[amsat-bb] Lesson for the New Year
The lesson for the New Year is to get out and check your antennas!. Lately I have noticed the satellite signals were not as strong as i like. The, the other day I am out side looking at the antenna. Hmm, I thought it was parked due north, seems a bit east of north to me. Checked, yep the control says it is due north. I shoot it with a compass, yep, it is east of magnetic north. I scratch my head a bit, wait, should be west of magnetic north. That night I check it against polaris, and finally admit, it is almost 40 degrees east of where it should be. That will make the antenna system not work as well as it should. So today the antenna is down and being realigned as well as some other delayed maintenance.. Should be back up and running in a week. So, it's a good idea to go out and check, is the antenna really pointing the direction you think it is... -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] WA6ARA to DM 16 only
I'm sorry, just realized, I am only going to DM16, on November 27th and 28th. Sorry for the mistake. -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] Activating DM16 27 - 28 Nov
I'll be in Death Valley, DM16, 27 and 28 of November. Will be on AO-07, FO-29, VO-52 and maybe AO-73 -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] TURKSAT-3USAT status?
So, anyone know the status of TURKSAT-3USAT? -- Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15dp Home of The QRP Ranch ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Palm Springs HamFest 01/28/12
Yep, Looks like myself and XYL Paula, N6VGW, will be making it. Hope to see you all there. 73 Mike WA6ARA On 1/10/2012 12:00 PM, amsat-bb-requ...@amsat.org wrote: Hi! Besides Clint, is anyone else considering a trip to the hamfest in Palm Springs? ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: KB5WIA / P in Death Valley Next Week (DM17, etc)
No, they do not close DVNP after Easter. It is open all year around. There are a couple of camp grounds closed after mid April that is only due to the lower attendance. I was there last year well after Easter and walked from Furnace Creek to Stovepipe with about 70 other fools for the Death Valley Walk for Life. Was there just last week, nice 103f weather. The summer months there is considerable traffic in the park, lots of Europeans visit then. I will go up in June for the VHF / UHF contest and operate out of Mahogany Flats near Telescope Peak - nice 8,000 foot spot, a bit cooler than at Badwater. ...Mike WA6ARA Wow, Dave, did you know that they close down DVNP after Easter for the rest of the summer? It can reach +125F or higher at Easter so be prepared with lots of water. I loved to visit Bodie and Scottie's Castle. I lived in Barstow 1971-1976. The desert was my playground with my old 66 GMC suburban V6. But been there, done that, and don't miss it! ;-) GL on the sats! 73, Ed - KL7UW ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: Anyone going to Palm Springs CA hamfest on Saturday (29th)?
Yep, I'm going...Mike WA6ARA Hi! I'm planning on making the trek across the desert to attend the hamfest at Palm Springs CA on Saturday (29 January). I have not decided on whether to drive over Friday evening after work, or set out early Saturday morning. Unlike most hamfests I attend, this one won't open up until 0930 local (1730 UTC), so a true day-trip over there and back is a possibility. Are there any other satellite operators - besides Clint K6LCS, who will have an AMSAT table at the hamfest - be there? 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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] KB5WIA DM17 / DM16 Grid Xpeditions
KB5WIA is in DM17 and looking for contacts! Dave expect to be in DM17 tonight (22November) and tomorrow (23November) till about noon then will be moving to DM16. He is active on both the FM an linear birds. Give him a shout! Go to his QRZ.com site for info as to where he is via Spot. 73 Mike WA6ARA ___ 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] Successful Grid Expediton to DM16/16
We had a very successful grid expedition to DM16 and DM 17 in Death Valley. A total of 55 QSOs were made, 38 fro DM 16 and 17 from DM 17. This was my first Grid Expedition and I can see how it can be addictive. Others far more experienced than I like WD9EWK, K8YSE and others can certainly add their lessons learned but here were mine: - Using the Pelican case to hold the irgs in the ready position worked very well. Just pop them open and go. - Death Valley is deep. I loss the first 10 degrees at the horizon. - FO29 became available during the trip, but I hadn't brought along pass info for it. - The SLAB (Sealed Lead Acid Battery) worked well, but needed recharging by the third day. - Einstein said something to the effect the Time is what keeps everything happening at the same time. I found this to be incorrect. At the same time for a satellite pass the cookies were ready in the solar oven, workers fired up a chain saw to work on a near by salt ceder, and someone was backing in his diesel belching land yacht (motor home) into the spot next to us. I'm preparing the QSL cards. If you worked me and need DM17 or 16, just dropped me a card to my QRZ address. 73 Mike WA6ARA OBTW - looking to repeat at least part of this in February. ___ 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] Grid Expedition to DM16 / 17
All, I am planning on an activation of DM16 and DM17 in Death Valley for Nov 15, 16 and 17. The plan is to be at Furnace Creek, DM16, for passes in the afternoon of Nov 15 and possibly early Nov 16 passes as well. Then off to the north end of the valley to Ubehebe crater (DM17) for the afternoon of DM17. Then some possible morning passes again on Nov 17 back at Furnace Creek (DM16). I expect to be on the FM birds HO68 and SO50 and on the linear birds AO7 and VO52. QSL to my home QTH. Mike Herr WA6ARA DM-15 ___ 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] XW-1?
Wondering if XW-1 was launched. I saw that China has just launched the Yaogan 7 Remote-Sensing Satellite. The launcher, orbit, etc looks right and is pretty close to the previously stated 20Dec data. Any updates out there? 73 Mike WA6ARA ___ 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: Solar Power (I was wrong)
I've had a solar grid inter tie set up here in California for a number of years, so I have had a tad bit of experience. The cost can be somewhat deceptive. I have heard prices of $20,000 to $30,000 banded around. At installation there is a healthy rebate from the California Public Utility commission, many other states have similar set ups. Then there are tax credits for Federal. California recently dropped their state credits. Plus, usually even a small installation, while not bringing you down to zero cost electrically, does bring your peak into the lower tiers of cost. Out of pocket mine cost me about $6,000. And it is working great. No, I do not have to clean them off every month. My monthly electrical bill is about $25. I am now in the process of adding a wind turbine to the mix. So look at the entire mix, ie cost, rebates and credits, and effects on the bill. Just my 2 cents 73 Mike WA6ARA Since Satellite design is heavy into Solar power, and I talk about that a lot, you may have heard me compare my Solar car to Solar panels on the roof of your house as not economical, I WAS WRONG. I was overlooking many recent changes in the environment: 1) Solar panels (PV) are 1% of what they cost in 1970 2) PV dropped 40% this year due to 2007 Energy Boom and 2009 economic bust 4) $5,000 to $20,000 tax and cash back incentives for YOU 5) Grid-tie systems operate at 95% efficiency compared to 70% of ___ 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
