[amsat-bb] Re: Software must have list

[Tim Cunningham]

Wisp?

Oh how I miss the PacSats...

Alan, thanks for your help at the Huntsville Hamfest this weekend.


Tim - N8DEU






From: Alan P. Biddle 
To: Andrew Glasbrenner ; Amsat-BB 

Sent: Sun, August 19, 2012 9:21:02 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Software must have list

Drew.

Besides the other programs listed already, I still use WISP for a few quick
look things, and that works fine on WIN7.  

For satellite logging, if you don't use HRD, then the DXLabs DXKeeper.  At
one time, it was the only program which actually did LoTW sat QSOs
correctly, and I never found a reason to change.

JT65HF, another take on WSJT, which I use.

You didn't mention what version of Win7.  If Pro or up, you can download a
free XP virtual environment from MS, which works well for old programs, and
even allows ancient DOS programs to access comm ports.

For non-ham stuff, a good antivirus program, and a backup program such as
Acronis, Norton, or perhaps Paragon.

73,

Alan
WA4SCA




-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Andrew Glasbrenner
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 3:51 PM
To: Amsat-BB
Subject: [amsat-bb] Software must have list

So my 4 yr old XP shack computer is in critical care right now, and I 
have a new quad core Win 7 HP that I'm setting up today. So far I've 
downloaded and installed:

SatPC32 (still working on the speech error problem)
MixW 3
HDR 5.sumthing
Spectravue

next up is WSJT

What must have ham radio programs, especially satellite/vhf/uhf, do you 
have and recommend?

73, Drew KO4MA
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[amsat-bb] Re: News media coverage at Field Day

[Tim Cunningham]

Clint,

You are a wise person and understand this aspect very well. You are correct, 
the news media did not come looking for us. Our appointed Public Relations 
designee made sure all the media outlets were well informed about what we 
were doing, why we were doing it, where we were going to be, and how long we 
would be doing it.


Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "Clint Bradford" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 3:12 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: News media coverage at Field Day


... There were 3 local TV stations and 1 local newspaper that visited 
...


Don't sell yourself short ... Those media reps didn't just "show up" 
unexpectedly. Your club
obviously has established an excellent relationship with your local media 
outlets - GREAT JOB!


Clint Bradford K6LCS


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[amsat-bb] News media coverage at Field Day

[Tim Cunningham]

Amateur Radio Club K4BFT received good media coverage at Field Day this year 
operating near the Alabama Space and Rocket Center. Our satellite station 
has several shots in the article in the link below, including SatPC32. There 
were 3 local TV stations and 1 local newspaper that visited the Satellite 
Station this year.


http://photos.al.com/huntsville-times/2012/06/ham_field_day_9.html



73's,

Tim - N8DEU

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[amsat-bb] Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator?

[Tim Cunningham]

I have rewound a few of these motor coils and a #24 to #26 gauge enamel wire 
should work. A #22 gauge enamel wire would be too large and you would not be 
able to wind the same number of turns.


It is the breakdown of the enamel due to wire heating that makes them fail 
by creating a short circuit in the windings.


Tim - N8DEU

- Original Message - 
From: "Nick Pugh" 
To: "'David Palmer KB5WIA'" ; "'AMSAT BB'" 


Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 4:09 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator?



Hi Dave
I have rewound the motors. It take a couple of hours but is doable. I went
to Radio shack and bought I think # 24 or 26 gale wire.

nick

-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of David Palmer KB5WIA
Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 8:32 AM
To: AMSAT BB
Subject: [amsat-bb] Motor for Yaesu G5500 Azimuth Rotator?

Hi Everyone,

Well I'll be QRT from the sats for a little while!!  After replacing
my UHF antenna on the backyard satellite array, I managed to catch the
(slightly longer) new antenna on the house roof and jammed the Yaesu
G-5500 rotator, ugh!   Even though I had replaced the normal 2-amp
fuses in the controller with 1-amp fuses, the azimuth motor still
managed to overheat and burn out.

