[amsat-bb] Click: Satellites, Balloons, Radios--What's Not to Like?
I'm not sure if you can watch this program on BBC's iPlayer outside of the UK, but this 30 min program this morning had it all. If not, look for it on youtube (soon, I'm sure): http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m9ry/episodes/player 73, Jerry, M0GOE ___ 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: Uni-Trac 2003 Parallel Port Version - Any Users outthere ?
Mike, I have the same combo and tried a Win 7 machine (laptop) with a USB-to-Parallel adapter to no avail (I'm neither a PC guru nor patient). I gave up and just keep a legacy machine running XP for this controller. It has worked reliably since I bought it more than a decade ago. 73, Jerry, M0GOE *** Greetings, I'm still running a Uni-Trac Parallel port interface with ZL2AMD's Uni-Trac 3.0.b software on Windows XP to control a Yaesu G5400B. Yes its old, and yes, it works fine. It even has DDE capability to run it from SATPC32, which is credited to DK1TB (Erich - SATPC32 Author). Question, is there anyone out there using this tracker on an O/S later/other than Windows XP ? (If so, I'd be interested in the details) -- 73 Mike ___ 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] Small-beam Syndrome
Cliff, Having suffered from this malady for many years, I simple came to the conclusion that no matter how big your beam is, you can never have a beam too big. I believe this view is held by many, including the ARRL, who publish a Handbook every year with many articles devoted to encouraging you to employ an ever-bigger beam. These article are replete with pictures, of course, leading to an even more widespread condition: beam envy. 73, Jerry, M0GOE ___ 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: Satellite contact between Cuba and UK
Well done, Hector and Peter! I know this is hard to do, because Hector and I tried it twice recently (once from a hiltop near Portsmouth, IO90) without success. It sounds like Peter really brought out the big guns for the effort, as I tried it with an Arrow and an FT-51R :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Lightning protection
K9STH wrote: Sorry, but NFPA NEC (National Electrical Code) definitely requires that ALL grounding electrodes MUST be connected together! There are VERY good reasons for doing this... Yeah, this is a requirement that has vexed designers of complex electrical systems for years. One solution, generally meeting this requirement, is to go ahead an utilize separate ground rods and tie the rods together with a (large) grounding cable--usually pvc insulated cable for corrosion protection. In industrial installations these connections are often made so they can be disconnected in the event of differential currents flowing and causing problems with communication/signal systems. Much like K8BL's recommendations, I too have used #10 AWG for the ground from the rotor/mast to the ground rod, and hoped and prayed the lightning liked it (if ever needed). This is especially important for a non-earthed installation like a tripod on a roof. I have been fortunate to never having to find out... 73, Jerry, M0GOE ___ 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: The USA Lower 48 Worked all 488 Grids non-Award
John, What else can one say: COOL! I suspect Bruce may be right: Randy, N7SFI, was the first person (and only other) I ever heard of with the same remarkable achievement. My question is, what's next? 73, Jerry, M0GOE ___ 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: John Heath G7HIA, SK
Memories of John are bittersweet... I first worked John on AO-10 in 1999 (from Texas) and met him a year later at an amsat-uk colloquium in 2000. I had worked John from Russia on FO-20 a few months before as R3/K5OE and we exchanged cards at Surrey. I looked forward to meeting up with him every year after that when I could attend the same meeting. I remember one year he was kind enough to give me a ride to Heathrow when we left the colloquium on Sunday. My sincerest sympathies to his family, and like Dave said earlier, I was privileged to have known John and called him a friend. He will be missed. Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Congratulations Bob on QST plaque!!
Thanks, Bob, for simply challenging the status quo. Your article made me think (for a change). “There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.” ― Johann Kaspar Lavater 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Satellite Usage - 2012
Not everyone has given up. Listen to Allen's, N5AFV, comments at the beginning of the Houston AMSAT net tonight... http://www.amsatnet.com/ 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: IO72 Next Wednesday
Reaching N.A. from IO81/82 has proven harder than I thought, with Peter, VO1ONE, my only success. The Malvern Hills have proven to be quite an impediment for reaching the horizon :-) I went south of Ledbury yesterday to the grid border, but still could not hear the birds until they were too high for America. That said, it was nice to hear and work some familiar voices I have not heard since AO-10/40 days, including Ib, OZ1MY, and Jussi, OH5LK. I will take today off, unless the rain forces me off the golf course, but still plan to work IO72 tomorrow from the beach: AO-27 at 1435z and SO-50 at 1618z. 73, Jerry, M0GOE ___ 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] IO72 Next Wednesday
I will be on a family holiday next week in the UK and plan to be QRV on the FM sats from IO82 and IO81/82 border (Sunday thru Thursday), and IO72 (Wednesday, 15 Aug 2012, 1400z - 1630z). If I can get to the border between IO71/72 I will try that, but don't think I will have time (to go that far south). Looking west, I realize I will only be able to reach into Nova Scotia, Quebec, and W1/2/3, as I am traveling light with only an HT for AO-27 and SO-50. If you need IO72, drop me a note and I'll try to listen for your call (k5oe at aol dot com). I will be using my UK call, M0GOE. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: 2O12W on FO-29
John, et al, For those able to reach the UK on FM LEOs, I will be in UK in mid-August (family holiday), and able to operate the FM sats from the IO81/82 grid boundary. I may also be able to make a trek over to IO71/72 (less common, I bellieve) one day. I'll be using call M0GOE. I'll post closer to the time when I know my schedule. 73, Jerry, K5OE Station 2 Oscar 12 Whiskey was heard and worked on FO-29 this morning. QSL info is on qrz.com. This is a special event station celebrating the London 2012 Olympic Games. They are operating from IO81IJ. They should be active for several weeks. 73, John K8YSE ___ 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: Satellite choices on Field Day
Phillip, You have already gotten really good advice from others on FD operation, but I will offer one nugget from my experience: if you feel the pressure to make that one satellite contact for the club, here is my recommendation for the highest probability for success: - pick an ascending pass of FO-29, preferably to your East (at AOS it will be mostly over the Atlantic Ocean) - pick a frequency at least 5 kHz above the center's downlink with Doppler (at AOS this will be about 8 + 5 = 435.863 MHz) - assuming you are not using PC-control, set your trasnmit 5 kHz below the uplink center and call CQ - be ready for the pile-up from the dozen 4-call stations in FL who will all call you at the same time You have about 60 seconds before the NE and mid-west get into the window... after that, just play the downlink audio for the audience. 73 es GL, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: FO-29 @ 20:25Z
I am pretty sure that was someone keying FM on and off, sounding a bit like really bad code, or as some folks call chirpy. I know, because I made a few contacts on FO-20 that way before I got an SSB rig for 2m :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE Hi Folks, Just for my own edification, what the heck was the noise on FO-29 around the 2020UTC pass today? Was that man made stuff or what? Some one playing around, the Sat or? I'm still learning this stuff and I'm just curious. 73 and thank you Joe KT7E ___ 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: 1K grids
