[amsat-bb] Re: 10GHZ trabsceiver
Hi Luc, VE2DWE My setup for 10450-10452 MHz with an IF 146-148 MHz was built for AO40 but tanks to AMSAT-DL it will be fully usable for P3E. A standard transverter designed by DB6NT for 10368 MHz and IF 144 MHz was originally published by DUBUS 2/ 1991 pag 17 but it was newly described by my self beginning from RADIO RIVISTA 5/1957 pages 38-41 adding all necessary modifications to rise the frequency range 10450-10452 MHz with an IF of 146-148 MHz to be used for AO40 and P3E here are some characteristics of my setup: Dish: diameter 60 cm; F/D = 0.38 ; G = 33 dBi Feed: home brewed Chaparral for RHCP and LHCP Preamplifier : i0LVA designe ; NF= 1.3 dB ; G= 19 dB as was described in DUBUS 3/1994 Local Oscillator : Designed by i2SG and publisced in Radio Rivista 9/1994 and 3/1995 with a XTAL of 107.333 MHz made by Telequartz and designed to work in an owen at 60° C with a RF output of -3 dBm Local Oscillator Multiplier and Amplifier by 24 ; 107.333 x 24 = 2576 MHz module designed by DF9LN and sold by the EISCH ELECTRONIC with a RF output of +12 dBm with all modifications to rise 2576 MHz as described by my self in Radio Rivista 6/1997 pages 36-40 IF output : 2576 x 4 = 10304 MHz ; 10304 + 146 = 10450 MHz 2576 x 4 = 10304 MHz ; 10304 + 148 = 10452 MHz The multiplication of 2576 x 4 = 10304 MHz is originally included into the transverter itself. For AO40 and P3E this transverter and the associated setup was intented obviously to be used only for receiving and actually with the poor solar activity of only 67 sfu at 10.7 cm I do receive about 4 dB of (S+N)/N of Sun-Noise 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Luc Leblanc" To: Cc: Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2009 5:08 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] 10GHZ trabsceiver > Just a resend first one come out with wrong date. > > In view of what's is planned for the next P3E HEO i want to try some 10ghz band > experiment > > I got a local Hamfest a Hughes LNA P/N 1011836-0009 personal earth station. My first > google search does not give any results nor a direct > call to Hughes company who even give less results... > > This LNA has a N type connector on it marked IF a F connector marked LNC another F > marked POINTING and on the side another F connector on > probably the LNA model PLV-810A. There is a rotary adjustable ring for vertical or > horizonthal polarisation and a hand writing note > "10-15GHZ KU" the TX power is 1Watt. > > If someone is aware ot the use of this PES or know where to get some manual it will > help me to see if i can put this on the air? > > You can see a similar unit on e-bay at > http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&item =11039559 > 5319 > > > > Thank's > "-" > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: 2.4 Gig
Hi Nels, W0TUP You don't mention the size of your dish and the overall System Temperature of your receiving system for 2.4 GHz but if it was good for AO40 you should be actually able to receive a small level of Sun-Noise. As an example: Using my 1.2 meters dish with an overall System Temperature of the system of about 72 kelvin I was in condition to day to get about 3.4 dB of Sun-Noise as the included diagram showes. The signal radiated by AO-51 is too strong to evaluate if your 2.4 GHz receiving system is in good shape or not. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Arlon Nelson" To: "Amsat-BB" Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2009 3:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 2.4 Gig Are there any satellites on 2.4 gig so I can check out my old AO-40 dish. 73, Nels, WØTUP Minot, North Dakota n...@w0tup.com http://www.w0tup.com Ward County - Grid Locator DN98if TRIPLE PLAY AWARD No. 75 - A1 OPERATOR CLUB SKCC 31T - Flying Pigs 590 - QRPp-I #760 ARRL - FISTS #8610 - CC #1310 - FISTS WAS #143 FISTS PLATINUM #365 - FISTS SILVER #367 ARRL SSTV WAS #33 - IVCA MIXED BAND SSTV #1 40 MTR CW WAS - DXCC # 39623 - RTTY WAS # 585 COMMERCIAL RADIO OPERATORS LICENSE *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* CLUB CALL - WØJER (MAGIC CITY QRP CLUB) FISTS #11975 SKCC #1000 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Two antennas met on a tower, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: How you do DOPPLER correction in Linear Transponders?
- Original Message - From: "Fabiano Moser" To: "amsat-bb" Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 6:19 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] How you do DOPPLER correction in Linear Transponders? Dear friends, We know that some Satellite Operators use diferent system to doppler control. For Linear Transponder 1) Adjust uplink and downlink automatic by CAT? (Not always woks, some times I´m up or down from the computer adjust) 2) Adjust uplink and downlink manual 3) Keep Uplink fixed and adjust only the Downlink frequency. What is the more indicate method to use? FT-847 have knob to adjust Uplink without change downlink VFO, and I´m using it to keep my voice in downlink at same downlink much I can. But I know some operators use fixed uplink. How you do? -- 73 Fabiano Moser CR7/PY5RX ARISS-PORTUGAL (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) Representative at Teleconference and Portugal Telebridge Coordinator. AMRAD/AMSAT-CT http://www.amrad.pt/ariss.php Hi Fabiano, CR7/PY5RX My preferred metod (from OSCAR-6 to AO40) is to adjust only the Uplink frequency in order to keep my voice in downlink as clear as possible exactly as you actually do manually. If the station in contact with me moves up or down I invite the operator to move the VFO of his TX to come again in my constant receiving frequency. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: The Moon is our Future
- Original Message - From: "MM" To: ; ; "Jack K." Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] The Moon is our Future > We need a simple Mode-J transponder (2-meters up, 440 down). > Low power consumption. > Assume minimal antenna gain from the Lander (3 dBd on each antenna) > Assume transmitter power 5-10 watts. > > Questions: > What’s the link budget? > How much gain will be needed on earth for such a setup? > Can we build a working mockup in 1 year or less. > > The Moon is within Reach. Let’s Go for IT. > > Miles WF1F MarexMG.org Hi Miles, WF1F The gain of the 2 meters antenna on the Lander is 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi Assume that the Noise Figure of the 2 meter receiver is 0.5 dB = 35 kelvin and the sky temperature as seen by the 2 meter Lander antenna looking at the earth is conservatively 290 kelvin but (probably more ). The isotropic path loss earth-moon in 2 meters at an average distance of 380.000 km is 187 dB You don't specify the IF bandwidth of your transponder so that for simplicity I will assume that only one QSO will be possible in SSB and 3 on CW in a total BW = 2.5 KHz With the above data the calculated Noise Floor (KTB) of the above 2 meter Lander receiver is -139 dBm We assume to use an earth 2 meters antenna with a gain of 13 dBi and a power of 100 watt pep in 2 meters. UPLINK BUDGED: Earth TX power 100 watt.+ 50 dBm Earth antenna gain. .+ 13 dB -- Earth EIRP.+ 63 dBm 2 m isotropic attenuation earth-moon..-187 dB -- Isoptropic power received on the moon .- 124 dBm 2 meters Lander antenna gain.+ 5 dBi -- Power applied to the 2 m Lander receiver..- 119 dBm Lander receiver 2 m Noise Floor...- 139 dBm -- S/N ratio available from the Lander receiver.. + 20 dB COMMENT: With a 2 meter signal +20 dB above the noise floor the 70 cm TX on the Lander transponder is in condition to supply a noise-less power between 5 to 10 watt pep to the 70 cm TX antenna. DOWNLINK BUDGED: The gain of the 70 cm antenna on the Lander is 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi and the 70 cm power is 10 watt pep Assume that the Noise Figure of the 70 cm earth receiver is 0.5 dB = 35 kelvin and the sky temperature as seen by the 70 cm antenna looking at the moon is 75 kelvin Assume that the antenna gain of the 70 cm earth receiver is 18 dBi The isotropic path loss earth-moon in 70 cm at an average distance of 380.000 km is 197 dB With the above data the calculated Noise Floor (KTB) of the 70 cm ground receiver is -144 dBm Lander 70 cm TX power 10 watt...+ 40 dBm Lander antenna gain...+ 5 dBi -- 70 cm EIRP from the moon...+ 45 dBm 70 cm moon-earth isotropic attenuation .-197 dB -- 70 cm power available in to isotropic antenna -152 dBm 70 cm earth receiving antenna gain..+ 18 dBi -- 70 cm power on input of the earth receiver.-134 dBm 70 cm Noise Floor of the earth receiver..-144 dBm -- S/N ratio at the output of 70 cm receiver...+ 10 dB COMMENT: Using a Lander transponder on the moon with 2 meters and 70 cm antenna's gain in the order of 5 dBi will not produce serious problems of pointing at the earth due of libration. If the Lander transponder is capable to develope 10 watt pep and the IF bandwidth is very narrow in the order of 2.5 KHz it is possible to accomodate one SSB QSO or 3 CW QSO just using the actually available TX and RX equipments for satellite communications i.e. For the uplink in 2 meters 100 watt pep and a 13 dBi antenna gain For the downlink in 70 cm a receiving system with an overall Noise Figure of 0.5 dB and antenna gain of 18 dBi The rate of change of the frequency due of doppler shift in 2 meters and 70 cm is very slow and easily manually compensated even into only a 2.5 KHz bandwidth The antenna polarization is very important because a linear signal transmitted from the earth or from the moon by stations located in different continents can be reversed from Vertical to Horizontal polarization so that at least on the earth circular RHCP and LHCP switchable polarization is recommended. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___
[amsat-bb] Re: Lunar link budget
- Original Message - From: "Howie DeFelice" To: Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 3:14 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Lunar link budget Hi Domenico, I could be wrong but I think your budget is correct for a regenerative transponder but for a bent pipe transponder we need to add the uplink noise to the downlink noise where C/N (total) = 1/((1/C-Nup)+(1/C-Ndn)) which in this case would be about 6.7 dB. Still pretty good, but would probably be better even at the lower microwave freqs. If we used PSK31 exlusively, even 2.5 KHz many simultaneous QSO's. Howie AB2S Hi Hovie AB2S I agree with you and this is why I writes290 kelvin but (probably more) > The gain of the 2 meters antenna on the Lander is 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi > Assume that the Noise Figure of the 2 meter receiver is 0.5 dB = 35 kelvin > and the sky temperature as seen by the 2 meter Lander antenna looking at > the earth is conservatively 290 kelvin but (probably more ). At microwave frequencies where the gain of the antennas of the Lander are higher and higher than 3 dBd and the antenna pattern is very narrow who will automatically and precisely point the antennas toward the earth and who will compensate the pointing to follow the libration movements of the moon ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: The Moon is our Future
Hi Joe, The specification given by Miles WF1F is for a Lander transmit power of 5 to 10 watt in 70 cm from the moon.My calculation shoves that a single SSB station to be received in 70 cm with a S/N ratio of 10 dB on the earth a power of 10 watt in 70 cm is necessary on the moon. If you like an IF window 10 time greater i.e. 250 KHz to accomodate more stations at the same time than the Lander transponder must have the capability to get around 100 watt wich is out the WF1F specifications. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Joe To: i8cvs Cc: MM ; kg4...@gmail.com ; AMSAT-BB ; Jack K. Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 12:59 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: The Moon is our Future This is all good except for one thing, The IF window is 10 times too small. Look at the mess the FM single channel birds are with their tiny surface foot print. Imagine now a whole hemisphere worth of people trying to use it at once. The thing would be useless i8cvs wrote: - Original Message - From: "MM" To: ; ; "Jack K." Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:31 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] The Moon is our Future We need a simple Mode-J transponder (2-meters up, 440 down). Low power consumption. Assume minimal antenna gain from the Lander (3 dBd on each antenna) Assume transmitter power 5-10 watts. Questions: What’s the link budget? How much gain will be needed on earth for such a setup? Can we build a working mockup in 1 year or less. The Moon is within Reach. Let’s Go for IT. Miles WF1F MarexMG.org Hi Miles, WF1F The gain of the 2 meters antenna on the Lander is 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi Assume that the Noise Figure of the 2 meter receiver is 0.5 dB = 35 kelvin and the sky temperature as seen by the 2 meter Lander antenna looking at the earth is conservatively 290 kelvin but (probably more ). The isotropic path loss earth-moon in 2 meters at an average distance of 380.000 km is 187 dB You don't specify the IF bandwidth of your transponder so that for simplicity I will assume that only one QSO will be possible in SSB and 3 on CW in a total BW = 2.5 KHz With the above data the calculated Noise Floor (KTB) of the above 2 meter Lander receiver is -139 dBm We assume to use an earth 2 meters antenna with a gain of 13 dBi and a power of 100 watt pep in 2 meters. UPLINK BUDGED: Earth TX power 100 watt.+ 50 dBm Earth antenna gain. .+ 13 dB -- Earth EIRP.+ 63 dBm 2 m isotropic attenuation earth-moon..-187 dB -- Isoptropic power received on the moon .- 124 dBm 2 meters Lander antenna gain.+ 5 dBi -- Power applied to the 2 m Lander receiver..- 119 dBm Lander receiver 2 m Noise Floor...- 139 dBm -- S/N ratio available from the Lander receiver.. + 20 dB COMMENT: With a 2 meter signal +20 dB above the noise floor the 70 cm TX on the Lander transponder is in condition to supply a noise-less power between 5 to 10 watt pep to the 70 cm TX antenna. DOWNLINK BUDGED: The gain of the 70 cm antenna on the Lander is 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi and the 70 cm power is 10 watt pep Assume that the Noise Figure of the 70 cm earth receiver is 0.5 dB = 35 kelvin and the sky temperature as seen by the 70 cm antenna looking at the moon is 75 kelvin Assume that the antenna gain of the 70 cm earth receiver is 18 dBi The isotropic path loss earth-moon in 70 cm at an average distance of 380.000 km is 197 dB With the above data the calculated Noise Floor (KTB) of the 70 cm ground receiver is -144 dBm Lander 70 cm TX power 10 watt...+ 40 dBm Lander antenna gain...+ 5 dBi -- 70 cm EIRP from the moon...+ 45 dBm 70 cm moon-earth isotropic attenuation .-197 dB -- 70 cm power available in to isotropic antenna -152 dBm 70 cm earth receiving antenna gain..+ 18 dBi -- 70 cm power on input of the earth receiver.-134 dBm 70 cm Noise Floor of the earth receiver..-144 dBm -- S/N ratio at the output of 70 cm receiver...+ 10 dB COMMENT: Using a Lander transponder on the moon with 2 meters and 70 cm antenna's gain in the order of 5 dBi will not produce serious problems of pointing at the ea
[amsat-bb] Re: The Moon is our Future / antennas
- Original Message - From: To: ; Sent: Saturday, July 04, 2009 1:21 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] The Moon is our Future / antennas > > In a message dated 03/07/2009 20:46:44 GMT Standard Time, > kd6...@comcast.net writes: > > Building a prototype that works on Earth for project like this is only a > few percent of the effort required. Treating it as a radio club project > won't be effective as people need to sign up for a 5-year project. > > Hi all. > > John is absolutely right in saying the complexity cannot be easily > compared to a terrestrial radio project. One other thing that stands an > almost zero chance of succeeding is a dish antenna that needs to point > towards the earth. If NASA and the ISS have trouble with moving parts > on the solar array you can imagine how much more difficult it would > be on the moon. > > However, how about this. > The problem with the higher bands is power generation / path loss / > antenna gain. Any higher band like 1.2, 2.4 or 5.8G would need a high > gain antenna to offset the increased path loss. > > But, instead of a conventional steerable dishwith its unreliable > moving joints...How about an electrically steerable array of patches / > dipoles / or any other type of antenna element. > > But how to 'point' it? > > Well. actually I think Tom Clark provided the answer for that with his > proposal of a few years ago. The principle is this: If you have 2 > arrays. One say on 5.6G uplink and one on 5.8G downlink, then the > receiving array can electrically look in different directions for a signal > from the Earth. > Once the receiver has identified a signal and optimised the RX Antenna, > the information on the direction of the Earth i.e. the direction of the > strongest incoming signal can be used to configure the transmit array > which will then beam a signal back to earth with high ERP. > > Directional, high gain, and no moving parts. > > Thanks > > David G0MRF Hi David, G0MRF The following article from G3RUH is a good additional answere to your message. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/articles/g3ruh/110.html I have extracted from it the most important following part: 73" de i8CVS Domenico Extracted from G3RUH article "THE EARTH MOVES" > Moon Downlink > The maximum total excursion of 9.5° is the same as the beamwidth of a 5 > wavelength diameter dish antenna. This has a gain of some 20 dbi, and > represents an upper limit for an unsteered Moon-based antenna. However the > higher the frequency used, the smaller mechanically is the antenna, which > makes 2.4 or 5.6 GHz a good choice. Five wavelengths is 60 cm and 26 cm > diameter respectively; quite small. > For a given TX e.i.r.p., signal strength received at Earth depends only on > the mechanical size of the RX antenna; frequency is irrelevant [1]. Noise > level however is not, and S-band (2.4 GHz) is a sensible downlink choice > because very low noise performance is robustly obtainable "off the shelf". > An example, 1 watt transmitted from a 20 dbi gain dish on the Moon, > received on a 1.2m dish at Earth with a system noise temperature of 100K > results in a signal to noise ratio in 2.4 kHz bandwidth of 10.5 db. (Note > that frequency matters not). This would support one rather noisy SSB voice > signal. > Alternatively it would carry an error-free 2400 bps binary PSK data > transmission without coding, 9600 bps with modest coding [2]. ___ 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: ILN... Is this our future ride to the moon? MM
