[amsat-bb] Re: SSTV on Sunday Indianapolis Balloon Flight on 144.310 MHz
I just saw a message on the Balloon_Sked list that the Sunday launch has been scrubbed. The list promises more information on a future launch when the student payload is ready for flight. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9...@amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of JoAnne Maenpaa Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 00:06 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] SSTV on Sunday Indianapolis Balloon Flight on 144.310 MHz Some amateurs in the midwest may be interested in this news posted by Bill, WB8ELK on the Balloon_Sked list: Spaceport Indiana balloon launch around 11 am to noon EST Sunday, November 10 from downtown Indianapolis at the IUPUI campus carrying a student experiment. Landing zone is a few miles northeast of Cincinnati about 10 miles west of Blanchester. One of the payloads includes SSTV on 144.310 MHz in Scottie 2 format. APRS: WB8ELK-11 and WB8ELK-12 SSTV: 144.310 MHz S2 mode 110 baud ASCII RTTY: 433.996 MHz USB Iridium satellite modems might also report on APRS.FI as WB8ELK-13 and WB8ELK-14. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9...@amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal ___ 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] DM32/DM42 on 0027 UTC VO52 pass today
Hi! On my way home from the Tucson Hamfest this afternoon, I will stop on the DM32/DM42 grid boundary south of Phoenix for the VO52 pass at 0027 UTC. This will be the only pass I work today from there, as I don't want to be out there past sunset. 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] Duh! moment
I reloaded W7 on my sat 'puter and can't seem to find out where Satpc32ISS can be downloaded. Any help appreciated (hope the answer won't be too embarrassing for me !) 73, Ted K7TRK ___ 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: Duh! moment
Found it thanks to KB1PVH 73, K7TRK -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Ted Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2013 2:55 PM To: 'AMSAT-BB' Subject: [amsat-bb] Duh! moment I reloaded W7 on my sat 'puter and can't seem to find out where Satpc32ISS can be downloaded. Any help appreciated (hope the answer won't be too embarrassing for me !) 73, Ted K7TRK ___ 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] 2013 AMSAT Symposium in Houston - My Observations
This was my first AMSAT-NA symposium. (I had been to at least two UK ones.) It was excellent. Great to put the faces with the voices. I felt right art home. And of course it was a great pleasure to finally meet Hector. We have gotten to know each other so well over the last few years via emails. It was also a treat to meet and get my picture with W5LFL. It was my unsuccessful attempt in 1983 to talk to him that kindled my interest in the hamsats. I treasure the recording I made of his pass in Columbia. I had my then 5 yr old son assist me in constructing the turnstile antenna. He is now KB5ILL. He got his ticket at age 12. (Do I hear the rumblings for a Journal article? Hi!) The symposium planners did a great job. 73 George WA5KBH -Original Message- From: Clayton Coleman kayakfis...@gmail.com Sent: Friday, November 8, 2013 12:15 To: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] 2013 AMSAT Symposium in Houston - My Observations 1. It was great to see so many operators in attendance. I lost count of the total but here are just a few of the more frequent North American stations heard on the birds: N5AFV, N5ZNL, AC0RA, CO6CBF/KF5YXV, KO4MA, WD9EWK K5OE/M0GOE, WA5KBH, KF5LOQ, N8RO, N0JE 2. There were lots of great presentations. I stayed awake for most! 3. The forecast for future transponder-capable satellites (FM SSB) looks bright. 4. The banquet panel was outstanding and very well received by all. 5. Houston knows how to put on a fun Symposium. Kudos to the host committee! 6. I was pleased to see some of the developments around licensing Cubesats in terms of experimental versus amateur licensing. 7. We had an eclectic collection of amateurs in attendance – all with their own unique perspectives in building and/or operating satellites.You could likely never assemble such a team outside of the AMSAT Symposium venue. 8. There are many kind and generous individuals within AMSAT-NA who were supportive of one of our foreign visitors and in making his journey special. 9. Only a few people fell asleep during my presentation. None snored. 10. Even Texas BBQ from Papa’s is better than Memphis B-B-Q. The opinions and observations made above are those of W5PFG and not of any other entity. 73, Clayton W5PFG ___ 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: RF, another alternate energy technology (hogwash)
The Science Daily article quote... to convert microwaves into 7.3V of electrical energy. By comparison, Universal Serial Bus (USB) chargers for small electronic devices provide about 5V of power. ...Should be enough to set off the BS detector. First energy is measured in volts and then power. The volt is suddenly a very versatile unit. John kn4ge ___ From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org on behalf of Jim Wright wrightj...@verizon.net Sent: 08 November 2013 14:40 To: Simone; amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: RF, another alternate energy technology (hogwash) Theoretically, 1.Wouldn't these meta antennae act like the high rise building built between you and your favorite repeater. Absorbing/blocking your signal down range from the source transmitter? 2.Wouldn't all that RF building up inside the room act like the story we have all heard about the cat came in from outdoors wet, so I tossed him into the microwave!? Years ago when a building was being built near the phone company building where I worked, the microwave signals would fade for no apparent reason. As the building, a block away, started to appear above the nearer buildings, we saw the crane used to raise material for the construction rising up in height, also. It turns out the crane cab was at the 250 height of our tower antenna. Whenever the cab swung into position to put it's load on the new building, we lost signals to/from our next relay tower, a major route node. Using a bit of hype, we told the crane operator that he would become sterile if he kept getting in the beam between towers. They moved the crane to another location. Both parties were happy. Jim WA4IVM ps: 23 mile path length, 2 degree beam width, 1/2 watt ERP. On 11/8/2013 11:35 AM, Simone wrote: Bob, I agree with you on the fact that RF energy harvesting is not practical for high powers, but I think we should re-locate these devices into their context: rectantennas and similar devices are designed to power extremely low power devices, in places where there is no access to sun light. Think for example to tyre pressure monitoring sensors: some types of devices harvest power from the transponder used to communicate with them. Still we are far from energy harvesting houses, where walls and tiles are made of antennas that sucks all the incident RF power... in any case, as you pointed out, even in the case such a scenario would work, people living inside would have no radio and no cellphone working! 