WhiIle I did have a dozen left over from 2003 on AO-40 (SK). a few new grids can be attributed to modern rovers, including ND9M, WD9EWK, and W5PFG. However, most of these new grids are credited to Yuri, UT1FG. Yuri was/is a great op, often on multiple overnight FO-29 passes (ZZZ) when in range. I worked him sporatically during daylight hours due to work, but was ever so grateful to give up a little sleep for such rare wet grids as he so generoursly provided. Also worthy of a Best Supporting Actor Award is Eugene, UT0FY, who is Yuri's QSL manager. If there was ever a reason to improve your satellite station, it is to get ready for his next trip once his summer vacation is over in Ukraine :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE KK5DO writes: Congrats to Jerry, K5OE. He just submitted his VUCC upgrade to 1,000 grids today, actually 1,008 but who';s counting. It was an easy set of cards to check. About 30 from a bunch of hams and 100 or so grids from Yuri. Not a bad haul. and... I have never worked Yuri on satellite. 73...bruce ___ 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: Fold Away Antenna in OSSI Ground Station
Pretty darn ingeneous packaging! Hams, unlike university students, all have fat fingers and would struggle to extract that 3-part antenna boom. I like the fabric roll-up concept, but wonder if it would present wind-load problems in a real-world field application? 73, Jerry, K5OE original message I liked the fold away yagi antenna in this video of the OSSI ground station. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/7218 73 Trevor M5AKA ___ 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: Fold Away Antenna in OSSI Ground Station
You got to love the Hello Yagi! Great stuff... 73, Jerry -Original Message- From: Ng, Peter peter...@bccdc.ca To: K5OE k...@aol.com; amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Mon, May 7, 2012 3:10 pm Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: Fold Away Antenna in OSSI Ground Station it appears his young, nimble fingers had a bit of trouble as well :) ...impressive work though! another fabric theme for a portable yagi can be found at http://www.dianaeng.com/2010/05/make-online-collapsible-fabric-yagi-antenna/ ...at least this one won't fly off like a kite! probably cheaper as well, owever, both are really cool designs! 73's peter ve7ngp -Original Message- rom: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf f K5OE ent: Monday, May 07, 2012 6:39 AM o: amsat-bb@amsat.org ubject: [amsat-bb] Re: Fold Away Antenna in OSSI Ground Station retty darn ingeneous packaging! Hams, unlike university students, all have fat ingers and would struggle to extract that 3-part antenna boom. I like the abric roll-up concept, but wonder if it would present wind-load problems in a eal-world field application? 3, erry, K5OE original message liked the fold away yagi antenna in this video of the OSSI ground station. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/7218 73 Trevor M5AKA ___ ent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. ot an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! ubscription 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: VO-52
Confirmed. Nothing heard at 2357. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: satellite antenna
Yanko, I appreciate you plugging the venerable (aka old) Egg2 design, and while I still consider it a really good LEO omni antenna, it is with limitations. With today's crop of LEO satellites, none are as strong as the ones available when I first designed and built that model--specifically UO-14 and FO-20 as prime examples of an earlier era's easy sats. For newbies to the birds, especially if you are starting from scratch, Bob's (WB4APR) suggestion to use a 1/4 wave vertical for 70 cm downlink is a good first antenna--simple and effective. That antenna will give you coverage at high elevations--above 30 degrees, but that means your pass times will be short and your range is narrow (in distance). The Egg2 was designed for exactly the opposite, max gain at low elevations, where most people struggled to hear anything (I know I did!). If you want to work LEO's today (what choice do you have right now?), don't consider an omni without a good preamp (NF 1 dB). Else, you will become frustrated and lose interest in an exciting hobby. For the price of a good preamp, you could consider a small beam (such as Kent's cheap yagi and a TV rotor. Trust me, you'll be happier trying to work AO-27, VO-52, SO-50, ISS, etc. 73, Jerry, K5OE --- Original message: Hello Carlos, You can try to search for a eggbeater antenna like this one http://victrolla.homeip.net/wo5s/junkpile/432/eggbeater2.pdf Thanks Yanko, NX9G - Original Message - From: Carlos Poinho cu3ftcar...@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 4:00:26 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite antenna hello all any one have a good idea for a omni directional antenna for the birds? ___ 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] Winorbit in Windows 7?
Attention old timers: anyone solve the 16-bit compatibility problem? I like this program for the Mutual Visibility feature and would like to have it available in my laptop. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: UT1FG/MM Power Supply Failure
Thanks, John, for your part in this recovery and nice chronicling of the event. Yuri sounds as good as always with the new power supply. FWIW, my last VO-52 contact, on what we will likely refer to as the old transponder, was with Yuri: 28.02.2012 0035 UT1FG/MM VO-52 M-B SSB EJ78 Yuri off coast of Costa Rica 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Anyone on VO-52 around 00:15Z 2/18?
Burns, It sounds like you had feedback into your receiver or headphones from your uplink signal. I have been fooled by this before as well (quite common, I suspect). It is more common for mode V/U than U/V, but always possible. Anyway, I'll listen for you on the 0225z pass and give you a shout if I hear you. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Receive Pre-Amps for 70cm
Peter, An omni antenna with the current crop of LEO's is at the margin for an effective station. A preamp will help substantially in two cases: 1) the antenna and radio are far enough apart the RF losses in the coax cable degrade the signal (and more importantly, the NF), or 2) your radio's front end is not very sensitive (more of a problem with classic rigs than today's offerings like your FT-8800). To get the most out of your eggbeater(s), follow these guidelines: - put the best (lowest loss) coax you can between the antenna and the preamp - keep the coax between the antenna and the preamp as short as possible (use this criterion to determine whether you mount the preamp right at the antenna (preferable) or inside the attic using an indooor unit) - as suggested by Alan, use a 50 dB diplexer to split the signal to the V/U antennas - use a second diplexer (with the lowest insertion loss you can find) between UHF antenna and the preamp (UHF side only) - put as much physical separation as you can between the UHF and VHF antennas Other useable preamps, besides those mentioned already by Peter and Alan, include Mirage, Landwehr, and even Icom. I saw a pair of nice Mirage preamps go on ebay last week for less than $50 each. If you do buy one that is not RF switched, you can power it or switch it (with a relay) driven by the FT-8800's data jack (usually pin 3 on late model Yaesu rigs). 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original posting --- I recently purchased an M2 Satellite Eggbeater antenna kit with the intention of working satellites from my shack. I think this antenna will work best with a pre-amp for the 70cm band that perhaps I can put in my attic close to the antennas. Who makes a good pre-amp for this situation to mate with my FT-8800 radio. Thanks, Peter KC2RBX ___ 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: Linear birds with an IC-706MkIIG
Bob, I have often worked the linear birds mobile using an FT-100 (Yaesu's similar rig). Obviously, working a linear satellite in half-duplex mode is not the easiests of ventures, but it is not all that hard either. FO-29 is the easiest of the LEOs to work in this mode as it is easy to mentally adjust for the easily estimated Doppler shift. I have also worked both AO-40 and AO-51 using this rig in mode L/S (using a downconverter and a trippler for the uplink). I find the easiest method is to find a clear spot, approximately the middle of the passband, estimate the Doppler for the uplink and call CQ, then tune around for someone coming back to me. This is not perfect, and runs the risk of interfering with an adjacent QSO, but will work in a pinch. Just set your rig to split and give it a try. 73, Jerry, K5OE Hi all, Does anyone have experience working the linear birds with a single IC-706MkIIG? Thanks Bob Herrell HI4/AJ5C ___ 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: Enhance your Easy Sat Experience!
