm antenna. Clear as mud??? This is new territory for me so I am wanting to make sure that all the decisions are right before I need to do things over, and over, and over to get it right.? I can take some pictures if someone needs to see what I described.? Email me and I will give you my cell if you would rather talk or ask questions verbally. Thank you to the group in advance for your help and thoughts. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP n5hyp at arrl.net ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 19:52:17 -0400 From: Richard Lawn To: Amsat BB Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-847 Problems Message-ID: ??????????????? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Make sure you are using a Null modem serial cable not a straight through cable. 9600 baud and it should work. If you still have problems try a USB to serial adapter that uses the FTDI chip set. Rick, W2JAZ ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 03:31:55 +0000 From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - ??????????????? report Message-ID: ??????????????? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Hi! I had an AMSAT table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" hamfest, held in a church parking lot yesterday (Saturday, 19 March) morning. This hamfest is one of the 3 major hamfests for the Phoenix area in the non-summer season, and the good weather helped to bring the crowds out. Lots of buyers and sellers, and lots of interest in AMSAT and amateur satellites. With the launches of AO-85 and the 9 Chinese amateur satellites in the past 6 months, many hams are taking a closer look at this part of the hobby. For some, the recent launches and projects currently in the pipeline are bringing some back to the satellites. Along with talking about satellites, many copies of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" flew off my AMSAT table. Demonstrations, whether at 6am (1300 UTC) or 11am (1800 UTC), had nice crowds. It was nice to have AO-85 available during the morning, as SO-50 was not passing by during the morning. I also had 4 other satellites that were used for demonstrations - AO-73, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F. The three XW-2 satellites were passing by in the first couple of hours, and AO-73 and AO-85 came by later in the morning. For all of these passes, I used my SDRplay SDR receiver for the downlinks, connected to an 8-inch Windows10 tablet and HDSDR software running on the tablet. As I have seen at other recent events, using an SDR receiver makes for more conversations - and not just in the context of working satellites. With all of these satellites employing a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink, I didn't have to worry so much about the sunlight making the tablet's LCD panel unreadable. Once I set my downlink frequency on the tablet, and for AO-85 activate AFC in HDSDR to track the downlink, I only had to worry about using the wheel on a Bluetooth mouse for fine-tuning. Despite some QRM in the area of the hamfest site, northeast of a nearby airport, the SDRplay did a decent job hearing all of these downlinks. For AO-73 and AO-85, I was able to play back the RF recordings I made with HDSDR later at home, so I could upload telemetry to each satellite's telemetry server from those passes. By the way, HDSDR's recordings do a much better job picking up AO-73 telemetry than I ever saw when I used the FUNcube Dashboard to directly receive the telemetry and then upload the data to the FUNcube data warehouse server. Same thing for copying AO-85 telemetry - HDSDR's RF recordings do better for capturing the data than I saw when using the FoxTelem software to directly control my FUNcube Dongle Pro+. For those who worked WD9EWK during those demonstrations - THANK YOU! The demonstrations make a positive impression on this part of the hobby for the crowds. My mockup of the AO-85 satellite - a 4-inch cube of wood, with two whips representing the antennas coming out of two sides - also helps to reinforce that small satellites can do more than "beep" in orbit. AO-73 and AO-85, in particular, are great examples of what we can do with small satellites. I have uploaded my log to Logbook of the World from these demonstrations, and am happy to send QSL cards to anyone who would like one for QSOs during the hamfest (just e-mail me with the QSO details - no need to send me a card and self-addressed stamped envelope). Thanks again, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:48:16 +0000 (UTC) From: Kevin M To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 Message-ID: ??????????????? <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4? I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) 73, Kevin N4UFO ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:09:05 -0500 From: Dennis Pitts To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface? Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Just returned back to the Sats in November (have not been on the since the Oscar 13 days). I see things have changed a lot. Seems like I am now trying to catch up. At the moment I am using fixed elevation antennas, but would like to have computer control of the azimuth to help out and/or see if that is better than me trying to control manually. I would like to know if SatPC32 will work with the MDS RC1-Y (DCU-1 protocol) to accomplish control of the azimuth rotor (Yaesu G-800SA)? Thanks for any info or help, Dennis KK4CF ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:38:32 +0000 From: Brandon Shirley To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] Security Survey - Reminder Message-ID: <3c4115d6b23b421f93e66f50194dd764 at Ek.usurf.usu.edu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To whom it may concern, To whom it may concern, This is a reminder email for a Security Survey. I sent you this email because I thought you might have relevant experience in developing space software and hardware systems. I really need your participation. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Thanks. Please note that the link is anonymous, so you are getting this reminder even if you have already taken the survey. The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) Core Concepts Development Preferences Open Systems Architecture and Modularity Security? <========= We are here ========= Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity Network V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu See http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb at usu.edu. ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:21:18 +0100 From: EC4TR Luis To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 Message-ID: <56F01F7E.4010909 at gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Hi Kevin I?m using this similar one with FT-817 http://www.box73.com/product/1 it works great, the adio improves and get better punch, also have voice keyer. Very useful for me when I make SOTA. 73 Luis EC4TR El 21/03/2016 a las 12:48, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB escribi?: > Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4? I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. > > If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) > > 73, Kevin N4UFO > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ Message: 8 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:01:28 -0400 From: AJ9N at aol.com To: amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 ??????????????? 17:00???? UTC Message-ID: <1b80a6.eaace35.442182e8 at aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21? 17:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and? events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via? 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled? astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28? 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg? (***) **************************************************************************** ** The? next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open.? The? window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between? 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30.? Check out the ARISS website? http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website? http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full? details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS? is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.? ARISS? thanks everyone in advance for their assistance.? Feel free to send your? reports to aj9n at amsat.org or? aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All? ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise? noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several? of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being? able to get in.? That has now been changed to? http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS? websites from this? site. **************************************************************************** Looking? for something new to do?? How about receiving DATV from the? ISS?? ? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for? complete details.? Look for the buttons indicating Ham? Video.?????????????????????? ?????? http://www.ariss-eu.org/??? If you need some? assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some? insight.? Contact Kerry at? kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS? congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 ? schools:? Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with? 116 Francesco IK?WGF with? 116 **************************************************************************** The? webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy.? Out of date? webpages were removed and new ones have been added.? If there are? additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me? know. Note, all times are approximate.? It is recommended that you? do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before? the listed time. All dates and? times listed follow International? Standard ISO 8061 date and time format? YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The? complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC.? (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and? questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and? instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.??? http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of? ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. Each school counts as 1? event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. Each? contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of? ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year? breakdown of the contacts may be found in the? file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please? feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are? needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The? following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas,? Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam,? Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin? Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL? information may be found at:?? http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html? ISS callsigns:? DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS,? RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The? successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC.? http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency?? chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler?? correction? as of 2005-07-29 04:00? UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing? of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30? UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check? out the Zoho reports of the ARISS? contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp.? 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko? RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie?? Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team? mentors ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:16:00 +0000 (UTC) From: Kevin M To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] Re;? rover trips to nevada Message-ID: ??????????????? <954460338.2583591.1458587760125.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Thank you to those that sent me tips on who the 'other Nevada rover' might be. I have in fact found out who it is and we have had a very lengthy and productive chat. He lives in Nevada, has a motor home and has plans to take a weekend to go operate from a rare grid not terribly far from his home. He is not a new sat op, but 'grid roving' is a new aspect he is in the process figuring out. He has asked for my help on working out a few details as to gear, logging, etc. I am only too happy to assist. I will let him announce his own plans, as that is only polite, but I will say that if everything goes as planned, our schedules will not conflict. He should be operating the weekend BEFORE I arrive in Nevada, with him wrapping up the same day I cross the state line. =^) Hopefully between the two of us, we can work everyone that needs that grid (DM19). And hey, if he works everyone who presently needs it, I already have another spot I can go. =^D My only regret may be that I won't be home to work him myself... but I'm really glad he is going! Also, I will be operating with my portable gear as much as possible during April, in order to get well acquainted with my new gear and work out any bugs. If you hear me on, feel free to give me a holler. I might even work from a few nearby grids for anyone that needs them. Again, I will be posting info about my trip to a special QRZ page as well as sending out last minute updates on a special twitter account. Use the link: https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P or look up N4UFO/P on QRZ (must add the /P). The link to my twitter is there and you do not have to have a twitter account to watch it. I also plan to have APRS going during my trip and links will be on that page when ready to go. 73 to all and will be looking for all you grid chasers on the birds!? Kevin N4UFO ? ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:19:23 -0400 From: jeffory broughton To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H Message-ID: ??????????????? Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 A while back I was looking for a ux 910 1.2 ghz module for my ic 910h to get ready for 3 new L band sats this year. I ended up with an extra one in its original box. Installed it in my 910 and it tested to factory specs. I decided I don't need an extra one sitting on the shelf.i am selling it for what I paid for it.It was not cheap,but close to what it sold for originally. $499 free ship. WB8RJY.JEFF 517 202 7862 cell jeff broughton ------------------------------ Message: 11 Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:19:23 -0400 From: AJ9N at aol.com To: amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 ??????????????? 16:00???? UTC Message-ID: <242cb1.466f1988.4422ca8b at aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" Quick list of scheduled contacts? and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via? 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled? astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49? UTC 56 deg National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge? via IK1SLD (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***)? The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go? for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg? (***) **************************************************************************** ** The? next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open.? The? window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between? 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30.? Check out the ARISS website? http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website? http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full? details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS? is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.? ARISS? thanks everyone in advance for their assistance.? Feel free to send your? reports to aj9n at amsat.org or? aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All? ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise? noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several? of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being? able to get in.? That has now been changed to? http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS? websites from this? site. **************************************************************************** Looking? for something new to do?? How about receiving DATV from the? ISS?? ? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for? complete details.? Look for the buttons indicating Ham? Video.???????????????????? ?? ?????? http://www.ariss-eu.org/??? If you need some? assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some? insight.? Contact Kerry at? kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS? congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 ? schools:? Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with? 116 Francesco IK?WGF with? 116 **************************************************************************** The? webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy.? Out of date? webpages were removed and new ones have been added.? If there are? additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me? know. Note, all times are approximate.? It is recommended that you? do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before? the listed time. All dates and? times listed follow International? Standard ISO 8061 date and time format? YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The? complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC.? (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and? questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and? instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.??? http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of? ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. Each school counts as 1? event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. Each? contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of? ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year? breakdown of the contacts may be found in the? file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please? feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are? needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The? following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas,? Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam,? Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin? Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL? information may be found at:?? http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html? ISS callsigns:? DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS,? RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The? successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC.? http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency?? chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler?? correction? as of 2005-07-29 04:00? UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing? of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30? UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check? out the Zoho reports of the ARISS? contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp.? 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko? RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie? ?Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team? mentors ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:33:54 +0000 (UTC) From: Kevin M To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] IRLP node interference to FO-29 Message-ID: ??????????????? <1893781611.3468810.1458682434145.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 On today's 1915-1930z pass of FO-29, there was an FM signal coming over the transponder... really loud, S9 at times. I was able to tune in and listen to a net and caught the callsign of the station conducting the net who was in Houston. It was not necessarily his station and/or node that was the problem, the signal could have been coming from any number of nodes across the US that might have been connected. I am having limited success communicating with the individual who's callsign I heard. I got one reply from his phone in response to a message I sent through the IRLP website. He is apparently not getting any e-mails from me directly despite being the same e-mail address. I'm trying to confirm what reflector & channel(?) he was connected to and then see if there is any way to research with IRLP to find out what other nodes may have been connected at the time. You know, detective work. Does anyone have experience with this? with IRLP? Anyone know how to research the stations on the IRLP side of things or who to contact? Has anyone there been receptive in the past regarding resolution of interference with the sats? It's all very frustrating as I don't see any central point of contact on their website and not getting any more communication from the one guy I heard in Houston doesn't help either. I made every effort to be polite and respectful in my communications (honey versus vinegar), but with some people that just equates to a license to 'blow you off'. =^) Thanks in advance for any help... prefer replies off list. 73!? Kevin N4UFO ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat-bb at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.? Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 88 **************************************** From kayakfishtx at gmail.com Thu Mar 24 00:10:05 2016 From: kayakfishtx at gmail.com (Clayton Coleman) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:10:05 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] A5 Kingdom of Bhutan on Satellite Message-ID: Has anyone ever made contact with an amateur satellite ground station in Bhutan? Are you aware of any amateur radio operators who have made contact from Bhutan via satellite? I would be interested in this information. Thank you, Clayton W5PFG From pklein at threshinc.com Thu Mar 24 00:44:15 2016 From: pklein at threshinc.com (Peter Klein) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 17:44:15 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird Message-ID: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming geosynchronous satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've used on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m and 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes no longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the geosync bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? So, my questions: - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? - What is the physical size of the required dishes? - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being contemplated for the IF? If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me know and I'll shut up. :-) 73, --Peter, KD7MW From tosca005 at umn.edu Thu Mar 24 04:17:47 2016 From: tosca005 at umn.edu (John Toscano) Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2016 23:17:47 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> Message-ID: Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of ITAR restrictions there. One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 MHz IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you have two 144 MHz IF radios available. This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which is easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF One SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate filtering and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price solutions will work until they have been well-tested. In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if you are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data and back at affordable prices. \I hope that helps at least a little bit. John Toscano, W0JT/5 On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: > I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming geosynchronous > satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've used > on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m and > 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes no > longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for > occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. > > I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. > Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the geosync > bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the > uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite > track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large > that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not > be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, > perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? > > So, my questions: > > - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's > planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." > - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate > range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? > - What is the physical size of the required dishes? > - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another > radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being > contemplated for the IF? > > If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me > know and I'll shut up. :-) > > 73, > --Peter, KD7MW > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From vu3tyg at yahoo.co.in Thu Mar 24 07:16:46 2016 From: vu3tyg at yahoo.co.in (Nitin Muttin) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:16:46 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] A5 Kingdom of Bhutan on Satellite In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <2031494479.2928590.1458803806992.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Nothing heard in India from A5 until now.?73 Nitin [VU3TYG] On Thursday, 24 March 2016 5:40 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote: Has anyone ever made contact with an amateur satellite ground station in Bhutan? Are you aware of any amateur radio operators who have made contact from Bhutan via satellite? I would be interested in this information. Thank you, Clayton W5PFG _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net Thu Mar 24 09:51:33 2016 From: n1jez at burlingtontelecom.net (Mike Seguin) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 05:51:33 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> Message-ID: <56F3B8A5.8030607@burlingtontelecom.net> I need to do a bit more digging, but any preliminary EIRP figures for the uplink? I've been collecting parts/pieces. So far, I have several European LNB's for 10 GHz receive, two flat panel antennas for 5 and 10 GHz, plus an interesting little 5 GHz amp that a friend sent a link to the other day. 3.5-4W for $35. Mike On 3/24/2016 12:17 AM, John Toscano wrote: > Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground > station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of > ITAR restrictions there. > > One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G > transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many > 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 MHz > IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a > 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you have > two 144 MHz IF radios available. > > This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add > those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you > were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant > opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting > converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest > satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will > convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which is > easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground > station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF > coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of > the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF One > SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate filtering > and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G > transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive > solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price > solutions will work until they have been well-tested. > > In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if you > are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a > digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so > excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data > and back at affordable prices. > > \I hope that helps at least a little bit. > > John Toscano, W0JT/5 > > On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: > >> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming geosynchronous >> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've used >> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m and >> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes no >> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >> >> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the geosync >> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >> >> So, my questions: >> >> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >> contemplated for the IF? >> >> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >> know and I'll shut up. :-) >> >> 73, >> --Peter, KD7MW >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- 73, Mike, N1JEZ "A closed mouth gathers no feet" From ec4tr.luis at gmail.com Thu Mar 24 10:13:06 2016 From: ec4tr.luis at gmail.com (EC4TR Luis) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 11:13:06 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <56f317de.83301c0a.2c64.ffffb943@mx.google.com> References: <56f2fb8c.2106c20a.717c5.53d1@mx.google.com> <56f317de.83301c0a.2c64.ffffb943@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <56F3BDB2.9070807@gmail.com> "Spain licenses are not recognized by the colony" OMG, Gibraltarians making friends as usual:-( 73 Luis EC4TR El 23/03/2016 a las 23:25, F?lix P?ez escribi?: > Hi all, > > I am very sorry to inform you that after requesting formal permission to use VHF/UHF HAM satellite band from Gibraltar (by using the avaliable Gibraltar Regulatory Autorithy form they have send me by email to fill), they have denied me the permission to broadcast from its territory. They have told me that Spain licenses are not recognized by the colony. This may not affect other nationalities, so if you have a license from another country You can try if you visit the colony. > > Anyway, my main goal is to activate the autonomous city of Ceuta (DXCC entity Ceuta & Melilla) and all seems to be fine for this. I still can not specify the exact date but It will be in mid-August (probably between days 12-21). It is very possible that I will only be able to be in the city one or two days, but because this visit if flexible to me I will try to do it one day with a good pass of SO-50 and Fox 1A (and maybe Lilacsat if it is active). > > 73s, > > Felix > > > De: amsat-bb-request at amsat.org > Enviado: martes, 22 de marzo de 2016 22:34 > Para: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Asunto: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 88 > > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb at amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request at amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner at amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Coax jumper lenths -- Math help please. (Tom Schuessler) > 2. FT-847 Problems (Richard Lawn) > 3. AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - report > (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) > 4. inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 (Kevin M) > 5. SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface? (Dennis Pitts) > 6. Security Survey - Reminder (Brandon Shirley) > 7. Re: inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 (EC4TR Luis) > 8. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC > (AJ9N at aol.com) > 9. Re; rover trips to nevada (Kevin M) > 10. UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H (jeffory broughton) > 11. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC > (AJ9N at aol.com) > 12. IRLP node interference to FO-29 (Kevin M) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 17:33:35 -0500 > From: "Tom Schuessler" > To: > Subject: [amsat-bb] Coax jumper lenths -- Math help please. > Message-ID: <002101d182f8$8b020240$a10606c0$@net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hello all, > > I have a question for those of you much more experienced than I. It relates > to a satellite antenna installation I am working to accomplish this Spring. > > I have two cross polarity yagis, one for 145 and the other for 435. Each > of these antennas has two separate feeds for the H and V polarities. The > two meter antenna has two feeds, both at about 14 inches from the end of the > antenna boom. Jumpers from the connectors will be secured to the very end > of the boom and trail off to main feed line connectors below the AZ rotor. > The mount point of this boom is 5' 2" from the end of the boom with the > driven element. The 70CM yagi is an end mount but the two connection points > are offset from each other. One is 17 inches from the back end of the boom > and the other is 24. Coax jumpers will again be attached to the boom and > will trail off to connections below my AZ rotor. > > I will be using two separate rotors, (A G5400 or G5500 is not in the > paycheck right now), an elevation rotor with a 4'2" boom to mount the two > antennas and an azimuth rotor which will have a probably 2' maximum mast > from there to the EL rotor mount. All this will mount to an only half > extended push-up-pole, which is ground mounted but attached to the apex of > my single story house. Total height off the ground will probably be 20 feet > when all is said and done. I will be running 4 runs of not that flexible > 9913 up to just below the AZ rotor and from there want to attach jumpers of > more flexible LMR 400 Flex to make the runs out to the antennas mentioned > above. > > My question is for your more math savvy or just plain experienced folks, is > how long should the jumpers be in total for each antenna to allow for a 360 > degree rotation and 180 degree elevation shift based on the parameters I > described above??? I was guessing 10 to 11 foot jumpers from antennas to > the barrel connectors just below the AZ rotor but wanted to make sure that > that was long enough, or if they could be shorter, say maybe 9 feet. Of > course the 70 CM antenna with it's one feed point 7 inches further up the > antenna would need to be that much longer I guess. I also understand that > the 2 meter swing will be greater because of the more center mount rather > than the end mount on the 70 cm antenna. > > Clear as mud??? > > This is new territory for me so I am wanting to make sure that all the > decisions are right before I need to do things over, and over, and over to > get it right. I can take some pictures if someone needs to see what I > described. Email me and I will give you my cell if you would rather talk or > ask questions verbally. > > Thank you to the group in advance for your help and thoughts. > > Tom Schuessler, N5HYP > n5hyp at arrl.net > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 19:52:17 -0400 > From: Richard Lawn > To: Amsat BB > Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-847 Problems > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Make sure you are using a Null modem serial cable not a straight through > cable. 