[amsat-bb] Re: International Space Station-Bounce on 1296 MHz

2013-05-28 Thread M5AKA
--- On Tue, 28/5/13, i8cvs domenico.i8...@tin.it wrote:
 Do you know the EIRP used at 1296 MHz by DJ5AR or by 
 PA3FXB

Hi Domenico,

DJ5AR was using a 3m dish (29 dB gain) and 200 watts, PA3FXB also had a 3m dish 
but I don't know the power output. 

They each have a report on the QSO in the 432 and Above EME Newsletter

http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/NLD/eme0713.pdf

73 Trevor M5AKA


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[amsat-bb] Re: Help in Hearing ISS (Les Rayburn)

2013-05-28 Thread Matty Cunningham

Hi Les,

As others have posted - 145.825 seems to be the frequency ISS has 'settled on' 
for packet operations.

www.issfanclub.com is a great source of information for up-todate operations 
with ISS, including frequency info.

If you have an audio interface between your rig and PC, it would be worth 
looking at the likes of AGWPE:-

http://www.sv2agw.com/ham/agwpe.htm

This creates a 'virtual' TNC with your soundcard / audio interface and when the 
audio levels are set correctly, it is possible to send and receive packet via 
ISS.

UISS is a nice 'bolt-on' that can be used with AGWPE,

http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/uiss.htm

This allows you to enter your grid square , or lat  long (there's also a GPS 
plug-in if you operate mobile) and send postion/beacon/messages via the APRS 
protocol.

Best regards

Matty

MD0MAN



‎



  
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[amsat-bb] Re: International Space Station-Bounce on 1296 MHz

2013-05-28 Thread Ing. Pavel Milanes Costa

WOW !

From my modest EIRP calculation via the handbook that will be about 
129130 W (129KW) (some error included...)


That's a huge power...

73

El 28/05/13 04:13, M5AKA escribió:

--- On Tue, 28/5/13, i8cvs domenico.i8...@tin.it wrote:

Do you know the EIRP used at 1296 MHz by DJ5AR or by
PA3FXB


Hi Domenico,

DJ5AR was using a 3m dish (29 dB gain) and 200 watts, PA3FXB also had a 3m dish 
but I don't know the power output.

They each have a report on the QSO in the 432 and Above EME Newsletter

http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/NLD/eme0713.pdf

73 Trevor M5AKA


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[amsat-bb] New version of HamSatDroid

2013-05-28 Thread David Johnson

Hi,

I'm just in the process of release version 0.9 of HSD.

You will have to uninstall version 0.8 and re-install 0.9 because it has
a new signing certificate. (I have taken over ownership)

New features in this version;

Support for phones and 4/7/10 inch tablets
Landscape map for ground-track
IARU (Maidenhead) location input

The many other enhancements that people have suggested are
coming out in version 1.0.

- Dave
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[amsat-bb] (no subject)

2013-05-28 Thread kb2...@yahoo.com

Hello everyone. Just a quick note to anyone operating SO-50. I am extending my 
apologies in advance for my operating practices. I realize after listening to 
my videos that sometimes I May be talking over people unintentionally. I am new 
at this, and hopefully learning from my mistakes. SO-50 is so busy that 
sometimes I am not sure when a QSO has begun or ended, and working with my HT 
and Arrow antenna sometimes get confusing at times. Again, my apologies to 
everyone and hope to catch you on the satellite. 
Best 73...Frank
KB2CWN
EL88qL
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G LTE exclusively from Sprint

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[amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Bill (W1PA)
Again, thinking to FD...

- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT  i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna 
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds

Has anyone tried this?:

1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit 
   tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the 
bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track)
3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted 
off the mast 
   0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set 
it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass)
4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS 
  point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position.
5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each 
pass.

Do-able?

Bill W1PA 
 
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[amsat-bb] May/June 2013 AMSAT Journal is Ready

2013-05-28 Thread JoAnne Maenpaa
The May/June 2013 AMSAT Journal is complete and at the print shop. See
http://ww2.amsat.org/?p=651 for more details.

--
73 de JoAnne K9JKM
k9...@amsat.org 
Editor, AMSAT Journal



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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Craig Gagner
Bill, You are mistaken. The FT-847 will work fine with SatPC. I had one and
it worked great. I used a G5400 AZ/EL Rotor from Yaesu with the Easy Rotor
Tracker module from Germany. I also used the 12v voltage on the coax to
power my mast mounted Preamps. I know this doesn't answer your question but
trying to do an automated work around to the G5400 or G5500 is going to be a
real pain..

73, Craig W1MSG

-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Bill (W1PA)
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 10:54 AM
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op

Again, thinking to FD...

- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT  i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds

Has anyone tried this?:

1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit 
   tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the bird went directly
overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track)
3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set
tilted off the mast 
   0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice
set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass)
4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS
  point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator
position.
5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for
each pass.

Do-able?

Bill W1PA 
 
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Bill (W1PA)
Let me ask this another way...

Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single 
rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand, VFO/Doppler on 
my other)
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Dave Webb KB1PVH
Bill,

YES

Dave-KB1PVH

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Droid RAZR
On May 28, 2013 1:14 PM, Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...

 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single
 rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand,
 VFO/Doppler on my other)
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Andrew Glasbrenner
With practice, yes. Broad beamwidth antennas tilted up just a bit, and point 
just in azimuth.

73, Drew KO4MA

Sent from my iPhone

On May 28, 2013, at 12:57 PM, Bill \(W1PA\) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...
 
 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single 
 rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand, VFO/Doppler 
 on my other)
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[amsat-bb] AMSAT table @ Show Low AZ hamfest on Saturday (1 June)

2013-05-28 Thread Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)
Hi!

I will have an AMSAT table at the annual White Mountain Hamfest in 
Show Low, Arizona, this Saturday 1 June 2013.  The hamfest will be 
at the Show Low City Hall, and is scheduled to run from 8am until 
12 noon (1500-1900 UTC).  More information about the hamfest is 
available at:

http://www.kachina-arc.org/Page/Hamfest.html
http://www.kachina-arc.org/forms/2013%20hamfest%20revised.pdf

WD9EWK will be on the air during the morning, working whatever
satellites are available from approximately 1300 UTC until the 
hamfest wraps up for on-air demonstrations.  If you hear WD9EWK 
on a pass, please feel free to call and be a part of the 
demonstration.  The hamfest site is in grid DM44.  All QSOs will
be uploaded to Logbook of the World after the hamfest, and QSL
cards will be available (just e-mail me QSO details, and I'll 
send you a card).  

73!





Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK 
http://www.wd9ewk.net/


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[amsat-bb] HamSatDroid 0.9

2013-05-28 Thread David A B Johnson

Hi,

FYI, the app has been temporarily removed from the Google Play Store 
while I reload it with the

new signing key.

Should be back tomorrow.

Will post another message when it's back.

The info site is still up:

https://sites.google.com/site/hamsatdroid/

73

- Dave, G4DPZ
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Rolf Krogstad
Bill,

You should find something in the reflector archives from 3 or 4 weeks ago
where there was a discussion of what percentage of passes were overhead.
 It is an extremely low percentage.  If I recall, most are at a an
elevation of 33 degrees or less.

Because of  the wide beam width of my antenna, tilting the antenna at an
angle of 20 to 25 degrees works well for me.  I can copy the satellite
beacons down to the horizon.  And only on the high angle passes do I have a
any drop out

And because of the beam width of the antenna I don't need to keep a hand on
the rotor control all the time.  But it takes some practice to remember to
look at the azimuth reading on the computer and to adjust the rotor
accordingly every couple of minutes.

The problem comes on the more overhead passes.  Because the bird is closest
to my location at that time it seems to accelerate as it gets overhead.  On
those, though, it doesn't seem to be as critical that the rotor be adjusted
anywhere close to the indicated azimuth.  I can hear the signal starting to
fade and it is a reminder to check the azimuth.

I would definitely run a number of passes with the setup before Field Day
to make sure that everything works and that you can remember to do all the
things that your three hands need to do during a pass!

73 from another newbie,

Rolf   NR0T



On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...

 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single
 rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand,
 VFO/Doppler on my other)
 ___
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Robert Bruninga
I found my old web page with graphics that shows the exact geometry of
passes and elevations.
 See http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html  70% of all pass times are below 22
degrees.


After the discussion a few weeks ago, I sat down today to begin building a
web page on the topic and when I went to save it, there was a page already
there that I had made years ago!  So there it is.

Bob, Wb4aPR


-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Rolf Krogstad
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 4:17 PM
To: Bill (W1PA)
Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

Bill,

You should find something in the reflector archives from 3 or 4 weeks ago
where there was a discussion of what percentage of passes were overhead.
 It is an extremely low percentage.  If I recall, most are at a an elevation
of 33 degrees or less.

Because of  the wide beam width of my antenna, tilting the antenna at an
angle of 20 to 25 degrees works well for me.  I can copy the satellite
beacons down to the horizon.  And only on the high angle passes do I have a
any drop out

And because of the beam width of the antenna I don't need to keep a hand on
the rotor control all the time.  But it takes some practice to remember to
look at the azimuth reading on the computer and to adjust the rotor
accordingly every couple of minutes.


