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CX2SA > SATDIG 29.08.12 08:40l 824 Lines 32665 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. TDMA Question (Howie DeFelice)
2. Re: looking back (Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL)
3. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (Jim Jerzycke)
4. BB Postings (K4FEG)
5. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (Trevor .)
6. Re: Satellite and/or tracking apps for smart phones
(Douglas Phelps)
7. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (Clayton Coleman W5PFG)
8. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (Bob DeVarney W1ICW)
9. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (K5OE)
10. Allen, N5AFV comments on the Houston AMSAT Net (Bruce)
11. Re: Allen, N5AFV comments on the Houston AMSAT Net
(Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK))
12. Re: Satellite Usage - 2012 (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK))
13. Satellite's (Kevin Deane)
14. Re: Satellite's (Bob- W7LRD)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:31:10 -0400
From: Howie DeFelice <howied231@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] TDMA Question
Message-ID: <BLU169-W114BD5CD5ED7543D3E88857E7A10@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Dave,
The answer is yes, TDMA voice can and has been used on commercial
satellites; LEO,MEO and GEO for years. Commercial GEO satellites, for the
most part, are just high powered frequency translators. All the TDMA part is
generated on the ground. The complication is that all users will have a
different path length and therefore a different transit time to the
satellite. Compensating for this different path length is usually done by
adding a timing offset to each user. For GEO satellites this is fairly
simple. For orbiting satellites it must be done dynamically. It is also
quite common to see VoIP transported inside TDMA frames since most current
commercial TDMA modems have native Ethernet/IP interfaces.
If amateur satellite is going to make the most of digital technology, I
think we will see a trend away from boxes added to analog radios and see a
movement toward the method used commercially, which is have all the data
handling and modulation done at a low IF frequency that feeds the
appropriate up and down converters. There are many bright and talented hams
doing amazing work in DSP. I would not be surprised to see a cubesat using
this technology supporting numerous QSO's on a single frequency sometime in
the not so distant future.
- Howie
AB2S
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:36:29 -0600
From: "Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL" <vlfiscus@xxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: looking back
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20120828143437.00bf2058@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
At 01:33 PM 8/28/2012 -0500, John Becker <w0jab@xxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>Sure do miss AO 40.
And AO-13
And AO-10
KB7ADL
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 19:59:10 +0000
From: Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID: <503D230E.1010408@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hello, Wouter
I think most American hams associate "cube sat" with "easy sat", which
equals an FM satellite, like AO-51.
While these have their place, most of us are hoping for an HEO satellite.
73, Jim KQ6EA
On 08/28/2012 06:53 PM, Wouter Weggelaar wrote:
> Hi List,
>
> If I may add to the conversation about linear birds, that Delfi-C3 (an
> CubeSat!) has had a linear transponder which was used quite a lot.
> Unfortunately, it was a short lived service, but it proves the point.
>
> I'm not sure why people also keep saying that CubeSats are no good,
> since linear transponders are perfectly possible and 6U and 12U
> platforms are seen as the way forward there.
>
> If we can not launch a fully fledged MicroSat or bigger, why not
> launch some useful cubes in the mean time?
>
> Typing this while working on FUNcube...
>
> Wouter PA3WEG
>
> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Bill Ress <bill@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>> Nicely put John and thanks for putting the time into composing and posting
>> it.
>>
>> Regards...Bill - N6GHz
>>
>>
>> On 8/28/2012 10:10 AM, John Papay wrote:
>>> The Funcube Dongle postings veered off into a
>>> discussion of the current state of affairs with
>>> the satellites that are still working. After reading
>>> about how the activity on the linear birds was down, I
>>> had to wonder a bit. It has not been my experience.
>>>
>>> I really expected the activity on the FM birds to diminish when AO-51
>>> died. We only get 7 minutes of AO-27 and that doesn't make
>>> up for the much longer passes on AO-51. SO-50 has never been
>>> off the air since I started in 2006 but it is the most difficult
>>> to hear throughout the pass. For that reason, activity on SO-50
>>> was fairly low. If you can't hear it, you can't work it. But
>>> to my surprise, SO-50 activity dramatically increased when AO-51
>>> went silent. Those who work the FM birds became determined to
>>> work through this satellite despite the difficulties in hearing it.
