Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 DX
Bob W7RLD wrote: Through general consensus would it be possible to establish a unofficial "DX watering hole"...Essentially, use a given frequency (downlink) only when the satellite is less than 4-5 degrees. Wayne replies: I don't understand. Every satellite is always less than 4 degrees elevation for somebody. It would make sense to have a designated DX calling frequency on linear transponders that are congested with many users. But I don't think that's the case presently. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: FUNcube/AO-73 - Now in Full time low power, beacon/ Transponder ON mode
Greg KO6TH wrote: Working now... Nice contact with W9AE in Oregon. Low pass, so not super strong, but now I can start optimizing things... At the end of the contact, Rx was at 145.960, Tx was 435.155 (both dial readings on my FT-736r). Wayne W9AE replies: It was also my first AO-73 contact. I had set up SatPC32 Doppler tuning with the frequencies published on the AMSAT-UK web site. I only needed to adjust the TX Offset by +1200 Hz. The frequency probably varies that much from day to day due to temperature changes. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: usb rotor control
KB2M wrote: I'm looking for a USB solution that will work with 32/64 bit WIN7/8, SatPC32, and my 5500 Yaesu rotor. W9AE replies: The simplest and cheapest USB rotor interface I know of is the "ST1". It's JUST an interface, with no control buttons and no display. Price is $39 for the assembled PCB with no enclosure. Mine was shipped in a very small box from India. General information can be downloaded from: http://www.foxdelta.com/products/st1.htm Installation and setup instructions can be downloaded from: http://www.foxdelta.com/products/satellite/st1/st1-satellitetracker.pdf I never understood why so many people are so eager to pay much more money for a rotor interface box that has buttons and a display. The computer screen and mouse can do that! The interface emulates the old "EasyComm" interface. Real-time azimuth and elevation are displayed in a separate small window on your computer screen. Manual control of the rotor can be accomplished using the SatPC32 Rotor menu. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: Adding AO-73 to SATPC32 and Nova for Windows
Adding AO-73 in SatPC32 is very simple if you use AMSAT's keps file called nasa.all. This file contains the AO-73 Keps together with the Keps for all the other active ham satellites. The satellite names are already in the familiar format. You can assign AO-73 to one of the 12 quick-access "letters" on the lower right corner of the main SatPC32 screen. If you have an unassigned letter, open the "Satellites" menu and simply double-click AO-73 in the "Available" list, and AO-73 will be assigned to the next unused letter in the "Selected" list. Paste the following text into the Doppler.SQF text file. Open the file directly from the SatPC32 program using the menu "?" -> Auxiliary Files -> Doppler.SQF. AO-73,145934.0,,USBTLM AO-73,145960.0,435140.0,USB,LSB,REV,,, Transponder Then you're all set to go. With Doppler.SQF text as specified above, the program will default to the beacon. To switch to the transponder you need to click the CAT menu and select the transponder data line. If you reverse the two AO-73 lines in Doppler.SQF the program will default to the transponder instead of the beacon. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: D STAR AMSAT NET
WA4HFN wrote: How many satellite ops have D STAR radios ? Join us tomorrow night on REF 60B at 0100 utc W9AE replies: I've seen AMSAT net announcement messages for years, and NEVER understood them. The messages never specify a terrestrial frequency or an amateur satellite. This leads me to the conclusion that the AMSAT net doesn't use ham radio as the communications medium. What communications medium is used to conduct the AMSAT net? Is it on a 2-way channel on a commercial satellite? Is it on the Internet? What is REF 60B? If the AMSAT net doesn't use ham radio, why not? Please explain... Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ 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: Phase 3
What is realistically achievable with a 3U cubesat with an ion engine? Cost of the satellite? Cost of the launch? Time/cost to develop ion engine? How many month/years would it take for an ion engine to boost a 3U cubesat from 600 km to 2000 km? What is the altitude limit for an ion engine? Impractical to slowly cross the radiation belt? Could a 3U cubesat with deployable solar panels power a 1 watt, 100 kHz, mode U/V transponder? I would contribute $1000 to a fund raising campaign for a financially and technically viable plan to (for example) launch in 3 years and deploy a transponder in "high" orbit 2 years later. I probably would not contribute to a fund raising campaign for a whizbang 3U cubesat destined for a 600 km orbit. Wayne Estes Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: Golden Packet 20 July gaps: Killington, VT and, Smokie Mountain!
