[amsat-bb] Re: Almost There
Getting rid of the diplexer will reduce the loss, but not improve the gain. The gain is dependent on the design of the antenna. 73, Jim KQ6EA Adding a preamp at the antenna is always a good idea for satellite use. On 01/05/2014 12:42 AM, Joel Black wrote: After a rocky start to my Christmas Vacation (I fell off a ladder while pruning limbs from a tree - nothing broken, just banged up and bruised), I almost have my satellite station back on the air. After doing some selling and horse-trading, I am back in possession of my FT-847 that I sold to my dad. After cleaning out my storage building, I found a couple of fairly long runs of LMR400UF. I need to measure them, but I think it is more than enough to get me outside and up the mast. I also have a U-100 control box thanks to someone on the list. I operate an iMac with Mac OS X 10.9.1 so, for now, I am using SatPC32 on my virtual machine. I have played around with MacDopplerPro, but it locks up on my computer continuously. I don't know if it has something to do with the USB-to-serial converter (I *do* have a null modem cable between the USB-to-serial converter and the FT-847), or if MDP is just limited in the unregistered version. The USB adapter works fine with my K3. Let me ask a question about the Arrow Antenna. Someone mentioned Elk Antennas and, while I'm sure it's a fine product, I am already in possession of the Arrow. I've done a lot of reading and without getting into the arguments about Arrow vs. Elk and length of elements, etc., element isolation, and published vs. unpublished gain amounts let me tell you what I'm thinking: First, I'm going to eliminate the diplexer. I will not need it for one thing. For another, it's limited to 10 W max input. From what I have read, my gain will be increased quite a bit. I don't remember the exact amount, but it's quite dramatic. Second, the feed on the Arrow is a gamma match. From my reading, and I'm no engineer, for a gamma match to work properly the element(s) (at least the driven element) needs to be grounded. That's fine and, again, I don't want to get into the "why's" I just want to make sure I'm correct. Therefore, my question is: Is there any reason I cannot turn the driven element 90 degrees to allow for a better connection to the BNC connector? Maybe not even 90 degrees, but enough to get to the BNC connector without the male connector on the cable touching the boom. I want to weatherproof those connections. What I'd like to do after I turn the gamma match is feed it with a very short length of LMR240 and then into a preamp. After the preamp, I'll have the LMR400UF to run to the FT-847. Most gamma matches I see on commercial antennas are on the side of the antenna - if horizontal, they're below (or above) the boom; if vertical, it's off to one side. The Arrow is the only antenna I've seen with a gamma match on which the gamma match is not to one side or the other of the boom. I hope I'm making sense. Anyway, I wanted to let those folks who helped out know that I appreciate it and that I'm much closer to being back on the birds than I was a few weeks ago. 73, Joel - W4JBB ___ 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] Almost There
After a rocky start to my Christmas Vacation (I fell off a ladder while pruning limbs from a tree - nothing broken, just banged up and bruised), I almost have my satellite station back on the air. After doing some selling and horse-trading, I am back in possession of my FT-847 that I sold to my dad. After cleaning out my storage building, I found a couple of fairly long runs of LMR400UF. I need to measure them, but I think it is more than enough to get me outside and up the mast. I also have a U-100 control box thanks to someone on the list. I operate an iMac with Mac OS X 10.9.1 so, for now, I am using SatPC32 on my virtual machine. I have played around with MacDopplerPro, but it locks up on my computer continuously. I don't know if it has something to do with the USB-to-serial converter (I *do* have a null modem cable between the USB-to-serial converter and the FT-847), or if MDP is just limited in the unregistered version. The USB adapter works fine with my K3. Let me ask a question about the Arrow Antenna. Someone mentioned Elk Antennas and, while I'm sure it's a fine product, I am already in possession of the Arrow. I've done a lot of reading and without getting into the arguments about Arrow vs. Elk and length of