Yes, Bob, I see those old D700 at hamfests regularly. Add to the list of full-duplex HTs the Yaesu FT-51R. I bought mine on ebay years ago for way less than it costs to go to a Texans game. I did a quick check and found one for sale: http://www.ebay.com/itm/YAESU-FT-51R-2M-440MHZ-PAGING-TRANCEIVER-PORTABLE-4-MIKES-2-CHARGERS-MANUAL-/110802350647?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item19cc55b237 An old HT almost always needs a new aftermarket battery (or two) if you plan on actually using it handheld. 73, Jerry, K5OE You omitted all of the other full duplex radios: The D7 and D72 HT's and D700 and D710 mobiles. Full-duplex has a very important purpose in the satellite world. you don't need base-station radios like the Icom IC-9100, IC-910, Kenwood TS-2000, or Yaesu FT-847. If you own two handhelds, chances are you have what you need! There are 10's of thousands of these Kenwood radios out there, and many people upgraded from the D7 and D700 to the D72 and D710 for the enhanced APRS functions. But the full duplex dual band radios remain the best there is for full duplex FM satellite AND APRS satellite work. 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: Looking for a G3RUH dish
Bob, Regarding your Cu wire dish... you might look at the Tek Sharp dishes as an easier alternative to rolling your own. I picked one up on ebay about a year ago and put it in my attic... waiting for amsat-dl :-) http://www.plumdragon.com/teksharp/hr_AO-40_products.htm Drew, I have a spare PF dish about 60 cm, but it is steel, not aluminum like the G3RUH. I used it on AO-40 for 24 GHz. Let me know off-list if you want it. 73, Jerry, K5OE previous message You probably have one of the K5GNA BBQ dishes. The G3RUH is a solid round spun dish. 73, Drew -Original Message- From: Bob Bruninga bruni...@usna.edu Sent: Jan 3, 2012 2:19 PM To: 'Andrew Glasbrenner' glasbren...@mindspring.com, 'amsat-bb' amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Looking for a G3RUH dish I'm looking for one of the 60cm G3RUH dishes Got one, (but not available). Questions: I measured reflector grid separation as .88 inches which works out to be about 0.18 wavelength. I always thought the grid had to be tighter than 0.1 inches to be an effective surface. Maybe the difference with almost double the spacing is not that significant? (especially for a steel one which would be quite heavy. Reason I am asking is that I also need another S band dish (at 70 MPH on the roof of a tracking van) and we are thinking about building one by using an old solid 6' TVRO dish as a form and laying in copper wire and soldering it to copper straps. With all that labor, I'd not want to get the spacing wrong. 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: ISS
Kevin, et al, I listened on Saturday and did not hear any packets on 437.550. The 2 m downlink was working FB. 73, Jerry, K5OE ISS is working great but I forgot to try the 437.550 anyone know how that side is working? Kevin KF7MYK ___ 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: TS2000 ~436.798 MHz Birdie Solution
John's solution is also one I have used for years: feeding a separate signal into the receive-only HF input on the TS-2000. I ran this way on AO-40 as well, taking the 2m signal from the atenna-mounted downconverter and running it through a Hamtronics 2m-10m converter to both the TS-2000 and another 10 m rig to independantly monitor the beacon (very handy). Elegant: no relays, and no danger of ever tranmitting into it. I still have the Hamtronics converter, now installed in my truck, so I could work the S-band downink from AO-51 on my FT-100. For the birdie problem, I used to be able to tune around it with the big antennas and Landwehr preamp I had at my old QTH (circa 2000-2003). Seriously--if you have enough signal gain, you can tune above it and then below it and overpower the damn thing. My setup is more modest now, so I simply connect an HT for the ocassional AO-27 pass. For SO-50, I find you can tune below the signal and work most of the pass (except when it is approaching you on a high elevation pass). Obviously, you can't use computer control for the receive signal on these two birds. I have had this rig since November of 2000 and found no other serious complaints (except it only has one PC port--but that is another discussion). 73, Jerry, K5OE -- John, K8YSE posted: As many of you know, my satellite radio is a TS2000X. If you have visited my satellite webpage, you have seen many recordings of AO-27 and SO50 from AOS to LOS. Most of these recordings were made when I was not sitting in front of the radio. At first I used a uhf mobile to hear AO-27 and SO-50. The problem was that those radios were not computer controlled so you had to tune for the doppler. That worked fine when I was in the shack, but it didn't work when I was away. The obvious solution was another radio that didn't have the birdie problem, or a simple UHF to 10M downconverter which wouldn't have the birdie problem. Back in the day, UHF and VHF down- converters were very popular because we didn't have a lot of DC to Light radios out there. Now these converters are sitting in junk boxes and are long forgotten by their owners. One of the more popular manufacturers of these inexpensive downconverters was Hamtronics. They made all kinds of stuff for repeaters etc. At first their products were not that great, but they evolved into some better designs including their UHF to 10m downconverters. Unfortunately most downconverter manufacturers stopped making them when the devices they were using became obsolete and unavailable. The use of current production devices required a redesign of their PC boards and since the demand was no longer there, these products were abandoned. I was fortunate to find a Hamtronics converter on a qrz.com posting from several years back. It never sold back then and the owner still had it. I purchased it and ran some tests on it against the receiver in the TS2000. It turned out that the downconverter had a slightly better sensitivity than the TS2000! The big concern when using a converter or preamp is the fear of transmitting into it and smoking the front end. But the TS2000 has an auxiliary antenna jack which is receive only and perfect for a downconverter output on HF. As Drew mentioned, SatPC32 can compensate for a downconverter and tune the TS2000 for doppler in the 10m band. This allowed me to track AO-27 AO-51 and SO-50 unattended and make all those recordings without any human intervention. A coaxial transfer relay was inserted into the uhf antenna line so that when the converter was in use, the UHF antenna was switched to the downconverter input (which outputs to the aux antenna jack on the TS2000) and the UHF antenna jack on the TS2000 is switched to a dummy load. So if you transmit on UHF, power goes into the dummy load and all equipment is safe. When I want to transmit on UHF (VO-52 and AO-7 mode B), the coax relay switches the UHF antenna back to the UHF antenna port on the TS2000. The downconverter is out of the antenna circuit at this point. I did not use the downconverter when operating on FO-29 so the aux antenna jack had to be switched to normal in the tS2000, menu #18 (FO-29 is a linear bird that outputs on UHF, currently not working). Every owner of a TS2000 that operates satellites needs a UHF to 10M downconverter. Hamtronics is making a VHF to 10M downconverter now. If everyone emailed them to encourage them to make a UHF model, they might just do it. The only other solution is to make one yourself, or find a used downconverter or transverter that is gathering dust on someone's shelf. I now have an IC910H and am doing comparisons against the TS2000. My first impression it that I prefer the TS2000 but that might be because I'm so familiar with it. I use another TS2000 in the mobile sat truck but don't have a downconverter for it. I simply use a uhf
