[amsat-bb] AO-51 Mode V/S schedule should start 10:45Z 21Jun10
Please submit any reports to -bb or the website at http://oscar.dcarr.org/ . Of particular interest are reports between 10:45 and 11:29 today. We may need a few passes to get the scheduling working right, so please send those reports, and bear with us. 73, Drew KO4MA ___ 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] SO-67 back on air!
Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! During the downtime we conducted several experiments in order to investigate possible alternatives for the cut-off problem experienced by many at the end of last year / beginning of this year. The cut-off is caused by SW running on piggyback electronics that continues to gate the received audio onto the transmitter for about 3s after a specific ground transmission has ended, whereafter the received audio is cut off. The SW then waits for the next ground transmission with a valid transponder tone embedded, before gating the audio onto the transmitter again. So if a second transmission starts within the 3s tail period, it will be cut off when the 3s expires. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example: http://tinyurl.com/38vvg3o Unfortunately the piggyback electronics does not have reprogramming functionality, so we are not able to change the SW. We did however manage to implement a mechanism on the satellite transponder (used by the piggyback) that should be of some assistance when using the payload: the PTT of the transmitter now STAYS ON for the duration of the payload activation (i.e. 15 min), regardless of a valid transponder tone received. Note that this does not get rid of the cut-off problem, nor of the requirement to embed a valid tone when you want to use the payload - see detailed explanation below. The following example depicts the ideal usage scenario of the payload: 1. As the satellite comes over the horizon, an unmodulated carrier (quieting) will be received by all on UHF 2. Person A starts to transmit on VHF (with valid transponding tone embedded in the transmission) and the transmission is relayed on UHF 3. When Person A releases his/her PTT, the satellite will continue to transmit what it is receiving (usually this will be noise) for a further ±3s. Nobody should start to transmit during this time! 4. At the end of the ±3s period, everybody will again hear the unmodulated carrier. 5. NB: only when this unmodulated carrier is heard should Person B start to transmit. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example of valid usage: http://tinyurl.com/32rjbxm I suppose this will take some getting use to - at least the system has a built-in punishment mechanism for the impatient! ;-) Please refer to previous posts on general voice quality optimization when using the SA-AMSAT payload on SO-67. I will request Gladys Magagula at the Satellite Application Centre to obtain regular schedules from the regional coordinators as soon as possible. We will start off with day passes only, transmit on 2.5W and see how things go. Enjoy! Regards Jan-Albert Jan-Albert Koekemoer, PrEng Sun Space Information Systems (Pty) Ltd. Stellenbosch, South Africa www.sunspace.co.za http://www.sunspace.co.za +27 21 880 8117 (tel) +27 83 461 6643 (cell) +27 21 880 1703 (fax) E-mail Disclaimer http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm ___ 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: Batteries for FT 817
What you are seeing is over-charge which is normal. The battery should settle around the 9.6v mark and last a while there. Even when charging my Sanyo Superlatice Evo Cell 2700mah batteries I see over-charge. A good page to look at regarding power consumption in the FT817 is http://www.ka7oei.com/ft817_pwr.html . He sums up that a good way to conserve power is to turn the IPO On, keep the NB Off, keep the Screen Backlight Off, and stick to using the Front BNC connector will save the most power. Wearing headphones and transmitting on lower power helps out too. ~73, KC2WQW On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 12:12 PM, ANTHONY JAPHA tjja...@earthlink.netwrote: I use 2 FT817s for portable ops, and have been disappointed in the battery performance. Last year, I bought replacement batteries from Batteries America, the FNB-72xe, rated at 9.6v. at 2000mAh. There's no noticable difference between these new batteries and the originals. The batteries charge to just over 11.0 volts, but quickly drop through 10 volts, as indicated by the voltage reading that appears when the rigs are turned on. Maybe this is just normal behavior for a 9.6 v. battery. Is this what you would expect? Has anyone found a battery with a higher voltage rating and/or one that will maintain a higher voltage for an appreciable period--and fits into the 817? Every bit of power helps! Many tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN LM 183 ___ 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: [Sumbandila: 250] SO-67 back on air!
