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CX2SA > SATDIG 13.07.20 00:00l 844 Lines 31903 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: FoxDelta ST2-0417 USB setup help (kb2mjeff@???.????
2. Re: 2.4GHz Satellite Beacons over US (MICHAEL WILLIAMS)
3. Re: Members Please Read (Clint Bradford)
4. Re: AMSAT Leadership Explanation ... (Michelle Thompson)
5. Re: Members Please Read (Joseph Armbruster)
6. Re: Members Please Read (Fernando Ramirez)
7. Re: Members Please Read (Steve Kristoff)
8. Good news - Floating Vivado license available for community
use (Michelle Thompson)
9. Re: WA9JBQ Request (Kevin) (GEO Badger)
10. Re: AMSAT Leadership Explanation ... (GEO Badger)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 16:13:20 -0400
From: <kb2mjeff@???.???>
To: "'Jim Walls'" <jim@?????.???>
Cc: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FoxDelta ST2-0417 USB setup help
Message-ID: <04c601d65888$e4192ce0$ac4b86a0$@???.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Hi Jim , it will good to hear you back on the air....
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of Jim Walls via
AMSAT-BB
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2020 15:32
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FoxDelta ST2-0417 USB setup help
A little follow up report.
Several people responded either direct to me or via the AMSAT-BB. Thank you
to each of you. Between all the various responses I was eventually able to
both Nova for Windows and SatPC32 to be able to read the antenna positions
and control the rotors. I have a very strong preference of using Nova over
SatPC32 so very happy I was able to get that working. I have enjoyed
watching the antennas follow several passes of various satellites over the
past day or so. Now I need to get new feedlines to the antennas, and fix
the radio. One step at a time, but I'm getting there.
Jim
K6CCC
On 07/08/2020 19:20, Jim Walls via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> I recently bought a FoxDelta ST2-0417 USB rotor interface for my Yaesu
> G-5500 rotor. I have the ST-2 communicating with the rotor just fine.
> I can see the azimuth and elevation readout and using the ST2
> pushbuttons, I can control both just fine. However, I can't get it
> to communicate properly with my computer. I am running a Dell desktop
> under Windows 10 and have installed the CH360G driver. The ST2 shows
> as COM8 according the the device manager. If I unplug the USB cable,
> the Device Manager confirms that COM8 goes away and when I plug the
> cable back in, COM8 returns. I initially was trying to use Nova for
> Windows (which I have used for 20+ years). I tried every software
> interface setting (using COM8) and the best I could get a couple weeks
> ago was Azimuth display and control (no elevation display, but it
> appeared that it tried to control elevation), but can't manage to
> replicate that today. Everything shows either 0.0 / 0.0 or ---- / ----
> for the rotor pointing in Nova.
> Somewhat out of desperation, I downloaded SatPC32 and can't even get
> that far. As far as I can tell, every rotor type is expecting a
> parallel port interface. Keep in mind that I have never seen SatPC32
> until an hour ago, so that may be my issue.
>
> My preference would be to use Nova for Windows, but if that can't be
> made to work, I CAN switch over to SatPC32. In either case, the
> software will be used exclusively for rotor control and not doppler
> correction (not using a radio that supports that).
>
>
> Do you have any suggestions?
>
--
73
-------------------------------------
Jim Walls - K6CCC
jim@?????.???
Ofc: 818-548-4804
http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/
AMSAT Member 32537 - WSWSS Member 395
_______________________________________________
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: 2
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 16:42:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: MICHAEL WILLIAMS <k9qho67622@???????.???>
To: "amsat-bb@?????.???? <amsat-bb@?????.???>,
"k.swaggart@???????.???? <k.swaggart@???????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] 2.4GHz Satellite Beacons over US
Message-ID: <280170743.33890.1594586552026@???????.???????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Ken,
The only beacon on 2.4 GHz I've successfully monitored is DTUSat-2 on
2.401835 GHz. However, its CW beacon is intermittent and only functions in
sunlight as its batteries have failed. It's best received with a SDR as
Doppler up there is 100 KHz over the pass. Google info on this sat. It's
listed on the AMSAT website. Check my qrz.com page for a picture of DtuSat-2
The frequencies you list are down links and not beacon frequencies. Most all
universities who operate these satellites only turn on the 2.4 GHz down link
when the satellite is directly over the control station and send down their
data.
