[amsat-bb] Discovery Channel - How do they do it?
SSTL DMCii are scheduled to be featured on Discovery Channel’s ‘How Do They Do It?’ programme on Wednesday 26th August at 8pm, followed by a US version on Science Channel in early September, see http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2009/how_do_they_do_it.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA Daily Amateur Radio Email/RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Logging software or HRD for Linux
Eric, What 'flavor' (version of Linux are you running? I am running Ubuntu 8.04 amd64 here. I run the following: FLDIGI - psk gMFSK - psk Gnome PREDICT - Satellite Tracking WSJT - Meteor scatter/EME xLog - Logging for VHF+ contests GRIG - Radio control - Icom IC-820/910/275h/575h/1275/375h I have also had luck in running a few program (Propnet, Echolink, MMSSTV) under Wine. Wine seems to have matured at least under Ubuntu as I have not had luck in the past configuring it correctly. I have not tried HRD yet as I don't need all that function yet. James W8ISS ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
How about aiming for maximum receiver noise? That should be even more accurate. Greg Wrote: and then adjust the antenna so the shadow falls directly down the antenna boom. ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu FT857/897 on satellites
Good Morning John I use a FT897D for satellite and also a FT817 for Full Duplex operation I use them together so I can hear myself on the downlink (which is the proper way to do it). It receives the satellite fine(both rigs)but I would not consider the Ft897D a upgrade or vise versa,the best upgrade to do as a first thing is the antenna and cable and quality connectors.The draw back that I don't like on the Yaesu rigs is that the cat system cannot work during transmit,so Doppler is not corrected when you transmit and can be a bit of a pain when trying to setup your software for calibration.Its not to big of a deal and you can work around it.I personal believe that upgrading to any one of the multi band and multi mode rigs wont show any improvement.I have learnt allot from this board over this year and I live buy this rule (High Gain Low Loss).If I had an Icom and I wanted to buy another rig to run full duplex,I would buy a Icom,just for the fact that I mentioned above about Doppler correction and calibration.In order to upgrade your transceiver it is best to buy a rig that is design for satellite operation (IC910H,TS2000,FT897D,FT736R,etc) this is just my personal opinion. Good Luck Howard VE4ISP - Original Message - From: John Geiger aa...@yahoo.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org; ya...@mailman.qth.net; ft...@yahoogroups.com; ft...@yahoogroups.com; ft-...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:57 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu FT857/897 on satellites Is anyone on the list using a Yaesu FT897 or FT857 on the LEO satellites (both FM and SSB)? I am currently using an Icom 706MKIIG with pretty good results, but have been thinking about upgrading to a Yaesu FT897D or maybe a FT857D. I have used some Yaesu rigs on the sats before and the 706MKIIG seems to hear them better, especially AO27. I don't have a big setup-Cushcraft dualband yagi (5 elements on each band) with no elevation, so signals are not rockcrushing from the satellites. The QST reviews show that the Icom has better sensitivity on 70cm SSB (MDS of -143 vs -139 dbm) and on FM (.16 vs .21 microvolts) but are those differences really meaningful? Do the 897 and 857 still receive the sats really good with a minimal setup? 73s John AA5JG ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu FT857/897 on satellites
Sorry the list of rigs should read FT847 not FT897D sorry about that Howard VE4ISP - Original Message - From: Howard Kowall hkow...@shaw.ca To: John Geiger aa...@yahoo.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 7:21 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Yaesu FT857/897 on satellites Good Morning John I use a FT897D for satellite and also a FT817 for Full Duplex operation I use them together so I can hear myself on the downlink (which is the proper way to do it). It receives the satellite fine(both rigs)but I would not consider the Ft897D a upgrade or vise versa,the best upgrade to do as a first thing is the antenna and cable and quality connectors.The draw back that I don't like on the Yaesu rigs is that the cat system cannot work during transmit,so Doppler is not corrected when you transmit and can be a bit of a pain when trying to setup your software for calibration.Its not to big of a deal and you can work around it.I personal believe that upgrading to any one of the multi band and multi mode rigs wont show any improvement.I have learnt allot from this board over this year and I live buy this rule (High Gain Low Loss).If I had an Icom and I wanted to buy another rig to run full duplex,I would buy a Icom,just for the fact that I mentioned above about Doppler correction and calibration.In order to upgrade your transceiver it is best to buy a rig that is design for satellite operation (IC910H,TS2000,FT897D,FT736R,etc) this is just my personal opinion. Good Luck Howard VE4ISP - Original Message - From: John Geiger aa...