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CX2SA > SATDIG 19.07.20 03:10l 1273 Lines 49849 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Sent: 200719/0105Z @:CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM #:35233 [Salto] FBB7.00e $:AMSATBB15278
From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? (Gregory Beat)
2. Re: AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? (Bruce Perens)
3. RFI/EMI-quiet LED 48 inch T8 tube lights (to replace
fluorescents) (David J. Schmocker)
4. Re: AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? (Brennan Price)
5. Re: AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? (Jim Sanford)
6. Re: AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? (Bruce Perens)
7. Amsat - SOTA (Oscar Acton)
8. Re: Amsat - SOTA (Dmitry Mizin)
9. ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin (Frank Karnauskas)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 15:09:37 -0500
From: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Message-ID: <23A8990C-5775-4773-896E-0366C5DCC523@??????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today.
I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT
Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA.
The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner.
The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable return
address.
A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is
provided for the member?s ballot. This assures that the member?s ballot
remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical counting
process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering.
==
The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election, when
AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election process.
I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and visible
balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the Oscars, that is
PwC).
I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method does
not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting (tabulation)
process.
Greg Beat, w9gb
AMSAT-NA life member
==
ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
DATE: 2019 July 7
To All RADIO AMATEURS
2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update
The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted differently
than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting process was handled
by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has contracted with a single,
independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct and fully manage the election
process.
Sincerely,
Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG
AMSAT Secretary
Sent from iPad Air
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 13:38:01 -0700
From: Bruce Perens <bruce@??????.???>
To: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Message-ID:
<CAK2MWOuZEX5BOH-5Fvrwpc2aSNHTF6=iByo2zFmCVv4uzAfc2g@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hi Gregory,
I believe that Brennan was doing his best to run a fair election, and this
is an unintentional mistake. Brennan was under pressure to make things less
fair, and did not.
On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 1:11 PM Gregory Beat via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
wrote:
> I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today.
>
> I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT
> Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA.
> The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner.
>
> The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable return
> address.
> A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is
> provided for the member?s ballot. This assures that the member?s ballot
> remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical counting
> process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering.
> ==
> The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election, when
> AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election process.
> I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and visible
> balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the Oscars, that is
> PwC).
>
> I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method does
> not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting
> (tabulation) process.
>
> Greg Beat, w9gb
> AMSAT-NA life member
> ==
> ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
> DATE: 2019 July 7
> To All RADIO AMATEURS
> 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update
>
> The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted differently
> than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting process was
> handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has contracted with a single,
> independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct and fully manage the election
> process.
> Sincerely,
> Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG
> AMSAT Secretary
>
>
> Sent from iPad Air
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 3
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 16:13:35 -0500
From: "David J. Schmocker" <kj9idave@???????.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: [amsat-bb] RFI/EMI-quiet LED 48 inch T8 tube lights (to
replace fluorescents)
Message-ID: <8e7ed96e-c201-a733-cf5e-a55c79ebf41d@???????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
Everyone:
Some of us have fluorescent tube-lights in our homes or garages and
desire to replace them with energy-efficient LED bulbs. However as
weak-signal enthusiasts, many LED bulbs are electrically noisy.
So I set out to identify and test LED bulbs that are both energy
efficient and EMI/RFI quiet (starting at 50.2 MHz because I do
moon-bounce work there).
This need for electrical quiet applies also to 2m and 70cm and other
satellite bands too.
50.2 MHz test findings:
Test site (KJ9I QTH): N5654 County Road F? Sullivan, WI 53178
Test location: basement of residence (location of these lights)
Test date: May 2020
Test result: no change in WSJT v10 Rx level with all basement lights on
or off (0dB relative signal level both before and after lights
illuminated).
Fluorescent light replacement (formerly electronic ballasts) converted
to direct-wire, single-end fed LED bulbs.
*Hyperikon SKU: 841000631* (XYL requirement was soft-white, so 3000
degrees K was selected).? 18w bulbs.
