[amsat-bb] Re: There's no usable satellites
I think the point is that FO-29 is no longer an option in that list. Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Oct 24, 2011, at 12:22 PM, B J wrote: On Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 3:28 PM, Bato,Andras b...@starjan.hu wrote: Gentlemen, I have spent too much money on an FT-847! I had better to buy a well equipped HF transceiver instead! There is practically no usable satellites -except for AO-7 and VO-52. I've worked FO-29, AO-27, and AO-51 with my '847. The problem is that you can find always the same stations on them. Sometimes that happens but, once in a while, I contact a station I've never worked before or reach someone in a new grid square. I've been on satellites for just over 3 years and I've logged over 340 different stations and over 270 grid squares, making contacts in 5 different countries in North America and Europe. I did that using 7 different birds and the ISS FM repeater. F2IL is in my log about 300 times... Spending money on FM satellites were made according to long term plans of IARU, ARRL and AMSAT which had been a dream of handling emergency traffic using hand-held equipment and antenna -as far as I know. Satellite activity is seriously declining! I've found that there's always something new I can try over a satellite. This year, I started on SSB and made contacts over AO-7 Mode B, FO-29, and VO-52. I'd like to try AO-7 Mode A if I can get a proper antenna for it. snip ___ 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: Geostationary Satellite
I ask this in all seriousness though. Is a giant repeater in the sky with no need to handle Doppler shift really something that would be used? That would take some of the magic out of it. Having to follow a schedule and have the computer and radio synced to correct for the shift is part of the operating fun. Sure we hear some of the same people but it is the station that pops in on the low elevation passes that make it special. This seems like the same idea of explaining to a hamshack on the belt type the magic of HF. Yes, you have to check the propagation and MUF. What is the best band to talk on. All the things that lead to making contacts with different places on HF. While it would be nice to push up North American VUCC numbers, I just don't see why anyone would want a geo-stationary satellite for ham activities. I can guarantee at least two of my friends are on the local repeater right now. That is great if I have to get ahold of them for something or if I am on the side of the road in a ditch (although the auto club on my cell phone is my preferred mode of choice in that situation). Due to the costs, the is clearly academic, but as we frequently hear rumblings of a GEOSYNC bird (from me too in the past), when I really look at why I like operating satellites, that type of bird would have none of that. I am glad someone brought this up though as it caused me to re-examine my own beliefs about it. Thanks, Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Oct 11, 2011, at 10:23 AM, Joe wrote: Too bad we can't get one of the TV sat people to allow us to have one of their channels. It would be wide enough to hold hundreds of QSO's at the same time for sure. And I bet they have at least one that isn't doing anything at all. But of course thats not a ham band either bummer! Joe WB9SBD The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 10/11/2011 9:01 AM, Howie DeFelice wrote: I agree with much of what Dan, N8GFV, says. Our best hope of a high altitude satellite is probably a hosted payload on a GEO sat. To make that viable we need to consider the entire mission. GEO satellite operators are a for-profit business and every aspect of a commercial satellite has a dollar value. The major items are spectrum, power and fuel. Since hams bring their own spectrum, that is a no cost item for us. If we need to use satellite power then we would need to pay the market rate for the percentage of the total satellite resource used for the design lifetime of the satellite, typically 15 years. If the payload can be disabled by the operator we may be able to negotiate a pay as you go plan so that we don't have to pre-pay 15 years worth of power. Developing very power efficient transponder systems will reduce our costs. Trading bandwidth for power by using digital encoding, strong FEC, regenerative transponders with DSP signal enhancement will all aid in the reduc! t! io! n of the power required to close a link. The other big cost factor is fuel. As previously stated here, station keeping is a critical element in GEO satellites and with the advances of component technology, a satellites lifetime in orbit is determined primarily by the amount of station keeping fuel it can carry. The more fuel, the longer the satellite life, the more time the operator can use to recover their investment and make money. Every ounce added to the satellite affects the cost of the launch and possibly the amount of fuel that can be carried on board. Whether this is the case or not, the added satellite weight WILL add to the launch