[amsat-bb] Re: Oscarlocator,
Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanical-Paper-Oscar-Locator-Amateur-Satellite-1983-Second-Revision-/120793567902?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0hash=item1c1fdb929e 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: EL18 on Sunday Monday
I logged a total of 34 contacts (some dupes and can't read my writing on one K3, but I'll check John's recording later) from EL18. If you need a QSL card for this grid, please just send me an email and I'll drop you one in the mail: k5oe at amsat dot org 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original message -- Subject: [amsat-bb] EL18 on Sunday Monday From: K5OE k5oe@xxx Date: Sat, 1 Oct 2011 13:43:38 -0400 (EDT) I will be fishing down near Rockport, TX, Sunday Monday and will try to make the late afternoon passes of AO-51. Sorry, but AO-27 and SO-50 are too early in the day and I don't want to take the HT either on the boat or wading :-) Equipment will be just an FT-51R and Pryme whip antenna. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: AO-51 pass at 22:06 UTC 2011-10-01
Mike, K5TRI, writes: p.s.: For the ironically challenged, this was irony. I don't run 1KW up to any satellite as everybody knows it's not enough. Apparently, not even for FO-29 any more. That's a shame to, because I always had a nice signal on FO-29 when I ran the 1 KW amp. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] EL18 on Sunday Monday
I will be fishing down near Rockport, TX, Sunday Monday and will try to make the late afternoon passes of AO-51. Sorry, but AO-27 and SO-50 are too early in the day and I don't want to take the HT either on the boat or wading :-) Equipment will be just an FT-51R and Pryme whip antenna. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Two Questions
K5TRI Wrote: Next project will be to build a 2nd IOio and phase them together 90 deg off to see if that will help with the fading issue (mostly on FO-29) vs buying or building a complex RHCP/LHCP switchable setup. Good plan on building a second linear antenna. This is not as complex as it sounds and only requires one coaxial relay and one section of delay line (coax). Your choice on how you want to match the impedances, but the simplest for two 50 Ohm feedpoints is to use 50 Ohms for the delay line and at the output of the relay use a 37.5 Ohm matching section (pair of 75 Ohm cables in parallel). You can various schemes in the literature, including the ARRL Satellite Handbook. My IOio beats your Arrow or Elk in terms of price by leaps :). But then again it doesn't look as nice. Wow, I finally met a humble ham! 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] 29 in EL29
Bruce didn't take me seriously about wanting to draft him for the 29 in EL29 award manager, so I hereby submit my list of ops worked in EL29. My list doesn't go back to the glory days of (early) AO-7, AO-10, and AO-13, but it surprised me how many ops there have been in the greater Houston/Galveston area during the P3D era : 1 AB5A 2 AB5SD 3 AG5RS 4 AK5Q 5 K5DX 6 K5EM 7 K5ENG 8 K5FNW 9 K5WH 10 K5WNO 11 KA4HW 12 KB5OBJ 13 KB5VHG 14 KC2HVY 15 KC5JAR 16 KD5AU 17 KD5CEV 18 KD5DFB 19 KD5FBA 20 KD5JBR 21 KD5KWL 22 KD5KWL 23 KD5LZU 24 KD5NDZ 25 KK5DO 26 KK5ET 27 KK5W 28 N5AFV 29 N5FNH 30 N5SUB 31 N5UGI 32 N5UXT 33 N7XX 34 VK5ZAI/W5 35 W5ACM 36 W5BTS 37 W5EUB 38 W5GCX 39 W5IOO 40 W5MMX 41 W5NC 42 W5PGZ 43 W5VGR 44 WA5SAJ 45 WB5HJV 46 WB5PJK 47 WB5YYQ 48 WD5DZC The ops in Dallas (EM12/13) and San Antonio (EL09) are going to have an easier time, but the ops in NorCal (CM87) and NFL (EL88/98/99) will have a tough time keeping up with this competition. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: 5 in em 55
Well, I finally got my fifth one and sent in the report to Damon. I think I am going to propose tonight on the Houston AMSAT Net that we offer a 29 in EL29 award. I am sure over the years there probably have been that many sat ops in this grid. Bruce, KK5DO, is an experienced awards manager, so I am sure he will know how to organize this... 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Transponder 1412Z
Ray, I heard you solid, 589, with some QSB, but never faint. I didn't reply because I was going back and forth to 145.825 to see if the packet was operational (it was not). I did not hear the reported QRM from packet bursts over that pass (Pacific, SoCal, Baja). 73, Jerry, K5OE original message - I heard myself calling CQ for about 2 minutes, peaking 569, but no takers that I could hear. Then, about 2 minutes later, I heard AA5PK calling CQ, about the same strength, but I could no longer hear myself. It's a challenge! 73 Ray W2RS ___ 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: ARISSat-1 report
Also received packet burst, voice message in several languages, and SSTV in South Texas at 1440. Was the special word Hola? It seems to precede every transmission :-) 73, Jerry -original message Recorded Greetings, message, US special word, and SSTV in FN43 at 1304-1307z on 145.950. Handheld and Arrow. 73, Scott N1AIA ___ 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: ARISSat-1 report
I thought maybe the repeater was on at first, thinking it was a rogue call (it did sound just like AO-51 some days), but then I realized it was in there only ahead of other transmissions. BTW, I was just kidding. Tto those of us in the southern half of N.A., hearing a blind call of Hola is pretty common. If that really was a secret (I didn't know there was a secret word), I apologize for spilling the beans. 73, Jerry -Original Message- From: Dave Webb KB1PVH kb1...@gmail.com To: K5OE k...@aol.com Cc: amsat-bb amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sun, Jul 31, 2011 10:02 am Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: ARISSat-1 report I was wondering if that was some local junk here. Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X On Jul 31, 2011 10:58 AM, K5OE k...@aol.com wrote: Also received packet burst, voice message in several languages, and SSTV in South Texas at 1440. Was the special word Hola? It seems to precede every transmission :-) 73, Jerry -original message Recorded Greetings, message, US special word, and SSTV in FN43 at 1304-1307z on 145.950. Handheld and Arrow. 73, Scott N1AIA ___ 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: Oscar-10
I feel like such a youngster! Thanks Dave and Dom for my first contacts with you almost two decades later... WB6LLO 28.07.1999 0130 FO-20 M-J SSB DM12 SD CA USA Dave I8CVS 16.01.2000 0226 AO-10 M-B SSB JN70 Naples ITALY Dom I salute you both for inspiration and mentorship to the satellite community--and I look forward to working you both on P3-E... 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] EM10
I plan to be on Lake Travis this weekend (Fri/Sat) and may also venture Houseboat Portable over to not-rare EM00, If you need this grid, look for me on late afternoon evening passes of AO-51, AO-27, and SO-50. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Russian KOSMOS award?