The problem comes on the more overhead passes.  Because the bird is closest
to my location at that time it seems to accelerate as it gets overhead.  On
those, though, it doesn't seem to be as critical that the rotor be adjusted
anywhere close to the indicated azimuth.  I can hear the signal starting to
fade and it is a reminder to check the azimuth.

I would definitely run a number of passes with the setup before Field Day to
make sure that everything works and that you can remember to do all the
things that your three hands need to do during a pass!

73 from another newbie,

Rolf   NR0T



On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...

 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a
 single rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one
 hand, VFO/Doppler on my other)
 ___
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 Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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[amsat-bb] Field ISS contacts, any interest?

2013-05-28 Thread Adrian Engele
Greetings,

I am making preparations for the K9MOT Motorola Solutions Amateur Radio Club 
Field Day setup. I plan to operate the satellite station once again and give 
demos as I have done in the past few years. 

Hopefully, I can get the gremlins out that have popped up during the past few 
FD's.  I am interested in demoing packet through the ISS, assuming it will be 
in packet mode this year. 

I know all stations are limited to one ISS contact. I am curious how many other 
FD stations are planning to make a packet contact and would it be worth the 
trouble?


See you on the birds at Field Day! Please give K9MOT a shout should you hear 
us. Have fun!


73, Adrian AA5UK
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Matt Patterson
Good reading material Bob!  Everyone should bookmark this page.  Back 
when I had a sat station I had my antennas fixed at 45 degrees.  The 
reason why is first I didn't know any better and second I built my mast 
out of PVC and 2 45 degree elbows were all I could find locally.   It 
worked well enough for me to make contacts.  Then I had to move my 
antennas and never got around to putting everything back up again.  If I 
ever do it again, I will cut off the 45 degree elbows and do it right.


73 Matt
W5LL
EM23

On 5/28/2013 3:48 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote:

I found my old web page with graphics that shows the exact geometry of
passes and elevations.
  See http://aprs.org/LEO-tracking.html  70% of all pass times are below 22
degrees.


After the discussion a few weeks ago, I sat down today to begin building a
web page on the topic and when I went to save it, there was a page already
there that I had made years ago!  So there it is.

Bob, Wb4aPR


-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Rolf Krogstad
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 4:17 PM
To: Bill (W1PA)
Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

Bill,

You should find something in the reflector archives from 3 or 4 weeks ago
where there was a discussion of what percentage of passes were overhead.
  It is an extremely low percentage.  If I recall, most are at a an elevation
of 33 degrees or less.

Because of  the wide beam width of my antenna, tilting the antenna at an
angle of 20 to 25 degrees works well for me.  I can copy the satellite
beacons down to the horizon.  And only on the high angle passes do I have a
any drop out

And because of the beam width of the antenna I don't need to keep a hand on
the rotor control all the time.  But it takes some practice to remember to
look at the azimuth reading on the computer and to adjust the rotor
accordingly every couple of minutes.


The problem comes on the more overhead passes.  Because the bird is closest
to my location at that time it seems to accelerate as it gets overhead.  On
those, though, it doesn't seem to be as critical that the rotor be adjusted
anywhere close to the indicated azimuth.  I can hear the signal starting to
fade and it is a reminder to check the azimuth.

I would definitely run a number of passes with the setup before Field Day to
make sure that everything works and that you can remember to do all the
things that your three hands need to do during a pass!

73 from another newbie,

Rolf   NR0T



On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA)w...@hotmail.com  wrote:


Let me ask this another way...

Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a
single rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one
hand, VFO/Doppler on my other)
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Andy Kellner
FT 847 no computer assisted doppler ? Why ?

My FT 847 happily gets its doppler correction from SatPC32 - all you need is a 
cable.

Add a cheap tv rotor and a bit of homebrew software and you are all set ! ( 
http://evolution2enterprises.com/sat/sat.html )

This system works well for me for about 2 years now. Have since upgraded to 
higher gain antennas, though.

Cheers,

Andreas - VK4TH





 From: Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:54 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op
 

Again, thinking to FD...

- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT  i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna 
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds

Has anyone tried this?:

1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit 
   tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the 
bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track)
3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted 
off the mast 
   0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set 
it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass)
4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS 
  point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position.
5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each 
pass.

Do-able?