cost that we would have to pay. The good news is that the AMSAT community and the satellite operators have common interests in making satellites less expensive and more efficient. By building on the technology pioneered in ARISSAT-1 we MAY be able to get some cooperation from a commercial operator to deploy a technology demonstration package as a hosted payload. This might be more probable than one thinks. Satellite operators are EXTREMELY conservative and don't deploy new technology until it is thoroughly proven. The commercial satellite market is running out of real estate. Many of the big operators are at over 80% capacity. Since they are for-profit organizations, they are running out of product quickly and will not be able to grow their business. All the major operators are investing large amounts of money to promote a hosted payload business where government and scientific users can bring their own bandwidth to a transponder or payload on the operators platform. A low cost, high performance, innova! t! iv! e payload COULD be a great advertising tool for a commercial operator. The operator would get the payload for zero cost and could also get part of the launch cost subsidized by AMSAT
[amsat-bb] Re: Geostationary Satellites
Has anyone run the numbers? Are we talking 20 million, 100 million? Let's see, there are at best 5000 satellite ops. So, if it cost $20,000,000 we are each in it for $4000. I'm game. Now to convince 4999 of my friends. :) Seriously, you think it gets boring talking to us same guys on AO-51 each day? Try that for a giant repeater in space. That would be wide area. I know we hear that something like P3D would just cost too much, but this is a lot of dough to talk to friends across the country at drive time. The wider orbits make for more interesting conversations. Not that I don;t want to talk to you every day :) Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Oct 10, 2011, at 5:50 PM, Alan P. Biddle wrote: Don, Cost, which is enough to drop any other issues to noise level. That is the High Rent District, and given how much the commercial users pay, they would not want to have an amateur satellite wandering around. More practically, it would be nice to have a package on a commercial satellite. They provide the power, pointing, and control. We just provide the RF. Again, cost, though we have been looking for the right opportunity. Another drawback is that a geosynch only provides coverage to _about_ a third of the earth, and it is always the same third. Birds like AO-13 and AO-40 covered just about all of it over the space of a few days. Did I mention cost? It is fun to think about having 3 which could be linked for true global coverage. Alan WA4SCA -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of ka9qjg Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 4:23 PM To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Geostationary Satellites Hello Hope Everyone is doing Well, I know people say no such thing as a dumb question So here goes What is the reason We do not have any Type of geostationary Satellites. Is it because they are for World Wide Use and If stationary one could Hit it 24/7 and Maybe park there butt on it and Run a Beam and Amp and take it over Thanks 73 De Don KA9QJG ___ 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 ___ 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] If you made an AO-51 contact with NY4I/Mobile Thursday around 1830Z, please read
Hi, I heard AO51 while I was scanning in my car so I switched the D710 to PM5 for sat ops. I worked about 5 guys. I was in rush hour traffic so could not log. If you made a QSO with NY4I mobile, please reply so I can get you logged. I know I worked Hector in Cuba last. Thanks Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 ___ 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: ArissatTlm for Mac
I just tried to open a sample WAV file on Lion and the open dialog is just at the beach ball. The UI does come up though. I'm not sure if it is the wav file. If you have a wav file you know works, email it to me directly and I will try that. Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Aug 4, 2011, at 6:47 PM, Gilbert Mackall wrote: Has anyone tried this program running under Lion ? I don't have it on my development systems, but have had the question ask by some users. Gilbert Mackall N3RZN ___ 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 and IC-821H
I tried my 821H with SatPC32 and MacDoppler. MacDoppler will change the frequencies but you have to set the mode. I never got it to work with SatPC32. The CIV command set is quite limited in the 821 so you cannot do all the things you do with th either Icom SAT radios. Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jul 27, 2011, at 11:21 AM, Paul Delaney - K6HR wrote: Hello! Is anyone using SatPC32 with an ICOM 821H? Does bandswitching work, or do you have to switch bands manually? Paul Delaney - K6HR paul.hamra...@verizon.net http://k6hr.dyndns.org:8080 ___ 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: Should I abandon full Doppler correction?