Congrats, John. You were #8. I'm looking at my KOCMOC, it says No. 8-1 CT. 12 December 99. I can't remember what the levels of achievement were. I was at Step 1. And it was one of the hand-delivered ones! Step 1 was for 100 contacts Step 2 was for 200 contacts Step 3 was for 300 contacts They all look exactly the same except or the -1, -2, or -3 typed in at the bottom. Now back to 40 m and the IARU HF contest... 73, Jerry ___ 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: Russian KOSMOS award?
I knew I must be younger than you, Bruce... maybe Mike too :-) KOCMOC 54 VUCC 88 But how many had their Cosmos Award hand-delivered in Moscow? 73, Jerry ___ 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] Smokey The Bandit
There I was yesterday, sitting on the side of the road (actually, off I-45N on the frontage road), at the intersection of grids EM20 and EM21, trying (unsuccessfully, it seems) to work the 1710z pass of SO-50 when the Texas State Police pull up behind my truck. You know the ones--the black and white units with a really large fellow wearing an impressive hat. To complete the picture, when he pulled up behind me I did have my arm out the window holding my home-brew 3-element 70 cm beam and pointing it where I could best hear the downlink. And he said, What you in for, son? Just kidding--and sorry for mixing metaphors. What he actually said was, Can I ask what you are doing? When I explained, in as non-technical terms as I could, he asked me to, explain that again. I did. My wife was quite amused. He walked around my truck, noted the call sign on the plates (in Texas it actually says radio operator in small print on the plates), and I explained the antenna on t! he back window was for transmit and the hand-held one was for receive. He looked perplexed, but then smiled and told me he had a call from someone saying I was waving a gun around out my window. My wife actually chuckled at this point. He asked me to pull further off the road and went on back to his cruiser/interceptor and drove off. My wife continued with quips like, I can't wait to tell people about this. I never did make any contacts on that pass (I've only had this radio 10 years, but I swear I still get confused on the menu choices), but managed 13 solid contacts today (AO-51 2201z) from the same spot on the South side of I-45 as I returned home from Dallas, including HK3Z, Aki, and CO6CBF, Hector. I was hoping to work some VEs to impress my wife, but I think they were all on royals watch for the weekend. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Criminal Clint
It was another case of blind justice! Arlo Is Alive and Well and Living on Ganymede... original message So did they take 37 8 by 10 color glossy photo's with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one describing what each one was to be used as eveidence against you? Apologies to Arlo Rick K7TEJ ___ 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] Sked Request: FM04, FM56, DM90, DM96, EN46
Anyone active in any of these holes in my map? Please reply off-list: k5oe at amsat dot org. Tnx es 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] EL19 EL09
I will be mobile today and tomorrow and will try to make some of the AO-27 and SO-50 passes. The rest of the time I will be relaxing on Canyon Lake :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Question about radios
I can tell already this is an old thread that will go on for a while… Money is almost never “not an issue,” so fitting the radio to the user is always a matter of preferences and priorities. If you want HF + satellite in one rig, the TS-2000 and the FT-847 work, but not the IC-910. If you want 23 cm in the rig, the TS-2000 and the IC-910 work, but not the FT-847. If you want to power your preamp(s) without any external wiring, the FT-847 and IC-910 work, but not the TS-2000. If you want a built-in antenna tuner (HF), or a built-in TNC, or built-in voice recorder, then only the TS-2000 works. If you want lots of 3rd party software, then the FT-847 is your best bet. I agree with Ed, the IC-9100 seems priced outrageously for what it is—reminiscent of the IC-970H. Maybe I’ve just lost a sense for the market—look at the price of new cars! For a strictly satellite rig, an IC-821H is still a very good radio selling for half the price of a used IC-910 (and just a bit more than a FT-736—the FT-847 of a previous generation). A decade ago I bought a TS-2000 for a number of reasons, including the ability to work the HF satellites (RS-12/13 and AO-7) in one rig. I sold an FT-990 and an IC-820 and had money left over. I still consider it really good value. While I have never liked the controls as well as my Yaesu HF rig(s), I came to really appreciate the DSP functions and the CW features and had great fun with the TNC on the ISS, pacsats (especially UO-22, RIP), and APRS. I added 1.2 GHz when AO-40 was launched. I scored higher in HF contests with it than I ever had with the non-DSP Yaesu rig. I wasn’t bothered (too much) by the infamous birdie because I could tune around it with the combination of a high-gain UHF antenna and a preamp, but do consider it a fatal flaw to anyone considering the radio for use on AO-27 or SO-50 with a low-gain antenna system. I’ll end with an echo of Dee’s comment below: spend your time and money on the antennas, as almost any radio will work with a good signal. 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original message --- Having the FT-847 since early 1998 and observing the IC-910 I would recommend both over the TS-2000 or new IC-9100 on basis of bucks spent. I realize both the 847 and 910 are out of production but good used units are available for $900. The TS-2000 birdie issue is unforgivable for the money spent (Unless you are not interested in satellites which the FT-857/897 would then be my choice). The IC-9100 is outrageously expensive and would only be a choice if you have no HF equipment. It is still too new for a complete opinion (for what you spend you could have top notch transverters and a new K3*, or buy two FT-817 with amps for a lot less). *Note: the K3 is not able to do duplex at this time, but I have an idea how it could by using the dual receiver IF. My K3 with DEMI transverter is much superior to the FT-847 on 2m, but that is only for very weak-signal applications (satellites are on the strong side of weak-signal if you get my drift), and use on HF (which is not the question that was asked). 73, Ed - KL7UW At 06:46 AM 5/3/2011, Dee wrote: Andrew, Being in this end of the hobby for many years, I have learned that sometimes the choice comes down to what you can afford. While the TS2000 is a nice radio, with the birdie problem, it leaves a question. Ihave had 2 Icom 910's for many years and even have one of them adapted with the 1.2ghz module. Both have worked flawless and have been more than adequate. The new ICOM 9100 (which you ask about) is a bit pricey for the bands provided. I have been following the production of the 9100 and it has become out of an average hams price range. While the specs are very good, you can achieve the same effect with a TS2000 - Icom 910- Yaesu 847 and even the older icom 820 (?) - Once again, I have always advised sat ops to spend the money on the antennas and coax as this is where you'll find the most advantage for your operation. Good luck and go to the AMSAT website to obtain a truck load of info pertaining to satellite station construction and operating advice. 73, Dee, NB2F NJ AMSAT Coordinator -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Alvaro Gaviria Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 4:51 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Question about radios Hello all, Can someone tell what is better for satellite work, the Kenwood TS-2000X or the Icom IC- 9100 ?? Best regards Andrew HK4MKE ___ 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: 2m/70cm Quadrifilar Helix antenna Antenna Kit fromAntennas.us