In May 2020, I installed 14 bulbs (seven dual light fixtures) removing
the old ballasts and fluorescent tube lights.?? I trimmed all unused
wires to minimum physical length and removed excess wire from fixtures
that had been attached to electronic ballasts.
The fixtures in which these were installed are typical tin metal legacy
fluorescent fixtures.
Note:? Hyperikon Non-Shunted Tombstones (end mounts) were replaced on
only the energized end of each installed LED bulb. The opposite
(non-energized) end retained the original tombstone with wires trimmed
off as short as possible.
There is no change in my WSJT v10 (nor WSJT-X) signal level with lights
all on or off.??? When Rx level is set to 0dB, it holds at this level.
Test Antenna is 1 x LFA-HZE-10 (2-inch homebrew round boom design) up 88
feet Above Ground Level with HA8ET 50MHz LNA fed into SSB Electronic
LT6S transverter (1dB NF) then to JRC JST-245DX 28Mhz transceiver.
Today I received good news that another ham (Frank W3LPL) also installed
Hyperikon LED bulbs at his QTH and he also reported 6m RFI-quiet.
I hope this data is useful.?? 73,
Dave KJ9I
The disclaimer: I have no financial nor any other connection with
Hyperikon beyond being a satisfied customer of the above bulbs.
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 21:13:43 +0000 (UTC)
From: Brennan Price <brennanprice@???????.???>
To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Message-ID: <1054072108.3154286.1595106823341@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I do want to address both Greg's observation and Bruce's, in turn.
1) An interior envelope is admittedly commonly used in mail-in balloting. It
also incrementally increases the cost and complexity of the mailing, and has
been abandoned by other organizations in lieu of other measures to maintain
secrecy as a result (I actually modeled this process and ballot
design--including return envelopes with preprinted addressed for
verification and no interior envelope--from a recently concluded and
similarly robustly conducted election for the board of the United States
Chess Federation, of which I am a member).
I will cite this relevant text from my earlier advisory to this reflector:
The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains . . . [a] No
9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots should be
returned and the member's name and address for verification against the
voter list and any replacement ballot requests.
Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the ballot
from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a receptacle,
and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been separated from the envelopes.
I appreciate the membership's anticipated confidence in my commitment and
ability to maintain the bylaws' requirement of a secret ballot through this
method.
2) It is not correct that I have been pressured in my conduct of the
election. I have made decisions on a number of issues that warranted
discussion both before and after the fact, and I believe I've made at least
one call with which every candidate would have rather me made another by
now. These discussions, even when ending in disagreement, have universally
been conducted with professionalism and in the absence of the vigor that one
may detect here.
73,Brennan Price, N4QXSecretary, Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of Bruce Perens via
AMSAT-BB
Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2020 4:38 PM
To: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Hi Gregory,
I believe that Brennan was doing his best to run a fair election, and this
is an unintentional mistake. Brennan was under pressure to make things less
fair, and did not.
On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 1:11 PM Gregory Beat via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
wrote:
> I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today.
>
> I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT
> Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA.
> The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner.
>
> The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable
> return address.
> A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is
> provided for the member?s ballot.? This assures that the member?s
> ballot remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical
> counting process.? This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering.
> ==
> The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election,
> when AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election
process.
> I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and
> visible balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the
> Oscars, that is PwC).
>
> I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method
> does not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting
> (tabulation) process.
>
> Greg Beat, w9gb
> AMSAT-NA life member
> ==
> ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
> DATE: 2019 July 7
> To All RADIO AMATEURS
> 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update
>
> The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted
> differently than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting
> process was handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has
> contracted with a single, independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct
> and fully manage the election process.
> Sincerely,
> Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG
> AMSAT Secretary
>
>
> Sent from iPad Air
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via?AMSAT-BB@?????.???.????????? 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@?????.???.????????? 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:?AMSAT-BB Info Page
|
|
| |
AMSAT-BB Info Page
|
|
|
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 18:35:11 -0400
From: Jim Sanford <wb4gcs@??????.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Message-ID: <df9110c9-aa1e-58f7-05dc-b2b17efc9495@??????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
The letter that came with it explains --
ballots will be removed from the evnvelopes and placed in a receptacle.?
