[amsat-bb] Re: VU2MKP Silent Key
- Original Message - From: "Gopal Madhavan" To: Sent: Tuesday, June 09, 2009 3:22 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] VU2MKP Silent Key > > > Being paralyzed from the neck down, he could only use his head and mouth > to control his motorized wheel chair and it was a common sight for him to > drive around the streets of Bangalore, visiting friends, going to > restaurants > and even shopping for radio components for his radio projects. > > He was an avid radio amateur, controlling the radio and associated > equipment, all with plastic rods held in his mouth. He operated the > computer also in this fashion and even made computer drawings on >antenna designs etc which he shared with friends- my satellite antennae >were home brewed from drawings he sent me. > > He was a keen DXer and had friends all over the world, on HF and > satellites also. When AO 40 was operational he made several hundreds >of contacts. Since I worked a lot of DX on AO-40 I checked my log for VU2MKP and confirmed I was one of the contacts he had made. Due to the time difference and relative short mutual window I did not work very many VU's. I had worked him on the 25/09/03 and he asked for a QSL via the Bureau. It took three years for the exchange to be made. His nice card was filled out by hand. Clare VE3NPC ___ Sent via amsat...@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] K5D Sat QSL
Received my K5D sat qsl in mail today. Thanks for a new one. Clare VE3NPC Sat DXCC #64 211 submitted & confirmed by ARRL 17 more confirmed but not yet submitted ___ Sent via amsat...@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: AO-51 in V/US repeater until November 1
On for 20:45 and 22:25 utc passes. Early one was max elevation of 15 degrees next one nearly overhead pass. Receiving with 52 turn helix with cup reflector No signal background noise is S1. Max sig on 15 degree el pass was S6 and on near overhead was S9 + 10db. Had 2 QSOs on low pass and 4 on high pass. S band transmitter sounds good. 2 meter uplink power is as low as it will go on FT-847 (2 watts) into 2 X 6 el linear Quagis. Tnx Drew. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" To: "Amsat-BB" Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 7:34 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 in V/US repeater until November 1 > FM Repeater, V/US > Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM > Downlink: 435.300 and 2401.200 MHz FM > > Reports on the S band transmitter would be appreciated. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@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...@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: AO-51 Mode S reports
Hi Drew Worked KB2M and WB8OTH on 21:30 utc pass however no downlink signal until it reached about 30 degrees elevation then sigs picked up to about S7 max which is 2 to 3 S units lower than before. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" To: "Amsat-BB" ; "AO51 Modes" Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 5:36 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Mode S reports > AO-51 is currently in Mode V/S on 145.88/2401.200. With our attitude > inverted from normal, I'm interested in any S band reports. The L/S > antenna should be pointed towards the ground now in the southern > hemisphere, and away in the northern. The schedule indicates we would > concurrently run the 9k6 telemetry downlink on 435.150. Due to low > battery voltages and being near the bottom of the output power selection > range, I shut off the 435.150 transmitter this morning at about 1025 UTC. > > Please send any reports on the Mode S signal to ko...@amsat.org. or > ao51-mo...@amsat.org. > > Thanks, Drew KO4MA > AMSAT VP Operations ___ Sent via amsat...@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: AO-51 Mode S reports
Hi Drew Worked KB2M and WB8OTH on 21:30 utc pass however no downlink signal until it reached about 30 degrees elevation then sigs picked up to about S7 max which is 2 to 3 S units lower than before. Clare VE3NPC > - Original Message - > From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" > To: "Amsat-BB" ; "AO51 Modes" > Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 5:36 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Mode S reports > > >> AO-51 is currently in Mode V/S on 145.88/2401.200. With our attitude >> inverted from normal, I'm interested in any S band reports. The L/S >> antenna should be pointed towards the ground now in the southern >> hemisphere, and away in the northern. The schedule indicates we would >> concurrently run the 9k6 telemetry downlink on 435.150. Due to low >> battery voltages and being near the bottom of the output power selection >> range, I shut off the 435.150 transmitter this morning at about 1025 UTC. >> >> Please send any reports on the Mode S signal to ko...@amsat.org. or >> ao51-mo...@amsat.org. >> >> Thanks, Drew KO4MA >> AMSAT VP Operations > ___ Sent via amsat...@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 FT847