The University of Georgia Small Satellite Research Lab is going to launch a
satellite on October 1st. It will down link on 2.4GHz. The satellite's name
is SPOC. It's foot print will cover the USA.
Another sat to launch is AmiCalSat which will down link on 2.4. but you will
have to request to have a down link signal sent at your location.
I'm going to research and listen to your list. I'm pretty sure UO-11 is no
longer functioning on 2.4.
Good luck with your 2.4 GHz endeavors.
73, Mike (K9QHO)
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 13:46:56 -0700
From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford@???.???>
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
Message-ID: <2F4AE276-5D64-46F1-8FCD-5FB49F48835F@???.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Members DO read.
The AMSAT-NA board?s three-page letter explained the intimate
details of a couple responsible business decisions. They felt the organization
was being threatened, and they responded in a mature, responsible manner.
Members should demand no less.
And - again - membership dues were not used for these business expenses.
Clint Bradford K6LCS
909-999-SATS
> On Jul 12, 2020, at 1:13 PM, amsat-bb-request@?????.??? wrote:
>
> f you care about the AMSAT organization continuing to help hams in space
communications, please read and reread Patrick's and Michelle's
explanations.? They layout exactly what happened. Now we learn that the
expenditure is over 16k. That is 363 memberships, if this retired engineer's
math is correct. This is money wasted to beat down two members who want
transparency and progress. This was not right. Our money was wasted! I am
anxious for the election.
>
> Again, I ask that members do not resign over this. That helps nobody and
hurts out hobby, which has already taken a huge hit. Solve this with your
voting privilege.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 13:49:29 -0700
From: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
To: Rich Gopstein <rich@????????????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Leadership Explanation ...
Message-ID:
<CACvjz2WhtGsiDSUOTjxRd5kBcdrczSDUh3HNJzjScT2cyA+ntA@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
I understand and appreciate your questions and interest. I don't take
offense at any of the questions. I know it's not a fun subject, not very
pleasant, and many people do not care or find the entire thing annoying.
Yes, it's annoying.
The minutes are the record of board activity.
If an expense is not in the record, and it's not an ordinary expense, it is
unauthorized. This could have been easy to rectify.
This wasn't printer cartridges or annual travel or catering for an annual
dinner. It was not handled like the hiring of FD Associates, the consulting
firm, which was providing things that help the mission of the organization.
It was the hiring of a Manhattan law firm, whose work products were, among
other things, advice on how to slow down or obstruct access to records.
That does not help the mission of the organization.
These were not ordinary business expenses. The responsibility of oversight
lies with the Directors. It's our job to ask questions about things like
this. We are just doing our jobs.
Board members that got together and did this before we were elected
completely refused to talk about it and refused to meet to resolve it.
Criticism is not an existential threat. Nuking people from orbit with
lawyers because you don't like their complaints creates very bad karma.
One could take an extremely broad view of legal expenses and accept any
legal expenditure as ok. We don't think that view serves any organization
very well, and it is not how AMSAT handled other expenses, like FD
Associates. Therefore we spoke up.
If Patrick and I were completely wrong about this, then the legal letter we
commissioned would have had no effect. It would have been answered
differently.
Once confronted with a letter summarizing why AMSAT was in the wrong, and
asking for specific relief citing specific case law, Joe Spier resigned.
There was a phone conference between the law firms and the AMSAT lawyer
backed down and agreed to all the contents of the letter. Clayton Coleman
took over as President and addressed the access to records within, I
believe, a week. He acknowledged the problem and we got to work on several
overdue items. Things were looking very good, we were moving forward.
Clayton does not deserve calls for his resignation, hate mail, or anything
like that. He is President during a very difficult time, in several ways. I
told him he had my support.
If we had gotten an acknowledgement that this was a bad decision, and
accounted for it and reconciled internally, we would not have gone to the
membership with the report. This is a problem that an apology could have
fixed. The majority wanted an election instead.