Then at a different time and location, they will be counted -- anonymously.
I'm OK with this.
Jim
wb4gcs@?????.???
On 7/18/2020 4:38 PM, Bruce Perens via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> Hi Gregory,
>
> I believe that Brennan was doing his best to run a fair election, and this
> is an unintentional mistake. Brennan was under pressure to make things less
> fair, and did not.
>
> On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 1:11 PM Gregory Beat via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
> wrote:
>
>> I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today.
>>
>> I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT
>> Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA.
>> The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner.
>>
>> The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable return
>> address.
>> A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is
>> provided for the member?s ballot. This assures that the member?s ballot
>> remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical counting
>> process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering.
>> ==
>> The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election, when
>> AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election
process.
>> I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and visible
>> balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the Oscars, that is
>> PwC).
>>
>> I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method does
>> not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting
>> (tabulation) process.
>>
>> Greg Beat, w9gb
>> AMSAT-NA life member
>> ==
>> ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
>> DATE: 2019 July 7
>> To All RADIO AMATEURS
>> 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update
>>
>> The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted differently
>> than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting process was
>> handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has contracted with a single,
>> independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct and fully manage the election
>> process.
>> Sincerely,
>> Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG
>> AMSAT Secretary
>>
>>
>> Sent from iPad Air
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
--
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 16:22:16 -0700
From: Bruce Perens <bruce@??????.???>
To: Brennan Price <brennanprice@???????.???>
Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
Message-ID:
<CAK2MWOv1aKPC2qfiEvdZ6rETW=_-z80E-4KNPK7oDdLS=7bweg@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Brennan,
I am reassured. Everyone should be glad that this is in your hands.
Thanks
Bruce
On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 14:23 Brennan Price via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
wrote:
> I do want to address both Greg's observation and Bruce's, in turn.
> 1) An interior envelope is admittedly commonly used in mail-in balloting.
> It also incrementally increases the cost and complexity of the mailing, and
> has been abandoned by other organizations in lieu of other measures to
> maintain secrecy as a result (I actually modeled this process and ballot
> design--including return envelopes with preprinted addressed for
> verification and no interior envelope--from a recently concluded and
> similarly robustly conducted election for the board of the United States
> Chess Federation, of which I am a member).
> I will cite this relevant text from my earlier advisory to this reflector:
> The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains . . . [a]
> No 9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots should be
> returned and the member's name and address for verification against the
> voter list and any replacement ballot requests.
> Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the
> ballot from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a
> receptacle, and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been separated from
> the envelopes.
> I appreciate the membership's anticipated confidence in my commitment and
> ability to maintain the bylaws' requirement of a secret ballot through this
> method.
> 2) It is not correct that I have been pressured in my conduct of the
> election. I have made decisions on a number of issues that warranted
> discussion both before and after the fact, and I believe I've made at least
> one call with which every candidate would have rather me made another by
> now. These discussions, even when ending in disagreement, have universally
> been conducted with professionalism and in the absence of the vigor that
> one may detect here.
> 73,Brennan Price, N4QXSecretary, Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces@?????.???> On Behalf Of Bruce Perens via
> AMSAT-BB
> Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2020 4:38 PM
> To: Gregory Beat <w9gb@??????.???>
> Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
>
> Hi Gregory,
>
> I believe that Brennan was doing his best to run a fair election, and this
> is an unintentional mistake. Brennan was under pressure to make things less
> fair, and did not.
>
> On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 1:11 PM Gregory Beat via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb@?????.???>
> wrote:
>
> > I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today.
> >
> > I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT
> > Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA.
> > The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner.
> >
> > The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable
> > return address.
> > A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is
> > provided for the member?s ballot. This assures that the member?s
> > ballot remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical
> > counting process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering.
