[amsat-bb] Semi-rare grid EL94 will be active this weekend

2009-04-22 Thread Bill Dzurilla
If anyone needs EL94 (Florida Keys), I will be in Islamorada this weekend with my rig and Arrow antenna. Sadly, AO-51 will not be available in V/U mode, so listen for me via AO-27, SO-50 and, if active, the ISS. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via

[amsat-bb] IC-7000 and Sat tracking programs?

2009-04-25 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi from sunny Islamorada in the Florida Keys, EL94. Just waiting for SO-50 to come on around to give a few more people this semi-rare grid. There was a pile of QRM on both AO-27 passes this afternoon, but logged over 20 contacts. Good to hear a lot of old friends in there. Anyhow, back home

[amsat-bb] Re: Satpc32 with 2 Transceivers

2009-05-15 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Howard, With Erich's kind help, I was able to get SatPC32 working last week with 2 transceivers. I had a similar problem with the SSB sats at first. I could not hear my downlink while the program was controlling the frequencies on the 2 rigs. It turned out that the issue was that the defaul

[amsat-bb] Re: Satpc32 with 2 Transceivers

2009-05-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
ink entry changes. When you restart the program it will start with the calibrated uplink frequency and no downlink correction." --- On Fri, 5/15/09, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > Subject: Re: Satpc32 with 2 Transceivers > To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org > Date: Friday,

[amsat-bb] Computer control of Alliance U-100 and similar rotors

2009-05-26 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Very cool, my first homebrew project in 20 years appears to be a complete success (knock on wood). For about $65, I was able to build a modified version of the K8DAV U-100 Rotor controller, and now my Elk antenna turns automatically and follows the satellites during each pass. My particular r

[amsat-bb] Re: Card checkers in Florida

2009-06-04 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Sebastian, Don, W3AZD, lives less than a mile from me, just off the Nob Hill Rd. exit (Exit 3) on I-595 in Broward. He is an ARRL checker and would be happy to check your cards. Tell him I sent you. 73, Bill NZ5N (now in Europe as OM9ACA) ___

[amsat-bb] Re: SO-50

2009-08-17 Thread Bill Dzurilla
One other important thing to remember about SO-50. Unlike AO-51 and AO-27, it does not transmit a carrier. You won't hear any noise unless someone is transmitting. You can't just wave your antenna around and peak for maximum on a carrier. So unless you are running full duplex and can hear yo

[amsat-bb] FS: SSB SP-2000 Superamp for 2m, working but rusty

2009-08-28 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I have for sale an SSB Electronics SP-2000 Superamp mast-mounted GaAsFET preamp, 1 1/2 years old. Rated at 200w VOX, 750w PTT. It has Hi-Q helical coils & helical filters and is one of the best preamps for DXing, satellites, meteor scatter, and EME. More info at: http://www.ssbusa.com/gaasfet.ht

[amsat-bb] NZ5N on this weekend from Jamaica FK18

2009-12-10 Thread Bill Dzurilla
In case anyone missed me last year, I'll again be taking by HT and Arrow antenna to Jamaica this weekend. It's a business trip so I can't predict when I'll be on, but arriving Friday afternoon and leaving Monday noon. Please send s.a.s.e. if you work me and want a QSL, or use LOTW/eQSL. 73, B

[amsat-bb] Re: NZ5N on this weekend from Jamaica FK18

2009-12-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I was on this morning for the AO-51 passes at 6am and 7:40am local time but did not hear the bird at all. Guess there must be some problem with my HT or the Arrow antenna. Sorry, folks. 73 from Jamaica, Bill NZ5N --- On Thu, 12/10/09, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > S

[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 4, Issue 652

2009-12-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
lem with my HT > or the Arrow antenna.  Sorry, folks. > > 73 from Jamaica, > Bill NZ5N > > --- On Thu, 12/10/09, Bill Dzurilla > wrote: > > > From: Bill Dzurilla > > Subject: NZ5N on this weekend from Jamaica FK18 > > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > > C

[amsat-bb] Re: NZ5N on this weekend from Jamaica FK18

2009-12-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
7.7 2009-12-14 13:30:13 SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) 213.1 4.1 13.1 2637 126.8 23.5 2009-12-14 13:36:18 SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) 294.4 57.7 10.5 790 127.6 24.6 2009-12-14 13:42:20 SAUDISAT 1C (SO-50) 16.9 4.0 12.9 2607 128.5 25.7 --- On Sat, 12/12/09, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill

[amsat-bb] Problem with mast-mounted ARR preamp, help please

2009-12-25 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hello and Merry Christmas, I have an ARR SP432VDG preamp, which is mast-mounted to an Elk antenna in my attic. This set-up has worked well until today, when I did not hear any sats with 70cm downlink. I then tried to see if I could bring up the local 70cm repeaters. Interestingly, I could key

[amsat-bb] Memories of OSCAR 10

2011-02-05 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I've been enjoying the posts regarding our last HEO satellite, AO-40. I was inactive while AO-40 was going strong, but the posts brought back memories of our first HEO, OSCAR 10, my first experience with satellites until a couple of years ago. You can't find much about the glory days of AO-10

[amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 on over Europe this week.

2011-02-07 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I did not see any passes for America on the schedule. Does this mean the bird is off over America until a new schedule is posted? I tried SO-67 for the first time over the weekend and was impressed. 73, Bill NZ5N > > Message: 5 > Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 19:08:10 +0100 > From: "Ib Christoff

[amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 on over Europe this week.

2011-02-07 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks Drew and Rick. --- On Mon, 2/7/11, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: > From: Andrew Glasbrenner > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 on over Europe this week. > To: "Bill Dzurilla" > Cc: "amsat-bb@amsat.org" > Date: Monday, February 7, 2011, 7:28 PM > So

[amsat-bb] Re: Satpc32 and Azimuth only > rotors? Functional?

2011-02-08 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Zach, I use a single 2' long Elk antenna with 15 degrees fixed elevation. It works well. See photos at: http://www.myhamshack.com/NZ5N/Pictures/. Some suggest 20 or even 30 degrees fixed elevation but that's too much. You want low fixed elevation so you will have good gain on sats when they

[amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu 847 vs. Icom 910

2011-02-15 Thread Bill Dzurilla
At long last, the IC-9100 received FCC approval last week, so it may finally be hitting the market. I talked to an ICOM rep at the Orlando hamfest on Saturday, and she said they still do not have any in the USA. There are photos on the ICOM website. Still no official word on price, but it won

[amsat-bb] LOTW - improperly coded satellite contacts?

2011-02-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I just upload several hundred sat contacts to LOTW. Many matches were returned, BUT many of them were credited for "VUCC 144 mhz" or "VUCC 432 mhz" and NOT for "VUCC Satellite", which is how they should be credited. Does this mean that the person on the other side of the QSO did not proper

[amsat-bb] Re: LOTW - improperly coded satellite contacts?

2011-02-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks, Patrick,, I have already sent an email to LOTW. If the other station failed to include Propagation Mode or Satellite Name, there should be no match at all. There is no basis for me to be credited with a 144mhz or 432 mhz grid. I spent a lot of time going through my log before uploading

[amsat-bb] Re: LOTW - improperly coded satellite contacts?

2011-02-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
? To: "Bill Dzurilla" , amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Monday, February 21, 2011, 2:30 PM Patrick, I mentioned to Bill earlier, off group, that three of my confirmed QSL's are blank in the "VUCC" column. What could have caused that? Leaving out Propagation=SAT, maybe? Also on

[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-Fox? Satellite Naming Rights

2011-03-02 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Instead of having people make donations to pick a name, what about selling corporate naming rights? Corporations pay mega-millions for stadium naming rights, we have corporate names on other aeronautical objects (e.g., the Goodyear Blimp), and even schools are thinking about selling naming righ

[amsat-bb] Is it 100% impossible to work a satellite below the horizon?

2011-03-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I was giving a presentation at our club meeting called Working DX on the Satellites and afterwards someone had a good question: is it at all possible that tropo, skip, or other form of enhanced propagation can enable a contact via a satellite below the horizon? It has never happened to me. Has

[amsat-bb] Re: Cannot start HRD Sattracker anymore

2011-03-19 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I recommend the HRD support forum at http://forums.ham-radio.ch/. The author of the program and several knowledgeable people are usually quick to respond. The first thing they will ask you is the version and build of HRD you are using, and they will suggest you upgrade to the latest, if you hav