I disassembled the azimuth rotator, and although the gears, bearings,
switches, and capacitor are all OK, the motor has quite a burnt smell.
Bench-testing the unit with motor removed from the assembly shows the
motor doesn't spin at all in one direction, and spins slowly but draws
high current in the other.  Coil windings are in series for
left/right, should be 3.5 + 3.5 = 7.0 ohms, and the right coil is
showing only 1.0 ohms resistance.  The azimuth motor is definitely
toast.Fortunately, the controller is OK (both the Az and El sides
of the controller successfully control the elevation rotator).

I just got off the phone with Yaesu parts, and unfortunately the
replacement motor has been backordered from Japan since December.  No
estimate yet of when more might come in.

Question to the list:  does anyone have a G5500 azimuth rotator with a
working motor available for parts?  Or any other ideas for
replacement?

73!  Dave KB5WIA
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[amsat-bb] Re: Looking for a G3RUH dish

[Tim Cunningham]

I am not sure  Tek Sharp continues to make the patch feeds. They certainly 
do not make the tri-band feed, but I was able to get a dual band patch from 
them in June 2009 for one of their hardware cloth dishes.



73's,
Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "K5OE" 

To: 
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 4:37 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Looking for a G3RUH dish




Bob,
Regarding your Cu wire dish... you might look at the Tek Sharp dishes as 
an easier alternative to "rolling your own."  I picked one up on ebay 
about a year ago and put it in my attic... waiting for amsat-dl :-)


http://www.plumdragon.com/teksharp/hr_AO-40_products.htm

Drew,
I have a spare PF dish about 60 cm, but it is steel, not aluminum like the 
G3RUH.  I used it on AO-40 for 24 GHz.  Let me know off-list if you want 
it.


73,
Jerry, K5OE

 previous message 
You probably have one of the K5GNA "BBQ" dishes. The G3RUH is a solid 
round

spun dish.

73, Drew

-Original Message-

From: Bob Bruninga 
Sent: Jan 3, 2012 2:19 PM
To: 'Andrew Glasbrenner' , 'amsat-bb'

Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Looking for a G3RUH dish


I'm looking for one of the 60cm G3RUH dishes


Got one, (but not available).

Questions:  I measured reflector grid separation as .88 inches which works
out to be about 0.18 wavelength.  I always thought the grid had to be
tighter than 0.1 inches to be an effective "surface".

Maybe the difference with almost double the spacing is not that 
significant?

(especially for a steel one which would be quite heavy.

Reason I am asking is that I also need another S band dish (at 70 MPH on 
the

roof of a tracking van) and we are thinking about building one by using an
old solid 6' TVRO dish as a form and laying in copper wire and soldering 
it

to copper straps.  With all that labor, I'd not want to get the spacing
wrong.

Bob, Wb4APR



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[amsat-bb] Re: Kansas City Tracker

[Tim Cunningham]

WISP is another Windows program that controlled the Kansas City Tracker ISA 
based card very nicely, if you want to use it in a Windows 95/98 
environment.


Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "Robert McGwier" 

To: "Al Ozias" 
Cc: "AMSAT-BB" 
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2011 3:35 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Kansas City Tracker



Since it has been a while since these have been up on the list, I want to
remind folks that this requires an early early early generation slot,
called an ISA slot.  The drivers for the card are STRICTLY DOS 6.2 and
earlier interrupt handlers and are zero likely to work on a modern windows
machine.

If you have an old machine with ISA slots, running DOS,  this board was 
one
of the engineering marvels of its time and should still work beautifully 
on

Yaesu rotators today. You will need Quiktrak or IT to run it (again, DOS
computer programs).

Bob
N4HY

On Thu, Nov 3, 2011 at 4:09 PM, Al Ozias  wrote:


Surplus KCT



I have at my QTH a Kansas City Tracker board with a printed manual and a
copy of the KCT.ZIP file.  The owner of the board, George-WA5KBH, would
like to find it a home.  To acquire it contact me (Al-N7EQF) directly by
email. The cost of acquiring the item is to  pay for the shipping cost
(flat rate priority mail envelope), commit a donation to AMSAT and 
promise

not to ask me any questions concerning how to install, configure, or
operate it (I do not know).  The board is un-tested and may or may not
work, no known reason to suspect it's condition.



