[amsat-bb] Use of ICOM 910 for AO-51 L-Band BBS Uplink?
Hi Folks, I would be interested to know if anyone is using an ICOM 910 with the L-Band module for Ao-51 uplink on the BBS? (The optional L-Band unit for the 910 runs 10 watts according to the book). I am particularly interested to know what type/gain of antenna I would need to get a reliable up link. I am planning to use about 20 metres of Ecoflex 10, which will introduce a loss of something like 3 Dbs. I know that the LBand/Digital up link is currently off, just gettting ready for the next 'on' period! 73s Jim G3WGM ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: You learn something new every day...
Hi Jerry, N0JY The only way to eliminate all of your uncertainty is to point the dish to the Sun and try to receive the Sun-Noise. If the pick of Sun-Noise match both with the traking program of the Sun and the indication of the AZ and EL of your control box then you are calibrated otherwise you must apply the necessary corrections. 73 de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: N0JY n...@lavabit.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:51 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] You learn something new every day... Hello AO-51 V/S gang! I've been on the past couple of nights trying out my modified K5GNA BBQ dish, I had removed the dipole and replaced it with a LHCP patch feed I built. Past mode */S runs on AO-51 were spent getting the feed back in the focus. The passes this week though still left me with some bad fades and signals varying from S9+ to nothing but noise. Well I finally figured it out during the 00:00 pass tonight... I'm using SATPC32 rotor control and I was fiddling with the pointing corrections. Tonight was an overhead pass, so the signals should have been great. They weren't though, so I started tweaking the rotor degree corrections. Came to find that a +14 degree azimuth gave me the great signals I expected to hear! So I got to thinking about it. I know the rotator/antenna assembly is pointed right, north is north and east is east and such. All of the other antennas give me the kind of signals I expect, when pointing toward a particular satellite and some local beacons and sweeping around them. So it must be one of two things: either the patch feed is off center, and I'll admit that it was heck to line up exactly using the PVC arrangement that I have created to get the AIDC downconverter pointed back toward the dish. I looks pretty centered... but, could it be off just a tad to the side so that I am actually feeding off-center, hence the need for a 15 degree adjustment to get the best signal? The other thought, the dish is mounted with the left edge about 1 foot to the right of the 70cm 40el crossed yagi, could the yagi be influencing the signal causing the apparent bend in the pointing? And probably vice versa, if so. Your thoughts on this would be appreciated. Meantime, I have at least a workaround to get the solid downlink that I was looking for. No polarization fades with the CP patch, and the 15 degrees offpoint isn't going to affect the 2m uplink as the bandwidth of that antenna (20el crossed) doesn't seem to mind. So, hopefully you won't have to hear me sign because I lost the downlink anymore this week! 73 and thanks, Jerry N0JY ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Tonight August 20 at8PM ET on Echolink N2EYH-L
Hello everyone It is time once again for the HVSG Net tonight at 8 PM on Echolink N2EYH-L.Please join us for the Net and share your satellite knowledge with the group. Tell us about any exciting contacts you have made. Tell us about your station. Your favorite antennas. Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary WA2AQH ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] EM18/19 Activated Aug 22
We will activate grid-boundary EM18xx/EM19xa just northeast of Keene, KS (Wabaunsee County) on August 22nd during the AO-27 pass @ 19:04UTC, the SO-50 pass @ 20:43UTC and AO-27 pass @ 20:43UTC (times are approximate). We will be using our HT's w/Arrow and ELK antennas. If you need a QSL for the contact, just send me an e-mail, I'll confirm with the log and send you a card. No need for SASE or return card. David McDaniel - KB0RZE Gail McDaniel - KB0RZD ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Use of ICOM 910 for AO-51 L-Band BBS Uplink?