If you (or anyone else) has any further questions, please feel free to
call. I'm in the volunteer directory. Or, you can email me for my home
phone.
-Michelle W5NYV
On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 11:51 AM Rich Gopstein <rich@????????????.???>
wrote:
> Thanks. I think we're getting closer :)
>
> It sounds like the "unauthorized expenses" were incurred before you and
> Patrick were on the board. And the belief that they were unauthorized is
> based solely on reading the AMSAT board meeting minutes? So if those
> expenses were authorized through some day-to-day operational procedure,
> then they wouldn't have shown up in the board meeting minutes?
>
> Note - I'm not defending the actions, just trying to understand if they
> were outside of the bylaws. So far, there isn't any direct evidence that
> they were - unless I'm misunderstanding something.
>
> Rich
> KD2CQ
>
>
>
> On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 1:26 PM Michelle Thompson <
> mountain.michelle@?????.???> wrote:
>
>> Yes, I can try. You are correct. There is, and definitely should be,
>> latitude for ordinary day to day budgeted expenditures.
>>
>> An unauthorized expense is when money was spent for something it was not
>> allocated for, or if the amount spent goes over a set amount.
>>
>> Both cases occur here. There was a $4k overage to a consulting firm. The
>> first $10k was properly authorized. But, officers just kept spending past
>> the limit.
>>
>> Hiring a law firm needs to be carefully documented, especially when
>> historically legal expenses are often zero.
>>
>> Authorized and expected costs include things like trademark and
>> regulatory consulting and review.
>>
>> Anything out of the ordinary, an unusual or unanticipated reason, or
>> something regarding liability, loss, and many personnel decisions, needs
>> authorization.
>>
>> The authorization for FD Associates appears in AMSAT meeting minutes.
>>
>> Hiring Hurwit does not appear in the minutes.
>>
>> A variety of unusual and personally motivated expenses followed.
>>
>> Targeting individual members (the denial of access, the NDA runaround,
>> the false claims of conflicts of interest were all advised by Hurwit) and
>> then attempting to move these expenses to "overhead", is an unauthorized
>> and improper use of member money.
>>
>> Mentioning us by name in payments, and grossly mischaracterizing mild
>> complaints and requests for help as deserving of a nuclear response, is an
>> unethical use of money.
>>
>> The board needed to go on the record about this contract, given the very
>> unusual nature of the expenses which did not fit into a budgeted or
>> recurring category, but they did not.
>>
>> I understand you may discount my opinion.
>>
>> That is why we hired a corporate governance specialist who reviewed
>> everything. She also wrote the demand letter that finally got me and
>> Patrick access to records in early February, four and a half months after
>> we were supposed to start our terms.
>>
>> She reviewed the additional documents we now had access to and explained
>> that some expensss were unauthorized and improper.
>>
>> We made our case to the board, looking to resolve this. They were silent
>> and completely uncooperative, until recently.
>>
>> The change happened when we asked to see copies of all the Hurwit checks.
>>
>> I campaigned for transparency. Without financial transparency, many
>> other things simply don't work well.
>>
>> I'm optimistic there can be meaningful improvement.
>>
>> -Michelle W5NYV
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 12, 2020, 09:14 Rich Gopstein <rich@????????????.???> wrote:
>>
>>> Could you clarify "unauthorized"? Not disclosing the expenditure after
>>> the fact is different from authorization. Just trying to understand why
>>> the expenditures were not authorized. I took a look at the bylaws, and
>>> it's clear that officers can be given latitude to make expenditures on
>>> behalf of AMSAT without board approval for each expenditure (as you would
>>> expect - it would be impractical for the board to have to approve every
>>> expenditure).
>>>
>>> Rich
>>> KD2CQ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 11:20 AM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
>>> amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The unauthorized expenditures have been admitted to.
>>>>
>>>> Months of attempts to call a board meeting and address it internally
>>>> have
>>>> been made.
>>>>
>>>> This failed.
>>>>
>>>> Legal advice was sought. We proceeded carefully, and documented what we
>>>> did
>>>> along the way.
>>>>
>>>> This worked.
>>>>
>>>> Patrick and I are in the clear.
