[amsat-bb] Contest - AMSAT-NA Wins!
Been around the ham radio hobby for a while? Want to use those memories to help AMSAT-NA? Be the first to correctly identify the three folks in the photograph published here ... http://tinyurl.com/K6LCS-CONTEST ... and K6LCS will donate money in your name to AMSAT-NA. Read the fine print on the page ... entries submitted in this message group will NOT be considered! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] Fw: RESOURCESAT 2 Close Approach Message
Good Morning, FYI 73's Pete WB2OQQ Subject: RESOURCESAT 2 Close Approach Message Sir/Ma'am, The United States Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC) has identified a predicted conjunction between RESOURCESAT 2 (SCC# 37387) and SCC# 34301. Primary Object: RESOURCESAT 2 (SCC# 37387) Secondary Object: SCC# 34301 Time of Closest Approach: 27 APR 2011 10:35 UTC Overall miss distance: 154 meters Radial (dU) miss distance: -151 meters In-Track (dV) miss distance: 1 meter Cross-track (dW) miss distance: 36 meters Primary Radial Error (U): 3 meters Primary In-track Error (V): 9 meters Primary Cross-track Error (W): 4 meters Secondary Radial Error (U): 11 meters Secondary In-track Error (V): 44 meters Secondary Cross-track Error (W): 15 meters Please reply to this message to acknowledge receipt of this close approach notification. It is possible to provide another estimate using owner/operator ephemeris data. If the satellite operator is interested please have them reply to all addresses listed in the Cc line. Email is the preferred method of communication. Thank you for your time and assistance. Please contact us if there are any questions. Very Respectfully, JSpOC Orbital Protection Team Joint Space Operations Center Vandenberg Air Force Base, California USA Comm: 1-805-605-3533 Fax: 1-805-605-3507 jspocspacecorresponde...@vandenberg.af.mil NO WARRANTIES: The United States provides the enclosed Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services or information as is and makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the condition or suitability of the information and services, nor its fitness for a particular purpose. IMMUNITY: The United States, any agencies and instrumentalities thereof, and any individuals, firms, corporations, and other persons acting for the United States, shall be immune from any suit in any court for any cause of action arising from the provision or receipt of SSA services or information, whether or not provided in accordance with 10 USC 2274, or any related action or omission. ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: DJ-G7 for LEO
Drew, Is it just de-sense, or lower sensitivity on the sub-band? I have one on loan I am going to try (A-B compare to my FT-530 with the Arrow), as soon as I find a SMA-BNC adapter in my shack. I read the QST review and the author said no issue except for same-band sub-band, but he is not an experienced LEO user (as he stated in the review). Bill W1PA -- From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbren...@mindspring.com Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 6:47 AM To: Bill Acito w...@hotmail.com; AMSAT-BB@amsat.org amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DJ-G7 for LEO Big thumbs down, as the full duplex desenses very badly. Nice radio otherwise, but stinks for satellite. I bought one of the first hundred, and have kept up with the firmware updates. 73, Drew KO4MA ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] AO-51 reported down 27 April 2011 1200utc
Hello AO-51 Users, We are receiving reports that AO-51 is down. It will be several hours until a command station is in the footprint. We'll do try and get it active as soon as possible. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: DJ-G7 for LEO
Desense. Your FT-530 will whip it in any test you try I'm sure. In my opinion, and after 10+ years of heavy FM LEO operation, the FT-530 is the finest HT for satellite work ever made. The receiver is sensitive but good with intermod, it's true full duplex, 5 watts, and has that wonderful sub-band tune feature. I don't recall specifics, but I remember thinking the QST review really missed the boat on the G7. 73, Drew KO4MA -Original Message- From: Bill W1PA w...@hotmail.com Sent: Apr 27, 2011 8:40 AM To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DJ-G7 for LEO Drew, Is it just de-sense, or lower sensitivity on the sub-band? I have one on loan I am going to try (A-B compare to my FT-530 with the Arrow), as soon as I find a SMA-BNC adapter in my shack. I read the QST review and the author said no issue except for same-band sub-band, but he is not an experienced LEO user (as he stated in the review). Bill W1PA -- From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbren...@mindspring.com Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 6:47 AM To: Bill Acito w...@hotmail.com; AMSAT-BB@amsat.org amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DJ-G7 for LEO Big thumbs down, as the full duplex desenses very badly. Nice radio otherwise, but stinks for satellite. I bought one of the first hundred, and have kept up with the firmware updates. 73, Drew KO4MA ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: Icom D-Star
So as every followup seems to have detailed, there is an increase in desired bandwidth with a direct need in required spectrum. If we can reduce spectrum, we increase distance the signal can transit. If we increase bandwidth for a particular size spectrum, we improve the amount of information we send. The problems with current voice compression being understood have to do with remedial compression techniques based on available compute power. I suggested FPGA because of exactly this issue. Sure, people pick the easy route because they can buy those solutions and get into the marketplace faster. What needs to happen is the Apple thing. We need a company that actually cares enough about the quality of what it can ship, worries about power requirements and optimizes performance to create a truly awesome voice CODEC standard. The cell phone market keeps trying to optimize the bandwidth needs to increase their spectrum's available capacity. We are frustrated by the attributes of AM-VSB television characteristics vs ATSC coded VSB television. Because, the minimal available information transitions to no available information in a very short distance and signal level change. Thus we can't hear the TV at least. Either we get everything, or we get nothing. This is where we are at with digital emission standards at this point. It's not the perfect solution because we are not sending enough information to recreate a perfect version of the original audio sample, for audio stuff. But, we are able to use the complete 12.5khz that D-Star is using (down from 20khz wide band FM is at now, and less than half of the old 30khz stuff that the old mobile phone radios were using). That 12.5khz has 2 channels in it. One for voice an done for data. So more information is bandwidth is available. This is one of those experimentation moments. Not everyone is happy with where it is at, but without some more