Thanks - Al - N7EQF

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--
Bob McGwier
Facebook: N4HYBob
ARS: N4HY
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[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?

[Tim Cunningham]

All of the failures were specifically attributed to either a stuck relay in 
the control box, a manual switch sticking (not releasing) on the front rotor 
control panel, and a software or computer crash that continued to drive one 
of the up, down, left, or right control lines.



73,

Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "Clive Wallis" 

To: "amsat" 
Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2011 11:50 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?


Many thanks Tim for your comments.  From what you've said it sounds like
a faulty motor.  In the ones you've repaired have you been able to
determine the cause of motor over heating?

The problems I've had in the past have always been due to water getting
into the units.

73CliveG3CWV

Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK

On 07/10/2011 18:50, Tim Cunningham wrote:

The common failure of the motor windings is caused by heat which
causes the enamel coated wire to breakdown. When the enamel breaks
down an inner winding short results.

I have successfully rewound motor windings on these rotators just to
say it could be done, but it takes some work (not recommended).

I have never seen one of these motors with an open winding. The
failure mode on the 8 that I have repaired were always enamel
insulation breakdown as a result of overheating.


Tim - N8DEU


Sent from my HTC Tilt™ 2, a Windows® Mobile phone

-Original Message- From: Clive Wallis
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 11:35 AM To:
amsat Subject: [amsat-bb] G5500 Elevation Rotator
Short Circuit?

I wonder if this is a known fault.  Recently the fuse on my G5500
blew.   The problem seems to be a short on one of the motor
circuits.

Checking the DC resistance at the control end, the resistance of one
winding is 1.2 ohms, whereas all the other windings are 4.6 ohms.

I could understand a motor burning out and going open circuit,  but
a short circuit seems less likely.  I'm wondering if it could be a
short on the cable at the rotator end, where it is subject to much
bending. There's about 15 metres of cable.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.  Unfortunately, at the
present time I'm not able to inspect the rotator.  It's stuck in the
horizontal position, so I will still be able to use the antenna for
low elevation passes.

73 Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK
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[amsat-bb] Re: G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?

[Tim Cunningham]

The common failure of the motor windings is caused by heat which causes the 
enamel coated wire to breakdown. When the enamel breaks down an inner winding 
short results.

I have successfully rewound motor windings on these rotators just to say it 
could be done, but it takes some work (not recommended).

I have never seen one of these motors with an open winding. The failure mode on 
the 8 that I have repaired were always enamel insulation breakdown as a result 
of overheating.


Tim - N8DEU


Sent from my HTC Tilt™ 2, a Windows® Mobile phone

-Original Message-
From: Clive Wallis 
Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 11:35 AM
To: amsat 
Subject: [amsat-bb] G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?

I wonder if this is a known fault.  Recently the fuse on my G5500 
blew.   The problem seems to be a short on one of the motor circuits.

Checking the DC resistance at the control end, the resistance of one 
winding is 1.2 ohms, whereas all the other windings are 4.6 ohms.

I could understand a motor burning out and going open circuit,  but a 
short circuit seems less likely.  I'm wondering if it could be a short 
on the cable at the rotator end, where it is subject to much bending.  
There's about 15 metres of cable.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.  Unfortunately, at the present 
time I'm not able to inspect the rotator.  It's stuck in the horizontal 
position, so I will still be able to use the antenna for low elevation 
passes.

73 Clive G3CWV

Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK
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[amsat-bb] Re: 6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina

[Tim Cunningham]

Unfortunately, counterfeit parts are flooding the market, especially parts 
in limited supply. Some components may be painted and stamped with the 
choice of a difficult to obtain component.


73's,
Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "i8cvs" 

To: "Amsat - BBs" 
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2011 5:32 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] 6800 uF electrolitic capacitor purchased in Cina



Hi All,

Just for curiosity please look at this 6800 uF electrolitic capacitor 
purchased in Cina !


http://sinocom.ru/attachment.php?attachmentid=2124&d=1302278111

The left capacitor is encapsulated in original conditions while the right 
capacitor has

been decapsulated.