>>>>
>>>> The officer and employee who signed these checks are not.
>>>>
>>>> They claim the entire board knew about it.
>>>>
>>>> There are no records of this contract. It was not disclosed to us when
>>>> we
>>>> joined. Adding in denial of access, we have problems only an election
>>>> can
>>>> solve.
>>>>
>>>> Unlike other things we do, this isn't rocket science.
>>>>
>>>> Speaking up to give members a chance to get a functional board, before
>>>> an
>>>> election, is simply the right thing to do.
>>>>
>>>> I didn't select the weekend the nominations to the board were announced.
>>>>
>>>> Preferring I resign instead of allowing a large amount of unrepentantly
>>>> unauthorized spending to continue is a mistake. Understandable though.
>>>> This
>>>> is upsetting. Please try not to shoot the messengers too many times.
>>>>
>>>> Members should get real value out of the membership. They should not
>>>> have
>>>> to pay for secretly hired law firms. Especially for such trivial and
>>>> easily
>>>> resolved reasons.
>>>>
>>>> Criticism isn't an existential crisis. Unauthorized spending definitely
>>>> is.
>>>>
>>>> If members agree with spending their money this way, then they will
>>>> vote to
>>>> return the same people to their jobs.
>>>>
>>>> I have faith in great potential for improvement. There are candidates
>>>> that
>>>> will follow the law and the bylaws and were willing to step forward.
>>>> Robert, Howie, and Jeff.
>>>>
>>>> We are fortunate to have a choice. This year it makes a big difference.
>>>>
>>>> Michelle W5NYV
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jul 11, 2020, 00:52 Alan via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > I read the recent allegations by Directors Stoddard and Thompson of
>>>> > improper
>>>> > behavior on the part of some AMSAT Officers and Directors with
>>>> concern, but
>>>> > also caution. Concern, because nothing remotely similar has occurred
>>>> in the
>>>> > 30+ years I have been a Member and sometimes Board Member. Caution,
>>>> because
>>>> > the nature of the accusations and particularly the timing during a
>>>> holiday
>>>> > week in the AMSAT election cycle had all the hallmarks of a cynical
>>>> > political hit. That is now the most plausible explanation. If they
>>>> believed
>>>> > the serious allegations to be true, it was irresponsible not to have
>>>> > brought
>>>> > them to the attention of the Members before now. These accusations
>>>> were
>>>> > either carefully crafted for maximum political effect, or to put the
>>>> most
>>>> > charitable face on it, represent genuinely honest concern but
>>>> egregious
>>>> > errors in judgement by the accusers.
>>>> >
>>>> > I call on Directors Thompson and Stoddard, in light of these
>>>> unwarranted
>>>> > accusations, to apologize publically to both those they have so
>>>> grievously
>>>> > misrepresented, and to the Members for the harm they have caused
>>>> AMSAT. It
>>>> > would be honorable to resign because of how badly they have broken
>>>> trust
>>>> > with the organization and its Members. Lacking that, at a minimum they
>>>> > should pledge not to seek reelection. If as they claim they represent
>>>> a
>>>> > vision with wide support, surely they can find genuinely qualified
>>>> > candidates to replace them without their baggage.
>>>> >
>>>> > Hopefully AMSAT Members will consider carefully which current Board
>>>> > candidates have either expressed support for these failed Directors,
>>>> or
>>>> > been
>>>> > endorsed by them. There are other, better, proven candidates.
>>>> >
>>>> > Alan Biddle
>>>> > WA4SCA
>>>> > Past Board Member and Corporate Secretary
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > 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: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 17:03:30 -0400
From: Joseph Armbruster <josepharmbruster@?????.???>
To: Brad Smith <corlissbs@???.???>
Cc: Amsat BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
Message-ID:
<CADkz4c8eeEfCHORcgar3C3AXxGaTuJkLWb3yMkT3FHcpv1ENWQ@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Brad,
What transparency and progress has been brought to the organization
from the members that you speak of? Specifically? It appears that
since they were voted in, everyone in the organization is now walking
on egg-shells. The BB is now plastered with emails asking which words
mean what feelings, name calling and chasing after the organization
using whatever legal means the wizards-of-smart can conjure up all in
the name of almighty, all-righeous, '''transparency'''. It all seems
rather insincere and unproductive to me. People like this should do
the organization a favor, and leave, run their own competing
organization and take whatever people and dollars happen to follow
them.