participation, those experimenting now will be the ones setting the standards, and if you are not happy with those results, it will be your fault not theirs, because you chose not to participate. Gregg Wonderly W5GGW On 4/25/2011 6:10 AM, Ben Jackson wrote: On 4/23/2011 2:42 PM, Gordon JC Pearce wrote: On Sat, 2011-04-23 at 10:42 -0500, Gregg Wonderly wrote: In the end, digital compression of spectrum space is going to happen more and more. AM style broadcast is hugely inefficient even though it is painfully Okay, but *why*? Why are we so obsessed with squeezing bandwidth down and down, at the expense of intelligibility? You unfortunately provided data on why we should get ahead of crunching down bandwidth: Because sooner or later, we're going to get squeezed for bandwidth due to our spectrum being fairly empty and everyone and their brother wanting to push IP to their new wireless toaster service. I'm not a fan of proprietary codecs but our lack of an alternative back in the 2000s caused D-STAR to be used with AMBE. Too bad, so sad. Don't support it, probably not going to use it. My worry is that even though we provided a alternative with Codec2, what cutting edge technology that will be here five years from now are we not developing because we were playing catch up? ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz
To improve the reception of the sats on 145.9xx MHz with my little yagi, I recently acquired a SSB-preamplifier SP-2000. To my dismay, the reception on my IC910H was intermittend heavily distorted. After a while I found, that a nearby located commercial transmitter (POCSAG) emitting bursts on 147.300 is so strong, that the frontend of the IC910H (or its AGC) practically quites the receiver on 145.900. When the bursts stop, reception resumes. Difficult to qso. I have experimented with a large cavity filter and found, that the impact of the bursts can be reduced, so that normal satellite work is possible again. Now I am looking for advice on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast. The filter must however be capable to accept the rf power, if I work in V/U mode. Thank you for any ideas ! Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz
I believe DCI makes a 144-146 bandpass filter. 73s John AA5JG - Original Message - From: Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK hb9...@uska.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 1:41 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz To improve the reception of the sats on 145.9xx MHz with my little yagi, I recently acquired a SSB-preamplifier SP-2000. To my dismay, the reception on my IC910H was intermittend heavily distorted. After a while I found, that a nearby located commercial transmitter (POCSAG) emitting bursts on 147.300 is so strong, that the frontend of the IC910H (or its AGC) practically quites the receiver on 145.900. When the bursts stop, reception resumes. Difficult to qso. I have experimented with a large cavity filter and found, that the impact of the bursts can be reduced, so that normal satellite work is possible again. Now I am looking for advice on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast. The filter must however be capable to accept the rf power, if I work in V/U mode. Thank you for any ideas ! Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: DJ-G7 for LEO
... I read the QST review and the author said no issue ... QST's reviewers disappointed me with that mis-statement, as well as recently calling the Wouxun HTs dual-receive units - which they most definitely are NOT. Clint, K6LCS ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz
Werner, Since you are using a very good rig and adding a great preamp, to hear what you are after and expense involved might be as simple as adjusting the gain (SP2000 indicates it is adjustable and already has a helical front end) so as to stop this interference. Doing this simple thing might correct everything--Let us know if it works. I adjusted the gain of my preamp to stop similar type intermod. 73, Dee, NB2F -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 9:42 AM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz To improve the reception of the sats on 145.9xx MHz with my little yagi, I recently acquired a SSB-preamplifier SP-2000. To my dismay, the reception on my IC910H was intermittend heavily distorted. After a while I found, that a nearby located commercial transmitter (POCSAG) emitting bursts on 147.300 is so strong, that the frontend of the IC910H (or its AGC) practically quites the receiver on 145.900. When the bursts stop, reception resumes. Difficult to qso. I have experimented with a large cavity filter and found, that the impact of the bursts can be reduced, so that normal satellite work is possible again. Now I am looking for advice on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast. The filter must however be capable to accept the rf power, if I work in V/U mode. Thank you for any ideas ! Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz
The DCI filters are VERY good but are designed, as standard, to provide a bandpass between 144-148MHz! I guess a special version that is either much narrower, or is setup for 142-146MHz, might give maybe 20dB of attenuation ...maybe this plus your cavity as a suck out notch/rejecter after preamp would be a winning combination? good luck Graham G3VZV - Original Message - From: John Geiger aa...@fidmail.com To: Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK hb9...@uska.ch; amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 3:04 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz I believe DCI makes a 144-146 bandpass filter. 73s John AA5JG - Original Message - From: Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK hb9...@uska.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 1:41 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz To improve the reception of the sats on 145.9xx MHz with my little yagi, I recently acquired a SSB-preamplifier SP-2000. To my dismay, the reception on my IC910H was intermittend heavily distorted. After a while I found, that a nearby located commercial transmitter (POCSAG) emitting bursts on 147.300 is so strong, that the frontend of the IC910H (or its AGC) practically quites the receiver on 145.900. When the bursts stop, reception resumes. Difficult to qso. I have experimented with a large cavity filter and found, that the impact of the bursts can be reduced, so that normal satellite work is possible again. Now I am looking for advice on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast. The filter must however be capable to accept the rf power, if I work in V/U mode. Thank you for any ideas ! Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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-BB@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: DJ-G7 for LEO