> > ==
> > The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election,
> > when AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election
> process.
> > I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and
> > visible balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the
> > Oscars, that is PwC).
> >
> > I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method
> > does not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting
> > (tabulation) process.
> >
> > Greg Beat, w9gb
> > AMSAT-NA life member
> > ==
> > ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
> > DATE: 2019 July 7
> > To All RADIO AMATEURS
> > 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update
> >
> > The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted
> > differently than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting
> > process was handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has
> > contracted with a single, independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct
> > and fully manage the election process.
> > Sincerely,
> > Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG
> > AMSAT Secretary
> >
> >
> > Sent from iPad Air
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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: AMSAT-BB Info Page
>
> |
> |
> | |
> AMSAT-BB Info Page
>
>
> |
>
> |
>
> |
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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, 19 Jul 2020 00:37:57 +0100
From: Oscar Acton <murtonminer@?????.???>
To: amsat-bb@?????.???
Subject: [amsat-bb] Amsat - SOTA
Message-ID:
<CABY8qs+p_2UMi-jbRcX9N+kOr6j=9nPZr3SqrgsKDpVXHhX2hg@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Hello,
I am new to satellite operations. I tried to access Lilacsat2 from a SOTA
summit today and failed. I did manage to call into AO-92 yesterday and I
was heard by four stations (but I couldn't receive the downlink).
I was using a 2m dipole to transmit (I am fairly confident I was getting
into the satellite today) and a 2 element 70cm yagi. Now, I think two
things went wrong. Firstly, I had no way of directing the antenna
accurately (I had to guess on the angle and azimuth), and secondly, the
antenna isn't very powerful, is small and isn't tuned brilliantly (it's a
70cm yagi but I get SWR of 2.2 on 70cm).
Firstly, I'm wondering how precise you need to be in directing the beam?
Can I just hold it in the vague direction that the satellite is approaching
from, or do I need to work out the headings?
Secondly, I am wondering if my equipment is likely to cut it. As I said,
yesterday I was told that my signal was getting in - quiet but fully
readable using my Diamond x30. I don't want to transmit if I can't receive
in case I talk over someone or cause some interference. I won't be able to
buy an arrow or a powerful beam antenna for around a year, but I am really
desperate to work the satellites. Wondering if there are any ways that I
can use my current equipment in order to work it (whether that be from my
Home QTH or from a SOTA summit).
I have:
Yaesu FT-2980 (2m only, limited to 10 watts)
Anytone 868 (8 watts max)
Baofeng GT-3TP (8 watts max)
2 ele 70cm yagi
2m dipole
diamond x50 collinear at the Home QTH
Hoping for some advice.. I would love to hear stories of you working
satellites during a Summits On The Air activation, and I would be
interested to hear of your station setup (and whether you have had success
with a minimal setup like mine).
Best Regards,
Oscar M7OJA (IO94HT)
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 17:02:19 -0700
From: Dmitry Mizin <dmitry.mizin@?????.???>
To: Oscar Acton <murtonminer@?????.???>
Cc: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Amsat - SOTA
Message-ID:
<CAF=oU+jofE_B7vDLVagBWNJ3hvE0MOrgrMy-j8umAEk7Ed8_Ow@????.?????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
HI Oscar,
It is really great to hear of someone trying to work satellites from SOTA.
Myself, and quite a few others have done it successfully, and plan to do
again. But I believe, all of those who succeeded were using either Arrow or
Elk - which both are directional antennas. Since doing SOTA we can only
take as much as our back will hold, most would be using a couple of HT's,
or Kenwood D-72. And with 5 watts - you do need to be spot on with the
bird. Anything that is not a directional antenna - you will be wasting a
lot of RF and will have a hard time time making into the satellite. Not
impossible, as there are a few people who have been successful with just a
couple of HT's and rubber ducky antennas, but those passes will need to be
high above you and you will be lucky to make a few contacts. I have done it
once, and it was not pretty. But a few here have done it on quite a few
occasions.