9600 baud and it should work. If you still have problems try a USB > to serial adapter that uses the FTDI chip set. > Rick, W2JAZ > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 03:31:55 +0000 > From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest, 19 March 2016 - > report > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi! > > I had an AMSAT table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" > hamfest, held in a church parking lot yesterday (Saturday, 19 March) > morning. This hamfest is one of the 3 major hamfests for the Phoenix area > in the non-summer season, and the good weather helped to bring the crowds > out. Lots of buyers and sellers, and lots of interest in AMSAT and amateur > satellites. > > With the launches of AO-85 and the 9 Chinese amateur satellites in the past > 6 months, many hams are taking a closer look at this part of the hobby. For > some, the recent launches and projects currently in the pipeline are > bringing some back to the satellites. Along with talking about satellites, > many copies of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" flew off > my AMSAT table. Demonstrations, whether at 6am (1300 UTC) or 11am (1800 > UTC), had nice crowds. > > It was nice to have AO-85 available during the morning, as SO-50 was not > passing by during the morning. I also had 4 other satellites that were used > for demonstrations - AO-73, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F. The three XW-2 > satellites were passing by in the first couple of hours, and AO-73 and > AO-85 came by later in the morning. For all of these passes, I used my > SDRplay SDR receiver for the downlinks, connected to an 8-inch Windows10 > tablet and HDSDR software running on the tablet. > > As I have seen at other recent events, using an SDR receiver makes for more > conversations - and not just in the context of working satellites. With all > of these satellites employing a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink, I didn't have > to worry so much about the sunlight making the tablet's LCD panel > unreadable. Once I set my downlink frequency on the tablet, and for AO-85 > activate AFC in HDSDR to track the downlink, I only had to worry about > using the wheel on a Bluetooth mouse for fine-tuning. Despite some QRM in > the area of the hamfest site, northeast of a nearby airport, the SDRplay > did a decent job hearing all of these downlinks. For AO-73 and AO-85, I was > able to play back the RF recordings I made with HDSDR later at home, so I > could upload telemetry to each satellite's telemetry server from those > passes. By the way, HDSDR's recordings do a much better job picking up > AO-73 telemetry than I ever saw when I used the FUNcube Dashboard to > directly receive the telemetry and then upload the data to the FUNcube data > warehouse server. Same thing for copying AO-85 telemetry - HDSDR's RF > recordings do better for capturing the data than I saw when using the > FoxTelem software to directly control my FUNcube Dongle Pro+. > > For those who worked WD9EWK during those demonstrations - THANK YOU! The > demonstrations make a positive impression on this part of the hobby for the > crowds. My mockup of the AO-85 satellite - a 4-inch cube of wood, with two > whips representing the antennas coming out of two sides - also helps to > reinforce that small satellites can do more than "beep" in orbit. AO-73 and > AO-85, in particular, are great examples of what we can do with small > satellites. I have uploaded my log to Logbook of the World from these > demonstrations, and am happy to send QSL cards to anyone who would like one > for QSOs during the hamfest (just e-mail me with the QSO details - no need > to send me a card and self-addressed stamped envelope). > > Thanks again, and 73! > > > > > > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK > http://www.wd9ewk.net/ > Twitter: @WD9EWK > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 11:48:16 +0000 (UTC) > From: Kevin M > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 > Message-ID: > <1526990753.2214039.1458560896259.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4? I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. > > If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) > > 73, Kevin N4UFO > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:09:05 -0500 > From: Dennis Pitts > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 & MDS RC1-Y Rotor Interface? > Message-ID: > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Just returned back to the Sats in November (have not been on the since the Oscar 13 days). I see things have changed a lot. Seems like I am now trying to catch up. At the moment I am using fixed elevation antennas, but would like to have computer control of the azimuth to help out and/or see if that is better than me trying to control manually. > > I would like to know if SatPC32 will work with the MDS RC1-Y (DCU-1 protocol) to accomplish control of the azimuth rotor (Yaesu G-800SA)? > > Thanks for any info or help, > Dennis > KK4CF > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:38:32 +0000 > From: Brandon Shirley > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Security Survey - Reminder > Message-ID: <3c4115d6b23b421f93e66f50194dd764 at Ek.usurf.usu.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > To whom it may concern, > To whom it may concern, > > This is a reminder email for a Security Survey. I sent you this email because I thought you might have relevant experience in developing space software and hardware systems. I really need your participation. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Thanks. > > Please note that the link is anonymous, so you are getting this reminder even if you have already taken the survey. > > The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. > > You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. > > https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz > > Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing > > We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. > > You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. > > The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) > > Core Concepts > Development Preferences > Open Systems Architecture and Modularity > Security <========= We are here ========= > Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity > Network > > V/R, > Brandon Shirley > b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu > > See http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. > > This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb at usu.edu. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:21:18 +0100 > From: EC4TR Luis > To: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] inline Dynamic Compressor for FT-817 > Message-ID: <56F01F7E.4010909 at gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > Hi Kevin > I?m using this similar one with FT-817 > http://www.box73.com/product/1 > it works great, the adio improves and get better punch, also have voice > keyer. > Very useful for me when I make SOTA. > 73 Luis > EC4TR > > > El 21/03/2016 a las 12:48, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB escribi?: >> Hi all. I am curious about the little dynamic compressor kits sold out of Germany to go inline with the hand mic of an FT-817 or similar style Yaesu radios. http://www.box73.com/product/4 I know that compressors are generally not used when operating on satellite transponders, but I was wondering if given only 5 watts output (or less) it might not be useful. If anyone has any experience using one on these on the linear birds, I would like to hear about your experience. Did you use a stock Yaesu hand mic with it, headset or what? How did it perform, etc.? Replies on or off list welcome. >> >> If anyone has one that would like to part with, I would be interested as well! =^) >> >> 73, Kevin N4UFO >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 13:01:28 -0400 > From: AJ9N at aol.com > To: amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 > 17:00 UTC > Message-ID: <1b80a6.eaace35.442182e8 at aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" > > Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC > > Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: > > Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H > The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS > The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) > Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg (***) > > **************************************************************************** > ** > > The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. > The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts > between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. > > Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website > http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. > > **************************************************************************** > ** > > ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. > ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send > your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. > **************************************************************************** > *** > > All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. > > **************************************************************************** > *** > > Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and > not being able to get in. That has now been changed to > http://www.ariss.org/ > > Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. > > **************************************************************************** > Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? > > If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete > details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. > > > http://www.ariss-eu.org/ > > If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to > provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net > **************************************************************************** > ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 > > schools: > > Gaston ON4WF with 121 > Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 > Francesco IK?WGF with 116 > > **************************************************************************** > The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date > webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are > additional > ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. > > Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own > orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed > time. > All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date > and > time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS > > The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-21 17:00 UTC. > (***) > > Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and > questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and > instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf > > Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. > Each school counts as 1 event. > Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. > Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. > Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. > > A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the > file. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf > > Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: > Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, > Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin > Islands. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > QSL information may be found at: > http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html > > ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS > > **************************************************************************** > The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. > > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf > > Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing > Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction > .rtf > > Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf > > Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts > > https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 > **************************************************************************** > Exp. 46 on orbit > Tim Kopra KE5UDN > Timothy Peake KG5BVI > Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP > > **************************************************************************** > > 73, > Charlie Sufana AJ9N > One of the ARISS operation team mentors > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:16:00 +0000 (UTC) > From: Kevin M > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re; rover trips to nevada > Message-ID: > <954460338.2583591.1458587760125.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Thank you to those that sent me tips on who the 'other Nevada rover' might be. I have in fact found out who it is and we have had a very lengthy and productive chat. He lives in Nevada, has a motor home and has plans to take a weekend to go operate from a rare grid not terribly far from his home. He is not a new sat op, but 'grid roving' is a new aspect he is in the process figuring out. He has asked for my help on working out a few details as to gear, logging, etc. I am only too happy to assist. I will let him announce his own plans, as that is only polite, but I will say that if everything goes as planned, our schedules will not conflict. He should be operating the weekend BEFORE I arrive in Nevada, with him wrapping up the same day I cross the state line. =^) > > Hopefully between the two of us, we can work everyone that needs that grid (DM19). And hey, if he works everyone who presently needs it, I already have another spot I can go. =^D My only regret may be that I won't be home to work him myself... but I'm really glad he is going! > > > Also, I will be operating with my portable gear as much as possible during April, in order to get well acquainted with my new gear and work out any bugs. If you hear me on, feel free to give me a holler. I might even work from a few nearby grids for anyone that needs them. > > Again, I will be posting info about my trip to a special QRZ page as well as sending out last minute updates on a special twitter account. Use the link: https://www.qrz.com/db/N4UFO/P or look up N4UFO/P on QRZ (must add the /P). The link to my twitter is there and you do not have to have a twitter account to watch it. I also plan to have APRS going during my trip and links will be on that page when ready to go. > > > 73 to all and will be looking for all you grid chasers on the birds!? Kevin N4UFO > ? > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:19:23 -0400 > From: jeffory broughton > To: amsat-bb at amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] UX 910 1.2 GHZ MODULE FOR IC 910H > Message-ID: > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > A while back I was looking for a ux 910 > 1.2 ghz module for my ic 910h to get ready for 3 new L band sats this year. > I ended up with an extra one in its original box. > Installed it in my 910 and it tested to factory specs. I decided I don't > need an extra one sitting on the shelf.i am selling it for what I paid for > it.It was not cheap,but close to what it sold for originally. $499 free > ship. > WB8RJY.JEFF > 517 202 7862 cell > > jeff broughton > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 11 > Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:19:23 -0400 > From: AJ9N at aol.com > To: amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-22 > 16:00 UTC > Message-ID: <242cb1.466f1988.4422ca8b at aol.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1" > > > > Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: > > Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H > The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS > The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN > Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg > > National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD (***) > The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS (***) > The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) > Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg (***) > > > **************************************************************************** > ** > > The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. > The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts > between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. > > Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website > http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. > > **************************************************************************** > ** > > ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. > ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send > your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. > **************************************************************************** > *** > > All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. > > **************************************************************************** > *** > > Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and > not being able to get in. That has now been changed to > http://www.ariss.org/ > > Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. > > **************************************************************************** > Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? > > If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete > details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. > > > http://www.ariss-eu.org/ > > If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to > provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net > **************************************************************************** > ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 > > schools: > > Gaston ON4WF with 121 > Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 > Francesco IK?WGF with 116 > > **************************************************************************** > The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date > webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are > additional > ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. > > Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own > orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed > time. > All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date > and > time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS > > The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-22 16:00 UTC. > (***) > > Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and > questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and > instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf > > Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. > Each school counts as 1 event. > Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. > Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. > Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. > > A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the > file. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf > > Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: > Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, > Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin > Islands. > > ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > > QSL information may be found at: > http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html > > ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS > > **************************************************************************** > The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. > > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf > > Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing > Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction > .rtf > > Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf > > Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts > > https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 > **************************************************************************** > Exp. 46 on orbit > Tim Kopra KE5UDN > Timothy Peake KG5BVI > Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP > > **************************************************************************** > > 73, > Charlie Sufana AJ9N > One of the ARISS operation team mentors > > > > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 12 > Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2016 21:33:54 +0000 (UTC) > From: Kevin M > To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" > Subject: [amsat-bb] IRLP node interference to FO-29 > Message-ID: > <1893781611.3468810.1458682434145.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > On today's 1915-1930z pass of FO-29, there was an FM signal coming over the transponder... really loud, S9 at times. I was able to tune in and listen to a net and caught the callsign of the station conducting the net who was in Houston. It was not necessarily his station and/or node that was the problem, the signal could have been coming from any number of nodes across the US that might have been connected. > > I am having limited success communicating with the individual who's callsign I heard. I got one reply from his phone in response to a message I sent through the IRLP website. He is apparently not getting any e-mails from me directly despite being the same e-mail address. I'm trying to confirm what reflector & channel(?) he was connected to and then see if there is any way to research with IRLP to find out what other nodes may have been connected at the time. You know, detective work. > > > Does anyone have experience with this? with IRLP? Anyone know how to research the stations on the IRLP side of things or who to contact? Has anyone there been receptive in the past regarding resolution of interference with the sats? It's all very frustrating as I don't see any central point of contact on their website and not getting any more communication from the one guy I heard in Houston doesn't help either. I made every effort to be polite and respectful in my communications (honey versus vinegar), but with some people that just equates to a license to 'blow you off'. =^) > > Thanks in advance for any help... prefer replies off list. 73!? Kevin N4UFO > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via amsat-bb at amsat.org. > AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ------------------------------ > > End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 88 > **************************************** > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From m5aka at yahoo.co.uk Thu Mar 24 12:08:28 2016 From: m5aka at yahoo.co.uk (M5AKA) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 12:08:28 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <56F3BDB2.9070807@gmail.com> References: <56F3BDB2.9070807@gmail.com> Message-ID: <1322421007.7205562.1458821308280.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> The IARU Region 1 Treasurer Eva Thiemann HB9FPM visited Gibraltar last August. She noted that: "Gibraltar is not part of CEPT and the authorities do not issue reciprocal licences for HF operation. But for some time it is possible to get a licence for operating on 6 and 2 m." - apparently not 70 cm. The Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society has some visitor information on their website at http://www.gibradio.net/visiting.htm There are still many countries in the world where reciprocal operating is either not permitted or is difficult to obtain. 73 Trevor M5AKA From nss at mwt.net Thu Mar 24 12:31:46 2016 From: nss at mwt.net (Joe) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:31:46 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> Message-ID: <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? What is the delay lag time on such a distance? Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: > Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground > station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of > ITAR restrictions there. > > One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G > transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many > 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 MHz > IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a > 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you have > two 144 MHz IF radios available. > > This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add > those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you > were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant > opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting > converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest > satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will > convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which is > easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground > station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF > coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of > the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF One > SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate filtering > and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G > transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive > solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price > solutions will work until they have been well-tested. > > In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if you > are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a > digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so > excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data > and back at affordable prices. > > \I hope that helps at least a little bit. > > John Toscano, W0JT/5 > > On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: > >> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming geosynchronous >> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've used >> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m and >> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes no >> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >> >> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the geosync >> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >> >> So, my questions: >> >> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >> contemplated for the IF? >> >> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >> know and I'll shut up. :-) >> >> 73, >> --Peter, KD7MW >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > From n8hm at arrl.net Thu Mar 24 12:35:51 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 08:35:51 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> Message-ID: 240-280 ms 73, Paul, N8HM On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: > Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? > > What is the delay lag time on such a distance? > > Joe WB9SBD > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > > On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: >> >> Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground >> station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of >> ITAR restrictions there. >> >> One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G >> transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many >> 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 >> MHz >> IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a >> 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you >> have >> two 144 MHz IF radios available. >> >> This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add >> those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you >> were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant >> opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting >> converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest >> satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will >> convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which >> is >> easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground >> station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF >> coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of >> the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF >> One >> SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate >> filtering >> and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G >> transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive >> solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price >> solutions will work until they have been well-tested. >> >> In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if >> you >> are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a >> digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so >> excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data >> and back at affordable prices. >> >> \I hope that helps at least a little bit. >> >> John Toscano, W0JT/5 >> >> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: >> >>> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming >>> geosynchronous >>> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've >>> used >>> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m >>> and >>> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes >>> no >>> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >>> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >>> >>> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >>> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the >>> geosync >>> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >>> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >>> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >>> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >>> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >>> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >>> >>> So, my questions: >>> >>> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >>> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >>> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >>> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >>> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >>> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >>> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >>> contemplated for the IF? >>> >>> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >>> know and I'll shut up. :-) >>> >>> 73, >>> --Peter, KD7MW >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Thu Mar 24 12:39:20 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 08:39:20 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> Message-ID: Remember that AO-10, AO-13, and AO-40 at apogee were all at about geosynchronous altitude or higher, so hams have experience operating full duplex with such a delay. 73, Paul, N8HM On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: > Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? > > What is the delay lag time on such a distance? > > Joe WB9SBD > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > > On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: >> >> Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground >> station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of >> ITAR restrictions there. >> >> One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G >> transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many >> 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 >> MHz >> IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a >> 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you >> have >> two 144 MHz IF radios available. >> >> This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add >> those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you >> were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant >> opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting >> converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest >> satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will >> convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which >> is >> easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground >> station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF >> coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of >> the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF >> One >> SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate >> filtering >> and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G >> transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive >> solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price >> solutions will work until they have been well-tested. >> >> In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if >> you >> are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a >> digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so >> excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data >> and back at affordable prices. >> >> \I hope that helps at least a little bit. >> >> John Toscano, W0JT/5 >> >> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: >> >>> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming >>> geosynchronous >>> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've >>> used >>> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m >>> and >>> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes >>> no >>> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >>> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >>> >>> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >>> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the >>> geosync >>> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >>> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >>> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >>> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >>> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >>> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >>> >>> So, my questions: >>> >>> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >>> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >>> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >>> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >>> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >>> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >>> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >>> contemplated for the IF? >>> >>> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >>> know and I'll shut up. :-) >>> >>> 73, >>> --Peter, KD7MW >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From nss at mwt.net Thu Mar 24 12:46:14 2016 From: nss at mwt.net (Joe) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:46:14 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> Message-ID: <56F3E196.9040909@mwt.net> That isn't too bad. It would be a killer when running CW and monitoring like a sidetone tho! he he he. Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/24/2016 7:35 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > 240-280 ms > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: >> Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? >> >> What is the delay lag time on such a distance? >> >> Joe WB9SBD >> Sig >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> >> On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: >>> Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground >>> station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of >>> ITAR restrictions there. >>> >>> One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G >>> transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many >>> 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 >>> MHz >>> IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a >>> 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you >>> have >>> two 144 MHz IF radios available. >>> >>> This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add >>> those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you >>> were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant >>> opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting >>> converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest >>> satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will >>> convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which >>> is >>> easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground >>> station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF >>> coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of >>> the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF >>> One >>> SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate >>> filtering >>> and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G >>> transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive >>> solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price >>> solutions will work until they have been well-tested. >>> >>> In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if >>> you >>> are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a >>> digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so >>> excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data >>> and back at affordable prices. >>> >>> \I hope that helps at least a little bit. >>> >>> John Toscano, W0JT/5 >>> >>> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: >>> >>>> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming >>>> geosynchronous >>>> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've >>>> used >>>> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m >>>> and >>>> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes >>>> no >>>> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >>>> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >>>> >>>> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >>>> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the >>>> geosync >>>> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >>>> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >>>> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >>>> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >>>> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >>>> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >>>> >>>> So, my questions: >>>> >>>> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >>>> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >>>> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >>>> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >>>> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >>>> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >>>> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >>>> contemplated for the IF? >>>> >>>> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >>>> know and I'll shut up. :-) >>>> >>>> 73, >>>> --Peter, KD7MW >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>> Opinions >>>> expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >>> >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From daniel at destevez.net Thu Mar 24 12:59:23 2016 From: daniel at destevez.net (Dani EA4GPZ) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:59:23 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ceuta & Melilla and Gibraltar this summer In-Reply-To: <1322421007.7205562.1458821308280.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <56F3BDB2.9070807@gmail.com> <1322421007.7205562.1458821308280.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <56F3E4AB.7040700@destevez.net> El 24/03/16 a las 13:08, M5AKA escribi?: > The IARU Region 1 Treasurer Eva Thiemann HB9FPM visited Gibraltar last August. She noted that: > > "Gibraltar is not part of CEPT and the authorities do not issue reciprocal licences for HF operation. But for some time it is possible to get a licence for operating on 6 and 2 m." - apparently not 70 cm. > > The Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society has some visitor information on their website at > http://www.gibradio.net/visiting.htm > > There are still many countries in the world where reciprocal operating is either not permitted or is difficult to obtain. Hi Trevor, According to this document: http://www.gra.gi/download/889/401cfg.pdf operation in 70cm is also possible with the reciprocal licence. The problem here seems to be that the authorities in Gibraltar won't accept a Spanish licence as a valid document to grant a reciprocal licence. 73, Dani EA4GPZ. From pista01 at gmail.com Thu Mar 24 13:43:41 2016 From: pista01 at gmail.com (Steven Kalmar) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 09:43:41 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Optical shaft encoders In-Reply-To: References: <56EAD698.4050806@vt.edu> Message-ID: John, I'm testing this board with my custom rotators and controller. The board has been working quite well, with consistent reading for both az and el. The az readings are even accurate when the el is at 90 degrees. That said, I won't be using it as a primary position sensor. Optical encoders with sufficient resolution are still superior. I haven't tested this board in the presence of RF, so I'm not sure what it will do on transmit. The board also can't tell you if the rotators are pointing at 360 degrees or 0. A POT, or something similar, is still needed to determine that. The i2c bus needs to be as short as possible, so whatever is reading it needs to be mounted on the rotators. Positioning the controller with the rotators will also improve the reliability of the optical encoders. This board works well for calibrating the rotator to magnetic north and zeroing the el, as well as validating the az & el positions reported by the optical encoders. How well the validation will work on transmit is yet to be determined. If all you want to do is read the position outside the controller circuit, then I would think it would work quite well connected to an Arduino mounted on the rotator. An ethernet shield would allow for a simple web page that could display the rotator's position. Reading the values off the board is quick and doesn't require very much resources. Calibration is the main issue with these types of sensors. It's much easier to deal with on this board. The on-board micro helps a great deal. The calibration data is lost when the board powers up. Until it is calibrated, the values are useless. Once calibrated, previous saved calibration values can be passed to the board when it powers up. The initial calibration does call for specific movements outside the range possible by just mounting it to the rotator and moving it around. The initial calibration would need to be done close to the actual mounted position on the rotator. Once the rotator and sensor are in their final positions and the rotator az and el moved around a bit, the on-board micro will update it's calibration values from the initial calibration. These final calibration values would be the values to save and re-apply on power up. Since the on-board micro continues to update the calibration, it might be a good idea to update the saved values periodically. Steve KD8QWT On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 5:58 PM, John Toscano wrote: > Bob et. al.: > > Would something like this: > https://www.adafruit.com/products/2472 > > ...be useful for the purpose of determining absolute position without > relying on mechanical linkages of gears, belts, pulses, potentiometers, > etc.? It uses 3-axis magnetometers, 3-axis gyros, and 3-axis > accelerometers, and a Cortex M0 ARM to do all the hard computations that > combine the three types of data into a viable position indication. It is > inexpensive enough that I will probably install one when I finally get > around to raising a tower at my new QTH, and using it only for readouts at > first. I have been using and will resume using Yaesu rotators when the > tower goes up, so no urgent need to add safety limit switches etc. In many > years of operation at my prior QTH, the rotator never got "confused" about > its position except when somebody put tension on the cable plugged into the > back of the control box and loosened some of the connections between plug > and socket. I do realize that even the G1000SDX model I was/will be using > is not hefty enough for some applications, but again it served me well for > many years in spite of temperature swings from -40F to +105F. (Yeah, it > turned a bit slower at the begining of a contest when the temp was -40F and > the wind chill was -60F. OK, wind chill doesn't apply to inanimate objects, > but -40F actual is pretty darned cold. Plus the ice and snow added on > didn't help.) :-) > > 73 de W0JT/5 > EN34js -> EL09vu > > On Tue, Mar 22, 2016 at 8:53 PM, Robert McGwier > wrote: > > > This is an awesome conversation and we are extremely grateful. > > > > Zach is trying to build a robust repeatable super ground station. > > > > Bob > > On Mar 18, 2016 6:30 AM, "Daniel Cussen" wrote: > > > > > >for those with Alfa Radio HR model rotators, maybe you have > same/similar > > > issues? > > > > > > I do not have a HR model, but I do have a similar system and we are > > > seeing similar problems. > > > > > > First off there is no end stop safety switches. This means if the > > > control box becomes confused it can damage coax cables and move > > > elevation to positions to damage antennas etc. > > > > > > Second, there is no absolute position sent, meaning if it gets > > > confused it cannot reset itself as only the amount of movement is > > > sent, not the actual current position. Over time this means errors > > > accumulate and grow. > > > > > > The basic Yaesu G5500 has both safety protections meaning it is > > > unlikely a confused control box will result in damaged antennas or > > > coax. > > > > > > >So first off, Bob is basically asking if anyone has built a custom > > > optical shaft encoder to >replace the magnetic hall effect sensors in > the > > > High Resolution Big-Ras rotators. >Machining, circuit design, > > > performance.....? > > > > > > I do not know, however I have nearly added safety switches to a > > > similar model to turn off the motor to protect the coax cables. This > > > is also very important if the relays stick in the control box. > > > > > > Others have removed or replaced position sensors with more accurate > > > absolute positions sensors. In particular the HH-12 is used by a lot > > > of large EME stations as it is both accurate, cheap and absolute > > > position. If you connect it using a rubber hose it will protect itself > > > from damage if you try turn it too much. > > > > > > http://www.vk5dj.com/hh-12.html > > > Mounting it to the Big-Raz is unknown, but here is a similar project: > > > http://e-kutz.eu/seite10.html > > > Here is a complete controller with two sensors: > > > http://f1frv.free.fr/main3o_AZ_EL_Display.html > > > > > > >The noise voltage was 1 or 2 volts peak to peak when measuring the > lines > > > with an o->scope. > > > > > > This is not good. > > > > > > > The shields of the cables are connected together at the connector on > > the > > > rotator (8 pin >MIC connector) and at the connector on the MD-01 > control > > > box. The shield is also >jumpered to a good station ground at the > > control > > > box. > > > > > > To reduce noise the recommendation it to only connect the shield AT > > > ONE END, and not both ends. Normally only at the shack end. I think > > > this prevents ground loops. > > > > > > >So that's about it in a 'nutshell.' > > > > > > So in my case we have a similar sensor. All the HAMTV ground stations > > > in Europe (6) are using Prosistel Az/El with uses hall magnetic > > > sensors with thousands of pulses per second. We too are seeing > > > positions change with the motor stop, so much so thousands of pulses > > > must be read while stopped. > > > > > > The solutions we have used so far: > > > 1) Multiple screened cables as you suggest grounded at one end > > > 2) Adding filters to the motor wiring to reduce motor noise/cross talk > > > 3) I experimented with stepping up rotation feedback from 0/5V to 0/20V > > > 4) I am working on a replacement control box, where we can modify the > > code > > > 5) I am adding safety switches to protect the coax. > > > > > > The real solution would be for the manufacturer to use absolute > > > position feedback. There is complete controllers available, if you can > > > manage to connect their sensors to your existing system using > > > belts/gears/cogs etc. > > > > > > Another option I think you should consider is using your own control > > > box. We found that the Prosistel supplied control box was flawed in > > > some ways. The open source control box is already designed to take > > > pulse inputs, and seems to work with thousands of pulses per second. > > > You can even just hook the inputs in parallel to see if the problem is > > > the control box or the sensor outputs. All you need is an arduino > > > (mega preferably) and the correct version of the code. It will display > > > a second opinion of the position, so you can determine if the control > > > box has issues too. We found our control box misses some pulses, we > > > think it is busy updating the LCD or talking to the computer and > > > misses pulses. > > > > > > Other features of this is a master/slave option, meaning the > > > controller can be mounted at the antenna, meaning only short cable > > > runs to the position sensor. > > > > > > http://blog.radioartisan.com/yaesu-rotator-computer-serial-interface/ > > > > > > In the long term absolute position sensors combined with safety > > > switches are the only real solution. For HF even a bog standard > > > potentiometer would probably work better. Some suppliers use 3 or 10 > > > turn potentiometers to allow 360 degrees or 1.5 turns rotation. > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > > Opinions > > > expressed > > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views > of > > > AMSAT-NA. > > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > > program! > > > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions > > expressed > > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > > AMSAT-NA. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes an act of rebellion." --George Orwell From jim at k6ccc.org Thu Mar 24 14:25:41 2016 From: jim at k6ccc.org (Jim Walls) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 07:25:41 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> Message-ID: <81b76c4547754d1aa337fb39bdf8d98a@k6ccc.org> Sure. Remember that AO-40 at apogee was WAY beyond the Clark belt. Took a little bit of getting used to, but was not a real problem. Jim - K6CCC ---------------------------------------- From: "Joe" Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 5:32 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? What is the delay lag time on such a distance? Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: > Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on ground > station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of > ITAR restrictions there. > > One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G > transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though many > 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 MHz > IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a > 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you have > two 144 MHz IF radios available. > > This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add > those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you > were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant > opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting > converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest > satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV will > convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which is > easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground > station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF > coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart of > the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF One > SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate filtering > and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G > transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive > solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price > solutions will work until they have been well-tested. > > In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if you > are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a > digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so > excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data > and back at affordable prices. > > \I hope that helps at least a little bit. > > John Toscano, W0JT/5 > > On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein wrote: > >> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming geosynchronous >> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've used >> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m and >> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes no >> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used for >> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >> >> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the geosync >> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The satellite >> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how large >> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will not >> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be useful, >> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >> >> So, my questions: >> >> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >> contemplated for the IF? >> >> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let me >> know and I'll shut up. :-) >> >> 73, >> --Peter, KD7MW >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Thu Mar 24 15:40:09 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:40:09 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <81b76c4547754d1aa337fb39bdf8d98a@k6ccc.org> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> <81b76c4547754d1aa337fb39bdf8d98a@k6ccc.org> Message-ID: Hi! One way to get acclimated to that sort of delay, before we have any of the higher-orbit satellites available, could be to work the current satellites using an SDR receiver for the downlink. Even the faster computers introduce some delay in hearing the downlinks, and the smaller/cheaper Windows tablets I use certainly do that. It takes some practice to line yourself up on the transponders, knowing that you won't hear yourself as quickly with an SDR receiver as you would with a "real" radio hearing the downlink. With practice, working the transponders using an SDR receiver has been fun. I get the benefits of SDR like seeing the full transponder, I can make a recording of everything I'm receiving in my software, and being able to see and hear myself with the software really helps in getting lined up (and staying lined up throughout a pass). And for some of the satellites, I can then take the recording and play it into software to extract telemetry that I was receiving during the pass. This means the delays using an SDR receiver with any of these other satellites in higher orbits will be longer, but - again, with practice - it will be doable. I enjoy working the satellites we currently have, and look forward to these projects being launched and having to get the necessary equipment to work them. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Jim Walls wrote: > Sure. Remember that AO-40 at apogee was WAY beyond the Clark b > ?? > elt. Took a > little bit of getting used to, but was not a real problem. > From goody.k3ng at gmail.com Thu Mar 24 17:26:52 2016 From: goody.k3ng at gmail.com (Goody K3NG) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:26:52 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Station decisions re. upcoming Geosync bird In-Reply-To: <56F3E196.9040909@mwt.net> References: <56F3385F.3040403@threshinc.com> <56F3DE32.4020505@mwt.net> <56F3E196.9040909@mwt.net> Message-ID: I'm working on a CW keyer that uses quantum mechanics to send the code before you actually send it, thereby negating the propagation delay. :-) On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 8:46 AM, Joe wrote: > That isn't too bad. > It would be a killer when running CW and monitoring like a sidetone tho! > he he he. > > Joe WB9SBD > Sig > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 3/24/2016 7:35 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > >> 240-280 ms >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 8:31 AM, Joe wrote: >> >>> Full Duplex on a Geo Bird,,,,? >>> >>> What is the delay lag time on such a distance? >>> >>> Joe WB9SBD >>> Sig >>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>> Idle Tyme >>> Idle-Tyme.com >>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>> >>> On 3/23/2016 11:17 PM, John Toscano wrote: >>> >>>> Details on the satellite are still quite sensitive, but details on >>>> ground >>>> station requirements are much more readily discussed due to the lack of >>>> ITAR restrictions there. >>>> >>>> One approach to the ground station would be to add a 5G and a 10G >>>> transverter to your existing radios, using them for IF radios. Though >>>> many >>>> 5G and 10G transverters use a 144 MHz IF, some are available with a 432 >>>> MHz >>>> IF. Getting one of the two transverters with a 432 MHz IF and one with a >>>> 144 MHz IF would probably facilitate full-duplex operation, unless you >>>> have >>>> two 144 MHz IF radios available. >>>> >>>> This sort of approach might be preferred by an operator who plans to add >>>> those two bands to BOTH terrestrial and satellite operation. But if you >>>> were adding these two bands for satellite use only, there is significant >>>> opportunity for financial savings. You only need a 5G transmitting >>>> converter and a 10G receiving converter. On the receiving end, a modest >>>> satellite dish and an inexpensive LNBF designed for for satellite TV >>>> will >>>> convert the satellite downlink to a signal somewhere near 700 MHz, which >>>> is >>>> easily within the RF range of many software-defined radios. The ground >>>> station team has been hoping that an under-$20 satellite TV PLL-LNBF >>>> coupled with an inexpensive RTL-SDR dongle MIGHT suffice for the heart >>>> of >>>> the 10G receiver. For the uplink, it is possible that a $300-ish HackRF >>>> One >>>> SDR (which can transmit at up to 6 GHz), coupled with appropriate >>>> filtering >>>> and a suitable power amplifier might form the heart of an inexpensive 5G >>>> transmitter. The ground station team is looking at other, more expensive >>>> solutions, as well, and we can't yet promise that the rock-bottom-price >>>> solutions will work until they have been well-tested. >>>> >>>> In any event, digital modes are going to be the order of the day, so if >>>> you >>>> are using a pair of all-mode radios as IF's, they will need to support a >>>> digital interface to a computer. That's one of the reasons why we are so >>>> excited about the possibilities of SDR to get us from RF to digital data >>>> and back at affordable prices. >>>> >>>> \I hope that helps at least a little bit. >>>> >>>> John Toscano, W0JT/5 >>>> >>>> On Wed, Mar 23, 2016 at 7:44 PM, Peter Klein >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I've been casually following the discussion of the upcoming >>>>> geosynchronous >>>>> satellite. I currently have a Mode B , J and A analog setup that I've >>>>> used >>>>> on Oscar 10 and 13, and on some LEOs. This includes crossed Yagis on 2m >>>>> and >>>>> 70cm, and an all-mode radio for those bands. LEOs and flying mailboxes >>>>> no >>>>> longer interest me, so in recent years that setup has only been used >>>>> for >>>>> occasional terrestrial VHF SSB/CW, plus local repeater activity. >>>>> >>>>> I will need to make some decisions on my general station setup soon. >>>>> Antenna space is limited, and I want to take the possibility of the >>>>> geosync >>>>> bird into consideration. From what I've read and seen on video, the >>>>> uplinks and downlinks to the satellite will be microwave. The >>>>> satellite >>>>> track will make a figure-8 pattern in the sky, but I don't know how >>>>> large >>>>> that pattern will be at my location. My 144 and 440 MHz antennas will >>>>> not >>>>> be compatible with the new bird. But will the 144/440 radios be >>>>> useful, >>>>> perhaps as an IF after the digital gymnastics happen in a converter? >>>>> >>>>> So, my questions: >>>>> >>>>> - Are any "dummy" Keplarian elements available for the geosynch bird's >>>>> planned (or likely) orbit? That would let me do some "what-iffing." >>>>> - If the above are not available, could someone tell me the approximate >>>>> range of azimuth and elevation I might expect from CN87 (Seattle area)? >>>>> - What is the physical size of the required dishes? >>>>> - Will the radio for the new bird be self-contained, or require another >>>>> radio as an IF? If the latter, what frequency band or bands are being >>>>> contemplated for the IF? >>>>> >>>>> If I've asked things that are too sensitive to discuss right now, let >>>>> me >>>>> know and I'll shut up. :-) >>>>> >>>>> 73, >>>>> --Peter, KD7MW >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>>> Opinions >>>>> expressed >>>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views >>>>> of >>>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>>> program! >>>>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>> Opinions >>>> expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>> program! >>>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>> Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>> program! >>> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>> >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From n4ufo at yahoo.com Thu Mar 24 18:09:20 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 18:09:20 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29 inteference - help needed @ 1914z References: <1915823883.4771919.1458842960089.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1915823883.4771919.1458842960089.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Hello all, I just heard the FM interference in the upper part of the FO-29 passband. I wasn't expecting it and did not have a recorder running. If anyone that can record the pass is free, can you please try to capture as much audio as possible. I copied a partial callsign from a CW ID that pegs the possible source as being somehow involved with an internet linked UHF repeater in the Houston area. This next FO-29 pass is going DIRECTLY OVER Houston @ 1914Z? If there is any chance of grabbing a for sure identification (CW ID) that would be great. Working also with someone in Houston to figure things out. thanks & 73!? kevin n4UFO From n4ufo at yahoo.com Thu Mar 24 18:20:57 2016 From: n4ufo at yahoo.com (Kevin M) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 18:20:57 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29 inteference - help needed @ 1914z References: <1277193965.4868530.1458843657077.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1277193965.4868530.1458843657077.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> UPDATE:? Boy that was quick... just got a call from the fellow I am working with in Houston. He has found the actual signal ON THE AIR on 145.930 MHz in the Houston area and it is currently transmitting with the content coming from the very UHF repeater I identified. Coincidentally he is the person responsible for that very same repeater. SO, the interfering signal has been generally located, now it is a matter of narrowing it down and figuring out where it is coming from. Possibly a ham has his dual band radio set to cross band repeat, etc. Thanks everyone... I guess there is a line on it and hopefully it will be found.? 73, Kevin N4UFO From tnetcenter at gmail.com Thu Mar 24 18:30:50 2016 From: tnetcenter at gmail.com (Jeff Moore) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 11:30:50 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future Message-ID: I have been in the hobby for over 12 years now and I've played around a bit with working the sats, but I haven't been following the geosynchronous satellite activity very closely since I've seen how difficult it is to get launches of any kind. Now that it appears that we are going to get to launch a satellite into geosynchronous orbit, I'm curious what the future may hold for that particular activity. For example, I think it's fantastic that we will soon have a sat in geo orbit, but I'm curious what if any plans are there to potentially put up 2 or 3 more geo sats with full time linking between them? That has the potential to give the ham radio community global communications via satellite. Any thoughts or news on that front?? Or am I just not informed enough on existing plans? Thanks and 7 3, Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY Bend, Oregon From n8hm at arrl.net Thu Mar 24 18:45:28 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 14:45:28 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Just to summarize - right now, there are three serious HEO/GEO projects in progress: 1. Phase 4A is the S/X linear transponder payload on the Qatari Es'HailSat-2 scheduled to launch late this year. AMSAT-DL has done the work on the amateur payload. It will be in a geostationary orbit that is not visible to North America (26 degrees east). 2. Phase 4B is a planned C/X digital payload on a U. S. government satellite launching in the next few years. AMSAT-NA and Virginia Tech are involved with this. It will be in a geosynchronous, but not geostationary orbit over the Western Hemisphere. 3. Phase 3E in a Molniya HEO orbit. AMSAT-NA and Virginia Tech are involved with this. Transponder payloads TBD. A global network of 3 linked geostationary satellites covering the whole world would be pretty neat, but I think we'll need people to see what we as a community can do with each of the two Phase 4 transponders planned right now before the support (read $$$$$) for such a thing would be available. 73, Paul, N8HM On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 2:30 PM, Jeff Moore wrote: > I have been in the hobby for over 12 years now and I've played around a bit > with working the sats, but I haven't been following the geosynchronous > satellite activity very closely since I've seen how difficult it is to get > launches of any kind. > > Now that it appears that we are going to get to launch a satellite into > geosynchronous orbit, I'm curious what the future may hold for that > particular activity. For example, I think it's fantastic that we will soon > have a sat in geo orbit, but I'm curious what if any plans are there to > potentially put up 2 or 3 more geo sats with full time linking between > them? That has the potential to give the ham radio community global > communications via satellite. > > Any thoughts or news on that front?? Or am I just not informed enough on > existing plans? > > Thanks and 7 3, > > Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY > Bend, Oregon > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Thu Mar 24 19:23:05 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:23:05 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29 inteference - help needed @ 1914z In-Reply-To: <1277193965.4868530.1458843657077.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1277193965.4868530.1458843657077.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1277193965.4868530.1458843657077.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Kevin, Thanks for working to track this down. We need to do everything we can to educate the amateur radio community so they stay out of the OSCAR subbands. Interference from people operating IRLP/EchoLink/Cross-band repeaters/simplex on SO-50 and FO-29 is always a challenge. At least with FO-29, we have the opportunity to track them down. With SO-50's PL tone requirement, we only get snippets of the interference in the squelch tails of other signals. 73, Paul, N8HM On Thu, Mar 24, 2016 at 2:20 PM, Kevin M via AMSAT-BB wrote: > UPDATE: Boy that was quick... just got a call from the fellow I am working with in Houston. He has found the actual signal ON THE AIR on 145.930 MHz in the Houston area and it is currently transmitting with the content coming from the very UHF repeater I identified. Coincidentally he is the person responsible for that very same repeater. SO, the interfering signal has been generally located, now it is a matter of narrowing it down and figuring out where it is coming from. Possibly a ham has his dual band radio set to cross band repeat, etc. > > Thanks everyone... I guess there is a line on it and hopefully it will be found. 73, Kevin N4UFO > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From bruninga at usna.edu Thu Mar 24 20:44:47 2016 From: bruninga at usna.edu (Robert Bruninga) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 16:44:47 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future (+ the OUTERNET) Message-ID: There is one other GEO (possible AMSAT related) project going on. That is the OUTERNET satellites. These are 6 GEO birds covering the entire globe that anyone can build a downlink-only receiver using a Rasberry-PI, a 1m dish, an LNB and a DSP dongle to receive the free content. Their mission is to deliver WEB content (one way) to anyplace on Earth. Their satellites exist and are working... The news is that the content provider is willing to carry ham radio content too.. We are proposing to make the "system" two-way for hams by having the OUTERNET content provider tap into the APRS-Internet system and look for amateur radio related OUTERNET traffic. This way, any ham radio operator on earth can originate traffic into the APRS-IS system marked-for OUTERNET either by any of the existing APRS digipeater birds, or terrestrial IGates, or HF Igates and that traffic will get into the system and into the OUTERNET downlink. Hence, a 2-way system for hams and ham-wannabees. All the pieces are there... we are just trying to see how it could be used... Again, the remote-user can only originate single packet like content due to the extremely small APRS input pipe. But the remote user can Recceive the entire GLOBAL feed of APRS internet traffic... SO how to use that very unbalanced 2-way pipe is the area that is ripe for exploration. Here are the thoughts so far.. http://aprs.org/outnet.html Bob, WB4APR -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Paul Stoetzer Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future Just to summarize - right now, there are three serious HEO/GEO projects in progress: 1. Phase 4A is the S/X linear transponder payload on the Qatari Es'HailSat-2 scheduled to launch late this year. AMSAT-DL has done the work on the amateur payload. It will be in a geostationary orbit that is not visible to North America (26 degrees east). 2. Phase 4B is a planned C/X digital payload on a U. S. government satellite launching in the next few years. AMSAT-NA and Virginia Tech are involved with this. It will be in a geosynchronous, but not geostationary orbit over the Western Hemisphere. 3. Phase 3E in a Molniya HEO orbit. AMSAT-NA and Virginia Tech are involved with this. Transponder payloads TBD. A global network of 3 linked geostationary satellites covering the whole world would be pretty neat, but I think we'll need people to see what we as a community can do with each of the two Phase 4 transponders planned right now before the support (read $$$$$) for such a thing would be available. 73, Paul, N8HM From cjappel at outlook.com Thu Mar 24 22:53:43 2016 From: cjappel at outlook.com (Clifford Appel) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:53:43 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT magazines Message-ID: I have the following magazines AMSAT members might be interested in. They are FREE. Communications Quarterly - Fall 1990 through Winter 1994 AMSAT Newsletter - June 1975 to December 1979 ORBIT Magazine - 1980 to 1984 If I ship, I only ask postage cost reimbursement. Cliff, W7CGA/5, Amsat #2811, W7CGA at arrl.net Alamogordo, NM. 575-434-2699 From electricity440 at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 00:03:54 2016 From: electricity440 at gmail.com (Skyler F) Date: Thu, 24 Mar 2016 20:03:54 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Colorado Amateur Satellite net Begins in 1 hour Message-ID: This is a reminder that the Colorado Amateur Satellite net will begin in 1 hour from now (7PM mountain time Thursday). 