>>> Of course, if you are not full duplex, you don't know when you are
>>> hearing the bird and that sometimes results in those who call but
>>> cannot hear the responses. They might assume that there is no activity
>>> on the bird when in fact there are many stations trying to make qso's.
>>>
>>> I started using the ssb birds in late November 2007. There wasn't much
>>> activity on AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52 at that time. But over the last two
>>> years, activity on the linear birds has steadily increased. Much of the
>>> increase can be attributed to the newer people who started on the FM birds
>>> and quickly decided to get involved with the linear birds. I think the
>>> availability of satellite capable radios has really helped. If you have
>>> a TS2000 you can be on a linear bird without much effort. They are easier
>>> to hear than an FM bird. Some are using a pair of radios to achieve full
>>> duplex with great success. And I highly recommend SatPC32 which I have
>>> used
>>> now since 2006. It runs 24x7 on a Vista Quad machine and doesn't crash.
>>> The
>>> recordings on my website were made possible using the auto multi-satellite
>>> tracking feature of this program. Recordings are made without any outside
>>> intervention.
>>>
>>> One of the things that powers DX on the HF bands are dxpeditions. Groups
>>> spend large amounts of money to travel to destinations all over the world
>>> so that others can put that country in the worked/confirmed column. With
>>> satellites today it's the VUCC award that drives the activity. When
>>> someone
>>> shows up from a rare grid, the birds are sometimes overwhelmed. ND9M has
>>> worked from hundreds of USA grids and has also worked from his ship on the
>>> linear birds. UT1FG/mm has been very active over the past three
>>> years and has created pileups on the ssb birds not unlike those on HF. To
>>> say the activity is down on the linear birds in recent years is simply
>>> incorrect. And more hams are operating satellites away from home than ever
>>> before. You work with what you have and make the best of it, fm or linear.
>>>
>>> The future of AMSAT and the satellite phase of our hobby is all about the
>>> new people. When you hear someone new on the bird and it's a noisy signal
>>> with an incomplete callsign, maybe without phonetics, call that station.
>>> Giving out that first contact with a newbie far outweighs 100 contacts
>>> with
>>> those that you have worked many times before. Sometimes the effort doesn't
>>> result in a qso, but maybe there is a possibility to follow up with an
>>> email or postcard with an offer of help. Just remember we all started out
>>> at some point with no experience. Most everyone can remember their first
>>> contact and how important it was in terms of encouraging future operating.
>>>
>>> So if you're reading the AMSAT-bb and are discouraged by the fact that
>>> there
>>> are no High Earth Orbit Satellites, don't be. Times change, technology
>>> changes but we continue by using what we have to the max and working
>>> towards
>>> improving our situation where we can. AMSAT works very hard to explore
>>> every possibility for building and launching new satellites. It's a
>>> tremendous
>>> effort that most of us don't realize is happening day after day. We all
>>> need to support this effort. FOX I and II will be here before we know it.
>>> These birds should give us some room for more qso's and new operators.
>>>
>>> In the meantime, AO-7 continues to work at an altitude of 1450KM. FO-29 is
>>> at 1200 or 1300 KM some of the time. These birds provide an opportunity to
>>> work DX if you can see down to the horizon. If you can't, you can always
>>> go to a location that is better and use your FT817 with an Arrow antenna
>>> and work down to the horizon. There is nothing wrong with using an Arrow
>>> or ELK antenna to work DX. WD9EWK has proven that point time after time.
>>>
>>> A good ham radio operator is one that looks at a problem as a challenge
>>> rather than a show stopper. Ham radio ingenuity over the years has been
>>> amazing. So if you are having trouble and are frustrated, develop an
>>> action plan to move forward. The resources available to us today are
>>> unprecedented. And there are mentors out there that are willing to help.
>>> Above all, stay positive and have some fun!