Bill W1PA 

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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Clayton Coleman
I'm not sure why a rotor or PC is needed.  I have made many contacts in the
past two years with an Arrow antenna (hand driven) and an IC-910 (manual
Doppler correction.)  With a little practice, it's really not difficult.
The trick is to practice, practice, practice.Y

Over the weekend I made contacts on all the active satellites with no PC,
no rotor, and no big arrays.  Sure, Field Day will be a little more
difficult.  Be prepared.  Pick your passes wisely.  If you're on the East
Coast don't pick a pass centered over North America.  Choose one out over
the Atlantic so that less stations will be in the footprint.

Last year, I snuck onto SO-50 in the middle of the night with nothing but
an Arrow and ten watts.  I'm not sure it'll be so easy this year
considering that the recently published QST article will draw some fresh
blood.

I'm glad this is getting discussed now.  Maybe more stations will decide to
dust off the gear and try contacts now rather than wing it for their 100
bonus points.

I am a firm believer in the KISS principle and also Train for how you will
operate; operate how you train.

73
Clayton
W5PFG


On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...

 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single
 rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand,
 VFO/Doppler on my other)
 ___
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Andy Kellner
OK, must have missed his first post where he mentions the fact.
 
But why does the report back mechanism has to work in order for doppler 
correction to work ?
SatPC32 just calculates the correct frequencies based on satellite data and 
current position / relative movement. It then sends the 
set frequency command to the radio, regardless what it's current frequency is. 
It does that in adjustable intervals. 
So IMHO it wouldn't be necessary to read the current frequency back from the FT 
847. In fact I am not sure if SatPC32 even does read the
frequency from the radio, even if it can.
 
Andreas - VK4TH
 



From: kq...@verizon.net kq...@verizon.net
To: haw...@yahoo.com; w...@hotmail.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op



 Guys, in his FIRST post he mentioned he had a very early FT-847.

The early FT-847's did NOT support two-way CAT communication for frequency and 
mode. You could command the radio, but it lacked the capability to report the 
frequency back to the control software.

Yaesu modified the radios, but that was a long time agao, and if the radio 
didn't get modified then, you're out of luck as there are no more parts.

The change over point is somewhere in the 8G05 range.

73, Jim  KQ6EA


On 05/28/13, Andy Kellnerhaw...@yahoo.com wrote: 

FT 847 no computer assisted doppler ? Why ?

My FT 847 happily gets its doppler correction from SatPC32 - all you need is a 
cable.

Add a cheap tv rotor and a bit of homebrew software and you are all set ! ( 
http://evolution2enterprises.com/sat/sat.html )

This system works well for me for about 2 years now. Have since upgraded to 
higher gain antennas, though.

Cheers,

Andreas - VK4TH





From: Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 12:54 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op


Again, thinking to FD...

- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT  i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna 
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds

Has anyone tried this?:

1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit 
  tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the 
bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track)
3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set tilted 
off the mast 
  0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice set it 
to the maximum elevation of the intended pass)
4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS 
  point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator position.
5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for each 
pass.

Do-able?

Bill W1PA 

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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Andy Kellner
Clayton,
 
good stuff. You are certainly right, a rotor, PC and computer based doppler 
correction are all optional.
There is a certain thrill in working SO 50 with a 10 W HT and a hand held arrow 
antenna, and pretty rewarding to.
 
But honestly, when you work AO-7 on SSB with your fully automated ground 
station - happily correcting your RX/TX frequencies in 10 Hz. intervals 
controlled from one laptop, and your fully automated homebrew tracking AZ / EL 
rotors clicking away controlled from another laptop, your full duplex 'Earth 
Station' FT 847 producing a crystal clear signal from a 40 year old bird 
limping along on ancient solar panels and all you have to do is press the PTT 
button - that puts a smile on your face, too :)
 
Anderas - VK4TH



From: Clayton Coleman kayakfis...@gmail.com
To: Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com 
Cc: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 9:33 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op


I'm not sure why a rotor or PC is needed.  I have made many contacts in the
past two years with an Arrow antenna (hand driven) and an IC-910 (manual
Doppler correction.)  With a little practice, it's really not difficult.
The trick is to practice, practice, practice.    Y

Over the weekend I made contacts on all the active satellites with no PC,
no rotor, and no big arrays.  Sure, Field Day will be a little more
difficult.  Be prepared.  Pick your passes wisely.  If you're on the East
Coast don't pick a pass centered over North America.  Choose one out over
the Atlantic so that less stations will be in the footprint.

Last year, I snuck onto SO-50 in the middle of the night with nothing but
an Arrow and ten watts.  I'm not sure it'll be so easy this year
considering that the recently published QST article will draw some fresh
blood.

I'm glad this is getting discussed now.  Maybe more stations will decide to
dust off the gear and try contacts now rather than wing it for their 100
bonus points.

I am a firm believer in the KISS principle and also Train for how you will
operate; operate how you train.