6PM Pacific 7PM Mountain 8PM Central 9PM Eastern Please visit us on *AMSATNET.INFO * *IRLP* 9870, the Denver Reflector *ALLSTAR LINK* 40764, direct hookup to the repeater here. 41715, KC9ZHV hub at a data center if I am out of bandwidth. More info on AllStar - amsatnet.info/#node *ECHOLINK* *AMSAT* unless there is an ARISS contact, then go direct to KD0WHB-L *LOCAL RF* 449.625 (-) 141.3 ( W?KU Lookout Mountain) 447.225 (-) 141.3 (The STEM school repeater we set up) 447.850 (-) 141.3 (AC?KQ's repeater where he lives on TOP of saddleback mountain) 147.450 SIMPLEX (Aurora, CO) 446.275 (-) 100.0 Galena St. Local repeater at my house, giving a whopping 5 blocks of great coverage *REMOTE RF* Your Repeater here!, Email me if you want to link in or me to link your echolink or allstar repeater in automatically (no automatic IRLP linking supported) Skyler Fennell amsatnet.info KD?WHB electricity440 at gmail.com From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Fri Mar 25 03:54:08 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 03:54:08 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT at Radio Society of Tucson (AZ) Hamfest, 26 March 2016 Message-ID: Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Radio Society of Tucson's annual hamfest on Saturday morning, 26 March 2016. The hamfest will be at the Target store on Old Spanish Trail, near the intersection of 22nd Street and Harrison, in Tucson AZ. The hamfest is scheduled to run from 6am to 11am (1300 to 1800 UTC). More information about the hamfest is available at the club's web site at: http://www.k7rst.org/ I will be on various satellite passes during the morning from the hamfest. If you hear WD9EWK, please call and be a part of the demonstrations of amateur satellite operating. Depending on the satellites and how bright it is at the hamfest, I hope to be using my SDRplay SDR receiver and an 8-inch Windows10 tablet to receive the satellite downlinks. If you work WD9EWK during the hamfest and would like a QSL card, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will be happy to send you a card. No need to first send me a QSL card and SASE. I will also upload my log to Logbook of the World. I will use my @WD9EWK Twitter feed for updates during the hamfest, and I will use that for photos from the hamfest. If you want to see my Twitter activity without signing up for Twitter, please visit this link: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK Thanks, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net Fri Mar 25 04:15:13 2016 From: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 04:15:13 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] WD9EWK @ DM52/62 line in New Mexico, Saturday (26 March) afternoon Message-ID: Hi! After Saturday morning's hamfest in Tucson AZ, I plan on making a long drive east to a point along I-10 on the DM52xf/DM62af grid boundary, west of Deming in New Mexico. I hope to work a few passes from there in the mid- to late-afternoon, and possibly into the evening. If I am not at the grid boundary in time for FO-29 and/or AO-7 passes, I may stop to work those passes wherever I might be - probably somewhere in grid DM52, in either Arizona or New Mexico. I definitely plan on being at this grid boundary in time for SO-50 passes starting just after 2200 UTC Saturday afternoon. Weather permitting, and law enforcement permitting (this area is near the USA/Mexico border), I might try to stick around into the early evening before making the 300-mile/500km drive home from that area. While on the road, my location should be visible via APRS. There is good APRS coverage in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. I will use WD9EWK-9 as my call sign for APRS, which should show up online at (among other sites): http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 I will use my @WD9EWK Twitter feed to post updates during the afternoon and early evening while I am out in New Mexico. For those who don't use Twitter and want to see my updates, please feel free to use the following link in a web browser: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK Once I'm back home, I will upload my log to Logbook of the World, and will ensure QSOs from the grid boundary carry both grids. If you would like a QSL card for a QSO with WD9EWK, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will be happy to mail you a card, and you won't have to first send me a QSL card or SASE. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From shakeelj2k at yahoo.com Fri Mar 25 04:58:37 2016 From: shakeelj2k at yahoo.com (shakeel -ur-rehman) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 04:58:37 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Ground Station Customized Softwares/ Software Development Kit References: <1583690979.562182.1458881917791.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1583690979.562182.1458881917791.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for amateur satellite. we are using Satpc32 software for receiving satellite passes/telemtry for funcube. Satellite Ground station software are mainly two types 1. Satellite Control related s/w 2. Satellite Mission related s/w 3. Satellite data archiver and ground station operation management We need to know any customized SDK for our Satellite Ground Station which can further tailored for our customized need. I mean is there any Software Development Kit Free in part or whatever which can be used further and further developed or customized to support our specific need. We donot know how to make any integrated IDE which includes drivers of our equipment. Is there any Telemtry software which can be used to archive all the telemtry /satellite passes daily. What professional software available in market specfic to H/W mention below. we have the following main Hard Ware/Equipment. 1. ICOM Transceiver 9100 2. SPID RAS Azimuth/elev Rotor 3. Satpc32 software 4. UHF/VHF antennas and Amplifiers any help to find software tools/SDK for our ground station.I shall be very grateful . Thanks and Kind regards shakeel From scott23192 at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 05:52:34 2016 From: scott23192 at gmail.com (Scott) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 01:52:34 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? References: Message-ID: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size? I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess. Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA From dan at post.com Fri Mar 25 08:05:00 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 08:05:00 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: See here: http://www.m2inc.com/amateur/cross-boom-hd-fg-11/ You might be able to source something locally, but most fishing pole rods are hollow. You can use a straight coupler to join metal to non metal sections e.g.: http://www.radioworld.co.uk/wall_brackets_etc/1_25_inch_mast_coupler_with_6_bolts On 25/03/2016, Scott wrote: > In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I > often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and > antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). > > What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the > correct size? From dan at post.com Fri Mar 25 09:02:30 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:02:30 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Ground Station Customized Softwares/ Software Development Kit In-Reply-To: <1583690979.562182.1458881917791.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <1583690979.562182.1458881917791.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <1583690979.562182.1458881917791.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Shakeel, I do not really understand your question. SatPC32 can move your antenna and also calculate some future passes. Funcube can send data to the funcube warehouse. This may be what you mean for telemetry archive. See: http://funcube.org.uk/ http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/ The source code is shared here: http://funcube.org.uk/ground-segment/the-data-warehouse/ Are you using the dashboard here?: http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/ Normally you configure SatPC32 to move the antenna, and use the dashboard to send all the received data to the funcube warehouse. When the data is in the warehouse you can access it. Is this what you need? Are you only receiving the funcube satellite or do you have different satellites you are interested in? Are you sending data up to a satellite, and if so which one and what data format? Are you looking to make a standardised ground station. There was a standard, and I think a few stations are operational, but there is not much information online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Educational_Network_for_Satellite_Operations If you are transmitting, then it would be a good idea to try make it compatible with other similar ground stations. Please ask questions and try to explain what satellites you want to receive and what you want to transmit. On 25/03/2016, shakeel -ur-rehman via AMSAT-BB wrote: > > We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for > amateur satellite. we are using Satpc32 software for receiving satellite > passes/telemtry for funcube. > > Satellite Ground station software are mainly two types > > 1. Satellite Control related s/w > 2. Satellite Mission related s/w > 3. Satellite data archiver and ground station operation management > > We need to know any customized SDK for our Satellite Ground Station which > can further tailored for our customized need. I mean is there any Software > Development Kit Free in part or whatever which can be used further and > further developed or customized to support our specific need. > > We donot know how to make any integrated IDE which includes drivers of our > equipment. > > Is there any Telemtry software which can be used to archive all the telemtry > /satellite passes daily. What professional software available in market > specfic to H/W mention below. > > we have the following main Hard Ware/Equipment. > > > 1. ICOM Transceiver 9100 > > 2. SPID RAS Azimuth/elev Rotor > > 3. Satpc32 software > > 4. UHF/VHF antennas and Amplifiers > > any help to find software tools/SDK for our ground station.I shall be very > grateful . > > Thanks and Kind regards > > shakeel > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From dan at post.com Fri Mar 25 09:20:06 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:20:06 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: >what if any plans are there to potentially put up 2 or 3 more geo sats with full time >linking between them? I assume it would be possible to link the Qatari and US Government satellite. The most realistic way would be internet/IRLP/Echolink based, although the Qatari may have slight overlapping coverage if a radio linking station was placed in East Brazil. Full time radio linking would have costs, while it would be far easier to use presumably volunteer European/USA ground stations internet linked. From wouterweg at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 10:14:14 2016 From: wouterweg at gmail.com (Wouter Weggelaar) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 11:14:14 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE Message-ID: Hi All, Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on for a prolonged period. The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be advised the transponder may be off. TLEs: AMSAT keps name: EO-79 Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 Celestrak file: cubesat.txt NORAD # 40025 COSPAR designator 2014-033-R Frequencies: Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. 73 and have FUN Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG AMSAT-NL AMSAT-UK From kb1pvh at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 10:36:07 2016 From: kb1pvh at gmail.com (Dave Webb KB1PVH) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 06:36:07 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: Scott, I just got fiberglass tubing for my new setup, it's 2" diameter and I put a 1?" inside it to eliminate any flexing. http://www.dxengineering.com/search/department/rigid-tubing/brand/dx-engineering/product-line/dx-engineering-fiberglass-tubing?autoview=SKU&N=4294951163%2B401126&sortby=Default&sortorder=Ascending Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 From wa4sca at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 11:04:55 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 06:04:55 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: <000301d18686$29ef18d0$7dcd4a70$@GMAIL.COM> Another trick for strengthening fiberglass tubing is to get wood round stock at Lowes or Home Depot that will just fit inside the tubing. Years ago I found something which was a perfect friction fit, though obviously it depends on the tubing. Cut the wood about 2" shorter than the tubing, and center it leaving a 1" space at each end. I stood the tubing on end, and filled the top with RTV. After it hardened, I reversed the tubing and repeated the process. The result was lighter than a solid fiberglass rod, waterproof, and lasted for 15 years until the whole thing came down in a windstorm. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: Granger sells fiberglass poles. But my understanding is that it is critical on crossbooms so you don't distort the pattern. I am not sure it is needed for the mast. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Rolf. NR0T On Mar 25, 2016 12:52 AM, "Scott" wrote: > In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, > I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator > and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). > > What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the > correct size? > > I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... > perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for > example. Just a guess. > > Appreciate any suggestions. > > Thanks! > > -Scott, K4KDR > Montpelier, VA USA > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From dan at whiteaudio.com Fri Mar 25 13:05:18 2016 From: dan at whiteaudio.com (Dan White) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 08:05:18 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: Max Gain Systems sells lots of fiberglass tubing in 2ft increments and much of it is specifically sized to sleeve together. Wholesale down to single qty. They were nice to work with last time I ordered from them. http://www.mgs4u.com Dan AD0CQ From kb1pvh at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 13:14:52 2016 From: kb1pvh at gmail.com (Dave Webb KB1PVH) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 09:14:52 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: I was going to order some from them a few years ago, but they wanted crazy money for shipping and DX Engineering was cheaper for the same stuff. Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 On Mar 25, 2016 9:05 AM, "Dan White" wrote: > Max Gain Systems sells lots of fiberglass tubing in 2ft increments and much > of it is specifically sized to sleeve together. Wholesale down to single > qty. They were nice to work with last time I ordered from them. > > http://www.mgs4u.com > > Dan AD0CQ > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From kb2m at comcast.net Fri Mar 25 14:19:26 2016 From: kb2m at comcast.net (Jeff) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:19:26 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: Years ago there was a test report on the differences between metal and plastic crossbooms. It was shown that there is no measurable difference between the two if the antennas are installed with elements 45 degrees from the crossboom. Here is one of the discussions from 2002... http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200206/msg00896.html I had to drive about 160 miles roundtrip to purchase a 2 inch diameter 12 foot solid fiberglass boom that I used to build my Oscar class station in 1997. Now I use the metal crossbooms supplied with my antenna's in my two sat stations. If it really made a measurable difference wouldn't Cushcraft (AOP-1), and M2( Leo pack) used a non metallic boom? Anyway there is plenty of talk about this in the archives, and if your going to use fiberglass I would go with the solid rod as it will last much longer then a tube. I still have mine stored on the ground in NJ, if anyone want's one, it's free..... 73 Jeff kb2m -----Original Message----- From: Scott Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 1:52 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size? I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess. Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 14:23:50 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:23:50 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar Message-ID: Good morning, Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the year. 73, Paul, N8HM From skristof at etczone.com Fri Mar 25 14:32:07 2016 From: skristof at etczone.com (skristof at etczone.com) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:32:07 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Anyone want to bet that Paul gets stopped and questioned? Steve AI9IN On 2016-03-25 10:23, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Good morning, > > Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at > 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, > but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is > about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk > there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset > VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on > me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location > in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one > can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. > > I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. > > I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the > District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the > year. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb [1] Links: ------ [1] http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From py2rn at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 14:46:35 2016 From: py2rn at arrl.net (Eduardo PY2RN) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:46:35 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: <1173824732.5230167.1458917195728.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Yes, I confirm, no noticeable influence here using aluminum tube cross boom with the vhf and uhf yagis fixed in X. Although this may affect if the antenna will be used to other objectives such as terrestrial DX or EME, not because the aluminum cross boom but because of the X position. 73 EdPY2RN From: Jeff To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 11:19 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? Years ago there was a test report on the differences between metal and plastic crossbooms. It was shown that there is no measurable difference between the two if the antennas are installed with elements 45 degrees from the crossboom. Here is one of the discussions from 2002... http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200206/msg00896.html I had to drive about 160 miles roundtrip to purchase a? 2 inch diameter 12 foot solid fiberglass? boom that I used to build my Oscar class station in 1997.? Now I use the metal crossbooms supplied with my antenna's in my two sat stations. If it really made a? measurable difference wouldn't Cushcraft (AOP-1), and M2( Leo pack) used a non metallic boom? Anyway there is plenty of talk about this in the archives, and if your going to use fiberglass I would go with the solid rod as it will last much longer then a tube. I still? have mine stored on the ground in NJ, if anyone want's one, it's free..... 73 Jeff kb2m -----Original Message----- From: Scott Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 1:52 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the correct size? I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for example. Just a guess. Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks! -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA? USA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 14:53:59 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:53:59 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Lots of ditters, but only heard and worked WB8RJY on the 1437Z pass over eastern North America. Lots of QSB, but strong signals otherwise on the 15 degree pass. I'll be on the next pass at 1612Z as well. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 6:14 AM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote: > Hi All, > > Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on > for a prolonged period. > > The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided > by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, > but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. > > The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional > reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically > turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. > The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be > advised the transponder may be off. > > TLEs: > AMSAT keps name: EO-79 > Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 > Celestrak file: cubesat.txt > NORAD # 40025 > COSPAR designator 2014-033-R > > Frequencies: > Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB > Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB > > EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 > seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and > consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can > be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html > > Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift > with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. > > Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, > so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of > AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ > It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. > > 73 and have FUN > > Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG > AMSAT-NL > AMSAT-UK > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From e.krome at comcast.net Fri Mar 25 14:59:00 2016 From: e.krome at comcast.net (Ed K9EK) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:59:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> About mid-pass on the ~9:42AM pass this morning, FOX appeared to switch from the DUV mode to what I believe was high speed. The screen pattern changed from the usual 2 parallel line pattern (good eye pattern and decoding) to a multi-parallel-line pattern with brief stops. My tlm program 1.03f was set on auto. Nothing decoded; no eye pattern. I manually switched to high speed; same results. What did I do wrong? Thanks, Ed K9EK EL98 From n8hm at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 15:08:17 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 11:08:17 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: By the way, I'd transmit 10-12 kHz up from where you expect to be based on Doppler calculations. I think I was around 12-15 kHz higher than nominal. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:53 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Lots of ditters, but only heard and worked WB8RJY on the 1437Z pass > over eastern North America. Lots of QSB, but strong signals otherwise > on the 15 degree pass. > > I'll be on the next pass at 1612Z as well. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 6:14 AM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on >> for a prolonged period. >> >> The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided >> by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, >> but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. >> >> The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional >> reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically >> turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. >> The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be >> advised the transponder may be off. >> >> TLEs: >> AMSAT keps name: EO-79 >> Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 >> Celestrak file: cubesat.txt >> NORAD # 40025 >> COSPAR designator 2014-033-R >> >> Frequencies: >> Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB >> Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB >> >> EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 >> seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and >> consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can >> be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html >> >> Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift >> with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. >> >> Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, >> so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of >> AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ >> It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. >> >> 73 and have FUN >> >> Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG >> AMSAT-NL >> AMSAT-UK >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From py5lf at falautomation.com.br Fri Mar 25 15:13:09 2016 From: py5lf at falautomation.com.br (PY5LF) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 12:13:09 -0300 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Paul We had a nice QSO few minutes ago on a high pass over here , PY5LF, PY2RN , PU2RAS , very good signal . I'm using 13kHz above on the uplink to match ; EO-79,145950,435063,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,F 73 2016-03-25 12:08 GMT-03:00 Paul Stoetzer : > By the way, I'd transmit 10-12 kHz up from where you expect to be > based on Doppler calculations. I think I was around 12-15 kHz higher > than nominal. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:53 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > > Lots of ditters, but only heard and worked WB8RJY on the 1437Z pass > > over eastern North America. Lots of QSB, but strong signals otherwise > > on the 15 degree pass. > > > > I'll be on the next pass at 1612Z as well. > > > > 73, > > > > Paul, N8HM > > > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 6:14 AM, Wouter Weggelaar > wrote: > >> Hi All, > >> > >> Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on > >> for a prolonged period. > >> > >> The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided > >> by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, > >> but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. > >> > >> The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional > >> reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically > >> turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. > >> The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be > >> advised the transponder may be off. > >> > >> TLEs: > >> AMSAT keps name: EO-79 > >> Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 > >> Celestrak file: cubesat.txt > >> NORAD # 40025 > >> COSPAR designator 2014-033-R > >> > >> Frequencies: > >> Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB > >> Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB > >> > >> EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 > >> seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and > >> consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can > >> be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html > >> > >> Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift > >> with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. > >> > >> Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, > >> so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of > >> AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ > >> It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. > >> > >> 73 and have FUN > >> > >> Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG > >> AMSAT-NL > >> AMSAT-UK > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views > of AMSAT-NA. > >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From wa4sca at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 15:23:43 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 10:23:43 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> Hi Ed, That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: Message-ID: <56F55C19.6080601@big-river.net> On 3/25/2016 4:20 AM, Daniel Cussen wrote: " The most realistic way would be internet/IRLP/Echolink based, although the Qatari may have slight overlapping coverage if a radio linking station was placed in East Brazil." You must know the purest radio operators are now asking "Wheres the radio". You got to know the "hobby" has died the day you will be able to use such internet service for DXCC, WAS ect credit. John, W0JAB From n8hm at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 16:01:56 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 12:01:56 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] GEO sats and the future In-Reply-To: <56F55C19.6080601@big-river.net> References: <56F55C19.6080601@big-river.net> Message-ID: I would only want to see a completely radio-based link myself. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 11:41 AM, John Becker wrote: > > > On 3/25/2016 4:20 AM, Daniel Cussen wrote: > > " The most realistic way would be internet/IRLP/Echolink based, although the > Qatari may have slight overlapping coverage if a radio linking station was > placed in East Brazil." > > You must know the purest radio operators are now asking "Wheres the > radio". > You got to know the "hobby" has died the day you will be able to use such > internet service for DXCC, WAS ect credit. > > John, W0JAB > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From nicholasmahr1 at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 16:34:05 2016 From: nicholasmahr1 at gmail.com (Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 12:34:05 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE Message-ID: Just worked the 16:15 UTC overhead Pass of EO-79, Working 3 Stations N8HM NS3L W5PFG down to AOS. The bird faded alot so alot of polarity switching was required on the downlink and uplink but signal strength wise it sounds like AO-73. Was a rush working that pass, alot of stations were on! KE8AKW, Nick From w5pfg at amsat.org Fri Mar 25 17:12:03 2016 From: w5pfg at amsat.org (Clayton W5PFG) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 12:12:03 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <56F57163.3040708@amsat.org> 16:15 UTC EO-79 pass over Texas, USA (grid: EM21) - 7 stations worked including 1 DX, a few others heard - Had to change RX polarity a little more often than TX polarity; overall very easy to hear like AO-73 - Very little uplink power is necessary as with AO-73 - Could easily work the entire transponder from end-to-end of pass band Many thanks for activating the transponder and for making it available to the amateur radio community! 73 Clayton W5PFG On 3/25/2016 11:34, Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW wrote: > Just worked the 16:15 UTC overhead Pass of EO-79, Working 3 Stations N8HM > NS3L W5PFG down to AOS. The bird faded alot so alot of polarity switching > was required on the downlink and uplink but signal strength wise it sounds > like AO-73. Was a rush working that pass, alot of stations were on! > > KE8AKW, Nick From w7lrd at comcast.net Fri Mar 25 17:59:31 2016 From: w7lrd at comcast.net (Bob- W7LRD) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:59:31 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation Message-ID: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Do any of the "hams" in orbit just like to play radio in their spare time? You know that "drive" to work WAS, VUCC, DXCC. etc. Obviously they would be classified as a "rover". The school contacts are a good demonstration for the non ham public. Then there's the rest of us. They all have at least tech license, but appear not to be "real hams". Shields up. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle From n8hm at arrl.net Fri Mar 25 18:03:57 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:03:57 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation In-Reply-To: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: Bob, Unfortunately for us (but fortunately for them), they have far more to do in their spare time than they did back when a few of them got on the radio and worked towards WAS and DXCC from orbit! They have laptops with full internet access now and can videochat with their families or just waste time online like we all do. All we can hope is that we'll get someone up there that's interested in using the radio in their spare time again. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 1:59 PM, Bob- W7LRD wrote: > Do any of the "hams" in orbit just like to play radio in their spare time? You know that "drive" to work WAS, VUCC, DXCC. etc. Obviously they would be classified as a "rover". The school contacts are a good demonstration for the non ham public. Then there's the rest of us. They all have at least tech license, but appear not to be "real hams". Shields up. > 73 Bob W7LRD > Seattle > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n6jsx at yahoo.com Fri Mar 25 18:12:01 2016 From: n6jsx at yahoo.com (Dale Kubichek) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 18:12:01 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Mast - non-conductive References: <2020534931.5472188.1458929521658.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <2020534931.5472188.1458929521658.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> This method works well and many of us making VHF Quads/Quagis have been doing this since the 80's. But why go to the expense of Fiberglass tubes - we use thick wall UV-PVC with a wooden down inside to stiffen giving it much strength. I use PVC w/wood for the Quad boom and vehicle Mast for "T" hunting. Trust me, high vehicle speeds and low tree limb grabbers we find during a southern California T-Hunt is very stressful to any vehicle antenna/mast above the hole in our vehicle roof. Some of us use Gorilla-Glue as a filler between the dowel and PVC (as Gorilla-glue expands making a solid fit). I use 1.25" PVC sched-80 w/wood for my SAT antenna cross-member boom - keeping it non-conduction/metal free to insure no skewing of the directional lobes within the field pattern. ? ?Best regards,?? Dale Kubichek, MS-EET, N6JSX Sidney, OH 45365? EN70vh http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HAM-SATs http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RDF-USA Message: 3 Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 06:04:55 -0500 From: Alan To: "'AMSAT -BB'" Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? Message-ID: <000301d18686$29ef18d0$7dcd4a70$@GMAIL.COM> Another trick for strengthening fiberglass tubing is to get wood round stock at Lowes or Home Depot that will just fit inside the tubing.? Years ago I found something which was a perfect friction fit, though obviously it depends on the tubing.? Cut the wood about 2" shorter than the tubing, and center it leaving a 1" space at each end.? I stood the tubing on end, and filled the top with RTV.? After it hardened, I reversed the tubing and repeated the process.? The result was lighter than a solid fiberglass rod, waterproof, and lasted for 15 years until the whole thing came down in a windstorm. 