Zack, Any solution could have benefits, depending on your needs. These antennas would be very stealthy, if deed restrictions are an issue. Also, they are simple (as all omnidirectional antenna) and you would not have to worry about tracking (rotors, software, PC interfaces, etc.). From a cost perspective, you could buy a brand new TV rotor, an Arrow or Elk (user's choice, or any similar-gain pair of antennas), and a AAR/SSB/Mirage preamp for less and have a system far superior (~6 dB) in both uplink and downlink capability. Besides just the obvious gain benefit, directional antennas also noticeably reduce local noise/IM exacerbated by a preamp--thus your S/N ratio is also improved dramatically. If you do want to go with an omni solution, I concur with Mark's suggestion a pair of Tony's parasitic Lindenblad's and a separate RF-sensed preamp would be a good choice. You could build a pair in an afternoon for about $25 in parts and find a used preamp for $75 or so. UO-14 and SO-35 you could hear easily with an omni antenna. AO-27 you can't. FO-20 was easy to hear, FO-29 not quite so loud. AO-51 when at high power you can hear above 25 degrees with an omni and good preamp, but you will be frustrated by the short pass time available (and when it is set to lower output power). The bottom line is there are no truly easy-sats in 2011 and omni antennas are a real compromise that makes operating with them only attractive if there is a good reason you cannot use directioinal antennas. I'll give you a personal example: after moving back to Texas late last year I wanted to get back on the birds, so I threw up an old omin antenna (Eggbeater II from a long, long time ago) and put a Landwehr preamp in the attic (it was easy and fast). See my comment above about being frustrated--I didn't operate much. When ND9M was at sea I got really frustrated! So I swapped out the Egg II with a slightly-less old antenna, a TPM II and pointed it due ! West (fixed, no rotor) and worked Jim a few times, mostly on FO-29, when he was in the Pacific Ocean. After he went through the Panama Canal, I went back on the roof and pointed the antenna to the SE and worked him a few more times in the Carrib and GoM. I worked him in 9 grids, but was not able to work much else. Last weekend I finally made the time to run the cables through the house walls for the rotor and quickly built up a small homebrew beam for 70 cm (3x3), installed a coaxial relay for polarity switching, and moved the preamp to just below the antenna: a world of difference, as you can imagine. Solid copy on all those birds now. Sorry for the long story, but my recommendation is borne out of experience--only use the omni if you can't use a beam. 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original message --- Interesting, Zack. I would ask them about transmitting through the one with the preamp built in. Can you do it? (i.e., is it RF-sensed/switched) Or does the preamp make it a receive only antenna, with the accidental transmission through it smoking the device :) It's bound to happen on a dual band radio... (I think you'd be better off building a pair of AA2TX style Lindenblads...) Mark N8MH At 12:01 PM 4/25/2011 +, vtnn...@comcast.net wrote: Antennas.us is selling a combo package of 2M and 70cm quadrifilar helix antennas and a bias tee for $330.00. The 70cm antenna has a built-in 15db LNA BTW. http://www.antennas.us/store/p/391-UC-AMSAT-KIT-2-m-70-cm-Amateur-Satellite-Antenna-Kit.html The UC-AMSAT-KIT, 2 m / 70 cm Amateur Satellite Antenna Kit is a discounted bundle combination of quantity 1 each of the following three antenna products: UC-1464-433, VHF Amateur Satellite QFH Antenna, Passive UC-4364-513, UHF Amateur Satellite QFH Antenna, with built-in LNA and SMA Male connector BIT-1500-385, UHF Bias Tee I was wondering though what some of you on the list think of these antennas for FM LEO users that are looking for fixed outdoor antennas? 73 Zack N8FNR ___ 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
Patrick, I don't mean to quibble, but don't you think using a Large Capacity Filter could have biased the Arrow tests? 73, Jerry, k5OE ___ 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: VUCC, grids, and a new QTH
Zack, Other things to consider before moving to CO: - your WAS award will only count for contacts made from OH - your DXCC award will count from anywhere in the lower USA - your WAC award will count from anywhere in N.A. - your WAP award will count from anywhere on Earth 73, Jerry, K5OE --- original message --- Hi Patrick, Your response does confirm what I thought the answer was. I guess the only thing I am wondering now is, if I move to SC, would it be acceptable to say I have 500 grids confirmed, or should I say 0? VUCC is one aspect of it, but how about the day to day grid collecting. Since it would not be counted towards an award, I do not see an issue with that, as long as you keep track of what grids were working in OH and which ones were worked in SC. I also know it is 200km - I was confusing it with 124mi. ;-) BTW, I am not considering moving to SC (no offense to SC residents). If I had to move somewhere other than OH it would be CO. Thanks for the response! Zack KD8KSN -Original Message- From: Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 12:08 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: VUCC, grids, and a new QTH Hi Zack! I have an “out of the blue” question that hit me the other day since I am a freshmen in college and will likely move away from home sometime in the next 5+ years... I know the VUCC rules say you can count any grid towards VUCC that was worked from two locations no more than 120km apart. Actually, the limit for the maximum distance between the locations you use for satellite VUCC is 200km, or approximately 124.2 miles. See section 6 in the current VUCC rules at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Awards/VUCC%20Rules%202011_Rev%2020110215.pdf Lets say I have 500 grids worked by the time I move out (which is a LOT of time, work and $$), and I decide to move to SC. Are those 500 grids that I worked/confirmed no longer valid towards VUCC (if I wanted to get an endorsement)? If your location in South Carolina is more than 200km from all locations you are currently operating from and using toward your current satellite VUCC, then the South Carolina location could not be used toward your existing satellite VUCC. You would have to start working on a new satellite VUCC based on your new location in South Carolina. You would still maintain your existing satellite VUCC award, and could add to it if you operate from other locations that would fall within the 200km limit for that satellite VUCC. This probably isn't the answer you were looking for, Zack. Then again, you would have a new challenge to work stations from a new location further east than you are now. 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] K5OE QRV Caribbean MM 11-April to 16-April