Hi Bill! Is it just de-sense, or lower sensitivity on the sub-band? I have one on loan I am going to try (A-B compare to my FT-530 with the Arrow), as soon as I find a SMA-BNC adapter in my shack. Actually, it's both. There is very noticeable desense, and the sub-band VFO is less sensitive than the main band. The main band is for ham bands only, where the sub-band VFO has the wide-band receiver. You *may* be able to work with the DJ-G7 using memory channels in the main band, but won't have full-duplex operation that way. I have not tried it using memory channels for the satellites. I read the QST review and the author said no issue except for same-band sub-band, but he is not an experienced LEO user (as he stated in the review). The CQ magazine review was also a huge disservice. The DJ-G7, although a good radio for non-satellite work and with analog FM at 1.2 GHz (the main reason I kept one of the two I bought at Dayton in 2009), is a disappointment for satellite work. Go with your FT-530 for satellites. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Sat32PC Question
The SatPC32 main program files are in C:\Program Files\SatPC32, and the data files are in C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\SatPC32. Don't know about the WispDDE files. George, KA3HSW - Original Message From: Paul Delaney - K6HR paul.hamra...@verizon.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wed, April 27, 2011 12:27:59 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Sat32PC Question I am using SatPC32 with WispDDE and all was working fine before an unexpected shutdown on my PC. I think some files were corrupted. When I uninstall both programs and reinstall them I notice the previous settings are still there. Can anyone tell me where the files are located? I'd like to remove them so I can install from scratch. As these programs are running now they no longer tune the radio. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Paul Delaney - K6HR paul.hamra...@verizon.net http://k6hr.dyndns.org:8080 ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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 ham station on the ISS
Hello, ISS has a new operating position in the Columbus module. ISS On-Orbit Status 04/26/11 ...Cady (Coleman) prepared for and completed the installation of a new amateur/ham radio station in the COL (Columbus Orbital Laboratory). Later in the day, Cady checked out the radio's audio for proper functioning by talking with a ham operator on the ground. [Activities involved first retrieving all necessary hardware from stowage and setting it up in COL, then installing the VHF Ericsson Transceiver station at the ER3 (EXPRESS Rack 3).] http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/somd/reports/iss_reports/index.html Armando, N8IGJ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] Surplus cavity bandpass filters from the AO-10 era?
In attempting to make a list of ham equipment I have owned in the past, I recalled with fondness a surplus cavity bandpass filter I used with OSCAR 10. At the time, in the 1980s, these were cheap and quite popular with satellite users. I was living in downtown New Orleans, and the filter, which was mounted at the antenna next to the mast-mounted preamp, totally eliminated my problems with birdies and local cross-mod. Does anyone recall this filter and perhaps have a photo or info? 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] searching advice on low pass filter for 146 MHz
What an amazing responsetime on this list ! (post the question, go shopping, find valuable advice !) thank you all very much ! It will be a few days, until I can get at the antenna. I will report my findings here Thanks and 73 Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] Hector CO6CBF EL92
Hector, CO6CBF, made his first satellite QSO back on January 27th, 2011 on the AO-51 satellite. He didn't have much help getting started but he read and built an antenna and made that contact after he could successfully hear others on the satellite. I've only worked 3 Cuban stations, CO8TW in FL20, CO5LU in EL93 and Hector CO6CBF in EL92. EL92 is rare. I did not have it and neither did KO4MA, K6YK or NI7P/exN7SFI. I sent the card to Hector before I did any research on the mail issues. It turns out that mail from Cuba to the USA has been suspended by the Cuban government due to delays with our TSA screening incoming mail. Cuba feels that this delay is unacceptable. You would think that mail from the USA to Cuba would be refused also but that is not the case. Hector reported being very surprised to receive a card from me with an IRC in tact. The mail from the USA to Cuba works. Sending IRC's is acceptable. Green stamps would not be acceptable. Now the problem was how to return cards from Cuba to the USA. Hector has friends that live in the US but visit Cuba from time to time. He was finally able to send a number of cards back with his friend and they in turn mailed them to me for distribution. There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US. There were a few cards with incorrect callsigns. I did my best to determine the intended recipient but there may be some errors on my part. If you get a card addressed to you for a contact you made with Hector but your callsign is wrong, simply send a card to him and he will send one back via the above mentioned process. Be patient. Please remember that Hector's first language is not English. If he gets your callsign wrong, it is likely due to your not using phonetics. There is no need to discuss phonetics; just use them when making a QSO with Hector. The QSL cards are smaller than the standard QSL, 3-1/2 x 5-1/2. That is because the only printer that Hector has right now will not print that size. He is trying to fix another printer that will allow the full size card to be printed. Hector has shared his plans for future satellite grid operations. He will be trying to activate every grid in Cuba and may do some water grids as well. His biggest problem right now is a portable UHF radio. He has 2 meter portables but nothing to take on the road for UHF. It is unfortunate that we cannot send him a radio due to restrictions, however, other countries like Canada and Mexico could. If there is anyone outside the US that has a UHF portable that would cover the satellite band and would like to help Hector, please consider sending it to him. He is trying to build a uhf to 2meter downconverter that could be used with a 2m HT but the outcome is unknown. Anything you build for UHF receive has to be very sensitive as satellites run very low power. An HT would be the best solution. So if you are one of the lucky 73 who gets a QSL card from Hector, unsolicited, please take the time to make one out and return it to him. He is trying to get his VUCC and it's a lot more difficult for him than it is for us. An IRC always helps. Please do not send cards to me. Thank you Hector for getting on the birds from Cuba. You have given many of us a new grid as well as a new DXCC entity! 73, John K8YSE ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Sat32PC Question
If all else fails when looking for the SATPC32 files, try searching for files with a SQF extension. There may be a few other files with a different extension, but that will get you to the right directory(ies). Alan WA4SCA ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Contest - AMSAT-NA Wins!