Hi Miles, To get an idea about the difficulty to designe and build a transponder that must work on the moon I suggest to carefully see the following links. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19720012254_1972012254. pdf If you have problems to get the above NASA report from internet I can send a pdf file to you or to any people is interested but it is about 4 MB long Also the following pictures and drawings are self explanatory. http://www.myspacemuseum.com/alsep01.htm After reading both the above papers you will realize that the task is very hard viable by any amateur team. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "MM" To: ; "Armando Mercado" Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 2:53 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] ILN... Is this our future ride to the moon? MM Yes Exactly! We need to form a proposal team that can evaluate the data to find out if an EME-Repeater is viable. Time is short. First ask Experts if building a transponder for the Moon is feasible with current technology. If it were, How many Amateur radio operators would be able to afford such a project? We know the are hundreds of Hams, which have used EME at one time, or another. If we build a working transponder, how many more hams would have access to and EME-Repeater? Based on the number of users that could build an EME-Repeater link, we would go ahead with the idea and take it to the next phase. There no sense in building an EME-Repeater project if only a hundred people would be able to access the EME-Repeater. So if the project looks feasible and there is a big enough potential group of Amateur Radio stations that would uses such a project, then we would start talking to all of our contacts at NASA, ESA, RSA to see if we can get some additional support to help with the project. Thanks Miles --- On Sun, 7/5/09, Armando Mercado wrote: > From: Armando Mercado > Subject: [amsat-bb] ILN... Is this our future ride to the moon? > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009, 2:48 PM > Greetings, > > The International Lunar Network appears > to be the unmanned landers NASA is planning > to put on the moon. The program is working to > put 2 landers on the moon in the 2012-2014 > time frame. > > Here are some excerpts from a Request for > Information by NASA regarding instruments > for its International Lunar Network (ILN). > Pay special note to the mass and power > limits. > > Is this what we are talking about putting a > transponder on? > > 73, Armando, N8IGJ > > ** > > Date Released: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 > Source: Goddard Space Flight Center > NASA Solicitation: Instruments for U.S. International > Lunar Network (ILN) Lunar Missions > > > Description of Anticipated Requirement > > NASA expects to emplace the first two nodes (the "anchor" > nodes) of the ILN in the 2012-2014 timeframe with two > additional nodes to be emplaced roughly two years later, > depending on funds availability. All nodes will carry > identical core instrument payloads. The ILN mission > requires > long lived instruments which can be operated as a network > for six years (the anchor nodes will necessarily have to > last > longer). It is anticipated that a very small amount of > power > will be available to enable continuous operation through > the lunar night. > > Concept studies for the spacecraft are now under > development > at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center working with the > Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) of The Johns Hopkins > University. The mission will be tightly constrained in > both > mass and power. It is expected that the total available > mass > for all payload instruments will be approximately 15 kg, > although the precise mass available for the payload will > depend on the launch vehicle and other trades still being > considered. The total available payload power will be > approximately 15 W. > > The total budget for the ILN anchor nodes including > development and operations is $200M. Schedule and budget > constraints require that NASA mission planners focus on > relatively mature instruments. > > ** > > See the following links for more info: > > http://www.moontoday.net/news/viewsr.html?pid=29834 > (The full Request for > Information) > > http://iln.arc.nasa.gov/welcome (General info on > ILN) > > > http://lunarscience.arc.nasa.gov/file_download/26/ILN+Final+Report.pdf > > (Detailed info > on ILN... Note: large file 13MB) > > Happy reading, > > Armando, N8IGJ > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. > Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur > satellite prog
[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 Rotor Drift Issue
Hi Mark, WA8SME Sometime the voltage regulators tends to self-oscillate in a very low but very wide frequency band. In this condition the regulated voltage is unstable not clean and dirty as can be seen using an oscilloscope. This problem is well know by the microwave people when they try to get a local oscillator clean and stable. To eliminate the self-oscillation an effective cure is to put a ceramic capacitor of 0.1 uF in parallel to an electrolitic capacitor ranging from 1 to 10 uF both at the input and the output of the regulator and check again with the oscilloscope any trace of oscillations at the regulator output. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Mark Spencer" To: Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 8:42 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] G5500 Rotor Drift Issue > There have been a couple of recent posts about a G5500 voltage drift issue > and some solutions. I'd like to thank those gentlemen for the posts and the > solutions. I am in a unique position to be able to work with nine G5500 > rotors side-by-side in preparation for the Teachers Institute II that I will > hold at the end of the week. I noticed the same warm-up/calibration issue > mentioned in the posts. I discovered that it took on average 10 minutes of > warm up time for the voltage to stabilize, and this voltage is the reference > on which the antenna position indications are based. The difference between > the cold start and warm up position was around 10 degrees for AZ and 4 > degrees for EL. Minor but irritating. I thought I'd try the easiest > solution suggested first (changing the output cap on the regulator to .1uF) > before I tried the more dramatic solution of changing out the voltage > regulator. I simply tack soldered the .1uF cap on the exposed leads of the > existing .01uF cap, and it worked like a charm. All nine rotor controllers > fire up at 6.12 volts and hold that voltage throughout the operation of the > rotor. This sure will make instruction of rotor setup and calibration a > heck of a lot easier. Thanks for the suggests. > > > > Mark Spencer, WA8SME > > ARRL-The national association for Amateur Radio > > Education and Technology Program Coordinator > > mspen...@arrl.org > > http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ > > 530-495-9150 > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Polarity switching question
Hi John, W6ZKH The 2 meters KLM antenna uses two crossed folded dipoles wich are spaced 1/4 wavelength in air over the boom so that to get circular polarization no coax delay lines are necessary. Each folded dipole has a wounded coax balun with ratio 4/1 wich is made with 1/2 electrical wavelength of 50 ohm coax cable RG 303 to transform the balanced impedance of 200 ohm of the folded dipole into a 50 ohm unbalanced impedance at the output of balun. The phasing harness coming out from the plastic barrel is made with two maching lines of 75 ohm coax cable type RG 302 and they are both 1/4 electrical wavelenght long. Each maching line of 75 ohm transforms the 50 ohm impedance of the dipole to about 100 ohm into the barrel but two 100 ohm in parallel becomes 50 ohm as seen from the coax line connected to the barrel PL connector and going down to the shack. The 75 ohm line connected to the polarization switching relay is also 1/4 electrical wavelenght long but including the electrical lenght of the relay itself. To switch polarization from RHCP to LHCP the relay only switches the inner conductor of it's 75 ohm coax cable from one to the other stud i.e. from one to the other screw of the same folded dipole. The 70 cm KLM antenna uses the same basic criteria but to switch polarization from RHCP to LHCP the relay add to one folded dipole a 1/2 wavelenght delay line wich is included into the aluminum box and is made with a 50 ohm strip line over a fiberglass printed circuit. I hope this helps. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: To: "amsat-bb" Sent: Monday, July 13, 2009 4:51 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Polarity switching question > I recently obtained a pair of KLM yagi's for satellite work. They both have the KLM polarity switching box mounted and wired up. Since I havent put them up yet, and not well versed in the subject, I got out my ohm meter just to see what was what on this item. I noticed that both driven elements have continuty to the center pin of the coax at the same time. I was under the impression that the relay switched back and forth the driven elements to give either RH or LH polarity. I havent applied the 12 volts to the box yet to check that out, but was just curious. One thing I have noticed while using the downlink yagi is that I get very little fade due to polarity when I turn the antenna. I hope that is a good thing?? I havent checked the uplink yagi to see if it has the same results. > > I hope someone can enlighten me abit. > > 73 de John W6ZKH > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Avoiding statics on helix antennas
Hi Lars, OZ1BXM The shorted quarter-wave coax line suggested in the ARRL Handbook 2008 and 2009 pages 23.20-21 will work great because it is a short circuit for the static electricity and a theoretically infinite impedance at the resonant frequency so that for the RF input signal it is completely ignored by the input stage of a converter or preamplifier. Remember that a quarter-wave transmission line when shorted at one end shows an infinite impedance in theory at the open end as you can see using the Smith Chart. If you enlarge a shorted quarter-wave by any even or odd number of 1/2 wavelenght of coax line thing do not changes because a 1/2 wavelenght of transmission line represents a full turn of the Smith Chart. Do it as suggested by the Handbook ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Lars Petersen" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Avoiding statics on helix antennas > Hello AMSAT list, > > I have a problem caused by static electricity building up on my two helix > antennas (23 cm and 13 cm). Two converters have already been zapped, so I > have to do something about it. > > What measure would you recommend to avaoid statics building up on helix > antennas? > > Does anyone have experience using the shorted quarter-wave-stub mentioned in > "The ARRL Handbook 2008" pages 23.20-21? > > Vy 73, Lars Petersen, OZ1BXM, > AMSAT-Member 36222, > oz1...@pobox.com > www.oz1bxm.dk > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Avoiding statics on helix antennas
Hi Joe WB9SBD The ARRL Handbook explain that you must consider the velocity factor.To put a shorted quarter-wave coax line at the converter input as a short for the statics is easer than to find out from where the statis came from ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Joe To: i8cvs Cc: Lars Petersen ; AMSAT-BB Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 5:52 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Avoiding statics on helix antennas don't forget the velocity factor too! My first thought was to try to find out where the static is coming from in the firstplace and fix that. Why put a band-aid on a cut when you prevent the cut in the first place? Joe WB9SBD i8cvs wrote: Hi Lars, OZ1BXM The shorted quarter-wave coax line suggested in the ARRL Handbook 2008 and 2009 pages 23.20-21 will work great because it is a short circuit for the static electricity and a theoretically infinite impedance at the resonant frequency so that for the RF input signal it is completely ignored by the input stage of a converter or preamplifier. Remember that a quarter-wave transmission line when shorted at one end shows an infinite impedance in theory at the open end as you can see using the Smith Chart. If you enlarge a shorted quarter-wave by any even or odd number of 1/2 wavelenght of coax line thing do not changes because a 1/2 wavelenght of transmission line represents a full turn of the Smith Chart. Do it as suggested by the Handbook ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Lars Petersen" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Avoiding statics on helix antennas Hello AMSAT list, I have a problem caused by static electricity building up on my two helix antennas (23 cm and 13 cm). Two converters have already been zapped, so I have to do something about it. What measure would you recommend to avaoid statics building up on helix antennas? Does anyone have experience using the shorted quarter-wave-stub mentioned in "The ARRL Handbook 2008" pages 23.20-21? Vy 73, Lars Petersen, OZ1BXM, AMSAT-Member 36222, oz1...@pobox.com www.oz1bxm.dk ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.406 / Virus Database: 270.13.44/2283 - Release Date: 08/05/09 05:57:00 ___ 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: Avoiding statics on helix antennas
- Original Message - From: "Lars Petersen" To: Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 12:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Avoiding statics on helix antennas > Hello list, > > What measure would you recommend to avoid statics building up on helix > antennas? > > Several suggestions have been given, both here and as PM. Thank you to you > all! Here is a summary of the mails received: > > Answer 1: Try a grounded radome to keep rain and air movements off the > antenna. (G8IFF/W8IFF) > Hi Lars, OZ1BXM A grounded radom is still transparent for the static electricity and obviously for RF as well so that a radome is unusefull to avoid statics. > Answer 2: The shorted quarter-wave coax line suggested in the ARRL > Handbook 2008 and 2009 pages 23.20-21 will work great because it > is a short circuit for the static electricity and a theoretically > infinite impedance at the resonant frequency so that for the RF input > signal it is completely ignored by the input stage of a converter or > preamplifier. > If you enlarge a shorted quarter-wave by any even or odd number of 1/2 > wavelenght of coax line thing do not changes because a 1/2 wavelenght > of transmission line represents a full turn of the Smith Chart. Do it as > suggested by the Handbook! (I8CVS) > This one is a good method because the input stage do not see the very high impedance of the shorted quarter-wave coax line so that the original Noise Figure of the downconverter is not degraded while the static voltages are shorted out. > Answer 3: Can I suggest: a) A 47k resistor across the input of your > converter. The static will have a very high impedance and I've found 47k > will remove it without increasing the noise figure of your converter. b) > For really severe cases: An inductor to ground. An 0805 or smaller device. > Something that presents a couple of Kohms at the frequency of interest > would be OK. Or perhaps a high pass filter designed for 50 ohms with > an inductor to ground. Cut off frequency at 30% lower than 23 or > 13cms (G0MRF). > A 47 k resistor or an inductor to ground of your converter implies that you have to open the converter box and modify it.In addition a resistor shoves inductance as well and an inductor do shoves capacitance as well so that at 23 cm or 13 cm they will modify the input mached impedance for the lovest Noise Figure of your downconverter. More over a high pass filter designed for 50 ohm with an inductor to ground has an insertion loss that in dB adds to the actual Noise Figure of your downconverter. > > Answer 4: An earlier version of the ARRL handbook has a multi turn helical > for 23cms with the usual quarter wave strip of brass soldered to the first > quarter turn of the helix. For static protection it has about 2cm of wire > wound around a former to make about half of a turn. This is soldered to > the pin of the N connector and grounded. I can send you a picture later > today. Done.(G7HIA) > For static protection about 2 cm of wire wound around a former to make about half a turn and then soldered from the pin of the N connector and ground do short out the stastic voltages but it modifies the impedance of the helix antenna so that you have to compensate for it twiking with the usual quarter wave strip of brass soldered to the first quarter turn of the helix until you get again a VSWR very close to 1 > 73 de OZ1BXM Lars Petersen, Holstebro, Denmark > Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico > - Original Message - > From: "Lars Petersen" > To: > Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 6:01 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Avoiding statics on helix antennas > > > > Hello AMSAT list, > > > > I have a problem caused by static electricity building up on my two helix > > antennas (23 cm and 13 cm). Two converters have already been zapped, so I > > have to do something about it. > > > > What measure would you recommend to avaoid statics building up on helix > > antennas? > > > > Does anyone have experience using the shorted quarter-wave-stub mentioned > > in > > "The ARRL Handbook 2008" pages 23.20-21? > > > > Vy 73, Lars Petersen, OZ1BXM, > > AMSAT-Member 36222, > > oz1...@pobox.com > > www.oz1bxm.dk > > > > ___ > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ 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: Antenna project with 2 ELK antennas
- Original Message - From: "Jean-François Ménard" To: "AMSAT Mailing list" Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 10:44 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna project with 2 ELK antennas Hi, I have 2 ELK antennas here, and I would like to do an experiment with these two antennas. I would like to stack side by side, one vertical, and one horizontal. 73 Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Hi Jean, VA2SS Staking 2 ELK antennas side by side,one vertical,and one horizontal what type of polarization you plan to get ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: rotator questions
Hi Nigel, G8IFF/W8IFF You are right Aiming the antenna for maximum receiver Sun noise is the best method because the antenna pattern can be affected by some squint angle and not be perfectly aligned with the boom but receiving Noise from the Sun in 2 meters and 70 cm implies a very high antenna gain and a very low overall receiving Noise Figure with a very low Antenna temperature. By the way at microwave such as 2400 MHz it is possible to receive the Sun Noise using a modest dish diameter even when the Sun activity is low as actually with around 67 sfu at 2800 MHz (10.7 cm) See here: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DSD.txt I use this method with my 1.2 meter dish 27 dBi at 2400 MHz and an overall receiving Noise Figure of 1 dB equivalent to a Noise Temperature of 75 kelvin With the above dish and receiver I actually get a Sun Noise of about 3.5 dB of (S+N)/N wich is easily readible on the S meter or better using an AC Voltmeter connected to the audio output of receiver. Using a tracking program and aiming the dish for maximum Sun Noise it is possible to calibrate the AZ and EL angle of the control box for the through reference Sun position in the sky. In addition repeating time to time the above procedure and knowing the actual Sun's sfu it is possible to monitor the state of healt of our receiving system. By the way without an HEO satellite using 2400 MHz the above procedure is as well a little and interesting Radioastronomy exercise. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" To: "Greg D." Cc: ; Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:17 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions > How about aiming for maximum receiver noise? That should be even more accurate. > > Greg Wrote: and then adjust the antenna so the shadow falls directly down the antenna boom. > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
Hi Dave, K4DLG Very interesting experiece. Do you remember the radar receiving frequency and the gain of the radar antenna in the plain of Azimuth ? Tanks for your answere. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "David Gendle" To: Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 5:02 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions > Greetings! > > This thread is bringing back memories. > > Eons ago (60's) when I was servicing long range radar for the USAF > once a month the third shift crew would have to verify the proper > azimuth and elevation orientation of our antennas. We would stop all > antenna motion, stop transmitting and crank the receiver gain full > up. At a specific instant when the sun just broke over the horizon > we would verify if the azimuth and elevation of the antenna was > correct by using the large noise burst from the sun. Using this > method we could get the antennas within 2 degrees of perfect > orientation. It was a foolproof procedure because the location of > the sun was always predictable. > > Ahh the good old days! :-) > > 73, > Dave _ K4DLG > > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: You learn something new every day...
