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CX2SA > SATDIG 04.09.11 12:54l 1141 Lines 41025 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: New K6LCS Pages (Clint Bradford)
2. Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (Joe Leikhim)
3. Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (i8cvs)
4. Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (Andrew Glasbrenner)
5. Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (Stephen E. Belter)
6. Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (Greg D.)
7. ANS-247 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins (JoAnne Maenpaa)
8. Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator. (Gabriel - EA6VQ)
9. IARU AC Meeting Summary (Trevor .)
10. IARU Region 1 Minutes of the Final Plenary (Trevor .)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2011 12:42:30 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@xxx.xxx>
To: Joel Black <w4jbb@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: New K6LCS Pages
Message-ID: <CCDE2738-583A-46E2-A75D-D08C122C71E3@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; CHARSET=US-ASCII
>> ... Your site was one of the first I searched for after that. Keep up
the good work.
Joel - THANK YOU for taking the time to write. ESPECIALLY with compliments
... (grin)
We are all amateurs - read that as, "volunteers." My accountant thinks I am
nuts. After
giving my AMSAT/satellite presentation 21 times in 2010, I told myself (and
my accountant)
that I'd calm down a little in 2011. I mean, this IS "amateur radio," right?
Interpreted to
basic English, that equates to, "no derived income." I just looked at 2011's
calendar - 24
talks scheduled this year ...
Still having fun, though!
Clint, K6LCS
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 03 Sep 2011 16:42:06 -0400
From: Joe Leikhim <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID: <4E62911E.1030100@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
northeast (Per Google Earth).
I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
neighbors house is at about north point.
--
Joe Leikhim
Leikhim and Associates
Communications Consultants
Oviedo, Florida
www.Leikhim.com
JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
407-982-0446
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 01:24:18 +0200
From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs@xxx.xx>
To: "Joe Leikhim" <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>, "Amsat - BBs"
<amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID: <000e01cc6a90$9ab3a0c0$0401a8c0@xxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Leikhim" <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 10:42 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
> I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
> rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
> against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
> northeast (Per Google Earth).
>
> I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
> degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
> all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
> can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
> assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
> Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
>
> Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
> true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
> neighbors house is at about north point.
>
> --
> Joe Leikhim
>
> Leikhim and Associates
> Communications Consultants
> Oviedo, Florida
>
> www.Leikhim.com
>
> JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
>
> 407-982-0446
Hi Joe ,
Your rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north.
First of all using the traching program rotate manually your
azimuth rotator until its pointer schowes exacly the azimuth
and elevation of the Sun at a selected time preferably near
noon.
Now quicly clamp down the antenna rotator to the mast
until the antennas are aligned exacly toward the Sun.
Now your Antenna system is calibrated as well toward the
North.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 20:25:57 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
From: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Joe Leikhim <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID:
<28966403.1315095958137.JavaMail.root@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
You and I both are at about 5 degrees west declination. That's almost "in
the noise" with any normal VHF or UHF array, and not much above the accuracy
of the rotor. Most compasses are marked no better than 3 degrees per tick
mark.
In other words, don't sweat it.
73, Drew KO4MA
-----Original Message-----
>From: Joe Leikhim <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
>Sent: Sep 3, 2011 4:42 PM
>To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
>Subject: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
>
>I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
>rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
>against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
>northeast (Per Google Earth).
>
>I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
>degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
>all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
>can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
>assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
>Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
>
>Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
>true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
>neighbors house is at about north point.
>
>--
>Joe Leikhim
>
>Leikhim and Associates
>Communications Consultants
>Oviedo, Florida
>
>www.Leikhim.com
>
>JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
>
>407-982-0446
>
>_______________________________________________
>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: 5
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 20:31:28 -0400
From: "Stephen E. Belter" <seb@xxxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT-BB <AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID:
<51668A33220E754EABE6583357ECEE2D79CD5B9A@xxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Joe,
I'm going to disagree and agree with my friend Domenico.
If I understand your setup correctly, the azimuth rotor is on a shelf inside
the tower with a vertical mast going through the top of the tower, hopefully
using a thrust bearing. (This is how my setup is configured.)