73s, Alan WA4SCA From dan at post.com Fri Mar 25 18:17:11 2016 From: dan at post.com (Daniel Cussen) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 18:17:11 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation In-Reply-To: References: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: It does happen: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham-talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html This is from just last year. The trick is to figure out their break time, and match that with the time they are passing over your location. The radio is normally on low in the Russian module. If you call, and they are on a break, and they happen to have the radio in the correct mode to hear the uplink, then they might say hello back. The next technique after a response is to not panic! The European module radio is on APRS duty normally. http://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html From kk5do at amsat.org Fri Mar 25 18:29:18 2016 From: kk5do at amsat.org (Bruce) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:29:18 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation In-Reply-To: References: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <56F5837E.1050708@amsat.org> also, the best time for the astronauts to make contacts is just before they are ready to go to bed. that is when they have some free time. keep in mind that the iss operates on russian time (i think same as moscow time). breaks might be harder to determine but beddy-by time is almost always the same. 73...bruce On 3/25/2016 1:17 PM, Daniel Cussen wrote: > It does happen: > http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham-talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html > This is from just last year. > > The trick is to figure out their break time, and match that with the > time they are passing over your location. The radio is normally on low > in the Russian module. If you call, and they are on a break, and they > happen to have the radio in the correct mode to hear the uplink, then > they might say hello back. The next technique after a response is to > not panic! > > The European module radio is on APRS duty normally. > > http://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat From e.krome at comcast.net Fri Mar 25 18:53:28 2016 From: e.krome at comcast.net (Ed Krome) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:53:28 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> References: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> Message-ID: <656434E3-B0AA-496C-A126-BDE8E99C1456@comcast.net> Hi Alan Thanks for the note. I, too, have successfully received high speed telemetry in the past, although it has been a while. Wonder what changed. Maybe Drew can point us in the right direction. 73, Ed Krome K9EK Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 25, 2016, at 11:23 AM, Alan wrote: > > Hi Ed, > > That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. > In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched > copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not > entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, > you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. > > 73s, > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > > <-----Original Message----- > > < > (good > < > <_______________________________________________ > > From g.shirville at btinternet.com Fri Mar 25 19:17:49 2016 From: g.shirville at btinternet.com (Graham Shirville) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 19:17:49 -0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 transponder now continuously active Message-ID: <6E125173595F4CF5B818FA178B24C204@allgood.local> Hi All, FC1 is now in continuous transponder mode for the holiday period. Normal autonomous operation will recommence from late MONDAY evening. As reported earlier today, the transponder payload on EO-79 has also been switched on and, so long as the on board bus voltage stays up above its safe mode setting, then this should also be active. Have a great FUN weekend and enjoy the birds. 73 Graham G3VZV From n0jy at amsat.org Fri Mar 25 19:38:44 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 14:38:44 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <656434E3-B0AA-496C-A126-BDE8E99C1456@comcast.net> References: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> <656434E3-B0AA-496C-A126-BDE8E99C1456@comcast.net> Message-ID: <56F593C4.6000709@amsat.org> Ed, Not sure what your setup is, but be sure your bandwidth is 11-12k for High Speed. If you run the FCDP+ direct from FoxTelem then that is taken care of, if you use SDR# or HDSDR or other software then you may have it set (or it may default) to a narrower filter in NFM mode. Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/25/2016 13:53, Ed Krome wrote: > Hi Alan > Thanks for the note. I, too, have successfully received high speed telemetry in the past, although it has been a while. Wonder what changed. Maybe Drew can point us in the right direction. > 73, > Ed Krome K9EK > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 25, 2016, at 11:23 AM, Alan wrote: >> >> Hi Ed, >> >> That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. >> In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched >> copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not >> entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, >> you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. >> >> 73s, >> >> Alan >> WA4SCA >> >> >> >> <-----Original Message----- >> > > >> > < >> > > (good >> > > > < >> > > > <_______________________________________________ >> > > > > > >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From johnbrier at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 19:56:24 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 15:56:24 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation In-Reply-To: <56F5837E.1050708@amsat.org> References: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <56F5837E.1050708@amsat.org> Message-ID: There is a lot of confusion about the random ISS contact by the UK ham. In a video from when the news went viral last year, he said he contacted them in October of the previous year. [1] So that would be 2014. Currently the best opportunity for a contact is during SSTV events in between the SSTV transmissions. Not sure about "operation," but the ISS crew sleeps on GMT time. That's a common question from students during ARISS contacts, and the astronauts/cosmonauts always say GMT. 1) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3186534/Radio-ham-contacts-International-Space-Station-GARDEN-SHED.html On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 2:29 PM, Bruce wrote: > also, the best time for the astronauts to make contacts is just before they > are ready to go to bed. that is when they have some free time. keep in mind > that the iss operates on russian time (i think same as moscow time). breaks > might be harder to determine but beddy-by time is almost always the same. > > 73...bruce > > > On 3/25/2016 1:17 PM, Daniel Cussen wrote: >> >> It does happen: >> >> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham-talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html >> This is from just last year. >> >> The trick is to figure out their break time, and match that with the >> time they are passing over your location. The radio is normally on low >> in the Russian module. If you call, and they are on a break, and they >> happen to have the radio in the correct mode to hear the uplink, then >> they might say hello back. The next technique after a response is to >> not panic! >> >> The European module radio is on APRS duty normally. >> >> http://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > > > -- > > Bruce Paige, KK5DO > AMSAT Director Contests and Awards > AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 > ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE > Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* > Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com > Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes > Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News > http://www.arrl.org > > AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From e.krome at comcast.net Fri Mar 25 20:49:50 2016 From: e.krome at comcast.net (Ed K9EK) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 20:49:50 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <56F593C4.6000709@amsat.org> References: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> <656434E3-B0AA-496C-A126-BDE8E99C1456@comcast.net> <56F593C4.6000709@amsat.org> Message-ID: <851720603.2142299.1458938990653.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Hi Jerry I was running HDSDR with 12kHz bandwidth. The BW appeared to cover all of the parallel signal tracks. I will try FCD P+ by itself; I know that worked last time (months ago) I tried it. Thanks! Ed K9EK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jerry Buxton" To: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 3:38:44 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? Ed, Not sure what your setup is, but be sure your bandwidth is 11-12k for High Speed. If you run the FCDP+ direct from FoxTelem then that is taken care of, if you use SDR# or HDSDR or other software then you may have it set (or it may default) to a narrower filter in NFM mode. Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/25/2016 13:53, Ed Krome wrote: > Hi Alan > Thanks for the note. I, too, have successfully received high speed telemetry in the past, although it has been a while. Wonder what changed. Maybe Drew can point us in the right direction. > 73, > Ed Krome K9EK > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 25, 2016, at 11:23 AM, Alan wrote: >> >> Hi Ed, >> >> That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. >> In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched >> copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not >> entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, >> you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. >> >> 73s, >> >> Alan >> WA4SCA >> >> >> >> <-----Original Message----- >> > > >> > < >> > > (good >> > > > < >> > > > <_______________________________________________ >> > > > > > >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From my.callsign at verizon.net Fri Mar 25 20:52:29 2016 From: my.callsign at verizon.net (KO6TZ Bob) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 13:52:29 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? In-Reply-To: <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> References: <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> Message-ID: <56F5A50D.2080108@verizon.net> Alan, A few days ago the satellite switched from DUV to HS shortly before my LOS. The program was set to "auto" and I was able to decode and uploaded my first six frames of HS data. Using V:1.03-h, the s/w worked as expected.. Bob Vislay KO6TZ Hi Ed, That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <207218144.1869580.1458917532763.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <1801587548.1874498.1458917940592.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <000001d186aa$51809a80$f481cf80$@GMAIL.COM> <656434E3-B0AA-496C-A126-BDE8E99C1456@comcast.net> <56F593C4.6000709@amsat.org> <851720603.2142299.1458938990653.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: I run about 15KHz wide. The SNR needs to be 7db or so on the telemetry program before it decodes. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 25, 2016, at 4:49 PM, Ed K9EK wrote: > > Hi Jerry > I was running HDSDR with 12kHz bandwidth. The BW appeared to cover all of the parallel signal tracks. I will try FCD P+ by itself; I know that worked last time (months ago) I tried it. > Thanks! > Ed K9EK > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jerry Buxton" > To: "AMSAT-BB" > Sent: Friday, March 25, 2016 3:38:44 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fox high speed? > > Ed, > > Not sure what your setup is, but be sure your bandwidth is 11-12k for > High Speed. If you run the FCDP+ direct from FoxTelem then that is > taken care of, if you use SDR# or HDSDR or other software then you may > have it set (or it may default) to a narrower filter in NFM mode. > > Jerry Buxton, N?JY > >> On 3/25/2016 13:53, Ed Krome wrote: >> Hi Alan >> Thanks for the note. I, too, have successfully received high speed telemetry in the past, although it has been a while. Wonder what changed. Maybe Drew can point us in the right direction. >> 73, >> Ed Krome K9EK >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Mar 25, 2016, at 11:23 AM, Alan wrote: >>> >>> Hi Ed, >>> >>> That is what HS looks like. There have been 2-3 other periods of HS telemetry over the past few days. >>> In the ones I saw or heard, my software did not automatically switch, and when manually switched >>> copied nothing. There are known issues with HS in my station which I am working on, so that is not >>> entirely unexpected. I was able to copy a few blocks on a much earlier test. From other comments, >>> you do need a stronger signal than DUV, and depending on your equipment, a higher sampling rate. >>> >>> 73s, >>> >>> Alan >>> WA4SCA >>> >>> >>> >>> <-----Original Message----- >>> >> >> >>> >> < >>> >> >> (good >>> >> References: Message-ID: <1685568021.677239.1458940027717.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> > It does happen This is from just last year.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham-talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html As it happens that contact took place in October 2014 but didn't appear in all the UK National Newspapers until almost a year later, further info at http://amsat-uk.org/2015/08/05/uk-radio-hams-iss-contact-in-the-press/ 73 Trevor M5AKA On Friday, 25 March 2016, 18:17, Daniel Cussen wrote: It does happen: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/11786461/Radio-ham-talks-to-space-station-from-garden-shed.html This is from just last year. The trick is to figure out their break time, and match that with the time they are passing over your location. The radio is normally on low in the Russian module. If you call, and they are on a break, and they happen to have the radio in the correct mode to hear the uplink, then they might say hello back. The next technique after a response is to not panic! The European module radio is on APRS duty normally. http://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From johnbrier at gmail.com Fri Mar 25 21:35:01 2016 From: johnbrier at gmail.com (John Brier) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:35:01 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 transponder now continuously active In-Reply-To: <6E125173595F4CF5B818FA178B24C204@allgood.local> References: <6E125173595F4CF5B818FA178B24C204@allgood.local> Message-ID: What is the difference between FC1 transponder mode and the transponder payload on EO-79 being on? 73, John KG4AKV On Mar 25, 2016 3:18 PM, "Graham Shirville" wrote: > Hi All, > > FC1 is now in continuous transponder mode for the holiday period. Normal > autonomous operation will recommence from late MONDAY evening. > > As reported earlier today, the transponder payload on EO-79 has also been > switched on and, so long as the on board bus voltage stays up above its > safe mode setting, then this should also be active. > > Have a great FUN weekend and enjoy the birds. > > 73 > > Graham > G3VZV > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From mda at n1en.org Fri Mar 25 18:38:17 2016 From: mda at n1en.org (Michael Adams) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 18:38:17 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS operation In-Reply-To: <56F5837E.1050708@amsat.org> References: <1926101639.9053958.1458928771701.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> <56F5837E.1050708@amsat.org> Message-ID: I don't have the URL handy, but ISTR that the astronauts' daily schedules are (or at least at one time were) available online. Break/personal time was clearly listed in that information. -- Michael Adams | N1EN | mda at n1en.org -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bruce Sent: Friday, 25 March, 2016 14:29 To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS operation also, the best time for the astronauts to make contacts is just before they are ready to go to bed. that is when they have some free time. keep in mind that the iss operates on russian time (i think same as moscow time). breaks might be harder to determine but beddy-by time is almost always the same. 73...bruce From tosca005 at umn.edu Fri Mar 25 22:14:49 2016 From: tosca005 at umn.edu (John Toscano) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:14:49 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Fiberglass Poles for Antenna Mounting? In-Reply-To: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> References: <5A61B2E2BD57484C9E07EFD8260EFB36@OPT755> Message-ID: www.mgs4u.com They have round tubes, square tubes, solid round rod, in many (nesting) sizes. I have used them and their quality is excellent. The only negative I've experienced with dealing with them, and it is not really their fault, is the surcharge that UPS charges for 8 foot lengths. If your project can be handed with 4 foot pieces, your shipping charge will be much lower. If you need some big (8 foot) pieces, it is worthwhile checking to see if any hams in your area could also use some fiberglass, because the extra pieces cost nothing extra to ship, due to the surcharge by UPS for long packages which ship at the 60 pound rate if I recall correctly. I have no ties to this company other than being a satisfied customer for many years. John, W0JT On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 12:52 AM, Scott wrote: > In reading the descriptions of various directional antenna installations, > I often see a statement that the last section of mast between the rotator > and antenna is non-metallic (most often fiberglass, I believe). > > What is the best source for a suitable length of fiberglass pole of the > correct size? > > I would not be surprised if the source is outside of the radio world... > perhaps a round fiberglass pole intended for as a tool handle, for > example. Just a guess. > > Appreciate any suggestions. > > Thanks! > > -Scott, K4KDR > Montpelier, VA USA > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From clintbradford at mac.com Sat Mar 26 00:14:03 2016 From: clintbradford at mac.com (Clint Bradford) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:14:03 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Magazines Message-ID: I will pay you to ship them to your local public library - if they all accept them! Clint K6LCS 1-909-999-SATS From n8hm at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 01:54:28 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:54:28 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 transponder now continuously active In-Reply-To: References: <6E125173595F4CF5B818FA178B24C204@allgood.local> Message-ID: John, These are two separate satellites. FUNcube-1, known on orbit as AO-73, carries a linear transponder and a telemetry beacon for schools. During the week, AO-73 normally operates in "educational mode" which is a 300 mW telemetry signal while the satellite is in sunlight and a 30 mW telemetry signal along with a 20 kHz wide linear transponder when the satellite is in eclipse. On weekends, the command stations put it into transponder mode full time since schools are generally not open, so a strong telemetry beacon for educational purposes is not necessary. EO-79, the on-orbit designation of QB50p1, is a satellite that is designed to test payloads for the QB50 project, which involves a fleet of 50 cubesats being sent to a very low orbit in order to study the upper atmosphere. It carries the same style transponder as AO-73. The transponder is known as FUNcube-3. That transponder has now been activated for amateur use following the conclusion of the scientific mission. Unfortunately, the satellite's power system is not sufficient to power the transponder for a long period (it has a negative power budget), so the transponder shuts off and the satellite switches to safe mode when the battery voltage falls beyond a set voltage. And yes, there is also a FUNcube-2. It's on board UKube-1, an experimental satellite built by the UK Space Agency. The telemetry beacon (similar to AO-73's) has been active since the end of the satellite's primary mission, but there has been no further word of transponder activation. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 5:35 PM, John Brier wrote: > What is the difference between FC1 transponder mode and the transponder > payload on EO-79 being on? > > 73, John KG4AKV > On Mar 25, 2016 3:18 PM, "Graham Shirville" > wrote: > >> Hi All, >> >> FC1 is now in continuous transponder mode for the holiday period. Normal >> autonomous operation will recommence from late MONDAY evening. >> >> As reported earlier today, the transponder payload on EO-79 has also been >> switched on and, so long as the on board bus voltage stays up above its >> safe mode setting, then this should also be active. >> >> Have a great FUN weekend and enjoy the birds. >> >> 73 >> >> Graham >> G3VZV >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From wouterweg at gmail.com Sat Mar 26 09:25:21 2016 From: wouterweg at gmail.com (Wouter Weggelaar) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 10:25:21 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: A quick update: the satellite hit its safe mode trigger and needs to be commanded back on. The safe mode flag has been cleared, so we just need to activate the transponder again. Further clarification, we expect to switch back to normal operations after the Easter weekend. I am afraid my previous E-mail had a cut-and-paste error on the prolonged period of time *during Easter*. Rest assured we are also still working on the permanent activation. Wouter On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 11:14 AM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote: > Hi All, > > Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on > for a prolonged period. > > The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided > by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, > but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. > > The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional > reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically > turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. > The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be > advised the transponder may be off. > > TLEs: > AMSAT keps name: EO-79 > Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 > Celestrak file: cubesat.txt > NORAD # 40025 > COSPAR designator 2014-033-R > > Frequencies: > Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB > Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB > > EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 > seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and > consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can > be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html > > Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift > with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. > > Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, > so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of > AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ > It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. > > 73 and have FUN > > Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG > AMSAT-NL > AMSAT-UK From n8hm at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 15:25:40 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 11:25:40 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] EO-79 transponder ACTIVE In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Still active over North America on the 1549Z pass. Worked W2JV and WB8RJY, then switched over to AO-73 and worked two more stations. Nice back to back passes! 73, Paul, N8HM On Sat, Mar 26, 2016 at 5:25 AM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote: > A quick update: the satellite hit its safe mode trigger and needs to > be commanded back on. > The safe mode flag has been cleared, so we just need to activate the > transponder again. > > Further clarification, we expect to switch back to normal operations > after the Easter weekend. I am afraid my previous E-mail had a > cut-and-paste error on the prolonged period of time *during Easter*. > > Rest assured we are also still working on the permanent activation. > > Wouter > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 11:14 AM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Today, 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder has been turned on >> for a prolonged period. >> >> The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided >> by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, >> but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. >> >> The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional >> reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically >> turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. >> The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be >> advised the transponder may be off. >> >> TLEs: >> AMSAT keps name: EO-79 >> Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 >> Celestrak file: cubesat.txt >> NORAD # 40025 >> COSPAR designator 2014-033-R >> >> Frequencies: >> Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB >> Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB >> >> EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 >> seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and >> consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can >> be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html >> >> Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift >> with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. >> >> Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, >> so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of >> AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ >> It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop-down. >> >> 73 and have FUN >> >> Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG >> AMSAT-NL >> AMSAT-UK > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 16:41:08 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 12:41:08 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I am about to depart for the Mall. Please look for me around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler on the 1724Z pass of FO-29. Exchange will be a signal report + DZ06. I won't be sending my gridsquare. It's FM18lv, same as when I'm at home. 73, Paul, N8HM On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Good morning, > > Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at > 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, > but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is > about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk > there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset > VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on > me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location > in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one > can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. > > I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. > > I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the > District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the > year. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM From n8hm at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 17:51:55 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 13:51:55 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I'm going to stick around for the 1910Z pass of FO-29 as well. Same frequency. I'll probably miss the first couple of minutes of the pass. The Air and Space Museum is in the way! 73, Paul, N8HM On Saturday, March 26, 2016, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > I am about to depart for the Mall. Please look for me around 435.865 > MHz +/- Doppler on the 1724Z pass of FO-29. > > Exchange will be a signal report + DZ06. I won't be sending my > gridsquare. It's FM18lv, same as when I'm at home. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Paul Stoetzer > wrote: > > Good morning, > > > > Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at > > 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, > > but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is > > about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk > > there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset > > VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on > > me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location > > in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one > > can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. > > > > I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. > > > > I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the > > District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the > > year. > > > > 73, > > > > Paul, N8HM > From bryan at kl7cn.net Sat Mar 26 17:53:33 2016 From: bryan at kl7cn.net (Bryan KL7CN) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 10:53:33 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <9781F8BD-A9C7-49F4-ABD1-0689D477FEF0@kl7cn.net> I was hoping! On Mar 26, 2016, at 10:51, Paul Stoetzer wrote: I'm going to stick around for the 1910Z pass of FO-29 as well. Same frequency. I'll probably miss the first couple of minutes of the pass. The Air and Space Museum is in the way! 73, Paul, N8HM On Saturday, March 26, 2016, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > I am about to depart for the Mall. Please look for me around 435.865 > MHz +/- Doppler on the 1724Z pass of FO-29. > > Exchange will be a signal report + DZ06. I won't be sending my > gridsquare. It's FM18lv, same as when I'm at home. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Paul Stoetzer > wrote: >> Good morning, >> >> Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at >> 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, >> but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is >> about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk >> there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset >> VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on >> me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location >> in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one >> can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. >> >> I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. >> >> I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the >> District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the >> year. >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n8hm at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 19:54:43 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 15:54:43 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL NPOTA Activation - National Mall (DZ06) - FO-29 at 1724Z 26-Mar In-Reply-To: <9781F8BD-A9C7-49F4-ABD1-0689D477FEF0@kl7cn.net> References: <9781F8BD-A9C7-49F4-ABD1-0689D477FEF0@kl7cn.net> Message-ID: Thanks for all the QSOs on two passes of FO-29. I think it was 18 QSOs that I made, but will have to confirm from the recording. If you missed me, don't worry. I'll go back soon. It's only a 15 minute walk from my apartment. I also plan to go to some of the other NPOTAs. There are several within walking distance. I'll bring an AlexLoop next time for HF between passes. 73, Paul, N8HM On Sat, Mar 26, 2016 at 1:53 PM, Bryan KL7CN wrote: > I was hoping! > > On Mar 26, 2016, at 10:51, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > > I'm going to stick around for the 1910Z pass of FO-29 as well. Same > frequency. I'll probably miss the first couple of minutes of the pass. The > Air and Space Museum is in the way! > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Saturday, March 26, 2016, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > >> I am about to depart for the Mall. Please look for me around 435.865 >> MHz +/- Doppler on the 1724Z pass of FO-29. >> >> Exchange will be a signal report + DZ06. I won't be sending my >> gridsquare. It's FM18lv, same as when I'm at home. >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 10:23 AM, Paul Stoetzer > > wrote: >>> Good morning, >>> >>> Tomorrow I will activate the National Mall (DZ06) on the FO-29 pass at >>> 1724Z tomorrow. Unfortunately I can't stay for more than the one pass, >>> but will return several times in the future. The National Mall is >>> about three quarters of a mile north of my apartment, so I will walk >>> there with my normal satellite gear (2 Yaesu FT-817s and a Microset >>> VUR-30 amplifier) and Elk antenna. Since I am carrying everything on >>> me, not setting anything up, and have a relatively discrete location >>> in mind, I do not anticipate any problem with the authorities, but one >>> can never tell! Check my Twitter @PRStoetzer for real time updates. >>> >>> I will be around 435.865 MHz +/- Doppler. >>> >>> I will try to activate as many of the feasible NPOTA sites in the >>> District of Columbia as possible on satellite during the rest of the >>> year. >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From py2rn at arrl.net Sat Mar 26 20:25:27 2016 From: py2rn at arrl.net (Eduardo PY2RN) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 20:25:27 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] J8/WW2DX on AO-7 In-Reply-To: References: <6E125173595F4CF5B818FA178B24C204@allgood.local> Message-ID: <1147023596.353600.1459023927869.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Active now on AO-7 around 145.957.worked py2rn, py2ffg, cx1th, lu2dpw, pu2ras Thanks! EdPY2RN From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Sun Mar 27 02:35:49 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2016 22:35:49 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan Message-ID: <4A8EB46D4950460E942BC6C4CC36B36E@DHJ> An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan on 28 Mar. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:07 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and 8N370H. The contact should be audible over Japan and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The Hirano Junior High School which is located in the western port of Kobe-city has 564 students now. It was founded in 1947, and was transferred to Kasugadai of the Seishin new town at the present in 1983. We can see the Awaji Island and Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge from our school. Mr. Genki Roderick Dean who graduated from this school took part in the London Olympic Games in 2012. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What is the distance between the earth and ISS? 2. What is the most memorable thing you saw from the ISS? 3. Is it true that you are doing research to find new medicines for disease at the ISS? 4. What is the mental aptitude required to stay in space for 6 months? 5. Is the ISS big or small compared to where you live? 6. What sort of research are you doing in space? 7. Did you find that things were different from your expectations when you first got to the ISS? 8. What is the most amazing thing about going to space between leaving the earth and returning and how do you feel about it? 9. Have you ever experienced any dangerous things while in the ISS? 10. Have you ever been sick in the ISS because of living in space? 11. When did you think that you wanted to be an astronaut? 12. What kind of jobs do you do around the ISS? 13. What is the most amazing thing in space unrelated to earth? 14. What makes you want to become an astronaut? 15. What is the most enjoyable thing when you are in the space station? 16. What is the worst trouble you have had when you were in the space station? 17. What is the average temperature in the ISS? 18. If ordinary people could travel to space, what would you recommend that they do? 19. What did you think about space when you first got to the ISS? 20. Do the moon and stars look the same from space as they do from the earth? 21. Do you find anything more convenient than living on the earth? 22. What is the first thing you want to do when you return to the earth? 