I will be QRV aboard the Carnival Ecstasy from late on 11-Apri-2011 till early on 16 April-2011 (CDT). This is a family holiday (10 of us), but I will work as many FM satellite passes as our hectic schedule allows. This trip crosses grids between Galveston and Yucatan/Cozumel and I expect to be the most active on 12 April and 15 April (days at sea). Per IARP rules I will be signing HP/K5OE/MM while at sea and XE/K5OE/P while in Mexico. No QSLs are needed: just send me an email request (k5oe at amsat dot org) with your QSO date/time and I’ll confirm and send a QSL. Please wait until 18 April to send requests for a QSL card. Special thanks, again, to Allen, N5AFV, for his excellent, detailed how-to guides (http://www.qsl.net/n5afv/cruise.html) and to the AO-51 command team for leaving AO-51 in mode V/U. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] More Echo Madness
Please allow a little perspective on AO-51 from someone who has worked it for a long time and from all over the world. I left the USA in late 2003 for a work assignment in Darwin, NT (Australia as VK8OE), where I talked to myself for over a year on AO-51 mode L/S (I took my AO-40 setup and it died before I could work it as DX). I did the same thing on ISS packet, having great keyboard QSO's with myself. The only sat contacts I ever made while VK8OE was on AO-51 in mode V/U FM (mobile while at work) with a few ops on the other side of the continent (VK5ZAI, VK3FGN, VK2TU, VK2TRF, et al). Ditto in the UK (M0GOE), where every pass sounds like the one from last weekend--or worse. I gave up working FM satellites for several years while in Europe--and I had an Arrow! The only operating time on sats I had for a number of years was a Mexican cruise in 2007 where 100% of the succesful contacts were on AO-51. I am repeating that cruise in two weeks and hope to work a few of you on this venerable bird. I spent most of last year in Papua New Guinea (V29OE) and the only satellite traffic I ever heard was on AO-51 V/U FM (VK's of course). I never completed a QSO as I just could not make it with a bad battery in my FT51R (less than a Watt) and a whip antenna. Sorry for the rambling the bottom line is birds like AO-51 are a great resource to us and finding ways to manage them for everyone's benefit is a challenge. They are a priviledge to work, not a right. Control of them is not a democracy. And regardless if you consider this a casual interest or a seriously competitive sport, it is still just a hobby. The thing that really annoys me, though, is that I saw Drew's posting, I wrote down the new uplink frequency, I had it in front of me on a sticky note, and I still didn't connect the dots when I couldn't hear myself in the downlink! I deserved to miss that grid :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Antenna discussions
Ted, How about a 3rd school of thought? If you have a clear view of the horizon, I recommend you point the antenna(s) directly at the antenna (0 degrees elevation). That is the point in a satellite's path across the sky where you have the greatest range (distance between you and the satellite) and the bi-directional greatest path loss (not counting any ground gain you will experience if you have horizontal or CP antennas). As the satellite rises in elevation, range and path loss both decrease and you need less gain to overcome noise: a moderate-beamwidth antenna with a gain of 8-10 dBi will match this nicely. A LEO satellite spends the majority of it's visible time below 30 degrees and the pass time above 60 degrees is almost negligible. If you can't hear the satellite at the horizon with this setup, then you can raise the antenna's angle and listen when the satellite is closer (higher elevation), but you will greatly reduce the available time/footprint and your number of contacts. 73, Jerry, K5OE -Original Message- Agree !! Along those lines, before I put up my Kenpro az/el rotor, I plan on testing various locations using my Elk with a fixed el but on a small rat shack rotor for az. I have seen here recommendations for 15 deg and some for 30 deg fixed el. Thus there seems to be 2 schools of thought on this. Is there any compelling argument for one or the other? I'm almost inclined to split the diff at +-22 deg. (most passes for me are N/S and to the E - not so good to W Any thoughts appreciated 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: XE2AT - 1000 Grids!
Al is my hero. I noted from the March QST he is also among the top ops in 2m EME. 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: 1000 Grids
Kevin, I first worked Al in May 1978 on RS-12. He was my 85th contact and I believe he was just starting out as well. Neither of us had good V/UHF rigs at the time, so HF satellite was the way to go. Seems like yesterday... 73, Jerry, K5OE How long did that take might I ask? I have noticed my log is growing, and I mostly operate on weekends. Anyway just curious... Kevin KF7MYK ___ 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: 1000 Grids
OOPS! 1998! 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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: Is it 100% impossible to work a satellite below thehorizon?
Drew, I believe your reference was to N4ZC. There are some old (2002) posts on amsat-bb about his exploits: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200203/msg5.html http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200202/msg00708.html http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200202/msg00712.html 73, Jerry, K5OE On 3/12/2011 7:25 PM, Bill Dzurilla wrote: I was giving a presentation at our club meeting called Working DX on the Satellites and afterwards someone had a good question: is it at all possible that tropo, skip, or other form of enhanced propagation can enable a contact via a satellite below the horizon? It has never happened to me. Has it ever happened? It was relatively commonplace with RS-12 on Mode K, 15m up, 10m down. There was one guy in North Carolina I think that worked dxcc on RS-12/13. He was my first satellite QSO in 1992 or so, and was always on. I can't remember the call, but it was a 1x2 I think. I imagine it would be at least possible on other birds and higher bands with strong tropo. Jerry, KK5YY told me about doing that on AO-27 or UO-14 from Alaska over the ocean. I've not experienced it though. 73, Drew KO4MA ___ 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] Battery-powered UHF Preamp suitable for Arrow or Elk andHT?