WB4APR wrote: Only two Mountains remaining to be covered for this historic event. Killington, Vermont and Clingman?s dome in the Great Smokies National Park. On Saturday, 20 July, Just drive up to the parking lots, set up a small mast to clear the cars with an Omni dual band vertical and play APRS (and other) Radios for 4 hours starting at noon. W9AE replies: If you put up a fixed mast in a popular parking lot in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it would likely take much less than 4 hours for a park ranger to tell you that you can't do that without a permit. In general, U.S. National Parks have a uniform policy of NEVER issuing permits for temporary radio stations. You could use antennas mounted on your vehicle, but the National Park Service does not tolerate ground-mounted "radio stations" in public places. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: AO7 in Mode B
K4FEG wrote: There have been questions as to whether or not a program like SATPC32 is calculating the solar position based on ground track or actual satellite position in orbit, I have not reached out to find out the method of calculations but based on how AO7 has reacted to even the briefest of eclipse's as predicted by SATPC32, I suspect the relationship of the satellite to the Sun is being predicted based on the actual satellite position in orbit and not based on ground track. W9AE replies: SatPC32 displays "Sat in Sun" when the satellite's footprint overlaps the sun's footprint. You can see it change to "Eclipse" when the two footprints no longer overlap. In practice, AO-7's solar panel probably quits generating enough power when only a portion of the sun's "disc" is obstructed by earth. Consequently, the satellite would quit working a bit sooner than the actual eclipse, when 100% of the sun is shaded by earth. This year I plan to make Field Day satellite contacts for the first time in several years. In western Oregon I can operate the un-crowded satellite passes where most of the footprint is over the Gulf of Alaska. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: Hector, CO6CBF Saves the Day!
N1LF wrote: Not only did it rescue my own failed logging recording, but it allowed me to hear my distorted audio first-hand, and hopefully will allow me to troubleshoot the problem before the next pass. W9AE replies: You CAN hear and judge your own downlink audio on FO-29. Use headphones and set the "TX monitor" volume to zero so that when you transmit the only audio in the headphones is the RX audio. With the RX volume control sufficiently high, you can hear your downlink audio over the sound of your own voice in your head. This must be done using headphones. If you use a loudspeaker you will get feedback. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ 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: HRD 6.0 and Satellite Tracker
N1LF wrote: New to the birds, and using SATPC32 to control my Icom IC-910H. Also use Nova to help me better visualize the path that satellites will take. W9AE replies: How is Nova's ground track display better than the one in SatPC32, which displays the ground track of the next orbit? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA,CN83ik ___ 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: NO-44 SATPC worked today with an HT and Elk.
What is the meaning of "work NO-44"? Does that mean you digipeated packet data through NO-44? Does that mean you had a 2-way exchange of packet data with another user? I'm not trying to start an argument or belittle the accomplishment-I'm just ignorant and want to know what it means. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: a couple tweaks to work AO-27 & SO-50
To measure elevation you can buy a simple elevation gauge or protractor. "Eyeballing" the elevation should get you within 10 degrees of the actual elevation which is well within the beam width of your antennas. When using headphones it's easy to "peak" the antennas by ear. Simply wave the antennas back and forth and stop when you get the best quieting (on an FM sat). Or stop slightly "ahead" of the best quieting, so you won't have to adjust it again so soon. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, Cn83ik ___ 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] Repository for all Doppler.SQF data
I'm surprised that nobody has made an online repository for the Doppler.SQF files for ALL amateur satellites. What would be the best place to keep one? AMSAT-NA web site? On the DK1TB's web site, where people go to download SATPC32? Maintaining a Doppler.SQF repository would be relatively easy. The list isn't that huge, and new satellites don't come along very often. The repository would also logically include SubTone.SQF and AmsatNames.txt information. Wayne Estes W9AE ___ 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: Need East Coast
Merv wrote: I would like to schedule contacts with the East Coast. I am in Santa Monica CA. I can hear myself on the current 4 sats, but I don't hear anyone on the East Coast. Wayne replies: What's your callsign and grid locator? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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 : only a few more days !
