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CX2SA > SATDIG 18.02.16 22:57l 1130 Lines 45811 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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From: CX2SA@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SOAM
To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Recent AO-85 Observations (where???) (Robert Bruninga)
2. Re: Recent AO-85 Observations (where???) (Howie DeFelice)
3. Re: Recent AO-85 Observations (where???) (Ted)
4. Re: Recent AO-85 Observations (where???) (Howie DeFelice)
5. Re: Recent AO-85 Observations (where???) (Mike Seguin)
6. Re: Why 6 digit grid locator in Europe? (Peter Goodhall)
7. Remote sensor for antenna array orientation (Clayton W5PFG)
8. Re: Remote sensor for antenna array orientation (Zach Leffke)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:55:52 -0500
From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
Message-ID: <54c27fd32680968c2c31ab1cc408f361@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Argh!...
These testimonials of when people heard the satellite and what it took to
hit and where it was in their pass are -meaningless- unless you say where
you are relative to the millions of square miles of the country!
Someone on the west coast will have more than 10 dB better chance with any
satelillite RISING from over the pacific, and someone on the EAST coast
will have more than a 10 dB better change of a SETTING satellite over the
Atlantic. But unless people say where they are relative to the 3D
geometry of the pass, and the rest of the mass of users and RFI from 350
million other people and their part-15 emissions, any such reports make no
sense to anyone else. The guys in the Midwest in most of a pass will have
a hard time ALWAYS.
People need to think in terms of WHERE the satellite is with respect to
the other 700,000 hams in the country before any comments on link quality
can make much sense.
The satellite on one's horizon and 1500 miles away is only 500 miles above
SOMEONE ELSE. That's 10 dB right there...
Soap box off.
Bob, WB4APR
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
DeFelice
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:42 AM
To: Paul Stoetzer; Clayton W5PFG
Cc: AMSAT-BB
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday
morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I could
hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until sat was
above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength at the uplink
freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ. I never bothered
to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio display power is down
considerably. I did notice fading as well.
- Howie AB2S
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500
> From: n8hm@xxxx.xxx
> To: w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx
> CC: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
>
> Clayton,
>
> I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly
> overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until
> about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead
> descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
>
> Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to
> horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am
> constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither
> polarity works.
>
> According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight
> until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after
> that.
>
> 73,
>
> Paul, N8HM
>
> On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> > For the past several days, I have observed the following:
> >
> > - On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very
easily.
> > Either polarity V or H works.
> >
> > - Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
> > activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge
> > getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder
easily.
> >
> > - Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access
> > the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1
> > degrees elevation.
> >
> > - Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be
> > equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not
> > RHCP or LHCP.)
> >
> > - Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it
> > now in constant sun.
> >
> > - As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with
> > handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2
> > days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing
some success with an HT.
> >
> > Thoughts/comments?
> >
> > 73
> > Clayton
> > W5PFG
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:20:02 -0500
From: Howie DeFelice <howied231@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx>, "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx
<amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
Message-ID: <BLU169-W94E077EF5FC701250179DDE7AF0@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
OK, fair enough.. In my case this was a morning (10:15 EST) ascending pass
on saturday 2/13. I was located at BWI airport and AOS was slightly to the
southwest. I worked the satellite when it was west of me just short of mid
pass at a little over 30 degrees. The station I worked was in Vermont who
commented I had a good signal into the satellite. This is all subjective and
not very accurate but I also didn't plan on working the satellite, it was
completely opportunistic.
- Howie AB2S
> From: bruninga@xxxx.xxx
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:55:52 -0500
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
>
> Argh!...
>
> These testimonials of when people heard the satellite and what it took to
> hit and where it was in their pass are -meaningless- unless you say where
> you are relative to the millions of square miles of the country!
>
> Someone on the west coast will have more than 10 dB better chance with any
> satelillite RISING from over the pacific, and someone on the EAST coast
> will have more than a 10 dB better change of a SETTING satellite over the
> Atlantic. But unless people say where they are relative to the 3D
> geometry of the pass, and the rest of the mass of users and RFI from 350
> million other people and their part-15 emissions, any such reports make no
> sense to anyone else. The guys in the Midwest in most of a pass will have
> a hard time ALWAYS.
>
> People need to think in terms of WHERE the satellite is with respect to
> the other 700,000 hams in the country before any comments on link quality
> can make much sense.
>
> The satellite on one's horizon and 1500 miles away is only 500 miles above
> SOMEONE ELSE. That's 10 dB right there...
>
> Soap box off.
