| |
CX2SA > SATDIG 09.09.19 21:02l 1343 Lines 46460 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : AMSATBB14316
Read: GUEST
Subj: AMSAT-BB-digest V14 316
Path: IW8PGT<HB9ON<IK7NXU<IK6IHL<IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<OK0NBR<SV1CMG<ON0AR<OZ5BBS<
CX2SA
Sent: 190815/1551Z @:CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM #:12144 [Salto] FBB7.00e $:AMSATBB14316
From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(Gregory Beat)
2. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(Gregory Beat)
3. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(John Kludt)
4. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(Robert Bruninga)
5. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(W3AB/GEO)
6. Re: Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation - Outreach #1
(Zach Leffke)
7. The problem with my IC-7000 (I ask for help) (Max)
8. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-08-15 16:00 UTC
(aj9n@???.????
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 19:50:52 -0500
From: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
To: mountain.michelle@?????.???? amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID: <FA2BAA45-FBCD-411F-B042-992F3420F57D@??????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Michelle -
Merritt Island Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network station (MILA) at the
Kennedy Space Center (FL) was decommissioned in 2011, that was managed by
NASA Goddard.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merritt_Island_Spaceflight_Tracking_and_Data_N
etwork_station
A new communications system (also managed by NASA Goddard) has been installed:
Kennedy Uplink Station and Ponce De Leon Inlet Tracking Annex (35 miles
North of Cape) for Space Launch System (SLS).
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-tracking-stations-to-provide-latest-technolog
y-for-sls-orion
SpaceX acquired ($1 above scrap value), moved (FL to TX), then refurbished
(internal staff?) two S-band dishes from MILA.
Photo of dishes next to SLC-40 ~2014 (before move & refurbishment)
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=35425.0;atta
ch=1356591;image
They are now located in Bock Chica Village, TX (South Texas Launch Site),
with a separate communications building.
One of the Texas universities has access to the dishes for research,
when not used by SpaceX.
https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1025149/
SpaceX Comm System became active in 2017 and was used for SpaceX?s
Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b experiments
https://apps.fcc.gov/els/GetAtt.html?id=197815&x=.
greg, w9gb
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 20:06:27 -0500
From: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
To: mountain.michelle@?????.???? amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID: <78A41FDF-2D5B-4F9F-8B7C-E16AEBE98486@??????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
SpaceX removed the hydraulic system and converted to electric motors.
The SpaceX facility is named, STARGATE Tracking Center.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/STARGATE
Building
https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2018/03/05/271303/neighbors-c
oncerned-spacex-could-transform-south-texas/attachment/img_8153/
Location Tracking Center at Boca Chica, TX
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41017.0
UT-Rio Grande Valley
https://www.utrgv.edu/cara/programs/stargate/index.htm
w9gb
Sent from iPad Air
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 21:24:47 -0400
From: John Kludt <johnnykludt@?????.???>
To: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID:
<CABsMmtS66hdf6pUaCfC632pU=Fz4tyhN=S6-Cv+grtnLJPn0Mg@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Michelle,
So help me understand - what is the problem we are trying to solve? Let's
play this out, we somehow get our hands on a surplus dish and we fix it
up. I will skip over the part of the story that deals with annual
maintenance costs and ongoing operational costs every time we fire it up
and use it. The question is, use it for what? A dish for the sake of
saying, "Heh, we own a dish" - who ever "we' is - just does not make any
sense.
I suppose we could use it as part of a network of stations on 2.4 MHz for
HamTV but that works only if the dish is part of a greater US HamTV network
that does not exist right now. And it only works if the Az/El system
turning the dish is a fast enough to keep up with a LEO such as the ISS -
that is simple question of fact that we can discover. Other uses that
would benefit the general amateur radio satellite community?
While it is a cool idea at least to me it feels a bit like a solution in
search of a problem. Not saying it is bad idea but I am saying so help us
understand why we need a 20 foot dish owned by the amateur *satellite*
community at large. The other part of me that does EME sees lots of uses
but that is very different game - see HB9Q. And before we get too far down
the road, I'd like to see not just acquisition and repair costs but ongoing
maintenance and operations costs.