Out of curiosity, what method is used to keep the International Space Station from burning up? I know that periodic boosts are done to raise the orbit. Is that done with rocket engines built into the space station? If so, it seems that storage and eventual reloading of the fuel would be difficult and high-risk. Or is the ISS boosted using the engines of a docked vehicle? That seems like it would have its own set of complications. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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] simplest USB rotor interface
As an AMSAT Area Coordinator, I occasionally get questions about rotor interfaces. So I need to become better informed about the interface options. I'm well aware of the LVBtracker, but to me it seems to be overkill for the intended purpose. It's not necessary for a rotor interface to have a big box, display, and control switches. The interface really only needs to contain A/D and D/A converters. All displays and controls can be implemented "virtually" on the computer's screen. Is there a simple and cheap USB interface for the G-5500 rotor? Something small and simple like FODtrack, but with a USB port? I'm aware of WinRotor USB, but nobody in North America seems to use it. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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 version 12.8b is released
WA4SCA wrote: You can run the update on a registered version, and it will be registered. A good idea to put the registration info in a safe place, just in case, though Martha can generate it for you. W9AE replies: I had to re-enter my registration code when upgrading from 12.8a to 12.8b. Previous SatPC32 upgrades did not require the registration code to be re-entered. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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 version 12.8b is released
On 10/21/2011 9:09 AM, George Henry wrote: The registration code can be found on the 4th line of the file UserDaten.txt, either in c:\documents and settings\owner\application data\SatPC32 (XP) or c:\Users\owner\AppData\Roaming\SatPC32 (Vista/Win7) where "owner" is your username. W9AE replies: SatPC32 upgrades are always free. I don't know if the registration code from a SatPC32 CD can be used to register the downloaded version. I hope it's not that easy to hack. If you don't have a registration code because you purchased a SatPC32 CD at a hamfest, send me an email with a photo of the CD, and I will send you the registration code for your callsign. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakalnd, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] SatPC32 version 12.8b is released
SatPC32 version 12.8b is available for download at http://www.dk1tb.de/downloadeng.htm The main SatPC32 program window now displays more information such as the date of the Keplerian elements file in use. Before upgrading your SatPC32 installation, be sure to use the new program (in the ZIP file) to backup your user configuration. The upgrade erases all previous user configurations, but the new program will restore your configurations after upgrading. The download is a demo version that requires users to enter their lat/lon each time the program is started. To make the program fully functional, enter your existing registration code or purchase a registration code from the AMSAT web site: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=Software DK1TB, the author of SatPC32 has donated the software to AMSAT. All sales of SatPC32 are used to support AMSAT. Here are the changes described in the What's New file: 1. SatPC32, SatPC32ISS, Wisat32 and SuM now support rotor control of the M2 RC-2800 rotor system. 2. The CAT control functions of SatPC32, SatPC32ISS and Wisat32 have been expanded. The programs now provide CAT control of the new Icom transceiver IC-9100. 3. The main windows of SatPC32 and SatPC32ISS have been slightly changed to make them clearer. With window size W3 the world map can be stretched (only SatPC32). 4. The accuracy of the rotor positions can now be adjusted for the particular rotor controller. SatPC32 therefore can output the rotor positions with 0, 1 or 2 decimals. Corrections of the antenna positions can automatically be saved. In previous versions that had to be done manually. 5. The tool 'DataBackup' has been added. The tool allows users to save the SatPC32 program data via mouse click and to restore them if necessary. After the program has been configured for the user's equipment the settings should be saved with 'DataBackup'. If problems occur later, the program can easily restore the working configuration. 6. The rotor interfaces IF-100, FODTrack, RifPC and KCT require the kerneldriver IOPort.SYS to be installed. Since it is a 32-bit driver it will not work on 64-bit Windows systems. On such systems the driver can cause error messages.To prevent such messages the driver can now optionally be deactivated. 7. SuM now outputs a DDE string with azimuth and elevation, that can be evaluated by client programs. Some demo files show how to program and configure the client. 73, Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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?