> Bob, WB4APR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
> DeFelice
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:42 AM
> To: Paul Stoetzer; Clayton W5PFG
> Cc: AMSAT-BB
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
>
> For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday
> morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I could
> hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until sat was
> above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength at the uplink
> freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ. I never bothered
> to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio display power is down
> considerably. I did notice fading as well.
>
> - Howie AB2S
>
> > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500
> > From: n8hm@xxxx.xxx
> > To: w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx
> > CC: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
> >
> > Clayton,
> >
> > I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly
> > overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until
> > about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead
> > descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
> >
> > Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to
> > horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am
> > constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither
> > polarity works.
> >
> > According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight
> > until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after
> > that.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Paul, N8HM
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> > > For the past several days, I have observed the following:
> > >
> > > - On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very
> easily.
> > > Either polarity V or H works.
> > >
> > > - Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
> > > activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge
> > > getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder
> easily.
> > >
> > > - Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access
> > > the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1
> > > degrees elevation.
> > >
> > > - Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be
> > > equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not
> > > RHCP or LHCP.)
> > >
> > > - Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it
> > > now in constant sun.
> > >
> > > - As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with
> > > handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2
> > > days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing
> some success with an HT.
> > >
> > > Thoughts/comments?
> > >
> > > 73
> > > Clayton
> > > W5PFG
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:23:53 -0800
From: "Ted" <k7trkradio@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: "'Howie DeFelice'" <howied231@xxxxxxx.xxx>, "'Robert Bruninga'"
<bruninga@xxxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
Message-ID: <000301d169f3$6988afb0$3c9a0f10$@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Yikes...now we have to look up airport codes ! (Bob will not be happy)
73, Ted
K7TRK
(airport: KMFR)
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
DeFelice
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 6:20 PM
To: Robert Bruninga; amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
OK, fair enough.. In my case this was a morning (10:15 EST) ascending pass
on saturday 2/13. I was located at BWI airport and AOS was slightly to the
southwest. I worked the satellite when it was west of me just short of mid
pass at a little over 30 degrees. The station I worked was in Vermont who
commented I had a good signal into the satellite. This is all subjective and
not very accurate but I also didn't plan on working the satellite, it was
completely opportunistic.
- Howie AB2S
> From: bruninga@xxxx.xxx
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:55:52 -0500
> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
>
> Argh!...
>
> These testimonials of when people heard the satellite and what it took
> to hit and where it was in their pass are -meaningless- unless you say
> where you are relative to the millions of square miles of the country!
>
> Someone on the west coast will have more than 10 dB better chance with
> any satelillite RISING from over the pacific, and someone on the EAST
> coast will have more than a 10 dB better change of a SETTING satellite
> over the Atlantic. But unless people say where they are relative to
> the 3D geometry of the pass, and the rest of the mass of users and RFI
> from 350 million other people and their part-15 emissions, any such
> reports make no sense to anyone else. The guys in the Midwest in most
> of a pass will have a hard time ALWAYS.
>
> People need to think in terms of WHERE the satellite is with respect
> to the other 700,000 hams in the country before any comments on link
> quality can make much sense.
>
> The satellite on one's horizon and 1500 miles away is only 500 miles
> above SOMEONE ELSE. That's 10 dB right there...
>
> Soap box off.
> Bob, WB4APR
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
> DeFelice
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:42 AM
> To: Paul Stoetzer; Clayton W5PFG
> Cc: AMSAT-BB
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
>
> For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday
> morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I
> could hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until
> sat was above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength
> at the uplink freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ.
> I never bothered to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio
> display power is down considerably. I did notice fading as well.
>
> - Howie AB2S
>
> > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500
> > From: n8hm@xxxx.xxx
> > To: w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx
> > CC: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
> >
> > Clayton,
> >
> > I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on
> > directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get
> > in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On
> > overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
> >
> > Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon
> > to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I
> > am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times,
> > neither polarity works.
> >
> > According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant
> > sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous
> > patterns after that.
> >
> > 73,
> >
> > Paul, N8HM
> >
> > On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> > > For the past several days, I have observed the following:
> > >
> > > - On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very
> easily.
> > > Either polarity V or H works.
> > >
> > > - Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes
> > > to activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge
> > > getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder
> easily.
> > >
> > > - Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could
> > > access the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low
> > > as 0.1 degrees elevation.
> > >
> > > - Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be
> > > equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not
> > > RHCP or LHCP.)
> > >
> > > - Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with
> > > it now in constant sun.
> > >
> > > - As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with
> > > handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2
> > > days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were
> > > seeing
> some success with an HT.
> > >
> > > Thoughts/comments?