With this configuration, it doesn't matter what direction the azimuth rotor
*case* is mounted, because you can tighten the clamps on the G-5400 azimuth
rotor around the mast. Do use Domineco's procedure for pointing the
antennas with the shadows cast by the Sun. Both Nova and SatPC32 (using the
SuM program) will point the rotors at the sun.
73, Steve N9IP
--
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of i8cvs
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 7:24 PM
To: Joe Leikhim; Amsat - BBs
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Leikhim" <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 10:42 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
> I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
> rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
> against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
> northeast (Per Google Earth).
>
> I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
> degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
> all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
> can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
> assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
> Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
>
> Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
> true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
> neighbors house is at about north point.
>
> --
> Joe Leikhim
>
> Leikhim and Associates
> Communications Consultants
> Oviedo, Florida
>
> www.Leikhim.com
>
> JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
>
> 407-982-0446
Hi Joe ,
Your rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north.
First of all using the traching program rotate manually your
azimuth rotator until its pointer schowes exacly the azimuth
and elevation of the Sun at a selected time preferably near
noon.
Now quicly clamp down the antenna rotator to the mast
until the antennas are aligned exacly toward the Sun.
Now your Antenna system is calibrated as well toward the
North.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico
_______________________________________________
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: 6
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 17:34:55 -0700
From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <domenico.i8cvs@xxx.xx>, <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>,
<amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID: <BLU133-W28801F3614E18F46DBC425A91A0@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> From: domenico.i8cvs@xxx.xx
> To: rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 01:24:18 +0200
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Leikhim" <rhyolite@xxxxxxxx.xxx>
> To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
> Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2011 10:42 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
>
>
> > I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
> > rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
> > against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
> > northeast (Per Google Earth).
> >
> > I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
> > degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
> > all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
> > can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
> > assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
> > Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
> >
> > Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
> > true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
> > neighbors house is at about north point.
> >
> > --
> > Joe Leikhim
> >
> > Leikhim and Associates
> > Communications Consultants
> > Oviedo, Florida
> >
> > www.Leikhim.com
> >
> > JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
> >
> > 407-982-0446
>
> Hi Joe ,
>
> Your rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north.
>
> First of all using the traching program rotate manually your
> azimuth rotator until its pointer schowes exacly the azimuth
> and elevation of the Sun at a selected time preferably near
> noon.
>
> Now quicly clamp down the antenna rotator to the mast
> until the antennas are aligned exacly toward the Sun.
>
> Now your Antenna system is calibrated as well toward the
> North.
>
> 73" de
>
> i8CVS Domenico
>
I don't think it matters at all which orientation the Azimuth rotor itself
is mounted. Bolt it onto the tower frame what ever way it wants to be, spin
the motor around to zero degrees, and then mount the antenna to the shaft so
that the antenna points North. What I do then is what Domenico recommends -
use the Sun to fine tune the alignment. Most satellite tracking programs
will tell you where the Sun is, or you can go on line to places like Heavens
Above to find it. Tell the rotor to go to that heading, then align the
antenna so that the it points at the Sun. I use the shadow so I don't have
to look into the Sun itself. Done.
Greg KO6TH
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 7
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2011 20:19:19 -0500
From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" <k9jkm@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-247 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
Message-ID: <001801cc6aa0$ac929160$05b7b420$@xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-247
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the
activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an
active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating
through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor@xxxxx.xxx
In this edition:
* Reminder: September 15 Deadline to Return Board of Directors Ballots
* ARISSat-1 LIVE Telemetry Web Page Now Operational
* Merritt Island High School ARISS Contact is Successful
* University of Alabama Students Test CubeSat Via Balloon Launch
* SDR-Radio Software Adds Support for AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle SDR
* Two Satellite Presentations Scheduled for California in September
* Satellite Shorts From All Over
* IARU Region 1 Meeting Addresses Interference to 2-Meter Satellite Band
* ESA Successfully Repressurizes Satellite With Solid State Stored Gas
* EduSat Mission to Test PocketQub Satellite Orbital Deployment System
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.01
Reminder: September 15 Deadline to Return Board of Directors Ballots
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.01
Ballots for the AMSAT-North America 2011 Board of Directors election
have been mailed to all members. To have your vote count you must
return your ballot by mail to:
AMSAT-NA
850 Sligo Ave #600
Silver Spring, MD, 20910
Ballots must arrive at the AMSAT Office by the close of business,
September 15, 2011.