Bryan, I built a cheap (about $17 as I recall) little Ramsey UHF preamp in a small enclosure with a 9 V battery rubber-banded to the Arrow boom, but found the Arrow had so much gain at 70 cm, even AO-27 was workable at the horizon. I used an external MFJ diplexer in lieu of the Arrow built-in-handle diplexer to protect the preamp from RF on transmit (worked fine, BTW). If you don't find you can hear that well, take a look at your coax and connectors between the antenna and the rig for unusual losses. I occasionally see the ARR non-relay preamps going on ebay for under $50 as well, and one of those with a double-ended BNC connector would bolt right onto the Arrow driven element connector. 73, Jerry, K5OE Does anyone have a recommendation for a UHF preamp suitable for use with an HT and an Arrow? I always wish I had one when I listen for SO-50... it seems like it ought to be inline with BNC connectors and battery powered to maintain portability... Thanks in advance! Bryan Green KL7CN Usually /W6 in CM98fn 408-836-7279 ___ 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: AO40 contacts
Mal, This nostalgia is almost too much for us old guys! I remember your call like it was yesterday. I have you in the log for AO-27, FO-20 on CW for SKN, FO-29 SSB, and AO-40 SSB. Thanks for USVI and FK78! 73, Jerry, K5OE Many, many, I particularly loved the qs I had from the Virgin Islands to Japan at the end of AO40's life. I had a morning window twice a week and ran less than 10 w. up into my 44 el. yagi and downlinked on 2.4ghz. Real pile ups. Many qsls - all answered. Mal, NP2L On Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 4:04 PM, Floyd Rodgers kc5...@swbell.net wrote: 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
[amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts
You guys are making me all teary-eyed! I loved that bird, especially for all the challenges it presented. Mike, I still have the 10 gHz downconverter I built for that never-used mode :-( My first contacts were on 05 May 2001: W1BFN, KB2WQM (now KB2M), W7ID, N1JEZ, WL7BQM (first DX), and WC0Y--all in mode U/S. My last contact was K5VAS on 22 Nov 2003 using mode L/S. Later that weekend I took down my antennas to move to VK8. I took everything I needed to work AO-40 in Australia, including an 18 DSS dish with a dual-band feed, but by the time I moved and got into a penthouse apartment with a big deck looking north (why do you think I had to find a top floor with that view?), AO-40 died. If it hadn't been for the launch of Eagle (AO-51), I would have never been able to use that L/S gear. I used it dozens of times to talk to myself on AO-51 as it orbited over the Indian Ocean :-) I used to do the same thing on ISS packet. From where I was located (Darwin, NT), there were no other population centers within the footprint of the LEOs (not even Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, or Singapore). 73, Jerry, K5OE Those were fun days Clare! My most challenging contacts were made using K band (24 GHz down). First contact was on 4/20/2002 with Jerry, K5OE. http://www.burlingtontelecom.net/~n1...@burlingtontelecom.net/index.html I think the only mode I never got to try was 2.4 GHz up. I have the transverter sitting here in my shack, but AO-40 went bang before I got to use it. The plan was S/k. 73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 A closed mouth gathers no feet - Original Message - From: Clare Fowler clarefow...@rogers.com Subject: [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 kc5...@swbell.net 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
[amsat-bb] Re: TS-2000 Questions!
Stu, *I have received have set up the Kenwood TS-200 have a little problem, the initials TNC on the digitial display indicatethe the internal TNC is on \, was wondering how dow I turn off the Internal TNC? You determine whether you want the TNC assigned to the MAIN transceiver or the SUB receiver: menu 46. Then turn on/off packet function: menu 55. You should see the PKT initials in the top right of the display. MAIN is normal. Also, can listen to the Mt.B eacon 97 repeater, but can't get the offset to work! Set repeater offset on: menu 43 (no indication on the display). Also, don't forget to set a tone, if needed (TONE button FUNC+TONE button). All help greatly apprieated! 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) In the future this will work by bluetooth and voice command, just like the Ford/Microsoft Sync in my truck and all you will have to do is say to your TS-2020, 97 repeater and it will know all the other settings :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE ... and to continue the recent bragging: VUCC Satellite #88 WAS Oscar #276 DXCC Satellite #286 ___ 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: VUCC LoTW
Early last year I finally got around to uploading satellite contacts (also following the guidelines at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/LoTW%20Instructions/N5JB.pdf) and got these results: You have 4,675 QSO records You have 135 QSL records Although I always log the first contact with a station, I do not log many duplicate contacts with the same station in the same grid square... but I was hoping to get a lot more QSLs than that! 3% seems to be the going rate. I think paper QSLs are going to be with us for a long time--besides, I like the records for posterity. Having a few choice QSLs hanging on the wall is a whole lot more engaging to grandchildren than sending them a link with an ap for their Iphone to see your LoTW records :-) 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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] AO-51 Mode L/S Mobile (thanks, guys)
Working satellites has always been a blast, especially when pushing the envelope in either technology, skill, or simply practicality. I was eager to work mode L/S mobile, not having worked that mode since I was in Darwin, NT (VK8OE, 1995)... and then I had a small dish and a TS-2000 in my SUV. It was easy, as I had full duplex, but there was nobody to talk to since the bird was mostly over the Indian Ocean! Now 5 years later and I am back in South Texas and missing that thrill from a you can't do that challenge. In my truck I have an FT-100. This rig worked mode V/S easily this past summer when I was visiting the US (I was P29OE then). The 2.4 gHz downlink was with an old 10-turn helix (my very first mode-S antenna, used to listen to Oscar-11), a TSI 3731 downconverter to 2 m and a Hamtronics 10 m downconverter. This arrangement allowed me to use the 2 m uplink from the FT-100, albeit in split mode (not full duplex). This mode was loud and easy. N5UXT, Angelo, was my first V/S contact, followed by N5AFV, Allen. Mode L/S required a little more hardware. I used an old MML trippler (varacter diode) I bought on ebay in the 90's for about $20. My uplink on 422.902 with about 10 W out didn't work well yesterday into my 2m/70cm vertical, so today I changed it out for a old (everything I have is old) home brew dual-band patch feed leftover from an AO-40 antenna (that same 18 DSS dish I took to Australia). Even though the downlink and uplink are both LHCP, they worked well enough on today's western pass of 20 degrees (from EL29) to make contact with K4YYL, AK5V, and N5UXT (again!). Thanks, guys. I know I was off frequency as I was guessing at the uplink frequency based on the downlink Doppler, dividing it in half then dividing that by 3... and all the while changing and hanging my arm out the truck window with a handful of gear! I appreciate you guys coming back to me. It's good to be home in Texas, it's good to work a satellite, and it's great to have such a frequncy agile bird to ! play with! I can't wait to get the shack set up this winter (the ARRL 10 m contest is just around the corner). 73, Jerry, K5OE ___ 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