One of the things I like most about MacDoppler is that I can turn the VFO and it will follow me. It does not enforce that I use the program to change frequencies. That allows one to use a simple VFO know interface to change frequencies while still having full Doppler correction. I have tried every Sat program I have been able to find (PC and Mac) and it is the nicest interface so far. To me, it is worth the $500 to get a MacMini just for this program (although I have 6 macs in the house so that was not necessary). It just clicked why most guys are around the middle of the passband if they are using computer control. If the programs put them in the middle, that is where they stay. :) I have also experienced the issue where I am doing full correction and guys that are not doing correction move into my receiver's passband. Nothing that spinning the dial will not fix but it is funny to hear. Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to all of you for your input. This has been invaluable. It lets me know that there is hope and I am not going against the grain by trying to use full Doppler. It was also nice seeing many of the calls that I have worked in the last few months. I'm getting my Gulf-Alpha beam up in the next couple of weeks so it should even get better. Thanks for you patience and guidance. 73, Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable | APRS: NY4I-15 On Jul 25, 2011, at 1:29 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) wrote: Hi Alan! I wanted to make a couple of points regarding some of your comments from your earlier post... There was an article in the Journal a few issues back on why the various manual techniques are only approximations, sometimes surprisingly bad ones. I think the author's call was WA4SCA. Yes, that WA4SCA is a good guy, smart guy. ;-) So it does get talked about. With an accurate clock, and current Keps it is possible to work a full pass and scarcely touch the dial. I think some forget that even with computer control, you *can* touch the big tuning knob on your receiver to see what may be away from the center of the 50 to 100 kHz passbands. If you don't want to touch your radio(s), then use the software to tune your receiver around the passband. Everyone can't work in the few kHz around the center of the passbands and have multiple simultaneous QSOs. It has been nice to see more SSB activity on the weekends. On the past couple of Saturday mornings, I've heard SSB QSOs on VO-52 from around 145.900 MHz up to almost 145.920 MHz. Not as busy as Field Day, but you won't be out there all alone - and still have room for additional QSOs. FO-29 and AO-7 (mode B) have also had more activity on recent passes I've worked. My default is for full Doppler correction. If the other station is using it, fine. We can concentrate on communicating. If not, I switch off and do it the traditional way. You don't necessarily need a computer to concentrate on communicating through the linear transponders. Computers are very useful, but not mandatory. I encourage computer control for those looking to try the SSB birds, especially with software like SatPC32. It will take some time to get the software working properly with your radio(s), so be prepared to work with your radio/computer combination. Otherwise, it will take time to get the hang of working them old school, without the assistance of a computer. It took me 6 to 8 months, including trying different antennas and radios receiving the downlinks, before settling on my current SSB satellite station configuration. Definitely not EasySats, like the FM birds are called, but not impossible to work. 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 ___ 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] Should I abandon full doppler correction?