> > >
> > > 73
> > > Clayton
> > > W5PFG
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 21:49:09 -0500
From: Howie DeFelice <howied231@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: Ted <k7trkradio@xxxxxxx.xxx>, 'Robert Bruninga'
<bruninga@xxxx.xxx>, "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
Message-ID: <BLU169-W976C7D10C06D602E59B74FE7AF0@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
LOL ... I KNOW Bob is very aware of where BWI is otherwise I would not have
used that as a reference :)
Howie AB2S(airport: IAD)
> From: k7trkradio@xxxxxxx.xxx
> To: howied231@xxxxxxx.xxxx bruninga@xxxx.xxxx amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:23:53 -0800
>
> Yikes...now we have to look up airport codes ! (Bob will not be happy)
> 73, Ted
> K7TRK
> (airport: KMFR)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
> DeFelice
> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 6:20 PM
> To: Robert Bruninga; amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
>
> OK, fair enough.. In my case this was a morning (10:15 EST) ascending pass
> on saturday 2/13. I was located at BWI airport and AOS was slightly to the
> southwest. I worked the satellite when it was west of me just short of mid
> pass at a little over 30 degrees. The station I worked was in Vermont who
> commented I had a good signal into the satellite. This is all subjective and
> not very accurate but I also didn't plan on working the satellite, it was
> completely opportunistic.
> - Howie AB2S
>
> > From: bruninga@xxxx.xxx
> > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:55:52 -0500
> > To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
> >
> > Argh!...
> >
> > These testimonials of when people heard the satellite and what it took
> > to hit and where it was in their pass are -meaningless- unless you say
> > where you are relative to the millions of square miles of the country!
> >
> > Someone on the west coast will have more than 10 dB better chance with
> > any satelillite RISING from over the pacific, and someone on the EAST
> > coast will have more than a 10 dB better change of a SETTING satellite
> > over the Atlantic. But unless people say where they are relative to
> > the 3D geometry of the pass, and the rest of the mass of users and RFI
> > from 350 million other people and their part-15 emissions, any such
> > reports make no sense to anyone else. The guys in the Midwest in most
> > of a pass will have a hard time ALWAYS.
> >
> > People need to think in terms of WHERE the satellite is with respect
> > to the other 700,000 hams in the country before any comments on link
> > quality can make much sense.
> >
> > The satellite on one's horizon and 1500 miles away is only 500 miles
> > above SOMEONE ELSE. That's 10 dB right there...
> >
> > Soap box off.
> > Bob, WB4APR
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
> > DeFelice
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:42 AM
> > To: Paul Stoetzer; Clayton W5PFG
> > Cc: AMSAT-BB
> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
> >
> > For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday
> > morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I
> > could hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until
> > sat was above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength
> > at the uplink freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ.
> > I never bothered to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio
> > display power is down considerably. I did notice fading as well.
> >
> > - Howie AB2S
> >
> > > Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500
> > > From: n8hm@xxxx.xxx
> > > To: w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx
> > > CC: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> > > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
> > >
> > > Clayton,
> > >
> > > I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on
> > > directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get
> > > in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On
> > > overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
> > >
> > > Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon
> > > to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I
> > > am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times,
> > > neither polarity works.
> > >
> > > According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant
> > > sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous
> > > patterns after that.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Paul, N8HM
> > >
> > > On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> > > > For the past several days, I have observed the following:
> > > >
> > > > - On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very
> > easily.
> > > > Either polarity V or H works.
> > > >
> > > > - Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes
> > > > to activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge
> > > > getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder
> > easily.
> > > >
> > > > - Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could
> > > > access the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low
> > > > as 0.1 degrees elevation.
> > > >
> > > > - Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be
> > > > equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not
> > > > RHCP or LHCP.)
> > > >
> > > > - Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with
> > > > it now in constant sun.
> > > >
> > > > - As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with
> > > > handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2
> > > > days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were
> > > > seeing
> > some success with an HT.
> > > >
> > > > Thoughts/comments?
> > > >
> > > > 73
> > > > Clayton
> > > > W5PFG
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
> > > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
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------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 07:56:23 -0500
From: Mike Seguin <n1jez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
Message-ID: <56C5BF77.8080900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Hi Howie,
Well the bird was ascending at 253 degrees AZ and 26 degrees EL here in
FN34im when we made contact. I'm in the middle of Burlington, VT
surrounded by trees and houses etc. You had a good signal from the mobile.
System here is an Oscar 10/13/40 class station, so the current LEO's are
pretty easy to work.
Interestingly, I just worked an ascending AO-85 pass to my East and it
was full of deep fades. Polarity switching was no help.... I did work
NS3L, but missed two other stations that were in the noise.
