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CX2SA > SATDIG 10.09.10 20:13l 405 Lines 14639 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Today's Topics:
1. Re: AO-51 V/S (saguaroastro@xxx.xxxx
2. Re: AO-51 V/S (Matt Patterson)
3. Re: AO-51 V/S (Anthony Monteiro)
4. SATme for Blackberry (Clint Bradford)
5. Re: [SPAM] Re: AO-51 V/S (Edward R. Cole)
6. Lake Superior Grid Expedition Wrapup (John Papay)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:28:17 -0400
From: <saguaroastro@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S
To: Matt Patterson <mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <20100910112817.M11LN.819708.imail@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Matt,
Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my 144/435 Antenna from his plans
for under $20.00. Works like a charm & easy to build.
He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
73
Rick
K7TEJ
---- Matt Patterson <mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have
> found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on
> a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small
> portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51
> isn't in this mode very often.
>
> 73 Matt
> W5LL
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 10:42:43 -0500
From: Matt Patterson <mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S
To: saguaroastro@xxx.xxx
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <4C8A51F3.6080909@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Hi Rick,
I know Kent's site very well. Used to do a lot of VHF rovering and just
about all my antennas were "cheap" yagis. They work great and you can't
beat the cost. Anyway, I'm in need of a 2.4GHz antenna for S mode
downlink on AO-51. Kent's cheap yagi antenna designs don't go up that high.
73 Matt
W5LL
On 9/10/2010 10:28 AM, saguaroastro@xxx.xxx wrote:
> Matt,
>
> Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my 144/435 Antenna from his plans
for under $20.00. Works like a charm& easy to build.
>
> He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
>
> http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
>
> 73
> Rick
> K7TEJ
>
> ---- Matt Patterson<mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have
>> found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on
>> a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small
>> portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51
>> isn't in this mode very often.
>>
>> 73 Matt
>> W5LL
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:09:32 -0400
From: Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S
To: Matt Patterson <mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <201009101609.o8AG9NHI069274@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Hi Matt,
I recommand a tomato can antenna.
Get an empty can with diameter 3.25" and length 4.25"
(i.e. a tomato can)
Solder a piece of #14 wire to single-hole mount N-connector
so that the total length above the connector is 1.25"
Cut a hole for the connector centered 2-5/8" from
the bottom and mount it to the can.
I have used this with an AIDC 3731 connected directly at
the antenna and feeding an FT-817 to receive AO-51 V/S.
It works for me and it is pretty cheap.
73,
Tony AA2TX
---
At 09:13 AM 9/10/2010, Matt Patterson wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have
>found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on
>a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small
>portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51
>isn't in this mode very often.
>
>73 Matt
>W5LL
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:18:57 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] SATme for Blackberry
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <91FAC494-CBB4-4B53-B49E-15BA744AB5B5@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Just has a pleasant conversation with the author - Andy, K0SM/2 - on his
satellite tracking program for the Blackberry, SATme.
I do not own a Blackberry device, so I asked him what kinds of hurdles users
were reporting.
"I hear from John, LA2QAA, fairly often. He uses SATme on a Nokia phone for
his portable ops, so you may be able to talk to him. I'm sure he wouldn't
mind that I passed his name along.
"There are two main "issues" that I have come across in the last few years:
one is one imposed by the phone carriers, and the others is the non-standard
implementations of the Java platform across devices. For example, all the
US carriers (except Sprint, and most Blackberry devices) will restrict their
low end devices not to allow access to the local file system and/or the
Internet without a (sometimes several) thousand dollar certification fee.
This is obviously prohibitive for a niche product like this.
"The second issue is device fragmentation that can cause it not to run on
some platforms. Here the issue becomes a problem of support from my
perspective. There's really no way for me to keep up with all of these
devices and do comprehensive testing on everything out there."
Andy wrote SATme back when he was studying for his comprehensive exams in
school as a way to earn some pocket change. The phone technology, though,
has moved beyond the CLDC 2.0 spec for which this was designed, though there
are several people using SATme on newer Blackberries and other smartphones,
so it is still being made available.
"It is nice to have a satellite tracking program that runs on my "free"
phone ... and we hams are notoriously cheap," Andy chuckles.
"The device fragmentation notwithstanding, the software has been stable for
more than a year without any new issues cropping up ... I have two children
now and only get on the satellites once or twice a year (FD usually), so I
really don't have a pulse on the satellite community like I used to ... "
Nice guy. If you have a Blackberry device, please try out SATme.