Four director's terms expire this year:
Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Alan Biddle, WA4SCA
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Tony Monteiro, AA2TX
Seven nominations have been received for the open seats. Listed
alphabetically they are:
Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Alan Biddle, WA4SCA
Steve Coy, K8UD
Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA
Mark Hammond, N8MH
Tony Monteiro, AA2TX
Patrick E. Stoddard, WD9EWK
Select no more than four candidates on your ballot. The four candi-
dates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as full
Board members for two year terms. The two candidates receiving the
next highest number of votes will be seated as alternate Board mem-
bers for one year terms.
[ANS thanks the AMSAT Office the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.02
ARISSat-1 LIVE Telemetry Web Page Now Operational
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.02
ARISSatTLM software author, Douglas Quagliana, KA2UPW/5 says a new
ARISSat-1/KEDR telemetry web page is now available at:
http://www.arissattlm.org/live
The new telemetry page is intended to be viewed on a computer (or
large screen computing device). It shows all of the telemetry values
that you would see if you were running ARISSatTLM at your station.
The data on this page is updated once a minute when ground stations
are within range of ARISSat-1/KEDR and forwarding live telemetry re-
ceived via ARISSatTLM. Since it depends on stations forwarding tele-
metry over the Internet, there will occasionally be periods without
any updates.
The original ARISSat-1/KEDR telemetry page is still up and running.
(see: http://www.arissattlm.org/mobile). The difference is that the
"mobile" page is designed to be viewed on a cellphone or other small
screen computing device.
Both pages are updated at the same time from the same telemetry. The
"live" page just shows more telemetry.
Please keep forwarding in your telemetry over the Internet. Also, if
you received any telemetry from ARISSat-1, even if you are forwarding,
please email the .CSV file(s) to: [telemetry at arissattlm dot org].
The .CSV files are in the "Telemetry" folder which is in the ARISSatTLM
folder on your desktop.
[ANS thanks Douglas Quagliana, KA2UPW/5 for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.03
Merritt Island High School ARISS Contact is Successful
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.03
Now up to 665 ARISS contacts from the ISS to school contacts the
International Space Station school contact with Merritt Island High
School, Merritt Island, Florida on August 30 added another success.
The contact was a direct link between NA1SS and WB2IHB. "NA1SS,
NA1SS, NA1SS, this is WB2IHB in Merritt Island, Florida." Then, a
crackle. "I read you loud and clear," said Japanese Astronaut Sat-
oshi Furukawa. Fourteen-year-old Brandon Arena was first in line
to ask Furukawa a question. So began the contact. The Florida
Today newspaper reported on the event and the enthusiastic stu-
dent response at:
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108310317
The link above includes a video, and photos along with a report
of the event that was well received by the students and their par-
ents and teachers.
Merritt Island High is a public high school with a student population
of 1500. Sixty of these students are members of the Da Vinci Academy
of Aerospace Technology, where these engineering-minded students take
part in the "Project Lead the Way" engineering curriculum. Fifteen
students were selected from the Academy to engage the astronaut in a
question and answer session as the ISS passed over the school.
ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the
participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES,
JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participa-
ting countries.
ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excite-
ment of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board
the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities
see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can ener-
gize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning.
Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website
http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of
Canada).
[ANS thanks ARISS PR Chairman David Jordan, AA4KN, and Florida Today
for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.04
University of Alabama Students Test CubeSat Via Balloon Launch
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.04
The Space Hardware Club at the University of Alabama in Huntsville
is student organization. They conceptualize, design, build, test
and fly flight hardware for high altitude balloons, the CubeSat plat-
form, and the CanSat competition.
UAHuntsville's Space Hardware Club's 15th BalloonSat mission was
completed on August 26. Balloon and payloads were launched from the
National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) in Huntsville,
Alabama. Payloads included a CubeSat radio test, a 900 MHz radio
test, dual APRS tracking package on 2m and 70cm, and neutron detec-
tor collecting data for NSSTC.