Respectfully,
John
On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 5:12 PM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
> A group of GNU Radio community members has permission to evaluate a dish
> installation in Huntsville, AL near the Space Center. If you've ever been
> to the Space Center (where the Saturn V is suspended from the ceiling) then
> this dish is right outside the main entrance. Anyone attending Symposium
> last year should recognize it!
>
> Here's a set of photos:
>
>
> https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1d_Oi3hrIi49JxmaoNuUA-pvUXOs7vSz1
>
> We're looking for technical information, identification of what you
> recognize in the photos, recommended next steps, and what to watch out for,
> prioritize, or avoid. We already know we want to take the paint off all the
> ID plates and see what's under there.
>
> We want to see if we can get this working for *amateur radio operators to
> access over the internet*, ideally with a GNU Radio flowgraph to control it
> from an SDR. Our priority is to make this work for amateur satellite.
>
> This type of setup is similar to what GNU Radio Foundation is working on
> with the Allen Telescope Array. We have the go-ahead from the Space Center
> curator to do this study and make recommendations.
>
> I have fully restored several basket-case British sports cars and then
> successfully raced them. My other team members have restored things even
> more challenging. We are not dumb, naive, or easily deterred. We know this
> may turn out to be something that requires way more work than we can do in
> any time frame we can manage. Documenting that is still of great value, and
> that is why we are asking for your help. Right now, no one knows much of
> anything about it. This sort of installation, if available for amateur
> radio, is well worth the effort.
>
> Some of the people involved have been driving past this installation for 20
> years and want to see it back in service at whatever level we can achieve.
> It will be discussed at GNU Radio Conference, and everyone at the
> conference will have the opportunity to see it up close and in person,
> since it's literally across the parking lot from the venue.
>
> Want to attend or find out more about GRCon?
> https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/
>
> If you know of someone off-list that might know details that will help,
> then please pass this along!
>
> -Michelle W5NYV + Corps of Operation Flashlight
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 21:45:51 -0400
From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@????.???>
To: AMSAT-BB <AMSAT-BB@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID: <7733551d706962bf47780e2a02722f35@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
EME seems most practical...
>From the shadows, it looks like it is on the north side of the building
and has SERIOUS blockage to the east and west through south maybe as high
as 40 degrees or more. Then trees block the North and NE. About the only
sky it can see is NW?
Since LEO's spend 70% of their time in view below about 22 degrees, My
guess is that this dish could only see about 10% of all possible pass
times?
But EME is high most of the time. And easy to schedule around times of
high passes for a club station at a museum. Also would be a high interest
item and things MOVE SLOWLY!
If it is rusted frozen, then the EASY way out is to point it roughly south
some how. And then wait for the moon to pass through its field of view.
Hummh, lets say using the 2m feed the beamwidth is 5 degrees and the moon
goes 180 degrees in 12 hours. Then its in view (3dB) maybe 20 minutes at
a time?
Then to improve the number of days, one could add another dipole above and
below the existing one and then pick up additional passes without having
to move the dish. Or easier, just nutate the feed up and down. Then you
could get a moon pass every day.
You could predict and post a schedule of when people could make contacts.?
Just playing with ideas...
Zooming in with google earth in 3d you can stand ANYWHERE and almost see
the same views as the excellent ones alrady posted. But walk around and
fine tune them. Amazing...
Bob, WB4APR
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of John Kludt via
AMSAT-BB
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 9:25 PM
To: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Michelle,
So help me understand - what is the problem we are trying to solve? Let's
play this out, we somehow get our hands on a surplus dish and we fix it
up. I will skip over the part of the story that deals with annual
maintenance costs and ongoing operational costs every time we fire it up
and use it. The question is, use it for what? A dish for the sake of
saying, "Heh, we own a dish" - who ever "we' is - just does not make any
sense.
I suppose we could use it as part of a network of stations on 2.4 MHz for
HamTV but that works only if the dish is part of a greater US HamTV
network
that does not exist right now. And it only works if the Az/El system
turning the dish is a fast enough to keep up with a LEO such as the ISS -
that is simple question of fact that we can discover. Other uses that
would benefit the general amateur radio satellite community?