Info received from my friend Paolo, IW2HEU

73" de

i8CVS Domenico
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[amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess

[Tim Cunningham]

Excellent!


Now let's move to the next step of business and address the true "FD Mess" that 
comes around every year.

The focus is around the FM satellite chaos. Several of us know the when, where, 
and why the 1 QSO limit was imposed. 

What I would like to see happen to address this issue is look at the real 
statistics, before and after the institution of this ruling for the 1 QSO 
limit. Look at the data and determine how many more QSO's were made before this 
ruling when a Net Control style of operation took place. If you need help I can 
provide the hit rate from our Field Day data way back when. It is bigger than 
many might realize. This type of operation brought about the same level of 
comment at the time, but I think we overlooked the benefit due to all the 
rants. With a 1 QSO point credit limit, we removed the fact that somebody could 
monopolize and run up their point count. Thus, the 1 QSO limit achieved its 
goal. This issue is that it went too far and promoted chaos. 

The reason for this investigation applies directly to the new title you are 
suggesting for the AMSAT event titled "2012 AMSAT Field Day Emergency 
Preparedness". In the original intent of Field Day it is only reasonable to 
pull away from this title that we are communicators finding ways to communicate 
effectively and efficiently. That being the case I think you will find that 
that a reasonable net control operation on an FM satellite may yield the most 
completed 2-way QSO's than letting chaos reign. The ARRL even promotes nets for 
a reason! We have let chaos reign far too long when some may recall when a net 
control style of operation yielded the most complete 2-way QSO's. Decipher the 
data and let the data speak for itself. We ran an experiment many years ago on 
an FM satellite during Field Day that brought on this ruling and we know that a 
net control style of operation is the only way to command control and bring 
more orderly operation than a free for all. The current rule on an FM satellite 
does not promote the style of operation that would normally be conducted under 
emergency preparedness condition. We can change this and it has been proven 
that a Net Control style of operation can increase the QSO count. I cannot help 
but remember listening in frustration years ago when people were calling 
aimlessly on an FM satellite during Field Day and very few were making 2-way 
exchanges. We could not stand it! Our station got on the air a few passes and 
became a target in a Net Style operation and stations were calling the target 
and we dished out QSO's to many station when nothing was being accomplished at 
the time. It brought order to chaos and QSO's were being made quickly. The 
operation was not about the points, but it was all about communicating. 
However, the aftermath of this specific operation created the great FM 
satellite rift. 

It is time to move forward and change the course of chaos. 

My suggestion is to allow a Net Control type of operation. Let us say you make 
5, 10 or more sequential QSO's and pass it off to another station who can 
capture and command the satellite, if there is one. Efficiency is improved when 
there is a target. I guess my only point here is that doing nothing will change 
nothing. We still have the 1 QSO limit so nobody has to worry about a monopoly 
or somebody running up there point total. I would do it and not claim a QSO 
point if needed in order to see it changed for the better. When somebody hears 
a target station they will call it and/or the target station can respond to 
those calling. This operation clearly netted the most QSO's being made at a 
specific time in history. It also clears traffic on the satellite faster when 
stations get their 100 bonus points for the ARRL event or 1 point for the AMSAT 
event. At this point the other station is dancing in the field bragging about 
their contact plus they would not get any additional credit even if they made 
another contact anyway. Disallowing a net style or control point for multiple 
contacts on an FM satellite only promotes chaos. This is my point and a 
suggestion for the box. 

　

Thank you for your interest and sincerity in advance, 

Tim - N8DEU







  - Original Message - 
  From: Bruce Paige 
  To: Tim Cunningham ; amsat-bb@amsat.org 
  Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 8:13 PM
  Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess


  I can handle that... next year it will be "2012 AMSAT Field Day Emergency 
Preparedness"

  73...bruce




----------
  From: Tim Cunningham 
  To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
  Sent: Mon, June 27, 2011 4:49:06 PM
  Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess

  Read the AMSAT rules. The title of the AMSAT rules IS clear when you read 
  the title as "2011 AMSAT Field Day Competition ".