Hi all, I just tried a nice pass on FO-29. I heard K9CIS on CW and W5BK from Texas. In both cases, while I am using full doppler correction with my 9100 and MacDoppler, I suspect they are leaving the transmit frequency fixed as they both changed frequency. K9CIS on CW was quite extreme in the Doppler shift. I know that this is a by-product of me using full doppler to listen to stations that are not, but it seems that the majority of the stations I hear are NOT using flu doppler. I have asked this question before, but it seems to be happening more frequently. Should I abandon full doppler correction? Another less black-and-white step is that if I hear a station moving to adjust my settings so I am not doing full doppler. Has anyone ever taken a survey to see how many satellite users actually use full doppler. Am I assuming more guys use computers and anyone of the multiple ways to do computer control that have ben available for years? Does anyone ever talk about this in AMSAT circles? Sort of like the encouragement one gives to people afraid of LOTW to try it? Computers in the shack…NEVER! I exaggerate but it seems that way. Then again, being a computer person and having computer capable rigs I realize I am skewed in my expectations. I know there are guys working with old 271/471 pairs or even the old FT726 out there. Great radios and a simple way to do it, but even they have ways to do full doppler control and they have been out for 20 years. Thanks, Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 ___ 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: FD Mess
Here is a suggestion. Several of us have mentioned we do not hear many people
on the satellites in modes like SSB. If even half of the people complaining
about multiple FM contacts tried to work FO-29, we would have activity wall to
wall for every pass. :)
Tom Schaefer, NY4I
n...@arrl.net
EL88pb
Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389
DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15
On Jun 28, 2011, at 9:10 AM, R Oler wrote:
What is to prevent someone from designating themselves net control? sorry
this plan is doomed Robert Oler WB5MZO Live member ARRL AMSAT NARS
From: ko6th_g...@hotmail.com
To: gary_mayfi...@hotmail.com; tim_cunning...@charter.net; amsat-bb@amsat.org
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 22:02:49 -0700
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
I agree. Set aside a single FM satellite with a designated team of high
power operators who hand off net control duties as the bird crosses the
planet. Standard operating practice in picking out call sign fragments or
by 1st letter of the suffix, and working through the pileup. The folks on
the ground will catch on fast, and I bet we'd have more points awarded per
pass than with what we do today. And, in the spirit of emergency
preparedness, operating with a net control would be a whole lot closer to
normal. (And, no, I don't expect that we'd make a lot of use of FM Voice on
a LEO in a real emergency, but we'll never know how to work that eventual
HEO bird if we don't practice on something we do have.)
Greg KO6TH
From: gary_mayfi...@hotmail.com
To: tim_cunning...@charter.net; amsat-bb@amsat.org
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:17:28 -0500
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
You know there is something here. I worked some late night on 80 meters.
The noise was high and signals were few. I came across a station with a
big signal, and worked him easily. Then I noticed he was working lots of
folks! I suspect he had put a lot more time and energy into his 80 meter
station than we had into ours. Is it fair he gets to make more contacts
with his bigger better station? I think I would argue it is. It is his
reward for all of that effort. Did he make it possible for stations that
may not have otherwise made a contact 80 to make a contact? Yes, he did.
He was monopolizing the frequency, but it seemed to make for a lot of
contacts
Joe kk0sd
-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Tim Cunningham
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 9:53 PM
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
{snip}
It is time to move forward and change the course of chaos.
My suggestion is to allow a Net Control type of operation. Let us say you
make 5, 10 or more sequential QSO's and pass it off to another station who
can capture and command the satellite, if there is one. Efficiency is
improved when there is a target. I guess my only point here is that doing
nothing will change nothing. We still have the 1 QSO limit so nobody has to
worry about a monopoly or somebody running up there point total. I would do
it and not claim a QSO point if needed in order to see it changed for the
better. When somebody hears a target station they will call it and/or the
target station can respond to those calling. This operation clearly netted
the most QSO's being made at a specific time in history. It also clears
traffic on the satellite faster when stations get their 100 bonus points
for the ARRL event or 1 point for the AMSAT event. At this point the other
station is dancing in the field bragging about their contact plus they
would not get any addition!
al!
credit even if they made another contact anyway. Disallowing a net style or
control point for multiple contacts on an FM satellite only promotes chaos.
This is my point and a suggestion for the box.