While it is a cool idea at least to me it feels a bit like a solution in
search of a problem. Not saying it is bad idea but I am saying so help us
understand why we need a 20 foot dish owned by the amateur *satellite*
community at large. The other part of me that does EME sees lots of uses
but that is very different game - see HB9Q. And before we get too far
down the road, I'd like to see not just acquisition and repair costs but
ongoing maintenance and operations costs.
Respectfully,
John
On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 5:12 PM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
> A group of GNU Radio community members has permission to evaluate a
> dish installation in Huntsville, AL near the Space Center. If you've
> ever been to the Space Center (where the Saturn V is suspended from
> the ceiling) then this dish is right outside the main entrance. Anyone
> attending Symposium last year should recognize it!
>
> Here's a set of photos:
>
>
> https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1d_Oi3hrIi49JxmaoNuUA-pvUXO
> s7vSz1
>
> We're looking for technical information, identification of what you
> recognize in the photos, recommended next steps, and what to watch out
> for, prioritize, or avoid. We already know we want to take the paint
> off all the ID plates and see what's under there.
>
> We want to see if we can get this working for *amateur radio operators
> to access over the internet*, ideally with a GNU Radio flowgraph to
> control it from an SDR. Our priority is to make this work for amateur
satellite.
>
> This type of setup is similar to what GNU Radio Foundation is working
> on with the Allen Telescope Array. We have the go-ahead from the Space
> Center curator to do this study and make recommendations.
>
> I have fully restored several basket-case British sports cars and then
> successfully raced them. My other team members have restored things
> even more challenging. We are not dumb, naive, or easily deterred. We
> know this may turn out to be something that requires way more work
> than we can do in any time frame we can manage. Documenting that is
> still of great value, and that is why we are asking for your help.
> Right now, no one knows much of anything about it. This sort of
> installation, if available for amateur radio, is well worth the effort.
>
> Some of the people involved have been driving past this installation
> for 20 years and want to see it back in service at whatever level we can
achieve.
> It will be discussed at GNU Radio Conference, and everyone at the
> conference will have the opportunity to see it up close and in person,
> since it's literally across the parking lot from the venue.
>
> Want to attend or find out more about GRCon?
> https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/
>
> If you know of someone off-list that might know details that will
> help, then please pass this along!
>
> -Michelle W5NYV + Corps of Operation Flashlight
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect
> the official views of AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to
all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official
views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 14 Aug 2019 20:45:50 -0700
From: W3AB/GEO <w3ab@?????.???>
To: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@????.???>
Cc: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID: <ac0479f6-827c-4c57-b68c-18021ad8a8c3@?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Everyone, please chill.
As I asked before, has it been "surplused"? Everything stripped from it. No
one even knows what "model" it is and who made it. Plus what is on board.
Speculation is really worthless compared to facts.
Just like the rocket on display; anyone think it'll ever fly again?
And, here is an example of another "opportunity" that fell apart. I shared
this as well.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamesburg_Earth_Station
?___
Sent from my two way wrist watch
73 de W3AB/GEO?
On Aug 14, 2019, 18:49, at 18:49, Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB
<amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>EME seems most practical...
>
>From the shadows, it looks like it is on the north side of the building
>and has SERIOUS blockage to the east and west through south maybe as
>high
>as 40 degrees or more. Then trees block the North and NE. About the
>only
>sky it can see is NW?
>
>Since LEO's spend 70% of their time in view below about 22 degrees, My
>guess is that this dish could only see about 10% of all possible pass
>times?
>
>But EME is high most of the time. And easy to schedule around times of
>high passes for a club station at a museum. Also would be a high
>interest
>item and things MOVE SLOWLY!
>
>If it is rusted frozen, then the EASY way out is to point it roughly
>south
>some how. And then wait for the moon to pass through its field of
>view.
>Hummh, lets say using the 2m feed the beamwidth is 5 degrees and the
>moon
>goes 180 degrees in 12 hours. Then its in view (3dB) maybe 20 minutes
>at
>a time?