23. Did you make any mistakes in training before you flew to space? 24. What kind of things have you done so far, and what was the best thing? 25. What is the feeling of living in space every day? What do you normally think while you stay there? 26. How many nations are represented in the ISS right now? 27. What is the most important thing for you when you work? 28. How long have you stayed in the ISS? 29. Without morning noon and night, how do you maintain your body clock? 30. How do you feel when you sleep in space? 31. What is the most important thing that astronauts need to do? 32. What is the most inconvenient thing about living without gravity? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri, 4-1-2016, 18:34:03 UTC ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From mccardelm at gmail.com Sun Mar 27 05:30:20 2016 From: mccardelm at gmail.com (E.Mike McCardel) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 01:30:20 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-087 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins Message-ID: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-087 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * EO-79 transponder ACTIVE * Digital Communications Conference Call for Papers * Call for Papers - CSVHFS 50th Anniversary Conference * AMSAT at Scottsdale AZ and Radio Society of Tucson Hamfests * Upcoming AMSAT Events * Proposal Window for Scheduled US Contacts is Still Open * SA AMSAT Gets New Name * 40 Students Learn About Amateur Radio and Satellites * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.01 ANS-087 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. March 27, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.01 EO-79 transponder ACTIVE On the 25th of March 2016, the EO-79 transponder was activated for a prolonged period. The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, but without the telemetry downlink circuitry. The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be advised the transponder may be off. TLEs: AMSAT keps name: EO-79 Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1 Celestrak file: cubesat.txt NORAD # 40025 COSPAR designator 2014-033-R Frequencies: Uplink: 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB Downlink: 145.935-145.965 MHz USB EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815MHz and consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. more details about the downlink can be found on the ISIS HAM page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best. Lastly, the commanding team availability will be limited over Easter, so please report the transponder being on or off on the status page of AMSAT: http://www.amsat.org/status/ It does not appear in the table, but it does in the reporting drop- down. [ANS thanks Wouter PA3WEG AMSAT-NL and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Digital Communications Conference Call for Papers Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 35th Annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html, to be held September 16-18 in St Petersburg, Florida. Papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings. Authors do not need to attend the conference to have their papers included in the Proceedings. The submission deadline is July 31, 2016. The ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference is an international forum for technically minded radio amateurs to meet and present new ideas and techniques. Paper/presentation topic areas include -- but are not limited to -- software defined radio (SDR), digital voice, digital satellite communication, digital signal processing (DSP), HF digital modes, adapting IEEE 802.11 systems for Amateur Radio, Global Positioning System (GPS), Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS), Linux in Amateur Radio, AX.25 updates and Internet operability with Amateur Radio networks. Submit papers to via e-mail or via post to Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Papers will be published exactly as submitted, and authors will retain all rights. [ANS thanks Steve WBIMY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Papers - CSVHFS 50th Anniversary Conference The Central States VHF Society is soliciting papers, presentations, and Poster displays for the 50th Annual CSVHFS Conference to be held in Rochester, Minnesota on 28 - 31 July, 2016. Papers, presentations, and Posters on all aspects of weak-signal VHF and above amateur radio are requested. You do not need to attend the conference, nor present your paper, to have it published in the Proceedings. Posters will be displayed during the two days of the Conference. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to): * Antennas, including Modeling/Design, Arrays, and Control * Construction of equipment, such as Transmitters, Receivers, and Transverters * RF amplifiers (power amps), including Single-band and Multiband Vacuum Tube and solidstate * Pre-amplifiers (low noise) * Propagation, including Ducting, Sporadic E, and Meteor Scatter, etc. * Test Equipment, including Homebrew, Using, and making measurements * Regulatory topics * Operating, including Contesting, Roving, and DXpeditions * EME * Digital Signal Processing (DSP) * Software-defined Radio (SDR) * Digitial Modes, such as WSJT, JT65, etc. Generally, topics not related to weak signal VHF, such as FM Repeaters and packet radio, are not accepted for presentation or publication. However, there are always exceptions. Please contact either the Technical Program Chairman, or the Proceedings Chairman, at the the e-mail addresses below. DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS: For the Proceedings: SUNDAY, 22 MAY 2016 For Presentations to be delivered at the conference: TUESDAY, 5 JULY 2016 For Posters to be displayed at the conference: THURSDAY, 29 JULY 2016. Further information is available at the CSVHFS web site (www.csvhfs.org), "The 2016 Conference," "Guidance for Proceedings Authors," "Guidance for Presenters," "Guidance for Table-top/Poster Displays." CONTACTS: (Note: (replace '(at)' with the @-sign to use the e-mail addresses) Technical Program Chairman: Barry Malowanchuk, ve4ma (at) shaw.ca Proceedings Chairman: Glen Overby, kc0iyt (at) arrl.net [ANS thanks Donn Baker, WA2VOI for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT at Scottsdale AZ and Radio Society of Tucson Hamfests Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) staffed a table at the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" hamfest, held in a church parking lot Saturday, 19 March). This hamfest is one of the 3 major hamfests for the Phoenix area in the non-summer season, and the good weather helped to bring the crowds out. Lots of buyers and sellers, and lots of interest in AMSAT and amateur satellites. With the launches of AO-85 and the 9 Chinese amateur satellites in the past 6 months, many hams are taking a closer look at this part of the hobby. For some, the recent launches and projects currently in the pipeline are bringing some back to the satellites. Along with talking about satellites, many copies of AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" flew off my AMSAT table. Demonstrations 6am (1300 UTC) and 11am (1800 UTC), had nice crowds. Patrick reports "It was nice to have AO-85 available during the morning, as SO-50 was not passing by during the morning. I also had 4 other satellites that were used for demonstrations - AO-73, XW-2A, XW- 2C, and XW-2F. The three XW-2 satellites were passing by in the first couple of hours, and AO-73 and AO-85 came by later in the morning. For all of these passes, I used my SDRplay SDR receiver for the downlinks, connected to an 8-inch Windows10 tablet and HDSDR software running on the tablet. As I have seen at other recent events, using an SDR receiver makes for more conversations - and not just in the context of working satellites. With all of these satellites employing a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink, I didn't have to worry so much about the sunlight making the tablet's LCD panel unreadable. Once I set my downlink frequency on the tablet, and for AO-85 activate AFC in HDSDR to track the downlink, I only had to worry about using the wheel on a Bluetooth mouse for fine-tuning. Despite some QRM in the area of the hamfest site, northeast of a nearby airport, the SDRplay did a decent job hearing all of these downlinks. For AO-73 and AO-85, I was able to play back the RF recordings I made with HDSDR later at home, so I could upload telemetry to each satellite's telemetry server from those passes. By the way, HDSDR's recordings do a much better job picking up AO-73 telemetry than I ever saw when I used the FUNcube Dashboard to directly receive the telemetry and then upload the data to the FUNcube data warehouse server. Same thing for copying AO-85 telemetry - HDSDR's RF recordings do better for capturing the data than I saw when using the FoxTelem software to directly control my FUNcube Dongle Pro+." For those who worked WD9EWK during those demonstrations, Patrick thanks you! The demonstrations make a positive impression on this part of the hobby for the crowds. His mockup of the AO-85 satellite - a 4-inch cube of wood, with two whips representing the antennas coming out of two sides, also helped to reinforce that small satellites can do more than "beep" in orbit. AO-73 and AO-85, in particular, are great examples of what we can do with small satellites. Patrick's contacts from these demonstartions were uploaded to his log to Logbook of the World. He will be happy to send QSL cards to anyone who would like one for QSOs during the hamfest (just e-mail Patrick with the QSO details - no need to send him a card or self-addressed stamped envelope). Patrick will have an AMSAT table at the Radio Society of Tucson's annual hamfest on Saturday morning, 26 March 2016. The hamfest will be at the Target store on Old Spanish Trail, near the intersection of 22nd Street and Harrison, in Tucson AZ. The hamfest is scheduled to run from 6am to 11am (1300 to 1800 UTC). More information about the hamfest is available at the club's web site at: http://www.k7rst.org/ Afterwards he plans on making a long drive east to a point along I- 10 on the DM52xf/DM62af grid boundary, west of Deming in New Mexico. He hopes to work a few passes from there in the mid- to late- afternoon, and possibly into the evening. If he is not at the grid boundary in time for FO-29 and/or AO-7 passes, he may stop to work those passes wherever he might be - likely somewhere in grid DM52, in either Arizona or New Mexico. He definitely plans on being at this grid boundary in time for SO-50 passes starting just after 2200 UTC Saturday afternoon. Weather and law enforcement permitting (this area is near the USA/Mexico border), He may try to stick around into the early evening before making the 300-mile/500km drive home from that area. While on the road, his location should be visible via APRS. There is good APRS coverage in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico. He will use WD9EWK-9 as his call sign for APRS, which should show up online at (among other sites): http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 He will use my @WD9EWK Twitter feed to post updates during the afternoon and early. For those who don't use Twitter he can be followed using a web browser: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK Contacts will be uploaded to his log to Logbook of the World, and will ensure QSOs from the grid boundary carry both grids. If you would like a QSL card for a QSO with WD9EWK, please e-mail Patrick directly with the QSO details. If you're in the log, he will be happy to mail you a card without you having to send him a QSL card or SASE. [ANS thanks Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming AMSAT Events AMSAT Events Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations). + Saturday, 26 March 2016 ? Tucson Spring Hamfest in Tucson AZ + Friday through Sunday, 29 April-1 May 2016, ARRL Nevada State Convention in Las Vegas NV + Saturday, 7 May 2016 ? Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ + Saturday, 14 May 2016 ? Matanuska Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Wasilla AK + Friday through Sunday, 20, 21, 22 May 2016 - AMSAT at Dayton Hamvention. There will be the usual activities including a booth in the Ball Arena, demonstrations from an area outside the Ball Arena, and a forum on Saturday (21 May). We will also have a number of both formal and informal social activities including the popular get-together at Tickets Thursday evening, and the TAPR/AMSAT banquet Friday night at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center. + Saturday, 4 June 2016 ? White Mountain Hamfest in Show Low AZ [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposal Window for Scheduled US Contacts is Still Open Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 ? April 15, 2016 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2016. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SA AMSAT Gets New Name SA AMSAT has changed the SA in its name around and will now be known as AMSAT SA. The amateur radio satellite group made the decision to line up its name with the organisation's web address. It was confusing having the name and web address different. It now also follows the international trend of other AMSAT organisations. AMSAT SA has also been registered as a non-profit company and is in the process of applying for tax exemption status with SARS. Membership conditions of the organisation remain the same. To get more information visit the www.amsatsa.org.za or down load a free copy of the March 2016 Ezine available from Monday 28 March 2016 [ANS thanks the South African Radio League (SARL) News for Sunday 27 March 2016 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 40 Students Learn About Amateur Radio and Satellites On Wednesday last week 40 leaners from schools around Pretoria attended a morning workshop about amateur radio and satellites. The workshop was part of the Innovation Hub holiday programme during which grade 10 and 11 leaners are exposed to various work and science situations. AMSAT SA was invited to talk about space related activities. The workshop was presented by Nico van Rensburg ZS6QL and Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV. The workshop started with a talk about amateur radio illustrated by short video clips. During practical demonstrations the learners were shown how a transponder works, how satellites orbit around the world and how antennas are used to track satellites including using smartphone applications. [ANS thanks the South African Radio League (SARL) News for Sunday 27 March 2016 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Booker T. Washington Senior High, Miami, Florida, USA and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2016-03-14 15:48 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via W4SVI. ARISS Mentors were Steve W1HQL and Ryan W4NTR. + A Successful contact was made between Walter Jackson Elementary, Decatur, Alabama, USA and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2016-03-18 13:53 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was direct via N8DEU. ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over International Space Station Panoramic Tour This 360? panorama allows you to explore the International Space Station?s third module, Zvezda. Launched on 12 July 2000, the Russian module supplies life support for the Station and crewquarters. All five of Europe?s Automated Transfer Vehicles docked with the module. The images to create this view were taken by ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti during her Futura mission in 2015; the cosmonaut in the picture is Gennady Padalka. http://tinyurl.com/ANS087-Zvezda [ANS thanks the European Space Agency for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 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. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM (former KC8YLD) kc8yld at amsat dot org From Mat_62 at charter.net Sun Mar 27 19:17:33 2016 From: Mat_62 at charter.net (Michael) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 15:17:33 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> Message-ID: <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> Thanks much for the picture although I'm still a bit confused. A lot of folks say I need the separation kit and you said I don't. I'm about to make the purchase soon and I want to get this right. I know a lot of folks say an elevation rotor is not even needed these days but I have wanted and coveted one of these rotor systems a very long time and the XYL and CFO finally authorized the funds for purchase. Thanks again for the pic and the advice. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 3/26/2016 9:35 AM, Norm n3ykf wrote: > Was out of town when this was posted. Wished to photograph it as the > installation is hard to do in reality. Nothing like torching $$$$$. > Pic of the G-5500 installation split is here: > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/25430099854/in/dateposted/ > > On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 1:46 PM, Michael wrote: >> I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the azimuth >> portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install sat antenna's up >> above the HF beam using the elevation rotator. Is this where using the >> "separation kit" comes into play? I'm having a hard time wrapping my head >> around the installation parameters. >> Thanks and 73, >> Michael W4HIJ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From Ke4kol at bellsouth.net Sun Mar 27 23:40:19 2016 From: Ke4kol at bellsouth.net (J Bennett) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 19:40:19 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> Message-ID: <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> Doesn't the G5500 come with the separation kit. Isn't the separation kit only the two bracket that mount on top of the azimuth rotor that allows mounting the mast to it. then you mount the elevation rotor to the mast. I just purchase the G5500 and it came with everything that was needed to mount the two rotors separate or together. -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Michael Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 3:18 PM To: Norm n3ykf; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator Thanks much for the picture although I'm still a bit confused. A lot of folks say I need the separation kit and you said I don't. I'm about to make the purchase soon and I want to get this right. I know a lot of folks say an elevation rotor is not even needed these days but I have wanted and coveted one of these rotor systems a very long time and the XYL and CFO finally authorized the funds for purchase. Thanks again for the pic and the advice. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 3/26/2016 9:35 AM, Norm n3ykf wrote: > Was out of town when this was posted. Wished to photograph it as the > installation is hard to do in reality. Nothing like torching $$$$$. > Pic of the G-5500 installation split is here: > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/25430099854/in/dateposted/ > > On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 1:46 PM, Michael wrote: >> I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the >> azimuth portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install >> sat antenna's up above the HF beam using the elevation rotator. Is >> this where using the "separation kit" comes into play? I'm having a >> hard time wrapping my head around the installation parameters. >> Thanks and 73, >> Michael W4HIJ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From dphelps1 at ameritech.net Mon Mar 28 00:01:18 2016 From: dphelps1 at ameritech.net (Douglas Phelps) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 00:01:18 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> Message-ID: <1717736646.722550.1459123278357.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Mine came with everything for mounting on the mast or the rotor. DougK9DLP From: J Bennett To: 'Michael' ; 'Norm n3ykf' ; amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 6:40 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator Doesn't the G5500 come with the separation kit.? Isn't the separation kit only the two bracket that mount on top of the azimuth rotor that allows mounting the mast to it.? then you mount the elevation rotor to the mast.? I just purchase the G5500 and it came with everything that was needed to mount the two rotors separate or together. -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Michael Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 3:18 PM To: Norm n3ykf; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator ? Thanks much for the picture although I'm still a bit confused. A lot of folks say I need the separation kit and you said I don't. I'm about to make the purchase soon and I want to get this right. I know a lot of folks say an elevation rotor is not even needed these days but I have wanted and coveted one of these rotor systems a very long time and the XYL? and CFO finally authorized the funds for purchase. Thanks again for the pic and the advice. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 3/26/2016 9:35 AM, Norm n3ykf wrote: > Was out of town when this was posted. Wished to photograph it as the > installation is hard to do in reality. Nothing like torching $$$$$. > Pic of the G-5500 installation split is here: > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/25430099854/in/dateposted/ > > On Mon, Mar 14, 2016 at 1:46 PM, Michael wrote: >> I want to mount a small HF beam on a mast and rotate it using the >> azimuth portion of the G5500 to point it. Then I'd like to install >> sat antenna's up above the HF beam using the elevation rotator.? Is >> this where using the "separation kit" comes into play?? I'm having a >> hard time wrapping my head around the installation parameters. >> Thanks and 73, >> Michael W4HIJ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect >> the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From kb1pvh at gmail.com Mon Mar 28 00:26:18 2016 From: kb1pvh at gmail.com (Dave Webb KB1PVH) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 20:26:18 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: <1717736646.722550.1459123278357.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> <1717736646.722550.1459123278357.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: The separation kit doesn't come with the rotor, it's an extra set of parts consisting of the following. S8002740 4 Units SPRING WASHER M6 S8002742 4 Units WASHER (JIS) 6X13X1.0 S8002736 4 Units HEX NUT (TYPE-1) M6 S8002739 8 Units SPRING WASHER M8 S8002741 8 Units WASHER (JIS) 8X18X1.6 S8002665 8 Units HEX NUT M8 S8002737 2 Units U BOLT M6 PE-7505-006-1 S8002738 4 Units STUD M8X115 PE-7505-016-1 S8003012 6 Units PIPE CLAMP PE-7505-060 http://www.gigaparts.com/Product-Lines/Tower-Rotator-Accessories/Yaesu-SEP-KIT.html Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 From Mat_62 at charter.net Mon Mar 28 01:15:33 2016 From: Mat_62 at charter.net (Michael) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:15:33 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> <1717736646.722550.1459123278357.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <56F885B5.5060601@charter.net> Thanks, I think I may just order it too anyway. Might be nice to have the extra hardware around just in case and if I don't use something, I can always save it for some other project. I have no tower, only a Rohn telescoping mast with a Cushcraft MA5B small beam on it. I'm probably going to nix the mast and move everything to a tripod mount further back on my roof. This should make everything easier to access as there is currently a pair of dogwoods near the beam that require pruning every year to keep them from tangling in the antenna. The XYL has already nixed the idea of cutting them down. Plus I feel the tripod will keep everything low enough for me to work on it easily. I do all my own antenna work, I have no one to help me. My grown son is very strong but unfortunately he is afraid of heights. I had a homebrew AZ/EL system on the mast a few years ago and the thing was a bear to raise and lower the mast and I'm not as young as I used to be. 73, Michael, W4HIJ On 3/27/2016 8:26 PM, Dave Webb KB1PVH wrote: > The separation kit doesn't come with the rotor, it's an extra set of parts > consisting of the following. > > S8002740 4 Units SPRING WASHER M6 > S8002742 4 Units WASHER (JIS) 6X13X1.0 > S8002736 4 Units HEX NUT (TYPE-1) M6 > S8002739 8 Units SPRING WASHER M8 > S8002741 8 Units WASHER (JIS) 8X18X1.6 > S8002665 8 Units HEX NUT M8 > S8002737 2 Units U BOLT M6 PE-7505-006-1 > S8002738 4 Units STUD M8X115 PE-7505-016-1 > S8003012 6 Units PIPE CLAMP PE-7505-060 > > http://www.gigaparts.com/Product-Lines/Tower-Rotator-Accessories/Yaesu-SEP-KIT.html > > Dave-KB1PVH > > Sent from my Samsung S4 > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From Ke4kol at bellsouth.net Mon Mar 28 01:40:47 2016 From: Ke4kol at bellsouth.net (J Bennett) Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2016 21:40:47 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator In-Reply-To: References: <56E6F8E7.2020604@charter.net> <56F831CD.3030102@charter.net> <000001d18882$06492d00$12db8700$@net> <1717736646.722550.1459123278357.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000601d18892$da7db810$8f792830$@net> Dave, You're right. I replace my G5400 and I use the separation kit that was on the old one. -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dave Webb KB1PVH Sent: Sunday, March 27, 2016 8:26 PM To: AMSAT -BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator The separation kit doesn't come with the rotor, it's an extra set of parts consisting of the following. S8002740 4 Units SPRING WASHER M6 S8002742 4 Units WASHER (JIS) 6X13X1.0 S8002736 4 Units HEX NUT (TYPE-1) M6 S8002739 8 Units SPRING WASHER M8 S8002741 8 Units WASHER (JIS) 8X18X1.6 S8002665 8 Units HEX NUT M8 S8002737 2 Units U BOLT M6 PE-7505-006-1 S8002738 4 Units STUD M8X115 PE-7505-016-1 S8003012 6 Units PIPE CLAMP PE-7505-060 http://www.gigaparts.com/Product-Lines/Tower-Rotator-Accessories/Yaesu-SEP-K IT.html Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com Mon Mar 28 12:48:47 2016 From: tomdoyle1948 at gmail.com (Thomas Doyle) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:48:47 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 Message-ID: Did anyone copy the AO-85 pass over the US this morning around 1230 UTC ? W9KE Tom Doyle From wa4sca at gmail.com Mon Mar 28 12:56:33 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:56:33 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <000001d188f1$41a281c0$c4e78540$@GMAIL.COM> Tom, Yes. I was busy tweaking some telemetry equipment so not paying much attention to the audio, but there was some activity, including a mobile. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: Message-ID: I was not on personally, but there was telemetry received: http://www.amsat.org/tlm/leaderboard.php?id=1&db=FOXDB http://www.amsat.org/tlm/health.php?id=1 73, Paul, N8HM On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:48 AM, Thomas Doyle wrote: > Did anyone copy the AO-85 pass over the US this morning around 1230 UTC ? > > W9KE Tom Doyle > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From e.krome at comcast.net Mon Mar 28 14:36:21 2016 From: e.krome at comcast.net (Ed K9EK) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 14:36:21 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1474203388.3604926.1459175781151.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Yes. Telemetry only. 27 packets. (Automated on omni; I did not listen for voice). Came on late (after AOS in EL98) and shut off well before LOS. All DUV. No evidence of switching to high speed. Did not record. About 10:22 EST last evening, high speed switched on and off several times. Might have been a burp or 2 of DUV. None were strong enough to copy. 73 Ed K9EK EL98 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Thomas Doyle" To: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Monday, March 28, 2016 8:48:47 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 Did anyone copy the AO-85 pass over the US this morning around 1230 UTC ? W9KE Tom Doyle _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n0jy at amsat.org Mon Mar 28 17:01:34 2016 From: n0jy at amsat.org (Jerry Buxton) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 12:01:34 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 In-Reply-To: <1474203388.3604926.1459175781151.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> References: <1474203388.3604926.1459175781151.JavaMail.zimbra@comcast.net> Message-ID: <56F9636D.9060108@amsat.org> Operations has been testing Data Mode lately, that is what would have caused the switch. I'm not aware of any problems with the satellite. Jerry Buxton, N?JY On 3/28/2016 09:36, Ed K9EK wrote: > Yes. Telemetry only. 27 packets. (Automated on omni; I did not listen for voice). Came on late (after AOS in EL98) and shut off well before LOS. All DUV. No evidence of switching to high speed. Did not record. > About 10:22 EST last evening, high speed switched on and off several times. Might have been a burp or 2 of DUV. None were strong enough to copy. > 73 > Ed K9EK > EL98 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Thomas Doyle" > To: "AMSAT-BB" > Sent: Monday, March 28, 2016 8:48:47 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-85 > > Did anyone copy the AO-85 pass over the US this morning around 1230 UTC ? > > W9KE Tom Doyle > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > From g.shirville at btinternet.com Mon Mar 28 20:08:45 2016 From: g.shirville at btinternet.com (Graham Shirville) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:08:45 +0100 Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube-1 mode Message-ID: Hi All, FUNcube-1 is now changing mode autonomously (eclipse/sunlight switching) and will do so until Friday evening. 73 Graham G3VZV From saguaroastro at cox.net Tue Mar 29 03:41:42 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:41:42 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? Message-ID: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> All, While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees from DM33. First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler corrections in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole pass. I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was toow eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). So, I guess I have two questions: 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? 2) Did anyone hear me? I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be skillset i should have. Thanks in advance. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net From kl7uw at acsalaska.net Tue Mar 29 05:23:41 2016 From: kl7uw at acsalaska.net (Edward R Cole) Date: Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:23:41 -0800 Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 Rotator Message-ID: <201603290523.u2T5Ngv3032682@mail41c28.carrierzone.com> Not currently operational for satellite but checkout my antenna arrangement: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm I have a single top section of Rohn-25g tower mounted on a hinge base with the B5400 mounted just above the tower. The old set up had too much wind area and weight too high for the aluminum mast (see the bent over photo). For antenna work I just unbolt and layover the tower on its hinges using my lawn tractor holding a guy wire. New trimmed down array is with part of M2 436CP42 array (using 26 element back part of boom) and a 2M7 yagi from M2. I also have a small 2.4 GHz patch antenna not is use. I had all this mounted on the roof of our old house on a TV tripod tower (no photos). Some day I will get it all restored and figure how to utilize my K3 and KX3 for a mode-UV station. I am too involved in eme at present and running small ham business. Hoping for a Heo or Geo style satellite for the future. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubususa at gmail.com From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 29 06:57:42 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 02:57:42 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-29 06:30 UTC Quick list of schedu Message-ID: <267dd.5b12c324.442b8166@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-29 06:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg Kiilinik High School, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada, telebridge via VK4KHZ (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ (***) Contact is go for: Wed 2016-04-06 18:02:20 UTC 55 deg (***) H.A.L. School, Lucknow, India, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN (***) Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-08 08:17:46 UTC 26 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 116 Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-29 06:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1037. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1002. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-19 05:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From py41 at att.net Tue Mar 29 11:54:19 2016 From: py41 at att.net (Perry Yantis) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:54:19 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? Message-ID: Look at your display on the TS2000. Above the first digit on the freq display you should see ?PRE? meaning the preamp is on. On my TS2000 setup with the preamp on I hear all sats just fine. But every now and then I notice that the ?PRE? is not on and as a result I don?t hear the sats or they are very weak. I have now got into the habit of looking for the ?PRE? every time I turn on the sat tracking program (MacDoppler on my Apple computer). This may be the only problem you are having and is easily fixed. Perry WB8OTH py41 at att.net Sent from my Apple Macbook Pro From normanlizeth at gmail.com Tue Mar 29 12:43:30 2016 From: normanlizeth at gmail.com (Norm n3ykf) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 08:43:30 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> References: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> Message-ID: More from the stupid question file: What kind of power supply are you using? Is it providing enough current? I don't trust the power output indicator on a radio. Use an IC-7000 and an 857d portable. The 857d has a voltmeter that indicates B+. Keeping an eye on it before, duing and after key down gives me a feel for what the battery is producing. Could also be desense. If you've got a cavity handy and a way to make a return loss measurement (tune it), it's worth a try! My Times Technologies T-100 has this function. Present generation is 200$ on my fave-rave auction site. Find the bug, prove the bug, shoot the bug. On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 11:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > All, > > > > While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the > linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. > So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. > Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees from > DM33. > > > > First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage > issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an > ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the > USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). > > So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler corrections > in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at > the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the > uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and > moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole > pass. > > > > I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was toow > eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). > > > > So, I guess I have two questions: > > > > 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? > > 2) Did anyone hear me? > > > > I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might > make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be > skillset i should have. > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > > Saguaro Astronomy Club > > www.saguaroastro.org > > Thunderbird Radio Club > > www.w7tbc.org > > 623-572-0713 > > 623-203-4121 (cell) > > SaguaroAstro at cox.