Dear Sumbandila Team, Congrats and Thanks for getting SO-67 back on the air again. Will certainly look forward to work through the Satellite again. We fully understand the requirement for activation during Day time passes. Since most of us here in India use simple Fixed antenna setups - please consider the Higher Elevation Angles ahead of the lower ones - if all the passes cannot be activated. Personal request from the small group here in South India. The Sked required for the Day Passes over Indian Subcontinent is a follows: Satellite Start time IST START UTC Start AZ Peak AZ Peak EL END - UTC End Az SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 22-Jun-10 08:31:56 03:01 31 101 20 03:12:51 167 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 22-Jun-10 10:06:07 04:36 338 282 11 04:45:42 229 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 23-Jun-10 08:13:52 02:43 43 99 10 02:53:27 153 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 23-Jun-10 09:46:51 04:16 350 280 21 04:27:41 215 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 24-Jun-10 07:56:20 02:26 59 98 4 02:33:30 135 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 24-Jun-10 09:27:50 03:57 0 278 41 04:09:25 203 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 25-Jun-10 09:09:03 03:39 10 196 88 03:50:53 191 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 26-Jun-10 08:50:28 03:20 20 106 41 03:32:08 179 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 26-Jun-10 10:26:04 04:56 324 284 4 05:03:19 246 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 27-Jun-10 08:32:08 03:02 31 101 21 03:13:03 167 SUMBANDILA (SO-67) 27-Jun-10 10:06:21 04:36 338 282 10 04:45:51 229 Request an early confirmation so that the same can be published among the Local Hams and hope good activity from India. Further sked for the next week will be emailed on Friday before 1200Z Madhukar – VU2MUD Yahoo Mail: vu2...@yahoo.co.uk Gmail: vu2...@gmail.com General Blog: http://vu2mud.blogspot.com Satellite Blog: http://workingtheoscars.blogspot.com On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 7:34 PM, Jan-Albert Koekemoer jan.koekem...@sunspace.co.za wrote: Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! During the downtime we conducted several experiments in order to investigate possible alternatives for the “cut-off” problem experienced by many at the end of last year / beginning of this year. The cut-off is caused by SW running on piggyback electronics that continues to gate the received audio onto the transmitter for about 3s after a specific ground transmission has ended, whereafter the received audio is cut off. The SW then waits for the next ground transmission with a valid “transponder” tone embedded, before gating the audio onto the transmitter again. So if a second transmission starts within the 3s “tail” period, it will be cut off when the 3s expires. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example: http://tinyurl.com/38vvg3o* * Unfortunately the piggyback electronics does not have reprogramming functionality, so we are not able to change the SW. We did however manage to implement a mechanism on the satellite transponder (used by the piggyback) that should be of some assistance when using the payload: the PTT of the transmitter now STAYS ON for the duration of the payload activation (i.e. 15 min), regardless of a valid “transponder” tone received. Note that this does not get rid of the “cut-off” problem, nor of the requirement to embed a valid tone when you want to use the payload – see detailed explanation below. The following example depicts the ideal usage scenario of the payload: 1. As the satellite comes over the horizon, an unmodulated carrier (“quieting”) will be received by all on UHF 2. Person A starts to transmit on VHF (with valid “transponding” tone embedded in the transmission) and the transmission is relayed on UHF 3. When Person A releases his/her PTT, the satellite will continue to transmit what it is receiving (usually this will be “noise”) for a further ±3s. Nobody should start to transmit during this time! 4. At the end of the ±3s period, everybody will again hear the unmodulated carrier. 5. NB: only when this unmodulated carrier is heard should Person B start to transmit. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example of valid usage: http://tinyurl.com/32rjbxm* * I suppose this will take some getting use to – at least the system has a built-in “punishment” mechanism for the impatient! ;-) Please refer to previous posts on general voice quality optimization when using the SA-AMSAT payload on SO-67. I will request Gladys Magagula at the Satellite Application Centre to obtain regular schedules from the regional coordinators as soon as possible. We will start off with day passes only, transmit on 2.5W and see how things go. Enjoy! Regards Jan-Albert *Jan-Albert Koekemoer, PrEng*** *Sun Space Information Systems (Pty) Ltd.* Stellenbosch, South Africa www.sunspace.co.za +27 21 880 8117 (tel) +27 83 461 6643 (cell) +27 21 880 1703 (fax) E-mail Disclaimer http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm
[amsat-bb] Re: Batteries for FT 817
In a message dated 21/06/2010 17:27:29 GMT Standard Time, tjja...@earthlink.net writes: I use 2 FT817s for portable ops, and have been disappointed in the battery performance. Last year, I bought replacement batteries from Batteries America, the FNB-72xe, rated at 9.6v. at 2000mAh. There's no noticable difference between these new batteries and the originals. The batteries charge to just over 11.0 volts, but quickly drop through 10 volts, as indicated by the voltage reading that appears when the rigs are turned on. Maybe this is just normal behavior for a 9.6 v. battery. Is this what you would expect? Has anyone found a battery with a higher voltage rating and/or one that will maintain a higher voltage for an appreciable period--and fits into the 817? Every bit of power helps! Many tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN LM 183 Hi Tony. Not sure about fitting in the FT817But there are a lot of people over here participating in summits on the air driving / walking / climbing to the top of a peak and making some QSOs. The FT817 is very popular and they all seem to be using 3 series Lithium polymer cells. According to the hype, the lithium polymers weigh nothing hold nearly infinate charge and finally discharge within a few seconds of the natural lifespan of the operators radio. Whatever the reality, they may be worth investigating. Regards David G0MRF ___ 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] Electronics parts in space?
what happen with electronics parts in space like quartz and electrolytic capacitor in vacuum. I have never heard about how quartz works in space is there any limitations? I know that some plastic outgasing and are not suitable for use in space, but if using COTS technology like hamradio station yaesu vx-series on cubesats, I believe that there are many electronics parts which are crytical for use on the cubesats? thanks for comments, best regards Andy ___ 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: SO-67 back on air!