>
>Then to improve the number of days, one could add another dipole above
>and
>below the existing one and then pick up additional passes without
>having
>to move the dish. Or easier, just nutate the feed up and down. Then
>you
>could get a moon pass every day.
>
>You could predict and post a schedule of when people could make
>contacts.?
>
>Just playing with ideas...
>
>Zooming in with google earth in 3d you can stand ANYWHERE and almost
>see
>the same views as the excellent ones alrady posted. But walk around
>and
>fine tune them. Amazing...
>
>Bob, WB4APR
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of John Kludt via
>AMSAT-BB
>Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 9:25 PM
>To: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
>Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
>Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
>Outreach #1
>
>Michelle,
>
>So help me understand - what is the problem we are trying to solve?
>Let's
>play this out, we somehow get our hands on a surplus dish and we fix
>it
>up. I will skip over the part of the story that deals with annual
>maintenance costs and ongoing operational costs every time we fire it
>up
>and use it. The question is, use it for what? A dish for the sake of
>saying, "Heh, we own a dish" - who ever "we' is - just does not make
>any
>sense.
>
>I suppose we could use it as part of a network of stations on 2.4 MHz
>for
>HamTV but that works only if the dish is part of a greater US HamTV
>network
>that does not exist right now. And it only works if the Az/El system
>turning the dish is a fast enough to keep up with a LEO such as the ISS
>-
>that is simple question of fact that we can discover. Other uses
>that
>would benefit the general amateur radio satellite community?
>
>While it is a cool idea at least to me it feels a bit like a solution
>in
>search of a problem. Not saying it is bad idea but I am saying so help
>us
>understand why we need a 20 foot dish owned by the amateur *satellite*
>community at large. The other part of me that does EME sees lots of
>uses
>but that is very different game - see HB9Q. And before we get too far
>down the road, I'd like to see not just acquisition and repair costs
>but
>ongoing maintenance and operations costs.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>John
>
>
>
>
>
>On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 5:12 PM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
>amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>
>> A group of GNU Radio community members has permission to evaluate a
>> dish installation in Huntsville, AL near the Space Center. If you've
>> ever been to the Space Center (where the Saturn V is suspended from
>> the ceiling) then this dish is right outside the main entrance.
>Anyone
>> attending Symposium last year should recognize it!
>>
>> Here's a set of photos:
>>
>>
>>
>https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1d_Oi3hrIi49JxmaoNuUA-pvUXO
>> s7vSz1
>>
>> We're looking for technical information, identification of what you
>> recognize in the photos, recommended next steps, and what to watch
>out
>> for, prioritize, or avoid. We already know we want to take the paint
>> off all the ID plates and see what's under there.
>>
>> We want to see if we can get this working for *amateur radio
>operators
>> to access over the internet*, ideally with a GNU Radio flowgraph to
>> control it from an SDR. Our priority is to make this work for amateur
>satellite.
>>
>> This type of setup is similar to what GNU Radio Foundation is working
>> on with the Allen Telescope Array. We have the go-ahead from the
>Space
>> Center curator to do this study and make recommendations.
>>
>> I have fully restored several basket-case British sports cars and
>then
>> successfully raced them. My other team members have restored things
>> even more challenging. We are not dumb, naive, or easily deterred. We
>> know this may turn out to be something that requires way more work
>> than we can do in any time frame we can manage. Documenting that is
>> still of great value, and that is why we are asking for your help.
>> Right now, no one knows much of anything about it. This sort of
>> installation, if available for amateur radio, is well worth the
>effort.
>>
>> Some of the people involved have been driving past this installation
>> for 20 years and want to see it back in service at whatever level we
>can
>achieve.
>> It will be discussed at GNU Radio Conference, and everyone at the
>> conference will have the opportunity to see it up close and in
>person,
>> since it's literally across the parking lot from the venue.
>>
>> Want to attend or find out more about GRCon?
>> https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/
>>
>> If you know of someone off-list that might know details that will
>> help, then please pass this along!
>>
>> -Michelle W5NYV + Corps of Operation Flashlight
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect
>> the official views of AMSAT-NA.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>program!