  Tim - N8DEU


  - Original Message - 
  From: "John 

[amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess

[Tim Cunningham]

Read the AMSAT rules. The title of the AMSAT rules IS clear when you read 
the title as "2011 AMSAT Field Day Competition ".


Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "John Geiger" 
To: "STeve Andre'" 
Cc: 
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2011 2:11 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: FD Mess


Of course it isn't a contest.  The best evidence is that they print the
scores in QST!

73s John AA5JG

On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 2:09 PM, STeve Andre'  wrote:

> Well, is IS a contest, no matter what the ARRL says.  People see it as
> such.
> My first FD before I was a ham, looked like a contest to me and it was 
> only
> later, reading all the ARRL books I could get ahold of that I realized it
> really wasn't one.
>
> All contests where you go outside are test runs for emergency stuff.
> Our club in Ann Arbor MI (Arrow Communication Association) does the
> summer vhf+ contests outside (6m-1296) and those have been a great
> way to figure out  ways of doing stuff.
>
> I would argue that the ARRL needs to change the way they talk, and
> offer FD as both a contest and exercise in communications, and
> speak of the exercise opportunities at the other contests, especially
> those of rovers.
>
> --STeve Andre'
> wb8wsf  en72
>
> On 06/27/11 14:21, Nigel Gunn wrote:
> > A bigger FD problem is that FD is advertised as a chance to demonstrate
> > your emergency comms ability to Joe Public.
> > FD is NOT a contest so why are points and bonuses  involved at all?
> >
> > On 27/06/11 19:13, Bill Acito W1PA wrote:
> >> I think we have to let go of the mantra that “any use of the bandwidth
> is good use” with respect to  “encouraging more satellite activity”. Wasn’t
> that the original intent of the “100 point bonus” items? To encourage
> specific activities – traffic handling, promotion, emergency power, etc.
> >>
> >
>
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[amsat-bb] Re: Field Day mode for AO-51

[Tim Cunningham]

> I have a couple questions:
>
> 1.  The folks who can't eek out a contact with the handheld and Arrow 
> during
> Field Day, have you practiced?  It's how I have done it the last couple of
> years without that much trouble, patience and timing are the keys :-).  We
> have a good Field Day location where I can see down to the horizon.
>

Time is limited for many people and Field Day unfortunately is a time for 
many to experiment with their buddies. Satellite? We can do that! Watch 
this? How many times have you cringed when you heard that? Now we have a 
group of buddies standing around with their favorite liquid beverage, known 
to cause judgmental impairment, having a good time laughing and tinkering... 
For some, this is their definition of Field Day while others take it a bit 
more seriously. There is a wide mix of people on Field Day and we have to 
accept that as a known historical fact. If they become disgruntled and say 
this is not the way I envision Field Day, they may not come back.



> 2.  Has the single contact per FM bird rule really helped anyone?  In the
> old days a couple big stations got on and essentially ran the bird.  Is it
> fair?  NO! but they handed out a lot of QSOs and we seemed to get more 
> AMSAT
> Field Day entries as well.
>

No, it has not helped promote more contacts on an FM satellite. It has only 
allowed chaos to reign (fewer contacts) on the FM satellites.

Historical and factual information can clearly answer this question. When 
there are big targets to hit (stations that can be heard clearly) things run 
smoother and more contacts are made. You can debate it, but the facts are 
clear and supported by this operators experience. We already know the end 
result and that it indeed produces more contacts at a faster rate to move 
them in and move them out of the way in DXpedition style. This net control 
operator style of operation turns chaos into something more predictable and 
controllable while handing out contacts to stations that may never have a 
chance with the numerous stations calling over top of each other. I can 
remember sitting in a chair many years ago (year 2000 to be exact) handing 
out 1 contact after another on an FM bird which really led to the creation 
of the rule for a perceived problem. At the time I did not feel good about 
doing it, but when we stopped doing it, chaos reigned once again. When we 
started net control operation again, contacts were being made at a rate of 
greater than 5 to 1. We looked at each other sitting at the radio and 
discussed how many contacts were made when we operated in this fashion and 
thought we were doing a service in the Field Day spirit by handing out 
contacts when none were being made or people were just calling over top of 
each other with no actual communication taking place. As we lost the bird 
another clear station came on and did the same thing. Unfortunately, this 
caused "The Great FM Satellite Field Day Rift" to give it a name. We were 
exercising what we thought was in the best interest of turning chaos (no 
contacts being made) to something more efficient and productive that 
undeniably allowed more contacts to be made.

