[amsat-bb] K4T
Well, the party is over and we had a great time and we hope you did too. You can see a few of the pictures here: http://aroadventures.org/page26.html We had a few glitches but it all worked out. We ran two 910H's. One with yagis and one with egg beaters plus a portable station. It was pretty cool to see CW and FM worked simultaneously. We hope this sets a new standard for satellite operations on DXpeditions. Mark will give you an update later. By the way, we ran two satellite stations, two HF stations, inverter, lighting and all acc. 24 hours a day all on green power for four days and made over 8,000 contacts with only batteries and a wind turbine. The wind turbine was making so much power that we never even took the 900 watts of solar panels out of the case! 73's Mike Forsythe, AC2V ___ 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: fun with preamps
Hi Bob, Here's a method I've used for setting preamp gain. Got it from GM3SEK. = Here's a method that requires no test equipment at all. It comes from G4DGU, who designed all the original muTek transverters and outboard preamps to have adjustable gain. This method uses the sharp threshold effect of FM detectors at low S/N ratios, and it allows you to optimize the preamp/transverter gain for your local band noise conditions. 1. Turn the transverter/preamp gain well up. 2. Find a very weak but steady unmodulated carrier (off-air, not from a signal generator or a local birdie). Rotate the antenna until you can just detect the signal in FM mode. 3. Reduce the preamp/transverter gain until you hear the noise increase. The FM threshold is sensitive to a small fraction of a dB in S/N. 4. Increase the gain just a little,to the point where you can't hear the quieting improve much. 5. Switch back to a real DX mode. Remember that every dB of unnecessary preamp/transverter gain will probably subtract almost 1dB from your system intermod intercept! The penalty of adjusting the gain correctly is that you're living just above the knee where S/N will begin to deteriorate rapidly if something changes. It's worthwhile to repeat this test every few months - especially just before a contest. 73 from Ian G3SEK Editor, 'The VHF/UHF DX Book' 'In Practice' columnist for RadCom (RSGB) 73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 A closed mouth gathers no feet Hello Just installed a AG-25 (Icom preamp) on my 2M cp yagi. No preamp noise Smeter=0, preamp on Smeter=7. Signals appear better after backing down the volume with the preamp. I have 8-10 feet of LMR400uf from antenna to preamp, 50 feet of LMR400 to shack. I suppose I was expecting more dramatic results, I realize the AG-25 isn't the greatest and best, but it works well with the 910. Are these real world results for what I have. S7 noise level seems a bit high. as always-thanks 73 Bob W7LRD ___ 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: K4T
K4T was a super event, thanks to Mike and a great group of guys. Thanks to all of you for your contacts! On my early report I misread the log file, but our total contact number on satellite and vhf/uhf was right at 300. Futher details about the trip, the contacts, the station, and QSL info will be provided in the coming days. Some of you had a clean sweep (worked us on all birds, and even more than one mode (ssb/cw). I suspect K8YSE, N5UXT, and NZ5N are near the top :) If you worked me as N8MH in Key West (EL94) before the trip just send me a card directly. Tried SO-50 last night but couldn't get in... 73 for now. Mark N8MH --Original Message-- From: Mike Sender: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] K4T Sent: Mar 16, 2010 2:15 AM Well, the party is over and we had a great time and we hope you did too. You can see a few of the pictures here: http://aroadventures.org/page26.html We had a few glitches but it all worked out. We ran two 910H's. One with yagis and one with egg beaters plus a portable station. It was pretty cool to see CW and FM worked simultaneously. We hope this sets a new standard for satellite operations on DXpeditions. Mark will give you an update later. By the way, we ran two satellite stations, two HF stations, inverter, lighting and all acc. 24 hours a day all on green power for four days and made over 8,000 contacts with only batteries and a wind turbine. The wind turbine was making so much power that we never even took the 900 watts of solar panels out of the case! 73's Mike Forsythe, AC2V ___ 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 BlackBerry from T-Mobile ___ 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] K4T wind turbine
The wind turbine is a TLG500 http://www.tlgwindpower.com/default.htm . They are bomb proof and worked flawlessly. The cost is $1,375.00 and if you mention K4T as a promotion code they will give you $25.00 off of the shipping. I built a special tripod for it to make it portable and we had it up and making power in about ten minutes. 73's Mike, AC2V Hi Mike: What kind of turbine were you running? 73, Jeff WB2SYK ___ 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] HO-68 - Digital
To all, Sorry I worked HO-68 in voice :( this evening I didn't realize that it was reserved for packet operation. It won't happen again. 73 PE0SAT -- With regards PE0SAT Internet web-page http://www.ham.vgnet.nl/ ___ 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] (no subject)
Bob,with the AG25 preamp on I see s5/6. I do get the audio at a higher level ,it seems to me,. Just added to AO-51 the L/u to my doppler for satpac32 FM/FM to add for cross mode do I have to add a separate line or add to the info on the FM/FM string. If anyone can figure out what my ? is pls let me know what has to be done. ThanksJack WA1ZDV ___ 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] Rooms for Dayton