>> Subscription settings:
>https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>to
>all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
>expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the
>official
>views of AMSAT-NA.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>program!
>Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>Opinions expressed
>are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
>of AMSAT-NA.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>program!
>Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 00:49:05 -0400
From: Zach Leffke <zleffke@??.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
Outreach #1
Message-ID: <a1493045-cbe9-716d-e43b-7923268068b4@??.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
I don't mind throwing out a few ideas, even if its beyond
salvaging...its fun to think of ideas and potential use cases for these
kinds of things.......(hobbies are for fun right?)......
For those interested, looks like this is the one:? 34.711786, -86.653985
(copy/paste into google maps).? Not this one: 34.711070, -86.654875 (had
me distracted for a bit...that also maybe looks like its no longer in
use with better southerly views?)
Idea 1: GEO TT&C and/or Gateway?
If we get a GEO bird, ~20ft/6m aperture could be useful as a (maybe
backup?) command station for the 5/10 GHz strategy.? Or alternatively a
'gateway' of sorts for user traffic (again maybe backup)?
For this specific antenna, if we can get a view of the GEO belt over the
buildings to the south, could be feasible.? I agree with Bob that the
blockage looks pretty significant to the south, but the 3D google street
view make it look 'not so bad' for GEO maybe (thats a pretty big
maybe....perspectives could be skewed in that view though, and its hard
to concentrate when looking at an SR-71 in front of you and the Saturn V
to the right).
For a GEO use case....would have to consider:
1.? Can we see the GEO belt at all?
2.? at 5 and 10 GHz we're talking sub 1 deg beamwidth.? For a non
geostationary bird, that means peaking up.? If the motor drives (if they
exist) can't keep up with a LEO bird, perhaps they could keep up with
the 'figure-8' of a slightly drifting geosynchronous bird with a bit of
inclination (few degrees of az/el over a sidereal day.....sort of like
furlongs per fortnight).? If there are no motors at all, and we have a
geostationary bird, and we have a view of it, maybe it could be
're-parked' to point at the bird (even a drifting bird coming in and out
of the main beam could be useful/fun)....maybe that 'crank wheel' has
something to do with manual control?
3.? Feed would have to be replaced (obviously).
4.? As it looks like it was originally for VHF or UHF, might want to
confirm the mesh is usable at microwave freqs (not sure of the mesh size
from the pictures).
5.? concerns about high power 5 GHz TX RF at a place heavy with general
public traffic?? Concerns about proximity to Marshall Spaceflight Center
and potential 5 GHz Radars nearby (limiting our ability to TX, not
RX......I've heard of similar issues for ionospheric work and
restrictions in the area...but that was down at HF)?? If so maybe a
downlink only station?
Idea 2: maybe the more important/valuable one?
Technical matters aside for a second.....having an active (even if
remotely controlled, and even if with degraded performance, restricted
field of view, etc.) antenna operated by Hams in the US Space and Rocket
Center can only be a good thing in terms of public outreach and raising
awareness for Amateur Radio in general (and maybe AMSAT/GNU Radio more
specifically), whether its being used for EME, Satellite, maybe balloon
tracking, or whatever?? Our own 'live' Ham Radio exhibit, at a pretty
big NASA museum, with a lot of foot traffic......thats gotta be good for
'business' right?
Imagine you are 10 and are interested in Space.? Your parents are taking
you to see rockets in Huntsville...you are walking around looking a lot
of 'not moving, but still really cool' things.......and out of the
corner of your eye, that 'HUGE' dish starts moving around (way bigger
than the one on your house that never moves.....super cool).? So you run
over and start reading the plaque....and realize its being used for
Space Stuff RIGHT NOW!!!!.......and theres this thing called Amateur
Radio (plaque says so).........'Mom/Dad...whats Amateur Radio?? can I do
Amateur Radio.....is this like the Ham thing uncle so and so is always
talking about........'? BAM, the next Hiram Percy Maxim.........thats a
win right?? That kid......first boot on Mars.....and it alllll started
when he took a trip with his parents and saw a dish moving
around......(OK, maybe a stretch.....but still).