NY4I wrote: 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. W9AE replies: SatPC32 provides three methods to tune across the passband of a linear transponder while under full Doppler control: 1. With the radio's VFO knob (most peoples' preference) 2. With the mouse, by clicking the on-screen tuning buttons (for example, to go up 5 kHz with a single click) 3. With the keyboard: up/down arrow keys for 100 Hz increments left/right arrow keys for 20 Hz increments +/- keys for 10 Hz increments Methods 2 and 3 only work when SatPC32 is the active program window. They don't work if, for example, your logging program is the active window. SatPC32 doesn't force users to start Doppler tuning in the middle of the passband. That's the default, but it's easy to modify the Doppler.SQF file to start away from center, or on the beacon frequency. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: PCSAT32 Question
The default time zone setting for SatPC32 is "auto" which gets time zone information from Windows. Leave it unchanged, and your local time is always correct (assuming Windows is set up for the correct time zone). Nothing to change when daylight savings comes and goes. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, OR, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: Android satellite tracking
On 02/25/2011 8:13 PM, Ron Overdrive wrote: > There are 2 that come to mind: HamSat Droid and DroidSat. They both do > different things and make a great combo. HamSat Droid is a satellite > prediction app and DroidSat allows you to locate the bird in the sky > like a spotter scope. So use HamSat Droid to predict the bird's pass and > use DroidSat to aim your hand held antenna! HamSatDroid is very easy to use and can download the AMSAT Keps file. But the output is merely text (azimuth/elevation). A map of the footprint would be really nice. 20+ years ago Instant Track displayed a footprint with a 20 MHz processor. Today's processors are vastly more powerful, but no Android application displays a footprint? I guess that's because only hams care about it... Another useful Android application is "Grid Locator". Launch the app and it displays the 6-digit Maidenhead Grid of the phone's location. GPS must be enabled or it says you're in grid JJ00aa. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, OR, USA, CN83 ___ 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] Android satellite tracking
What are the preferred Android satellite tracking programs for ham satellites? Most seem to be intended for visual sighting. This subject came up months ago, but without a search function I can't find it in the amsat-bb archives. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, Cn83ik ___ 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] Tracking with parallel to USB converter
I want to use my HalloRotor parallel-port rotor interface with a new PC that doesn't have a parallel port. Has anybody had success using a parallel-to-USB converter with a parallel port rotor interface? In the past I used a parallel-to-USB converter and Windows device manager decided that it was a "USB printer", not LPT2. Is there a model of parallel-to-USB converter that Windows recognizes as a LPTx ? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ 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: timing
When you launch WinAOS, you have the opportunity to specify which Keps file to use. Make sure WinAOS uses the same "Source File" as SatPC32. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 Help Needed
David Palmer wrote: I seem to have to adjust ± 100 to 200 Hz at the start of the pass, and periodically during the pass, to keep my return pitch constant. Wayne replies: I have to make similar corrections when SatPC32 tunes my FT-847. One likely cause is that the radio's local oscillator drifts slightly when transmitting due to heat generated by the transmitter. My FT-847 transmit frequency drifts noticeably when I transmit on 435 MHz with high power. It drifts less when I transmit at low power. Unless your radios have high-stability oscillators I think it's normal to need to correct the frequencies by 100-200 Hz. From one pass to another, the local oscillator on the satellite might also drift slightly due to changes in temperature. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Playing With Lightning
If you live in an area prone to lightning (especially Florida) you should invest in a good ground system and single-point ground panel with surge suppressors for all antennas, rotor/control cables, AC lines, and internet/phone connections. It's very costly and a lot of work to install. But the alternatives (destroyed equipment or even a burning house) are even worse. The information and required equipment is out there. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA (where lightning is extremely rare) ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: How to add Moon Keps to SatPC32