Hi Jim, I use the same setup - but for analog uplink. Antennas are two 19 turn helix stacked about 2 wavelength above one another. The combined gain is 18 dBiC. That works most of the time - but EIRP is a bit low when AO-51 is at 3000 km range. For the digital uplink I think you need more EIRP. Either add a PA with 30 to 50 W out or larger antenna(s). 73 OZ1MY Ib - Original Message - From: Jim Heck jiml...@milnet.uk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:05 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Use of ICOM 910 for AO-51 L-Band BBS Uplink? Hi Folks, I would be interested to know if anyone is using an ICOM 910 with the L-Band module for Ao-51 uplink on the BBS? (The optional L-Band unit for the 910 runs 10 watts according to the book). I am particularly interested to know what type/gain of antenna I would need to get a reliable up link. I am planning to use about 20 metres of Ecoflex 10, which will introduce a loss of something like 3 Dbs. I know that the LBand/Digital up link is currently off, just gettting ready for the next 'on' period! 73s Jim G3WGM ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: IC910 and AO-51 VS
Hi Gene, Assign the IC-910 as a receiver using the rx command (instead of as a xcvr) in the satellite configuration record in the itune.cfg file. Something like this: satellite AO-51 V/S ; mode V/S downlink 2401.200 fm uplink 145.920 fm rxconverter 2256; for 145 MHz (tweek as needed) rx ic910 1 60 ; on com 1, hex address 60 tx Radio2 etc ; fill in whatever the other radio is This will use only the IC-910 receiver on just 2 meters. The other radio will be used only on 145 MHz as a transmitter. You can share the same com port if they are both ICOM radios. Operation with separate RX and TX is in the documentation on page 13 Configuring Radios. (itune110.doc) 73, Tony AA2TX --- At 12:30 AM 8/20/2009, WB2LLP wrote: I have been trying to get Instant Track 150 to control my IC910 when tracking AO-51 VS. Since my down converter translates to 145 Mhz, I assign the down path to the 2 meter side of the 910. I then create a factious path for the 432 side. When I enter the R command, IT starts displaying both the 144 and 432 sides but in alternating places. Is it possible to tell Instant Track to concentrate solely on the 144 path and ignore the 432 path? I have not found a way to do this and a search of the documentation does not find a solution. What I was trying to do was let Instant track handle the 2401 Doppler shift and I would handle a separate radio for the 144 uplink. Can I do what I want to do with IT or is it time to say goodbye to a friend and move up. TNX es 73 de WB2LLP Gene ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Use of ICOM 910 for AO-51 L-Band BBS Uplink?
I use the 910 with one of the KJ6KO 60 watt amps to 50ft of lmr400uf, and a m2 35 element yagi. Circular would be better, but I also use the antenna system for terrestrial SSB work. Fine tuning the uplink is very important on L band. Due probably to radio inaccuracies, and maybe on the spacecraft, I have to offset the uplink by about 3 khz. 73, Drew KO4MA - Original Message - From: Jim Heck jiml...@milnet.uk.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 5:05 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Use of ICOM 910 for AO-51 L-Band BBS Uplink? Hi Folks, I would be interested to know if anyone is using an ICOM 910 with the L-Band module for Ao-51 uplink on the BBS? (The optional L-Band unit for the 910 runs 10 watts according to the book). I am particularly interested to know what type/gain of antenna I would need to get a reliable up link. I am planning to use about 20 metres of Ecoflex 10, which will introduce a loss of something like 3 Dbs. I know that the LBand/Digital up link is currently off, just gettting ready for the next 'on' period! 73s Jim G3WGM ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: KLM 2M 22C
Hi Luc, VE2DWE I am using a KLM 2M 22C and in my boom no pre drilled hole was missed.In a separate e mail I will send to you a picture of my assembly. Best 73 de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Luc Leblanc luclebla...@videotron.ca To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: eu-am...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 5:43 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] KLM 2M 22C I just assemble and old oscar 1 era KLM 2M 22C beam over the week end to ended stuck up with one element and no matching pre drilled hole in the boom tube. Did anyone recollect if KLM ever missed pre drilled hole in their workmanship? My assembly was on the side of a bit hurry and i will have to recheck al the measurements but with the pre drilled bolt holes boom section attachment it is hard to make mistakes but we never know! Thank's for your inputs? - Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] New ICOM VHF / UHF / SHF Radio