Hi Jerry, N0JY The only way to eliminate all of your uncertainty is to point the dish to the Sun and try to receive the Sun-Noise. If the pick of Sun-Noise match both with the traking program of the Sun and the indication of the AZ and EL of your control box then you are calibrated otherwise you must apply the necessary corrections. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "N0JY" To: Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 2:51 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] You learn something new every day... > Hello AO-51 V/S gang! > > I've been on the past couple of nights trying out my modified K5GNA BBQ > dish, I had removed the dipole and replaced it with a LHCP patch feed I > built. Past mode */S runs on AO-51 were spent getting the feed back in > the focus. The passes this week though still left me with some bad > fades and signals varying from S9+ to nothing but noise. > > Well I finally figured it out during the 00:00 pass tonight... I'm using > SATPC32 rotor control and I was fiddling with the pointing corrections. > Tonight was an overhead pass, so the signals should have been great. > They weren't though, so I started tweaking the rotor degree > corrections. Came to find that a +14 degree azimuth gave me the great > signals I expected to hear! So I got to thinking about it. > > I know the rotator/antenna assembly is pointed right, north is north and > east is east and such. All of the other antennas give me the kind of > signals I expect, when pointing toward a particular satellite and some > local beacons and sweeping around them. So it must be one of two > things: either the patch feed is off center, and I'll admit that it was > heck to line up exactly using the PVC arrangement that I have created to > get the AIDC downconverter pointed back toward the dish. I looks pretty > centered... but, could it be off just a tad to the side so that I am > actually feeding off-center, hence the need for a 15 degree adjustment > to get the best signal? The other thought, the dish is mounted with the > left edge about 1 foot to the right of the 70cm 40el crossed yagi, > could the yagi be influencing the signal causing the apparent bend in > the pointing? And probably vice versa, if so. > > Your thoughts on this would be appreciated. Meantime, I have at least a > workaround to get the solid downlink that I was looking for. No > polarization fades with the CP patch, and the 15 degrees offpoint isn't > going to affect the 2m uplink as the bandwidth of that antenna (20el > crossed) doesn't seem to mind. So, hopefully you won't have to hear me > sign because I lost the downlink anymore this week! > > 73 and thanks, > Jerry > N0JY > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: KLM 2M 22C
Hi Luc, VE2DWE I am using a KLM 2M 22C and in my boom no pre drilled hole was missed.In a separate e mail I will send to you a picture of my assembly. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Luc Leblanc" To: Cc: Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 5:43 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] KLM 2M 22C > > I just assemble and "old" oscar 1 era KLM 2M 22C beam over the week end to ended stuck up with one element and no matching pre drilled hole > in the boom tube. Did anyone recollect if KLM ever missed pre drilled hole in their workmanship? My assembly was on the side of a bit hurry > and i will have to recheck al the measurements but with the pre drilled bolt holes boom section attachment it is hard to make mistakes but > we never know! > > Thank's for your inputs? > > "-" > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Difference between Yaesu G5400, G5600 and G5500
- Original Message - From: "PE0SAT" To: Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 6:46 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Difference between Yaesu G5400, G5600 and G5500 > > > I looked at Google but couldn't find the answer to this question. > > The reason for asking is? > > I have a 5600 controller and a G-400 rotor and this isn't working because > I think of the fact that there is no C between the two AC lines within the > 5600 controller that supply the rotor with AC, and within the G-600 > controller there is. > > The elevation rotor is a KR-500 and KR-500 controller is the same > situation. > > Are there special rotors for the 5600 controller? I can't imagine that > yaesu made special one's for this controller. > > > So my question, what are the differences between 5400/5600, 5500, 400 and > 500. And is there a way to connect them to the 5600 controller so I can > finaly use my LVB tracker :-) > > Any help is appreciated. > > > 73's Jan - PE0SAT Hi Jan, PE0SAT The G-5400 has the starting AC capacitor C installed into the control box only for the azimuth motor wich is a KR-400 and obviously there is not limit switch into the azimuth rotator KR-400 Instead for the Elevation motor the starting capacitor C is located inside the rotator and there are limit switches. The G-5500 has the capacitors C installed into the rotators one C for the azimuth and one C for the elevation. In addition there are limit switches both for azimuth and elevation. The G-5600 is like the G-5500 with capacitors C installed into the rotators and there are limit switches both for azimuth and elevation. If you want to use the G-5600 controller with an old KR-400 for azimuth and a KR-500 for the elevation you must connect an AC capacitor of 100 uF 70 volt across terminals A4 and A5 of the controller for the azimuth and another 100 uF 70 volt capacitor across terminals E4 and E5 for the elevation. A capacity for C of 50 uF and 70 volt insulation will work equally well. Since the above capacitors are relatively big in size I suspect that there is no room to put them into the controller and if so they should be connected outside the controller across the above mentioned terminals. The rest of the controller don't need modifications. In a separate email I will send to you the original schematic diagrams of the above rotators. Have fun and 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Semi-remoting the controller for a Yaesu G5400
Hi Lowell, K9LDW I would buy another 50' of control cable and joint it to the actual 100' on hand control cable lenght to make 150' in total and get the rotor control box in the shack. In this case I will see the instrument of control box running and more important any necessary adjustement of the control box installed in the shack will be easier then walking from the shack to the garage after any turn of screwdriver. Why to complicate the life with not necessary and more costly Semi-remoting solutions if 50' of additional control cable costs less ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Lowell White" To: Sent: Friday, August 21, 2009 7:21 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Semi-remoting the controller for a Yaesu G5400 > My Yaesu G-5400 rotor pair is about 150' from my shack. > > I am wanting to gauge the feasibility of putting the rotor controller within > 100' (due to on-hand control cable lengths) of the antennas (in a garage). > > I would then run a separate (on-hand) PC-controller cable (fewer conductors as > using the DIN interface on the back of the controller) to the rotor controller > box from a PC and adapter / interface (if needed) in my shack (approx. 50'). > > Is it crazy to consider or should I just pony up for more of the (dual) rotor > control cable and run the control box itself in my shack? > > What would I need to do at the PC end to appropriately 'signal' the > 'semi-remote' control box. > > Ideas? > > Thanks, > > Lowell > K9LDW > > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: New ICOM VHF / UHF / SHF Radio
Hi Simon, HB9DRV What about birdies in the IC-9100 in comparison with TS-2000X ? What the actual quotation of a IC-9100 in comparison to a TS-2000X ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" To: Sent: Saturday, August 22, 2009 10:29 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: New ICOM VHF / UHF / SHF Radio > And here's a big shiny picture - note the Satellite button :) > > http://www.ab4oj.com/icom/ic9100/IC-9100_prerelease.pdf > > Simon Brown, HB9DRV > www.ham-radio-deluxe.com > > - Original Message - > From: "Simon (HB9DRV)" > > > > It appears that it will - so it's a sort of IC-910H + HF radio in one box > > :) > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: My visit to Ham Fair Tokyo and joining JAMSAT booth
Hi William, PE1RAH Again congratulations for VO-52 my preferred satellite along with FO-29.Both satellites are extensively used as well here in Europe by those HAM people who like CW and SSB. Since you are in Tokyo try please to get accurate technical informations about the new ICOM 9100 and let us know your opinion about. Tanks and 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "William Leijenaar" To: Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 6:38 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] My visit to Ham Fair Tokyo and joining JAMSAT booth Hello (J)AMSATs, Today was the last day of Tokyo Ham Fair, which was another great day like it was yesterday. I was at the JAMSAT booth where I showed my small transponder design to the HAM people, which gave a lot off interest from all kinds of people. Possibilities for future satellite have been created and people have been made interrested in doing satellite communication. I had also the opertunity to meet a lot of people using the VO-52 satellite, on which is my transponder. It is a great joy to see the satellite activities here on the other side of the globe (seen from my home in The Netherlands). I noticed that a lot of CW is used here. Some people are doing city junting, which means they have their car build like a satellite station (incl. rotor and elevation) and hop between satellite passes from one city to another, and try to make QSOs from as many cities as possible. The car stations are real nice contructions, and of great ham spirit. Very nice to see... There was also a list with number of contacts made for each satellite pass by one ham. The highest number was on VO-52 with 42 QSO's for one pass (over Japan), 36 in CW and 6 in SSB. Its really amazing, and it must have been done with very high time efficiency, and a very fast CW wrist hihi... It was a great time at the JAMSAT booth, and we had a nice after party with lot of JAMSAT members, and with delicious Japanese food. My thanks for the great hospitality from the JAMSAT people, and thanks for the nice talks we had about satellites. 73 de JA/PE1RAH William Leijenaar in Tokyo (till 28 August) --- ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Don't Fly SuitSat2 to ISS (rebuttal)
- Original Message - From: "Rocky Jones" To: ; "Amsat BB" Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 7:38 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Don't Fly SuitSat2 to ISS (rebuttal) As for AO-40. It failed for the same reason that suitsat 1 did, and for the same reason that a lot of people who build their own airplane kill themselves every year trying to "test fly it"the project got to big for the organization that was building it...ie their technical competence was insufficient for the task at hand. But in your view (at least as best as I understand it) that evaluation should not be made because "at least they tried". sorry I dont buy that logic Robert WB5MZO Hi Robert, WB5MZO Why in your opinion many commercial and military satellites fails every year on launch or in orbit.and even the STS-107 failed ? Why for AO-40 in your opinion the project got to big for the organization that was building it i.e. AMSAT that was building it ? And why in your opinion the technical competence of AMSAt-NA+ AMSAT-DL and many other AMSAT's partecipating to designe and build AO-40 was insufficient for the task at hand after demonstrating to be in condition to create all existing amateur OSCAR satellites beginning from OSCAR-6 to OSCAR-10 and OSCAR-13 ? ? Just curious to know 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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] Searching for k3PGP
Hi All, in the list I am in need to contact the very popular EME'r John J. Yurek K3PGP but I got no answere to many email send to my friend. If someone lives close to Irvin, PA 15642 and know him please let me know if is still there or not. Tanks for any help. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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] Fw: Searching for k3PGP
Hi Kevin, Your comcast.net don't like my tin.it ! 73 de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "i8cvs" To: "Kevin Smith" Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:16 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > Hi Kevin, N3HKQ > > Tank you for your replay. > > I have the address of John that is correct and also his email j...@k3pgp.org > but he do not answere to any of my letter because I suppose he is not > opening the post ! > > By the way since you leaves 25 km from him I am sure that you can help me ! > > Tanks and 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > - Original Message - > From: "Kevin Smith" > To: "'i8cvs'" > Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 4:35 AM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > > > > Domenico, > > > > I do not know John Yurek but I live about 25-km away from him. I looked > him > > up in the telephone directory and found the following address: > > > > John J Yurek > > 3513 Route 130 > > Irwin, PA 15642-1699 > > > > This is the same address as listed at QRZ.com but unfortunately there is > no > > telephone or email listings. I'll keep looking around for anything and > let > > you know if I find anything useful to you. > > > > PS: I suppose you tried k3...@arrl.net? > > > > 73, > > > > Kevin Smith > > N3HKQ > > > > -Original Message- > > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On > > Behalf Of i8cvs > > Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 8:43 PM > > To: AMSAT-BB > > Cc: K3PGP - John > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > > > > Hi All, in the list > > > > I am in need to contact the very popular EME'r John J. Yurek K3PGP but I > got > > no answere to many email send to my friend. > > If someone lives close to Irvin, PA 15642 and know him please let me know > if > > is still there or not. > > > > Tanks for any help. > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Fw: Searching for k3PGP
Hi Kevin, My email to you at kevin.j.sm...@comcast.net has been rejected by your provider and so here is my replay to you. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "i8cvs" To: "Kevin Smith" Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:08 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > Hi Kevin, N3HKQ > > Tank you for your help. > I have the emai address of John K3PGP j...@k3pgp.org and my letters > to him are not rejected and the problem is that he do not answere because > probably he don't open the post. > By the way if you can do someting I will be very happy because I need to > talk with him about technical problems. > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > - Original Message - > From: "Kevin Smith" > To: "'i8cvs'" > Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 4:48 AM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > > > > Domenico, > > > > Perhaps you know of K3PGP's website. http://www.k3pgp.org/index.htm > > Unfortunately he leaves no telephone number or email address. He seems > very > > protective of his privacy. > > > > Kevin Smith > > N3HKQ > > > > -Original Message- > > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On > > Behalf Of i8cvs > > Sent: Monday, August 24, 2009 8:43 PM > > To: AMSAT-BB > > Cc: K3PGP - John > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Searching for k3PGP > > > > Hi All, in the list > > > > I am in need to contact the very popular EME'r John J. Yurek K3PGP but I > got > > no answere to many email send to my friend. > > If someone lives close to Irvin, PA 15642 and know him please let me know > if > > is still there or not. > > > > Tanks for any help. > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > > > > > > > > ___ > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: 23Cm Up converter
Hi Mario, IK1ZQJ I can suggest you to buy an SSB Electronics transverter model LT 24S output 1269 - 1271 MHz with an IF input 144-146 MHz, 10 watt output and a spare socket for a second XTAL to extend the band up or down the above centered BW I have used the LT 24S to drive a pair of 7289 in a cavity amplifier when AO40 was alive and well But be carefull...because upconverters and transverters have their limitation in terms of frequency agility and probably it is more convenient for you to buy a second hand tranceiver with a 1200 MHz module installed as I did with a TS-790E at 850,00 Euro's and perfectly working. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "IK1ZQJ Mario" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:57 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] 23Cm Up converter > Hello Folks, > To work in uplink on the L band without a dedicated radio able to transmit at 1269MHz an upconverter is needed, probably with if input is in 70cm. > Someone can suggest me how to use or build? > I'm analyzing this way to save money instead of the station upgrade with a new radio. > Thank you in advance. > > Mario IK1ZQJ > ___ 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: Azimute pointer on a G-5600 gives a wrond value
- Original Message - From: "PE0SAT" To: Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 6:42 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Azimute pointer on a G-5600 gives a wrond value > > Hello thanks for reading, > > I recently acquired a Yaesu G-5600 and experience the following: > > When I turn the azimuth antenna, then the pointer gives an other value > than when I don't turn the antenna. > > It lookes that the load on the powersupply causes the pointer to indicate > a different value then when there is no load. > > Is this a known problem? > And is there a way to solve this problem? > > Thanks in advance, > > PE0SAT - Jan > Hi Jan, PE0SAT Connect a voltmeter between terminals A1 and A3 of the control box The voltage across the 500 ohm potentiometer into the azimuth rotator must remain constant at about 6 volt while turning the azimuth. A1 and A3 are connected via a 15 ohm resistor to the output of a voltage regulator Q2 UA7806C in the schematic diagram. The same regulator power supply the elevation potentiometer via a 15 ohm resistor so that connecting the voltmeter across E1 and E3 and rotating the elevation the voltage must remain constant as well. If the voltage between A1 and A3 changes and if between E1 and E3 do not change it is not a problem of the voltage regulator but probably someting is overloading the control box power supply while rotating the azimuth. In this case the drop of voltage must appear as well at the input of the regulator and you can check it measuring the voltage at pin 7 of the 8 pin external control connector because pin 7 is directly connected to the regulator input. Have fun 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: 23Cm Up converter
- Original Message - From: "IK1ZQJ Mario" To: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 9:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 23Cm Up converter > Hello Domenico I8CVS > Coming back to the transverter, do you think that the IF in VHF is > suitable also when I'm working in mode L/S where the Smode is done through > a down converter 2400/144MHz? > I'm scratching the head to take a decision.. > > 73 Mario IK1ZQJ > Mario, My downconverter is also a homebrewed 2400/144 MHz and I have used it for AO-40 where the analog downlink was 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz and middle beacon was 2400.350 MHz so that only to tune the IF from 145.225 to 145.475 MHz was necessary. In order do not interfere the receiving IF while transmitting I was using an IF from 144 to 145 MHz to drive my 23 cm transverter and get out from 1269.250 to 1269.500 MHz for the uplink into the L1 band or 1268.325 to 1268.575 MHz for the L2 band but obviously two diffent switchable XTAL's where needed into the transverter because time to time for the mode L/S the transponder uplink was switched from the L1 to the L2 band. The above complication was justified at that time because AO-40 and the previously launched satellites OSCAR-10 and OSCAR-13 where the only HEO satellites covering the most part of day time for many and may hours every day. As you can see any transverter with an IF falling into the amateur band has problem for satellite use full duplex and also for frequency agility in terms of changing quickly many operating frequencies in a quick time. Transverters are good if you use the same frequency for RX/TX as for tropo or meteor scatter or EME but for satellite use where the operating mode novadays are many and they changes every week a transverter has many limitation. For the above reason I strongly recommend to receive the S band using the actual downconverter and look for a second hand tranceiver for the rest of it. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Azimute pointer on a G-5600 gives a wrong value
- Original Message - From: "PE0SAT" To: "i8cvs" Cc: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 9:38 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Azimute pointer on a G-5600 gives a wrong value > > On Tue, August 25, 2009 19:45, i8cvs wrote: > > > > Connect a voltmeter between terminals A1 and A3 of the control box > > The voltage across the 500 ohm potentiometer into the azimuth rotator > > must remain constant at about 6 volt while turning the azimuth. > > 73" de i8CVS Domenico > Hi Domenico, > > As allways you give great answers :)) > > There is 9.2 volt DC :( looks that the 7806 is defect. But one thing > that puzzles me, i don't see a connection from the negative site of the > ac-dc diode bridge to ground. > > 73's Jan > Hi Jan, PE0SAT OK the 7806 is defective and must be changed but since you have to open the controller of G-5600 I suggest you to improve the regulator performance because the original capacitor C9 0.01 uF at the regulator output is a very small bypass capacitor. Solder a ceramic capacitor of 0.1 uF in parallel to an electrolitic capacitor ranging from 1 to 10 uF and solder it both at the input and as well at the output of the regulator as this cure will prevent possible autoscillations of the regulator itself in a wide frequency band. The negative path of the bridge to ground for the regulator Q2 is through series diodes D5-D4-D3 and ground so that a drop of about 0.6 x 3 = 1.8 volt is developed and this is made to get a minimum voltage of 1.8 volt and not 0 volt when the wiper of the 500 ohm potentiometer is fully grounded. The negative path of the bridge to ground for B1 C1 and B2 C2 to supply the +/- voltages to the operational amplifiers is through the series transistor Q1 and zener diode D2 The negative path of the bridge for the coils of relay RY1-RY2-RY3 and RY4 is directly connected floating to the bridge and insulated from the ground. Have fun and 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: 10 GHz and 24 GHz systems?
Hi Bob, WB4APR Kuhne Electronic has modules for 10 , 24 , and 47 GHz email: kuhne.db...@t-online.de Internet site: www.db6nt.com 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Robert Bruninga" To: Sent: Friday, August 28, 2009 3:24 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 10 GHz and 24 GHz systems? > Looking for some educational 10 and 24 GHz modules... > > We want to use some in our satellite labs to teach students > about microwaves. Some nice off the shelf laser comms modules > may also be included. We have funds, so want to get something > that is readily available and reproduceable, not one-of-a-kind. > > Thanks > Bob, Wb4APR > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: VO52
Hi All, VO-52 is widely used in Europe with a lot of CW and SSB stations in any orbit. VO-52 seems to be here the preferred satellite along with FO-29 when she was alive. OSCAR-7 is also widely used in mode-A and mode-B 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Glenn AA5PK" To: "Dale Hershberger" ; "amsat bbs" Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 12:24 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: VO52 > I, too, agree VO-52 is underutilized, Dale. I'm usually in there calling CQ and scanning the downlink. > > Happy to have just worked you on AO-27 a minute before my LOS. > > 73 > Glenn AA5PK > > Dale Hershberger wrote: > > I was on VO 52 on the last pass. Excellent downlink signal. This is > > another satellite that is under utilized. I heard my downlink great. > > To bad I was the only one on. > > > > Dale - KL7XJ > > ___ > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ 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: Trolls on the -bb
- Original Message - From: "John B. Stephensen" To: "Luc Leblanc" ; Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 10:12 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Trolls on the -bb > P3E is a HEO with the same engine as P3D and no benefactor funding a launch. Hi John, KD6OZH P3E is the only HEO with the possibility to be launched because her will carry on several experiments related to the Mars probe P5A under development in AMSAT-DL P3E is already made and it is standing in the labs of the University of Marburg Germany and is waiting for a launch opportunity while P5E is still under development. > It seems more reasonable to focus on projects that we can pay to launch All joined AMSAT togheter in the world has not the financial capability to pay for a HEO launch and this matter has been already discussed several time on this BB > or where someone has already donated the launch. Nobody has donated a launch for free or about for free on HEO except ESA for OSCAR-10 OSCAR-13 and AO40 upon political strategy conducted mostly by AMSAT-DL and this is why we must pull for P3E...I agree completely with Luc, VE2DWE Actually the rest of HEO's are only on brains, on desk and on papers. > 73, > > John > KD6OZH 73" de i8CVS Domenico > - Original Message - > From: "Luc Leblanc" > To: > Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 02:42 UTC > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Trolls on the -bb > >> I know AMSAT has had it's issues over it's long history, and we are all > >> disappointed that HEOs seem to be almost out of reach for us now. We are > >> all > >> human and we all make mistakes, especially when it involves rocket > >> engines, > >> building spacecraft on hobby store budgets, and getting all past our > >> benefactor launch agency trials and schedules. > > > > If "HEOs seem to be almost out of reach for us now" what we should do > > next? no more false illusions about geo sat's and so on just get back > > on earth and focused on how to help P3E and our German friend. > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: FO-29 schedule
Hi Mineo, Why only over Japan ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Mineo Wakita" To: Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 4:58 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] FO-29 schedule > 4 Sep 22:45UTC > 5 Sep 21:50UTC > > JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Cubesat launch Sept. 23rd
Hi Wouter, PE4WJ What about DELFI - C3 for the promised amateur use ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Wouter Jan Ubbels" To: "amsat...@amsat. Org" Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 7:02 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cubesat launch Sept. 23rd > Hi Bruce, > > yes, PSLV-C14 will carry ISIlaunch01, a cluster launch of four 1U CubeSats. > For all frequency info, please refer to > > http://www.isispace.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=80&Itemid=8 4 > > and the websites of the satellite teams. > > Integration progress can be followed on: > > http://blog.isilaunch.com/ > > And of course, all help is appreciated in early operations tracking and > assigning the correct TLE's to the different objects as soon as possible! > > We will try to keep everyone posted, more info will be posted as it becomes > available. > > 73 on behalf of the ISIlaunch team, > > Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: accidental satellite ops
- Original Message - From: To: ; ; Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 9:52 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: accidental satellite ops > Glen, > (I was a member of sbms that built the 2.3 GHz transponder that was never > allowed activation). > 73, Ed - KL7UW Hi Ed, KL7UW As far I know the 2304.1 MHz transmitter on board of OSCAR-7 was only a beacon and not a transponder. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Cushcraft A432-20T
Hi Luc, VE2DWE Standing behind the reflector connect first one reflector element Vertical with the U bolt attachement to your left side Then mount a drive element Vertical with the U bolt attachement to your left side.The driving element must be mounted with the gamma match arm looking upword and the N connector looking in your direction i.e. the back of the antenna. The rest is automatic and straigforward because the Horizontal driving element will be mounted after the Vertical one closer to the satellite with the gamma match arm appearing on your right side with the N connector looking on the back and the U bolt mounted in the lower part of the boom . Since the driven element is 50 ohm as adjusted in the factory connect a 1/4 electrical wavelength of 75 ohm coax cable to each driven element and connect it in parallel to a T connector to get an impedance transformation of about 50 ohm For RHCP connect to the Horizontal driven element a 1/4 electrical wavelenght of 50 ohm coax delay line using a double female barrel. If you add the delay line to the vertical harm then you get LHCP The A432-20T is a very BAD antenna and because of too many connectors (one T and one double female ) you will experience very high losses in 70 cm In a separate email I have sent to you the schematic diagram for the phasing harness and while it is for the A144-20T the concept is the same 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Luc Leblanc" To: Cc: Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 6:21 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Cushcraft A432-20T > I just get a Cushcraft A432-20T at a recent Hamfest. As per the theory if the longest matching line is connected to the horizontal element > and the shortest to the vertical one i should have a RHCP but if i reverse the connections should i have LHCP? If i rotate the antenna by > 90 degress how i can determine the horizontal versus the vertical elements? The only one reference i have is the U bolt attachment to > determine the horizontal elements or one driven elements is the closest to the reflector (further away behind the other driven element). > > There is no marking on the beam only the driven elements caps are both marked with 1/2 SC? This model was not made with a switching device > and as i don'r have the specs sheet i'm in the blind to configure it to RHCP as it seems it is the actual UHF standard on the circular > LEO's fleet? > > Thank's for your help > > > "-" > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > DSTAR urcall VE2DWE > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Keps for AO40
Hi All, Just for curiosity I would like to know why the AMSAT WSR-Weekly Satellite Report in Part 3 (3) lists the frequencies of the Non Operational Satellites including AO40 while long time ago the Keps for AO40 has been removed from the AMSAT Orbital Elements for OSCAR Satellites sent from WA5QDG Fort-Worth,TX There is someone that time to time is listening for a possible AO40 awakening ? Tanks and 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: A432-20T AXIAL RADIATION???