Mike
On 2/17/2016 9:20 PM, Howie DeFelice wrote:
> OK, fair enough.. In my case this was a morning (10:15 EST) ascending pass
on saturday 2/13. I was located at BWI airport and AOS was slightly to the
southwest. I worked the satellite when it was west of me just short of mid
pass at a little over 30 degrees. The station I worked was in Vermont who
commented I had a good signal into the satellite. This is all subjective and
not very accurate but I also didn't plan on working the satellite, it was
completely opportunistic.
> - Howie AB2S
>
>> From: bruninga@xxxx.xxx
>> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 19:55:52 -0500
>> To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations (where???)
>>
>> Argh!...
>>
>> These testimonials of when people heard the satellite and what it took to
>> hit and where it was in their pass are -meaningless- unless you say where
>> you are relative to the millions of square miles of the country!
>>
>> Someone on the west coast will have more than 10 dB better chance with any
>> satelillite RISING from over the pacific, and someone on the EAST coast
>> will have more than a 10 dB better change of a SETTING satellite over the
>> Atlantic. But unless people say where they are relative to the 3D
>> geometry of the pass, and the rest of the mass of users and RFI from 350
>> million other people and their part-15 emissions, any such reports make no
>> sense to anyone else. The guys in the Midwest in most of a pass will have
>> a hard time ALWAYS.
>>
>> People need to think in terms of WHERE the satellite is with respect to
>> the other 700,000 hams in the country before any comments on link quality
>> can make much sense.
>>
>> The satellite on one's horizon and 1500 miles away is only 500 miles above
>> SOMEONE ELSE. That's 10 dB right there...
>>
>> Soap box off.
>> Bob, WB4APR
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Howie
>> DeFelice
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 10:42 AM
>> To: Paul Stoetzer; Clayton W5PFG
>> Cc: AMSAT-BB
>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
>>
>> For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday
>> morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I could
>> hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until sat was
>> above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength at the uplink
>> freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ. I never bothered
>> to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio display power is down
>> considerably. I did notice fading as well.
>>
>> - Howie AB2S
>>
>>> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500
>>> From: n8hm@xxxx.xxx
>>> To: w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx
>>> CC: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
>>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
>>>
>>> Clayton,
>>>
>>> I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly
>>> overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until
>>> about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead
>>> descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
>>>
>>> Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to
>>> horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am
>>> constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither
>>> polarity works.
>>>
>>> According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight
>>> until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after
>>> that.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Paul, N8HM
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>>>> For the past several days, I have observed the following:
>>>>
>>>> - On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very
>> easily.
>>>> Either polarity V or H works.
>>>>
>>>> - Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
>>>> activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge
>>>> getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder
>> easily.
>>>>
>>>> - Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access
>>>> the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1
>>>> degrees elevation.
>>>>
>>>> - Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be
>>>> equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not
>>>> RHCP or LHCP.)
>>>>
>>>> - Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it
>>>> now in constant sun.
>>>>
>>>> - As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with
>>>> handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2
>>>> days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing
>> some success with an HT.
>>>>
>>>> Thoughts/comments?
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>> Clayton
>>>> W5PFG
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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:
>>>> http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>> _______________________________________________
>> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
--
73,
Mike, N1JEZ
"A closed mouth gathers no feet"
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:26:27 +0000
From: Peter Goodhall <peter@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Why 6 digit grid locator in Europe?
Message-ID:
<CAFvUairR9prdw1KgWSFRVa4-KQHGwtJE6ZJ5ijMhNwQcTgrAAw@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
While I appreciate that passing 6 character grid square is slightly
more verbose than say 4 I do think it's such a small issue it's not
worth worrying about, in-fact you could go as far as saying you don't
even need to send the signal report (this is something that's been
argued about in HF Contesting for years) after all the logbooks
probably pre populated as 59 or 599 depending on the mode.
At the same time I don't take the argument of "its on QRZ", while it
probably is, I'm not sure it's a reason for not giving a grid square..
whether it's auto populated inside my logbook or not.
We can strip down exchange information to just be 2E0SQL EA1JM IO91 or
if we don't bother even with that 2E0SQL EA1JM.. I'm not really sure
it constitutes a contact by my licence regulations.
There's far greater issues like people calling over the top of in
progress QSOs, deliberate jamming etc which should be dealt with
first, if this was taken care of then more QSOs on FM satellites could
take place and that extra two letters wouldn't really make a real
difference.
Pete, 2E0SQL
On 17 February 2016 at 23:05, Dani EA4GPZ <daniel@xxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> El 17/02/16 a las 08:20, Juan Antonio Fernandez escribi?:
>> I can?t understand it.