Also..instead of plaque....maybe weather proof spectrum displays?? Maybe
some kind of audio......Maybe something like the 'pulse of exploration'
from JPL DSN (more like a technical art exhibit, google it, pretty
cool)......and if not outside for that stuff.....maybe a small area
inside with a view out of the front windows of the dish?
So I guess what I'm saying is that getting a 5 or 6m dish and
refurbishing it in your back yard might not be impossible, and its
probably easier than dealing with the 'woes' of this particular dish,
and it would probably perform better for whatever the
application.......getting a 6m dish active for Hams at a pretty high
traffic NASA museum......for the community, that might be priceless (and
worth the 'woes' of this particular dish, something about beggars and
choosers.......).
-Zach, KJ4QLP
P.S.? the site in NC that was mentioned in a previous post is called the
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, aka PARI.
--
Research Associate
Aerospace Systems Lab
Ted & Karyn Hume Center for National Security & Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Work Phone: 540-231-4174
Cell Phone: 540-808-6305
On 8/14/19 11:45 PM, W3AB/GEO via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> Everyone, please chill.
>
> As I asked before, has it been "surplused"? Everything stripped from it.
No one even knows what "model" it is and who made it. Plus what is on board.
Speculation is really worthless compared to facts.
>
> Just like the rocket on display; anyone think it'll ever fly again?
>
> And, here is an example of another "opportunity" that fell apart. I shared
this as well.
> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamesburg_Earth_Station
>
> ?___
> Sent from my two way wrist watch
> 73 de W3AB/GEO?
>
> On Aug 14, 2019, 18:49, at 18:49, Robert Bruninga via AMSAT-BB
<amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>> EME seems most practical...
>>
> >From the shadows, it looks like it is on the north side of the building
>> and has SERIOUS blockage to the east and west through south maybe as
>> high
>> as 40 degrees or more. Then trees block the North and NE. About the
>> only
>> sky it can see is NW?
>>
>> Since LEO's spend 70% of their time in view below about 22 degrees, My
>> guess is that this dish could only see about 10% of all possible pass
>> times?
>>
>> But EME is high most of the time. And easy to schedule around times of
>> high passes for a club station at a museum. Also would be a high
>> interest
>> item and things MOVE SLOWLY!
>>
>> If it is rusted frozen, then the EASY way out is to point it roughly
>> south
>> some how. And then wait for the moon to pass through its field of
>> view.
>> Hummh, lets say using the 2m feed the beamwidth is 5 degrees and the
>> moon
>> goes 180 degrees in 12 hours. Then its in view (3dB) maybe 20 minutes
>> at
>> a time?
>>
>> Then to improve the number of days, one could add another dipole above
>> and
>> below the existing one and then pick up additional passes without
>> having
>> to move the dish. Or easier, just nutate the feed up and down. Then
>> you
>> could get a moon pass every day.
>>
>> You could predict and post a schedule of when people could make
>> contacts.?
>>
>> Just playing with ideas...
>>
>> Zooming in with google earth in 3d you can stand ANYWHERE and almost
>> see
>> the same views as the excellent ones alrady posted. But walk around
>> and
>> fine tune them. Amazing...
>>
>> Bob, WB4APR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of John Kludt via
>> AMSAT-BB
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 9:25 PM
>> To: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
>> Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Space Center Abandoned Dish Rehabilitation -
>> Outreach #1
>>
>> Michelle,
>>
>> So help me understand - what is the problem we are trying to solve?
>> Let's
>> play this out, we somehow get our hands on a surplus dish and we fix
>> it
>> up. I will skip over the part of the story that deals with annual
>> maintenance costs and ongoing operational costs every time we fire it
>> up
>> and use it. The question is, use it for what? A dish for the sake of
>> saying, "Heh, we own a dish" - who ever "we' is - just does not make
>> any
>> sense.
>>
>> I suppose we could use it as part of a network of stations on 2.4 MHz
>> for
>> HamTV but that works only if the dish is part of a greater US HamTV
>> network
>> that does not exist right now. And it only works if the Az/El system
>> turning the dish is a fast enough to keep up with a LEO such as the ISS
>> -
>> that is simple question of fact that we can discover. Other uses
>> that
>> would benefit the general amateur radio satellite community?