Looks like the IC-9100 will make a possible sneak appearance in a few days, there's a Yahoo! group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ic9100/ This group for the new ICOM transceiver, IC-9100 HF+VHF+UHF+(D-Star+23CM, optional), built-in HF/50MHz ATU(tuner), 32 bit IF-DSP, 24 bit A/D conv. HF/50MHz 100 watts, 144MHz 50 watts, 430MHz 50 watts, optional 1200MHz 10 watts output. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: A memorable night in the AO-7
very nice video, very good pictures to go with the audio, you did good, Rodney kc0zhf ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: A memorable night in the AO-7
Really nice. I wish the footprint were larger! 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle, Wa. - Original Message - From: ps8rf ps8 ps...@hotmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 8:53:17 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] A memorable night in the AO-7 Hello to all, I published a video/audio on the Internet with a few QSOs among of friends via AO-7 - in the same orbit. I found interesting post the video file because I still had not heard at other times this number of friends by using the AO-7. I feel privileged to be in my city and listen to many friends through the AO-7. I gave the name the video A memorable night in the AO-7. Well, I am not an expert in assembling the videos, but I hope we all enjoy and feel excited to participate actively in future projects of satellites for radio amateurs. The video is approximately 22 minutes, see here: http://spacesat.blogspot.com/2009/08/uma-noite-memoravel-no-ao-7.html Listened: Miguel, CX1TH Ignacio, LU1ESY Tadeu, PY2SAD Roland, PY4ZBZ Luciano, PY5LF Piraja, PS8RF Juan , LU2DPW Guillermo , HK6IOP Josef, K3SZH Arthur, K4YYL Gregory, N3MVF Douglas, KD8CAO Daniel, AJ9K Michael, KC9ELU. Thanks Piraja, PS8RF _ Novo Internet Explorer 8. Baixe agora, é grátis! http://brasil.microsoft.com.br/IE8/mergulhe/?utm_source=MSN%3BHotmailutm_medium=Taglineutm_campaign=IE8 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: New ICOM VHF / UHF / SHF Radio
Will it do full duplex for the satellites, or dual receive? 73s John AA5JG --- On Thu, 8/20/09, Simon (HB9DRV) si...@hb9drv.ch wrote: From: Simon (HB9DRV) si...@hb9drv.ch Subject: [amsat-bb] New ICOM VHF / UHF / SHF Radio To: EU-AMSAT eu-am...@yahoogroups.com, AMSAT.org amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 2:17 AM Looks like the IC-9100 will make a possible sneak appearance in a few days, there's a Yahoo! group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ic9100/ This group for the new ICOM transceiver, IC-9100 HF+VHF+UHF+(D-Star+23CM, optional), built-in HF/50MHz ATU(tuner), 32 bit IF-DSP, 24 bit A/D conv. HF/50MHz 100 watts, 144MHz 50 watts, 430MHz 50 watts, optional 1200MHz 10 watts output. Simon Brown, HB9DRV www.ham-radio-deluxe.com ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: KLM 2M 22C
Hi Luc, I've assembled several of these antennas and never found a problem. I would suspect assembly error; page 7 of the manual has all the dimensions to verify proper assembly. there are four columns of figures. The leftmost column is the distance from the end of the boom to that particular element, while the rightmost column is the length of that element. Those 2 columns are for the horizontal elements. The middle two columns are the measurements for the vertical plane elements. Again the middle-left column is the distance from the end of the boom, while the middle-right column is the element length. The most likely element(s) to miss mounting are the one(s) that are mounted through the balun or tight against the polarity switcher. If you don't have the manual let me know and I will get a copy to you. 73 Don -VE1AOE- I just assemble and old oscar 1 era KLM 2M 22C beam over the week end to ended stuck up with one element and no matching pre drilled hole in the boom tube. Did anyone recollect if KLM ever missed pre drilled hole in their workmanship? My assembly was on the side of a bit hurry and i will have to recheck al the measurements but with the pre drilled bolt holes boom section attachment it is hard to make mistakes but we never know! Thank's for your inputs? ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: The future of the ISS.