[amsat-bb] Re: SO-67 questions

2011-03-29 Thread Bill Dzurilla
One more SO-67 question. Why is there an echo on the downlink? Usually I hear someone talking and then hear the same words a second or two later, but much louder. 73, Bill NZ5N > Is SO-67 operating on the published frequencies > (145.870/435.345) or > does one of up/down need an adjustment? >

[amsat-bb] Re: FT-60R and recording

2011-03-30 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi Ted, I also use the FT-60. Since it is not full duplex, I do not use headphones and just have a small recorder hanging from my neck. It picks up my voice and sounds from the radio. If you want to use headphones, I suppose you could use a T adapter and plug both the phones and the recorder

[amsat-bb] Can SatPC32 track the moon?

2011-04-01 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I've been using SatPC32 to track the ham satellites. Lately I've also been trying EME (moonbounce). Does anyone know if SatPC32 can track the moon as well as the amateur satellites? If yes, how is this done? 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@ams

[amsat-bb] Re: Typical pass for Echo?

2011-04-11 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Welcome back to the sats. I did not hear the pass you mentioned, but typically AO-51 is very busy on mid-day passes, even more so on weekends. The early morning passes are usually better. Of the FM birds, AO-51 is the busiest, AO-27 is a bit less busy, and SO-50 is usually not very busy. SO-

[amsat-bb] Re: FO 29 help

2011-04-23 Thread Bill Dzurilla
It sounds like you when you are hearing your distorted voice it is some cross-mod from your own radio rather than a downlink signal from the bird. I assume you are using a diplexer to split the coax from the Elk to 2m and 70cm, and then running coax to each output on the TS-2000? The diplexer

[amsat-bb] Surplus cavity bandpass filters from the AO-10 era?

2011-04-27 Thread Bill Dzurilla
In attempting to make a list of ham equipment I have owned in the past, I recalled with fondness a surplus cavity bandpass filter I used with OSCAR 10. At the time, in the 1980s, these were cheap and quite popular with satellite users. I was living in downtown New Orleans, and the filter, whic

[amsat-bb] NZ5N today at DX Club picnic, please call

2011-05-08 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I'll be at the S. Florida DX Club picnic today (Sunday) for the AO-27 pass at around 1350 Eastern time (1750Z). If you hear me, please call and say hello to the gang. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of t

[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 change voltage supply

2011-06-01 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Here is the mod to change Yaesu rotors to 220v: http://www.hamcity.com/store/pc/catalog/pdf/220vconversion.pdf But perhaps yours has a different transformer if it uses pin 3 for 117v. In the mod, pins 0 and 3 are for 220v. 73, Bill NZ5N > Subject: [amsat-bb] G5500 change voltage supply > > I

[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 change voltage supply

2011-06-01 Thread Bill Dzurilla
The pdf say "G5500" in handwriting and I know a guy who says he did this mod on a G5500. But obviously the KT-30 must be a different transformer. 73, Bill --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Dee wrote: > From: Dee > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: G5500 change voltage supply > To: "&#x

[amsat-bb] Re: Fixed! Re: Landwehr 70cm preamp

2011-06-03 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Those Landwehrs are great preamps. I had an issue similar to Mark's, except it was the transmit side of the Tohtsu relay that had the problem. I could receive fine but had high SWR during TX. Unlike Mark, I did risk a shot of spray, which didn't cure the problem. But then ran a sheet of pape

[amsat-bb] Re: moon bounce

2011-06-04 Thread Bill Dzurilla
The AMSAT board is not the best place for info about EME. Try Moon Net, register at http://mailman.pe1itr.com/mailman/listinfo/moon-net. You can find info for EME beginners at: http://www.vhfdx.info/jt65bintro.html and http://www.n1bug.net/operate/emebasic.html This is a good weekend for EME, b

[amsat-bb] OM3BD Looking for N. America Sat Contacts

2011-06-07 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi folks, I am leaving this Thursday for my annual 7-week trip to Slovakia, grid locator JN88mf. My Slovak call has been changed to OM3BD. I will be active on the sats. North American stations, if you did not work me last year, please contact me for OSCAR 7 mode B skeds, if we will have any

[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 change voltage supply

2011-06-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
ce between 0 and 2. 73, Bill NZ5N/OM3BD PS - I am now QRV from OM land on HF but not yet on the sats, due to some antenna problems. --- On Wed, 6/1/11, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: G5500 change voltage supply > To: amsat-bb@amsat.or