I would honestly like to return to the ARISSat-1 days, where it was
just full-speed-ahead engineering and not all this talk all about
'saving AMSAT' and ORI garbage. All this ORI promotion on the BB, is
absolute garbage. No rational AMSAT member should be OK with that,
especially from an AMSAT BOD member. ORI is a separate, competing
organization and their bylaws are..... telling. If AMSATs bylaws were
ever amended to be anything like those, you can kiss your membership
goodbye, ref: https://openresearch.institute/organization-documents.
Their bylaws literally say "Membership shall consist of the Board of
Directors.". Quite an Open organization, indeed!
But I digress... The more of these kinds of people you vote in, the
more the organization is going to be hurt, guaranteed. Because not
only is nothing going to get done, obviously some people don't want to
work with them for whatever-reasons and THAT actually is important.
And, the reasons are important too. Have you wondered why...? I do!
As a small business owner, when I hear such-and-such doesn't want to
work with so-and-so, I immediately want to ask "What happened"? From
what the email traffic looks like, it seems like you may have to worry
about legal action for everything you say or do around them or, maybe
there was some pre-election history that most of the people that voted
for them, didn't know about. I have no clue, but this all does make
me wonder.
Either way, it seems like the state of things right now is Much Worst
than it was prior-to the last election, so... Not sure why anyone
would want more of this. For me, the socio-political environment is
just as important as the engi-nerding portion.. At the very least,
BOD members need to be promoting the organization they are on the
board of and noone should have to worry about legal retaliation over
every little thing.
Joseph Armbruster
KJ4JIO
On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 3:58 PM Brad Smith via AMSAT-BB
<amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
>
> If you care about the AMSAT organization continuing to help hams in space
communications, please read and reread Patrick's and Michelle's
explanations. They layout exactly what happened. Now we learn that the
expenditure is over 16k. That is 363 memberships, if this retired engineer's
math is correct. This is money wasted to beat down two members who want
transparency and progress. This was not right. Our money was wasted! I am
anxious for the election.
>
> Again, I ask that members do not resign over this. That helps nobody and
hurts out hobby, which has already taken a huge hit. Solve this with your
voting privilege.
>
> 73 Brad KC9UQR
> _______________________________________________
> 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: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 14:13:04 -0700
From: Fernando Ramirez <framirezferrer@?????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
Message-ID:
<CAGHXx8jkdXOXHK6QTnaPqp9YXDQ3XLUyKnVMwQj5Pk8c-9-qUw@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Did the organization spend money when you literally threaten them with
litigation?
And where that money came from? I hope you'll say you donated $18,000
dollars to go after two directors and ultimately the will of the voting
membership.
KF7R
On Sun, Jul 12, 2020, 2:06 PM Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
> Members DO read.
>
> The AMSAT-NA board?s three-page letter explained the intimate
> details of a couple responsible business decisions. They felt the
> organization
> was being threatened, and they responded in a mature, responsible manner.
>
> Members should demand no less.
>
> And - again - membership dues were not used for these business expenses.
>
> Clint Bradford K6LCS
> 909-999-SATS
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 12, 2020, at 1:13 PM, amsat-bb-request@?????.??? wrote:
> >
> > f you care about the AMSAT organization continuing to help hams in space
> communications, please read and reread Patrick's and Michelle's
> explanations.? They layout exactly what happened. Now we learn that the
> expenditure is over 16k. That is 363 memberships, if this retired
> engineer's math is correct. This is money wasted to beat down two members
> who want transparency and progress. This was not right. Our money was
> wasted! I am anxious for the election.
> >
> > Again, I ask that members do not resign over this. That helps nobody and
> hurts out hobby, which has already taken a huge hit. Solve this with your
> voting privilege.