73 Simone - IU1AFY/F4VPY 2013/11/8 Robert Bruninga bruni...@usna.edu A fellow came to me convinced that capturing RF energy from cell phones, and radio and TV waves was free energy. He couldn’t wait to invest in these pocket sized antennas that have achieved the same 37% energy reception efficiencies as do the most expensive solar cells:. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131107154818.htm I told him to not believe everthing he hears and you Amsat radio guys might get a kick out of my response: -- Thanks for sending me this interesting example of hype gone ridiculous. I was glad to receive it. The problem is apples and oranges. Yes, they got ”37% efficiency, similar to the most expensive solar cells”, but the difference is that solar energy imparts about 100 watts of energy per square foot on a solar panel – remember, ONE HUNDRED WATTS/sqft. The amount of energy from a Cell tower onto a small antenna 1 mile away from the cell tower (typical) is only 0.0004 Watts. So there is about a one hundred trillionth of the practicality. Or another way to look at it. If you could hold their RF energy collecting antenna 1 inch from the cell phone tower (not one mile), to get more power, then the most power he could get would be only 3 watts. Still nothing close to what the sun provides. Plus, he would be absorbing all the power from the cell phone tower making it useless, plus the energy is not free. SO to get the same power as a palm sized solar panel, his RF capture antenna would have to be ONE INCH away from THIRTY cell phone towers. And, to generate that same 100 watts worth of RF energy, it takes about 300 watts of electrical power. (1 inch away) All to deliver about 1 Watt of power compared to the Sun which is free. Thanks. A great lesson in hype! Bob Bruninga, WB4APR ___ 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:
[amsat-bb] SO-50
Dear Folks: Is it just me or is SO-50 not quite as easy a bird to work as AO-27 or AO-51 were? I actually prefer working the SSB/CW birds, so I don't have as much experience on the FM sats. That's why I'm asking. Even though I'm able to make a few contacts on SO-50 every pass I am on, it seems like everyone has a harder time getting in. It seems there are few times that people seem to get into the bird full quieting, even without other stations competing for access. Just curious. Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS ___ 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: SO-50
It's got a weaker downlink. I don't think the receiver is any less sensitive than the other birds, but since it's only running 250 mW, it's harder to hear. The other issue is that SO-50 doesn't transmit a constant carrier like AO-27 did (did AO-51? I never operated through it), so it doesn't sound as smooth during a pass. In case you missed it, the control operators are working on recovering AO-27, so lets hope they are successful. I listened to the packet tones as they commanded it during a pass this afternoon and the transmitter sounded good. Nice strong signal. I too prefer the linear birds, but since there are lots of grids where hams only have FM equipment, it'd be nice to get AO-27 back to tide us over until Fox-1 launches next year. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC On Sat, Nov 9, 2013 at 7:02 PM, Bernie and Cheryl ham...@ix.netcom.comwrote: Dear Folks: Is it just me or is SO-50 not quite as easy a bird to work as AO-27 or AO-51 were? I actually prefer working the SSB/CW birds, so I don't have as much experience on the FM sats. That's why I'm asking. Even though I'm able to make a few contacts on SO-50 every pass I am on, it seems like everyone has a harder time getting in. It seems there are few times that people seem to get into the bird full quieting, even without other stations competing for access. Just curious. Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS ___ 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: SO-50
Paul: I didn't realize that it's downlink was only 250mw. No wonder. I don't think AO-51 had a constant carrier. But it seemed that way sometimes. And, it frequently got my receiver to full quieting, while SO-50 almost never does that. One reason why I was asking is that I have been working up to getting back on the FM birds via a handheld. I have a place in the mountains in DN60, and I suspect that's much more rare than my home QTH grid (DM 79). I was thinking of operating handheld from there, and activating it. Thanks for your answer. I really appreciate it. 73 de Bernie, KF0QS At 10:37 PM 11/9/2013, Paul Stoetzer wrote: It's got a weaker downlink. I don't think the receiver is any less sensitive than the other birds, but since it's only running 250 mW, it's harder to hear. The other issue is that SO-50 doesn't transmit a constant carrier like AO-27 did (did AO-51? I never operated through it), so it doesn't sound as smooth during a pass. In case you missed it, the control operators are working on recovering AO-27, so lets hope they are successful. I listened to the packet tones as they commanded it during a pass this afternoon and the transmitter sounded good. Nice strong signal. I too prefer the linear birds, but since there are lots of grids where hams only have FM equipment, it'd be nice to get AO-27 back to tide us over until Fox-1 launches next year. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC On Sat, Nov 9, 2013 at 7:02 PM, Bernie and Cheryl mailto:ham...@ix.netcom.comham...@ix.netcom.com wrote: Dear Folks: Is it just me or is SO-50 not quite as easy a bird to work as AO-27 or AO-51 were? I actually prefer working the SSB/CW birds, so I don't have as much experience on the FM sats. That's why I'm asking. Even though I'm able to make a few contacts on SO-50 every pass I am on, it seems like everyone has a harder time getting in. It seems there are few times that people seem to get into the bird full quieting, even without other stations competing for access. Just curious. Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS ___ Sent via mailto:AMSAT-BB@amsat.orgAMSAT-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-bbhttp://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