If you are planning to go to Dayton AND work the AMSAT booth, there are hotel rooms available until April 13th. We are staying at the Country Inn Suites in Fairborn. The cost is $99 (2 queen beds). To get a room in the AMSAT block, please call me at 301-589-6062. I need your room nights and a credit card number to secure the room. -- 73- Martha ___ 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: (no subject)
At 11:45 AM 3/16/2010, Jack Barbera wrote: Bob,with the AG25 preamp on I see s5/6. I do get the audio at a higher level ,it seems to me,. Just added to AO-51 the L/u to my doppler for satpac32 FM/FM to add for cross mode do I have to add a separate line or add to the info on the FM/FM string. If anyone can figure out what my ? is pls let me know what has to be done. ThanksJack WA1ZDV ___ 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 Jack, Sorry if this was covered, but do you have an internal preamp in the radio? If you do, turn it off. Even if there is not one, maybe you have an attenuator on the input ( a lot of the newer radios do nowdays). Try turning on the attenuator (probably 10dB) and see if that sounds better. If you have SSB see what S-meter rise you see in SSB. My preamps push my S-meter in FM a lot higher than when in SSB (typ S-5 vs S-2/3). I am running a 22-sB gain 432 preamp on my new Lindy antenna into a FT-847. The NF is probably approx 0.5 dB (Mgf-1302). The others gave you methods for testing it with local signals (measure S-meter rise on/off with a local rptr; compare S-meter with preamp connected with just the radio connected; moving antenna so that a local signal becomes near noise level and see if preamp pulls it up out of the noise (by ear)). Usually a rise in background noise is the sign of a healthy preamp - but not always. If signals are heard better without the preamp, then it probably is broken (always check dc power connections in this case). the AG25 is probably powered thru the coax by your radio (check that the radio is putting out voltage on the center pin). Since you are seeing noise rise these latter ideas are applicable (just covering the field for others that may be having preamp problems). GL 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 == BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 500-KHz/CW, 144-MHz EME, 1296-MHz EME DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubus...@hotmail.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] Where my pul file # 161 gone?
At HO-68 Orbit #1205 Wisp started to upload a file number 161 The file 161 partial uploaded .on the next pass orbit # 1206 Wisp try to upload what left from the file but the sever on satellite denied existance of file # 161 !! and shift to upload the next file #162 (see 2nd photo) Again the Directory was empty ??? I uploaded 2 or 3 messages yesterday and 1 messages today file # 160 . As you can see this in the photo #2 .The satellite was accepted the file. I requested the directory as my friend Mike DK3WN did !but it was empty! see this on the 3rd photo . where the Multipsk on other PC monitoring the Hope-1 satellite downlink by soundcard. This question I 've asked several time ! is there something wrong on HO-68 BBS?? see photo at http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2010/03/where-my-pul-file-161-gone-and-where-my.html 73' Nader ___ 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] Scottsdale AZ hamfest on 13 March - report
Hi! Last Saturday's Scottsdale (Arizona) Amateur Radio Club hamfest was a very successful event. After 2 decades, this hamfest moved to a new location at a casino on the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation Indian reservation east of Scottsdale. While the hamfest was taking place, a local FM radio station was holding its annual yard sale swap meet in another part of the parking lot. These two events were advertised on TV, radio, and in print in the weeks leading up to last Saturday. Thousands of people showed up for both events, including a nice crowd of hams who found their way to the new location. As part of the hamfest, my AMSAT table was busy throughout the morning and into the early afternoon. Officially, the hamfest started at 7am (1400 UTC). I arrived two hours early, and I'm glad I did. By the time the hamfest officially started, I would not have had the chance to get a good space to set up. They filled up by the starting time - something that never happened at the old location. By getting set up early, I was able to start working passes from just before 1300 UTC throughout the morning, and I did just that. For the AO-51 pass that started around 1252 UTC, I initially went on the main 145.920/435.300 MHz repeater. Even though K4T was on the 145.880/435.150 MHz repeater with lots of stations calling, I wanted to start out and make some QSOs for the small crowd that was already roaming around the hamfest. At this hour, just before 6am local time, there was at least 30 minutes to go before daylight started appearing in the eastern sky. I was able to work 9 stations before 1300 UTC, when I switched over to the 145.880/435.150 MHz repeater. I wanted to see if I could get K4T from the hamfest, and Mark N8MH at K4T was aware I would be trying to work the DXpedition from the hamfest. I was unsuccessful on AO-51, but on an AO-7 pass that was starting just after 1300 UTC I was able to work K4T. So far, so good. FO-29 made its first appearance for the hamfest about 30 minutes later. Another pass to the east, and I got on there to work whoever was on there. I heard Doug KD8CAO getting set up on there, we chatted for a moment, and then K4T called on our frequency. We each worked K4T right there, and then I moved off to see who else I could work on that pass. I was able to get two more contacts during that pass. After an hour, AO-51 made an appearance to the west. I was able to make 2 QSOs on the 145.920/435.300 MHz repeater with the only two stations I could hear on there, so that was not a bad showing. About 20 minutes after that AO-51 pass, AO-7 came by with a very high pass slightly