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 7
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 17:15:48 -0400
From: "Steve Kristoff" <skristof@???????.???>
To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
Message-ID: <ae8bcdc9b275dd76c86c9de71bde1450@???????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Please remind me. What was the source of the money used for "these business
expenses"?
Steve AI9IN
?
----- Original Message -----
From: Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB (amsat-bb@?????.????
Date: 07/12/20 17:03
To: AMSAT BB (amsat-bb@?????.????
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Members Please Read
And - again - membership dues were not used for these business expenses.
Clint Bradford K6LCS
909-999-SATS
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 14:19:11 -0700
From: Michelle Thompson <mountain.michelle@?????.???>
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Good news - Floating Vivado license available for
community use
Message-ID:
<CACvjz2XWs7Xb4JEd5FVXVr=qw4OVCf_bmO8vuCw46PTrbKbN9A@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Good news - if you are working on open source amateur radio satellite FPGA
code, we have a resource available for you.
Thanks to Yasme Foundation and ARRL Foundation support, Open Research
Institute has purchased a floating Vivado license (Vivado HL System
Edition). This includes the System Generator for DSP.
The only requirement is that the work be open source and publicly
accessible.
The license files are distributed through a Github key management function,
so if you already have a GitHub repository, then you are ready to go. Get
in touch with me with your GitHub account name to start setup.
The process has been tested but I'm sure some snags will be revealed as
more users come onboard.
If you are working on AMSAT-NA closed source FPGA work, then there are at
least two older node-locked Vivado licenses available. You should already
have access to those from within engineering.
There's a lot of really great opportunities to implement LDPC and other
high-performance error correcting codes, along with finite state machines
and camera support.
Does anyone have a need for another type of license? If there is something
standing in your way of getting things done, please let me know.
-Michelle W5NYV
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 21:22:57 +0000 (UTC)
From: GEO Badger <w3ab@?????.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???? Stephen DeVience <sjdevience@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] WA9JBQ Request (Kevin)
Message-ID: <511610008.529345.1594588977994@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Stephen,
I have no idea where that information is posted, or why. Typically, if a
closed BOD meeting is called it is for personnel issues and the like.
---?
Ciao baby, catch you on the flip side??
73 de W3AB/GEO ???
http://www.w3ab.org
You can say "over", you can say "out", you just can't say "over and out".
On Sunday, July 12, 2020, 01:00:29 PM PDT, Stephen DeVience via AMSAT-BB
<amsat-bb@?????.???> wrote:
"Additionally, the General Membership, GM, may normally attend BOD meets
but have no voting rights."
As a member, I was looking forward to receiving a Zoom link for the next
BOD meeting, but after a quick search online, this seems to only be true
for certain situations where government money is involved. We may need to
hire a lawyer to figure it out for sure...
I will just say that even as a non-profit, AMSAT is still like any other
corporation in that it provides a product (satellites, publications, etc.)
in return for compensation (donations, membership fees). Most members don't
care how the sausage is made, but they will care if there are no new
satellites because precious time and money are spent on internal conflict.
They will vote with their pocketbooks when they find something else
interesting to do. So the board needs to put aside its personal
differences, find some compromises to the legitimate grievances on both
sides, and focus on providing a good product that encourages people to
continue donating. Otherwise AMSAT will go the way of Sears and we will all
be stuck using cheap Chinese tools (satellites) instead.
-Stephen, N8URE
_______________________________________________
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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!
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------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sun, 12 Jul 2020 21:29:23 +0000 (UTC)
From: GEO Badger <w3ab@?????.???>
To: Rich Gopstein <rich@????????????.???>, Michelle Thompson
<mountain.michelle@?????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT Leadership Explanation ...
Message-ID: <1566219804.519086.1594589363107@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
BTW folks, the BOD works for YOU, the GM. They should answer any and all
questions openly, freely and honestly. It seems that the BOD is in stasis.
Amsat is unable to move forward to meet its mission statement.
Now I have read that no Amsat money was used to employ the legal firm.
I assume paperwork can be produced that will back up that statement.
---??
Ciao baby, catch you on the flip side??
73 de W3AB/GEO ????
http://www.w3ab.org
You can say "over", you can say "out", you just can't say "over and out".
------------------------------
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 15, Issue 236
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