elements, etc., element isolation, and published vs. unpublished gain amounts let me tell you what I'm thinking: First, I'm going to eliminate the diplexer. I will not need it for one thing. For another, it's limited to 10 W max input. From what I have read, my gain will be increased quite a bit. I don't remember the exact amount, but it's quite dramatic. Second, the feed on the Arrow is a gamma match. From my reading, and I'm no engineer, for a gamma match to work properly the element(s) (at least the driven element) needs to be grounded. That's fine and, again, I don't want to get into the "why's" I just want to make sure I'm correct. Therefore, my question is: Is there any reason I cannot turn the driven element 90 degrees to allow for a better connection to the BNC connector? Maybe not even 90 degrees, but enough to get to the BNC connector without the male connector on the cable touching the boom. I want to weatherproof those connections. What I'd like to do after I turn the gamma match is feed it with a very short length of LMR240 and then into a preamp. After the preamp, I'll have the LMR400UF to run to the FT-847. Most gamma matches I see on commercial antennas are on the side of the antenna - if horizontal, they're below (or above) the boom; if vertical, it's off to one side. The Arrow is the only antenna I've seen with a gamma match on which the gamma match is not to one side or the other of the boom. I hope I'm making sense. Anyway, I wanted to let those folks who helped out know that I appreciate it and that I'm much closer to being back on the birds than I was a few weeks ago. 73, Joel - W4JBB ___ 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: WEATHER EFFECT ON SATELLITE SIGNALS
Hi Peter, Congrats on working all the satellites - a very dedicated effort! Weather shouldn't be much of a factor for VHF and UHF communication; it's not until you get into the microwaves that I have had trouble, and even with the AO-40 (RIP) 2.4 ghz downlink it wasn't too noticeable. Foliage is also a factor there, and somewhat for UHF; were you aiming through any big trees? Most of the variation from one pass to another comes from the somewhat random orientation of the satellite's antennas compared to where the planet is, and the polarization of both station's antennas. Do you have linear or circularly polarized antennas? Greg KO6TH Peter Wilson wrote: Hi everyone, Firstly, thank you to the many people who have helped me over the last few days with getting started on the sats, you have all been very helpful. I have now worked all the current satellites, including AO-07 and managed to get the doppler shift sorted out with Satpc32. However, today I had a problem hearing both FO-29 and AO-52 - both were good passes. We had some very bad weather here in the UK so I was wondering if the cloud cover can affect the up/downlink. Peter G8KEK ___ 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] Hillbilly Tracking for Low Earth Orbit Satellites
Hillbilly Tracking for Low Earth Orbit Satellites http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/29/hillbilly-tracking-for-low-earth-orbit-satellites/ High Resolution Data available on FUNcube Data Warehouse http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/03/high-resolution-data-available-on-funcube-data-warehouse/ Winter Issue of OSCAR News http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/03/winter-issue-of-oscar-news-2/ UK ‘DIY space kit shop’ on Yahoo News http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/02/uk-diy-space-kit-shop-on-yahoo-news/ Lithuanian CubeSats may launch Next Week http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/28/lithuanian-cubesats-launch-next-month/ 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ___ 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] WEATHER EFFECT ON SATELLITE SIGNALS
Hi everyone, Firstly, thank you to the many people who have helped me over the last few days with getting started on the sats, you have all been very helpful. I have now worked all the current satellites, including AO-07 and managed to get the doppler shift sorted out with Satpc32. However, today I had a problem hearing both FO-29 and AO-52 - both were good passes. We had some very bad weather here in the UK so I was wondering if the cloud cover can affect the up/downlink. Peter G8KEK ___ 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: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect?