Operation on FM satellites is more efficient with a control or net operator. 
This was a crafted communication skill utilized to solve the immediate 
problem of no contacts being made and it worked very well.

Thus, the rule added in the 2001 AMSAT Field Day Rules to limit contacts to 
1 was instituted. The rule was clarified in 2001 by the statement:

[Operators are encouraged not to make any extra contacts via these 
satellites (Ex: UO14 &AO27).]

It is a reasonable rule to the extent of only allowing 1 point so somebody 
does not run up a score or monopolize points from another station in the 
AMSAT Field Day Competition. The problem is the rule went too far by 
encouraging operators not to make any additional contacts on these 
satellites. Statistics do not lie. They only validate the end result and 
there should be plenty of results since 2001.

Furthermore, in a June 2001 QST article written by Steve Ford, WB8IMY, he 
published the following statements:

[The politically correct thing for me to do is wag my finger at you and say, 
"you must not use more than 5 W on the 2-meter uplinks to these satellites. 
If we all play nicely and keep our power levels low, everyone will have a 
chance."]

[If you must run high power to capture a spot in the FM mob scene, at least 
be considerate. Once you've made a valid contact, get off (italics). Don't 
attempt to monopolize the birds throughout their 15-minute pass.]

It is naïve to think that everybody running 5W will solve the problem. It is 
Field Day and everybody is hungry for their bonus points for the ARRL Field 
Day. When there are a thousand stations trying to squeeze into the same pipe 
at the same time, you should expect chaos. There is no way everybody will 
get a chance to work an FM satellite on Field Day. It is not possib

[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 update

[Tim Cunningham]

>> ...to promote Amateur Radio Satellites on Field
>> Day for the greater majority there will be more
>> stations with V/U and/or V/S capability than L/S
>> or L/U capability based on historical observation.
>
> Which is why it is not a good idea to use V/U because it
> demonstrates a totally saturated and unuseable satellite
> channel.  Uplink congestion on VHF where the link budget is 20
> dB stronger than the downlink is the limiting factor and it is
> total bedlam/gridlock on FD and is a poor demonstration to the
> rest of the community and to other observers.
>
> The L/U would be the best demo, because the uplink contention
> will be much less, yet EVERY field-day site can demo the
> downlink.  The FD demo should not set themselves up such that a
> successful 2-way is required for success.  Such stations will
> fail. It won't happen, or if it does, it happens by stomping all
> over others.  This is not a good dsmonstration for ham radio at
> FD.
>

OK, Bob, I am convinced that L/U might be a better display of Amateur Radio 
Satellites for the newcomer on Field Day. The sticking point remains there 
are many prospects who will not get the chance to listen to these bands. 
That is is unfortunate! Experience solidifies that Field Day is a poor time 
to demonstrate an FM satellite, so I am going to save a day other than Field 
Day to positively demo an FM bird. Any FM satellite will sound the same with 
the same number of participants. If you limit the playing field you simply 
reduce the number of players. I think this is how we get the an elitist 
label, but I will bite the bullet and demo L/U on Field Day if that is what 
is playing (a bigger radio and more gear unless I can get a converter to 
work with my D7A HT. Do you want to put a MIC-E position burst on the end of 
your transmisison? It may make an interesting Roger Beep... Can you count 
that as a 2-in-one contact (voice and digital?) to keep things interesting. 
Of course using 9600 baud for the MIC-E who would even notice the signal? 
Maybe a little innovation here?