>>
>> While it is a cool idea at least to me it feels a bit like a solution
>> in
>> search of a problem. Not saying it is bad idea but I am saying so help
>> us
>> understand why we need a 20 foot dish owned by the amateur *satellite*
>> community at large. The other part of me that does EME sees lots of
>> uses
>> but that is very different game - see HB9Q. And before we get too far
>> down the road, I'd like to see not just acquisition and repair costs
>> but
>> ongoing maintenance and operations costs.
>>
>> Respectfully,
>>
>> John
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 14, 2019 at 5:12 PM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
>> amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>>
>>> A group of GNU Radio community members has permission to evaluate a
>>> dish installation in Huntsville, AL near the Space Center. If you've
>>> ever been to the Space Center (where the Saturn V is suspended from
>>> the ceiling) then this dish is right outside the main entrance.
>> Anyone
>>> attending Symposium last year should recognize it!
>>>
>>> Here's a set of photos:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1d_Oi3hrIi49JxmaoNuUA-pvUXO
>>> s7vSz1
>>>
>>> We're looking for technical information, identification of what you
>>> recognize in the photos, recommended next steps, and what to watch
>> out
>>> for, prioritize, or avoid. We already know we want to take the paint
>>> off all the ID plates and see what's under there.
>>>
>>> We want to see if we can get this working for *amateur radio
>> operators
>>> to access over the internet*, ideally with a GNU Radio flowgraph to
>>> control it from an SDR. Our priority is to make this work for amateur
>> satellite.
>>> This type of setup is similar to what GNU Radio Foundation is working
>>> on with the Allen Telescope Array. We have the go-ahead from the
>> Space
>>> Center curator to do this study and make recommendations.
>>>
>>> I have fully restored several basket-case British sports cars and
>> then
>>> successfully raced them. My other team members have restored things
>>> even more challenging. We are not dumb, naive, or easily deterred. We
>>> know this may turn out to be something that requires way more work
>>> than we can do in any time frame we can manage. Documenting that is
>>> still of great value, and that is why we are asking for your help.
>>> Right now, no one knows much of anything about it. This sort of
>>> installation, if available for amateur radio, is well worth the
>> effort.
>>> Some of the people involved have been driving past this installation
>>> for 20 years and want to see it back in service at whatever level we
>> can
>> achieve.
>>> It will be discussed at GNU Radio Conference, and everyone at the
>>> conference will have the opportunity to see it up close and in
>> person,
>>> since it's literally across the parking lot from the venue.
>>>
>>> Want to attend or find out more about GRCon?
>>> https://www.gnuradio.org/grcon/grcon19/
>>>
>>> If you know of someone off-list that might know details that will
>>> help, then please pass this along!
>>>
>>> -Michelle W5NYV + Corps of Operation Flashlight
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>>> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect
>>> the official views of AMSAT-NA.
>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>> program!
>>> Subscription settings:
>> https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>> to
>> all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
>> expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the
>> official
>> views of AMSAT-NA.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>> program!
>> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
>> Opinions expressed
>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
>> of AMSAT-NA.
>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
>> program!
>> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@?????.???. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
--
Research Associate
Aerospace Systems Lab
Ted & Karyn Hume Center for National Security & Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Work Phone: 540-231-4174
Cell Phone: 540-808-6305
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 14:48:42 +0300
From: Max <max@????????.???.??>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: [amsat-bb] The problem with my IC-7000 (I ask for help)
Message-ID: <1f8d8a10-cada-70c5-35b6-24bccd0cbf65@????????.???.??>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
Good day,
I need help, my PCB boards version "B6250K" has gone bad.
Please tell me where I can buy this board.
Offer any options, but I would like to purchase in Poland or Ukraine.
Thank.
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:37:27 +0000 (UTC)
From: aj9n@???.???
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: [amsat-bb] Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-08-15
16:00 UTC
Message-ID: <1716866812.4098423.1565883447410@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2019-08-15 16:00 UTC
?