Thank you both for publishing this info! It will be great to use SatPC32 with SDR#! On Sat, Jan 4, 2014 at 1:06 PM, PE0SAT | Amateur Radio wrote: > Hi Henk, > > You're welcome, have fun with this combination, it is working great for me. > > @All I updated the article on my blog with this new information. > > http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/2013/new-sdr-dde-plugin/ > > 73 Jan PE0SAT > > > On 04-01-2014 18:31, PA3GUO wrote: > >> Problem fixed after talking with Jan PE0SAT (thanks Jan!) >> >> Need to use a newer version of SDR Sharp: >> - version 'stable' (v1.0.0.1000) does not work well with the DDE >> - version 'dev' (rev 1173) does work ! >> >> Henk, PA3GUO >> >> >> -Oorspronkelijk bericht- >> Van: PA3GUO [mailto:pa3...@upcmail.nl] >> Verzonden: zaterdag 4 januari 2014 13:06 >> Aan: amsat-bb@amsat.org >> Onderwerp: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect? >> >> When I use the DDE tracker plug-in from Ian Gilmour (MM6DOS) as >> described also here: >> http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/tag/sdrsharp/ I do indeed see in SDR Sharp >> the DDE Client. >> >> I also can see when I connect it the realtime output of SATPC32 >> correctly displayed (sat name, freq, >> ..). >> >> However, when I hit PLAY to start the FCD to become active, the DDE >> information freezes (no updates >> anymore) and the FCD also does not go to the freq from the DDE. >> >> Who can tell me what I do wrong ? >> >> Henk, PA3GUO >> >> >> >> ___ >> 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 >> > > -- > With regards PE0SAT > Internet web-page http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/ > > ___ > 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] Cape-2
CW beacon orbit #696 at 18:05 UTC: W5UL CAPE2 OR V5096 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ ___ 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: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect?
Hi Henk, You're welcome, have fun with this combination, it is working great for me. @All I updated the article on my blog with this new information. http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/2013/new-sdr-dde-plugin/ 73 Jan PE0SAT On 04-01-2014 18:31, PA3GUO wrote: Problem fixed after talking with Jan PE0SAT (thanks Jan!) Need to use a newer version of SDR Sharp: - version 'stable' (v1.0.0.1000) does not work well with the DDE - version 'dev' (rev 1173) does work ! Henk, PA3GUO -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: PA3GUO [mailto:pa3...@upcmail.nl] Verzonden: zaterdag 4 januari 2014 13:06 Aan: amsat-bb@amsat.org Onderwerp: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect? When I use the DDE tracker plug-in from Ian Gilmour (MM6DOS) as described also here: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/tag/sdrsharp/ I do indeed see in SDR Sharp the DDE Client. I also can see when I connect it the realtime output of SATPC32 correctly displayed (sat name, freq, ..). However, when I hit PLAY to start the FCD to become active, the DDE information freezes (no updates anymore) and the FCD also does not go to the freq from the DDE. Who can tell me what I do wrong ? Henk, PA3GUO ___ 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 -- With regards PE0SAT Internet web-page http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/ ___ 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: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect?
Problem fixed after talking with Jan PE0SAT (thanks Jan!) Need to use a newer version of SDR Sharp: - version 'stable' (v1.0.0.1000) does not work well with the DDE - version 'dev' (rev 1173) does work ! Henk, PA3GUO -Oorspronkelijk bericht- Van: PA3GUO [mailto:pa3...@upcmail.nl] Verzonden: zaterdag 4 januari 2014 13:06 Aan: amsat-bb@amsat.org Onderwerp: SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect? When I use the DDE tracker plug-in from Ian Gilmour (MM6DOS) as described also here: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/tag/sdrsharp/ I do indeed see in SDR Sharp the DDE Client. I also can see when I connect it the realtime output of SATPC32 correctly displayed (sat name, freq, ..). However, when I hit PLAY to start the FCD to become active, the DDE information freezes (no updates anymore) and the FCD also does not go to the freq from the DDE. Who can tell me what I do wrong ? Henk, PA3GUO ___ 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] SATPC32 and SDR Sharp connect?
When I use the DDE tracker plug-in from Ian Gilmour (MM6DOS) as described also here: http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/tag/sdrsharp/ I do indeed see in SDR Sharp the DDE Client. I also can see when I connect it the realtime output of SATPC32 correctly displayed (sat name, freq, ..). However, when I hit PLAY to start the FCD to become active, the DDE information freezes (no updates anymore) and the FCD also does not go to the freq from the DDE. Who can tell me what I do wrong ? Henk, PA3GUO ___ 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