> Better to plan on success as demonstrated by good downlink
> reception.  THen everyone is successful.  And the downlink is
> nice and clean just as we all dream of.
>
> Bob, WB4APR
>

I just got back from 7 days at Dinsey World with my 3 year old daughter and 
I still hear this phrase over and over in my head, "Dreams do come true, 
Dreams do come true...".


73's,
Tim - N8DEU




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[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 update

[Tim Cunningham]

If the desire is to promote Amateur Radio Satellites on Field Day for the 
greater majority there will be more stations with V/U and/or V/S capability 
than L/S or L/U capability based on historical observation. You can promote 
variety or you can promote AMSAT to the greater Amateur Radio community. 
Field Day should be a day utilized to promote Amateur Radio Satellites, not 
a separate or elite group that the majority will fail to achieve without 
more unique equipment required. If we fail to reach the greater Amateur 
Radio community we may fail to reach out to a greater number of new 
recruits.


73's,
Tim - N8DEU



- Original Message - 
From: "Greg D." 
To: ; ; 

Sent: Sunday, May 02, 2010 10:29 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 update


>
> I'd vote for either L/U or L/S, which ever is easier on the batteries.
>
> Greg  KO6TH
>
>
>>
>> Additionally, the AO51-modes group would like your input on the desired
>> Field Day mode. We will likely be limited to one transmitter operation.
>> With AO-27, SO-50, and possibly SO-67 and HO-68 on V/U FM, S band or L/U
>> operation is looking very promising to provide some variety.
>>
>> 73,
>> Drew KO4MA
>> AMSAT-NA VP Operations
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>
> _
> The New Busy is not the too busy. Combine all your e-mail accounts with 
> Hotmail.
> http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multiaccount&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_4
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[amsat-bb] Re: SO-33

[Tim Cunningham]

Drew,

You might check with the SEDS team at the University of Arizona.

It has been a few years since I collected any data from the satellite. At 
that time the batteries were not healthily. Thus, the transmitter was not 
active all the time. It could go days/weeks before you heard it. I would 
have to check my logs, but I am guessing it was the 2003-2004 time frame 
when I last actively collected data from it. It was about that time I took 
my antennas down.


73's,
Tim - N8DEU

- Original Message - 
From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" 
To: "Amsat-BB" 
Sent: Sunday, January 10, 2010 4:34 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-33


> Anyone heard the beacon lately? I listened for it today and did not hear
> it. Has anyone heard it lately? If not I'll change it's status on the
> webpage.
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
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[amsat-bb] Re: A0-51

[Tim Cunningham]

Reid is correct.

Unfortunately, WISP has a limited number of entries (50) for satellites in 
its database.

In order to add a new satellite:

1. Go to Database->Edit Satellite data.
2. Go through the list and delete the satellites you do not use or at least 
one for your entry.
3. Modify a Kep list to contain only the satellite or satellites you want to 
update (AO-51). Limit this only to the ones you want to add.
4. Go to Database->Update Satellite Database and open your modified Kep 
file.

The new satellites you put in your Kep file should be in your database and 
viewable unless you exceeded 50 satellites, This is the reason for modifying 
a Kep file to add only the ones you want to add. Once they are in the 
database they will remain unless you delete it. When you load future 
keplerian element sets only the ones in your database will be updated 
provided there is an update. If your Kep set contains more than 50 satellite 
elements they will be added if there are empty slots available in the 
database. Otherwise, they will be ignored.



73's,
Tim - N8DEU
Decatur, Alabama



- Original Message - 
From: "w4upd" 
To: "Bruce" 
Cc: 
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 10:25 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: A0-51


> Most likely the keps database in wisp is full. You'll need to eliminate
> a few unused satellites to make room for new ones.
>
> Reid, W4UPD
>
>
> Bruce wrote:
>> BB
>>
>>   In prep for the change over to 38k4 DL I've put together a home brew 
>> computer running WinXP. I've got Wisp loaded but for whatever reason it 
>> cannot find AO-51 in the kep database. I used the database update feature 
>> using a text file but it still can't find AO-51.
>>   Any pointers are greatly appreciated.
>>
>> 73 Bruce KG4YEV
>> ___

> 


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[amsat-bb] Re: Been A While

[Tim Cunningham]

Hi Joel,

It is great to hear you on the BB. I hope to work you on the birds when I 
get my antennas back in the air. We moved south of the Tennessee River near 
I-65.