Thank you for your interest and sincerity in advance,
Tim - N8DEU
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[amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess
My game plan was to listen to the zoo on the FM birds just for kicks but use the linear birds for real contacts. After missing out last year as I was a complete SAT newbie, I snagged a contact with first pass on FO-29 with W3AO (25A MDC). I got a few more contacts on VO-52 before our washout send us packing. All it took this year was an IC 9100, 2m/440 SAT beam, MacDoppler and a rotator. Next year it is back to the Arrow and the tripod but it was fun getting that one contact this year versus missing out last year. One suggestion on the multiple FM contacts…if you know any calls that were making multiple contacts, call them out here. Granted, the call may be the field day call, but I did hear guys that were 1D (at home) making more than one contact. I just don't remember the calls. Peer pressure is a wonderful thing to correct bad behavior. We should single operators that don't play by the rules just as I would hope someone would let me know if I was doing something stupid on a pass. BTW, I was W4TA 5A West Central Florida this year. 73, Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jun 27, 2011, at 11:13 AM, wa4...@comcast.net wrote: It took me 5 satellite passes before I could make 1 contact There were too many ops making what sounded like HI POWER multi contacts .This should not have happened. Maybe someone with good writting skills could send the ARRL world above 50 an artical on how to work the birds during FD WA4HFN em55 Damon ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ 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 performs well. Its a shame I often find myself the only one on during the pass
I suspect you will not be very lonely this weekend. I will be camping on FO-29 CW every pass I can get at Field Day from EL87 in St. Petersburg. I'm hoping we get our bonus points and many more contacts on the linear birds. I might listen to AO-51 and AO-27 for kicks to listen to the zoo. :) We will be using W4TA. 73, Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jun 23, 2011, at 1:01 AM, normn3...@stny.rr.com normn3...@stny.rr.com wrote: Too true. I have fun with the late night passes. They allow me to play without qrm'ing the folks during the day. if you feel adventurous, I'll be up on the late (2.30am east coast time) fo-29 pass. Might stick around for the 4.20 pass too Hey, maybe AO-51 is up??.. 73 de Norm n3ykf ___ 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: SSB Operation on the Satellites
A rookie observation…. That article was written in 1994 —well prior to the state of the art in full doppler correction. I use MacDoppler for adjusting the VFOs and it happily adjusts both of them. The ONLY time I run into a problem where the received station is moving is when it is clear someone is NOT using full doppler correction. I would humbly submit that this being 2011 and both SatPC32 and MacDoppler handle full doppler correction, the exception should be the One Tune Rule and the norm should be full doppler correction. I know that when I work someone that is also using full doppler correction, it is a joy as the radio just happily stays tuned and we move during the whole pass. Is the state of the art still such that we are all using radios that do not support full doppler correction? I will put my flame suit on now… 73, Tom Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jun 9, 2011, at 6:23 AM, John Heath wrote: Hi Satelliters, Might cause some flames with this but here goes: With a good few years of operating on the SSB sats, AO's-10,13,40, RS10, FO-20,FO-29 and 98 countries confirmed I can agree totally with the one true rule in theory. When stations at each end of the QSO use the method it works flawlessly, I have done it with QSO partners using Fod track and with Instantrak computer Doppler correction, but there is the problem. Many of the stations that you want to work will be using manual tuning methods, so as you maintain your frequencies at the satellite, according to the rule, your QSO partner will have to search for you. Then when its your turn to transmit he will have to search for you. The practical solution that I and I believe most of the ops. I have worked seem to use is to have short overs and to adjust frequencies the TX to try and keep the QSO in a fixed spot on the receiver. Following the other often recommended method of adjusting the higher frequency irrespective of its function, up link or down link, cause QSO's to drift across the pass band causing problems for other users. The other point worth making for newcomers to the SSB birds is to start on the easy passes/satellites first to get the knack of manual tuning. For example, try VO-52 with its 2m downlink, and to pick low elevation passes where the rate of change of frequency due to Doppler shift is less. Don't expect to get it right with near overhead passes of FO-29 until you have delevop your skills. We were all beginners once so don't be afraid to have a go and make a few mistakes. I am pleased to say that in my experience the SSB satellites have a great user community who maintain high operating standard and welcome new ops. Have fun on the birds 73 John G7HIA Lamenting the loss of our lovely HEO birds, Happy Days !! ___ 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: SSB Operation on the Satellites