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
?
Loreto College, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, telebridge via IK1SLD
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be IR?ISS
The scheduled astronaut is Nick Hague KG5TMV
Contact was successful: Thu 2019-08-15 09:17:06 UTC 53 deg (***)
Watch for live stream at www.ariotti.com starting about 15 min before AOS.
?
The Children?s Inn at NIH (National Institutes of Health), Bethesda, MD
(CASIS#3), telebridge via VK4KHZ
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Drew Morgan KI5AAA
Contact is go for: Thu 2019-08-22 17:16:22 UTC 38 deg
?
?
The ARISS webpage is at http://www.ariss.org/ ???
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
?
The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at
http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html ???
ARISS Contact Applications (United States)
?
?
For many years I have on purpose not given the actual hyperlinks; I assume
the user would do a copy/paste into their favorite browser.? I am now
thinking that the browsers have all grown up and most should be able to
handle the link.? Please let me know you experience any issues.? So now you
should be able to directly click on the link.? (***)
?
Note, all times are approximate. ?It is recommended that you do your own
orbital prediction?or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed
time.
All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and
time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
?
The complete schedule page has been updated as of?2019-08-15 16:00 UTC.? (***)
Here you will find a listing of all scheduled?school contacts, and
questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and
instructions for any contact that may be streamed live.
?
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt
?
?
The successful school list has been updated as of 2019-08-15 16:00 UTC. (***)
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf
?
?
?
The ARISS webpage is at http://www.ariss.org/ ???
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
?
The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at
http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html ???
?
ARISS Contact Applications (United States)
?
The ARISS webpage is at http://www.ariss.org/ ???
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
?
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
****************
ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East)
?
Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East
interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board
the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from
September to October and from February to April.
Please refer to details and the application form at
www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts.? Applications should be addressed by email
to:? school.selection.manager@????????.???
?
ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and
Australia and Russia)
?
Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by
filling out an application.? Please direct questions to the appropriate
regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically
listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are
unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada
representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate
coordinator.
?
For the application, go to:? http://www.ariss.org/ariss-application.html.
ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD email to:
ve3tbd@?????.???
ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ email to:
ariss@???????.???? Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) http://www.jarl.org/
ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) https://srr.ru/
?
?
******************************************************************************
ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts.?
ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance.? Feel free to send
your reports to aj9n@?????.??? or aj9n@???.???.
?
Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8? MHz.
?
******************************************************************************
*
?
All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted.
?
******************************************************************************
*
Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and
not being able to get in. ?That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/
?
Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site.
?
****************************************************************************
Looking for something new to do?? How about receiving DATV from the ISS??
Please note that the HamTV system has been brought back to earth for
troubleshooting.? Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest
news on the troubleshooting efforts.?
?
If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details.?
Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video.????????????
?
http://www.ariss-eu.org/
?
If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to
provide some insight.? Contact Kerry at kbanke@?????????.???
?
?
The HamTV webpage:? https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/
?
?
****************************************************************************
ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100
schools:
?
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 136
Francesco IK?WGF with 132
Gaston ON4WF with 123
Sergey RV3DR with 120
?
****************************************************************************
The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date
webpages were removed, and new ones have been added.? If there are additional
ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know.
?
?
?
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1327. (***)
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1270. (***)
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47.
?
A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the
file.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf
?
Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed.
?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact:
South Dakota, Wyoming, American?Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and
the Virgin Islands.
?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
?
QSL information may be found at:
http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html
?
ISS callsigns: DP?ISS, IR?ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS?ISS
?
****************************************************************************
Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing
Doppler correction? as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction.r
tf
Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts
?
https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415
****************************************************************************
?
Exp. 59 on orbit
Christina Koch
Aleksey Ovchinin
Nick Hague KG5TMV
?
Exp. 60 on orbit
Luca Parmitano KF5KDP
Alexander Skvortsov
Drew Morgan KI5AAA
?
****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie?Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
?
------------------------------
Subject: Digest Footer
_______________________________________________
Sent via amsat-bb@?????.???.
AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide
without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 14, Issue 316
*****************************************
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