When I take my Arrow antenna to the summit - it adds a few pounds, but not
much space. My usual antenna is vertical for HF. I just roll Arrow into the
same pouch bag. So, it is about managing the weight of your backpack.
Just my 2 cents here. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any
other questions.
Dmitry N6DNM
On Sat, Jul 18, 2020 at 4:39 PM Oscar Acton via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@?????.???>
wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am new to satellite operations. I tried to access Lilacsat2 from a SOTA
> summit today and failed. I did manage to call into AO-92 yesterday and I
> was heard by four stations (but I couldn't receive the downlink).
>
> I was using a 2m dipole to transmit (I am fairly confident I was getting
> into the satellite today) and a 2 element 70cm yagi. Now, I think two
> things went wrong. Firstly, I had no way of directing the antenna
> accurately (I had to guess on the angle and azimuth), and secondly, the
> antenna isn't very powerful, is small and isn't tuned brilliantly (it's a
> 70cm yagi but I get SWR of 2.2 on 70cm).
>
> Firstly, I'm wondering how precise you need to be in directing the beam?
> Can I just hold it in the vague direction that the satellite is approaching
> from, or do I need to work out the headings?
>
> Secondly, I am wondering if my equipment is likely to cut it. As I said,
> yesterday I was told that my signal was getting in - quiet but fully
> readable using my Diamond x30. I don't want to transmit if I can't receive
> in case I talk over someone or cause some interference. I won't be able to
> buy an arrow or a powerful beam antenna for around a year, but I am really
> desperate to work the satellites. Wondering if there are any ways that I
> can use my current equipment in order to work it (whether that be from my
> Home QTH or from a SOTA summit).
>
> I have:
> Yaesu FT-2980 (2m only, limited to 10 watts)
> Anytone 868 (8 watts max)
> Baofeng GT-3TP (8 watts max)
> 2 ele 70cm yagi
> 2m dipole
> diamond x50 collinear at the Home QTH
>
> Hoping for some advice.. I would love to hear stories of you working
> satellites during a Summits On The Air activation, and I would be
> interested to hear of your station setup (and whether you have had success
> with a minimal setup like mine).
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Oscar M7OJA (IO94HT)
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9
Date: Sat, 18 Jul 2020 19:04:14 -0500
From: "Frank Karnauskas" <n1uw@???????.???>
To: <amsat-bb@?????.???>
Subject: [amsat-bb] ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
Message-ID: <000a01d65d60$23bf9510$6b3ebf30$@???????.???>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-201
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and
information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio
Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur
Radio in space including reports on the activities of a worldwide
group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in
designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and
digital Amateur Radio satellites.
The news feed on http://amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio
in space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat dot org.
In this edition:
* AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14
* HO-107 is Back!
* First Call for Papers - Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and
Space Symposium
* New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use
* SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites
* DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band
* 1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting
* IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites
* Upcoming Satellite Operations
* Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
* ARISS News
* Satellite Shorts from All Over
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-201.01
ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 201.01
>From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
July 19, 2020
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-202.01
AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14
Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary reports that the ballots,
candidate statements, and return envelopes for the 2020 AMSAT Board
of Directors Election were prepared by Paladin Commercial Printing of
Newington, Connecticut. Paladin mailed the packages from Hartford,
Connecticut, on Tuesday, July 14, to members of record on July 1.
Non-US addresses were sent first class (the only option for
overseas). US addresses were sent pre-sorted standard, which is
routine for mail that requires a two-way response time measured in
weeks, as this does.
Allowing for postal delivery standards and guard time, the Secretary
will not consider a ballot as lost in post any earlier than August 12
(four weeks after the mailing). This timing permits a replacement
ballot to be mailed first class in both directions, even
internationally, with time to spare under prevailing postal delivery
standards.
Paladin has shipped materials for 100 blank election packages to
Price.
Price will use these materials to assemble and mail replacement or
substitute packages as necessary. These requests and packages will be
tracked and accounted against the voter list and returned ballots to
guard against duplicates, and will be identifiable against the package
mailed by Paladin for further verification and accounting by the
tellers. Members desiring a replacement ballot package should contact
Price no earlier than August 12.