73
Clayton
W5PFG


On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com wrote:

 Let me ask this another way...

 Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single
 rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand,
 VFO/Doppler on my other)
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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Andrew Glasbrenner
It does, and it makes it very easy to tune across a pass band with the VFO. 
However, the workaround is to tune with the up down buttons in Satpc32.

 . In fact I am not sure if SatPC32 even does read the
 frequency from the radio, even if it can.

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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Bill Acito
Yeah, mine is a 8F unit --- just missed it.  I actually have the 
replacement uProcessor for it (bought years ago), but I won't get it soldered 
in in time.  Anyone know if running the rig from the computer is 
non-functional or just a bit crippled if I don't have the bi-directional 
CAT link?

When AO-40 was up, I ran 2002 FD with an 847, a primestar dish sitting on the 
ground, and a 432 11-element beam on a camera tripod...  no computer, not even 
logging. Took a bit to get a system down, but it worked fine.

Obviously, the doppler dynamics from a HEO 8 hour pass is a different animal 
than the doppler from a 8 minute LEO pass. The rotor control, even just single 
axis, will give me control in one sitting position -- the rotor control, VFO, 
RIT/XIT, mic and pen all in front of me; especially since it may be only me. 
That's all the real automation I need. 

As someone stated, I have certainly done enough hand-held FM LEO work with the 
Arrow and a FT530 to know it's a matter of practice and getting a system down.

Bob, thank you for reposting. I had saved some of the articles as pdfs for my 
own reference years ago; good to see them back on line.

Bill W1PA

Date: Tue, 28 May 2013 18:51:39 -0500
From: kq...@verizon.net
To: haw...@yahoo.com; w...@hotmail.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

 Guys, in his FIRST post he mentioned he had a very early FT-847.

The early FT-847's did NOT support two-way CAT communication for frequency and 
mode. You could command the radio, but it lacked the capability to report the 
frequency back to the control software.

Yaesu modified the radios, but that was a long time agao, and if the radio 
didn't get modified then, you're out of luck as there are no more parts.

The change over point is somewhere in the 8G05 range.

73, Jim  KQ6EA
  
  
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[amsat-bb] Lost CAT Data on SATPC32

2013-05-28 Thread Les Rayburn
Taking some advice from the group today, I closed SATPC32 and opened 
SATPCISS in an attempt to monitor a morning pass. When I reopened 
SATPC32, I noticed that I had no satellites listed in my group, the 
countdown program did not launch, etc.


Further examination revealed that all frequency data was missing in the 
CAT window too. I tried restarting the computer, downloading new KEP 
data, etc. Nothing seemed to work.


Any ideas?


--
--
73,

Les Rayburn, N1LF
121 Mayfair Park
Maylene, AL 35114
EM63nf

6M VUCC #1712
AMSAT #38965
Grid Bandits #222
Southeastern VHF Society
Central States VHF Society Life Member
Six Club #2484

Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz  Light

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[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

2013-05-28 Thread Erich Eichmann

Bill,
the older FT-847 (I don't know up to which serial number) didn't allow to
poll the VFO frequency. As I understand your mail (predated bi-directional
CAT)  you have such older model.  CAT control with FM sats should work,
because SatPC32 doesn't poll the VFO but only sets the frequency.
With SSB sats it will also work, but you can tune the radio around the 
passband only with the 5 up/down controls or the keyboard. If you tune it 
with the VFO knob the program will restore the previous frequencies with the 
next Doppler correction.bcause it can't read the frequency change you made 
with the knob.


73s, Erich, DK1TB

- Original Message - 
From: Bill (W1PA) w...@hotmail.com

To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 4:54 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] a cheap LEO tracker for single op



Again, thinking to FD...

- My FT-847 predates bi-directional CAT  i.e. no computer assisted Doppler
- I may be the only one at the station i.e. no helper to man the antenna
(Arrow), so I may need to do everything.
- assume the transponder LEO birds

Has anyone tried this?:

1) mount a standard TV antenna horizontal
2) align the horizontal rotor axis 90 deg to the orbit
  tilt (inclination?) of the intended bird (so if the
bird went directly overhead, a beam mounted on the mast would track)
3) but, mount the antenna on the horizontal mast such that it can be set
tilted off the mast
  0 to 90 degs to the mast axis (from horizon to zenith, and in practice
set it to the maximum elevation of the intended pass)
4) operation: set the rotator (in 2) and aim the beam to the AOS
 point of the pass (in 3), pan the orbit remotely from the operator
position.
5) the rotator axis and angle of the beam to mast would have to be set for
each pass.

Do-able?

Bill W1PA

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