Their YouTube videos of the launch can be viewed on-line at:
http://tinyurl.com/3dkeqqt (southgatearc.org)
Additional information about the UAHuntsville Space Hardware Club
can be found at: http://sites.google.com/site/uahshc/
[ANS thanks Southgate ARC News and the UAHuntsville Space Hardware
Club for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.05
SDR-Radio Software Adds Support for AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle SDR
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.05
AMSAT-UK's FUNcube is an educational single cubesat project with the
goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, phy-
sics and electronics. FUNcube will carry a UHF to VHF linear transpon-
der that will have up to 1 watt and which can be used by Radio Ama-
teurs worldwide for SSB and CW communications. Measuring just
10 x 10 x 10 cm, and with a mass of less than 1kg, it will be the
smallest ever satellite to carry a linear transponder
It will support the educational Science, Technology, Engineering and
Math (STEM) initiatives and provide an additional resource for the
GB4FUN Mobile Communications Centre.
The target audience consists of primary and secondary school pupils
and FUNcube will feature a 145 MHz telemetry beacon that will provide
a strong signal for the pupils to receive.
A simple SDR receiver board (FUNcube Dongle) has been developed to
support this mission by providing a simple radio interface to the
classroom. The FUNcube Dongle connects to the USB port of a laptop
to display telemetry and messages in an interesting way for students.
But, even before FUNcube has been launched amateur satellite operators
have discovered that the 64 MHz to 1,700 MHz coverage of this Software
Defined Radio receiver can be used for most amateur, along with some
weather and commercial satellite reception.
This week, Simon Brown, GD4ELI/HB9DRV, announced he has enhanced his
popular SDR-RADIO software to provide support for the AMSAT-UK FUNcube
dongle software defined radio. The SDR-RADIO.com software has been up-
graded to provide full support for the FUNcube dongle including satel-
lite tracking, Doppler compensation and data for external rotator
software via DDE. This free software can be downloaded from
http://www.sdr-radio.com/
For more information on the FUNcube project please visit:
http://www.funcube.org.uk
For the latest news on the FUNcube SDR dongle visit:
http://www.funcubedongle.com/
You can join the FUNcube Yahoo Group at:
http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK, Southgate ARC News, and Simon Brown for the
above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.06
Two Satellite Presentations Scheduled for California in September
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.06
Clint Bradford, K6LCS will have two "How to Work the Amateur FM Sat-
ellites With Your HT" presentations in September.
Sonoma County Radio Amateurs General Meeting
--------------------------------------------
Wednesday, September 7, 2011 - 7:00PM
Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center
2050 Yulupa Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95405
AMSAT area coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS, will be presenting his
"Working Amateur Satellites With Your HT" session at the September 7,
2011 meeting of the Sonoma County Radio Amateurs. ALL are welcome to
attend.
"The Sonoma County club has been serving their region for more than
SEVENTY years," writes Clint. "I am really looking forward to meet-
ing the group!"
Clint's in Southern California - but has prepared a custom slideshow
for the Sonoma County club, which will be displayed live at the meet-
ing, as Skype handles the session's audio. "I'd much rather be there
in person - but this arrangement has worked quite successfully in the
past. We'll have a great time!"
Attendees should visit Clint's Web site ahead of time at ...
http://www.work-sat.com ... and download the four-page .pdf tutorial.
Clint welcomes pre-presentation questions - call him at 909-241-7666
(cell) or send email to clint@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx .
ARRL Southwestern Division Convention
-------------------------------------
Saturday, September 10, 2011 - Noon
Marriott Torrance South Bay: 3635 Fashion Way, Torrance, CA 90503
Clint says, "We have tentative passes of SO-50, ARISSat-1, AO-27, and
AO-51 throughout the day Saturday - Watch for the exact times at the
check-in table! Clint will be presenting his "Working Satellites With
Your HT" at Noon in Suites 9-11.