This is FUN! I have answers from at least three continents so far! Some are incomplete answers (I think that is the sister of so-and-so ... ). A couple entries are missing the inclusion of an approximate DATE that the photo was taken (I am not sure, Clint, but it was LONG time ago ... (grin) ). Keep your answers coming in - We should have a declared winner by the weekend! Clint, K6LCS http://tinyurl.com/K6LCS-CONTEST ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] Using Yaesu VX-3R on the FM Birds
Just picked up a VX-3R to build a Microsat portable station. Reading the specs, it appears I should have any problems programming it for the birds but have been told that I have to mod the radio to get it accept all the sat frequencies. Has anyone used the VX-3R and did you need to do the radio mod and if so, which one ? Ron KA4KYI ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] PayPal Widget
Hi All, Can anyone give me some tips on why I cannot get the AMSAT-NA PayPal widget to work on my blogspot page (see the link)? BlogSpot does accept HTML and Java script, and I have tried codes from a few different sources but it still does not work. I don’t know if it matters or not, but when I go to retrieve the code from one of the widgets, I put my name in (KD8KSN), my website (BlogSpot in this case), and the URL (http://kd8ksn.blogspot.com/), and when I hit “get HTML” it gives an error saying that the URL is invalid. I removed the website name and URL since they are optional, and I was then able to get the code. Zack KD8KSN ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] VX-3R on FM Sats
Radio transmits at 435 ... receives everything (grin) - (throw a long wire on it, and sit out back one evening ... you'll hear tone o' stuff on the pre-programmed shortwave freqs - an amazing little receiver!). Oh - and page 43-ish of the manual covers split freq operations - just like other modern Yaesu HTs, it CAN be programmed to listen on 440 and TX on 2M in one memory channel. The use of the popular software programs to program the unit make that much less painful to accomplish. Clint, K6LCS ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: searching advice on low pass filter for 146 MHz
Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK expunged (hb9...@uska.ch): What an amazing responsetime on this list ! (post the question, go shopping, find valuable advice !) thank you all very much ! Since you have plenty of gainr, one cheap alternative might be to try a tuned stub inline with the feedline. -Steve N1JFU - http://n1jfu.blogspot.com - smeuse@twitter ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Using Yaesu VX-3R on the FM Birds
Hi Ron! Just picked up a VX-3R to build a Microsat portable station. Reading the specs, it appears I should have any problems programming it for the birds but have been told that I have to mod the radio to get it accept all the sat frequencies. Has anyone used the VX-3R and did you need to do the radio mod and if so, which one ? No mods are needed. The VX-3Rs for North America transmit and receive across the 430-450 MHz range, so you are covered for satellites at 435-438 MHz. You will not have full-duplex operation with that radio, but can use a couple of ways to work the FM birds. I programmed groups of memories for each satellite in the VX-3R I previously had, and it worked OK. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] VX-3 on FM Sats
Even the VX-3E for the European market transmits 144-146 / 430-440 and receives everything. Clint ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] PayPal Embed Code
... PayPal widget won;t show up ... You have the visitor globe there - was that an insert html or an insert source code task? Does your blog admin panel have a insert widget choice? Clint ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Hector CO6CBF EL92
I have a Yaesu FT-51R that I would be happy to give to Hector. Is there a Canadian ham that I can ship it to and have them reship to Hector? Anyone willing to do it can contact me direct. Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X On Apr 27, 2011 2:10 PM, John Papay j...@papays.com wrote: ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: PayPal Embed Code
Insert HTML They also gave you the option of Java script, but I did HTML. -Original Message- From: Clint Bradford Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 2:42 PM To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] PayPal Embed Code ... PayPal widget won;t show up ... You have the visitor globe there - was that an insert html or an insert source code task? Does your blog admin panel have a insert widget choice? Clint ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: searching advice on low pass filter for 146 MHz
Hi Steve, N1JFU A tuned stub 1/4 wave long open to the other end and inline with the feedline will be too large in responce and it will attenuate the same amount of dB both 145.900 MHz and 147.300 MHz 73 de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Steve Meuse sme...@mara.org To: Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK hb9...@uska.ch Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 8:35 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: searching advice on low pass filter for 146 MHz Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK expunged (hb9...@uska.ch): What an amazing responsetime on this list ! (post the question, go shopping, find valuable advice !) thank you all very much ! Since you have plenty of gainr, one cheap alternative might be to try a tuned stub inline with the feedline. -Steve N1JFU - http://n1jfu.blogspot.com - smeuse@twitter ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: VX-3 on FM Sats
Clint: I thought it would. I ran into someone who was adament that the mod had to be done. I ahve the VX-3R in my hands and saw the specs in the book that said it would work. Just trying to make sure that I have the T's crossed and the I's dotted. Ron Even the VX-3E for the European market transmits 144-146 / 430-440 and receives everything. Clint ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: Hector CO6CBF EL92
Hi Dave! I have a Yaesu FT-51R that I would be happy to give to Hector. Is there a Canadian ham that I can ship it to and have them reship to Hector? Please make sure to get in touch with Hector *before* anything is sent or taken to Cuba. It appears that there may be a permit or license that is required before the radio can be legally imported in Cuba. See: http://www.mycubatrip.com/info/customs.htm The following link (in Spanish) from Cuban Customs: http://www.aduana.co.cu/envios/noenvios.htm backs up what is explained in English on the first link. I'm no lawyer, and no expert on Cuban law or customs regulations, but let's make sure we don't put Hector in hot water unintentionally. With that said, maybe there is a way a radio like this one can get down there so Hector can have an easier time working the FM birds. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Surplus cavity bandpass filters from the AO-10 era?