[amsat-bb] Yaesu G5500 rotor problem

2011-06-17 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I brought a G5500 with me to Europe and have it up and running. The elevation rotor is working as it should. The azimuth rotor turns the antenna left and right as it should when the button is pressed, but the readout on the controller is not working. When I turned on the controller, the

[amsat-bb] OM3BD now qrv sats, JN89 possible on Sunday

2011-07-07 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks to all who have emailed and requested skeds with me from JN88 in Slovakia. After a series of rig and antenna issues, I am now back on the sats, with several QSOs today with good reports. I will try to make a test AO-7 run tomorrow when I have a common footprint with North America. If a

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD now qrv, AO7 to N. America in one hour

2011-07-08 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Nice pass, I heard my downlink while the footprint was over Illinois and North Carolina, but no one replied to me. Maybe I'll have better luck later. 73, Bill --- On Fri, 7/8/11, Bill wrote: > From: Bill > Subject: Re: OM3BD now qrv, AO7 to N. America in one hour > To:

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD now qrv sats from JN98

2011-07-09 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I have set up here at the OM7M Contest Club and just made my first contacts from JN98ep on FO-29. Listen for me over the weekend, especially for the AO-7 passes on Sunday morning with a window to the USA. Also, if you work HF, we are participating in the IARU Contest using the call OM1HQ. Hop

[amsat-bb] OM/OE/HU/NZ5N Tuesday on AO-7 from the former Iron Curtain

2011-07-10 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I'm going to make a portable AO-7 satellite attempt this Tuesday July 10 from JN88na, at the spot where Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria touch each other. Prior to 1989, this was part of the Iron Curtain, where the Communist regimes in Czechoslovakia and Hungary tried to keep their people from go

[amsat-bb] OE/OM/HA/NZ5N Report from the former Iron Curtain

2011-07-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks to all who worked me or tried to work me today from the Slovakia/Hungary/Austria joint border. It was fun, but a lot of work for just seven contacts. I had wanted to work from this spot for several years. I used to work in Bratislava, Slovakia, live in Rajka, Hungary, and have dinner i

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD QRV AO-7 next pass 0925Z July 14

2011-07-14 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I am monitoring the K4FK repeater via Echolink, node 581415, if anyone wants to talk prior to the AO-7 pass, which will be 20 minutes from now. 73, Bill --- On Thu, 7/14/11, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > Subject: OM3BD QRV AO-7 next pass 0925Z July 14 > To: amsat-bb@

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD QRV AO-7 next pass 0925Z July 14

2011-07-14 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Only worked KB1RVT on this pass, recording of the pass at: www.qsl.net/nz5n/HRD 2011-07-14 052505.mp3 There was some construction nearby and you can hear distortion every time the jackhammer was going. I'll try again Saturday. 73, Bill --- On Thu, 7/14/11, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > Fr

[amsat-bb] OM3BD QRV AO-7 next pass 0925Z July 14

2011-07-14 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Anyone in N. America up early for AO-7 Mode B try? On the next pass starting about 0925Z, my footprint will extend deep into N. America, Minnesota to the west and Georgia to the south. Look for me on the top portion of the passband, 145.959 or so. Signals were very strong on the last pass, an

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD recording of Saturday AO-7 pass

2011-07-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Sorry, bad link, should be: http://www.qsl.net/nz5n/HRD%202011-07-16%20052111.mp3 --- On Sat, 7/16/11, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > Subject: OM3BD recording of Saturday AO-7 pass > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > Date: Saturday, July 16, 2011, 5:59 AM > Good conditions

[amsat-bb] OM3BD recording of Saturday AO-7 pass

2011-07-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Good conditions this morning on AO-7. Worked 10 stations, including KD8CAO, WB8TGY, and K8YSE. Recording of the North America pass at: www.qsl.net/HRD 2011-07-16 052111.mp3 73, Bill OM3BD/NZ5N JN88mf ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed

[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 6, Issue 455

2011-08-11 Thread Bill Dzurilla
EL41 is not in the USA so, unless the guy was maritime mobile or portable in Mexico, I think the grid is incorrect. 73, Bill NZ5N   >Hi Jon, N4NAB >In the above conditions if you cannot ear the full call letter and locator >the QSO is not valid ! >73" de >i8CVS Domenico - Original Messag

[amsat-bb] WTB: Yaesu FT-847

2011-08-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I'm looking to buy a clean FT-847 in 100% working condition.  If you have one for sale, please let me know your price.  Might also consider a TS-2000. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. No

[amsat-bb] HO-68 updated schedule?