There is also the possability the FT-847 is a early production model. The original design did not include two-way CAT control. Models withe serial number 8G05 or later provided full CAT control I have an early unmodified FT-847 which will set the designated doppler corrected up and down freqs when the C for CAT control is clicked but it will not follow up with auto updating. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Tom Schuessler" To: Sent: Sunday, April 10, 2011 12:38 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 and FT847 > Hi all, > > In an attempt to dabble my toes in the linear transponder pool, I asked a > FT847 owner friend to bring his rig over to try and understand the > mechanics > of making it all work with the computer interfaced. Got SatPC32 to > communicate at 9600, 8, none, 1, none, with the radio and the radio > responded to changes I made on the program like using keystrokes to modify > the frequency of uplink or downlink. Problem is that although the program > was tracking Doppler correctly, the radio was not tracking at all. With > the > multiple lines of possibilities on the Doppler.sqf file as is the case for > AO-51, I can go to the CAT dialog and change the mode frequencies just > fine, > the radio goes to the new frequencies and even reflects the current state > of > the Doppler shifted frequencies but from there, no Doppler corrections > occur. > > Now I remember reading the "Manual" that "CAT Delay" for the FT897 needed > to > be set to 20. Cat Delay is in the "Radio Setup" dialog is defaulted to > 70. > I realize this now after the fact with radio not in my presence. Is this > the reason that the above mentioned problem could be occurring? > > I hope to make another go at this in a few weekends in the hope of getting > ready for Field Day. Thanks for the help of the list. > > Tom Schuessler > 2713 Lake Gardens Drive > Irving, Texas 75060 > 972-986-7456 > 214-403-1464 (Cell) > n5...@arrl.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 ___ 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 Comparative Antenna Tests
It is commendable to see some direct antennas comparison measurements being made. Computer modeling is one thing. Realizing it in hardware is quite another. The biggest problem in making field measurements is to reduce and try and eliminate reflections from the ground, adjacent structures and overhead wires and your antenna mount. The pattern of the antennas under test can be very significant. Two antennas can have the same direct forward gain. But one can have a narrow beam width main lobe but with relatively large side lobes, while the other has a broader main lobe beam width and low side lobes. While they both can give the same forward gain results the second antenna is obviously the better antenna. To test for ground reflections raise and lower your antenna and also move it back and forward and see if your signal strength varies. On a different day and different location repeat the measurements. Your results may well leave you wondering why you made the statements you so confidently did. To reduce ground reflections raise the antennas as far as possible above ground. Use a high gain directional antenna for the signal source so that little of the radiated power is directed at reflective surfaces. The greater the spacing between the rx and tx antennas the more likelihood of a reflection but the spacing needs to be such that a small change in spacing has little effect on the results. As a rule of thumb spacing about 10 wavelengths. In actual satellite operating a difference in forward gain of a db or less is hard to detect however the effects of the pattern can be significant in pointing a hand held antenna at a moving target. Having made hundreds of comparison measurements on 13cm helix antennas I know how much time and effort it takes. However I think it is very worthwhile to actually make real antenna comparison measurements to confirm the theoretical. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "John Kopala" To: Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 11:49 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Arrow and ELK Comparative Antenna Tests > On Saturday, April 23, Pat Stoddard (WD9EWK) and I did some antenna > testing in an attempt to answer > the questions about which is the best antenna for portable satellite > operation. We only tested the > antennas in receive mode to determine their relative gain. Time > constraints prevented us from > performing additional testing to determine if the transmitted output was > consistent with the receive > gain of the antennas. For the time being we will assume (and we all know > the dangers of doing so) > that the transmit performance closely matches the receive performance. > > The antennas tested were an Arrow (3 x 7 elements), an ELK (4 elements), a > PortaFox configured for > 145/435 operation (4 elements), and a Home Brew 4 by 9 element "arrow" > antenna. The standard Arrow > antenna was the only antenna equipped with duplexer, but not the basic > duplexer which is installed > in the handle. We did not measure the insertion loss of the duplexer on > the Arrow antenna, but this > was obviously not a significant factor in the overall performance. A > duplexer could still be > required depending upon the antenna chosen and the radio(s) to be used. > > Using the Arrow antenna as the reference antenna and 145.300 MHz as our > test frequency, our > measurements indicated that the Arrow and the ELK antennas had identical > gain. The PortaFox antenna > showed 2db less gain than the Arrow and the ELK. The Home Brew 4/9 > element crossed yagi showed 2db > more gain than the Arrow and the ELK. > > On 435.300 MHz, the Arrow antenna had 2db more gain than the ELK and 8db > more gain than the > PortaFox. The Home Brew 4/9 element had 3db more gain than the Arrow. I ___ 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] ARRISat-1 SSB QSO
At 11:08 UTC Aug 7 morning pass with 20 degree elevation VE3NPC and KB8OTH competed a QSO on ARRISat-1. Signals were just above noise level but Q5 Clare VE3NPC ___ 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: Official Word for the 70cm Antenna?
As ARISSat1 now is opertional in high power at a decent hour in the evening here I have been making a few attempts at SSB transponder operation. I have 2x10 turn helix atennas and a 100 watt brick amplifier which would give me an ERP in the order of 4KW on the 70 cm uplink. The Aug 19 23:55 UTC pass had a max el of 78 degrees. For some reason the satellite turned off and on or switched between high and low power several times during the pass. The transponder downlink background noise as it went to high power was clearly noticeable and the S meter went up from S1 to S2. The 145.950 FM voice was 10 over S9. With 100 watts SSB out my 2 m downlink sig at peak went up to S4 and was Q5 but still with some noise. Reducing the uplink to 50 watts produced a noticeable reduction of the downlink into the noise. On two previous passes I was able to detect that another operator had gotten my call OK but I was unable to get theirs as their signal was well into the noise. I have not attempted CW which of course will give a much better result. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Phil Karn" To: "Mike Schaffer" Cc: Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 11:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Official Word for the 70cm Antenna? On 8/17/11 5:29 PM, Mike Schaffer wrote: What is the official AMSAT/ARISSat1 team finding on the ARISSat-1 70cm quarter-wave receive antenna on the bottom of the satellite? I have not heard updated news about that since the jettison occurred. As far as I know, and this is *NOT* the official word, the correct antenna was installed but the external section of the element was broken off. There's about 1.5" of antenna blade embedded in the epoxy, which isSSB why the antenna still hears pretty well. Reports of users getting into the transponder with as little as 1W prove it can't be the dummy load. -Phil ___ 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: SatPC32 with IC-821H / IC-910H
Hi Erich I now have almost the same problem. I had version 11.4 on my COMPAQ laptop running windows XP. I have been using it with an interface to tune my Yaesu FT-736R particularly for mode L and S on AO-51. It has worked well for several years. But every year when I renewed my AMSAT-NA membership I ordered a CD with the latest SatPC32 version. As 11.4 worked for what I wanted I never upgraded. However the other day in deleting old keps from the file I accidently deleted something else and I lost the map dissplay. So I decided it was time to upgrade. I deleted version 11.4. While deleting a message came up 4 or 5 times about it being linked or associated with other progams and did I want them removerd. As it indicated there would be no problem if they remained I hit NO. I installed version 12.6 and everything runs all OK except there is no signal out of the RS232 port when C+ is on. I have selected the 736R rx and baud rate of 4800 Com-port is 0 and CAT delay is 20 and checked CAT control. I am not too good on computer operation so will need fairly detailed help. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Erich Eichmann" To: "Peter Scheller" Cc: Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3:08 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 with IC-821H / IC-910H > Peter, > I will answer your mail off the list. > 73s, Erich, DK1TB > > - Original Message - > From: "Peter Scheller" > To: "amsat-bb" > Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 10:46 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 with IC-821H / IC-910H > > >> >> Greetings, >> >> Due to other reasons, I had to re-install SatPC32, a registered version. >> >> I deleted the old SatPC32 first, before installing the version from AMSAT >> NA, >> >> via internet. The installation seems to be trouble free, and the program >> is working >> >> fine, as far as I can tell. >> >> The problem encountered is that I cannot get the program to track the >> radio. Nothing. ___ Sent via amsat...@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: Research project
I worked OX3DB on AO-13 on 5th Jan 1990. The card says the operator was Jan Nielson and his QTH was Nuuk (Godthab) on South West Coast. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Reid Crowe" Subject: [amsat-bb] Research project > I'm trying to figure out who, if anyone, activated FQ56 (Thule) before > me. Does anyone know, or know of past Greenlandic operators? > > 73, > > Reid N0RC ___ Sent via amsat...@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: AO-51 S schedule loaded
Mode V/S working well on orbit 30820 on 10:20 UTC pass. Full quieting for whole pass with only one small fade.. Only KB2M and myself on. Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" To: "Amsat-BB" Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 5:35 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 S schedule loaded > At 0930Z I loaded a schedule that should turn V/S on just after emerging > from each eclipse, beginning at 1010Z today through 0930Z tomorrow. > Reception reports would be appreciated. > > 73, Drew KO4MA ___ Sent via amsat...@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 HELIX REFLECTOR?
To add to the discussion the July/Aug 2007 Amsat Journal has an article covering some gain comparisonmeasurements I made between four 13 turn (2.88 wavelengths) 13cm antennas with different square solid aluminum reflectors. The sizes were 0.56 wavelengths, 0.84 wavelengths, 1.0 wavelength and 1.4 wavelengths. There was no difference between the 0.84, 1.0 and 1.4 wavelengths but the antenna with the0.56 wavelength reflector had 1.5 db less gain. However for my 70cm helix antennas I followed the Satellite Handbook minimum size of 0.6 wavelengthsor slightly over 16 inches. I used 1/2 inch hardware cloth mesh to keep the weight and windloading down. These antennas have performed well however it appears that they would be a bit better with a somewhat larger reflector. A brief description and picture of the 70 cm reflector is in the November/December 2005 Amsat Journal article on The Development of a Quarter Wave Match for helical antennas. Clare VE3NPC >> Hi All: >> I am rebuilding a 440 MHZ Helix that I built several years ago . It >> worked very well, but I would like to reduce the size of the reflector to >> a more manageable size than I had before. The only reference to reflector >> size I can find is, "minimum 20" ". I may be looking in the wrong places. >> I would appreciate it, if someone would steer me in the right direction. >> Thanks, >> Pete, K1HZU ___ Sent via amsat...@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: AO40 contacts
I made over 1300 contacts on AO-40 during its 2 3/4 years of operation. The first QSO was on 05/05/01 at 08:17 with Mike N1JEZ on U/S then at 08:39 worked Dom I8CVS, at 08:52 Fred CU8AO, and at 09:03 Frank DL6DBN. I then fired up my FT-736R on 1.2 GHz and at 09:44 worked Steve KB8VAO with both of us making our 1st L/S QSO on AO-40 and then at 09:55 worked Mike N1JEZ for his first L/S contact. On the 25th and 26th of Jan 2003 an AO-40 QSO party was held. 30 logs were submitted from 14 countries. I made 107 QSO's with 19 DXCC countries. My last contact was on 28/01/04 at 20:39 with DG4DW. My next log entry was at 29/01/04 at 01:35 with Jerry W0SAT and my log note is "we talked about AO-40 gone" In spite of the fact AO-40 had major problems and never operated near it's original design I think it was a very successful amateur satellite. Bob (W7LRD); I guess all we can do now is remember the good old days and cry on each others shoulders. SOB SOB Clare VE3NPC - Original Message - From: "Floyd Rodgers" Cc: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 3:04 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO40 contacts > Did anyone manage to bag any contacts off A040 before it's sad event? > ___ > 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