- Original Message - From: Bill Dzurilla billdz@yahoo.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 7:00 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Surplus cavity bandpass filters from the AO-10 era? In attempting to make a list of ham equipment I have owned in the past, I recalled with fondness a surplus cavity bandpass filter I used with OSCAR 10. At the time, in the 1980s, these were cheap and quite popular with satellite users. I was living in downtown New Orleans, and the filter, which was mounted at the antenna next to the mast-mounted preamp, totally eliminated my problems with birdies and local cross-mod. Does anyone recall this filter and perhaps have a photo or info? 73, Bill NZ5N Hi Bill, NZ5N What you describes is exacly what I did for AO-10 and AO-13 mounting between the 2 meter antenna and the preamplifier input a big passband cavity for FM repeaters tuned on 145.900 MHz satellite center frequency and another similar cavity tuned as a notch filter to 145.200 MHz to suck the strong local signals desensing my receiver due to QRO Hams using high power for local QSO's in FM. I still use the above setup to receive VO-52 and OSCAR-7 and it works very well. In addition I have homemade Norton circuit 2 meter preamplifiers having high dinamic range and 2 meter convertes using MCL double balanced mixers having very high -1 dB compression point to reduce overload and intermodulation distorsion from very strong nearby signals. To show local friends how it was nice to work satellites with the above setup I remember I was able to receive OSCAR-13 at 145.950 MHz in SSB and simultaneously retransmit this signal at 145.200 MHz FM using 10 watt over another 2 meters antenna on my roof without to desense OSCAR-13 Actually no way to receive satellites in 2 meters band using a commercial receivers or tranceivers here in the bay of Naples wich is full of powerfull FM users ! ! 73 de i8CVS Domenico ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] -Importations- CO6CBF Hector
Thanks to everybody for your help!!! � The restrictions about the importation of amateur radios to my country are the same from all countries of the world. The problem consists: � The only way that I can use for import a radio at my country is bringing it myself or bringing it another Ham of my country with amateur radio license active. Amateur radio equipment importations are not permitted for common people neither by mailings. � Fortunately for me, I have heard that here in my city a Ham will be visiting USA soon, and I could ask to him this help. � Thanks for your help � Hector, CO6CBF � Hi Dave! �I have a Yaesu FT-51R that I would be happy to give to Hector. Is there a Canadian ham that I can ship it to and have them reship to Hector? Please make sure to get in touch with Hector *before* anything is sent or taken to Cuba. It appears that there may be a permit or license that is required before the radio can be legally imported in Cuba. See: http://www.mycubatrip.com/info/customs.htm The following link (in Spanish) from Cuban Customs: http://www.aduana.co.cu/envios/noenvios.htm backs up what is explained in English on the first link. I'm no lawyer, and no expert on Cuban law or customs regulations, but let's make sure we don't put Hector in hot water unintentionally. With that said, maybe there is a way a radio like this one can get down there so Hector can have an easier time working the FM birds. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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 *** Genius is one per cent inspiration, and ninety-nine per cent perspiration. -- Thomas A. Edison *** --- Free the Cuban Five! http://www.injusticia.cubaweb.cu/, http://www.antiterroristas.cu/ Participe en Universidad 2012, del 13 al 17 de febrero de 2012. Habana, Cuba. http://www.congresouniversidad.cu/ Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana: http://www.ecured.cu/___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: searching advice on low pass filter for 146 MHz
Werner: I EMPHATICALLY agree with the advice to turn down the gain. Improving your IMD will provide much more bang for the effort than trying to find a filter with a loaded Q of over 100 at 2m. An easy way (if imperfect) to get it right is to maximize the RF gain in the Icom radio and then adjust gain down until the preamp-on noise is only SLIGHTLY higher than preamp off. This gets you enough gain to let the preamp set system noise figure, although you still have a bit of excess. Good luck and please share your results! 73, Jim wb4...@amsat.org On 4/27/2011 1:15 PM, Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK wrote: What an amazing responsetime on this list ! (post the question, go shopping, find valuable advice !) thank you all very much ! It will be a few days, until I can get at the antenna. I will report my findings here Thanks and 73 Werner, HB9BNK ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz
- Original Message - From: Werner Kullmann, HB9BNK hb9...@uska.ch To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 3:41 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] searching advice on low hpass filter for 146 MHz To improve the reception of the sats on 145.9xx MHz with my little yagi, I recently acquired a SSB-preamplifier SP-2000. To my dismay, the reception on my IC910H was intermittend heavily distorted. After a while I found, that a nearby located commercial transmitter (POCSAG) emitting bursts on 147.300 is so strong, that the frontend of the IC910H (or its AGC) practically quites the receiver on 145.900. When the bursts stop, reception resumes. Difficult to qso. I have experimented with a large cavity filter and found, that the impact of the bursts can be reduced, so that normal satellite work is possible again. Now I am looking for advice on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast. The filter must however be capable to accept the rf power, if I work in V/U mode. Thank you for any ideas ! Werner, HB9BNK Hi Werner , HB9BNK Few years ago I was suffering the same problem and I fixed it using cavity filters as passband filters and notch filters normally used in the FM repeaters. In addition I built high dinamic range Norton type preamplifiers and high intercept point 2 meters converters using double balanced mixers. At the end of the above succesfull