@yahoo.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org; ya...@mailman.qth.net; ft...@yahoogroups.com; ft...@yahoogroups.com; ft-...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 10:57 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu FT857/897 on satellites Is anyone on the list using a Yaesu FT897 or FT857 on the LEO satellites (both FM and SSB)? I am currently using an Icom 706MKIIG with pretty good results, but have been thinking about upgrading to a Yaesu FT897D or maybe a FT857D. I have used some Yaesu rigs on the sats before and the 706MKIIG seems to hear them better, especially AO27. I don't have a big setup-Cushcraft dualband yagi (5 elements on each band) with no elevation, so signals are not rockcrushing from the satellites. The QST reviews show that the Icom has better sensitivity on 70cm SSB (MDS of -143 vs -139 dbm) and on FM (.16 vs .21 microvolts) but are those differences really meaningful? Do the 897 and 857 still receive the sats really good with a minimal setup? 73s John AA5JG ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] tracker
Hi: Does any one out there have interest in my AEA ST-1 satellite Tracker If some one is interested contact me by e-mail off the amsat site w0...@msn.com Jerry w0sat ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
Hi Nigel, G8IFF/W8IFF You are right Aiming the antenna for maximum receiver Sun noise is the best method because the antenna pattern can be affected by some squint angle and not be perfectly aligned with the boom but receiving Noise from the Sun in 2 meters and 70 cm implies a very high antenna gain and a very low overall receiving Noise Figure with a very low Antenna temperature. By the way at microwave such as 2400 MHz it is possible to receive the Sun Noise using a modest dish diameter even when the Sun activity is low as actually with around 67 sfu at 2800 MHz (10.7 cm) See here: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DSD.txt I use this method with my 1.2 meter dish 27 dBi at 2400 MHz and an overall receiving Noise Figure of 1 dB equivalent to a Noise Temperature of 75 kelvin With the above dish and receiver I actually get a Sun Noise of about 3.5 dB of (S+N)/N wich is easily readible on the S meter or better using an AC Voltmeter connected to the audio output of receiver. Using a tracking program and aiming the dish for maximum Sun Noise it is possible to calibrate the AZ and EL angle of the control box for the through reference Sun position in the sky. In addition repeating time to time the above procedure and knowing the actual Sun's sfu it is possible to monitor the state of healt of our receiving system. By the way without an HEO satellite using 2400 MHz the above procedure is as well a little and interesting Radioastronomy exercise. Best 73 de i8CVS Domenico - Original Message - From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF ni...@ngunn.net To: Greg D. ko6th_g...@hotmail.com Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org; n...@lavabit.com Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 2:17 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions How about aiming for maximum receiver noise? That should be even more accurate. Greg Wrote: and then adjust the antenna so the shadow falls directly down the antenna boom. ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
Yes that's a good point, I'm not encouraging anyone to go on their roof at night, in fact I would heartily discourage it for the sake of safety. What I intended to mean was, I looked at Polaris at night, got the difference from the way my house/roof points, then took that protractor up to the roof during daylight to tweak the antennas. And as you also mention, a couple of degrees isn't going to make a lot of difference unless you are using some extremely narrow beamwidth antennas, so the fact that Polaris is actually about 2 degrees right of how my house points to the north is not of importance in my opinion. I positioned the antennas to point along the lines of the house and it works fine. Jerry The only problem using Polaris, or most any star for that matter, is that the only time you're going to see it is when it's too dark to go climbing up the roof or tower to adjust the antenna. I use the one star that is always visible during the day, the Sun. ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Antenna pointing