This is a great thread. Well, I am going to continue with full doppler and just resolve myself to tuning in some people that are not quite there yet. As a lot, I would think adding computer control to handle full doppler would not be that big a deal nowadays as most of the programs support it. I am not telling you how to spend your money though. The big test will be at Field Day when I am using full doppler and listening to everyone do the doppler-shuffle. :) See you on the air as W4TA from Field Day but NEVER on an FM bird. 73, Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jun 9, 2011, at 1:19 PM, David Palmer KB5WIA wrote: Jerry's correct. If you only adjust your transmit frequency, such that your receive frequency appears to stay the same -- then you're automatically correcting for your own downlink doppler, but not for anyone elses. Other hams in the footprint will still have to chase you. The only way to stick with the one true rule is to adjust *both* uplink and downlink during the pass. That being said, adjusting the higher (UHF) transmit frequency on VO-52 and AO-07 only (ie. manual control) will get you pretty close, and you won't drift a whole lot. I hear plenty of hams doing this, as long as there are just one or a two QSO's going on, they don't drift into each other very often. 73 de Dave KB5WIA / CM88 SatPC32 with 2xFT817ND On Thu, Jun 9, 2011 at 7:35 AM, n...@lavabit.com wrote: OK my brain may be playing tricks, but if you vary only your transmit frequency such that you always hear yourself on the same downlink frequency, isn't it true that the other station may not necessarily be hearing you on the same downlink frequency and is chasing you anyway? Your doppler is +5kHz (for example) on the receive, the bird is just about to pass overhead of me though so my receive ferquency goes rapidly from +2kHz to -5kHz, your transmit tuning has no relation at all to what frequency I am listening on. Then the bird goes past you and you suddenly switch down 5kHz, so I have to follow you on my receive. Or am I nuts? (Quite possible, come see where I work and you will understand!) Jerry NØJY I always varied the transmit. This way the person I'm talking to as well as any other listeners are all on the same freq listening. ___ 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] Little CW Operation?
I'm still learning about SATs but I just was curious if my experience was typical regarding CW activity. On most passes, I am lucky to hear a single CW station on FO29 or other linear transponder birds. I monitor during the week from my desk when MacDoppler tells me a pass is coming up. Is this fairly typical during the week? Thanks, Tom NY4I Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 ___ 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: Little CW Operation?
I have been calling CQ. From the reports I am getting, I am not hearing the downlink as well. I can hear myself and I lower my power until I can barely hear myself. Better antennas will improve this. I did work NL7VX in the Washington DC area tonight. AO7 comes up here in Tampa at 8:30 local time and it looks like the pass will cover a good part of the US so maybe I will make more contacts tonight. Thanks to all for your helpful comments. This really is magical stuff. I'm looking forward to making lots of CW contacts during Field Day. 73, Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 On Jun 8, 2011, at 5:53 PM, Sean Cavanaugh wrote: If you can, call CQ. That's how I got the 1 CW QSO I've ever gotten on the sats. I would have had 2 if I hadn't messed up the VFO. I've really got to get my sat station set up again so I can try again... I love the somewhat warbley sound of CW on AO-7. :) Sean - VA5LF On 2011-06-08, at 10:49 AM, Tom Schaefer, NY4I wrote: I'm still learning about SATs but I just was curious if my experience was typical regarding CW activity. On most passes, I am lucky to hear a single CW station on FO29 or other linear transponder birds. I monitor during the week from my desk when MacDoppler tells me a pass is coming up. Is this fairly typical during the week? Thanks, Tom NY4I Tom Schaefer, NY4I n...@arrl.net EL88pb Monitoring EchoLink node KJ4FEC-L 489389 DSTAR Capable APRS: NY4I-15 ___ 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