- Original Message - From: "Luc Leblanc" To: Cc: ; Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:38 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] A432-20T AXIAL RADIATION??? > I want to thank's Glenn AA5PK who provide me with the antenna manual. When > reading it i discover something new "axial radiation" the > matching line can be made for LHCP and RHCP using RG-59 and RG-58 > combination for delay/matching lines > and two RG-59 for delay/matching lines to produce this "axial radiation"? Hi Luc,VE2DWE Two RG-59 are to produce only the matching between two 50 ohm antennas in parallel and a 50 ohm feed line but not delay is generated so that the axial radiation is a linearly polarized wave. > Is this gives both horizontal and vertical polarization at the same time? The horizontal and vertical polarizations are both present but they are two components that combines each the other to generate a resultant wich is 1.41 greater in amplitude and this combination of two components and one resultant at the same time is called axial radiation. If you mount the elements in X configuration the above resultant can be a vector horizontal or vertical depending on how you have oriented the arms of the gamma match. If you mount the elements in a + configuration the above resultant can be a vector at 45° or 135° depending on how you have oriented the arms of the gamma match. Following the schematic diagram in the manual for axial radiation you get at the same time a vertical and a horizontal components while the resultant as per Pitagora theorem is oriented at 45° > If it's the case it's could be a way to counteract the polarization change > eg; having to manually rotate the antenna. Just note they don't called it > "polarization" but "axial radiation" In the axial radiation the maximum radiated power lies in the resultant vector wich is the amplitude of a componenent vector multiplied by 1.41 In conclusion the axial radiation is a way to get at the same time two crossed linear polarization components with a resultant linear radiation in between shifted by 45° or 135° wich amplitude is 1.41 time greater. > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > DSTAR urcall VE2DWE > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: A432-20T AXIAL RADIATION???
- Original Message - From: "Luc Leblanc" To: Cc: ; Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 10:38 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] A432-20T AXIAL RADIATION??? > Google give me a lot of return but all related to helical, helix antenna as this one: > http://books.google.ca/books?id=J4YcUA-rxJoC&pg=PA128&lpg=PA128&dq=antenna+a xial+radiation&source=bl&ots=JtTANyGfs- > "-" > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > DSTAR urcall VE2DWE > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > Hi Luc, VE2DWE When we refere to helical antennas the radiation is called axial mode of radiation and can be obtained if the circunference of a turn in ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 wavelenght with a pitch angle between each turns of 12° In this case the helix antenna radiates from the reflector in a direction long the boom. With different circunferences and pich angles the helix antenna radiates in a direction perpendicular to the boom and this is called normal mode of radiation. Read ANTENNAS by John Kraus edition 1950 chapter-7 the helical antennas Sec.7-13 page 206 By the way the above radiation has nothig to do with the axial radiation of your A432-20T 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Antenna Polarization
- Original Message - From: "Patrick Domack" To: Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2009 4:11 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna Polarization > I've been meaning to setup some antennas for satellite operation for > awhile here. And since I will probably end up doing it this > fall/winder I had a question I was wondering about, before I get the > antennas completely built connected up. > > I plan on using a circular polarized antenna, for lhcr and rhcr. > Since this setup has two coax that your switch a 1/4wave (if I > remember right) to either side to create the two rotations in the > antenna. > > Is there a way I can modify this to feed two radios? so one radio > would receive lhcr, and the other rhcr? Or would I be forced to use > two antennas to do this? > > The only idea I have is to use a signal splitter on each of the two > antenna halfs before joining them, then join each of those splits into > the cr parts. But I'm not sure if there is a better way to do this > without as much loss, or if this might cause a backfeed that would > defeat the me from getting any signal at all. > > Maybe there is a good writeup of this on the web somewhere, but I have > no clue what the proper terms to google it are, and haven't had any > luck. > > Thanks. > Hi Patrick What you propose to do is possible in theory but you need four 3 dB power dividers with characteristic impedance of 36 ohm each and 14 N/m male connectors so that the total losses of the system are too high. I suggest to switch from RHCP to LHCP over the same receiver using only a coax relay as described in all antenna books of the ARRL or into "The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook by Martin Davidoff K2UBC edited by the ARRL 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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 antenna reconfiguration results - UPDATE
- Original Message - From: "Bruce Robertson" To: "Jeff Yanko" Cc: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Friday, September 25, 2009 3:53 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arrow antenna reconfiguration results - UPDATE Jeff -- 2. If I'm correct, your replacement duplexer is rather larger than the one it is replacing. It would be a great topic for a Journal article if someone with the necessary equipment and expertise were to design a replacement with less loss. 73, Bruce VE9QRP Hi Bruce, VE9QRP See QEX March/April 2002 page 47 "A Low-Loss VHF/UHF Diplexer" by Pavel Zanek OK1DNZ Loss = 0.15 dB at VHF and 0.40 dB at UHF Insulation VHF/UHF = 70 dB Max RF power at VHF or UHF or VHF/UHF = 100 watt CW at 25° 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs
- Original Message - From: "Tim Goodrich" To: Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 9:45 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs > Hi All, > > The house I just bought precludes me from even using my arrow inside as > there must be something un-RF friendly in the walls. Therefore, I was > looking for a roof antenna and the October QST article on the QFH inspired > me to build one. However, after doing some research, I have come up with two > sets of design specs and I'm unsure which one is correct. > > > > I converted everything from you're the 146Mhz QST model to 436Mhz. However, > when I plug that info into http://www.jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php > > The values it puts out are different in the "compensated length" field. The > only difference is this model calculates for a full turn as opposed to a > half turn, but the lengths shouldn't be as different as it says. Under the > QST model, I get a wavelength of 688mm, but under the website's model, it > gives me a "compensated wavelength" of 729mm. > > > > The values I used to calculate are: > > 436 > > 1 > > 1 > > 15 > > 2 > > .23 > > > > Can anyone tell me which specs to use and/or explain this compensated > wavelength issue? > > > > Thank you, > > Tim > > KI6VBY > Hi Tim, KI6VBY Read please the book "REFLECTION" Transmission Lines and Antennas by M. Walter Maxwell, W2DU Chapter 22 The Quadrifilar Helix Antenna pages 22-1 to 22-23 and also "Experimental Investigation of Quadrifilar Helix Antennas for 2400 MHz" The AMSAT Journal May/June 2004 In a separate email I have sent to you both articles as an attachement. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs
Hi Frank, KB1QZH The best starting point is the original article of the inventor of QHA i.e Walter Maxell, W2DU In a separate email I have attached the above fundamental article. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr" To: "i8cvs" Cc: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 6:45 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs I have a question along the same line. Is the QHA in the ARRL Satellite Handbook \ Antenna handbook, a good starting place? Thanks, Frank B. KB1QZH On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:17 AM, i8cvs wrote: > - Original Message - > From: "Tim Goodrich" > To: > Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 9:45 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs > >> Hi All, >> >> The house I just bought precludes me from even using my arrow inside as >> there must be something un-RF friendly in the walls. Therefore, I was >> looking for a roof antenna and the October QST article on the QFH inspired >> me to build one. However, after doing some research, I have come up with > two >> sets of design specs and I'm unsure which one is correct. >> >> >> >> I converted everything from you're the 146Mhz QST model to 436Mhz. > However, >> when I plug that info into http://www.jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php >> >> The values it puts out are different in the "compensated length" field. > The >> only difference is this model calculates for a full turn as opposed to a >> half turn, but the lengths shouldn't be as different as it says. Under the >> QST model, I get a wavelength of 688mm, but under the website's model, it >> gives me a "compensated wavelength" of 729mm. >> >> >> >> The values I used to calculate are: >> >> 436 >> >> 1 >> >> 1 >> >> 15 >> >> 2 >> >> .23 >> >> >> >> Can anyone tell me which specs to use and/or explain this compensated >> wavelength issue? >> >> >> >> Thank you, >> >> Tim >> >> KI6VBY >> > Hi Tim, KI6VBY > > Read please the book "REFLECTION" Transmission Lines and Antennas by > M. Walter Maxwell, W2DU Chapter 22 The Quadrifilar Helix Antenna pages > 22-1 to 22-23 and also > "Experimental Investigation of Quadrifilar Helix Antennas for 2400 MHz" The > AMSAT Journal May/June 2004 > In a separate email I have sent to you both articles as an attachement. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs
Hi Art, KC6UQH I would like to receive from you copy of the Microwave Journal December 1970 Pgs 49-54 By Doctor CC Kilgus about the QFH Antennas. Tanks 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Art McBride" To: "'i8cvs'" ; "'AMSAT-BB'" ; "'Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr'" Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 7:09 AM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs > The most comprehensive info on QFH antennas is the Microwave Journal > December 1970 Pgs 49-54 By CC Kilgus. > > Art, KC6UQH > > -Original Message- > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On > Behalf Of i8cvs > Sent: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 5:35 AM > To: AMSAT-BB; Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs > > Hi Frank, KB1QZH > > The best starting point is the original article of the inventor of QHA i.e > Walter Maxell, W2DU > > In a separate email I have attached the above fundamental article. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > - Original Message - > From: "Franklyn A. Ballentine, jr" > To: "i8cvs" > Cc: "AMSAT-BB" > Sent: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 6:45 PM > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design > specs > > > I have a question along the same line. Is the QHA in the ARRL > Satellite Handbook \ Antenna handbook, a good starting place? > > Thanks, > Frank B. > KB1QZH > > On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 11:17 AM, i8cvs wrote: > > - Original Message - > > From: "Tim Goodrich" > > To: > > Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 9:45 PM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] quadrafilar helix for 70cm- ambiguous design specs > > > >> Hi All, > >> > >> The house I just bought precludes me from even using my arrow inside as > >> there must be something un-RF friendly in the walls. Therefore, I was > >> looking for a roof antenna and the October QST article on the QFH > inspired > >> me to build one. However, after doing some research, I have come up with > > two > >> sets of design specs and I'm unsure which one is correct. > >> > >> > >> > >> I converted everything from you're the 146Mhz QST model to 436Mhz. > > However, > >> when I plug that info into http://www.jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php > >> > >> The values it puts out are different in the "compensated length" field. > > The > >> only difference is this model calculates for a full turn as opposed to a > >> half turn, but the lengths shouldn't be as different as it says. Under > the > >> QST model, I get a wavelength of 688mm, but under the website's model, it > >> gives me a "compensated wavelength" of 729mm. > >> > >> > >> > >> The values I used to calculate are: > >> > >> 436 > >> > >> 1 > >> > >> 1 > >> > >> 15 > >> > >> 2 > >> > >> .23 > >> > >> > >> > >> Can anyone tell me which specs to use and/or explain this compensated > >> wavelength issue? > >> > >> > >> > >> Thank you, > >> > >> Tim > >> > >> KI6VBY > >> > > Hi Tim, KI6VBY > > > > Read please the book "REFLECTION" Transmission Lines and Antennas by > > M. Walter Maxwell, W2DU Chapter 22 The Quadrifilar Helix Antenna pages > > 22-1 to 22-23 and also > > "Experimental Investigation of Quadrifilar Helix Antennas for 2400 MHz" > The > > AMSAT Journal May/June 2004 > > In a separate email I have sent to you both articles as an attachement. > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > > > > ___ > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 4468 (20090929) __ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > __ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 4471 (20090930) __ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > ___ 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: KLM 2M-14C
Hi Jim KQ6EA I suggest you don't sell the KLM 2M-14C because in my experience it is a very very nice antenna. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Jim Jerzycke" To: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 3:16 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] KLM 2M-14C > I have a new-in-box KLM 2M-14C up on eBay if anybody is interested. > Item number is 230383642566 > > 73, Jim > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 L/S?
- Original Message - From: "Bob- W7LRD" To: ; Cc: Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 8:03 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 L/S? > Hello Gents < snip> The only way I have for "tweeking" my S band gear is to put a -35Dbm signal source at the end of my driveway and tweeking my equipment and antennas. Real world evaluation is always the proof of success. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > Hi Bob W7LRD Instead to use a -35 dBm signal source why you don't try to receive the Sun-Noise ? Using my 4 feet parabolic dish and an overall Noise Temperature of 75 kelvin (1 dB NF) of my receiving system with 50 kelving from the cold sky yesterday I got 3,5 dB of Sun-Noise with the actual 72 sfu (Solar Flux Units ) which is a very low value of Sun activity.at 2800 MHz 10.7 cm Using the program NOISE.EXE this metod allow you to compute if the Sun-Noise level that you receive is in agreement or not with the receiving parameters of your receiving system i.e. it is a small radioastronomy exercise and a more accurate method than using a Signal-Source. In a separate email I have sent to you the progam NOISE.EXE The site where to get daily the Radio Flux in sfu at 2800 MHz 10.7 cm as requested by NOISE.EXE is: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DSD.txt 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: NF
Hi Fitri , The sensitivity of Yaesu FT-847 at 144/430 MHz with preamplifier ON is 0.125 uV for a S/N ratio of 10 dB into a Bandwidth of 2400 Hz in SSB To convert the above sensitivity into Noise Figure NF in dB we can use the following formula: -6 2 ( Vin x 10) x 20 NF= [ 10 log ] + 174 dB 10 BWx S/N Where: Vin = Applied input voltage in uV over 50 ohm RX input impedance BW = Bandwidth in Hz S/N = Signal to Noise ratio in power ratio and not dB Working the numbars for a FT 847 in SSB we get: -6 2 ( 0.125 x 10) x 20 NF= [ 10 log - ] + 174 = 5.14 dB dB10 2400 x 10 A Noise Figure NF = 5.14 dB in SSB with preamplifier ON is a good value. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Fitri Rahmawati" To: Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 10:27 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] NF hi, sorry I'm new how exactly NF at Yaesu FT-847 transceiver for UHF 437,325 mhz ( 69 cm ) ? Thank's Fitri Rahmawati - Indonesia ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: accidental RF into wrong cable of Arrow=bad duplexer?
- Original Message - From: "Tim Goodrich" To: Sent: Sunday, October 11, 2009 10:51 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] accidental RF into wrong cable of Arrow=bad duplexer? > I am an owner of a 2m/70cm LEO satellite antenna with duplexer in the > handle. Sometimes, I operate full duplex (two radios) and bypass the > duplexer by attaching my own cables to the separate parts of the antenna (1 > radio for 2m, 1 radio for 70cm). In the course of rushing to catch a > satellite pass, I mixed up my connections and accidentally transmitted (5 > watts) into one of the arrow antenna cables, causing RF to feed backwards > into the duplexer. > > > Recently, I have noticed decreased performance (poor reception, lower S/N, > even on AO-51 when in the past it was full quieting) and am trying to > ascertain if it could have anything to do with my mistake of feeding RF in > the wrong direction into the duplexer. Could my mistake cause this problem? > > Thanks, > > Tim > > KI6VBY > > Hi Tim, KI6VBY If I well understand you connected the VHF antenna to the UHF connector of your duplexer and the UHF antenna to the VHF connector of your duplexer while transmitting by mistake. A duplexer is essentially a low-pass filter at VHF and a high-pass filter at UHF having in the middle the common connector going to a VHF/UHF tranceiver. If you reverse the antennas at the output of the above duplexer the only effect will be a very high VSWR in both bands VHF and UHF but no damage will involve the receivers. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: KLM 2M-14C...waterproof the polarity switch?