Hi, I agree with the comments that high degrees of pointing accuracy are not required for satellite work. However, if you are super keen to improve your pointing accuracy then you may like to consider the modern version of the bore sight method. A bore sight is basically a length of tube, you look through, you only get a view of the target when you are accuratly lined up with it. The longer the tube the greater the pointing accuracy. For an antenna boom mounted bore sight I used about six inches of 15mm copper water pipe with a stop end soldered onto it. I drilled a 1/8 hole in the stop end and fixed a light dependant resistor in the eye end Attached to the boom and ran wires to the shack where I had a battery and voltmeter. Point your antenna at where the Sun should be then hunt backwards and forwards, up and down until you see a peak reading on the meter = the sun. Its a bit of work but the benefit of this method is that its on the tower and you can check it anytime the Sun is out. Practical problems, waterproofing and true alignment to the boom. It was a lot of work but a fun project, eventially destroyed by water penetration. 73 John G7HIA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Antenna pointing
I use a plumb bob and plumb line. When north star is first visible, I use these to determine true north on my horizon. I then create in my mind a picture of where that point is on the horizon. Then during daytime, I adjust antenna to point at that point on the horizon. A south-north road near my QTH is aligned with the same horizon point. Larry W7IN ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] DM19 Activated Aug 17
I will activate grid DM19 (smack in the middle of NV) on August 17th during the 2130Z AO27 pass (approximate). (It must be a rare grid because even WD9EWK says he needs the grid!) There is a ghost town out there that I will visit on my way to AZ. I'll be on my HT and an ARROW. If you need a QSL for the contact, just send me an e-mail, I'll confirm with the log and send you a card. No need for SASE or return card. I have a shameless request. I only need New Hampshire to complete my WAS satellite. Anyone in NH interested in setting up a schedule on any bird, any mode? I have a granite challenge to me east (a mountain) that limits the pass opportunities to reach the east coast, but I know I can because I have confirmed contacts with the rest of New England. Hope the DM19 grid will increase your totals. 73, Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME ARRL-The national association for Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspen...@arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ 530-495-9150 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Antenna pointing
John and all, I mean no disrespect, and I'll apologize now if what follows offends you or anyone. I agree - to a point - about pointing accuracy. Let's face it - of the three FM satellites currently available to us, SO-50 is the largest target we have. It is a 35mm (13.78-inch) cube. We're shooting signals at it from hundreds of miles away, so even the most accurate of pointing likely is a little of dead-center ... hihi. That fact notiwthstanding, however, I remain convinced that each individual station has its own sensitivity to pointing accuracy relative to effective communications. Stations running relatively high power levels and well-calibrated motorized antenna systems likely can be less accurate and still be effective. I don't believe I and others enjoy that luxury when we set out to work the satellites on handheld stations running lower power levels - in some cases, much lower power levels. The International Space Station provides at least a partial illustration. Here, I don't worry about Doppler tuning with the ISS because (1) it's orbit is lower (thus, it's closer) and (2) its radio runs significantly more power than any of our other smateur satellites. Even at a low power setting of 5 watts out, it is 20x more powerful than SO-50 and 10x more powerful than AO-27. I don't have to be as careful with pointing or Doppler tuning to enjoy a good experience on an ISS pass. Not so when trying to capture and keep, for example, AO-27's half-watt signal. Before I started working the amateur satellites about 14 months ago, I had spent several years enjoying visible passes of the ISS whenever I could. As I learned of the available amateur satellites and decided to give them