>> My thinking:
>> - Any award needs 6 digits
>>
>> - Time on SATs is limited, Why to waste it trying to understand something
>> useless
>>
>> - Other places, such as USA, only use 4 digits from years
>>
>> - To wrap up, all are advantages
>>
>> Anybody knows some reason why should we follow using 6 digits?
>>
>> If there is not a strong reason, I think we should start using 4 digits
>
> Dear all,
>
> I would like to go even further. A valid contact is defined as one where
> there has been exchange over the air of:
>
> - Both callsigns
> - The signal report
> - A confirmation of the reception of these (usually a roger or 73 will do)
>
> At least it's written that way in the IARU R1 VHF manager's handbook.
>
> An exchange of grid locators is not required to make a contact valid.
>
> I don't follow all the awards, but I'm not aware of any awards that
> actually require grid locators to be exchanged over the air to make the
> contact count for the award. Sure you need to track grid locators if you
> are after VUCC, but you can get the grid locators by qrz.com/email/qsl
> cards/etc. It's not needed that you get them on the air.
>
> It bothers me especially on FM sats, where time is shared between all
> the operators and many times people insist in repeating their 6 digit
> locators several times because of difficult conditions. This is just a
> waste of time.
>
> Of course I want to put the grid locators on my logbook, but most of the
> time the locators I get on the air are just the same that are listed on
> qrz.com, so I could just get them there.
>
> In especial conditions, such as if you're operating portable and the
> satellite is not busy (read as only 3 or less people), then it may make
> some sense to pass the 4 or 6 digit locator over the air. But please,
> don't repeat it several times as you struggle to make a contact in
> difficult conditions.
>
> This is less of a problem in linear sats, because time is not shared
> between all the operators. Still, the same reasons for not passing the
> locator at all are valid.
>
> So, my suggestion is: Please, don't pass the grid locator at all, except
> in especial conditions.
>
> 73,
>
> Dani EA4GPZ.
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
--
Peter Goodhall, 2E0SQL
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:58:09 -0600
From: Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg@xxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Remote sensor for antenna array orientation
Message-ID: <56C61441.8060209@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
Has anyone ever mounted a mutli-axis accelerometer or a magnetic compass
sensor to their antenna crossboom for making adjustments to point of aim?
I'm currently using Hall Effect sensors but experiencing several degrees
of drift over a short period of a few days.
73
Clayton
W5PFG
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2016 15:50:50 -0500
From: Zach Leffke <zleffke@xx.xxx>
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Remote sensor for antenna array orientation
Message-ID: <56C62EAA.3050102@xx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Hi Clayton,
I used an accelerometer for elevation feedback and a magnetometer
for azimuth feedback as part of a system that drove arrow style antennas
on a PTZ camera mount that did not have any feedback sensors built in.
All purchased at sparkfun (or adafruit can't remember) and driven by an
arduino atmega328p using (basically the arduino Uno, there was also
reference arduino code for getting the things up and running on the
website I bought them from).
I wrote up and published the circuit design for that system in the
proceedings of the 2013 symposium. If you need a copy of the paper I
can probably dig it up from wherever I saved it.
My experience with it was that the accelerometer was rock solid for tilt
or elevation feedback.
The magnetometer on the other hand was shall we say 'finicky.' It did
work for my purposes, but required re-calibration frequently, and
re-calibration basically every time you moved the set up to a new
location. It also had pretty noisy measurement data where the angle
reported by the device would 'bounce around' even when the sensor was
stationary. So I had to play games with the arduino to keep a running
average of the feedback to smooth out the noisy feedback. Also, the
accuracy of the magnetometer data was decent but not great. If you have
something like an arrow antenna with a fairly broad beam, then it was
good enough, but if you need "precision pointing" then the magnetometer
is probably not the way to go.
All of my experiences were based on a pretty cheap device from spark
fun. It could be that cell phone technology has caught up and something
that you can get on those websites for cheap is more robust than the
sensor I used.
Hope this helps,
-Zach, KJ4QLP
Research Associate
Ted & Karyn Hume Center for National Security & Technology
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Work Phone: 540-231-4174
Cell Phone: 540-808-6305
On 2/18/2016 1:58 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote:
> Has anyone ever mounted a mutli-axis accelerometer or a magnetic
> compass sensor to their antenna crossboom for making adjustments to
> point of aim?
>
> I'm currently using Hall Effect sensors but experiencing several
> degrees of drift over a short period of a few days.
>
> 73
> Clayton
> W5PFG
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Subject: Digest Footer
_______________________________________________
Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx.
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!
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 57
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