[amsat-bb] Re: Ferrite RFI filters and Traps? (yes!)
I cut the RFI Ferrite blobs off of all trash Keyboards and stuff. These are great Ferrite devices. But what are they best for? Check out this article from Chuck Councilman W1HIS: http://www.yccc.org/Articles/W1HIS/CommonModeChokesW1HIS2006Apr06.pdf Wow, a long one, but on page 24 of 42 I learned a great technique. He says, simply put a turn or two on any ferrite core and hook it to an antenna analyzer. Then look at the impedance over frequency. At DC (or your lowest frequency) the impedance should be very low (and 90 degrees) Meaning the R is very low and the +jX is very high. Keep going up in frequency to where the R and jX terms are equal. That is where the Q is now 1 and the ferrite is starting to get quite lousy. He also said that as you double frequency, the R part of the impedance should also double. When you get to the frequencies where a doubling of frequency no longer doubles R, then you are starting to get into frequencies where this core is less effective. That is exactly the kind of rule-of-thumb advice I was looking for! Now I know what to do with all these cores! Bob, 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
[amsat-bb] 13 colonies special event
It has been decided by the 13 colonies special event group that there will be no satellite precipitation in the event this year. I will look at this again next year to see if would be doable. It just doesn't make sense to do a 13 colonies event with only 8 states on the air. 73 Jeff kb2m ___ 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] DSTAR Satellite users net weather permitting
Hi All D Star Satellite users net tonight 0100 utc on REF 60 B Thanks WA4HFN em55 Damon ___ 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: Another theory regarding the Fermi Paradox
I've often wondered how far my early HF transmissions (or any transmissions) will make it into space. I know that most of them were absorbed or reflected by the ionosphere but I'm sure that some of them made it through. I wonder if the space aliens can read CW. tnx fir qso om 73 hp cul Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE Floresville, Texas -- Grid EL09uf (or vf, depends on where I stand in my yard) Being superstitious is bad luck! -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Howie DeFelice Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 3:46 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Another theory regarding the Fermi Paradox The Fermi Paradox asks, if there are other intelligent civilizations in the galaxy, why have they not come to visit us? ...They must have intercepted satellite transmissions of C-SPAN and concluded there is no intelligent life on earth. - Howie AB2S ___ 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] Oscar 7 and 73 – The old and the new
Oscar 7 and 73 – The old and the new http://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/03/oscar-7-and-73-the-old-and-the-new/ Euroluna Ion Motor CubeSat Video http://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/02/euroluna-ion-motor-cubesat-video/ FUNcube-1 / AO-73 Transponder April 5-6 http://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/02/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-april-5-6/ Launch date confirmed for UKube-1 which carries a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards providing a 435/145 MHz linear transponder and educational telemetry beacon http://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/01/ukube-1-june-19-launch-date/ 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] Re: 13 colonies special event
Glad to heart it! We spend too much effort getting them UP there. And besides, there is always the rare chance someone would get hit on the head. On 04/03/2014 10:36 AM, Jeff Griffin wrote: It has been decided by the 13 colonies special event group that there will be no satellite precipitation in the event this year. -- Gus 8P6SM The Easternmost Isle ___ 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] Arrow and ELK antennas
Is the UHF gain the same on both the Arrow and ELK antennas? I think I read that field comparisons seemed to indicate the were close to the same but the UHF part has 7 elements and, although I know its a log periodic antenna, the ELK does not appear to have as much UHF gain. Any help or experience would be appreciated. Doug K9DLP ___ 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] PCSAT Spin rate still 0.6 RPM
For what it's worth: PCSAT is still maintaining a 0.6 RPM spin about the Z axis. Today for fun, we commanded PCSAT and got 4 minutes of 10 second data. During 100 seconds it completed 1 revolution which equates to 0.6 RPM, the same rate as 13 years ago. From that we conclude that our (black/white) solar radiation differential pressure spin system is still working fine. AND that the white paint has not changed in 13 years in space (it was very expensive unobtainium two-part white space paint begged from a government launch agency). Only the equatorial antennas are painted black and white on the front and back to give us the Z spin. The others were Stanley yellow. See the original photo on http://aprs.org/pcsat.html As a refresher, in addition to this 0.6 RPM around the Z axis, there is also the 0.02 RPM tumble about the Z axis since Z has a bar magnet to follow the Earth's magnetic field which then tumbles once over each pole. Users: Routine Digipeating via PCSAT is not encouraged, since every now and then (very rare) we do take a stab at commanding it, and invariably, just when we are getting lucky, someone hits it with a packet for digipeating and robs us of the ONE-PACKET chance we have of getting in. But then we so rarely command it, that it does not make sense to insist that no one use it either. Just glad it is still working (sort of)... Bob, 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
[amsat-bb] Re: Arrow and ELK antennas
A discussion on the Arrow vs. Elk issue is posted here ... http://work-sat.com/My_Gear.html And I just saw an Arrow Sat antenna go up on eBay ... the ULTIMATE model, with diplexer ... http://www.ebay.com/itm/331169185629 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: Arrow and ELK antennas