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> John K8YSE
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Regards...Bill Ress
>> High Sierra Microwave
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:50 -0500
From: K4FEG <K4FEG@xxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] BB Postings
Message-ID: <503D2372.3040008@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
90 % of the people posting here I have NEVER heard on ANY satellite, I
have contacted several about schedules and all I get is that the antenna
system is down, or their dog ate their microphone cable or they don't
have an angle on the satellite, but they sure got time to make postings
on the BB, the linear birds are alive and well, the FM birds are crowded
and I have never heard a Cube Sat.
With no HEO satellites I work all 50 States in 8 months on the birds
that are flying, I have worked 660 grid squares and have almost 600
confirmed in 12 months and 3 weeks.
Fix your antennas, repair your mikes and cut your trees and get on the
satellites!
UT1FG works half duplex on the linear birds as a maritime mobile and
does a fantastic job, on his last voyage on the open ocean I personally
worked him in 170 NEW grid squares, There is plenty of activity. Pick a
bird, Pick a mode, Pick a satellite or pick you nose, but at least pick
up a microphone and get on the satellites they are still up there!
AO27 is flying!!! BYE!
K4FEG
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 22:51:50 +0100 (BST)
From: "Trevor ." <m5aka@xxxxx.xx.xx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID:
<1346190710.20655.YahooMailClassic@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
--- On Tue, 28/8/12, Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> I think most American hams associate "cube sat" with "easy
> sat", which equals an FM satellite, like AO-51.
To me CubeSat equals Linear Transponder satellite. Not only have we had
Delfi-C3 but in the coming months four CubeSats carrying linear transponders
will be launched:
- Delfi-n3Xt
- FunCube-1
- TurkSat-3USat
- UKube-1
There is no technical reason why future CubeSats should be confined to the
low 500-800 km orbits that are in the price range of the amateur community.
A number of CubeSat missions planned for 2013 will test propulsion systems
to raise the orbit.
With fold-out solar panels to boost power and propulsion we could in the
coming years see linear transponder CubeSats in orbits high enough
(1500-2500 km) to permit Intercontinental DX working.
If you want higher bands like 2.4 GHz just have a look at what Aeneas is
doing. http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=9277
73 Trevor M5AKA
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:14:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Douglas Phelps <dphelps1@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite and/or tracking apps for smart
phones
Message-ID:
<1346192068.30348.YahooMailRC@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Dave,
HamSatDroid is a fantastic program. I can't wait for the next version and will
be more than happy to pay for this app.? Do you have a target date for the new
version?
Doug
K9DLP
________________________________
From: David Johnson <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: John / NS1Z <ns1zjohn@xxxxx.xxx>
Cc: AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx
Sent: Tue, August 21, 2012 3:54:23 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite and/or tracking apps for smart phones
Take a look at hamsatdroid:
https://sites.google.com/site/hamsatdroid/
We've got some major improvements coming up for tablets.
Sorry to say that it will be a paid app with funds going to the amsat uk
satellite building fund. Which has contributed to many of the projects
worldwide.
The current free version can be found here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.jcrq.HamSatDroid&hl=en&refer
rer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dhamsatdroid
73
Dave, G4DPZ
Committee member AMSAT-UK
FUNcube team member
On 20 Aug 2012 21:34, "John / NS1Z" <ns1zjohn@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> In addition to the sat apps I would be interested in any Podcasts related
> to amateur radio.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: Philip Jenkins
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 9:12 PM
> To: AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite and/or tracking apps for smart phones
>
> Hi all
>
>? I'm changing cell phone carriers and I can choose either an Android phone
> or an iPhone as my next smartphone.
>
>? I haven't decided which phone yet, but I'd like to know which
> satellite-related apps other operators are using on both types of phones.
> Are there any apps for satellites other than for tracking? (I'm interested
> in tracking satellites too, of course).
>
>? So I'm looking for recommendations and ones to stay away from.? Any
> particular features to look for in these apps, or any bug-a-boos to avoid,
> especially when installing an app?
>
>? Reply to my email, N4HF@xxxxx.xxxx or to the BB (since others might be
> interested too), although I don't want to be "blamed" for starting one of
> those threads that seems to run on forever. :-)? If there are any websites
> which discuss satellite (tracking) software apps specific to smartphones,
> that would be great!