- Original Message - From: "David Wing" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:37 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] KLM 2M-14C...waterproof the polarity switch? > Anyone out there with KLM antennas with the polarity switch care to comment > on whether you have put a housing on the switch to protect it from the > elements? It looks like the relay has silicon around the base but it just > grates me the wrong way to have a circuit board with a power connection and > components exposed to the elements. > > > Maybe it has not been an issue but I'd care to hear of anyone experiences. > If anyone has built up a housing and have pictures or directions, please > pass them along > > 73, > > David > > K6CDW > Hi David, K6CDW I have put a waterproof plastic housing on the switch both for the KLM 2M-14C and KLM 2M-22C In a separate email I have sent to you a zipped file with several pictures depicting the above modification. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Filters and Preamps Question
- Original Message - From: "Joe Fitzgerald" Cc: Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 1:33 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Filters and Preamps Question > > > what's the preferred > > order? > > As ever "that depends". In the specific case I was involved in at > Worcester Polytech, we found that we could get the best trade off by > putting the preamp at the antenna then knocking down the out of band stuff > with the filter between the preamp and the receiver. The losses in the > filter hurt your system noise figure much more if you go ant -> filter -> > preamp -> receiver > > If the out of band stuff is desensing your preamp, well, that is another > story. At +12 dBm for the ARR GaAs FET we were using there was no > problem, even in an urban environment. > > -Joe KM1P > Hi Joe, KM1P You are right and in fact: It is a common EME procedure to put a passband cavity filter or an interdigital passband filter at the output of the antenna mounted low noise preamplifier because the insertion loss of it in dB decreases only the gain of the preamplifier by the same amount in dB so that the Noise Figure of the preamplifier is not degraded by the insertion loss of the filter. In this configuration we have --> antenna --->a T/R coax relay> preamplifier >cavity filter all antenna mounted and a coax cable connected to the output of the preamplifier devoted only to receive and directly going down the shack -->to the receiver. In more details the antenna is connected to the common port of the T/R coax relay while the preamplifier is connected to the normally closed NC contact of the T/R relay In order to transmit the TX power amplifier is connected directly to another coax cable dedicated only to transmit and it is connected at the antenna via the normally open NO contact of the T/R relay. The above configuration using a filter at the output of a preamplifier is the best one because it do not degrade the preamplifier Noise Figure but reduces the bandwidth providing a bonus in selectivity. It is possible to improve the above configuration introducing between the antenna and input of the preamplifier a filter plus a preamplifier protection device designed by K3PGP showing a very low insertion loss less than 0.1 dB at 432 MHz that without to deteriorate the preamplifier Noise Figure provides in addition another bonus of selectivity at the preamplifier input as you can realize reading the following page: http://www.k3pgp.org/432filter.htm >From 1977 I was a 432 MHz EME operator so that I actually use for satellite the above discussed setup both for 2 meters and 70 cm because I live in the center of the gulf on Naples with a terrific RF pollution in every amateur and out of amateur band so that a filter at the preamplifier input and output is also mandatory to reduce the preamplifiers gain compression due of out of band strong nearby signals. It is evident that using a filter at the output of a preamplifier it becames a complicated matter using a commercial preamplifier with two coax relays into it and by using only one transmission line to receive and to transmit because the preamplifier output filter must be a big one to pass all the transmitter power and particularly it must be tuned in such a way as not to introduce a high VSWR into the TX transmission line. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Making a Circular Polarized antenna
Hi Greg, KO6TH You are right. Imagine to get two folded dipoles horizontally mounted over the same boom at a distance of 1/2 wave in space (180°) They are feed in phase and we are looking along the boom in one direction. First case: The rear dipole has the inner conductor of the feed line connected to the right stud and the front dipole has the inner conductor of the feed line connected to the left stud. At time-1 with maximum positive voltage the maximum current in the rear dipole is flowing right of you and for the same reason in the front dipole the current is flowing left of you. After 180° the maximum current in the front dipole reverses direction and actually flow right of you but at the same time the field radiated by the rear dipole has propagate up to the front dipole and having the same right direction both field reinforces linearly and horizontally polarized. Second case: The rear dipole has the inner conductor of the feed line connected to the right stud and the front dipole has the inner conductor of the feed line connected as well to the right stud. At time-1 with maximum positive voltage the maximum current in the rear dipole is flowing right of you and for the same reason in the front dipole the current is flowing right of you. After 180° the maximum current in the front dipole reverses direction and actually flow left of you but at the same time the field radiated by the rear dipole has propagated up to the front dipole and having opposite directions right and left at the same time both fields cancel out. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Greg D." To: ; Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:45 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Making a Circular Polarized antenna > > Interesting visual program! But, I don't see a way to offset the two antennas in space, only in phase. I agree that if you put two antennas in the same plane and 180 degrees out of phase, they will nicely cancel each other out. But if they are offset, then the linear signals will cancel, while a CP signal will have rotated 180 degrees in passing through that offset, and will be in-phase at the second antenna. No? > > Greg KO6TH > > > > From: ve...@mts.net > > To: ko6th_g...@hotmail.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org > > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Making a Circular Polarized antenna > > Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 20:08:49 -0500 > > > > http://www.enzim.hu/~szia/emanim/emanim.htm > > > > Above link has a wonderful 3D graphic display of waves. Give it a try. > > > > You can adjust V, H, phase, and then display sum of the 2 waves. > > > > I use it mainly to show how circular polarization comes about. > > > > The sum of 2 waves in the same plane ( 180 degrees rotated ), 180 degrees > > out of phase ( 1/2 wavelength ) is a nul which probably would be out > > performed by a rubber ducky. > > > > > > > > > > > -Original Message- > > > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org > > > [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Greg D. > > > Sent: October 24, 2009 7:34 PM > > > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Making a Circular Polarized antenna > > > > > > > > > Hi folks, > > > > > > Just curious... > > > > > > One of the ways to make a circularly polarized antenna is to > > > feed two linearly polarized antennas in-phase, but mount one > > > them 90 degrees rotated from the other, and 1/4 wavelength > > > ahead of it. > > > > > > Couldn't one also mount the two antennas 180 degrees rotated > > > and 1/2 wavelength ahead? > > > > > > The reason I ask is that I have some flat panel 2.4 ghz > > > "Wi-Fi" antennas, and the mounting holes work out best that way. > > > > > > The only effect I can think of is that the array will > > > probably pick up signals from both left and right > > > polarizations, which could actually be handy. > > > > > > Greg KO6TH > > > > > > > > > _ > > > Windows 7: It helps you do more. Explore Windows 7. > > > http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=P > > > ID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen3:102009 > > > ___ > > > 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: TS-790 and sat comunication
- Original Message - From: "Mario Manissero" To: Sent: Monday, October 26, 2009 2:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] TS-790 and sat comunication > Hello folks, > Recently I have in my station a TS-790 for satellites. In the past the radio used for this activity was a IC-821. On that radio, for sat activity, is suggested to use the main band for downlink reception and the sub band for the uplink. This because the reception in main band is better instead of sub receiver. > And the radio, when sat mode is selected, allow that configuration. > Now on the TS-790, Have I to follow the same setup? > This because, I have done many attempts to use this radio how the Icom without results. > > Tnx for your time > 73 Mario IK1ZQJ > Hi Mario, IK1ZQJ I have a TS-790 but I don't use it for satellite. By the way in this transceiver the MAIN band can be used both for TX or RX but the SUB band can be used only for RX 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!)
- Original Message - From: "Samudra Haque" To: "Amsat-bb" Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:03 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!) > Hi, amsat-bb > > CQ any satellite link budget expert ! > > I'm trying to do a calculation on my own based upon published specs > for the NASA MRO Ka-band experiment, but am getting some unexpected > results for a Ka-band simplex link with Temp=3000K (hypothetical), > operating with a Signal to Noise ratio (unitless) figure of 1.171 > (representing 4.5 dB eb/no with a data rate of 1 Gbps and a bandwidth > of 2.4x10^9 Hz) > > Question : is 1 gbps not 1x10^9 bps ? > > Question : if both antennas are 3m parabolic (both are the same type) > with 56.4 dBi boresight gain, what would you think the furthest > distance the link can perform with SNR of 1.171. I have actually used > a padding of 3 dB Eb/No in my link budget, so am not worried about any > further signal loss at first (ok, I should be ..) For the exercise, I > am choosing a 10 Watt estimated output on an arbitrary basis. > > So: > > P_t = 10W > > G_t = 56.4 dBi = G_r , can we assume the same gain for TX and RX on a > parabolic dish ? > > T = 3000K at receiver > > SNR = 1.171 required > > f=32.2 GHz > > B = 2.4E9 Hz, (bpsk, ldpc code 0.5) > > DR = 1E9 bps > > So, I am puzzled why this link budget says the range with these > parameters is equal to 4.644 x 10^9 Km -- that seems to be a long > distance ! What am I not able to conceptualize. > > BTW, I know if I send this out, the answer will come to me soon > thereafter, but for education, I would like to know where the problem > in my understanding lies ! > > Samudra N3RDX Hi Samudra, N3RDX If I well understand your question is to know what is the maximum free space distance at which you can get a S/N ratio of 4.5 dB using two identical transmitting and receiving systems having the following characteristics: 1) Antenna gain for TX and RX = 56.4 dBi at 32.2 GHz 2) Frequency = 32.2 GHz 3) Overall receiving system noise temperature: T = 3000 kelvin 4) Bandwidth of receiving system = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz 5) TX power 10 W 6) Required Signal to Noise ratio S/N at the unknown distance = 4.5 dB With the above data we first calculate the receiver noise floor Pn = KTB where: K = Boltzmann constant = 1.38 x 10^ -23 (Joule/kelvin) T = Overall System Noise Temperature = 3000 kelvin B = Bandwidth of receiving system = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz Working out the numbers we get the following RX noise floor Pn = (1.38 x 10^ -23) x (3000) x (2.4 x 10^9) = 1 x 10^-10 watt and 10 x [ log (1 x 10^-10)] = - 100 dBW or - 70 dBm 10 Link budged calculation TX power = 10 W =..+ 40 dBm TX antenna gain + 56.4 dBi Transmitted EIRP..+ 96.4 dBm Free space attenuation for 61.000 km at 32.2 GHz- 218.3 dB Received power over isotropic ant. at 61.000 km distance- 121.9 dBm RX antenna gain...+56.4 dB - Received power at RX input... - 65.5 dBm Receiver noise floor.- 70.0 dBm -- Received S/N Ratio. + 4.5 dB Conclusion: Using two boresight identical parabolic dishes having each a gain of 56.4 dBi at 32.2 GHz one transmitting with 10 watt and the other one receiving with a receiving system having a noise temperature of 3000 kelvin into a bandwidth = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz the free space distance at which the signal is received with a S/N ratio = + 4.5 dB is only 61.000 km so that your hypothetical system is not suitable for the NASA MRO Ka-band experiment because the distance Earth to Mars is about 1 AU i.e. 1 Astronomical Unit corresponding to 149 Million/ km 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!)
Hi Bob, W7LRD I need to answere your question as well via AMSAT-BB because my emails sent to w7...@comcast.net are alwais rejected to me by your provider. From the point of view of Amateur Radio the best I can suggest to you is the book " The Satellite Experimenters Handbook " by Martin Davidoff K2UBC 2nd Edition ARRL Order No 3185 ISBN 0-87259-318-5 and also the ARRL " UHF MICROWAVE Experimenters's Manual" ARRL Order No 3126 ISBN 0-87259-312-6 Those books are full of easy calculations and you can follow it using a small scientific hand held calculator but very important every chapter of the UHF MICROWAVE Experimenter's Manual is full of "References and Bibliography " that you can find and read/study to go deeply into details on the above matter covering circuits and antennas which are described here in hardware but also with related easy to follow calculations. At the beginning you must go slowly with the above two books but after a few months you will improve and the above matter will come very familiar to you provided that you implement your knoledge following the recommended References and Bibliography. In AMSAT-BB I follow your experimental activity particularly into the S band.....congrats ! Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Bob- W7LRD To: i8cvs Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:23 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!) Hello Domenico I enjoy your posts, even though many are "out of my pay grade". Would you aim me towards a good tutorial place you may know of where I could learn some of the basics. I would like to gain a better understanding of this concept. Thanks & 73 Bob W7LRD - Original Message - From: "i8cvs" To: "Samudra Haque" , "Amsat-bb" Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 5:44:14 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!) - Original Message - From: "Samudra Haque" To: "Amsat-bb" Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 11:03 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] requesting help on a RF link solution (imaginary ka-bandlink!) > Hi, amsat-bb > > CQ any satellite link budget expert ! > > I'm trying to do a calculation on my own based upon published specs > for the NASA MRO Ka-band experiment, but am getting some unexpected > results for a Ka-band simplex link with Temp=3000K (hypothetical), > operating with a Signal to Noise ratio (unitless) figure of 1.171 > (representing 4.5 dB eb/no with a data rate of 1 Gbps and a bandwidth > of 2.4x10^9 Hz) > > Question : is 1 gbps not 1x10^9 bps ? > > Question : if both antennas are 3m parabolic (both are the same type) > with 56.4 dBi boresight gain, what would you think the furthest > distance the link can perform with SNR of 1.171. I have actually used > a padding of 3 dB Eb/No in my link budget, so am not worried about any > further signal loss at first (ok, I should be ..) For the exercise, I > am choosing a 10 Watt estimated output on an arbitrary basis. > > So: > > P_t = 10W > > G_t = 56.4 dBi = G_r , can we assume the same gain for TX and RX on a > parabolic dish ? > > T = 3000K at receiver > > SNR = 1.171 required > > f=32.2 GHz > > B = 2.4E9 Hz, (bpsk, ldpc code 0.5) > > DR = 1E9 bps > > So, I am puzzled why this link budget says the range with these > parameters is equal to 4.644 x 10^9 Km -- that seems to be a long > distance ! What am I not able to conceptualize. > > BTW, I know if I send this out, the answer will come to me soon > thereafter, but for education, I would like to know where the problem > in my understanding lies ! > > Samudra N3RDX Hi Samudra, N3RDX If I well understand your question is to know what is the maximum free space distance at which you can get a S/N ratio of 4.5 dB using two identical transmitting and receiving systems having the following characteristics: 1) Antenna gain for TX and RX = 56.4 dBi at 32.2 GHz 2) Frequency = 32.2 GHz 3) Overall receiving system noise temperature: T = 3000 kelvin 4) Bandwidth of receiving system = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz 5) TX power 10 W 6) Required Signal to Noise ratio S/N at the unknown distance = 4.5 dB With the above data we first calculate the receiver noise floor Pn = KTB where: K = Boltzmann constant = 1.38 x 10^ -23 (Joule/kelvin) T = Overall System Noise Temperature = 3000 kelvin B = Bandwidth of receiving system = 2.4 x 10^9 Hz Working out the numbers we get the following RX noise floor Pn = (1.38 x 10^ -23) x (3000)
[amsat-bb] Re: using a microsat as a potential high altitude VHFreflector
- Original Message - From: "Samudra Haque" To: "Amsat-bb" Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:46 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] using a microsat as a potential high altitude VHFreflector Hi all, I read with interest an article on the web "ECHO - America's First Communications Satellite" By John R. Pierce which is available here: http://www.smecc.org/john_pierce___echoredo.htm I know ham radio operators love using their hand helds to communicate using active transponders or active repeaters in space... no issue with that. were there any ham radio projects (either through amsat-na or abroad) that implemented a passive reflector on an orbital vehicle like Project Echo I quote from http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=490218137 The Echo-1 Balloon Satellite as it sits, fully inflated, at a Navy hangar in Weeksville, North Carolina. The spacecraft measured 100 feet across when deployed, and was nicknamed a ‘satelloon’ by those involved in the project. The mylar film balloon acted as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio and television signals. Echo 1 re-entered the atmosphere May 24, 1968. What strikes me is the implications of a large large very large antenna (reflector), if only it could be reflective on one side of the sphere only (any ideas?) The Echo 2 was a 135-foot rigidized inflatable balloon satellite. The satellite is shown undergoing tensile stress test in a dirigible hanger at Weekesville. The satellite, 50 times more rigidized than Echo I. When folded, the satellite is packed into the 41-inch diameter canister shown in the foreground. Did early amsat folks consider duplicating / adding to any of these projects or launch their own 'satelloon' that did not carry an active RF payload ? Could we outfit one of our future microsats to provide a reflector to aid in Earth-LEO DXing like meteor-scatter ? 73 de Samudra, N3RDX Hi Samudra, N3RDX Early 13 august 1960 about 50 years ago I have received the ECHO 1A 45 mW beacons transmitting at 108.00 and 108.03 MHz and also I got an excellent visual of the big satellite balloon only looking at it in the sky with naked eye Receiving radio signals and looking at the orbiting satellite at the same time it was a very exciting experience and I newer forget ! I was using a home brewed downconverter for 108 MHz with two low noise triodes 6AN4 in a front end grounded grid circuit. The second IF receiver tuned at 27.963 MHz was an Hallicrafters SX-28 and the antenna was a qubical quad. By the way the NASA and GSFC ground stations where transmitting to the reflecting surface of the above passive satellite a very very high EIRP at 960 MHz and 2390 MHz using big dishes. The experience gained with the passive ECHO satellites demonstrates that they are not convenient at all so that the project was soon abandoned. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: using a microsat as a potential high altitudeVHFreflector
- Original Message - From: "andy thomas" To: "amsat" Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 11:04 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: using a microsat as a potential high altitudeVHFreflector > I still think that a large unfolded and/or (partially?) inflatable structure of reflective material structured as resonant reflectors could be an interesting passive reflector of ham frequencies if it was placed on the Moon. It would be easier than a powered active repeater. > > I know about moonbounce obviously and the laser system left behind by Apollo. > > 73 de andy G0SFJ > Hi Andy, G0SFJ I have many doubts about your idea because the surface of the moon as seen as a radar target is large as 9.45 x 10^12 square meters and is isotropically backscatterig only the 7% of the power of radio waves incident over it for the frequencies ranging from 144 to 1296 MHz Actually EME is made under the above conditions like the moon was large only 9.45 x 10^12 x 0.07 = 6.615 x 10^11 square meters but made with a material totally reflecting isotropically the 100 % of power incident over it. If now we assume that hypothetically you can put over the moon a passive inflatable structure of reflective material with 100 % of reflectibility then to made EME with the same actual moon-bounce results the above inflatable surface would be made large as 6.615 x 10^11 square meters i.e. it's impossible. If such thing would be possible the diameter of the above inflatable structure if placed at the distance earth-moon it would be seen in the sky sottending an angle of 0.14 degrees but actually the moon is sottending 0.5 degrees so that imagine how big would be the above inflatable reflector on the moon and figure out if it would be easier to made instead to use a powered active repeater. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Yaesu G 5400 elevation rotator quit working
- Original Message - From: "John" To: Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 3:50 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G 5400 elevation rotator quit working > My Yaesu G 5400 Elevation rotator decided to quit working Friday morning. > > I could press the up and down buttons and hear the motor running but the > antennas would not move. > > After being gone out of town for two days, I decided to try it again > Sunday night. > > And to my amazement, it worked. The antenna moved. > > Anybody have any clues as to why this happens and what to do to fix it? > > Thanks, > > John C. > > KE5GFJ > > Pampa, Texas > Hi John, KE5GFJ You probably are in trouble with the Elevation rotator for the following reason : Each bearing is composed by 20 ball bearings size 0.312 ( 5/16 inch ) and a bearing holder. One groove for the balls is casted into the aluminum boom shaft tube and the other groove is casted into the aluminum rotor housing The bearing holder is a stainless steel toothed ring with 20 teeths and the purpose of it is to keep the 20 balls separated each other while holding the lubricant grease between them and lubricate the grooves during rotation preventing in addition the wather to enter the rotor housing from the outside. The problem here is that the balls are not in contact-to-contact each other but they are separated each other by the teeths of the bearing holder in the sequence O-O-O-O-O-O-O and so on. In this condition the vertical radial force generated by the weight of the antennas is not completely absorbed by the balls but is applied as well over the teeths of the bearing holder and so the 20 balls will be forced to separate away one from the other. The load of the antennas is responsible to wear out, to deform and to cut the teeths of the bearing holder but as soon only one or two teeths are broken then the distance between the balls increases so that the big assembly tube gear has room to fall down a little bit into the grooves. In this condition the distance between the assembly tube gear and the internal pinion increases up to a point that to engage the big assembly tube gear into the pinion fails. If this is your case the motor runs in both directions but when the wear is at the beginning than the antennas becomes stuck time to time. To cure this problem and prevent damages to pinion and to the assembly tube gear I have removed the bearing holder and I have filled the grooves with black molibden grease adding in it I do not remember exacly if two or tree more balls of same size and this was made in order to replace the room originally occuped by the teeths of the bearing holder. My modified rotator without the bearing holders and more balls is actually running with no problems from several years now. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Searching AMSAT-bb archives
Hi Dave, W8AAS The AMSAT-BB archive is here: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/index.html 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Dave Taylor" To: "amsat" Sent: Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:20 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Searching AMSAT-bb archives > Hi, > > Just thought I'd remind everyone that all AMSAT mailing lists are > archived and past messages are available for search in two ways: > > 1. Use the Subscription settings link at the end of each message to go > to a web page that has a link to the archives for that mailing list. > > 2. Search using Google, with the search string > > site:amsat.org/pipermail/ > > The part is what appears at the start of a mailing list > subject line; for example, "amsat-bb". If you leave off the "/ name>" part, you will search all public AMSAT mailing lists. (Other > search engines can probably do something similar.) > > Dave, W8AAS > AMSAT #8974 > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Do you have Documentatoin for Cushcraft Antennas
- Original Message - From: "David Wing" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:53 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Do you have Documentatoin for Cushcraft Antennas > I recently acquired a couple of used Cushcraft antennas and have been > looking around for documentation but not having any luck. I have the > following two antennas: > > 435-30CP with polarity switch > > 2M-16CP with polarity switch > > I'm not 100% sure on the model names but they are the 70cm 30 element and > 2M 16 element antennas. If anyone has documentation on these that you can > forward in e-mail or fax (contact me of list for fax number), I'd > appreciate it. There are some wires I'm not really sure as to their > function on the polarity switch. > > 73 > > David > > K6CDW Hi David, K6CDW It seems to me that the above antennas are from KLM and not from Cushcraft By the way I have the manuals for the KLM 435 40CX and KLM 2M 14C that are very similar to your models. If I can be of any help to connect the polarity switches please let me know 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: OSCAR Polarphaser anyone ?