I just had someone privately email me, berating me for making him click a link for background info on this topic, instead of simple posting it here. OK, here we go ... The Great Antenna Debate - Now that you have the basic information on the Arrow II and Elk Hand Held Satellite Antennas, you'll likely become part of the great debate as to which antenna is better than the other. The fact is, they're both great antennas! You'll have to decide for yourself as it all comes down to personal taste. Read the article by K6LCS - Clint Bradford as he attempts to put a final word on the debate! Every few months a thread starts somewhere on the 'Net - demeaning Arrow Antennas for whatever reason. Or the Elk vs. Arrow silliness - where one will tell all that one or the other is vastly superior to the other ... There's plenty of Elk vs. Arrow debate on the `Net. A lot of it pure rubbish - and not written by people who have actually purchased and own both units as they make their uneducated allegations. A couple of the re-occurring themes ... Arrow doesn't publish gain numbers for their antennas. This is true. Maybe a little arrogant of Arrow, too (grin). But reliable test data is out there - and thousands of owners will attest that their Arrow Antennas are performing magnificently for what they were designed to do. The Arrow is hard to transport. Well, I devote my entire Ford Ranger's covered pickup bed to my Arrow when I take it places. Rarely has it been disassembled. But to make it absolutely flat, all one needs to do is unscrew the three 2M element pairs, and you have a flat plane of an antenna. Arrows are all engineered wrong - they cannot possibly work. A little story for you. While working for HRO-Anaheim a few years ago, I sold an Arrow to a client for working the satellites. I had first-hand experiences with the Arrow, and therefore could wholeheartedly recommend them to others. The gentleman was waiting for me to open up the shop the next morning, with his Arrow in hand. I know antenna theory, and this antenna cannot possibly work - it is engineered all wrong - I want a refund! - he demanded. Hmmm. Part of me wanted to discover if he assembled it correctly, and whether or not he actually tested it. But the other part of me was thinking, Well, I can purchase it myself as an open-box item ... Which I did. And it is the SAME antenna that I have used the past 6+ years for EVERY demo and presentation I have given. Moral of the story: The Arrow Antenna may not please some engineers. But it sure pleases those who desire to work the FM satellites. The Arrow Antenna is much heavier ... I have brand-new, un-opened Elk and brand-new, un-opened Arrow in my hands. The Elk package weighs 35.6 ounces. The Arrow weight 33.6 ounces. Any weight difference issue is, well, NOT an issue. And on and on ... EITHER antenna is a great investment. Most of the anti-Arrow nonsense on the `Net remind me of while my wife was proudly carrying her Nikon F in the 1970s (arguably the most significant SLR in 35mm history), others would comment, Oh, my Pentax / Minolta / Canon is as good as that ... --- But you never heard any Nikon owner state any such comparison ... (grin) How do the Elk and Arrow compare? Both work the FM birds very well. Either make working the FM sats feel like cheating - the gain is that dramatic over any HT whip improvements you might make. But from someone who has purchased both and has used them both, the Arrow senses the initial capturing of a sat's signal more definitively than the Elk does. I mean, in front of darned near every audience, I'll declare, There it is! - when those close to me don't hear anything of note. But that slight dip in the background noise ... no SWR meter can detect it ... you can just hear the beginning of capturing the signal better with the Arrow than with the Elk. This is NOT a scientific conclusion - just my personal observation after working the sats for several years with both antennas. ** And although it takes more patience and finesse to work with lesser antennas, remember this: One of the first 2M reception reports from the 250mW transmitter aboard the new ARISSat-1 satellite was from a gentleman using a STOCK DUCK on his Yaesu VX-8 HT! SO ... simple HT antenna improvements (Smiley 270A ... Diamond SHR-320A) are certainly viable options! Antenna suggestions - and DIY projects - on the ANTENNAS page at ... http://www.work-sat.com Clint Bradford - K6LCS (**Editor's Note: I have experienced this phenomenon myself! This really does happen.) /end/ ___ 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: Arrow and ELK antennas
On 4/3/2014 3:30 PM, Clint Bradford wrote: I just had someone privately email me, berating me for making him click a link for background info on this topic, instead of simple posting it here. OK, here we go ... Let them click. Hand broke or just lazy? Those of us on a satellite system have a daily bandwidth unless one can afford unlimited service. (price that sometime) I would rather see a link the driving up my daily bandwidth usage. John, W0JAB ___ 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: 13 colonies special event
Ah, I just love it when someone tries to make fun of a spelling check error with a spelling check error of his own! Anyway it was a serious post, not one to be taken any other way.. 73 Jeff kb2m -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Gus Sent: Thursday, April 3, 2014 2:15 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 13 colonies special event Glad to heart it! We spend too much effort getting them UP there. And besides, there is always the rare chance someone would get hit on the head. On 04/03/2014 10:36 AM, Jeff Griffin wrote: It has been decided by the 13 colonies special event group that there will be no satellite precipitation in the event this year. -- Gus 8P6SM The Easternmost Isle ___ 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] TG9ADQ
Just worked TG9ADQ on fo29. Also heard TG9ANF. They were both cqing on the same freq and neither could hear very well. Listen for them and hopefully get them in the log. I believe they are both using Omni antennas which is the limiting factor I believe. 73 Wyatt AC0RA ___ 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