2010-01-03 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I just checked the CAMSAT page at http://www.camsat.cn/ to get the latest schedule for HO-68, but all it shows is 12/28 through early 1/03. Is there any source for an updated schedule? 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions

[amsat-bb] HO-68 on LOTW?

2010-01-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Anyone know how to load HO-68 qsos to LOTW? I keep getting Invalid Satellite Name error. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellit

[amsat-bb] Re: New Lindy's QRV

2010-02-09 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Dave, I would be suspicious of the construction. I can get a few minutes of good copy from AO-51 on a high pass with just a rubber duck on an HT. If you do get a preamp, the run between the antenna and the preamp is critical, so if possible keep it short and use good coax. Ed seems to be hav

[amsat-bb] Re: New Lindy's QRV

2010-02-10 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Ed, Congrats, it seems like you are in business if you heard the bird down to the horizon. HO-68 is louder, in some cases much louder, than most of the other sats, so check some others. If you can copy SO-50 to the horizon, then leave your antenna alone, it's working great. I measured a maxi

[amsat-bb] working FO-29

2010-02-27 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I tried to work FO-29 for the first time since it started working again but must be doing something wrong. I could hear several stations loud and clear but could not hear my own downlink. My radio is working fine with the other sats, so it must be someone particular to FO-29. Did perhaps the

[amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 5, Issue 117

2010-03-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Alan, Thank you very much for your great work with HO-68 and for your effort to solve the voice/packet problem. I do not entirely follow the schedule, however. Does "Digital Transponder" mean packet? Where it says: > 14 Mar. 2010, Digital Transponder > > 16:4

[amsat-bb] Looking for sat skeds with Europe (from south Florida)

2010-03-24 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, After some upgrades to my sat station, I am able to work western Europe on AO-7 Mode B. There is usually at least one 2-minute window to Europe/Africa on each Mode B day. So far, my best DX is 7438 km with Eric PA1TNO. Please email me if you would like to make a sked, or listen for me if

[amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode C? (Or other reason for varying signal strength?)

2010-04-04 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi folks, Since starting my effort to work Europe on AO-7, I've found that the very low elevation sigs vary significantly on different passes.  Some mornings I can easily hear my downlink and start working Europe at 0.7 degrees elevation, while other days I can't hear myself until 5 degrees el

[amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 Mode C? (Or other reason for varying signal strength?)

2010-04-06 Thread Bill Dzurilla
So, folks, does anyone have any thoughts or comments about this issue? 73, Bill NZ5N --- On Sun, 4/4/10, Bill Dzurilla wrote: From: Bill Dzurilla Subject: AO-7 Mode C? (Or other reason for varying signal strength?) To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Sunday, April 4, 2010, 10:52 PM Hi folks, Since

[amsat-bb] Re: LoTW Support of HO-68

2010-04-11 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Reid, I emailed the ARRL and was told not to expect HO-68 support anytime soon, as they are "too busy working on the new web page" to update the software. 73, Bill NZ5N > From: Reid Crowe > Subject: [amsat-bb]  LoTW Support of HO-68 > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > Message-ID: <4bc225b3.8090...@gma

[amsat-bb] Yaesu FT-847 vs. Kenwood TS-2000?

2010-04-13 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Any thoughts on the pros and cons of each of these rigs, particularly for satellite work? The used price for each is about the same, maybe a little higher for a fairly new TS-2000. I am aware of the TS-2000 birdie issue. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Se

[amsat-bb] Re: Arecibo

2010-04-16 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I'm at work and not QRV, but I had no problem copying them with a single 12 el. yagi leaned again the chair when they did the test a couple of weeks ago, and most everyone else gave them good reports. At the time, they were running 50w, a barefoot Kenwood TS-2000. They must have changed rigs i

[amsat-bb] Re: USB to Serial Converters

2010-05-05 Thread Bill Dzurilla
> Is anyone using a USB to Serial converter successfully to > control a FT847?? > > > > Frank VK5KV.. > Yes, I am. No problems here (knock on wood) with an eBay cheapie (just $2 shipped) and a Dell Optiplex running Windows XP. 73, Bill NZ5N ___