Hi Dave, G1OCN The polarphaser for 2 meters was also described many years ago in OSCAR-NEWS of AMSAT-UK but unfortunately I don't remember exacly the numbar of the above issue. In my opinion it is not easy to use a polarphaser because it requires two coax lines coming down from the crossed yagi. In addition using the actual LEO satellites the rate of change of polarization is very fast during one pass and while operating you have not the time and one more hand to rotate the dial on the front of polarphaser to get the strongest signal. By the way it was very nice to use the polarphaser in 2 meters downlink with HEO satellites OSCAR-10 and OSCAR-13 because as they were stabilized the rate of change of polarization was very very slow. I suggest you to save your polarphaser for P3-D 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Dave Aitch" To: "'amsat-bb'" Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 3:53 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR Polarphaser anyone ? > I have an: > > "OSCAR Polarphaser PH2/S 2 meters antenna control system" gathering dust. > Its the blue box type with SWR meter on the front and N type connectors on > the back. > Polarity, anti-clockwise, vertical, clockwise and horizontal, is continuous > via a > rotating dial on the front. > > The patented design is by GZ HCG, whoever that might be. > > Offers please. > > Dave G1OCN. > AMSAT UK 5766 > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Please help me design a polarity switcher...
- Original Message - From: "Elan Portnoy" To: Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 6:24 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Please help me design a polarity switcher... > I have both vertical and horizontal elements of my 70cm yagi coming into the shack via separate runs of LM400. They meet in a box with bits of coax for matching and phasing before going to the radio. > > I would like to add a relay to make polarity changes quick and easy. Do I need to use a specific type of relay or will a garden variety DPDT from Radio Shack be sufficient? > > Thanks, > Elan WB2IOL Hi Elan, WB2IOL Read please the article " Switching Four Polarizations on a 70 cm Crossed Yagi " Part-1 AMSAT-Journal March/April 2007 Part-2 AMSAT-Journal May/June 2007 In a separate email I have sent to you a pdf file for both articles. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: SO-67 activation: 7/8 Nov 2009
- Original Message - From: "Jan-Albert Koekemoer" To: Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 8:02 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 activation: 7/8 Nov 2009 > I've tried to decipher the callsigns from the two recordings of the 8 Nov > USA passes that Johan Papay posted, and subsequently mapped the callsigns > on a Google Map. You can view this at http://sumbandilamission.blogspot.com. > I apologise in advance if I omitted someone from the map or incorrectly > identified others. You are most welcome to correct my mistakes! > > Regards > Jan-Albert > ZR1JAK > > E-mail Disclaimer > http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm Hi Jan-Albert, ZR1JAK Look please in the following web page at the "caos" over Europe during the SO-67 orbit of sun 8 2009 07:59 UTC http://www.hamradio.selfip.com/i6ibe/sumbandilasat/sumbandilasat1.mp3 No one QSO was made ! What do you think about to waste 5 watt into a single channel FM instead to spread it into a 150 KHz bandwidth of a linear transponder ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Linear transponder versus FM transponder for LEO satellites
Hi Joe, WB9SBD The problem here with many new and young satellite operators is like to have many young sparrow that don't know how good is the flavour of wheat 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Idle-Tyme" To: "OZ1MY" Cc: "AMSAT-BB" Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 7:17 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Linear transponder versus FM transponder forLEO satellites > I still to this day fail to see how hard it is to twist a VFO knob. > > Have we all become soo much appliance operators that we all have forgot > to know how to turn a VFO knob to keep someone in tune? > > All my early days of Oscar operations we were constantly twisting the > large knob. that is what it's for. > > wow. un real.. > > Joe WB9SBD > > *The Original Rolling Ball Clock > http://www.idle-tyme.com* > > > > OZ1MY wrote: > > Hi, > > The e-mail from I8CVS brings the issue up again. > > Why not just be happy to get one more transponder for > > us to use ? > > If you do not want to use a FM transponder so that be it. > > > > It is interesting to note that there are far more operators on > > the FM transponder satellites than on the linear satellites in > > Low Earth Orbit. > > > > Anyway the choice is made by the ones who make and finance > > the satellites and transponders. > > > > With a height of 500 km FM is probably the way to go. > > The dopper shift is large. It may be a bad choice for a > > linear transponder unless you assume that everyone are > > using full doppler tracking :-) > > > > Sumbandilasat it a very good satellite for operators > > working portable or mobile. The downlink is strong and it will be > > better to use it once things settle down. > > Every time we have a new satellite we have very many wanting to try > > it out. > > > > I think we should say thank you to our friends in SA for a new one. > > > > 73 OZ1MY > > Ib > > > > ___ > > 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 > > > > > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 9.0.704 / Virus Database: 270.14.57/2492 - Release Date: 11/09/09 06:11:00 > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Yagi balance point
- Original Message - From: "David Wing" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 7:09 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Yagi balance point > I have two yagis that I need to mount a little off center and wanted to put > a little weight on the back of the antenna as a counter balance. > > > Assuming the counterbalance will need to go in front of the rearmost > reflector, does it matter if the counter balance is metallic (i.e. some > fishing weights)? Should I isolate it from the boom? Should I use > something ceramic instead? > > 73 > > David > > K6CDW Hi David, K6CDW Both for the KLM 2M-14C and KLM 2M-22C I suggest you to remove the rear reflector and put into the boom a counterweight made with a long piece of steel rod or lead rod if you prefere having the same inside diameter of the boom and the right weight to balance the antenna. The lenght of the boom between the rear reflector and the rear dipole is more than enough to get the needed counterweight. Drill a hole into the boom and slip into it a bolt passing through the conterweight and put again the reflector into the original hole. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: AMSAT NextGen Program Progress
- Original Message - From: "Rocky Jones" To: ; "Amsat BB" Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 2:37 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT NextGen Program Progress > > So Arisssat or suitsat 2 whatever it is called is now going to be ready at > the end of 2010? > > Robert WB5MZO > Hi Robert, WB5MZO And what about the previous project for EAGLE ...it died ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: SO-67
- Original Message - From: "Dave Marthouse" To: Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 12:29 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-67 > I haven't heard any activity on SO-67 since the mode vu repeater was on last weekend. Is the satellite in a different mode? If so what is the downlink frequency of the beacon? Any information would be appreciated. > > > Dave Marthouse N2AAM > dm...@pure.net Hi Dave N2AAM SO-67 SumbandilaSat is skeduled time to time by the South Africa Command Station and the skedule is also released on this AMSAT-BB I don't think SO-67 has a beacon or another mode except a V/U repeater. The Uplink is 145.880 MHz FM and Downlink is 435.350 MHz FM 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Satellite Thermal Lesson
Hi Bob, WB4APR Very interesting ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Robert Bruninga" To: Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:34 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite Thermal Lesson > Lesson learned on Satellite Thermal. > > For years, we have been trying to demonstrate to students the > extreme differences in Temperature of a satellite based simply > on its color. In space, far from earth, here is what you should > get for three identical satellites: > > Black will be about +55 deg F > White will be about -60 deg F > Aluminum will be about +225 deg F > > (from memory anyway)... But we have never been able to see the > extreme temperature of the aluminum in our vacuum chamber. Of > course, we are not using a SUN, but an incandescent lamp which > has 95% of its radiation as heat and only 5% as light, so we > attribtuted our wishy-washy results as due to the lack of real > solar spectrum. > > This year, we finally have a Tvac chamber that has a liguid > nitrogen cold plate so we can actually better simulate the > blackness (and cold) of space.. Again, same result. Aluminum > was about the same as black. This was a frustrating result from > this new chamber. > > Then I noticed the fingerprints on the aluminum. I cleaned the > aluminum with a swab of alcohol to eliminate all the surface > contaminants, and fingerprints and re-did the test... > > BINGO. Now the temperature of the aluminum goes up and off > scale HOT, way way different from the black or White. And now > the WHITE also goes colder.. > > So just the thinneest innvisible layer of surface contamination > completely changed the thermal emissivity of the Aluminum. And > we all know this anyway, since "low-E" coatings of glass and > other materials is now so common. It is only the outer surface > of molecules that set the absorbtivity and emissivity... And > the differnce between Black and Aluminum is 30-to-1 (if the > aluminum is clean)... That's why we wrap baked potatos in > Aluminum foil! (don't use greasy hands)... > > Of course we always clean our actual spacecraft to clean-room > conditions before flight, so this does not impact our on-orbit > results, but it sure does make a difference in the lab when we > are demonstrating absorbtivity and emissivity in the chamber > with samples handled by the students! > > When I get a chance, Ill post the results... > > Bob, WB4APR > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Running Power to the Polarity Switch
- Original Message - From: "David Wing" To: Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 4:58 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Running Power to the Polarity Switch > I'm making good progress to get my KLM and Cushcraft antennas mounted on the > roof.I think I'll be able to wrap it all up this weekend. > > Hi David, Happy to hear about your progress. > > I do have a question about the polarity switch on the Cushcraft 30 element > 440 antenna. The switch has one lead that seems to be intended go to +12vDC > and the negative lead goes to the boom of the antenna. Do I need connect > -12vDC to the coax on my feed line in order to complete this circuit? No .run please a separate wire for the -12 volt DC > Seems > easier to just disconnect the wire from the boom and run it to a dedicated > -12vDC lead. A dedicated wire for the -12 volt DC is best My switch on my KLM is fed with dedicated leads for + and - > and it seems that would be the easiest way to deal with the Cushcraft. > > Yes, I agree > > Am I missing something obvious here? I have wires to spare and can so it's > not a big savings to me to run the -12vDC on the coax if that is the reason > why this was designed this way. > To run power supply to the above relay I have used a coax cable RG-58 The inner conductor for +12 volt DC and the braid for -12 Volt DC > > Pointers and suggestions welcome. > > 73, David > 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: SO-67 schedule: 21/22 Nov 2009
Hi Jan-Albert, ZR1JAK Yes...but over Europe after 3 seconds from an over you will find a minimum of 30 italian people on this list calling CQ at the same time. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Jan-Albert Koekemoer" To: Cc: Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 8:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-67 schedule: 21/22 Nov 2009 > Hi All > > Since last week, we have learnt a couple of things re the behaviour of the FM > payload, most notibly that the drop-out problem can be avoided as follows: > directly after an over, the Tx tail will be "active" for 3 seconds. If, > during this time, somebody starts to Tx, that person will be cut off when the > tail stops. For the time being, the cut-outs can therefore be avoided by > waiting out the 3s tail before transmitting. > > This is obviously an irritation that we're still working on. Also note that > an over has a maximum permitted duration of 30s. After this, the > transmission will be terminated. > > The schedule for this weekend is as follows (all times in UTC; all > activations are 15 min long): > > 20 Nov > 23:00 Australia > > 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 > > Regards > Jan-Albert > ZR1JAK > > > > E-mail Disclaimer > http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Help with Yaesu g5500
- Original Message - From: "Michael J. Wolthuis" To: "Elan Portnoy" Cc: Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 2:07 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Help with Yaesu g5500 > Not the switch unfortunately. The same problem occurs when controlled > by computer from Uni_trac 2000. Work about 25% of the time. > > Mike > kb8zgl Hi Mike, KB8ZGL Connect an AC voltmeter between A4 and A5 on rear of control box and check if there is 24 volt AC when the rotator sticks. If you have 24 volts when the rotator sticks connect an amperometer in series with A4 or with A5 and check if the AC current flows as soon the rotator sticks. If the current flows when the rotator sticks probably the internal AC 100 uF capacitor is defective or you have a mechanical problem inside the reduction gear or into the ball bearing holder of your rotator If you have a 100 uF AC capacitor in the junk box connect it across A4 and A5 and try again to see the effect. If you don't have an AC capacitor you can buit it by your self using two electrolitic capacitors each 200 uF 250 volt DC and two diode 1N4007 or equivalent connected as per the following schematic diagram: - + + - |) |--|--| (| A4-| | |---A5 |---|>|--|--|<|| 1N4007 1N4007 If the rotator sticks and if the AC current don't flow you probably have e limit switch SW6 or SW7 defective "poor contact and high resistivity" between contacts. Disconnect A4 and A5 from control box and using an ohm-meter check the continuity of the motor windings If one winding of the motor has a fail contact then your ohm-meter will jump measuring the capacity of the AC capacitor. This is what I would do easy and fast in your situation. Have fun 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: NASA 2 Line via mail?
- Original Message - From: "Rich Dailey (Gmail)" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:18 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] NASA 2 Line via mail? > Back what I used to call "not so many" years ago, maybe 1980-1985, I recall NASA > mailing me 2-line elements for specific satellites I had selected. These would come in an > official manilla envelope with an extremely official looking NASA label affixed to it. I recall > these would arrive in my mailbox every week or so. Later they dwindled to perhaps one per month. > > At some point, they just stopped mailing them to me. Perhaps I had missed a reminder to update > my subscription info. I'm assuming more than likely the free service just became redundant, as BBS systems, > and later internet services began providing them online for free. Not to mention the Oscar data provided > in the AMSAT Journal. > Question(s): > * Which NASA office did these originate from? > * When did this service begin/end? > * Could requests be made for any unclassified object in orbit, as long as the designator was known? > > For your eyes only, (ssshhh...) > > Rich, N8UX Hi Rich, N8UX Early 1975 and up to 1985 I was receiving as well the keplerian elements by regular post from NASA but actually things are changed with a more fast distribution on internet. You can dowload the 2 line NASA keplerian elements for all satellite you need from the following site. http://celestrak.com/ Only for the amateur satellites here http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/amateur.txt If you need the amateur satellites keplerian elements sent by email to your address you can subscribe at no cost to the folloving AMSAT direction. http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/keps 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: AMSAT Awards
Hi Bruce, KK5DO I have earned the AMSAT Technical Achievement Award demonstrating outstanding OSCAR-13 station performance in an AMSAT - Sanctioned Test on May 25 1991 with Z-8 endorsement for Mode-B and Z-8 endorsement for Mode-L The above Award don't show a serial numbar but it is only signed by AMSAT past President Bill Tynan W3XO I have also earned the Certificate of Membership on the ZRO Test "Z9" Club having succesfully copied the lowest level transmitted by a ZRO test control station through AMSAT-OSCAR-13 thereby demonstrating exceptional receive capabilities on date: November 1, 1992 serial # 19 signed by Award Manager Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB The Certificate of Membership on ZRO Test "Z9" Club was also earned by my friend IK8PPY Serial # 20 signed by Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB The full list of those earning the ZRO-Test "Z9" Club Honor Roll as released by Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB via OSCAR-13 on date 2 April 1993 during the ZRO Test March-May 1993 is the following: MODE-B Mode-L # 1 W7KIV# 1 W7ID # 2N8DUY # 2 DF5DP # 3 SM1MUU# 3 KG4TM # 4 DL5OAA # 4 VE7CLD # 5 K5NO # 5 DL0WH / DF7IT # 6 W7ID / AA7FV # 7 KC0TO # 8 PA3EON # 9 PA2CHR # 10 DL0WH / DF7IT # 11 DJ1PJ / C6A # 12 PA0JMV # 13 N4SU # 14 KO4HD # 15 WB5UUK # 16 OH5LK # 17 AA7FV # 18 K9MWM # 19 i8CVS # 20 IK8PPY # 21 WA1JXN Despite the OSCAR-13 reentry was in December 1996 the last ZRO Test for the footprint USA-Europe was made on 2 April 1993 and so the above list is the final list. I hope this helps. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Bruce" To: "amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org" Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:10 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Awards > I have been a bit busy and have not updated the awards in some time > (like since the end of August). > > Would you like to take a walk down memory lane? When I took over the > AMSAT Awards in 2001, I entered the certificates back to #215 for the > Satellite Communication Achievement Award. I found an old list dated > 1988 today and have I have filled in all the certificates on my website > back to Number 1. Sorry, the dates they were issued were not on the list > for all of them. But it appears that the first ones were issued around > 1975. I recognized two of the early calls... K2ZRO and W2RS. > > > The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for > making their first satellite QSO. > > Luis Benvenutty, WP4NYY > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement > Award. > > Rodney Waln, KC0ZHF #506 > Neven Mrduljas, 9A5YY #507 > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY #508 > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award. > > Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK #151 > Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD #152 > Nick Kucij, KB1RVT #153 > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Century Club award. > > Michael Klomfass, DH5MK #38 > > > The following have earned the South Africa Communications Achievement Award. > > Rodney Waln, KC0ZHF #US138 > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY #US139 > > > The following have earned the W4AMI Achievement Award (for 1000 contacts) > > Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD #57 > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY #58 > > > > > To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or > http://www.amsatnet.com > > > Bruce Paige, KK5DO > AMSAT Director Contests and Awards > > > ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE > Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* > Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com > Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes > > Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News > http://www.arrl.org ___ 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: NASA 2 Line via mail?