Clint Bradford
909-241-7666
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 08:23:24 -0800
From: "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [SPAM] Re: AO-51 V/S
To: Matt Patterson <mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <201009101623.o8AGNOsv084975@xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
I recently purchased the HyperGain? HG2409PCR
flat-panel 8-dBic RHCP 2.4 GHz antenna from L-com
to use for s-band Leo sats. I got a good price
but now they are listed for $28.99. I have a 0.8
dBNF DEMI preamp to use with my Drake
downconverters (left-over from AO-40 era).
http://www.l-com.com/productfamily.aspx?id=6299
73, ED - KL7UW
At 07:42 AM 9/10/2010, Matt Patterson wrote:
>Hi Rick,
>
>I know Kent's site very well. Used to do a lot of VHF rovering and just
>about all my antennas were "cheap" yagis. They work great and you can't
>beat the cost. Anyway, I'm in need of a 2.4GHz antenna for S mode
>downlink on AO-51. Kent's cheap yagi antenna designs don't go up that high.
>
>73 Matt
>W5LL
>
>On 9/10/2010 10:28 AM, saguaroastro@xxx.xxx wrote:
> > Matt,
> >
> > Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my
> 144/435 Antenna from his plans for under
> $20.00. Works like a charm& easy to build.
> >
> > He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
> >
> > http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
> >
> > 73
> > Rick
> > K7TEJ
> >
> > ---- Matt Patterson<mattpatt@xxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have
> >> found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on
> >> a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small
> >> portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51
> >> isn't in this mode very often.
> >>
> >> 73 Matt
> >> W5LL
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
> >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >>
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45
======================================
BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com
EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010
DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@xxxxxxx.xxx
======================================
*temp
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2010 12:31:52 -0400
From: John Papay <john@xxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Lake Superior Grid Expedition Wrapup
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <494677.74184.qm@xxxxxxx.xxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Our month long excursion around Lake Superior and points
north came to an end on September 8th. We left on August
3d. The distance traveled was slightly over 5000 miles,
working in 32 grids on 168 satellite passes.
Northwest Ontario is really beautiful but it was difficult
to find places to operate at times. The back roads are cut
through forests of tall trees and it makes working the birds
difficult to impossible. We tried to find lakes where the road
was on the north side so we could see to the south. Usually there
was some place to set up but not always. EO20 and EO31 were not
planned but it worked out that we could operate from those grids.
I doubt that EO20 has ever been activated on the birds.
The equipment worked well however the 5 element two meter beam
had a lot of vibration, especially on the dirt and gravel roads
which caused two elements to break off. They were repaired with
copper wire and later brass rod found at the Home Depot in Thunder
Bay. The LVB tracker worked flawlessly and never lost its calibration.
This was quite surprising considering that the rotor was running
on a 500w inverter which was turned on and off hundreds of times.
A serial port connection was used rather than the USB since I had an
Edgeport 8 port serial to USB converter running the TS2000 and the
Garmin V GPS.
The antenna setup created conversation wherever we stopped. The locals
wanted to know what it was for. Some guessed tracking bear, wolf, moose,
etc. Others thought we were storm chasers. Another guessed we were
doing Google street view mapping. Several hundred people were introduced
to amateur radio satellite technology, and we got to chat with everyone
and talk about what to see and where to camp. We spent most every night
in a tent except for the very end of the trip when the weather turned
very rainy. We had a great time in Isle Royale National Park backpacking
in a true wilderness setting. There is a longer story about how we
operated satellites there that will be published at a later date. Isle
Royale is a very large island in Lake Superior where Moose and Wolves have
priority over everybody else. We spent 5 days on the island. The
Kenwood V7A, 7AH battery and ArrowII antenna were used for this
portable operation.
The plan is to enter all of the qso's into a spreadsheet and print labels.
Several different qsl cards will be printed to represent the different
states, Canada and perhaps Brockway Mountain and Isle Royale. There is
no need to send your cards to me although an SASE would be fine. Everyone
that worked me will receive cards for every contact whether requested or
not. Documentation will be provided for any grid line boundary operation
if there are any requests from VUCC card checkers. APRS data is available
on www.aprs.fi in areas where there were digi's. I have gps track logs of
the entire trip showing date/time/lat/long. I have recordings of most passes
and also have recordings of AO-27 and AO-51 made from my home station which
operated automatically during the trip. This speaks to the reliability of
SatPC32, and the rotor interface and audio recorder designed by my
son, KD8CAO.
Thanks to everyone who worked me and provided encouragement during the
trip. The TS2000 and antenna setup allowed me to work many more stations
that could have been worked with an HT and an Arrow. There were many
times where it was raining or dark which would have prevented operating
outside. Once the antennas were pointed north, it didn't matter as we
were inside the truck out of the elements.
Finally, special thanks to the control teams of all of the satellites that
kept things running smoothly, and to Alan Kung for having HO-68 on during
the central North America daylight passes.
If you are planning a vacation, consider taking some satellite
equipment along. You'll enjoy being sought after and you'll have
a new perspective on what it takes to do it. Thanks to all of those
that are already operating away from home so that all of us can add
to our VUCC totals.
73,
John K8YSE
John Papay
john@xxxxxx.xxx
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 5, Issue 376
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