>
> Thanks. Gracias. Merci. Danke. Efxaristo. Spasibo, Obrigado
>
> Philip N4HF
> ______________________________**_________________
> 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<http://amsat.org/mailman/listinf
o/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<http://amsat.org/mailman/listinf
o/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
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 17:25:37 -0500
From: Clayton Coleman W5PFG <kayakfishtx@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: AMSAT <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID:
<CAPovOwffBWNnefbD11kFr4y9YkaVamywmCLaeFZ7La7mYwJzLA@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
And I thought CubeSat was just a platform. Why condemn it to one
mode/variety?
We have all kinds of CubeSats -- Beep Beeps, FM repeaters, Photo bugs,
Linear transponders, AX.25 beep-beepers, science fair projects.
Sounds a lot like the ham community -- diverse.
73
Clayton
W5PFG
On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 2:59 PM, Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> I think most American hams associate "cube sat" with "easy sat", which
> equals an FM satellite, like AO-51.
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:21:18 -0400
From: Bob DeVarney W1ICW <we1u@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID: <503D607E.8090606@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Looks like I stirred up a hornet's nest here, and I apologize for that.
I do not mean to condemn Cubesats.. as someone else said I tend to
generalize and say Cubesat when I mean EasySat. I guess I miss the days
of the Molniya orbit birds when you didn't have to do much for antenna
pointing for quite a while and could enjoy unhurried, casual QSOs night
after night...
I support AMSAT and will continue to do so no matter what..
VY 73 de W1ICW
On 8/28/2012 6:25 PM, Clayton Coleman W5PFG wrote:
> And I thought CubeSat was just a platform. Why condemn it to one
mode/variety?
>
> We have all kinds of CubeSats -- Beep Beeps, FM repeaters, Photo bugs,
> Linear transponders, AX.25 beep-beepers, science fair projects.
> Sounds a lot like the ham community -- diverse.
>
> 73
> Clayton
> W5PFG
>
> On Tue, Aug 28, 2012 at 2:59 PM, Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>> I think most American hams associate "cube sat" with "easy sat", which
>> equals an FM satellite, like AO-51.
> _______________________________________________
> 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: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:45:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: K5OE <k5oe@xxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID: <8CF539F1684B7F6-7D0-1802B@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx.xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Not everyone has given up. Listen to Allen's, N5AFV, comments at the
beginning of the Houston AMSAT net tonight...
http://www.amsatnet.com/
73,
Jerry, K5OE
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:26:38 -0500
From: Bruce <kk5do@xxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Allen, N5AFV comments on the Houston AMSAT Net
Message-ID: <503D7DDE.40406@xxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
for those that would like to listen to allen, n5afv's, comments on the
houston amsat net (august 28, 2012 8pm central) without having to listen
to any part of the net, you can do so at this link...
http://www.amsatnet.com/964snip.mp3
hope this makes it easier for those interested.
73...bruce
--
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 live 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
AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 20:28:36 -0700
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb@xxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Allen, N5AFV comments on the Houston AMSAT Net
Message-ID:
<CAN6TEUe8s3yaOMwSxoxDqDArZCJ7JiJcsFEi7B0_asC+pXWshQ@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi Bruce!
> for those that would like to listen to allen, n5afv's, comments on the
> houston amsat net (august 28, 2012 8pm central) without having to listen to
> any part of the net, you can do so at this link...
> http://www.amsatnet.com/964snip.mp3
Thanks for posting that excerpt, and the reminder about your
AMSAT net. Allen wasn't my first satellite contact when I started
on the birds in 2005, but he was one of my first few QSOs. It was
good to hear his comments on the recent discussion.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
------------------------------
Message: 12
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 21:28:27 -0700
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb@xxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite Usage - 2012
Message-ID:
<CAN6TEUeXpV0MpJ1qV2XKAjooOCB3nw6wFauPDce8d4y=Z21g0Q@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi John!
Thanks for taking the time to post your message.