Hi Smith, N4VIL Early in 1972 I was receiving by regular post the 2 Line Orbital Data from Goddard to be used for the meteorological satellites ESSA-8, NIMBUS and TIROS For traching I used as well the azimuthal map of the earth with a foot print transparent overly and a revolving satellite orbital path. Yes...no computers at all in the Ham shack at that time but manual tracking using a map a pencil and a clock was a beginning very useful and exciting. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "J.D. Smith" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 11:15 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: NASA 2 Line via mail? > Rich, > > I remember receiving the two line elements from Goddard in the mid-eighties. > I was just getting into amateur radio, but was only using the data to > predict visual sightings of the shuttle and satellites. I believe the list I > received was a generic for visable satellites. I used the data to manually > plot an orbital track with grease pencil on a piece of acetate, using it as > an overlay on a map of the earth. I'm sure there's probably more than a few > people here that did the same 'back in the day'. Aren't computers great! > > 73, > > J.D. Smith > N4VIL > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: ZRO Award -- Correction
- Original Message - From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield" To: "'amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org'" Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:30 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] ZRO Award -- Correction > I, KA0YOS, have number 24 from a test on September 26, 1993 signed by Andy > MacAllister. > > > > 73, > > Joe kk0sd OK Joe, KK0SD Tanks for your information. I will add your previous call letter KA0YOS with # 24 Mode-B into my list for your ZRO test on September 26, 1993 By the way my previous list from # 1 to # 21 was released by Andy Mac Allister on April 2, 1993 just after the test March-May 1993 It would be interesting to know if someone has a list for ZRO test made during 1994-1995 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: AMSAT Awards
Hi Joe, KA0YOS It would be interesting to know if someone has a list for ZRO test made during 1994-1995 In your previos massage you says to have Mode-B # 24 and now you says # 27 By the way I have uptodate my list with your previos # 24 After checking please let me know. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield" To: "'i8cvs'" ; ; ; "'amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org'" Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:18 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Awards > I do not believe that is the final list > > http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/news/1994/ans344.txt > > says there were tests in 1994 and 1995. > > -- I believe I have ZRO Mode B number 27 around here somewhere. I was > KA0YOS then :-) > > 73, > Joe kk0sd > > -Original Message- > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On > Behalf Of i8cvs > Sent: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 3:18 AM > To: kk...@amsat.org; kk...@arrl.net; amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT Awards > > Hi Bruce, KK5DO > > I have earned the AMSAT Technical Achievement Award demonstrating > outstanding OSCAR-13 station performance in an AMSAT - Sanctioned > Test on May 25 1991 with Z-8 endorsement for Mode-B and Z-8 > endorsement for Mode-L > The above Award don't show a serial numbar but it is only signed by > AMSAT past President Bill Tynan W3XO > > I have also earned the Certificate of Membership on the ZRO Test "Z9" > Club having succesfully copied the lowest level transmitted by a ZRO test > control station through AMSAT-OSCAR-13 thereby demonstrating > exceptional receive capabilities on date: November 1, 1992 serial # 19 > signed by Award Manager Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB > > The Certificate of Membership on ZRO Test "Z9" Club was also earned > by my friend IK8PPY Serial # 20 signed by Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB > > The full list of those earning the ZRO-Test "Z9" Club Honor Roll as > released by Andy Mac Allister WA5ZIB via OSCAR-13 on date 2 April > 1993 during the ZRO Test March-May 1993 is the following: > >MODE-B Mode-L > > # 1 W7KIV# 1 W7ID > # 2N8DUY # 2 DF5DP > # 3 SM1MUU# 3 KG4TM > # 4 DL5OAA # 4 VE7CLD > # 5 K5NO # 5 DL0WH / DF7IT > # 6 W7ID / AA7FV > # 7 KC0TO > # 8 PA3EON > # 9 PA2CHR > # 10 DL0WH / DF7IT > # 11 DJ1PJ / C6A > # 12 PA0JMV > # 13 N4SU > # 14 KO4HD > # 15 WB5UUK > # 16 OH5LK > # 17 AA7FV > # 18 K9MWM > # 19 i8CVS > # 20 IK8PPY > # 21 WA1JXN > > Despite the OSCAR-13 reentry was in December 1996 the last ZRO Test for the > footprint USA-Europe was made on 2 April 1993 and so the above list is the > final list. > > I hope this helps. > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > - Original Message - > > From: "Bruce" > To: "amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org" > Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 10:10 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Awards > > > > I have been a bit busy and have not updated the awards in some time > > (like since the end of August). > > > > Would you like to take a walk down memory lane? When I took over the > > AMSAT Awards in 2001, I entered the certificates back to #215 for the > > Satellite Communication Achievement Award. I found an old list dated > > 1988 today and have I have filled in all the certificates on my website > > back to Number 1. Sorry, the dates they were issued were not on the list > > for all of them. But it appears that the first ones were issued around > > 1975. I recognized two of the early calls... K2ZRO and W2RS. > > > > > > The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for > > making their first satellite QSO. > > > > Luis Benvenutty, WP4NYY > > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY > > > > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement > > Award. > > > > Rodney Waln, KC0ZHF #506 > > Neven Mrduljas, 9A5YY #507 > > Zeljko Ulip, 9A2EY #508 > > > > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Sexagesimal Award. > > > > Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK #151 > > Gail McDaniel, KB0RZD #152 > > Nick Kucij, KB1RVT #153 > > > > > > The following have earned the AMSAT Century Club award. > > > > Michael Klomfass, DH5MK #38 > > > > > > The following have earned the South Africa Communications Achievement > Award. > > > > Rodney Waln, KC0ZHF #US13
[amsat-bb] Re: 70cm preamp
Hi Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 Look here http://www.kuhne-electronic.de/en/3_Startpage http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4156 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Michael Chen" To: "amsat-bb" Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 8:03 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 70cm preamp > HI, All, > > I am looking for a good 70cm preamp for satellite operation. Kind of > urgent. Recommendations and sale are welcome. > > > Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 > Email: michael.bd...@gmail.com > MSN: bd...@jsdxc.org > Skype: michael-bd5rv ___ 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: Distance records for LEO's.
Hi John, LA2QAA For distance record on AO-7 look also at http://sv1bsx.50webs.com/oscardx/ao7-dx.html 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "john hackett" To: Cc: ; Sent: Thursday, November 26, 2009 10:52 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Distance records for LEO's. Kevin, My personal best on an LEO is Norway to Japan - (FO-20 in 1997). Depending whether you classsify AO-7 as a LEO bird - (with an orbital height of 1400Km) - the current record there is 7500 - 7700Km, by several stations. You may have been only interested in FM satellites, to9 which I have no idea. Hope that helps somewhat. 73 John. EU-Amsat founder/moderator. Homepage: <http://www.observations.biz> ___ 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: 70cm preamp
- Original Message - From: "Glen Zook" To: "amsat-bb" ; "Michael Chen" Sent: Friday, November 27, 2009 1:22 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 70cm preamp > Ramsey actually has a pretty good low noise preamp for 70 cm and those are cheap. Takes about 15 minutes to assemble the kit. I do recommend replacing the fixed capacitor across the coil with a variable. That way you don't have to "fiddle" with bending the coil to tune it. You just "set" the coil and then use the variable to adjust the actual frequency. > > I bought one of the 70 cm kits and one of the 222 MHz kits several months ago. Both of them work very well. The 222 MHz has a slug tuned coil but the 70 cm is fixed and you are supposedly to tune it by moving the turns around. But, MUCH easier to adjust if you replace the fixed capacitor with a variable. > > I am almost sure that they ship internationally. The kits are less than $15 U.S. > > Glen, K9STH > > Website: http://k9sth.com > Hi Glen, K9STH But how do you adjust the input of your low noise preamplifier for the lovest Noise Figure ? To do that you cannot just "set" the coil and then use the variable to adjust the actual frequency for maximum output but you need a Noise Source and adjust the coil and the variable for the maximum S/N ratio and this can be done manually or automatically using a Noise Figure Meter. This is why to build a low noise preamplifier without to have a Noise Figure Meter or a SINAD meter is like to walk blindly. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: SO-67 28Nov2009 1340-1345z
- Original Message - From: "David Wing" To: "'Perry Yantis'" ; Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 5:27 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 28Nov2009 1340-1345z > I read the message as being more than just a suggestion from Jan-Albert...it > read to me as a planned schedule. The "suggested" reference was simply to > give credit to the regional coordinators for their input...I did not view it > as meaning the schedule Jan-Albert put out was just suggested. > > This all said, the bird is still in testing which means to me that *all* > published/planned schedules are in the "anticipated" category ;>) > > 73 > David > K6CDW Hi David, K6CDW I agree with you. In my opinion the message of Jan-Albert has only the purpose to let us know what is the suggestion of the regional coordinators and not the satellite schedule for today and tomorrow. But supposing that the users don't agree with the suggestion of regional coordinators i wonder where to address a complain. As far I know the list of regional coordinators has not been yet released. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: new sat
- Original Message - From: "Dads" To: Sent: Saturday, November 28, 2009 6:25 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] new sat > > Hi : What type of satellite is the VW-1 amateur satellite that the china > launched >Jerry w0sat Hi Jerry, W0SAT For the characteristics of satellite XW-1 look here http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=116 By the way I don't think the satellite has been already launched because it was scheduled for december 2009 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: morning pass AO-51
Hi ib, OZ1MY The accent of the interfering station on AO-51 is from Sardinia Island and the person speaking is a radioamateur discussing about a 50 ohm impedance with another Ham. www.enduro.idl.pl/audio_sat/AO51_30_11_09_0754UTC.mp3 You cannot solve the problem existing as well in Spain shooting down all taxi drivers that are using 2 meters for their communications. The only cure is to make the LEO satellite receivers less sensitive and use more EIRP at the ground station.no HT's my friend ! The above problem was not existing on HEO satellites like OSCAR-10 OSCAR-13 and AO40 because the EIRP necessary to access the transponder was almost 20 dB greater than the power radiated by a taxi driver or by the Sardinian station. The second cure don't sell a tranceiver covering the amateur band to everybody without an amateur licence is against the commercial purposes i.e. it is unviable. I know that you will complain with my statement and the Spanish autorities but if you don't like the Spanish or Sardinia interference over AO-27, AO-52 and SO-50 you must pull for only one HEO and not for many supersensitive LEO's 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "OZ1MY" To: Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 5:05 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: morning pass AO-51 > Hi Mateusz, > It sounds like Spanish to me. I heard it during the pass > also. > In Spain some people use the 2 meter band for privat > talk. They are not necessarily radio amateurs. > It is an old story :-( > > I tried to contact the Spanish authorities - but > they do not do anything. > > It is often worse on the AO-27 uplink at 145.850 MHz. > Sometimes they block SO-50 - but you can not hear it - > however they make it drop out. > > 73 OZ1MY > Ib > - Original Message - > From: "Mateusz" > To: > Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:32 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] morning pass AO-51 > > > > Hallo > > > > Today morning I recorded signals from AO51 downlink with my call and a > > station in background: > > www.enduro.idl.pl/audio_sat/AO51_30_11_09_0754UTC.mp3 > > Elevation was 3 deg and lower. > > Station heard in background probably doesn't know that transmits within > > satellite part of 2m band, maybe it is not amateur? > > > > Matt SQ7DQX > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Netbooks
- Original Message - From: "ANTHONY JAPHA" To: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" ; "Bruce Robertson" Cc: "AMSAT BB" Sent: Friday, December 04, 2009 4:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Netbooks > You guys are way ahead of me. I'll settle for reality! > I live in a high-rise Manhattan building and must do my satellite operation > by carrying all the needed equipment out to the promenade behind the > building next to the East River (2 miles due north of the UN building). > I'm looking for a way to lighten the load, and the netbook looks promising. > N3TL even reports that the Yaesu CAT to USB cables he bought worked without > installing new drivers. That's big because I don't know how to "map" > another computer's CD drive into a netbook to read any new drivers! > > Tnx for the ideas. > 73, > Tony Hi Tony, N2UN I remenber our succesfull SSB QSO via FO-29 from the promenade behind the East River up to the bay of Naples on april 15, 2007 Our QSO from NYC (FN30) and JN70ES was 7052.5 km Tank you for sending the photograph of the Hell Gate Bridge along with your portable pedestal + antennas and tranceivers >From your picture I realize that you where full loaded with the antennas in your hands and the equipments into your bag I hope to make another try when FO-29 will be reactivated in 2010 .Well done Tony look for a way to lighten the load ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: G5400 Elevation Rotor Opened up
Hi John, KE5GFJ The small nylon gear on the end of the shaft has inside a friction disc wich is probably wear out or it is sliding because there is oil or grease in between. Dip the gear assembly into absolute alcohol or spry into it a dry solvent for contac-cleaner. I have experienced the same problem few years ago. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "John" To: Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 5:04 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400 Elevation Rotor Opened up > I opened up the G5400 elevation rotor. > > All the bearings and gears look good. > > Problem found is the motor shaft spins free inside the first, small nylon > gear on the end of the shaft. > > Any advice on how to replace or repair that gear? > > Thx. > > John KE5GFJ > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: G-5500 problem
Hi Paul, KW7Y I suppose that you measure: Between A6 and A4 for CCW = 4.4 ohm Between A6 and A5 for CW= 4.4 ohm I suggest you to put an AC ammeter 5 Amps f.s. in series between the common terminal A6 of the control box and the wire coming up to A6 in the motor. In this condition the AC current running CW or CCW must be about the same. If the current increases when the motor stuks in CW position then there is a mechanical problem inside the rotator. If the current is low when the motor stucks in CW position probably the capacitor C 35 losted capacity and if the current is zero probably the limit switch SW-7 inside the rotator is defective. Unfortunately if the AC capacitor C35 = 100 uF AC wich is connected between A4 and A5 inside the rotator losted capacity you cannot measure its capacity from the shack. The motor is a brusheless AC asyncronous motor using the starting capacitor C 35 to produce a 90° phase shift between both windings. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Paul Baldock" To: Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:22 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 problem > I have a G-5500 that sometimes will not turn clock wise(CW) but will > turn counter clockwise (CCW) OK. When it is working OK in both > directions each winding (CW and CCW) measures about 4.4 Ohms in the > shack. When it will not turn CW that winding measures about 2.2 ohms > (The CCW winding still measures 4.4 ohms). > > The Controller is fine, so the problem is in the motor. > > Does this motor have brushes? > > Any thoughts on what the problem might be? > > Thanks > > - Paul KW7Y > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: G-5500 problem
Hi Paul, KW7Y To put a critical component like an electrolitic Bi-Polar capacitor inside the G-5500 rotator is a very bad idea from Yaesu because if the capacitor shorts out then it is necessary to dissable the antennas. You are fortunate enought that your capacitor only looses capacity. Much better is the old KR-500 with it's capacitor inside the control box. By the way.problem solved ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Paul Baldock" To: "i8cvs" ; Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 2:06 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: G-5500 problem I think I have confirmed that the problem is the motor capacitor. I have connected a 47uF Bi-Polar Cap across the motor connections in the shack, which is effectively across the 100uF up at the motor (unless a limit switch opens), and all seems to be working in both directions now. - Paul At 03:30 PM 12/10/2009, you wrote: >Thanks for your thoughts. > >The current is about 2A when stuck or moving. (Same in both directions) > >I can get it to move if I up the voltage a little >with a series transformer. Nominal voltage is >about 28V in the shack. By adding 10V it moves >fine. So temporarily I will add a series voltage >to "kick start" it, until the wx warms up and I can service the rotor. > >Regards > >- Paul KW7Y > > > >At 01:31 PM 12/10/2009, you wrote: > >Hi Paul, KW7Y > > > >I suppose that you measure: > > > >Between A6 and A4 for CCW = 4.4 ohm > >Between A6 and A5 for CW= 4.4 ohm > > > >I suggest you to put an AC ammeter 5 Amps f.s. in series between the > >common terminal A6 of the control box and the wire coming up to A6 > >in the motor. > > > >In this condition the AC current running CW or CCW must be about > >the same. > > > >If the current increases when the motor stuks in CW position then there > >is a mechanical problem inside the rotator. > > > >If the current is low when the motor stucks in CW position probably the > >capacitor C 35 losted capacity and if the current is zero probably the > >limit switch SW-7 inside the rotator is defective. > > > >Unfortunately if the AC capacitor C35 = 100 uF AC wich is connected > >between A4 and A5 inside the rotator losted capacity you cannot measure > >its capacity from the shack. > > > >The motor is a brusheless AC asyncronous motor using the starting > >capacitor C 35 to produce a 90° phase shift between both windings. > > > >73" de > > > >i8CVS Domenico > > > >- Original Message - > >From: "Paul Baldock" > >To: > >Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 3:22 AM > >Subject: [amsat-bb] G-5500 problem > > > > > > > I have a G-5500 that sometimes will not turn clock wise(CW) but will > > > turn counter clockwise (CCW) OK. When it is working OK in both > > > directions each winding (CW and CCW) measures about 4.4 Ohms in the > > > shack. When it will not turn CW that winding measures about 2.2 ohms > > > (The CCW winding still measures 4.4 ohms). > > > > > > The Controller is fine, so the problem is in the motor. > > > > > > Does this motor have brushes? > > > > > > Any thoughts on what the problem might be? > > > > > > Thanks > > > > > > - Paul KW7Y > > > > > > ___ > > > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support > the amateur satellite program! > > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > >___ >Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ 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: AR2 432 MHz preamp - not working?