to my west. The AO-7 footprint is large enough that most of the continental USA is within reach. I did not hear K4T on this pass, but I did not try to find them on this AO-7 pass after working them on the early AO-7 pass. I was able to work 6 stations spread out all over the USA, with a nice crowd listening and watching closely. SSB satellite demonstrations continue to draw in the crowds, and especially when I use my all-mode satellite station (two FT-817NDs, Elk 2m/70cm log periodic, no computer control). Once AO-7 went away, I had most of the 1500-1600 UTC hour to chat with people walking by the table. I wanted to try SO-50 just before 1600 UTC, and then VO-52 shortly after SO-50 went by. SO-50 had a nice and disciplined crowd, waiting for K4T to be in the footprint later in the pass. :-) I was able to work 5 stations, and K4T was the last of those. After working K4T, I changed over to the all- mode FT-817NDs to get on the VO-52 pass. I only made 2 QSOs on this pass - one with K4T, the fourth (and last) K4T QSO I would make at the hamfest, and another with Bernardo XE2HWB. Bernardo is very active on VHF/UHF and microwave contests from up and down Baja California, has been active on the FM satellites in the past couple of years (including working from many of the grids he visits for those VHF/UHF and microwave contests), and is now trying to get on the SSB satellites from his home near the southern tip of Baja California (DL44). I had almost 90 minutes before the next pass I could work, the VO-52 pass to my west. Another nice pass, and this time only one QSO with Mark WA8SME for most of it. One ham asked if I knew the details of Mark's satellite station. I didn't, so I asked Mark on the air. He gave a clear description of his station, running the same power as I was (5W) but with different antennas and a different radio than I had. With people still milling around the hamfest into the early afternoon, I missed the only HO-68 pass I could have worked a bit after 1900 UTC. I didn't feel too bad about that, being on many other passes using 2 FM satellites and 3 non-FM satellites from the hamfest. Stats... I worked a total of 8 passes on 5 satellites - 2 each on AO-7, AO-51, and VO-52; and one each on FO-29 and SO-50 - and a total of 30 contacts were made from the
[amsat-bb] Sat Presentation in Illinois
I just finished giving my How to Work Amateur Satellites with Low Power presentation to a classroom in Southern Illinois. Club president Gregg Sperling, KB9E, contacted me a few weeks ago, asking if I could speak at the March meeting of his Southern Illinois University Amateur Radio Club in Carbondale, IL. NO - I didn't use up my wife's frequent flyer miles. We did it via Skype. Audio AND video. I prepared a .pdf file ahead of time, tailored to the club (I always have a couple club-related trivia questions ... and always have the club's grid square id'd in the program) - and emailed it ahead of time to the tech guy. All slides were numbered, so we could stay in sync. The club used a computer/projector to show the slideshow, and I was able to see and hear the classroom attendees - and they could see and hear me - via Skype. Skype is almost full duplex, so I could hear comments and questions ... and I could see when a hand raised up for a question. It really worked out well! So, presenters: I guess we are no longer limited to hundred mile radii restrictions for our shows! It wasn't as effective as actually going to a site, demo'ing a FM bird, THEN presenting. But it sure got the word out to a club that I couldn't physically get to! We had a great time! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 ___ 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] K4T Wind Turbine and Recordings
There is a picture of the wind generator that was used to power all of the radios on the K4T Dry Tortugas dxpedition up on my webserver. There are also 13 recordings of K4T passes to listen to. http://www.papays.com/sat I believe that this is the first time a major dxpedition has relieved totally on wind to power the radio equipment and charge the batteries. Great job! 73, John K8YSE ___ 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: Sat Presentation in Illinois
Clint, Thanks for sharing this. That shows some real ingenuity. Dave, AA4KN Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile -Original Message- From: Clint Bradford clintbradf...@mac.com Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:24:01 To: AMSAT BBamsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Sat Presentation in Illinois I just finished giving my How to Work Amateur Satellites with Low Power presentation to a classroom in Southern Illinois. Club president Gregg Sperling, KB9E, contacted me a few weeks ago, asking if I could speak at the March meeting of his Southern Illinois University Amateur Radio Club in Carbondale, IL. NO - I didn't use up my wife's frequent flyer miles. We did it via Skype. Audio AND video. I prepared a .pdf file ahead of time, tailored to the club (I always have a couple club-related trivia questions ... and always have the club's grid square id'd in the program) - and emailed it ahead of time to the tech guy. All slides were numbered, so we could stay in sync. The club used a computer/projector to show the slideshow, and I was able to see and hear the classroom attendees - and they could see and hear me - via Skype. Skype is almost full duplex, so I could hear comments and questions ... and I could see when a hand raised up for a question. It really worked out well! So, presenters: I guess we are no longer limited to hundred mile radii restrictions for our shows! It wasn't as effective as actually going to a site, demo'ing a FM bird, THEN presenting. But it sure got the word out to a club that I couldn't physically get to! We had a great time! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 ___ 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