Additional Presentation Resources
---------------------------------
Clint Bradford, K6LCS, has given his "How to Work the FM Ham Satel-
lites With Your HT" presentation more than 60 times the past three
years - and knows how to motivate and educate his audiences. He has
just created a Web page that describes how others can make THEIR pre-
sentations informative, effective, and - most importantly - FUN for
audiences ...
http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/Presentations.html
Just written this week, but Clint will be including "tips and tech-
niques" from professional presenters - such as Bill Gates, Steve
Jobs, and others - as this Web page grows in the next few weeks.
[ANS thanks Clint Bradford, K6LCS for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.07
Satellite Shorts From All Over
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.07
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.07
+ This is a reminder to those who use Twitter about a service called
@xxxxxxx which you can use to notify you when the International
Space Station is going to be passing overhead in your region. It
pulls your location from your profile, and then calculates good
viewing times for you to see the station. All you have to do is
follow the Twitter account: http://twitter.com/#!/twisst
+ A nice photograph of northwestern Europe at night, as seen from the
International Space Station on August 10, 2011 can be viewed at:
http://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/from-space.jpg
The landscape is dotted with clusters of lights from individual
urban areas; visible are London, Paris, Brussels, Milan and Ams-
terdam, which stand out due to their large light "footprints,"
while the English Channel is completely dark. To give a sense of
scale, the centers of the London and Paris metropolitan areas are
approximately 340 kilometers (210 miles) from each other.
+ Read the story at http://tinyurl.com/3etozte (UniverseToday.com)
about why the Large Hadron Collider will not destroy the Earth
and you'll have something to talk about on 75M if the other guy
gets stuck on the weather and the state of his gallbladder.
+ Outgoing space shuttle Program Manager John Shannon has received
an assignment to carry out an independent assessment of competing
options for eventual manned missions beyond low-Earth orbit. Read
the story at: http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/29shannon/
+ EE Times - ARISSat Blog now has the sixth and seventh entries in EE
(Electronic Engineering) Times "Chips in Space" blog about ARISSat-1:
Chips in Space: Let's look inside ARISSat-1 (part 2)
http://tinyurl.com/4y2tn8g (eetimes.com)
Chips in Space: Let's look inside ARISSat-1 (Part 3)
http://tinyurl.com/3hffv3v (eetimes.com)
+ Edge Of Space Sciences will be flying three high altitude balloons
for NOAA on Saturday September 10th at 6:50 AM MDT (UTC - 6) out
of Windsor, Colorado, USA. Payload weight of 20+ Lbs flying NOAA
Aircore's. EOSS flight numbers 168, 169 and 170 will be a mix of
two 3000 and one 2000 gram helium balloons. Mission details can
be found on their web page: http://www.eoss.org/flight/index.html
+ Steer the kids over to http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ where they can
learn about astronomy, the solar system, galaxies, the Earth at
a fun level. Hundreds of interactive pages let them play scientific
video games, print pictures to color, visit space image galleries,
make creative scientifc projects at home.
[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.08
IARU Region 1 Meeting Addresses Interference to 2-Meter Satellite Band
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.08
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.08
The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 meeting in Sun
City, South Africa this week noted that several Italian repeaters are
currently causing on-going interference to satellite uplinks and down-
links in the Amateur Satellite Service segment from 145.8-146.0 MHz.
While the IARU R1 decision stressed the importance of the satellite
service they also noted that coordination is needed to continue to
introduce new modes. The IARU R1 C5 committee report recommended
that the D-STAR repeaters/nodes that continue operation in contra-
diction to the IARU-R1 band plans be disconnected from the inter-
national D_STAR network.
The IARU-R1 Sun City conference SC11_C5_16 committee meeting notes
say that initial methods listed below were passed unanimously:
1. Write the repeater operator to remove [their operating frequency]
out of the satellite segment.
2. Inform the trust server operator of the IARU bandplan breach made
by the use of the repeater.
3. Inform the government about the repeater and request them to remove
the repeater.
[ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.09
ESA Successfully Repressurizes Satellite With Solid State Stored Gas
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.09
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.09
The European Space Agency reported that its August 16 test to re-
pressurize gas tanks aboard their Proba-2 spacecraft were successful.
Proba-2 was launched on 2 November 2009. Less than a cubic metre in
volume, it carries a total of 17 new technologies and four science
payloads focused on the Sun and space weather.