Hi there, Do you really think that the European alligators will wait for 3 seconds? Op 21/06/2010 16:04, Jan-Albert Koekemoer schreef: Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! During the downtime we conducted several experiments in order to investigate possible alternatives for the cut-off problem experienced by many at the end of last year / beginning of this year. The cut-off is caused by SW running on piggyback electronics that continues to gate the received audio onto the transmitter for about 3s after a specific ground transmission has ended, whereafter the received audio is cut off. The SW then waits for the next ground transmission with a valid transponder tone embedded, before gating the audio onto the transmitter again. So if a second transmission starts within the 3s tail period, it will be cut off when the 3s expires. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example: http://tinyurl.com/38vvg3o Unfortunately the piggyback electronics does not have reprogramming functionality, so we are not able to change the SW. We did however manage to implement a mechanism on the satellite transponder (used by the piggyback) that should be of some assistance when using the payload: the PTT of the transmitter now STAYS ON for the duration of the payload activation (i.e. 15 min), regardless of a valid transponder tone received. Note that this does not get rid of the cut-off problem, nor of the requirement to embed a valid tone when you want to use the payload - see detailed explanation below. The following example depicts the ideal usage scenario of the payload: 1. As the satellite comes over the horizon, an unmodulated carrier (quieting) will be received by all on UHF 2. Person A starts to transmit on VHF (with valid transponding tone embedded in the transmission) and the transmission is relayed on UHF 3. When Person A releases his/her PTT, the satellite will continue to transmit what it is receiving (usually this will be noise) for a further ±3s. Nobody should start to transmit during this time! 4. At the end of the ±3s period, everybody will again hear the unmodulated carrier. 5. NB: only when this unmodulated carrier is heard should Person B start to transmit. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example of valid usage: http://tinyurl.com/32rjbxm I suppose this will take some getting use to - at least the system has a built-in punishment mechanism for the impatient! ;-) Please refer to previous posts on general voice quality optimization when using the SA-AMSAT payload on SO-67. I will request Gladys Magagula at the Satellite Application Centre to obtain regular schedules from the regional coordinators as soon as possible. We will start off with day passes only, transmit on 2.5W and see how things go. Enjoy! Regards Jan-Albert Jan-Albert Koekemoer, PrEng Sun Space Information Systems (Pty) Ltd. Stellenbosch, South Africa www.sunspace.co.zahttp://www.sunspace.co.za +27 21 880 8117 (tel) +27 83 461 6643 (cell) +27 21 880 1703 (fax) E-mail Disclaimer http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm ___ 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 -- Amateur Radio Station ON4HF Eric Knaps Satellite manager UBA Tel. +32472985876 (mobile) http://www.on4hf.be ___ 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: SO-67 back on air!
Please consider making it available for all passes over N. America this weekend (1800Z 26 June to 2100Z 27 June) for ARRL and AMSAT Field Day use... 73, George, KA3HSW - Original Message From: Jan-Albert Koekemoer jan.koekem...@sunspace.co.za To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: Gladys Magagula gmagag...@csir.co.za; sumband...@googlegroups.com; Hans van de Groenendaal h...@intekom.co.za Sent: Mon, June 21, 2010 9:04:52 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-67 back on air! Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! ___ 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: SO-67 back on air!