The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains:
1) An instruction and ballot sheet, with the ballot perforated,
2) A sheet of candidate statements, and
3) A No 9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots
should be returned and the member's name and address for
verification against the voter list and any replacement ballot
requests.
Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the
ballot from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a
receptacle, and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been
separated from the envelopes.
Ballots should be returned in the return envelopes provided to arrive
at the designated Post Office Box in Vienna, Virginia, by 5 p.m.
Thursday, September 15, 2020. Separation of the ballots from the
envelopes and counting will occur as soon thereafter as practicable,
and no later than September 30.
Brennan can be reached at brennanprice@???????.??? for a query about
membership status at any time or a replacement ballot after
August 12.
[ANS thanks Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary for the above
information.]
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office
is closed until further notice. For details, please visit
https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/
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HO-107 is Back!
On the evening of July 17, 2020, Vlad Chorney, EU1SAT, tweeted
"Husky-1 ACTIVE!" with a screenshot from FoxTelem showing that he had
received telemetry from HO-107 (HuskySat-1) which had been silent for
nearly two months. About an hour after EU1SAT's tweet, the satellite
passed over the eastern United States and AMSAT command stations
KO4MA and N8MH copied telemetry. On subsequent passes, the satellite
was successfully commanded.
Please continue to copy telemetry in FoxTelem. If you have removed
HO-107 from your tracked satellites during its period of inactivity,
please add it back. The transponder remains disabled while AMSAT
Operations evaluates the telemetry from the satellite.
[ANS thanks AMSAT Operations for the above information]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
First Call for Papers - Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and
Space Symposium
This is the first call for papers for the Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual
Meeting and Space Symposium to be held on October 17, 2020. Proposals
for papers and symposium presentations are invited on any topic of
interest to the amateur satellite community. Further details
regarding the virtual event will be announced shortly. We request a
tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with the
final copy to be submitted by October 5, 2020 for inclusion in the
Symposium Proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to
Dan Schultz at n8fgv(at)amsat.org
[ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above information]
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AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it
all begins with GOLF-TEE - a technology demonstrator for deployable
solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the
ride. The journey will be worth it!
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF
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New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use
It has been nearly two years since Walter Holmes, K5WH and friends
created the AMSAT DMR Talkgroup 98006 and has been working with great
success. About one year ago they created a YSF US AMSAT Reflector
11689 to pull in others using Yaesu System Fusion digital radios. As
these were working so well, they decided to bridge the two systems
together so it would longer matter which of these digital
technologies users had. Users could cross communicate between all
users of both systems.
After success with the DMR talkgroup and the YSF reflector for more
than a year, there was plenty of interest in adding D-STAR capability
to the same system.
Walter is happy to announce the creation of a new D-STAR reflector
for that purpose. It supports four different reflector names such as
XLXSAT, XRFSAT, DCSSAT, and REFSAT that are all linked together so
that all of these work the same. As most people that are familiar
with D-STAR reflectors know, they usually have numbers for the
reflectors, but it seemed more appropriate to switch from the number
system to the Alpha name like SAT to make it easier to find in the
list.
For those using hotspots, they will need to refresh or update their
Pistar or BlueDV host files to see these entries before they will see
this one in the pull-down list.
Walter adds, "We recommend that users use module C for the AMSAT
conversations but several other modules are available if we find a
need to stretch out a bit. But, the C module is the one also linked
to a few other repeaters.
"The D-STAR SAT reflector is not currently bridged into the system as
are the DMR and YSF reflectors, but we hope to have that linked in
very soon after a little more testing.
"If you have D-STAR capability, we invite you to give it a try and
see how it works for you."
[ANS thanks Walter Holmes, K5WH for the above information]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites
Spain's national amateur radio society URE says SpaceX expect to
launch the EASAT-2 and Hades satellites in December 2020.