Our daughter is now 3 years old (my classmates have grandchildren) and 
giving me a little more time to play radio.

We managed to earn Field Day bonus points using an Arrow antenna the last 2 
years. Alan, WB5RMG, brought his equipment out to the Field Day site this 
year and it worked great, but boy was it HOT outside under a canopy tent.

As soon as the honey-do list is completed at the new house, my antennas will 
be back in the air, but it is 'Arm Strong' pointing at the moment.



73's,

Tim - N8DEU




- Original Message - 
From: 
To: 
Sent: Friday, July 03, 2009 5:48 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Been A While


> It's been quite a while since I have been on this BB. I got out of the
> hobby for about four years but I am working my way back in. I used to be
> KS4AW then K2SAT. Now I'm W4JBB. I don't even know if some of the folks 
> who
> were involved in AMSAT are even still around. I do searches on their
> webpages and either get nothing or no updates in years - I don't dive past
> the first search results page. These are a few I remember:
>
> K5OE
> K6YK
> KF4FDJ
> N7SFI
> N8DEU
> WB6LLO
>
> There were many others too.
>
> I am getting my equipment slowly out of storage (I have it stored all over
> the house apparently). I had a FODtrack interface and found a partial 
> build
> of the G6LVB tracker. I cannot remember if I finished the LVB tracker or
> not. I have a cutout for and LCD display, but no display in it. My dad has
> my '847, but he's not using it and I'll get it back in the next week. I
> left my tower up with my 2m/70cm antennas and the G5400 rotor. Feedline is
> still there too... partially. I guess my only question about gear is what
> should I use for auto-tracking with a Vista box? Like I said, I *had* a
> FODtrack interface, but I cannot find it. I also have a partially built 
> LVB
> tracker. I have a parallel PCI card I can install in the Vista machine but
> I wonder if anyone has had any luck with that setup... I'm not opposed to
> booting up into Linux either.
>
> I have looked at the AMSAT homepage and there is only a small fraction of
> satellites still available. I have renewed my membership and am really
> looking forward to getting back on the birds. I think I have rambled 
> enough.
>
> 73,
> Joel, W4JBB
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[amsat-bb] Re: About Shuttle Launch on Monday

[Tim Cunningham]

It is definitely worth the experience. I have viewed it from the viewing 
area at the Cape with only a 30 minute delay, but the most memorable was 
actually from Clearwater on the other coast of Florida. I had just checked 
into my hotel room for a business trip and turned on the television. As I 
was looking at the view through the palm tress over some water to the east, 
I heard the news break that the shuttle was about ready for lift off. The 
sun was setting on the back side of the hotel and I could see the reflection 
of the moon on the water through the pine trees at dusk. It was just a few 
seconds before I saw the glow of the engines and watched the shuttle lift 
off  up and arching over the moon leaving its trail behind. It was an 
awesome sight! As luck would have it I did not have my camera with me, but 
that sight is etched in my mind forever.


73's,

Tim - N8DEU


- Original Message - 
From: "Warren Elly" 
To: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" 
Cc: ; 
Sent: Tuesday, May 12, 2009 7:46 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: About Shuttle Launch on Monday


> I've covered more than 100 shuttle lanuches for Tampa CBS now FOX
> station...
> Its worth it. Get a room, book the time...and see the sight of a
> lifetime.
> Every shuttle is different
> Atlantis unreal Monday...very different angle...
> A once in a lifetime...worth the trip
>
> great beaches and sea food in-between launch attempts
>
> 73, Warren W1GUD
> On May 12, 2009, at 8:09 PM, Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF wrote:
>
>> Agreed, but the further you travel, the more chance that the launch
>> will be delayed by a significant number of days or
>> weeks.
>>
>> lsten...@bellsouth.net wrote:
>>  Viewing of a launch and tour of KSC are worth the trip.
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