[amsat-bb] Arrow antenna will not unscrew, help

2010-06-02 Thread Bill Dzurilla
We are leaving today for Europe and of course I waited until the last minute to take down my Arrow antenna, which has been mounted outside for about a year. But, when I attempted to unscrew the elements, they would not budge, even after receiving a big dose of WD-40. And the elements are not t

[amsat-bb] Fw: Re: Elk (not Arrow) antenna will not unscrew, help

2010-06-03 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks to all who responded.  It is an ELK, NOT Arrow, that is stuck.  I am now in Europe with no antenna, will try to get on the sats anyway somehow. At least one day, I will work AO-7 from the spot where Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria touch together, thus 3 countries for one qso. 73, Bill NZ

[amsat-bb] Slovakia looking for trans-Atlantic sat skeds

2010-07-05 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I am in Slovakia, grid JN88mf, for 3 more weeks and would like to make a few more trans-Atlantic sat QSOs before I leave. The windows are very short but it is doable. I have already worked Nick KB1RVT and Scott N1AIA via FM on HO-68. I have twice heard Joe K3SZH on AO-7 SSB with a good s

[amsat-bb] Power connector for Landwehr preamp?

2010-12-12 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Anyone know of a source for the 5-pin male power connector for a Landwehr preamp? 73, Bill NZ5N ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite progr

[amsat-bb] Malware at CAMSAT site?

2010-12-20 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I have not operated HO-68 for several months. Today I tried to navigate to camsat.cn to get the latest schedule for the bird, but instead the site was blocked by my Firefox browser with the message, "Warning: Visiting this site may harm your computer! The website at www.camsat.cn appears to hos

[amsat-bb] Re: Is it possible to work LEO sats (FM or SSB) with antennas in attic?

2010-12-28 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Dave, It depends to an extent on the composition of your roof. I did not get good results from the attic, but others have. Give it a try if you have no other choice. A couple of people have mentioned fixed elevation at 30 degrees. If you go this route, I would recommend just 15-20 degrees o

[amsat-bb] VUCC Satellite now supported on LOTW

2011-01-14 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Finally! Just activated this morning. Go to your LOTW account, click on Awards, and in the lower left hand corner you will see Create New VUCC Award Account. Create the account and you will immediately see your confirmed satellite (and other VHF-UHF) grids. 73, Bill NZ5N ___

[amsat-bb] Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer?

2011-01-18 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi, I picked up an old Kansas City Tracker, circa 1990, and was wondering if there is any way to use it with a modern computer. It is designed to plug into the ISA slot of a PC. I don't know much about computers, but my understanding is not modern computers no longer have ISA slots. Could it

[amsat-bb] Re: Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer?

2011-01-19 Thread Bill Dzurilla
billdz@yahoo.com. 73, Bill --- On Wed, 1/19/11, Alan P. Biddle wrote: > From: Alan P. Biddle > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Kansas City Tracker with a modern computer? > To: "'Bill Dzurilla'" , amsat-bb@amsat.org > Date: Wednesday, January 19, 2011, 7:39 AM > Bill,

[amsat-bb] Re: restating LOTW question *** HO-68?

2011-01-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
And what about HO-68? I also asked a year ago and got the same answer that Joe did. But it still seems impossible to upload HO-68 QSOs to LOTW, comes back as "Invalid". 73, Bill NZ5N > Message: 3 > Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2011 06:15:08 -0600 > From: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re

[amsat-bb] For sale: Kansas City Tracker w/cable

2011-01-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I have for sale the Kansas City Tracker board complete with the interface cable. $60 shipped CUSA. It moves your rotor automatically to track the orbit of a satellite. Only works with older computers. Info at http://www.amsat.org/amsat/catalog/kct/. 73, Bill NZ5N billdz@yahoo.com

[amsat-bb] Re: restating LOTW question *** HO-68?