AMSAT-EA, the URE satellite group, is building the satellites
together with the European University of Madrid. The launch has been
managed through the space broker Alba Orbital based in Glasgow.
EASAT-2 and Hades will be launched into a sun-synchronous orbit
between 500 km and 600 km and their main function is to act as analog
and digital repeaters for radio amateurs. There is also a camera for
SSTV transmissions provided by the Czech Republic that has already
flown on the United States Marine Academy PSAT-2 satellite, and has
now been adapted to fit into the PocketQube satellites.
Both satellites are based on the PocketQube 1.5P (7.5 x 5 x 5 cm)
architecture and represent an evolution of the previous GENESIS
platform, whose GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites are expected to
fly before the end of the year with Firefly, in a joint collaboration
with Fossa Systems and LibreSpace, which also launch their own
satellites, all of them within the Picobus dispenser, developed by
the latter.
IARU has coordinated these frequencies:
- Hades - uplink 145.925 MHz, downlink 436.888 MHz
- EASAT-2 - uplink 145.875 MHz, downlink 436.666 MHz
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows,
and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through
AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards
Keeping Amateur Radio in Space.
https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
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DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band
The DARC reports unauthorized transmissions are taking place in the
144 MHz satellite segment of the 2M amateur radio primary allocation.
A translation of the DARC post reads:
"In the 144.010 MHz to 144.020 MHz range, illegally operated
transmitters are increasingly being operated as "water vitalizers"
or "water energizers". The manufacturer specifies 144.015 MHz as the
transmission frequency in its product description.
"The DARC EMC department asks for further information with location
information about conspicuous signals in this frequency range, in
preparation for collective complaints.
"The devices apparently generate fields with considerable field
strength and a long range. The signals appear increasingly in the
morning or in the evening. The illegal transmitters are typically in
operation for 5 to 60 minutes (integer multiples of 5 minutes). The
signal is generally very stable in frequency, but occasionally shows
short-term fluctuations of up to a few 100 Hz. Otherwise the carrier
is not further modulated.
The frequency range 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz is assigned to the
Amateur Radio service in Germany as the primary exclusive user."
A video of the interference caused by these devices and a map showing
some of the cases so far detected in Germany can be seen at
https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/emv/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting
The 69th meeting of CEPT ECC Working Group SE-40, held June 23-25,
discussed the Amateur Radio 1240-1300 MHz band, the meeting documents
are now available.
Several contributions were received for the ECC Report dealing with
the coexistence between the radionavigation-satellite service and the
amateur service in the frequency band 1240 - 1300 MHz. The
contributions were incorporated in the draft ECC Report. The CPG
arrangements for the preparation of WRC-23 for AI 9.1 topic b) was
noted.
The Russian Federation noted:
- 1240-1260 MHz is by the GLONASS system
- 1260-1300 MHz are used by EU's Galileo, Beijing's Beidou, Japan's
QZSS and is planned to be used by Korea's KPS.
Among the documents available in Input, Info and Minutes are:
- SE40(20)052 Amateur Repeaters - IARU-R1
- SE40(20)051 Section 2 update WI_39 - IARU-R1
- SE40(20)050 Annex Draft report RNSS Amateur - Russian Federation
- SE40(20)049 Suggestions for RNSS and Amateur Service Compatibility,
Russian Federation
- Info 1 Amateur repeaters 23 cm - IARU-R1
- Info 3 Letter to SE40 chairman on updated of ITU-R M.1092 -
European Commission
- Minutes
- SE40(20)56A3 (1) Draft Report Amateur vs RNSS
Download the meeting documents from https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-CEPT.
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites
- HIAPO
HIAPO is a 1U CubeSat mission that is a unique platform being
used to provide engaging meaningful hands-on STEM curriculum for
Hawaii students K-12. Part of this curriculum involves obtaining data
about solar flares solar particle events and the disturbances of the
Earth's magnetic field. The students can also collect data on solar
events with relation to the propagation of radio waves reflected or
refracted back towards the Earth from the ionosphere. During the
lifespan of this mission that data will be available for amateur
operators to download directly from the satellite.