a try with a handheld station, it became apparent to me very quickly that my practice on the ISS would be helpful. I use a compass to match AOS/mid-pass/LOS positions with known landmarks here, and then I visualize how a satellite will arc across the sky relative to my location on a given pass. I believe that has improved my pointing accuracy significantly, and I further believe that accuracy makes a difference at times in whether I make a successful contact. This morning on AO-51, I made contacts with KB1RVT in Maine and WA3SWJ in Maryland. Those contacts provided the 29th and 30th states I have worked on the FM satellites using my Yaesu VX-7R HT set at 50 milliwatts (.05-watt) output. I have used either an Arrow dual-band yagi or my current Elk dual-band log periodic to make all of those flea power contacts. I don't believe any would have been possible without pointing and tracking that is as accurate as I can make it, given my hand-holding and manual tracking. That being said, I believe your creation of an antenna bore sight is an outstandning idea - one that will help anyone improve the effectiveness of stations using tower/mast-mounted antennas with motorized Az/El rotation systems. Congratulations on that, and thank you for sharing it with the BB. 73 to all, Tim - N3TL Athens, Ga. - EM84ha From: john heath g7...@btinternet.com To: amsat amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:16:33 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Antenna pointing Hi, I agree with the comments that high degrees of pointing accuracy are not required for satellite work. However, if you are super keen to improve your pointing accuracy then you may like to consider the modern version of the bore sight method. A bore sight is basically a length of tube, you look through, you only get a view of the target when you are accuratly lined up with it. The longer the tube the greater the pointing accuracy. For an antenna boom mounted bore sight I used about six inches of 15mm copper water pipe with a stop end soldered onto it. I drilled a 1/8 hole in the stop end and fixed a light dependant resistor in the eye end Attached to the boom and ran wires to the shack where I had a battery and voltmeter. Point your antenna at where the Sun should be then hunt backwards and forwards, up and down until you see a peak reading on the meter = the sun. Its a bit of work but the benefit of this method is that its on the tower and you can check it anytime the Sun is out. Practical problems, waterproofing and true alignment to the boom. It was a lot of work but a fun project, eventially destroyed by water penetration. 73 John G7HIA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: WD9EWK cards arrived today!!!!!!
Thanks Patrick, mine arrived today! Quite impressed with your personal postage stamp!!! 73, Al W8KHP ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: DM19 Activated Aug 17
Mark, If there are no NH stations that get in touch with you, I live 5 minutes from the NH border and I can make the trip over the border to help with your WAS. Dave KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Mark Spencer mspen...@hughes.net Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:42:10 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] DM19 Activated Aug 17 I will activate grid DM19 (smack in the middle of NV) on August 17th during the 2130Z AO27 pass (approximate). (It must be a rare grid because even WD9EWK says he needs the grid!) There is a ghost town out there that I will visit on my way to AZ. I'll be on my HT and an ARROW. If you need a QSL for the contact, just send me an e-mail, I'll confirm with the log and send you a card. No need for SASE or return card. I have a shameless request. I only need New Hampshire to complete my WAS satellite. Anyone in NH interested in setting up a schedule on any bird, any mode? I have a granite challenge to me east (a mountain) that limits the pass opportunities to reach the east coast, but I know I can because I have confirmed contacts with the rest of New England. Hope the DM19 grid will increase your totals. 73, Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME ARRL-The national association for Amateur Radio Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspen...@arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ 530-495-9150 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: DM19 Activated Aug 17
Mark, If there are no NH stations that get in touch with you, I live 5 minutes from the NH border and I can make the trip over the border to help with your WAS. Dave KB1PVH Let me know if you make any arrangements, I will be glad to work you from there too!!! 73's KI6YAA Larry _ Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. http://www.bing.com/cashback?form=MSHYCBpubl=WLHMTAGcrea=TEXT_MSHYCB_BackToSchool_Cashback_BTSCashback_1x1 ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] GeneSat-1