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu Tue Mar 29 15:17:20 2016 From: Brandon.Shirley at sdl.usu.edu (Brandon Shirley) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 15:17:20 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Space Security Survey - Reminder Message-ID: <29895ccbf6794b8289a2d38ca2ee5e3d@Ek.usurf.usu.edu> Dear AMSAT community members, This is a reminder email for my Security Survey. So far about 25 participants have completed the survey, and if you have, I am very grateful. I would ideally want about 100-200 respondents, but I have had about ~50 participants on the previous surveys. If I could get another 15-25 participants that would be great. At present I plan to close the survey next Monday. I was informed that the Pro, Con, Neutral question is difficult to take because of how Qualtrics has implemented the question and because I added definitions to the terms that take up more space. Unfortunately, I cannot change that for this survey. I have similar question types on the remaining two surveys and I have switched to a mouse hover for displaying the definitions. I will also include them in a pdf for those taking the survey on a touch based device. My apologies. I show about 16 partially complete surveys, if that is all of the survey you planned to take then that is fine, if want to finish it you can by visiting the link with the same browser, as long as you have not cleared you cookies you should be able to resume. Thanks. There is a chance to win some gift cards. Please see below for more information and the link to take the survey. The survey should only take about 10 minutes. Thanks. Please note that the link is anonymous, so you are getting this reminder even if you have already taken the survey. I would like to thank everyone that has participated thus far, I really appreciate it, I know it is an inconvenience and that everyone is really busy. The second part of the survey has background questions that will give context to your answers. Try to fill the background out the same way if you take more than one of the surveys. You can you use the link below to access the Security Survey. https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cwoPwnnqVbUG1hz Answer as many of the questions as you want and as much of each question as you want, partial surveys may still be very helpful. At the end of this survey, you will be redirected to a webpage that asks for an email address. You must enter a valid email address to be considered for survey drawings or the overall survey set drawing. We are currently on the 4th survey, Security. You have a chance at receiving a gift card for participating in this survey as well as a chance at receiving a gift card for your overall participation in the entire survey set. There will be 2 winners of $25 gift cards for each survey and 2 winners of $200 gift cards for the survey set. The surveys are as follows and will be distributed in the following order: (participate as you see fit) Core Concepts Development Preferences Open Systems Architecture and Modularity Security <========= We are here ========= Reuse, Interoperability, Portability, Code Complexity Network V/R, Brandon Shirley b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu See http://brandon.bluezone.usu.edu/Files/LOISpaceSoftwareAttitudes_Final.pdf for the Letter of Intent (LOI) that explains your role as a participant should you choose to participate. This is a legitimate request for you participation, if you have any questions about the validity of this email you may refer to the Letter of Intent, contact Brandon Shirley via email at b.l.s at aggiemail.usu.edu, or contact Utah State University's Internal Review Board administrator at (435) 797 - 0567 or email irb at usu.edu. From AJ9N at aol.com Tue Mar 29 17:32:38 2016 From: AJ9N at aol.com (AJ9N at aol.com) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:32:38 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-29 18:00 UTC Message-ID: <26bb41.6f88f3c4.442c1636@aol.com> Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-03-29 18:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Hirano Junior High School, Kobe, Japan, direct via 8N370H The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact was successful for: Mon 2016-03-28 11:07:49 UTC 56 deg (***) National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-01 18:34:03 UTC 34 deg Kiilinik High School, Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is go for: Wed 2016-04-06 18:02:20 UTC 55 deg H.A.L. School, Lucknow, India, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Tim Kopra KE5UDN Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-04-08 08:17:46 UTC 26 deg **************************************************************************** ** The next window to submit a proposal for an upcoming contact is now open. The window is open from 2016-02-15 to 2016-04-15 and would be for contacts between 2017-01-01 and 2017-06-30. Check out the ARISS website http://www.ariss.org/ or the ARRL website http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact for full details. **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n at amsat.org or aj9n at aol.com. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke at sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 117 (***) Francesco IK?WGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-03-29 18:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1038. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1003. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-03-29 18:00 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 46 on orbit Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors From tnetcenter at gmail.com Tue Mar 29 18:33:52 2016 From: tnetcenter at gmail.com (Jeff Moore) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 11:33:52 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> References: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> Message-ID: I thought the TS-2000 had all the doppler correction built in. Why aren't you using that since your laptop isn't attached to the radio???? Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > All, > > > > While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the > linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. > So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. > Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees > from > DM33. > > > > First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage > issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an > ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the > USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). > > So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler > corrections > in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at > the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the > uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and > moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole > pass. > > > > I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was > toow > eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). > > > > So, I guess I have two questions: > > > > 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? > > 2) Did anyone hear me? > > > > I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might > make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be > skillset i should have. > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > > Saguaro Astronomy Club > > www.saguaroastro.org > > Thunderbird Radio Club > > www.w7tbc.org > > 623-572-0713 > > 623-203-4121 (cell) > > SaguaroAstro at cox.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From w5pfg at amsat.org Tue Mar 29 18:54:38 2016 From: w5pfg at amsat.org (Clayton W5PFG) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:54:38 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: References: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> Message-ID: <56FACF6E.1000503@amsat.org> This is a common misunderstanding about radios with a "Satellite mode." These radios typically just lock VFO's and perform normal or inverse tracking but they cannot automatically adjust to the correct frequencies for Doppler shift. You should use external computer control to do that accurately. In fact, if you manually lock VFO's and try to have a QSO with someone on a LEO satellite, you will quickly find yourself drifting away in frequency from the other station each time you move the main VFO. In general, this is a bad practice. If you unlock the VFO's and tune either the uplink or the downlink (depending on satellite mode,) you'll be fine. It is best to adjust the higher of the two frequencies when manually tuning. This is the common practice known as the "one true rule." Locking the VFO's will typically inhibit your ability to adjust one band or the other separately unless you are depending on RIT/XIT. 73 Clayton W5PFG On 3/29/2016 13:33, Jeff Moore wrote: > I thought the TS-2000 had all the doppler correction built in. Why aren't > you using that since your laptop isn't attached to the radio???? > > Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY > > > > On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > >> All, >> >> >> >> While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the >> linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. >> So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. >> Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees >> from >> DM33. >> >> >> >> First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage >> issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an >> ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the >> USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). >> >> So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler >> corrections >> in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at >> the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the >> uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and >> moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole >> pass. >> >> >> >> I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was >> toow >> eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). >> >> >> >> So, I guess I have two questions: >> >> >> >> 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? >> >> 2) Did anyone hear me? >> >> >> >> I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might >> make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be >> skillset i should have. >> >> >> >> Thanks in advance. >> >> >> >> >> >> Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) >> >> Saguaro Astronomy Club >> >> www.saguaroastro.org >> >> Thunderbird Radio Club >> >> www.w7tbc.org >> >> 623-572-0713 >> >> 623-203-4121 (cell) >> >> SaguaroAstro at cox.net >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From wa4sca at gmail.com Tue Mar 29 19:21:50 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 14:21:50 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: References: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> Message-ID: <000001d189f0$3ec836c0$bc58a440$@GMAIL.COM> The Satellite Mode found in older rigs is a blast from the past. Specifically P3 birds like AO-10 and AO-13. It depended on the Doppler shift being relatively constant (but not necessarily small) over a reasonable period of time. You could sync your uplink and downlink, and then tune around with the uplink automatically correcting. Over much of the P3 orbit you only needed to resync every 15-20 minutes or more. By comparison, with LEO birds the Doppler shift changes fairly rapidly throughout most of the pass, thus invalidating the basic assumption of the integral Satellite Mode. Fortunately software such as SatPC32 and MacDoppler will work for any orbit. Lacking that, or when operating a satellite such as AO-73 where the LO drifts a bit, purely manual tuning is more of a necessity than an option. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- wrote: < <> All, <> <> <> <> While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the <> linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. <> So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. <> Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees <> from <> DM33. <> <> <> <> First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage <> issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an <> ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the <> USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). <> <> So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler <> corrections <> in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at <> the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the <> uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and <> moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole <> pass. <> <> <> <> I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was <> toow <> eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). <> <> <> <> So, I guess I have two questions: <> <> <> <> 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? <> <> 2) Did anyone hear me? <> <> <> <> I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might <> make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be <> skillset i should have. <> <> <> <> Thanks in advance. <> <> <> <> <> <> Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) <> <> Saguaro Astronomy Club <> <> www.saguaroastro.org <> <> Thunderbird Radio Club <> <> www.w7tbc.org <> <> 623-572-0713 <> <> 623-203-4121 (cell) <> <> SaguaroAstro at cox.net <> <> <> <> _______________________________________________ <> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available <> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions <> expressed <> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of <> AMSAT-NA. <> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! <> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <> <_______________________________________________ Hi Doppler shift depends on where you are (on earth) relative to the satellite. A radio cannot know this, also not a TS2000. This is what software like satpc32 is used for. What a TS2000 and some other radios can do is apply a fixed ratio between uplink and downlink of a transponder. Excluding doppler. Btw also excluding eg a freq shift (drift) during a pass like AO73 has. That is something also satpc32 cannot compensate for. Enjoy the challenge! Henk PA3GUO Didn't think of that, will give it a go next time, hopefully later tonight. Thanks Rick Tejera K7TEJSaguaroAstro at cox.net623-203-4121 -------- Original message -------- From: Perry Yantis Date: 03/29/2016 04:54 (GMT-07:00) To: Amsat bb Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? Look at your display on the TS2000. Above the first digit on the freq display you should see ?PRE? meaning the preamp is on. On my TS2000 setup with the preamp on I hear all sats just fine. But every now and then I notice that the ?PRE? is not on and as a result I don?t hear the sats or they are very weak. I have now got into the habit of looking for the ?PRE? every time I turn on the sat tracking program (MacDoppler on my Apple computer). This may be the only problem you are having and is easily fixed. Perry WB8OTH py41 at att.net Sent from my Apple Macbook Pro _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From saguaroastro at cox.net Tue Mar 29 23:07:29 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 16:07:29 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? Message-ID: <3jpkpfv17ydyisypm27dd1xl.1459292849818@email.android.com> I'm running off battery power. Either my 12 ah agm or, if i'm not too lazy, a,110ah deep cell marine battery. Rick Tejera K7TEJSaguaroAstro at cox.net623-203-4121 -------- Original message -------- From: Norm n3ykf Date: 03/29/2016 05:43 (GMT-07:00) To: Rick Tejera Cc: "<,amsat-bb at amsat.org>," Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Is it me? More from the stupid question file: What kind of power supply are you using? Is it providing enough current? I don't trust the power output indicator on a radio. Use an IC-7000 and an 857d portable. The 857d has a voltmeter that indicates B+. Keeping an eye on it before, duing and after key down gives me a feel for what the battery is producing. Could also be desense. If you've got a cavity handy and a way to make a? return loss measurement (tune it), it's worth a try! My Times Technologies T-100 has this function. Present generation is 200$ on my fave-rave auction site. Find the bug, prove the bug, shoot the bug. On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 11:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > All, > > > > While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the > linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. > So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. > Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees from > DM33. > > > > First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage > issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an > ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the > USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). > > So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler corrections > in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at > the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the > uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and > moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole > pass. > > > > I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was toow > eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). > > > > So, I guess I have two questions: > > > > 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? > > 2) Did anyone hear me? > > > > I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might > make it easier,? but I think knowing how to do this manually should be > skillset i should have. > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > > Saguaro Astronomy Club > > www.saguaroastro.org > > Thunderbird Radio Club > > www.w7tbc.org > > 623-572-0713 > > 623-203-4121 (cell) > > SaguaroAstro at cox.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From saguaroastro at cox.net Tue Mar 29 23:11:31 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 16:11:31 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? Message-ID: It's,satellite ready. Essentially in sat mode, adjustments to the down link are match to the uplink. So if you want to operate 5kz below the center of the passband. You adjust the uplink and the downlink will track up 5kz. Once you're their you unlink them and correct gor the doppler. At least that's how it's supposed to work.... The USB to serial cable I ordered is delayed, so at least another week before I can get the laptop to talk to the radio. Rick Tejera K7TEJSaguaroAstro at cox.net623-203-4121 -------- Original message -------- From: Jeff Moore Date: 03/29/2016 11:33 (GMT-07:00) To: Amsat BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Is it me? I thought the TS-2000 had all the doppler correction built in.?? Why aren't you using that since your laptop isn't attached to the radio???? Jeff Moore? --? KE7ACY On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > All, > > > > While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the > linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. > So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. > Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees > from > DM33. > > > > First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage > issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an > ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the > USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). > > So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler > corrections > in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at > the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the > uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and > moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole > pass. > > > > I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was > toow > eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). > > > > So, I guess I have two questions: > > > > 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? > > 2) Did anyone hear me? > > > > I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might > make it easier,? but I think knowing how to do this manually should be > skillset i should have. > > > > Thanks in advance. > > > > > > Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > > Saguaro Astronomy Club > > www.saguaroastro.org > > Thunderbird Radio Club > > www.w7tbc.org > > 623-572-0713 > > 623-203-4121 (cell) > > SaguaroAstro at cox.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From rjlawn at gmail.com Tue Mar 29 23:17:41 2016 From: rjlawn at gmail.com (Richard Lawn) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 19:17:41 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation Message-ID: I'm confounded by the lack of activity on these satellites which are functioning quite well. I just called and called with no takers until close to the end of the pass I thought I heard a French Canadian trying to call me but it was getting too low to my horizon. More operators should be using these birds while they are still functioning. 73 Rick, W2JAZ From n8hm at arrl.net Tue Mar 29 23:27:26 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 19:27:26 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I got home two minutes before C was overhead and was on with W5PFG and KC4LE for the first half of the pass (lost the second half due to being on the south facing balcony). They are excellent satellites. I wish they were higher, but they have very good signals and are very stable frequency wise. Definitely ideal for beginners. With Daylight Saving Time in effect in much of the United States, the evening pass times are extremely convenient. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 7:17 PM, Richard Lawn wrote: > I'm confounded by the lack of activity on these satellites which are > functioning quite well. I just called and called with no takers until close > to the end of the pass I thought I heard a French Canadian trying to call > me but it was getting too low to my horizon. More operators should be using > these birds while they are still functioning. > > 73 > Rick, W2JAZ > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 29 23:27:49 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 19:27:49 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <41D73048-9136-44EA-A579-06E99FC78FFA@mindspring.com> Rick, You may want to try FO-29 in Mode V/U as it is higher and doppler moves more slowly. On 29 I would pick an uplink of 145.930 and listen and tune for your return from 435.877 at the beginning of a pass, to .863 by the end. There is a lot more activity and you are more likely to hear a return to your calls as well. 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 29, 2016, at 7:11 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: > > > > It's,satellite ready. Essentially in sat mode, adjustments to the down link are match to the uplink. So if you want to operate 5kz below the center of the passband. You adjust the uplink and the downlink will track up 5kz. Once you're their you unlink them and correct gor the doppler. At least that's how it's supposed to work.... > The USB to serial cable I ordered is delayed, so at least another week before I can get the laptop to talk to the radio. > > > Rick Tejera K7TEJSaguaroAstro at cox.net623-203-4121 > > > > -------- Original message -------- > From: Jeff Moore > Date: 03/29/2016 11:33 (GMT-07:00) > To: Amsat BB > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Is it me? > > I thought the TS-2000 had all the doppler correction built in. Why aren't > you using that since your laptop isn't attached to the radio???? > > Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY > > > >> On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:41 PM, Rick Tejera wrote: >> >> All, >> >> >> >> While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the >> linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. >> So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. >> Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees >> from >> DM33. >> >> >> >> First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage >> issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an >> ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the >> USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). >> >> So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler >> corrections >> in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at >> the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the >> uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and >> moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole >> pass. >> >> >> >> I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was >> toow >> eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). >> >> >> >> So, I guess I have two questions: >> >> >> >> 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? >> >> 2) Did anyone hear me? >> >> >> >> I'm hoping o From glasbrenner at mindspring.com Tue Mar 29 23:29:58 2016 From: glasbrenner at mindspring.com (Andrew Glasbrenner) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 19:29:58 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Agreed. All the complaints about lack of transponders and such, and these are nearly empty most passes. They may not be high up, but with a train of them coming by you can chat for long enough to run out if things to say! 73, Drew KO4MA Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 29, 2016, at 7:17 PM, Richard Lawn wrote: > > I'm confounded by the lack of activity on these satellites which are > functioning quite well. I just called and called with no takers until close > to the end of the pass I thought I heard a French Canadian trying to call > me but it was getting too low to my horizon. More operators should be using > these birds while they are still functioning. > > 73 > Rick, W2JAZ > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From mikesprenger at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 00:03:04 2016 From: mikesprenger at gmail.com (Mike Sprenger) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 20:03:04 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <018824D9-59D2-46B1-BDE5-B28EC7998BE9@gmail.com> Drew & Rick I Agree I worked the XW- train a few weeks back for the first time. They work great. If you haven't yet then just Put these three Sats in your tracking software !!!! You'll be glad you did There is no confusion on the names, the transponders are sensitive and loud. There's radio fun to be had on these satellites. 73 Mike W4UOO > On Mar 29, 2016, at 7:29 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > > Agreed. All the complaints about lack of transponders and such, and these are nearly empty most passes. They may not be high up, but with a train of them coming by you can chat for long enough to run out if things to say! > > 73, Drew KO4MA > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 29, 2016, at 7:17 PM, Richard Lawn wrote: >> >> I'm confounded by the lack of activity on these satellites which are >> functioning quite well. I just called and called with no takers until close >> to the end of the pass I thought I heard a French Canadian trying to call >> me but it was getting too low to my horizon. More operators should be using >> these birds while they are still functioning. >> >> 73 >> Rick, W2JAZ >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp Wed Mar 30 00:18:57 2016 From: the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp (J. Boyd (JR2TTS)) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 09:18:57 +0900 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation In-Reply-To: <018824D9-59D2-46B1-BDE5-B28EC7998BE9@gmail.com> References: <018824D9-59D2-46B1-BDE5-B28EC7998BE9@gmail.com> Message-ID: <20160330091557.A9A8.THE2BELO@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> On Tue, 29 Mar 2016 20:03:04 -0400, Mike Sprenger wrote: > I worked the XW- train a few weeks back for the first time. > > They work great. If you haven't yet then just Put these three Sats in > your tracking software !!!! You'll be glad you did How embarrassing -- I... I hadn't realized the transponders were active yet. I thought they were only beacons. Well. If that's the case, there are some days I could theoretically have near constant xponder coverage of some kind! Right, I know what I'm doing this weekend. -- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C From n8hm at arrl.net Wed Mar 30 00:41:48 2016 From: n8hm at arrl.net (Paul Stoetzer) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 20:41:48 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-2A, C and F Operation In-Reply-To: <20160330091557.A9A8.THE2BELO@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> References: <018824D9-59D2-46B1-BDE5-B28EC7998BE9@gmail.com> <20160330091557.A9A8.THE2BELO@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> Message-ID: The transponders on A, C, and F are active. B and D are only sending telemetry. E is apparently lost as it hasn't been heard since late October. 73, Paul, N8HM On Tue, Mar 29, 2016 at 8:18 PM, J. Boyd (JR2TTS) wrote: > On Tue, 29 Mar 2016 20:03:04 -0400, Mike Sprenger wrote: > >> I worked the XW- train a few weeks back for the first time. >> >> They work great. If you haven't yet then just Put these three Sats in >> your tracking software !!!! You'll be glad you did > > How embarrassing -- I... I hadn't realized the transponders were active > yet. I thought they were only beacons. > > Well. If that's the case, there are some days I could theoretically have > near constant xponder coverage of some kind! > > Right, I know what I'm doing this weekend. > > -- > J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B > the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp > http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ > http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS > Twitter: @Minus2_C > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From ko6th.greg at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 04:53:34 2016 From: ko6th.greg at gmail.com (Greg D) Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2016 21:53:34 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Is it me? In-Reply-To: <000001d189f0$3ec836c0$bc58a440$@GMAIL.COM> References: <005201d1896c$e90be840$bb23b8c0$@net> <000001d189f0$3ec836c0$bc58a440$@GMAIL.COM> Message-ID: <56FB5BCE.70101@gmail.com> Hi Alan, Even on LEO birds, I find that locking the two VFOs comes in handy when you're operating manually on the linear ones. To not interrupt a QSO you want to join, it's best to "find yourself" somewhere else in the passband. Then you lock the two VFOs, and spin the knob to find the QSO again. You're probably going to be pretty close when it's your turn. Unlock and tune from there, with a preference to the higher band. That conversation too boring? Lock the VFOs and spin again. Greg KO6TH Alan wrote: > The Satellite Mode found in older rigs is a blast from the past. Specifically P3 birds like AO-10 and > AO-13. It depended on the Doppler shift being relatively constant (but not necessarily small) over a > reasonable period of time. You could sync your uplink and downlink, and then tune around with the > uplink automatically correcting. Over much of the P3 orbit you only needed to resync every 15-20 > minutes or more. By comparison, with LEO birds the Doppler shift changes fairly rapidly throughout > most of the pass, thus invalidating the basic assumption of the integral Satellite Mode. Fortunately > software such as SatPC32 and MacDoppler will work for any orbit. Lacking that, or when operating a > satellite such as AO-73 where the LO drifts a bit, purely manual tuning is more of a necessity than an > option. > > 73s, > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > <-----Original Message----- > > < > < > < > < > < > wrote: > < > <> All, > <> > <> > <> > <> While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the > <> linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable. > <> So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink. > <> Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees > <> from > <> DM33. > <> > <> > <> > <> First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage > <> issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an > <> ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the > <> USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio). > <> > <> So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler > <> corrections > <> in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at > <> the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the > <> uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and > <> moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole > <> pass. > <> > <> > <> > <> I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was > <> toow > <> eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me). > <> > <> > <> > <> So, I guess I have two questions: > <> > <> > <> > <> 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong? > <> > <> 2) Did anyone hear me? > <> > <> > <> > <> I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might > <> make it easier, but I think knowing how to do this manually should be > <> skillset i should have. > <> > <> > <> > <> Thanks in advance. > <> > <> > <> > <> > <> > <> Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) > <> > <> Saguaro Astronomy Club > <> > <> www.saguaroastro.org > <> > <> Thunderbird Radio Club > <> > <> www.w7tbc.org > <> > <> 623-572-0713 > <> > <> 623-203-4121 (cell) > <> > <> SaguaroAstro at cox.net > <> > <> > <> > <> _______________________________________________ > <> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > <> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > <> expressed > <> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > <> AMSAT-NA. > <> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > <> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > <> > <_______________________________________________ > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From n4csitwo at bellsouth.net Wed Mar 30 05:44:37 2016 From: n4csitwo at bellsouth.net (n4csitwo at bellsouth.net) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 01:44:37 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS contact with National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York Message-ID: An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at National Soaring Museum, Elmira, New York on 01 Apr. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:34 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between OR4ISS and IK1SLD The contact should be audible over Italy and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The National Soaring Museum sits atop Harris Hill, overlooking Elmira, New York, the "Soaring Capital of America". The National Soaring Museum was established in 1969, and underwent expansions in 1979 and 1989. The Soaring Museum is home to the Soaring Hall of Fame, and the Soaring Society of America's Archives. By collection, the NSM is the largest museum in the world dedicated to motorless flight. In 1972, the New York State Department of Education chartered the Museum as a non-profit educational institution. Its role as an educational institution provides youth with unique experiences to learn about the science and history of aviation. The Museum offers overnight soaring encampments for youth groups, and two summer camps: the Summer Soaring Academy, and Eileen Collins Aerospace Camp (ECAC). The Summer Soaring Academy is in its fourth year, and offers local students a hands-on look at aviation and engineering, capping off the week with a glider ride for all students. The Eileen Collins Aerospace Camp - named for the Elmira native who would become the first woman to command a space shuttle mission - is a weeklong adventure in aviation and space exploration. The week is filled with hands-on activities, trips, and rides in a sailplane and power plane. ECAC is one of the few in the United States that gives students an opportunity to fly in airplanes. This Harris Hill remains an active gliderport, with a strong Junior and Senior program. Several youth who attended this camp have joined the Harris Hill Juniors to become glider and power pilots themselves. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What made you want to become an astronaut? 2. Have there been any injuries on board? 3. What's a day in space like? 4. How do you stay stationary on space walks if the ISS is moving? 5. How far can you be from Earth and still talk to Mission Control? 6. Have you ever been on a mission that's gone badly? 7. How does microgravity feel? 8. How fast does the ISS go, and can you feel it moving? 9. Has there been any "unearthly" sightings? 10. What are you studying? 11. Were you scared when you went into space? 12. How do you talk to your family? 13. What courses in school do you have to take to be an astronaut? 14. What does it feel like to enter and exit the atmosphere? 15. Are space walks difficult? 16. Is microgravity difficult to deal with? 17. Do you bring something with you to remind you of home? 18. How long does it take to become an astronaut? 19. How do you control the rocket that takes you to the Space Station? 20. What's the most rewarding thing about being an astronaut? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): TBD ABOUT ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus From hdskullfire2 at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 10:40:38 2016 From: hdskullfire2 at gmail.com (hdskullfire2 .) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:40:38 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? Message-ID: If using a compass for initial mechanical line up, do I have to compensate & make the required declination adjustment? Right now mine would be 13 degrees for my location in eastern Pennsylvania? Steve NS3L From kb1pvh at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 10:58:56 2016 From: kb1pvh at gmail.com (Dave Webb KB1PVH) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:58:56 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Steve, You want true North. Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 On Mar 30, 2016 6:41 AM, "hdskullfire2 ." wrote: > If using a compass for initial mechanical line up, do I have to compensate > & make the required declination adjustment? Right now mine would be 13 > degrees for my location in eastern Pennsylvania? > > Steve NS3L > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > From jefforybroughton at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 17:52:50 2016 From: jefforybroughton at gmail.com (jeffory broughton) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:52:50 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Xw-2a Message-ID: Another problem is ,a lot folks work during the day and are not around . These birds see lots of activity during the weekends.Try listening then. Jeff WB8RJY jeff broughton From saguaroastro at cox.net Wed Mar 30 23:17:05 2016 From: saguaroastro at cox.net (Rick Tejera) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:17:05 -0700 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> All, In noticed when updating my leps yesterday that Aggisat4 is no longer listed in the Nasabare set. Any ideas where it went? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net From scott23192 at gmail.com Wed Mar 30 23:25:32 2016 From: scott23192 at gmail.com (Scott) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 19:25:32 -0400 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps References: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> Message-ID: <4EAAD560644844E4BC0DEF57C495FDB6@OPT755> Rick, I can't answer your question directly regarding the TLE's, but not long after launch I decoded telemetry on one pass and forwarded it to the team, of course. Despite monitoring for the next couple of weeks at every opportunity, I was never able to receive a signal from it again. I've not done a thorough web search, but I'm not aware that it has communicated since. So, at this point I don't know if it's still considered "active". -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Tejera To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 19:17 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps All, In noticed when updating my leps yesterday that Aggisat4 is no longer listed in the Nasabare set. Any ideas where it went? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From wa4sca at gmail.com Thu Mar 31 00:17:50 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 19:17:50 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps In-Reply-To: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> References: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> Message-ID: <000001d18ae2$c30f3210$492d9630$@GMAIL.COM> Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> Message-ID: <005f01d18af2$32fa53c0$98eefb40$@net> Well that answers that. Thanks. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net -----Original Message----- From: Alan [mailto:wa4sca at gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 5:18 PM To: 'Rick Tejera'; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- Hi! Last Saturday (26 March), I had an AMSAT table at the Radio Society of Tucson's annual hamfest. This year's hamfest was at a new location, at a Target store on the east end of that city. Even with the new location, there was a nice turnout. And, unlike most hamfests in Arizona, the organizers were most truthful with the hours for the hamfest - 6am (1300 UTC), which was just before sunrise, until 11am (1800 UTC) when most are leaving for lunch or to pick up with the rest of their weekends. I took advantage of this, and will go into my post-hamfest activities in a bit. I arrived in Tucson the night before the hamfest, and saw a tweet asking if anyone would be on an AO-85 pass just before 0500 UTC. I had arrived in Tucson about 90 minutes before that pass, saw a Wal-Mart store near my motel, and decided to give it a try. A nice pass, where I worked Fernando NP4JV about 60 miles south of me and Paul N8HM in Washington DC. I also copied telemetry, which I uploaded after the pass back in the motel room. A good pass, and a good way to start this rapid-fire trip to Tucson and beyond. The hamfest had a crowd showing up just after 5am (1200 UTC), including me. I had my AMSAT table ready, and my station set for the first of two AO-85 passes at 1330 UTC. I worked stations from coast to (almost) coast, using my IC-2730A FM mobile radio as the transmitter and my SDRplay SDR receiver and 8-inch Windows tablet as the receiver. As with other recent events, using an SDR receiver brings out lots of questions. For Saturday morning, this meant I missed working the 3 XW-2 satellites that were passing by after this pass. After talking about SDR, and mentioning I would use the SDRplay on the second AO-85 pass a few minutes after 1500 UTC, I had a larger crowd around for that pass. Not as many stations on as with the earlier pass, but still enough to demonstrate satellite operating and how well the SDR receiver worked with the AO-85 downlink. With the earlier ending time for the hamfest, I saw an AO-73 pass after 1630 UTC that would be another pass I wanted to work as a demonstration. Even though the Tucson morning was comfortable outside, not requiring a jacket, I left my Windows tablet outside in the sunlight. By the time of the AO-73 pass, it shut down due to overheating. Instead of using the SDRplay on another pass, I quickly brought out my second Yaesu FT-817ND to go with the FT-817ND I already had out as my transmitter on the AO-73 pass. I was able to work a few stations, and then answer the differences in operating on a linear transponder in SSB compared to an FM satellite. I worked 3 stations, almost coast to coast across the continental USA, on this AO-73 pass. With the early end to the hamfest, I was able to start driving a little earlier toward my goal for the afternoon - a point about 15 miles/25km west of the New Mexico town of Deming, on the DM52/DM62 grid boundary. On the way out there, I made two stops to work FO-29 passes. The first FO-29 pass, just after 1900 UTC, was a quick stop in the hopes of working Paul N8HM on the National Mall in Washington DC. I stopped at an exit off I-10 about 25 miles/40km southeast of Tucson, still in the same grid DM42 as the hamfest, and was able to work Paul and Clayton W5PFG on that pass. I did not stick around to work the entire pass, as I was trying to make the 200-mile/320km drive from Tucson to that spot outside of Deming in time to work some SO-50 passes starting in the mid-afternoon. Just after crossing the Arizona/New Mexico state line, a few minutes before 2100 UTC, was another FO-29 pass. I stopped at a place I have operated from in the past, the small "town" of Road Forks, about 5 miles/8km east of the state line. Road Forks is pretty much what the name implies - a fork in the road for the old US-80, which ran through this part of the country before the interstate highways were built. I parked at an old truck stop, and worked a few stations from here. Road Forks is in grid DM52, just over 60 miles/100km west of the DM52/DM62 grid boundary, so I still had to do more driving to reach the grid boundary. I made it to the DM52/DM62 grid boundary in a little less than an hour's drive from Road Forks, and spent a few minutes getting situated to take the obligatory photos to document my location on the grid boundary. Along with photos I tweeted, my TH-D72A HT was able to transmit my location to the APRS network in this part of the country showing where I parked. In doing this, I did not have a chance to work an AO-7 pass that started just after 2200 UTC, but was definitely able to work an SO-50 pass starting around 2222 UTC. In fact, I was able to wake up SO-50 very early in the pass, as I was in a location where the nearest hills and mountains were very far in the distance. In the next 10 minutes, I worked 13 stations from coast to coast in the continental USA, and Dani TG9AMD in Guatemala City. A mostly good pass, with my activity along with Dave KG5CCI and Clayton W5PFG also working portable (KG5CCI in EM24/Oklahoma, W5PFG in EM02/Texas). With a heavy wind blowing across the desert, and not wanting to be out in the southwestern New Mexico desert after dark, I decided to only work one other pass, a western SO-50 pass just after 0000 UTC. But before that pass, I saw a tractor-trailer come off the I-10 freeway with its trailer heavily damaged. The center of the trailer looked like something heavy dropped on top of it, collapsing the trailer's roof. I also saw an interesting car chase speed by on the I-10, with 3 New Mexico state troopers chasing a Fiat westbound - and I'd see those troopers, and a couple of others, with that car later on when I started driving back to Arizona. The later SO-50 pass started around 0004 UTC, 6.04pm local time in New Mexico. Although I only worked stations as far east as Arkansas and Tennessee, I was able to work a total of 12 stations on this pass. Mostly stations along the west coast and west of the Rockies. It was nice to hand out contacts with these stations, since almost nobody gets on the birds from these two grids any more unless someone travels to or through them. After this SO-50 pass, I started my drive back home - a drive of over 250 miles/400km. After passing by the spot where that car chase ended a few miles west of the DM52/DM62 grid boundary (the Fiat looked like it spun out into the median, where the state troopers surrounded it), I kept going west on I-10 about 150 miles/250km until I reached the small Arizona town of Benson. This town, about 40 miles/65km southeast of Tucson, was a good place for me to get a late dinner, fuel for my car, and there were two more passes I wanted to work to wrap up my operating on this trip. Benson is on the north edge of grid DM41, and I saw I could work both AO-73 and AO-85 in the span of about 25 minutes around 0330 UTC from this spot. The AO-73 pass was quieter than I expected, but I worked 3 stations - Nick KE8AKW in Ohio, Hector W5CBF in Louisiana, and Brent VE5SWL in Saskatchewan who had tweeted he would be on this pass. AO-85 came by a few minutes after the AO-73 pass, and I added two more stations to the log (Jerry N0JY in Texas, Frank K6FW in California). With this, and that late dinner I needed, I went back on the I-10 to finish my drive. Benson was almost exactly the halfway point between the DM52/DM62 grid boundary and home, and the last 150 miles/250km went by in about 2 hours. Speed limits on the rural parts of I-10 in Arizona and New Mexico are 75mph or 120 km/h, in case anyone was concerned that I tried to set new land speed records for my driving on I-10. :-) Thanks to everyone who called and worked WD9EWK during the passes I worked from the hamfest! I do this on a regular basis, and many of you already give more than just a call sign and grid locator - your city/town and state, a brief rundown on your station, etc. which the crowd is listening to and appreciates hearing. All of my QSOs from this trip to southern Arizona and over to New Mexico are in Logbook of the World from 4 different grid locators (DM41, DM42, DM52, DM62), and I am happy to send QSL cards to anyone interested in a confirmation of a QSO from this trip. Please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in my log, I will be happy to send you a card. No need to first send me a card or SASE to get my card from this trip. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK From shakeelj2k at yahoo.com Thu Mar 31 10:47:51 2016 From: shakeelj2k at yahoo.com (shakeel -ur-rehman) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:47:51 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [amsat-bb] Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support References: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for amateur satellite. we need to select rotor and antenna s for amateur satellite ground station. We Currently Have ICOM 9100 but this transceiver doenot support High speed data download e.g 64Kbps or more. Can Any one please advice another module /transciver which can add s-band support to ICOM 9100. or what other transceivers available in market which can provide us up 3 GHz frequency band reception. Thanks and Regards Shakeel From wa4sca at gmail.com Thu Mar 31 11:47:06 2016 From: wa4sca at gmail.com (Alan) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 06:47:06 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support In-Reply-To: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> References: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000e01d18b43$0d14c630$273e5290$@GMAIL.COM> Shakeel, Just curios, which university are you with? 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- Reposting from QRZ.com: Ham Talk Live! Episode #7 - ARISS with Rosalie White, K1STO - Thursday at 9pm ET Coming up this week on Ham Talk Live!, Rosalie White, K1STO will be here to talk about the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program sponsored by ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA! We will have a look back at the start of the program, the 1000th QSO that was just completed, and the future of the program. We will feature some messages from the ISS, and tell you about a way you can help! Join us Thursday night at 9 pm Eastern time on hamtalklive.com, and call in with your questions! If you can't listen live, you can hear the replay on our web site. Or, you can find us on Spreaker, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, YouTube, SoundCloud, or TuneIn. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm at amsat.org From kevin at eaglecreekobservatory.org Thu Mar 31 15:09:07 2016 From: kevin at eaglecreekobservatory.org (Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:09:07 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps In-Reply-To: <000001d18ae2$c30f3210$492d9630$@GMAIL.COM> References: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> <000001d18ae2$c30f3210$492d9630$@GMAIL.COM> Message-ID: <008101d18b5f$46afb7d0$d40f2770$@org> I'm been out of the loop on AMSAT for a long time (need to re-join). AGGISAT wouldn't happen to be Texas A&M sponsored and BEVO-2 UT? Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE EL09uf Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org I am Voltohm of Borg! Resistance is E/I, you will be attenuated! -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 7:18 PM To: 'Rick Tejera'; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: Message-ID: UNSUBSCRIBE -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of amsat-bb-request at amsat.org Sent: 31 March 2016 16:10 To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 101 Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to amsat-bb at amsat.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to amsat-bb-request at amsat.org You can reach the person managing the list at amsat-bb-owner at amsat.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? (hdskullfire2 .) 2. Re: Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? (Dave Webb KB1PVH) 3. Xw-2a (jeffory broughton) 4. Aggiesat keps (Rick Tejera) 5. Re: Aggiesat keps (Scott) 6. Re: Aggiesat keps (Alan) 7. Re: Aggiesat keps (Rick Tejera) 8. WD9EWK @ Radio Society of Tucson hamfest, & other operating on 26-27 March (long) (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) 9. Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support (shakeel -ur-rehman) 10. Re: Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support (Alan) 11. Ham Talk Live Webcast Tonight - ARISS with Rosalie White, K1STO (JoAnne Maenpaa) 12. Re: Aggiesat keps (Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:40:38 -0400 From: "hdskullfire2 ." To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 If using a compass for initial mechanical line up, do I have to compensate & make the required declination adjustment? Right now mine would be 13 degrees for my location in eastern Pennsylvania? Steve NS3L ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 06:58:56 -0400 From: Dave Webb KB1PVH To: "hdskullfire2 ." Cc: AMSAT -BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Do I need to figure in declination adjustment for my array? Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Steve, You want true North. Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4 On Mar 30, 2016 6:41 AM, "hdskullfire2 ." wrote: > If using a compass for initial mechanical line up, do I have to > compensate & make the required declination adjustment? Right now mine > would be 13 degrees for my location in eastern Pennsylvania? > > Steve NS3L > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect > the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ------------------------------ Message: 3 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 13:52:50 -0400 From: jeffory broughton To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Xw-2a Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Another problem is ,a lot folks work during the day and are not around . These birds see lots of activity during the weekends.Try listening then. Jeff WB8RJY jeff broughton ------------------------------ Message: 4 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 16:17:05 -0700 From: "Rick Tejera" To: Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" All, In noticed when updating my leps yesterday that Aggisat4 is no longer listed in the Nasabare set. Any ideas where it went? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net ------------------------------ Message: 5 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 19:25:32 -0400 From: "Scott" To: Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <4EAAD560644844E4BC0DEF57C495FDB6 at OPT755> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Rick, I can't answer your question directly regarding the TLE's, but not long after launch I decoded telemetry on one pass and forwarded it to the team, of course. Despite monitoring for the next couple of weeks at every opportunity, I was never able to receive a signal from it again. I've not done a thorough web search, but I'm not aware that it has communicated since. So, at this point I don't know if it's still considered "active". -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Tejera To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 19:17 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps All, In noticed when updating my leps yesterday that Aggisat4 is no longer listed in the Nasabare set. Any ideas where it went? Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ------------------------------ Message: 6 Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2016 19:17:50 -0500 From: Alan To: "'Rick Tejera'" , Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <000001d18ae2$c30f3210$492d9630$@GMAIL.COM> Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- To: , Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <005f01d18af2$32fa53c0$98eefb40$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Well that answers that. Thanks. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Radio Club www.w7tbc.org 623-572-0713 623-203-4121 (cell) SaguaroAstro at cox.net -----Original Message----- From: Alan [mailto:wa4sca at gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 5:18 PM To: 'Rick Tejera'; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- To: "amsat-bb at amsat.org" Subject: [amsat-bb] WD9EWK @ Radio Society of Tucson hamfest, & other operating on 26-27 March (long) Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Hi! Last Saturday (26 March), I had an AMSAT table at the Radio Society of Tucson's annual hamfest. This year's hamfest was at a new location, at a Target store on the east end of that city. Even with the new location, there was a nice turnout. And, unlike most hamfests in Arizona, the organizers were most truthful with the hours for the hamfest - 6am (1300 UTC), which was just before sunrise, until 11am (1800 UTC) when most are leaving for lunch or to pick up with the rest of their weekends. I took advantage of this, and will go into my post-hamfest activities in a bit. I arrived in Tucson the night before the hamfest, and saw a tweet asking if anyone would be on an AO-85 pass just before 0500 UTC. I had arrived in Tucson about 90 minutes before that pass, saw a Wal-Mart store near my motel, and decided to give it a try. A nice pass, where I worked Fernando NP4JV about 60 miles south of me and Paul N8HM in Washington DC. I also copied telemetry, which I uploaded after the pass back in the motel room. A good pass, and a good way to start this rapid-fire trip to Tucson and beyond. The hamfest had a crowd showing up just after 5am (1200 UTC), including me. I had my AMSAT table ready, and my station set for the first of two AO-85 passes at 1330 UTC. I worked stations from coast to (almost) coast, using my IC-2730A FM mobile radio as the transmitter and my SDRplay SDR receiver and 8-inch Windows tablet as the receiver. As with other recent events, using an SDR receiver brings out lots of questions. For Saturday morning, this meant I missed working the 3 XW-2 satellites that were passing by after this pass. After talking about SDR, and mentioning I would use the SDRplay on the second AO-85 pass a few minutes after 1500 UTC, I had a larger crowd around for that pass. Not as many stations on as with the earlier pass, but still enough to demonstrate satellite operating and how well the SDR receiver worked with the AO-85 downlink. With the earlier ending time for the hamfest, I saw an AO-73 pass after 1630 UTC that would be another pass I wanted to work as a demonstration. Even though the Tucson morning was comfortable outside, not requiring a jacket, I left my Windows tablet outside in the sunlight. By the time of the AO-73 pass, it shut down due to overheating. Instead of using the SDRplay on another pass, I quickly brought out my second Yaesu FT-817ND to go with the FT-817ND I already had out as my transmitter on the AO-73 pass. I was able to work a few stations, and then answer the differences in operating on a linear transponder in SSB compared to an FM satellite. I worked 3 stations, almost coast to coast across the continental USA, on this AO-73 pass. With the early end to the hamfest, I was able to start driving a little earlier toward my goal for the afternoon - a point about 15 miles/25km west of the New Mexico town of Deming, on the DM52/DM62 grid boundary. On the way out there, I made two stops to work FO-29 passes. The first FO-29 pass, just after 1900 UTC, was a quick stop in the hopes of working Paul N8HM on the National Mall in Washington DC. I stopped at an exit off I-10 about 25 miles/40km southeast of Tucson, still in the same grid DM42 as the hamfest, and was able to work Paul and Clayton W5PFG on that pass. I did not stick around to work the entire pass, as I was trying to make the 200-mile/320km drive from Tucson to that spot outside of Deming in time to work some SO-50 passes starting in the mid-afternoon. Just after crossing the Arizona/New Mexico state line, a few minutes before 2100 UTC, was another FO-29 pass. I stopped at a place I have operated from in the past, the small "town" of Road Forks, about 5 miles/8km east of the state line. Road Forks is pretty much what the name implies - a fork in the road for the old US-80, which ran through this part of the country before the interstate highways were built. I parked at an old truck stop, and worked a few stations from here. Road Forks is in grid DM52, just over 60 miles/100km west of the DM52/DM62 grid boundary, so I still had to do more driving to reach the grid boundary. I made it to the DM52/DM62 grid boundary in a little less than an hour's drive from Road Forks, and spent a few minutes getting situated to take the obligatory photos to document my location on the grid boundary. Along with photos I tweeted, my TH-D72A HT was able to transmit my location to the APRS network in this part of the country showing where I parked. In doing this, I did not have a chance to work an AO-7 pass that started just after 2200 UTC, but was definitely able to work an SO-50 pass starting around 2222 UTC. In fact, I was able to wake up SO-50 very early in the pass, as I was in a location where the nearest hills and mountains were very far in the distance. In the next 10 minutes, I worked 13 stations from coast to coast in the continental USA, and Dani TG9AMD in Guatemala City. A mostly good pass, with my activity along with Dave KG5CCI and Clayton W5PFG also working portable (KG5CCI in EM24/Oklahoma, W5PFG in EM02/Texas). With a heavy wind blowing across the desert, and not wanting to be out in the southwestern New Mexico desert after dark, I decided to only work one other pass, a western SO-50 pass just after 0000 UTC. But before that pass, I saw a tractor-trailer come off the I-10 freeway with its trailer heavily damaged. The center of the trailer looked like something heavy dropped on top of it, collapsing the trailer's roof. I also saw an interesting car chase speed by on the I-10, with 3 New Mexico state troopers chasing a Fiat westbound - and I'd see those troopers, and a couple of others, with that car later on when I started driving back to Arizona. The later SO-50 pass started around 0004 UTC, 6.04pm local time in New Mexico. Although I only worked stations as far east as Arkansas and Tennessee, I was able to work a total of 12 stations on this pass. Mostly stations along the west coast and west of the Rockies. It was nice to hand out contacts with these stations, since almost nobody gets on the birds from these two grids any more unless someone travels to or through them. After this SO-50 pass, I started my drive back home - a drive of over 250 miles/400km. After passing by the spot where that car chase ended a few miles west of the DM52/DM62 grid boundary (the Fiat looked like it spun out into the median, where the state troopers surrounded it), I kept going west on I-10 about 150 miles/250km until I reached the small Arizona town of Benson. This town, about 40 miles/65km southeast of Tucson, was a good place for me to get a late dinner, fuel for my car, and there were two more passes I wanted to work to wrap up my operating on this trip. Benson is on the north edge of grid DM41, and I saw I could work both AO-73 and AO-85 in the span of about 25 minutes around 0330 UTC from this spot. The AO-73 pass was quieter than I expected, but I worked 3 stations - Nick KE8AKW in Ohio, Hector W5CBF in Louisiana, and Brent VE5SWL in Saskatchewan who had tweeted he would be on this pass. AO-85 came by a few minutes after the AO-73 pass, and I added two more stations to the log (Jerry N0JY in Texas, Frank K6FW in California). With this, and that late dinner I needed, I went back on the I-10 to finish my drive. Benson was almost exactly the halfway point between the DM52/DM62 grid boundary and home, and the last 150 miles/250km went by in about 2 hours. Speed limits on the rural parts of I-10 in Arizona and New Mexico are 75mph or 120 km/h, in case anyone was concerned that I tried to set new land speed records for my driving on I-10. :-) Thanks to everyone who called and worked WD9EWK during the passes I worked from the hamfest! I do this on a regular basis, and many of you already give more than just a call sign and grid locator - your city/town and state, a brief rundown on your station, etc. which the crowd is listening to and appreciates hearing. All of my QSOs from this trip to southern Arizona and over to New Mexico are in Logbook of the World from 4 different grid locators (DM41, DM42, DM52, DM62), and I am happy to send QSL cards to anyone interested in a confirmation of a QSO from this trip. Please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in my log, I will be happy to send you a card. No need to first send me a card or SASE to get my card from this trip. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK ------------------------------ Message: 9 Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:47:51 +0000 (UTC) From: shakeel -ur-rehman To: Subject: [amsat-bb] Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support Message-ID: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo at mail.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for amateur satellite. we need to select rotor and antenna s for amateur satellite ground station. We Currently Have ICOM 9100 but this transceiver doenot support High speed data download e.g 64Kbps or more. Can Any one please advice another module /transciver which can add s-band support to ICOM 9100. or what other transceivers available in market which can provide us up 3 GHz frequency band reception. Thanks and Regards Shakeel ------------------------------ Message: 10 Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 06:47:06 -0500 From: Alan To: "AMSAT-BB" Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Transceiver with UHF/VHF and S-Band or upto 3GHz support Message-ID: <000e01d18b43$0d14c630$273e5290$@GMAIL.COM> Shakeel, Just curios, which university are you with? 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- To: "'AMSAT BB'" Subject: [amsat-bb] Ham Talk Live Webcast Tonight - ARISS with Rosalie White, K1STO Message-ID: <000f01d18b5b$6fb51c00$4f1f5400$@net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Reposting from QRZ.com: Ham Talk Live! Episode #7 - ARISS with Rosalie White, K1STO - Thursday at 9pm ET Coming up this week on Ham Talk Live!, Rosalie White, K1STO will be here to talk about the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program sponsored by ARRL, AMSAT, and NASA! We will have a look back at the start of the program, the 1000th QSO that was just completed, and the future of the program. We will feature some messages from the ISS, and tell you about a way you can help! Join us Thursday night at 9 pm Eastern time on hamtalklive.com, and call in with your questions! If you can't listen live, you can hear the replay on our web site. Or, you can find us on Spreaker, iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, YouTube, SoundCloud, or TuneIn. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm at amsat.org ------------------------------ Message: 12 Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:09:07 -0500 From: "Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE" To: Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Message-ID: <008101d18b5f$46afb7d0$d40f2770$@org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I'm been out of the loop on AMSAT for a long time (need to re-join). AGGISAT wouldn't happen to be Texas A&M sponsored and BEVO-2 UT? Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE EL09uf Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org I am Voltohm of Borg! Resistance is E/I, you will be attenuated! -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 7:18 PM To: 'Rick Tejera'; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- References: <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo.ref@mail.yahoo.com> <190028395.193239.1459421271969.JavaMail.yahoo@mail.yahoo.com> <000e01d18b43$0d14c630$273e5290$@GMAIL.COM> Message-ID: When you say S-band what frequency do you mean? Commercial S-band 2.1Ghz approximately or 2.4Ghz Amateur Band? > <-----Original Message----- > -ur-rehman via > support > < > < We are in process of development of Student Satellite Ground station for > amateur satellite. we need > to > > > but this transceiver >> > < >> > support to ICOM 9100. >> < >> > GHz frequency band >> > < >> < >> > < >> > <_______________________________________________ >> > > expressed >> > AMSAT-NA. >> > > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >> expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >> AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb From marius at thestroms.org Thu Mar 31 17:37:17 2016 From: marius at thestroms.org (Marius Strom) Date: Thu, 31 Mar 2016 17:37:17 +0000 Subject: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps In-Reply-To: <008101d18b5f$46afb7d0$d40f2770$@org> References: <004801d18ada$4653b690$d2fb23b0$@net> <000001d18ae2$c30f3210$492d9630$@GMAIL.COM>, <008101d18b5f$46afb7d0$d40f2770$@org> Message-ID: Yes, you?re correct on the sponsorships. Gig ?em! Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 8:10 AM To: amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps I'm been out of the loop on AMSAT for a long time (need to re-join). AGGISAT wouldn't happen to be Texas A&M sponsored and BEVO-2 UT? Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE EL09uf Eagle Creek Observatory http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org I am Voltohm of Borg! Resistance is E/I, you will be attenuated! -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Alan Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 7:18 PM To: 'Rick Tejera'; amsat-bb at amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Aggiesat keps Rick, >From the list AMSAT Keps distribution notes: The following satellites have been removed from the AMSAT KEP Distribution: AAUSat-5 (NORAD CAT ID 40948) Decayed 3-15-2016. AGGIESAT-4 (NORAD CAT ID 41313) Has not shown any signs of life and is considered dead. BEVO-2 (NORAD CAT ID 41314) was prematurely deployed from AGGIESAT-4 and never activated. BEVO-2 was never listed in the AMSAT KEP Distribtuion. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- www.saguaroastro.org < www.w7tbc.org < <623-572-0713 < <623-203-4121 (cell) <