Mark Hammond wrote: SatPC32 has a special program for the Sun and Moon. It's called SuM. You can find it under the Start/Programs button, with the SatPC32 programs. Wayne replies: The separate SuM program controls rotors and displays the moon's az/el, but it doesn't display the moon's visibility footprint on a world map. I can see how EME operators would want Moon Keps in the main SatPC32 program in order to see the moon's visibility footprint. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, XCN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Tracking planets
Joel wrote: Is anyone using Nova for tracking celestials (e.g., Jupiter or Sun ) for radio astronomy purposes? I have an LVB Tracker but not sure Nova is compatible and SatPC32 doesn't track celestial bodies. Wayne replies: The SatPC32 installation includes a program called SuM.exe (Sonne und Mond) that tracks the sun and moon. It doesn't display their visibilty "footprint" on a world map, but it displays az/el and steers rotors. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Tutorial to configure XW-1 in SatPC32
Here's my attempt at a step by step tutorial to manually configure XW-1 in SatPC32. 1. ADD XW-1 KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS Note: XW-1 Keps are in the 17 December nasa.all Keps from AMSAT. If you use this file, update Keps and skip to step 2 below. If you use a different Keps file use the following steps to manually add XW-1 to your Keps file: A. Ensure that Windows Explorer shows "hidden files": Open Windows Explorer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> View. Select the circle that says "Show hidden files and folders". B. Make note of which "source file" is highlighted in the left side of the SatPC32 "Satellites" menu box. This is the Keps file used by SatPC32. C. Open that Keps file with a text editor such as Wordpad. The file is located here: C://Documents and Settings\[your name]\Application Data\SatPC32\Kepler\[source file] D. Paste the latest XW-1 Keplerian elements into the file you opened. The Keplerian elements should be 3 lines and should look like this: (this example is NOT necessarily the latest version) XW-1 1 36121U 09072A 09349.53641119 -.0045 0-0 0+0 031 2 36121 100.5050 046.6267 0007989 035.4736 324.6735 13.1639108550 E. Save the modified source file. F. Restart SatPC32. Note: Any Keps that you manually add to your Keps file MIGHT disappear if you subsequently do an "update Keps". 2. ASSIGN XW-1 TO A "LETTER" BUTTON. A. Go into the Satellites menu box. You should see "XW-1" in the list of "available" satellites. B. Double-click on "XW-1", then click "OK". XW-1 will now be assigned to the next available letter in the lower right corner of the main SatPC32 window. C. Click that letter and verify that you see XW-1's name in the blue title bar and its footprint on the world map. 3. ADD XW-1 DOPPLER TUNING DATA A. In the main SatPC32 window, click "?" -> Auxiliary Files -> Doppler.SQF. The Doppler.SQF text file will open in Wordpad. B. Paste the following text into the Doppler.SQF file and save it. XW-1,435789,145910,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,CWbcn XW-1,435740,145950,USB,LSB,REV,0,0,Xponder XW-1,435675,145825,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,Rptr-BBS C. Restart SatPC32 and select the XW-1 satellite. D. Open the "CAT" menu screen and verify that you see the 3 frequency pairs listed. 4. ADD XW-1 SUBAUDIBLE TONE DATA a. In the main SatPC32 window, click "?" -> Auxiliary Files -> Subtone.SQF. The Subtone.SQF text file will open in Wordpad. b. Paste the following line into the file and save it. XW-1,67.0,$3F,1 This setting is difficult to verify. After restarting the program and selecting the XW-1 satellite, you should be able to enable the 67 Hz subaudible tone: Enable CAT, click the "T" button until it displays "T1". 5. ASSIGN THE NAME "XW-1" TO ITS OBJECT NUMBERS. This is only necessary if you get Keplerian elements from Space-Track. It's not necessary if you use the nasa.all Keps file from AMSAT. a. In the main SatPC32 window, click "?" -> Auxiliary Files -> AmsatNames.SQF. The AmsatNames.SQF text file will open in Wordpad. b. Paste the following line into the file and save it. 36122 09072B XW-1 c. Restart SatPC32. You will need to tweak these settings after the official name is assigned to XW-1. Possibly "CO-68". Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Editing nasa.all file for SatPC32
Mark L. Hammond wrote: > You may have to adjust your folder options to show all folders, etc. > under "Tools/Folder Options/View/Show hidden Files and Folders" Wayne replies: That it! "Show hidden files" defaulted to "off" when I recovered from a hard disk crash a couple months ago. Apparently it also prevents the search function from showing hidden files. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, Cn83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Editing nasa.all file for SatPC32