According to the ESA, Proba-2 uses a 'resistojet' engine to maintain
the microsatellite's orbit at 600 km altitude. This experimental en-
gine runs on xenon gas heated before ejection to provide added thrust.
Laurens van Vliet of Dutch research organisation TNO, which developed
the technology explained, "What makes this repressurisation unique is
that the added gas was not stored in a pressurised state but produced
from a solid material at room temperature, the first of four 'cool-gas
generators' on Proba-2. Nitrogen, like xenon, is an inert, non-react-
ive gas, so the resistojet can work just as well with a xenon-nitrogen
mixture."
The bottle-shaped cool-gas generators are filled with a rigid solid
material that, once triggered, produces more than 250 times its own
volume in pure nitrogen gas. The other three generators will be used
later in Proba-2's orbital lifetime.
The original story was published by SpaceDaily.com on their web:
http://tinyurl.com/3rfg4fj (SpaceDaily.com)
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-247.10
EduSat Mission to Test PocketQub Satellite Orbital Deployment System
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 247.10
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
September 4, 2011
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-247.10
The PocketQub is a new satellite standard that was proposed in 2009
by Professor Robert Twiggs, W7RMT at Kentucky's Morehead State Uni-
versity (MSU) for a satellite even smaller than the CubeSat. Pocket-
Qubs are 5 cm cubes and can literally fit in a pocket. The PocketQub
leverages the CubeSat standard and the revolution in the miniaturiza-
tion of electronics. PocketQubs will ultimately have a wide range of
applications including: Network Nodes, Sensor Systems, Satellite Con-
stellations, Inexpensive, Redundant, and Spatially Organized Earth
Remote Sensing Platforms.
Morehead State University's Space Science Center (SSC) and Kentucky
Space collaborated with the University of Rome Sapienza Aerospace
Engineering School on a series of student-driven educational satel-
lite projects. The goal was for students to develop, build and fly
a series of four satellites (EduSat, UNISAT-5, UNISAT-6, and UNI-
SAT-7). These satellites were built in Rome and in Morehead and
controlled from MSU by students using the big dish antenna and by
Italian students using satellite ground assets in Europe.
EduSat was launched in August, 2011 by a Russian Dnepr rocket from
a silo. During its first 30-days on orbit, EduSat will test an orb-
ital deployer designed to release the PocketQub, also called a femto-
class satellite. While the femtosats will not be released on the
first mission, the deployment system that will ultimately deploy
them will be tested. A follow-on mission in 2012 (UNISAT-5) will
deploy four femto-class satellites when they are ejected from the
UNISAT-5 "mothership" at apogee.
The original story was published by SpaceDaily.com on their web:
http://tinyurl.com/3mgrbkw (SpaceDaily.com)
[ANS thanks SpaceDaily.com for the above information]
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors
to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits.
Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. And with that,
please keep in mind the ham while visiting his friend at the hospital
pointed to a machine with all sorts of tubes, knobs, lights, and beep-
ers and said, "Wow, I sure wouldn't like being hooked up to that!"
The nurse answered, "Me neither, that's the floor cleaning machine!"
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
K9JKM at amsat dot org
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 10:48:43 +0200
From: "Gabriel - EA6VQ" <ea6vq_ml@xxxxx.xxxx>
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
Message-ID: <003601cc6adf$74580ac0$5d082040$@xxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
You could be interested in reading
http://www.vhfdx.info/discuss/truenorth.html
73. Gabriel - EA6VQ
_________________________________________________________
-----Mensaje original-----
De: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx En nombre
de Joe Leikhim
Enviado el: s?bado, 03 de septiembre de 2011 22:42
Para: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Asunto: [amsat-bb] Adjusting true north for azimuth rotator.
I am planning to install my G5400 rotator inside a tower having a welded
rotator shelf. The tower is not installed yet and will have one face
against the side of my house which is positioned about 28 degrees
northeast (Per Google Earth).
I assume when I drill the rotator shelf, I can adjust for the gross 28
degree offset of the tower. However how important is it to do this at
all? Does the rotator have to be installed exactly toward true north or
can I make up the difference when clamping down the antenna mast
assuming the antenna is oriented true north? Note I will be using a
Trakbox and need the ADC to center on true north.