> I really expected the activity on the FM birds to diminish when AO-51
> died. We only get 7 minutes of AO-27 and that doesn't make
> up for the much longer passes on AO-51. SO-50 has never been
> off the air since I started in 2006 but it is the most difficult
> to hear throughout the pass. For that reason, activity on SO-50
> was fairly low. If you can't hear it, you can't work it. But
> to my surprise, SO-50 activity dramatically increased when AO-51
> went silent. Those who work the FM birds became determined to
> work through this satellite despite the difficulties in hearing it.
> Of course, if you are not full duplex, you don't know when you are
> hearing the bird and that sometimes results in those who call but
> cannot hear the responses. They might assume that there is no activity
> on the bird when in fact there are many stations trying to make qso's.
When AO-51 failed late last November, I figured that usage of the other
two satellites would increase. That has certainly happened. Crowds
are up, and more new stations are showing up to try them out. Many
who saw AMSAT's demonstration station at Dayton took the time and
effort to try making their first satellite QSOs, and it has been fun to
work some of those who I talked with at Dayton. :-)
> One of the things that powers DX on the HF bands are dxpeditions. Groups
> spend large amounts of money to travel to destinations all over the world
> so that others can put that country in the worked/confirmed column. With
> satellites today it's the VUCC award that drives the activity. When someone
> shows up from a rare grid, the birds are sometimes overwhelmed. ND9M has
> worked from hundreds of USA grids and has also worked from his ship on the
> linear birds. UT1FG/mm has been very active over the past three
> years and has created pileups on the ssb birds not unlike those on HF. To
> say the activity is down on the linear birds in recent years is simply
> incorrect. And more hams are operating satellites away from home than ever
> before. You work with what you have and make the best of it, fm or linear.
As much as some speak ill about grid expeditions and stations trying
to make a very short QSO, that does help kick up the levels of activity.
These days, you'll hear this activity on SSB as well as FM. Not a bad
thing. I haven't done a lot of road trips in the past few months, but I am
looking to do more of that as the summer comes to an end here in
Arizona.
> The future of AMSAT and the satellite phase of our hobby is all about the
> new people. When you hear someone new on the bird and it's a noisy signal
> with an incomplete callsign, maybe without phonetics, call that station.
> Giving out that first contact with a newbie far outweighs 100 contacts with
> those that you have worked many times before. Sometimes the effort doesn't
> result in a qso, but maybe there is a possibility to follow up with an
> email or postcard with an offer of help. Just remember we all started out
> at some point with no experience. Most everyone can remember their first
> contact and how important it was in terms of encouraging future operating.
Agreed! The new stations are making their ways onto the satellites,
as that MP3 file KK5DO made and referenced in another post this
evening with N5AFV's comments.
> So if you're reading the AMSAT-bb and are discouraged by the fact that there
> are no High Earth Orbit Satellites, don't be. Times change, technology
> changes but we continue by using what we have to the max and working towards
> improving our situation where we can. AMSAT works very hard to explore
> every possibility for building and launching new satellites. It's a
> tremendous
> effort that most of us don't realize is happening day after day. We all
> need to support this effort. FOX I and II will be here before we know it.
> These birds should give us some room for more qso's and new operators.
>
> In the meantime, AO-7 continues to work at an altitude of 1450KM. FO-29 is
> at 1200 or 1300 KM some of the time. These birds provide an opportunity to
> work DX if you can see down to the horizon. If you can't, you can always
> go to a location that is better and use your FT817 with an Arrow antenna
> and work down to the horizon. There is nothing wrong with using an Arrow
> or ELK antenna to work DX. WD9EWK has proven that point time after time.
And you can see examples of my operating from home and some
other locations in a few videos at: http://www.youtube.com/va7ewk
I have never had a home satellite station. For most of the time I have
been working the satellites, I have either lived in an apartment that was
not a good place to set up antennas inside or out, or a house in an
area covered by strict deed restrictions and a rental agreement that
don't let me set up antennas. Initially with the FM birds, and now in
SSB and occasionally CW.
I am now giving some thought to setting up a temporary antenna
array in the back yard. Last year, I went to San Diego to give a
presentation to a radio club out there on satellite operating. I saw
the station John W9EN uses at his house. His 2m and 70cm
antennas, along with an az-el rotator, can be quickly set up in his
yard, then the cables connect to the outside of his house to go to
his station inside. When he's done, he can take the antenna array
down. Very impressive!