experimentation I writes a few technical articles covering the above matter published into the italian Radio Rivista magazine of ARI that you can request as photocopy at no cost to: ARI Via Domenico Scarlatti, 31 20124 Milano Italy. TEL 02 6692894 and FAX 02 67078923 Obviously the text is in italian but you will understand the drawings the pictures and the schematic diagrams. Radio Rivista march 1994 pagg 30 to 33 april 38 to 41 may 27 to 32 june 37 to 41 august 29 to 33 If you are looking on how to build a steep low pass filter, eliminating everything above 146 MHz, to be mounted before the preamp on the mast and the filter must be capable to accept the rf power because you work in V/U mode I believe that a low pass filter with the capability to pass 145.900 MHz and reject with high attenuation 147.300 MHz is impossible to be built. I have in my hand one of the best professional tubular filter capable of 500 watt built by the French manufacturer STTA model FL.24.A . it is 21 cm long and 22 mm in diameter including N connectors. I have measured it with my spectrum analyser HP 8555A and tracking generator HP 8444A and the results are the following: Frequency (MHz) Insertion Loss (dB) 144 0.3 160 0.4 180 50 As you can realize even if the tubular filter rejects by more than 50 dB a 180 MHz signal from a 144 MHz signal it reject nothing between 144 MHz to 160 MHz and so in your case only a big passband cavity filter tuned to 145.900 MHz plus another cavity filter tuned as a notch to 147.200 MHz can do the job othervise you must remove the SP-2000 preamplifier wich in your situation is responsible to generate gain compression and intermodulation distorsion. Best 73 de i8CVS Domenico ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Hector CO6CBF EL92
John, The timing of your post was fortuitous. I'm just catching up on QSL's and I had worked Hector on 2 Apr. I was about to send him an email asking how to handle the QSL request. I'll keep my eyes on the mailbox. Did you happen to note the calls he QSL'd? Might help someone who worked him but doesn't get a card for whatever reason figure out the details. It was nice to get Cuba in the books. 73 Rick K7TEJ John Papay j...@papays.com wrote: Hector, CO6CBF, made his first satellite QSO back on January 27th, 2011 on the AO-51 satellite. He didn't have much help getting started but he read and built an antenna and made that contact after he could successfully hear others on the satellite. I've only worked 3 Cuban stations, CO8TW in FL20, CO5LU in EL93 and Hector CO6CBF in EL92. EL92 is rare. I did not have it and neither did KO4MA, K6YK or NI7P/exN7SFI. I sent the card to Hector before I did any research on the mail issues. It turns out that mail from Cuba to the USA has been suspended by the Cuban government due to delays with our TSA screening incoming mail. Cuba feels that this delay is unacceptable. You would think that mail from the USA to Cuba would be refused also but that is not the case. Hector reported being very surprised to receive a card from me with an IRC in tact. The mail from the USA to Cuba works. Sending IRC's is acceptable. Green stamps would not be acceptable. Now the problem was how to return cards from Cuba to the USA. Hector has friends that live in the US but visit Cuba from time to time. He was finally able to send a number of cards back with his friend and they in turn mailed them to me for distribution. There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US. There were a few cards with incorrect callsigns. I did my best to determine the intended recipient but there may be some errors on my part. If you get a card addressed to you for a contact you made with Hector but your callsign is wrong, simply send a card to him and he will send one back via the above mentioned process. Be patient. Please remember that Hector's first language is not English. If he gets your callsign wrong, it is likely due to your not using phonetics. There is no need to discuss phonetics; just use them when making a QSO with Hector. The QSL cards are smaller than the standard QSL, 3-1/2 x 5-1/2. That is because the only printer that Hector has right now will not print that size. He is trying to fix another printer that will allow the full size card to be printed. Hector has shared his plans for future satellite grid operations. He will be trying to activate every grid in Cuba and may do some water grids as well. His biggest problem right now is a portable UHF radio. He has 2 meter portables but nothing to take on the road for UHF. It is unfortunate that we cannot send him a radio due to restrictions, however, other countries like Canada and Mexico could. If there is anyone outside the US that has a UHF portable that would cover the satellite band and would like to help Hector, please consider sending it to him. He is trying to build a uhf to 2meter downconverter that could be used with a 2m HT but the outcome is unknown. Anything you build for UHF receive has to be very sensitive as satellites run very low power. An HT would be the best solution. So if you are one of the lucky 73 who gets a QSL card from Hector, unsolicited, please take the time to make one out and return it to him. He is trying to get his VUCC and it's a lot more difficult for him than it is for us. An IRC always helps. Please do not send cards to me. Thank you Hector for getting on the birds from Cuba. You have given many of us a new grid as well as a new DXCC entity! 73, John K8YSE ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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: Hector CO6CBF EL92 an off-line reply