downlink frequency has changed - now on 437.0695 MHz 20090813183201,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.orgE4242E15011600 270069008F0A4E132C1F0013923005 20090813183206,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.orgE9242E8A00B600 040027006900013F029A8136C4F21CDC1F 20090813183211,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.orgEE242E5A01 2700690001F31930581C2830054002 20090813183226,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.orgFD242E02003E01 270068007802351A2C4F021AC61D1E 20090813183236,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.org07252E21010B00 270069008FEC02C5070B30C102761D 20090813183309,KE7EGCUNDEF,TELEM,qAR,DK3WN-2:GeneSat1.org11252E02003901 280068008F4F4B1C1EF8FC1C30023D 73, Mike DK3WN ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Antenna pointing
Hi Tim and the list, Thanks for the kind comments. Its not my original idea. I picked it up years ago, possibly from Amsat-UK's journal OSCAR News, or possibly eleswhere. Just happy to pass it on. Someone may find it usefull, or suggest a better/simpler implimentation of the same basic idea. 73 John G7HIA ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
To find true north at your QTH: Go to http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us Enter your nearest city and state into the menu If you prefer to enter latitude and longitude, or if you are outside of the USA, go to http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-world You will get a chart like this for your location: Thursday 13 August 2009Eastern Daylight Time SUN Begin civil twilight 5:50 a.m. Sunrise6:19 a.m. Sun transit1:12 p.m. Sunset 8:05 p.m. End civil twilight 8:33 p.m. MOON Moonrise 11:04 p.m. on preceding day Moon transit 6:29 a.m. Moonset2:04 p.m. Moonrise 11:44 p.m. Moonset3:13 p.m. on following day Make a note of the Sun transit time. Set your watch by WWV or some other reliable time source. Drive a stake in the ground (use a plumb line to make sure it is vertical). Go outside at the exact moment of the sun transit, at that time the shadow of the stake (or your tower if it is vertical) will be true north. Mark the ground at that exact time. Dan Schultz N8FGV ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: rotator questions
Or go to: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/alt-az-us enter your location and get the azimuth of the Sun for every 10 minutes so you do not have to worry as much about clouds or trees, etc. John WA4WDL Daniel Schultz n8...@usa.net wrote: To find true north at your QTH: Go to http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-us Enter your nearest city and state into the menu If you prefer to enter latitude and longitude, or if you are outside of the USA, go to http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/data-services/rs-one-day-world You will get a chart like this for your location: Thursday 13 August 2009Eastern Daylight Time SUN Begin civil twilight 5:50 a.m. Sunrise6:19 a.m. Sun transit1:12 p.m. Sunset 8:05 p.m. End civil twilight 8:33 p.m. MOON Moonrise 11:04 p.m. on preceding day Moon transit 6:29 a.m. Moonset2:04 p.m. Moonrise 11:44 p.m. Moonset3:13 p.m. on following day Make a note of the Sun transit time. Set your watch by WWV or some other reliable time source. Drive a stake in the ground (use a plumb line to make sure it is vertical). Go outside at the exact moment of the sun transit, at that time the shadow of the stake (or your tower if it is vertical) will be true north. Mark the ground at that exact time. Dan Schultz N8FGV ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Orbitron-Wispdde rotor control
All, I've been trying to get my pair of U-100 rotors under automatic control from a modified version of KO6TH AZ/EL Rotor Control program for a couple of months and have come up against a show stopper to get AZ/EL data from Orbitron on the serial port to load into a BS2. The BS2 loads programs and will display static data into a 2-line LCD display with no problem. It seems to be just the Wisp-DDE data is not recognized and stored. I have tried the original WispDDE and the Orbitron-Wispdde code AD5JN put out on the web but neither seem to work. I've disconnected the ATN line on the program-serial cable when trying receive data from the serial port but still no joy. I am sure this will work if I knew what I am doing wrong. Thanks for your attention, Gary AB3ID Snow Hill, MD ___ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