Secondly does anyone know if the ruler function in Google Earth points
true north? It seems pretty handy that a fire plug in front of a
neighbors house is at about north point.
--
Joe Leikhim
Leikhim and Associates
Communications Consultants
Oviedo, Florida
www.Leikhim.com
JLeikhim@xxxxxxx.xxx
407-982-0446
_______________________________________________
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: 9
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 11:26:36 +0100 (BST)
From: "Trevor ." <m5aka@xxxxx.xx.xx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] IARU AC Meeting Summary
Message-ID:
<1315131996.48739.YahooMailClassic@xxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
The IARU administative council meeting took place in Sun City on August
19-20 and the summary has now been released. The Amateur Satellite Service
is mentioned in several places.
Among them is the expansion of the 70cm CubeSat segment:?
"6.3. Owing to his presence in Sun City for the regional conference, IARU
Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, presented his report in
person and supplemented his report with oral remarks. He mentioned that
educational institutional satellites using amateur radio frequencies were
increasing. The Satellite Advisory Panel has expanded the CubeSat band from
437.305 ? 437.505 MHz by 100 kHz to 437.605 while
taking into account certain ARISS preferred slots. He mentioned the
opportunity to convert the CubeSats to amateur usage upon completion of the
educational institutional experimental usage and in this way anticipated
more satellite availability for the amateur-satellite service."
Read the 2011 IARU Administrative Council Summary Record at
http://www.iaru.org/2011ACSummaryRecord.pdf
Notes of the IARU Region 1 C5 committee meeting that took place August 14-16
have been published in the VHF-UHF-MW newsletter Editon 58. The Amateur
Satellite Service is mentioned, see
http://www.oevsv.at/export/oevsv/download/UKW/Newsletter_58.pdf
----
73 Trevor M5AKA
Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/
Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org
Or Upload At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm
----
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2011 11:46:57 +0100 (BST)
From: "Trevor ." <m5aka@xxxxx.xx.xx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] IARU Region 1 Minutes of the Final Plenary
Message-ID:
<1315133217.3161.YahooMailClassic@xxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
The minutes of the Final Plenary of the IARU Region 1 meeting held in Sun
City have now been released. Among the satellite releated items are:
SC11_C3_Rec _02 ? Document SC11_C3_37a
To add to the constitution
A.1.3.11 Protection of the fundamental, natural and finite resource
?frequency spectrum,? to keep it clean and undisturbed from man-made
electromagnetic disturbances causing harmful interference to the amateur
service and the amateur satellite service.
SC11_C5_Rec_10 - SC11_C5_16
D-Star in Italy using SAT-Band
Escalation Procedure:
1. Write the repeater operator to remove out of satellite segment.
2. Inform the trust server operator of the IARU bandplan breach made by
the use of the repeater.
3. Inform the government about the repeater and request them to remove
the repeater.
Proposed by OeVSV, seconded by REF. Approved unanimously.
SC11_C5_Rec_23 - SC11_C5_44
VHF Handbook Satellite Chapter
Removal of the existing Satellite chapter and replace with the attachment of
paper 44.
SC11_C5_Rec_26 - SC11_C5_48
IARU satellite coordinator co-worker
Willi Vollenweider, HB9AMC, prepared the paper. Stefan L. Streif, HB9TTQ,
introduced the paper. Graham, G3VZV, confirmed the need for this support. It
would be best to involve Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV (the current
coordinator) in this regard. Then ask Willi, HB9AMC, to contact Hans
directly to work together in developing the youth satellite programme.
Stefan Dombrowski, ON6TI, can also be involved. Hans, ZS6AKV, will be asked
to include Willi and Stefan as co-workers into the Satellite ground station
network for university satellite projects.
Proposed by USKA, seconded by SARL. Approved unanimously.
IARU R1 Minutes of the Final Plenary, August 17, 2011
https://www.nrrl.no/component/docman/doc_download/149-sun-city-2011-final-plen
ary-meeting-minutes?Itemid=814
----
73 Trevor M5AKA
Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/
Email Your News To: editor at southgatearc.org
Or Upload At: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news_1.htm
----
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
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 6, Issue 504
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