John, I worked Hector on 3/3 and 21/4. I am sitting her wondering..I don't know anything about being a qsl manager but wonder if I can help him out. Particularly if it helps him achieve VUCC. I could receive e-mail logs and check and respond to mail requests. I keep up with my own cards, though the volume has dropped as more get EM30 and now abother station is in this grid. And you know I am serious about the hamsats. I'd even pay for his batch of qsl cards. That would not break me. Hi! From your post, it seems you have a relationship with Hector. What do you think? 73 George WA5KBH -Original message- From: saguaroas...@cox.net Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 22:47:37 -0500 To: John Papay j...@papays.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Hector CO6CBF EL92 John, The timing of your post was fortuitous. I'm just catching up on QSL's and I had worked Hector on 2 Apr. I was about to send him an email asking how to handle the QSL request. I'll keep my eyes on the mailbox. Did you happen to note the calls he QSL'd? Might help someone who worked him but doesn't get a card for whatever reason figure out the details. It was nice to get Cuba in the books. 73 Rick K7TEJ John Papay j...@papays.com wrote: Hector, CO6CBF, made his first satellite QSO back on January 27th, 2011 on the AO-51 satellite. He didn't have much help getting started but he read and built an antenna and made that contact after he could successfully hear others on the satellite. I've only worked 3 Cuban stations, CO8TW in FL20, CO5LU in EL93 and Hector CO6CBF in EL92. EL92 is rare. I did not have it and neither did KO4MA, K6YK or NI7P/exN7SFI. I sent the card to Hector before I did any research on the mail issues. It turns out that mail from Cuba to the USA has been suspended by the Cuban government due to delays with our TSA screening incoming mail. Cuba feels that this delay is unacceptable. You would think that mail from the USA to Cuba would be refused also but that is not the case. Hector reported being very surprised to receive a card from me with an IRC in tact. The mail from the USA to Cuba works. Sending IRC's is acceptable. Green stamps would not be acceptable. Now the problem was how to return cards from Cuba to the USA. Hector has friends that live in the US but visit Cuba from time to time. He was finally able to send a number of cards back with his friend and they in turn mailed them to me for distribution. There are 75 QSL cards in the mail now from Hector, CO6CBF. Just two of them are in envelopes received by Hector, however, he reports that since that time, he has received several envelopes from the US. There were a few cards with incorrect callsigns. I did my best to determine the intended recipient but there may be some errors on my part. If you get a card addressed to you for a contact you made with Hector but your callsign is wrong, simply send a card to him and he will send one back via the above mentioned process. Be patient. Please remember that Hector's first language is not English. If he gets your callsign wrong, it is likely due to your not using phonetics. There is no need to discuss phonetics; just use them when making a QSO with Hector. The QSL cards are smaller than the standard QSL, 3-1/2 x 5-1/2. That is because the only printer that Hector has right now will not print that size. He is trying to fix another printer that will allow the full size card to be printed. Hector has shared his plans for future satellite grid operations. He will be trying to activate every grid in Cuba and may do some water grids as well. His biggest problem right now is a portable UHF radio. He has 2 meter portables but nothing to take on the road for UHF. It is unfortunate that we cannot send him a radio due to restrictions, however, other countries like Canada and Mexico could. If there is anyone outside the US that has a UHF portable that would cover the satellite band and would like to help Hector, please consider sending it to him. He is trying to build a uhf to 2meter downconverter that could be used with a 2m HT but the outcome is unknown. Anything you build for UHF receive has to be very sensitive as satellites run very low power. An HT would be the best solution. So if you are one of the lucky 73 who gets a QSL card from Hector, unsolicited, please take the time to make one out and return it to him. He is trying to get his VUCC and it's a lot more difficult for him than it is for us. An IRC always helps. Please do not send cards to me. Thank you Hector for getting on the birds from Cuba. You have given many of us a new grid as well as a new DXCC entity! 73, John K8YSE ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
[amsat-bb] Re: Icom D-Star
On Wed, 2011-04-27 at 09:00 -0500, Gregg Wonderly wrote: This is one of those experimentation moments. Not everyone is happy with where it is at, but without some more participation, those experimenting now will be the ones setting the standards, and if you are not happy with those results, it will be your fault not theirs, because you chose not to participate. I'd like to point out that it's difficult, at best, to participate when you can't roll your own. There are many codecs available out there today that don't require purchasing a license to use. The biggest problem right now is that D-Star isn't backward compatible or you could implement one of those freely-licensed codecs now and let people design their own implementation. Packet radio, however, is a good example of an open project. AX25 is the basis for packet radio and since the specification was released it allowed anyone to design and develop their own software and hardware systems. Take a subset of that project, APRS, and you'll see this even more. How many software clients are out there that use the APRS specification as a means to communicate with other APRS users? Kenwood, Byonics, and Yaesu, among others, have all made hardware devices utilizing the APRS and AX25 open specifications and more will come. Open is better and until all the pieces are freely available you won't catch one of these devices on my side. --Eric W4OTN ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Icom D-Star
At 11:33 AM 4/28/2011, you wrote: I'd like to point out that it's difficult, at best, to participate when you can't roll your own. There are many codecs available out there today that don't require purchasing a license to use. The biggest problem right now is that D-Star isn't backward compatible or you could implement one of those freely-licensed codecs now and let people design their own implementation. Tell that to the likes of G4KLX, KI4LKF, the ircDDB team, PA4YBR, the designers and builders of various GMSK modems, and even AA4RC and Moe, who designed the DV Dongle hardware (not to mention those who are building their own Dongles). Sure, the codec is proprietary, but there are implementations available, from a bare chip (at around $20) to the DV Dongle for people to play with. And there's a LOT of tinkering to be done without even decoding the audio, as many of the above people can attest to first hand. As far as I'm concerned, this argument is a furphy. There are open source implementations for just about everything else - gateways, repeaters, GMSK modem (using a soundcard), routing advertisements (ircDDB), everything except DPlus (though there is an open source functional equivalent - DExtra). 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Icom D-Star