I want to manually add XW-1 Keps to my nasa.all file for SatPC32. The SatPC32 Satellites menu says the file should be in C:\Documents and Settings\Wayne Estes\Application Data\SatPC32\Kepler But the "Application Data" directory doesn't exist. I searched the entire C: drive for "nasa.all", and the file wasn't found. Where the heck does SatPC32 12.8a put the Keps file in WinXP? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] SO-67 schedule: 21/22 Nov 2009
ZR1JAK wrote: 21 Nov 00:19 Japan 00:36 Australia 03:33 India 06:55 RSA 09:45 Europe 11:35 Brazil 13:07 Brazil 14:30 Canada/USA 16:05 Canada/USA 17:38 Canada/USA 21:11 New Zealand 23:57 Japan 22 Nov 00:14 Australia 06:34 RSA 07:49 Europe 08:10 RSA 11:13 Brazil 12:46 Brazil 14:10 Canada/USA 15:43 Canada/USA 17:17 Canada/USA W9AE replies: I notice that all the passes are scheduled during the local mornings, and none of the passes are scheduled during local evenings. Is that because the satellite is in eclipse in the evening? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, Cn83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] SO-67 control
All of this weekend's scheduled SO-67 activations are when it is over South Africa, presumably controlled by ground stations. With an unsustainable 5W downlink we can't expect SO-67 to be activated often in most places. Is SO-67 capable of operating from an uploaded schedule? Or is it only controlled in real-time? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: SatPC32 upgrade
Erich Eichmann wrote: I have uploaded an upgrade of SatPC32 (V. 12.8a) on my website www.dk1tb.de The changes can be seen here: www.dk1tb.de/Changes128a.txt Wayne replies: I want to say THANK YOU to Erich Eichmann DK1TB for creating and continuously enhancing SatPC32 for the global amateur satellite community. And for donating it to AMSAT-DL, AMSAT-NA, and AMSAT-UK. SatPC32 is surely the most lucrative fund raising item for these AMSAT groups. Please support these AMSAT groups by registering your copy of SatPC32. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Grid Square Map
The ARRL sells a plain black 11x17 inch grid map of North America for $1. No color, no gray scale. Perfect for coloring in the grids as you work/confirm them. http://www.arrl.org/locate/gridinfo.html A smaller version of the map is also in the ARRL Operating Manual and perhaps in the ARRL handbook. I scanned, printed, and laminated the page from my ARRL Operating Manual. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN81ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Arrow Diplexer loss + Arrow v Elk
Jeff Yanko wrote: You mention about the Elk's F/B ratio. I've noticed the same thing on the Arrow. A while back, before the new diplexer, I contacted a local about 15 miles away, he was running about 2 watts and no matter which direction I turned the beam, the signal strength never changed. Hmmm. Wayne replies: If your area is hilly you could be receiving reflections from the hills. I'm surrounded by hills. The local repeaters are south of me, behind a hill. The repeater signals are strongest when I point my antennas to the northeast, at a big hill. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Understanding ITA
I just read the article about ITAR in the Jan/Feb 2009 AMSAT Journal. I have to say that the article didn't help me understand ITAR at all. It seems to have skipped the first several steps in the explanation. For example, what criteria are used to judge that a device has dual use as a munition? It is not at all obvious to my feeble mind how a 23 GHz amplifier or IHU-3 (computer) can be judged to have dual use as a munition. What criteria does ITAR law use to EXCLUDE devices that have obvious dual uses as munitions? For example, GSM cell phones have been used to remotely control explosive devices that killed thousands of U.S. servicemen. Are they not regulated because they are too ubiquitous to control? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: FT-847 vs IC-910
Not all FT-847's are alike. A stock FT-847 has wide, low-Q ceramic IF filters. My FT-847 has INRAD CW and SSB crystal filters that give narrower IF bandwidth, with MUCH higher Q. I haven't compared them, but I suspect that a FT-847 receiver with quality IF filters performs roughly on par with an IC-910. If shopping for a used FT-847, look for one with optional IF filters. Collins mechanical filters are an improvement over the stock ceramic filters, but crystal filters are even better. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA ___ 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