Hi Mark, WD4ELG First of all see if the noise level increases when you power supply your preamplifier. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Mark Lunday, WD4ELG" To: "'amsat-bb'" Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 8:49 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AR2 432 MHz preamp - not working? > Was working before the QTH relo. Reinstalled in the attic. The 144 preamp, > same power supply, working just fine. > > > > Any ideas on how to check w/o taking it apart? The connectors have not been > modified. > > > > As always, I am certain it is something simple. > > > > > > Mark Lunday > > WD4ELG > > Greensboro, NC - FM06be > > <mailto:wd4...@arrl.net> wd4...@arrl.net > > <http://wd4elg.net> http://wd4elg.net > > <http://wd4elg.net> http://wd4elg.blogspot.com > > > > > > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: XW-1 FM transponder works great
Hi Michael, Chen BD5RV/4 When do you plan to open the linear transponder for SSB/CW operation ? Tanks for this information 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Michael Chen" To: "amsat-bb" Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 8:47 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] XW-1 FM transponder works great > All, > > I managed to operate the special event station BT3WX to work several > E2, BY, VR2, XX9 throughout the evening pass of XW-1 using the FM > transponder. It was the 1st test open of this bird's transponder. > Everything works just great! > > Michael Chen, BD5RV/4 > Email: michael.bd...@gmail.com > MSN: bd...@jsdxc.org > Skype: michael-bd5rv > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] XW-1 report over Europe
Hi All, To day December 15 signals from the satellite XW-1 CW beacon during Rev 9 changing into Rev 10 over Europe were very strong and clear with only a beacon power of 65 mW into a satellite TX antenna RHCP with gain of 3.0 dBic The satellite from AOS at 20:12 UTC and LOS at 20:34 UTC was into the eclipse (ECL) all the time. My receiving condition was a 12 dBic RHCP 10 turns Helix antenna with a low noise preamplifier antenna mounted NF=0.45 dB and Gain G = 20 dB I was using a 434-436 / 28-30 MHz downconverter in the shack connected to a HF Drake receiver R4-C tuned to the 10 meters IF interposing in between a 20 dB attenuator with 1 dB steps The XW-1 beacon was very constant in signal strenght fading very slowly changing between 20 dB to 15 dB over the noise floor in about 30 seconds as measured with the 1 dB step attenuator connected into the 28-30 MHz IF of my receiving system. The same was experienced during the following Rev 10 changing into Rev 11 over Europe with AOS at 22:06 UTC and LOS at 22:18 UTC with the satellite in Eclipse (ECL) all the time. During the above orbit the Elevation from my QTH in JN70ES was only 8 degrees maximum over the free horizon with no obstructions in direction of the see. The following keplerian elements as given by Nigel G8IFF for object A are extremely correct because I losted the signal over the free horizon just at elevation of - 0.2 degrees as computed by InstantTrack 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 That's all for now I hope that very soon the linear transponder will be open for general use and stay in SSB/CW as long as possible for the benefit of many users at the same time. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Preamp location tech question
Hi Elan, WB2IOL Actually 50 feet of LMR400 adds 0.75 dB to the Noise Figure of your 144 MHz preamplifier and 1.35 dB to the Noise Figure of your 432 MHz preamplifier. Why deteriorate the Noise Figure of your receiving system adding the losses of a coax cable between the antenna and preamplifier ? 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Elan Portnoy" To: "'amsat bb'" Sent: Friday, December 18, 2009 6:52 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Preamp location tech question > Hello all, > > In the midst of all the excitement around the new birds, I have a question for all of you: > > I have ARR preamps on both the 432 and 145 transmission lines. At the moment, they are located in shack, just before the transceiver. > > Both lines to antennas are 50 feet (15.24 meters) of LMR400. How much of a performance improvement should I expect from mast mounting the preamps? It could be done, but I'd rather keep them inside if there's nothing to be gained. > > Thanks, > Elan - WB2IOL > ___ > Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Question about vacuum and power module for lineartransponder
- Original Message - From: To: ; Sent: Saturday, December 19, 2009 9:01 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Question about vacuum and power module for lineartransponder > > Hi William. > > A better solution would be to build a class AB linear from 2 suitable > FETs. An even better solution but one requiring a lot of development > would be to separate the modulation into phase and amplitude and then > modulate the gate with phase and drain with amplitude. Efficiency >80% > > > David Hi David, G0MRF What you suggest is the HELAPS principle of Envelope Elimination and Restoration that was used in all linear transponders from OSCAR-6 ,OSCAR-7 OSCAR-10 and OSCAR-13 with an efficiency of about 85 % http://www.amsat-dl.org/dl/HELAPS_en.pdf The above is a complete description of the HELAPS principle written by Dr. Karl Meinzer DJ4ZC with all functional schematic diagrams of the linear transponder Mode-B on board of OSCAR-7 I hope it helps William PE1RAH 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: Preamp location tech question
Hi Elan, You don't mention the model of preamplifiers from ARR that you are using but I suppose that you got the better between the tree models available i.e. the SP144VDG 144-148 MHz with NF = 0.55 dB and the SP432VDG 420-450 MHz with NF= 0.55 dB Now if you add between the antenna and preamplifiers 50 feet of coax cable LMR400 then the loss of 0.75 dB at 144 MHz and the loss of 1.35 dB at 435 MHz adds to the Noise Figure of your preamplifiers so that it is like to have: a 144 MHz preamplifier with an overall NF = 0.55 + 0.75 = 1.3 dB a 435 MHz preamplifier with an overall NF = 0.55 + 1.35 = 1.9 dB Supposing that you have the preamplifier antenna mounted working out the numbars for 144 MHz we get: Noise Figure NF = 0.55 dB Noise Factor F = 10^(NF/10) = 10^0.055 = 1.13 The equivalent Noise Temperature T = (1.13 -1 ) x 290 = 39 kelvin If you live in a rural area at 144 MHz the equivalent Noise Antenna Temperature T1=200 kelvin so that your Tsys1=39+200= 239 kelvin Let see what happens if you mount the preamplifier in the shack: Overall Noise Figure = 0.55 + 0.75 = 1.3 dB Overall Noise Factor F = 10^(10/1.3) = 10^0.13 = 1.35 The equivalent Noise Temperature T = (1.35-1) x 290 = 101 kelvin Since the antenna is the same Tsys2 = 101+200 = 301 kelvin The improvement putting the preamplifier antenna mounted against shack mounted is 10 log (Tsys2 / Tsys1 ) = 10 log (301 / 239 ) = 1.0 dB 10 10 The improvement at 144 MHz is very small because the Antenna Temperature = 200 kelvin predominates. Let see the situation for 435 MHz were the Antenna Temperature is less and only 50 kelvin in a rural area Preamplifier antenna mounted: Noise Figure NF = 0.55 dB Noise Factor F = 10^(NF/10) = 10^0.055 = 1.13 The equivalent Noise Temperature T = (1.13 -1 ) x 290 = 39 kelvin If you live in a rural area the equivalent Noise Antenna Temperature T1 = 50 kelvin so that your Tsys1 = 39 + 50 = 89 kelvin Preamplifier in the shak: Overall Noise Figure = 0.55 + 1.35 = 1.9 dB Overall Noise Factor F = 10^(10/1.9) = 10^0.19 = 1.55 The equivalent Noise Temperature T = (1.55-1) x 290 = 159 kelvin Since the antenna is the same Tsys2 = 159 +50 = 209 kelvin The improvement with the preamplifier antenna mounted against shack mounted is 10 log (Tsys2 / Tsys1 ) = 10 log (209 / 89 ) = 3.7 dB 10 10 The improvement in 435 MHz is greater because the Antenna Temperature = 50 kelvin do not predominates over the equivalent Preamplifier Noise Temperature. By the way 3.7 dB of more swing in the S meter over the noise is more than half of a S point so that in your situation I would put only the 435 MHz preamplifier at the antenna and would leave the 144 MHz preamplifier in the shack. CONCLUSION: Since the loss of 50 feet of LMR400 is very small the advantage in (S+N)/N ratio to put the low noise preamplifiers antenna mounted is only 1 db at 144 MHz and 3.7 dB at 435 MHz in a rural area. If the installation is made in a suburban area or in a urban area where the equivalent Antenna Noise level is greater and predominates then the advantages are accordingly less. I hope this helps. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Elan Portnoy" To: "amsat bb" Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 6:40 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Preamp location tech question > Well, it's clear what I should do. Will try remounting on masts as soon as weather permits. Looking forward to improvements in performance. > > Thanks to all and happy holidays! ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 Not Active
Hi Piraja, PS8RF As far I know AO-7 cannot be actually commanded ON and OFF by any ground station. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "ps8rf Piraja" To: Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 10:02 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Not Active Hello, The satellite AO-7, is not active, I could not listen to the Beacon or my return in mode A and mode B today at 19:55 UTC. Looking at the list of website logs and Oscar satellite status, the information is that the satellite was turned off after 13:00 UTC. Let's hope it's nothing serious and that soon the AO-7 is reinstated. http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php http://oscar.dcarr.org/ 73 Piraja, PS8RF _ Navegue com segurança com o Novo Internet Explorer 8. Baixe agora, é gratis! http://brasil.microsoft.com.br/IE8/mergulhe/?utm_source=MSN%3BHotmail&utm_me dium=Tagline&utm_content=Tag4&utm_campaign=IE8 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Eagle & P3E status?
- Original Message - From: "Bob McGwier" To: "John B. Stephensen" Cc: ; "KG0MW-Chad Phillips" Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 8:56 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Eagle & P3E status? > The front cover of the latest AMSAT-DL Journal shows the internally > nearly complete P3e. It is truly an international debacle that this > continues to sit in storage in Marburg when there is a plethora of > launch capacity around the world to put this thing up. > > We need a low friend in a high place more than ever in our history. > > Bob > N4HY Hi Bob, N4HY Can you indicate to us satellite users where is the plethora of launch capacity in the world to actually launch P3E up ? Plethora means " overabundance" 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 Not Active
- Original Message - From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" To: "i8cvs" ; "Amsat-BB" Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 11:39 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 Not Active > i8cvs wrote: > > Hi Piraja, PS8RF > > > > As far I know AO-7 cannot be actually commanded ON and OFF by any ground > > station. > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > I'm not going to go into detail, but your assumption is not 100% > correct. I'll get the command station to look into why she's off the air. > > 73, Drew KO4MA Hi Dew, KO4MA I cannot understand if you are a command station that was able to send succesful commands to AO-7 after she's resurrection or if you are only a command station trying to actually look at what happens to AO-7 It is not necessary to go into details with me because I know the whole story of commanding AO-7 I have infact a folder with all messages sent by Larry Kayser VA3LK on this BB about this matter of commanding AO-7 beginning from 4 july 2002 until 4 march 2004 just before Larry went SK in october 4, 2004 Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts
Hi Matthias, DD1US The experiment to transmit to AO40 using a 2400 MHz uplink and a 24 GHz downlink i.e the mode S1/K was made only ONE TIME and never was repeated and it was skeduled by command station W4SM to check if the onboard 2400 MHz S1 receiver was working or not. There are many other 24 GHz downlink QSO's but they where all made using the 1.2 GHz uplink i.e. using the mode L/K Charlie G3WDG has the record of the above unique S1/K test and you can get a copy from him. By the way if I will be able to find the above WAV file in my PC I will send it to you for your record. I actually have on hand only the CD diskette of my signal on 24 GHz for the above S1/K test as received in USA by Mike N1JEZ Here is copy of the original text of the message sent by W4SM on AMSAT-BB on day february 23 2003 after the succesfull experiment. --- Two tests were performed on AO-40 today. The first was a long shot and involved listening for the S1 transmitter exciter stage using Günter Wertich's EME dish. Nothing was heard during a 20 MA window of testing in which the S1 Tx was connected to the middle beacon. The second test involving the S-band receivers was completely successful. Extremely strong downlink signals were possible using S-band uplink to K-band downlink. Charlie (G3WDG) phoned me and I heard beautiful downlink signals from his ~5 watt uplink to S1. S2 was also active, but because of its higher, less common frequency (2446 MHz), it may not have been tested. The S1 Rx uses the S1 Tx high-gain dish, and the S2 Rx uses the 5 turn helix used by the S2 Tx, so signals would not be as strong through S2 at low squint. More information will undoubtedly be posted on this by the participants, but special thanks to Charlie (G3WDG), Mike (N1JEZ), and Dom (I8CVS), and any others who participated in this successful test. The S1 Rx can certainly be listed as fully functional. We will await further testing/info. on the S2 Rx. W4SM for the AO-40 Command Team 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "Matthias Bopp" To: Cc: "'i8cvs'" Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 8:12 PM Subject: AW: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts Hi Domenico, I do not think that this has been the only 24 GHz experiment on AO-40. You can find audio recordings of the 24 GHz signals of DK1KQ and DB6NT on my website www.dd1us.de in the sounds from space collection. I will be happy to add your signals too if you want to provide me a copy of the recording. Best regards Matthias DD1US www.dd1us.de -Ursprüngliche Nachricht- Von: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] Im Auftrag von i8cvs Gesendet: Samstag, 5. Februar 2011 18:33 An: n1...@burlingtontelecom.net; amsat-bb Betreff: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts - Original Message - From: To: "amsat-bb" Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 1:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts > 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" > Hi Mike, N1JEZ You should remember that you and I and Charles G3WDG we partecipated to the only one test made on 2.4 GHz up and 24 GHz down i.e. mode S1/K on AO40 on day 02/23/2003 and I was received on 24 GHz both by you and by G3WDG. I still have your CD diskette made by you and sent to me with the record of my 24 GHz signal received by you in Burlington VT Unfortunately at that time I was not ready to receive on 24 GHz but I was only able to transmit on 2.4 GHz with 10 watt at a 4 feet prime focus dish. Unfortunately for that experiment scheduled by AMSAT and command station Stacey Mills W4SM only three stations where active i.e G3WDG, N1JEZ and my self ,i8CVS G3DWG was equipped to transmit on 2.4 GHz and to receive on 24 GHz so that only he was able to get back his own signal from the transponder. You where only able to receive on 24 GHz but not to transmit on 2.4 GHz so that you where able only to copy G3WDG and i8CVS on 24 GHz I was able only to transmit on 2.4 GHz but not to receive on 24 GHz so that at the end of the experiment no two way QSO S1/K was possible to made between us but most important the experiment demonstrated that the S1 2.4 GHz receiver on board of AO40 was working and was alive and well ! Those were really fun days Mike ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expr
[amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts and P3-E
- Original Message - From: "Peter Guelzow" To: Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 5:17 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO40 contacts and P3-E Hi All, > You guys are making me all teary-eyed! I loved that bird, especially for all the "challenges" it presented. Ughh.. this really hit's me hard and I'm getting very sentimental reading all email's to this topic. But it gives me also The launch campaign in french Guiana, were I was staying in Kourou for more than quarter of the year, and the re-birth of AO-40 on Christmas were the most exciting days in my life. I haven't made many contacts, I was more among the "listeners" and enjoyed the fun. It's sometimes very frustrating to me that 10 years after the launch of AO-40 we still haven't got P3-E into orbit. We have been going to many up's and down's during this time, but we are not giving up. There are new challenges we are working on presently and some of them give us a good hope of success. Indeed and I'm sorry for that, It has been very quiet about the progress of P3-E in the last year. While most mechanical work is done, there was also progress on the electronics, mostly the IHU. However, one of the biggest challenges is indeed funding and a launch we can afford. That's where we a concentrating most of our efforts and time at the moment Indeed, we need the support of the community. There will only a P3-E, if we all really want it.. If you want to support P3-E, than please visit http://www.p3e-satellite.org/?lang=en_EN and make a direct donation to the project - THANKS! 73s Peter, DB2OS Peter Gülzow President AMSAT-DL Hi Peter, DB2OS In my opinion AO40 was the best satellite ever made by AMSAT-DL and it was very fun until lasted. We all hope that AMSAT-DL will find a launch opportunity with ESA and a ARIANE-5 launcher with P3-E inside the SPELDA adapter as soon as possible. Pulling for P3-E ! ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: G5400 elevation issue
- Original Message - From: "Dave Webb KB1PVH" To: "AMSAT -BB" Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 5:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue The display on the control box reads correct elevation, but on my digital display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation position. I have recalibrated it several times with no success. It won't read any elevation until it is around 20° give or take. It also seems to have become worse since our really cold temps set in. My best guess is the pot in the rotor, but not sure where to start in the process. Thanks in advance Dave - KB1PVH Hi Dave, KB1PVH If the display on the control box reads correct elevation then the 500 ohm pot into the rotor is OK By the way if the digital display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation probably the rear potentiometer VR4 in the rear of the control box of the G5400 is set erratic. Measure the DC voltage between pins 1 and 8 on the external control DIN connector. If the pot VR4 is set correctly the voltage must be 0 volt with elevation = 0° and 2.5 volt with elevation = 90° and 5 volt with elevation 180° i.e. with the antenna completely flipped to 180° The potentiometer VR4 is located in the rear of the control box as shown in the instruction manual. Have fun 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: G5400 elevation issue
Hi Reid, W4UPD As I writes in my previous message I also do not belive it is the pot in the rotor because if the display on the control box reads correct elevation then the 500 ohm pot into the rotor is OK By the way if the digital display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation probably the rear potentiometer VR4 in the rear of the control box of the G5400 is set erratic. Measure the DC voltage between pins 1 and 8 on the external control DIN connector. If the pot VR4 is set correctly the voltage must be 0 volt with elevation = 0° and 2.5 volt with elevation = 90° and 5 volt with elevation 180° i.e. with the antenna completely flipped to 180° The potentiometer VR4 is located in the rear of the control box as shown in the instruction manual. 73" de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: "w4upd" To: Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 12:07 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: G5400 elevation issue As I mentioned before, I do not believe it is the pot in the rotor. The meters on your control box read the rotor pot directly. Both the meters and the digital/computer portion read the pot directly. If the meters were erratic or wrong I would suspect the rotor potentiometer. There are 4 alignment pots in the control box. One each for the meter calibration to track the rotor and one each for computer calibration. If you want to check the rotor pot, you can check the three lines that come down from the rotator directly from the pot and see what the the resistance is between three leads as you rotate the elevation rotor. Terminals 1,2 and 3 are directly to the pot. E1 and E3 either side and E2 the center. Regards, Reid, W4UPD Amsat #17002 On 2/7/2011 5:51 PM, i8cvs wrote: > - Original Message - > From: "Dave Webb KB1PVH" > To: "AMSAT -BB" > Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 5:16 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue > > > The display on the control box reads correct elevation, but on my digital > display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation position. I > have recalibrated it several times with no success. It won't read any > elevation until it is around 20° give or take. It also seems to have > become worse since our really cold temps set in. My best guess is the > pot in the rotor, but not sure where to start in the process. > > Thanks in advance > > Dave - KB1PVH > > Hi Dave, KB1PVH > > If the display on the control box reads correct elevation then the 500 ohm > pot into the rotor is OK > > By the way if the digital display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows > erratic elevation probably the rear potentiometer VR4 in the rear of the > control box of the G5400 is set erratic. > > Measure the DC voltage between pins 1 and 8 on the external control DIN > connector. If the pot VR4 is set correctly the voltage must be 0 volt with > elevation = 0° and 2.5 volt with elevation = 90° and 5 volt with elevation > 180° i.e. with the antenna completely flipped to 180° > > The potentiometer VR4 is located in the rear of the control box as shown > in the instruction manual. > > Have fun > > 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > ___ 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: G5400 elevation issue
- Original Message - From: Dave Webb KB1PVH To: i8cvs Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 3:36 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue Domenico, The highest voltage that I can get at full 180° flip is 2.78 volts with voltage adjustment pot on rear of controller box. Dave - KB1PVH Hi Dave, KB1PVH Make the following troubleshooting : Measure please the DC voltage across E2 and E1 with the antennas at full 180° flip.Since the display on the control box reads correct elevation you must read about 5 volt DC. By the way since as measured between pin 1 and 8 of the external control DIN connector and with the voltage adjustment of pot VR4 you can get only 2.78 volt at full 180° flip it means that there is someting damaged across the operational amplifier Q4 4558 1/2 Since the pot VR4 is 10 k and there is a 4.7 k fixed resistor in series of it if you measure the voltage across VR4 you should get about 3.3 volt DC By the way measuring the voltage between the wiper of VR4 and the ground you should get a voltage change between 5 volt to 3.3 volt while rotating VR4 fully 270° back and forth If this is the case than the operational amplifier Q4 4558 1/2 do not correctly amplify the DC input signal applied to Q4 input pin 3 from the wiper of VR4 Measure the DC voltage between output pin 1 an ground of Q4 and rotating VR4 by 270° back and forth you should get and amplified voltage greater than 5 volt DC and if not check diodes D22-D23-D24-D25 and all components connected around Q4 If all components diodes-resistors and capacitors are nominal than it is possible that Q4 has lost amplification. In this case change the 47 k feedback resistor R39 with a 100 k resistor and the amplification will increase at a point that flipping the antenna at full 180° the voltage across pin 1 and 8 of the DIN external connector will rise up to 5 volt DC or more. Have fun 73" de i8CVS Domenico On Feb 7, 2011 7:46 PM, "i8cvs" wrote: > - Original Message - > From: "Dave Webb KB1PVH" > To: "AMSAT -BB" > Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 5:16 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400 elevation issue > > > The display on the control box reads correct elevation, but on my digital > display on the Easy Rotor Controller shows erratic elevation position. I > have recalibrated it several times with no success. It won't read any > elevation until it is around 20° give or take. It also seems to have become > worse since our really cold temps set in. My best guess is the pot in the > rotor, but not sure where to start in the process. > > Thanks in advance > > Dave - KB1PVH ___ 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