The Hawaii Science & Technology Museum was awarded a no-cost flight
of the launch and a limited resources will not allow the development
of an Amateur Radio digipeater. However if the launch date slips they
plan to work with resources at AMSAT to develop a digipeater.
Proposing a UHF downlink using 9k6 FSK with AX25. Planning a Firefly
launch from Vandenberg in July 2020 into a 300 km orbit with 137
degree inclination together with Serenity and Spinnaker 3. A downlink
on 437.225 MHz has been coordinated.
- VZLUSAT-2
VZLUSAT-2 is 3U CubeSat project of the University of West Bohemia in
Pilsen and Czech Aerospace Research Centre. Students from four Czech
technical universities are involved along with members of an Amateur
Radio community from The Czech Republic.
The primary payload is the experimental Earth observation camera with
an expected resolution around 30 to 50 m GSD. Secondary payloads of
the mission are Radiation Orbital Monitor, Gama Ray Burst detector,
X-ray detector and other sensors. This mission is fully open to Radio
Amateurs who were also involved in the development of the satellite.
The space segment uses two Amateur bands for communication: An S-band
for payload data downlink (DVBS2 ETSI EN 302 307 standard, 2 MBd,
QPSK), and UHF downlink beacon (GMSK 1200 Bd), telecommand uplink (
GMSK, 1200 Bd - 9600 Bd) and telemetry downlink (GMSK 4800, 9600 Bd).
All the information is in an open format and everything needed for
decoding is or will be published at:
https://www.pilsencube.zcu.cz/vzlusat2/transmission.pdf.
Planning a launch from Cape Canaveral in the time window from
December 2020 to March 2021 into SSO 500-600 km. A downlink on
437.325 MHz has been coordinated.
[ANS thanks the IARU for the above information.]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur
radio package, including two-way communication capability, to
be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
Upcoming Satellite Operations
Quick Hits:
- Need Hawaii? On AO-7 Most days. NH7WN for a schedule.
- EN85, 86 and maybe 75 and 76, July 11-25. @????? for a schedule.
- FN44/54, 7/22 - 7/31, KQ2RP: Just like last time, FM only.
- FN11+21 then 12+22 grid lines, 7/25, @???? Steve is heading out to
these lines. Schedule to come.
- EN20/30 Line, July 28-31, @???? Sean is moving quickly towards
his VUCC/R award by heading out again for two more grids. Watch his
Twitter for details.
- DM97/98 & EM08/09: Super Rover @????? is heading out for the Kansas
QSO party and N0E. More to come.
Major Roves:
- @????? is heading out again!
Mon 7/20 DN67/68. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Tue 7/21 DN57/58. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Wed 7/22 Travel day no sats.
Thu 7/23 DN55/56. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Fri 7/24 DN65/66. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400.
Watch his QRZ page for details and updates.
[ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
No events posted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
ARISS News
No pending school operations.
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Shorts from All Over
- Sean Kutzko, KX9X To Present "Working Satellites" at DXE Virtual
Hamfest and DX Academy July 25, 2020
Join Sean on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:15 EDT for his thirty-
minute presentation on Amateur Radio satellites. Sean's presentation
is part of the DX Engineering Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy. The
event is free and open to all. Register at
https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Sean
- Behind Scenes SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission You Haven't Seen
NASA has just released a new video. It starts with "You saw history
made with the first crewed launch and docking of the SpaceX Crew
Dragon, but you didn't see the flurry of activity on board the
International Space Station...until now.
"Join Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy and his crew mates as
they prepare their cameras to document the DM-2 launch, and look over
their shoulders to witness the new American spacecraft dock to the
station and deliver their new crew mates."
Watch the twelve minute video at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Dragon.
[ANS thanks http://spaceref.com for the above information.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive
additional benefits. Application forms are available from the
AMSAT office.
Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at
one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the
student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this
status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student
membership information.
73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Frank Karnauskas, N1UW
n1uw at amsat dot org
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!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
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 278
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