73 John. la2...@amsat.org ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb call me when this moves past wonderful pictures. Robert WB5MZO _ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Don't Fly SuitSat2 to ISS
Mr. Mann and all, I’m not sure I have a dog in this hunt, but I am an AMSAT member and enthusiastic user of the amateur satellites and the ISS amateur station. Before responding specifically to your most recent post, I would like to ask anyAMSAT Board of Directors candidate who reads this to weigh in on your ideas over the next few days because I have not cast my ballot yet, and I’d like to hear candidates’ thoughts so I can make a more-informed voting decision. Now … on to my response to your most recent post. I find myself believing your reasoning and arguments to be self-serving because last October, I heard Richard Garriott’s side of a conversation with you during his stay on the ISS, when it was apparent that you used precious time available for other amateurs to make contact with Richard to ask whether you could transmit SSTV images to the ISS. Nowhere in the multiple posts you have made over the past week have you addressed the impact of your SSTV proposal(s) on the existing U/V voice repeater and/or the VHF packet station on the ISS. I presume that, since you propose (in this post I’m responding to) only replacing/upgrading hardware necessary to make the existing SSTV system operational, that its time on the air will mean no packet station and no opportunity for voice contacts, either with the crew or with other amateurs via the repeater. We all have our interests and preferences. Mine, as it relates to the use of the amateur radio gear aboard the ISS, is two-way communication with other amateurs – including ISS crew members and private citizens who are licensed amateurs and who visit the ISS. As is the case with SSTV transmissions, those who choose to do so can use ground stations as you described to monitor voice communications, and (as you pointed out with SSTV) free software is available to anyone for use in setting up a sound-card-based TNC to copy and decode packet radio from the ISS. From here, as a result, you seem to be advocating a trade-off in operational modes with an eye toward increasing SSTV operation using the existing gear. So unless I’m missing something, your recent post argues only for a mode change, not an increase in operating opportunities. Further, if that is, indeed, the case, then the biggest bang for the buck – it seems to me, at least – would be to not spend any money and encourage ARISS members to work with the appropriate officials in the various space agencies to take advantage of remaining voice and packet opportunities. Of course, that won’t bring SSTV back to the ISS station. But it also won’t cost a dime moving forward. Free makes for the biggest bang (i.e., no bucks involved). Like you, I would like to see a new satellite with SSTV, FM-crossband-repeater and V/U SSB transponders placed into a higher orbit. More than a few times, since hearing about China’s plans for the XW-1 satellite, I have found myself thinking how cool it would be for a satellite with its capabilities to be placed in an AO-7-like (or even slightly higher) orbit. In that regard, I don’t disagree with arguments that suggest finding some way to make whatever form SuitSat-2 ultimately takes stay in orbit and remain active as long as possible. BUT (there’s always a but… hihi) I don’t see the wisdom in scrapping plans to place another satellite with multiple-mode capabilities in operation – regardless of the duration – just to get the ISS station running SSTV again – especially when the station is fully capable of providing two-way voice and packet contacts in its current form. In a previous post, you provided other options for ARISS projects, in addition to repair of the gear necessary to operate SSTV with the current station. Two days ago, the following statements appeared in the same post from you: “The longest it required from Theory to Switch-on from Mir for any project was 15 months. “With ISS it does take longer. The average time is (ouch) 4-7 years. “The ISS laptop project required 9 years. “The SpaceCam1 project, from Beta software demo to switch on was 7 years.” And “We have 5-6 years left of ISS. We need to make the best of what little time we have left.” Unless I’m missing something, and if the numbers you state in each section of your Aug. 18 post are accurate, it appears to me as though there’s no guarantee there will be enough time to achieve anything you advocate because, as I understand it from your posts, these proposals would pretty much start from scratch in moving through the system from proposal to delivery to the ISS and activation. I am a relative newcomer to “space radio,” having made my first-ever satellite contact on June 28, 2008. That being said, I believe that an AMSAT decision to abandon SuitSat-2 so that it could focus on getting the necessary hardware to the ISS to add SSTV to the currently operating station would be a distinct disservice to the AMSAT membership and the