If we had HEO satellites now, I would make changes to my station.
The FT-817s could still work, but I would consider a radio with more
transmit power for the uplink. An FT-817 could still do well as a
receiver, or with possibly a preamp connected to it. My handheld
Elk log-periodic antenna would be swapped out for larger antennas
with more gain. Until then, I'm having fun with the satellites we
currently have - whether I'm at home, or on the road.
My satellite log has over 11,000 QSOs in almost 7 years' time,
with all but a couple dozen of those made with portable equipment
set up wherever I happened to be - in 14 different US states and 3
other countries. With hamfests coming up in the fall, along with
the AMSAT Symposium in late October, I'm looking forward to
being on the satellites from more different locations. And some
new ones (I've never operated from Florida, and haven't been to
that state other than to change planes in Miami since the mid-
70s).
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
------------------------------
Message: 13
Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2012 23:58:46 -0700
From: Kevin Deane <summit496@xxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite's
Message-ID: <COL107-W331892766EE40CB555630083A00@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I have been following most of the recent post's on Sat usage and I gather
the main topic was the lack of use on the linear bird's. I think working the
FM sat's (or lack of) are always fun and always have been. I am dying to
work AO-7 for sure and VO-52, FO-29 but gave up trying to do so without the
right equipment. I tried several times with an FT-857 and presets, heard
people many time's but could not keep up with tuning and punching button's.
Frustration overcame my desire to even try, knowing mostly that without the
proper rig's I was just not going to fulfill my aching for these wondrous
long passes with more than just a grid exchange.
Which brings me to the point: Lack of money, you can get on the FM bird's
with an Arrow and a Hand Held, I get a minute or so on my mobile! So what is
the cheapest "proper" entry on the linear birds? Full duplex I found very
nice on the FM sat's though I do not always have that luxury. An 857 run's
what 8-900 buck's and I do not think even two of those would be very good?
Let's change the topic a bit and ask the elmer's how to help us younger and
or newer guy's get on the Linear Satellite's instead of reminiscing what
once was or the lack of use of these great bird's that still live!!!
Kevin
KF7MYK
------------------------------
Message: 14
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2012 07:22:30 +0000 (UTC)
From: Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Kevin Deane <summit496@xxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite's
Message-ID:
<923265436.1105013.1346224950212.JavaMail.root@xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xx.xxxx.xxxx
xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Hi Kevin...look out for the Icom "twins", the IC-271a/471a. I used such a
set up for years. Probably not much more that a couple of hundred bucks
apiece. They or a similar variant can be had for really quite reasonable,
via hamfest, ebay etc. Not computer useable, you have to use that "big"
knob. My first antennas were home brewed quagis with a real cheapie rotor
with the antennas tilted up about 20 degrees. there
there's always a way!
73 Bob W7LRD
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kevin Deane" <summit496@xxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2012 11:58:46 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite's
I have been following most of the recent post's on Sat usage and I gather
the main topic was the lack of use on the linear bird's. I think working the
FM sat's (or lack of) are always fun and always have been. I am dying to
work AO-7 for sure and VO-52, FO-29 but gave up trying to do so without the
right equipment. I tried several times with an FT-857 and presets, heard
people many time's but could not keep up with tuning and punching button's.
Frustration overcame my desire to even try, knowing mostly that without the
proper rig's I was just not going to fulfill my aching for these wondrous
long passes with more than just a grid exchange.
Which brings me to the point: Lack of money, you can get on the FM bird's
with an Arrow and a Hand Held, I get a minute or so on my mobile! So what is
the cheapest "proper" entry on the linear birds? Full duplex I found very
nice on the FM sat's though I do not always have that luxury. An 857 run's
what 8-900 buck's and I do not think even two of those would be very good?
Let's change the topic a bit and ask the elmer's how to help us younger and
or newer guy's get on the Linear Satellite's instead of reminiscing what
once was or the lack of use of these great bird's that still live!!!
Kevin
KF7MYK
_______________________________________________
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 member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 276
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