On 04/27/2011 09:33 PM, Eric Christensen wrote: On Wed, 2011-04-27 at 09:00 -0500, Gregg Wonderly wrote: This is one of those experimentation moments. Not everyone is happy with where it is at, but without some more participation, those experimenting now will be the ones setting the standards, and if you are not happy with those results, it will be your fault not theirs, because you chose not to participate. I'd like to point out that it's difficult, at best, to participate when you can't roll your own. See, while I don't like AMBE, that's a bunch of shenanigans. You can roll your own stuff with D-STAR: http://www.gmskhotspot.com/ http://www.w9arp.com/hotspot/ http://www.d-star.asia/index.html.en Packet radio, however, is a good example of an open project. AX25 is the basis for packet radio and since the specification was released it allowed anyone to design and develop their own software and hardware systems. Take a subset of that project, APRS, and you'll see this even more. How many software clients are out there that use the APRS specification as a means to communicate with other APRS users? Kenwood, Byonics, and Yaesu, among others, have all made hardware devices utilizing the APRS and AX25 open specifications and more will come. D-STAR *is* an open protocol. D-STAR Audio, however, has a codec that is encumbered by patents, I'm not touching AMBE, but I enjoy the idea of a digital data mode developed within the past decade. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. -- Ben Jackson - N1WBV - New Bedford, MA bbj at innismir.net - http://www.innismir.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] UT1FG/MM Photo Album
Yuri, UT1FG/MM, is currently in port at San Juan Puerto Rico. Walt WP4T and his family drove over to San Juan yesterday to attempt to see him. They were successful and were treated to a red carpet tour of his ship the Mottler. They took pictures and they are available for viewing on my website: http://www.papays.com/sat The Mottler is very modern and was just built in 2009. Yuri has logged many miles on it since last October when I first heard him on the satellites. He will fly home to the Ukraine later this week. I never did get the feedback from Yuri on the qsl procedure but I will post what I think would work the best. Enjoy the photos and thanks to Walt WP4T and his ham radio family for making the trip! 73, John K8YSE ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: VX-3 on FM Sats
Got the VX-3R configured and charged before a near 90 degree pass from SO-50. I figured this would be a good worst case scenario test to start with. I was able to hear about a 1/3 of the pass (I had heavy foliage on both horizons). I worked a station in Tx doing a sat demo and heard several others. Used the Smiley whip antenna that was recommended to me. Never really expected that to work as well as it did. Using a Pelican 1120 case, I now have a very portable satellite kit also including a TH-F6A, an iPod touch and a digital recorder. Will be updating my website in a few days with pictures. Makes a very nice travel kit to use instead of having to take larger handhelds and an arrow antenna. Ron On 4/27/11 3:05 PM, Ronald Nutter wrote: Clint: I thought it would. I ran into someone who was adament that the mod had to be done. I ahve the VX-3R in my hands and saw the specs in the book that said it would work. Just trying to make sure that I have the T's crossed and the I's dotted. Ron Even the VX-3E for the European market transmits 144-146 / 430-440 and receives everything. Clint ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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-BB@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-BB@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] AO-51 reported down 27 April 2011 1200utc
Hi All, You know, I feel so guilty... After goodness knows how many years, I decided to try satellite work again. I read around, I took advice, and I purchased a nice new Kenwood TH-D72. It arrived a couple of weeks ago, so I took it with me on vacation, programmed the memories for Doppler and persuaded my XYL that what she really wanted to do each afternoon of her holiday was listen to AO-51 passes... That was fine. Using just the rubber duck, I copied every pass without trouble and no divorce proceedings ensued. She's very tolerant after all these years... We then returned home to find the shiny new Elk that I'd ordered from AMSAT-UK waiting for me. Eagerly, I screwed my courage to the sticking point and attempted to work the bird. (Without a great deal of success, I have to admit, hopefully because the only two chances I've had so far have been Sunday afternoons, when every amateur in Europe seems to be on..) But, horror of horrors! As soon as I pointed my Elk at AO-51, this BBS started filling up with messages about how the bird was going down all the while! I'm sorry, folks. I know it was my fault. I really meant to take my Evil Genius' Prototype Satellite Killing Death Ray out of circuit before transmitting. It was a honest mistake that could have happened to anybody I promise not to do it again... :-) 73 Nick MW0JGE P.S. Seriously, many thanks to all those who labour long and hard to make satellites available to the likes of me. It is much appreciated. --- Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:11:19 -0400 From: Mark L. Hammond marklhamm...@gmail.com Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 reported down 27 April 2011 1200utc To: Amsat - BBs amsat-bb@amsat.org Message-ID: banlktikhdw4-emx_e9wsuhhcuzc52yc...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Hello AO-51 Users, We are receiving reports that AO-51 is down. It will be several hours until a command station is in the footprint. We'll do try and get it active as soon as possible. 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] -- ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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