On Mon, June 21, 2010 20:01, Eric Knaps, ON4HF wrote: Hi there, Hi Eric, Do you really think that the European alligators will wait for 3 seconds? I rest my case :)) Perhaps when the crocodiles have read this, things wil change? Some self-reflection would be appropriate ... 73 Jan PE0SAT Op 21/06/2010 16:04, Jan-Albert Koekemoer schreef: Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! During the downtime we conducted several experiments in order to investigate possible alternatives for the cut-off problem experienced by many at the end of last year / beginning of this year. The cut-off is caused by SW running on piggyback electronics that continues to gate the received audio onto the transmitter for about 3s after a specific ground transmission has ended, whereafter the received audio is cut off. The SW then waits for the next ground transmission with a valid transponder tone embedded, before gating the audio onto the transmitter again. So if a second transmission starts within the 3s tail period, it will be cut off when the 3s expires. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example: http://tinyurl.com/38vvg3o Unfortunately the piggyback electronics does not have reprogramming functionality, so we are not able to change the SW. We did however manage to implement a mechanism on the satellite transponder (used by the piggyback) that should be of some assistance when using the payload: the PTT of the transmitter now STAYS ON for the duration of the payload activation (i.e. 15 min), regardless of a valid transponder tone received. Note that this does not get rid of the cut-off problem, nor of the requirement to embed a valid tone when you want to use the payload - see detailed explanation below. The following example depicts the ideal usage scenario of the payload: 1. As the satellite comes over the horizon, an unmodulated carrier (quieting) will be received by all on UHF 2. Person A starts to transmit on VHF (with valid transponding tone embedded in the transmission) and the transmission is relayed on UHF 3. When Person A releases his/her PTT, the satellite will continue to transmit what it is receiving (usually this will be noise) for a further ±3s. Nobody should start to transmit during this time! 4. At the end of the ±3s period, everybody will again hear the unmodulated carrier. 5. NB: only when this unmodulated carrier is heard should Person B start to transmit. Listen to this mp3 recording as an example of valid usage: http://tinyurl.com/32rjbxm I suppose this will take some getting use to - at least the system has a built-in punishment mechanism for the impatient! ;-) Please refer to previous posts on general voice quality optimization when using the SA-AMSAT payload on SO-67. I will request Gladys Magagula at the Satellite Application Centre to obtain regular schedules from the regional coordinators as soon as possible. We will start off with day passes only, transmit on 2.5W and see how things go. Enjoy! ___ 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] SatPC32 stopped working!
My SatPC32 stopped working. I get an error message Warnung: No source file was found for group Standard. Please select a source file for this group after the 'OK'. IMPORTANT: In orcer to store the filename for later starts open the menu 'Satelliten' and click on the 'OK' - button. The SatPC32 application sort of comes up but there is nothing in its window. What am I supposed to do? SatPC32ISS gives the same problem with the word 'ISS' substituted for 'Standard'. Should I reinstall? Larry W7IN ___ 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: Batteries for FT 817 - Minigorilla
Hi Tony, For what it is worth...not internal but very light and stay at a full 12V running an FT817 for a long time... http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=346013TabID=1C=SOU=strat25doy=searchma=Maplin%20Minigorilla%99%20Cheap%20Deals#spec 73 Graham G3VZV - Original Message - From: g0...@aol.com To: tjja...@earthlink.net; amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 6:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Batteries for FT 817 In a message dated 21/06/2010 17:27:29 GMT Standard Time, tjja...@earthlink.net writes: I use 2 FT817s for portable ops, and have been disappointed in the battery performance. Last year, I bought replacement batteries from Batteries America, the FNB-72xe, rated at 9.6v. at 2000mAh. There's no noticable difference between these new batteries and the originals. The batteries charge to just over 11.0 volts, but quickly drop through 10 volts, as indicated by the voltage reading that appears when the rigs are turned on. Maybe this is just normal behavior for a 9.6 v. battery. Is this what you would expect? Has anyone found a battery with a higher voltage rating and/or one that will maintain a higher voltage for an appreciable period--and fits into the 817? Every bit of power helps! Many tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN LM 183 Hi Tony. Not sure about fitting in the FT817But there are a lot of people over here participating in summits on the air driving / walking / climbing to the top of a peak and making some QSOs. The FT817 is very popular and they all seem to be using 3 series Lithium polymer cells. According to the hype, the lithium polymers weigh nothing hold nearly infinate charge and finally discharge within a few seconds of the natural lifespan of the operators radio. Whatever the reality, they may be worth investigating. Regards David G0MRF ___ 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: SO-67 back on air!
At 12:04 AM 6/22/2010, Jan-Albert Koekemoer wrote: Hello After much delay we are now in a position to re-activate the SA-AMSAT payload schedules on a regular basis again! Excellent news! :) 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.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] HO-68 pass NA 6 June 2010 -- 0100-014 UTC -- Just FM carrier no AFSK
I had my WISP all primed ready to go -- TNC was ready -- I saw the S meter peak at S9+40 -- but no AFSK heard by me or my TNC ... Did anybody else hear the BBS? Bruce WA3SWJ ___ 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] SO-67 skid times
Can anyone tell me were the schedule for this satellite is published. I don't seem to be able to find it. I listened for it this evening and heard nothing in FM07. Anyone else heard it since the announced reactivation. Any info would be appreciated. I also listened for HO-68 this evening and heard nothing but a solid carrier. It was supposed to be in FM/Pacsat mode according to the website. Maybe I missed something. Does this mean it is in digital mode and running FM modulation or does it mean it is running both FM voice and pacsat digital at the same time. Anyone got a answer? 73's John -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,FO-29,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Email n4...@amsat.org Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - WOW, What a ride! ___ 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