2011-01-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Never mind, LOTW already works with HO-68, just needed to update my config.tq6 file. Thanks to all who replied. 73, Bill --- On Fri, 1/21/11, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > From: Bill Dzurilla > Subject: Re: restating LOTW question *** HO-68? > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > Date: Friday

[amsat-bb] LOTW and eQSL

2011-01-25 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I agree with Jack and Tim, LOTW is great (albeit more complicated than it needs to be). For those who do not like the fees and complexities of LOTW, I'd like to remind everyone of eQSL, which is a cheaper and simpler supplement to LOTW. It's simpler because most logging programs will automatic

[amsat-bb] FUNcube Dongle for Satellite and EME reception

2011-12-19 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Hi folks, Have not been working the sats much recently, been playing around on EME with a new antenna.  I recently discovered the FUNcube Dongle, a nice little gadget that was developed by AMSAT-UK for satellites, but it also makes EME reception a lot easier. The FCD is a 64 mhz to 1700 mhz a

[amsat-bb] Re: FUNcube Dongle for Satellite and EME reception

2011-12-19 Thread Bill Dzurilla
The video is also at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac3jDILGKmg.  The link below only works if your browser can play swf (flash) files. 73, Bill - Original Message - > From: Bill Dzurilla > To: "amsat-bb@amsat.org" > Cc: > Sent: Monday, December 19, 2011 5:04

[amsat-bb] Re: KH2?

2012-04-17 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Americans don't appreciate the vastness of the Pacific.  I remember when a colleague was leaving my firm in New Orleans to move to Guam.  She said the flight would take 24 hours.  I said, "Why 24 hours?  My flight to Hawaii was only 11 hours, and Guam is right next to Hawaii."  However, Guam is

[amsat-bb] OM3BD qrv for North America via AO-7

2012-06-19 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I am back in Slovakia, grid locator JN88mf this summer and qrv AO-7.  Any North American stations in range who did not catch me last year, please try again, email me for skeds.  It seems that the orbits have somehow shifted and my windows to North America are a bit longer this year, and from my

[amsat-bb] Re: OM3BD qrv for North America via AO-7

2012-06-23 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Wyatt did all the heavy lifting for this unique, perhaps record-setting QSO.  He woke up at 3am, drove to a portable hilltop location, and set up his station.  All I had to do was sip my coffee and give him a signal report.  The QSO was remarkably easy, we talked to each other for over a minute

[amsat-bb] New AO7 world distance record

2012-07-02 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I am pleased to report that Wyatt AC0RA and I broke the AO7 world record today with a GPS-measured 7849km QSO between JN88 and EN31 at 0955Z. Recordings of the 40 second QSO will be posted to my web page, see www.qsl.net/nz5n (I tried to attach but it seems attachments not allowed on this board)

[amsat-bb] New AO7 world distance record

2012-07-02 Thread Bill Dzurilla
I am pleased to report that Wyatt AC0RA and I broke the AO7 world record today with a GPS-measured 7849km QSO between JN88 and EN31 at 0955Z. A recording of the 40 second QSO is attached.   Wyatt did all the hard work by waking up at 3am, driving to a hill an hour away from his home, setting up

[amsat-bb] Re: New AO7 world distance record

2012-07-02 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Thanks to Bob and to all others who replied. Recordings, photos, and info now up at http://www.qsl.net/nz5n/AO7record.htm although I still need to crop and resize some photos. 73, Bill > > From: Bob- W7LRD >To: Bill Dzurilla >Cc: AMSAT BB &

[amsat-bb] July 4: Another new AO-7 world distance record: 7903.55km, AC0RA and OM3BD break their own record

2012-07-04 Thread Bill Dzurilla
The 7849km AO-7 world record set by AC0RA and I on July 2 lasted less than 48 hours.  Wyatt once again woke up early and this time drove 150 miles to EN41ad.  We had a 30 second QSO at 0949Z to extend the record to 7903.55km.  Thanks, Wyatt, this has been fun.   Recordings, pictures, and further

[amsat-bb] FunCube Dongle Pro for sale

2013-01-14 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Works well, excellent condition, ver. 1.1, serial no. 3752.  $150 shipped CUSA. 73, Bill NZ5N ___ 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! Subscrip

[amsat-bb] FunCube Dongle Pro for sale

2013-01-21 Thread Bill Dzurilla
Works well, excellent condition, ver. 1.1, serial no. 3752.  $150 shipped CUSA, check or Paypal OK.  For more info, see http://www.funcubedongle.com/?page_id=1057. I made a video of this unit in action, see http://qsl.net/nz5n/funcube.htm. 73, Bill NZ5N