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CX2SA > SATDIG 28.05.16 10:41l 716 Lines 27097 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: HF-HF satellite (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK))
2. K5L operation from EL58 on satellites QRT (Clayton Coleman)
3. Re: Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?) (E.Mike McCardel)
4. Re: Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?) (John Magliacane)
5. Re: Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?) (E.Mike McCardel)
6. Oscar Locator (Roland Zurmely)
7. AO-73/FUNcube (Jim Heck G3WGM)
8. Re: HF-HF satellite (horizon?) (Greg D)
9. Re: HF-HF satellite (George Henry)
10. HF-HF satellite (horizon?) (Kevin M)
11. HF-HF satellite (horizon?) (Kevin M)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 16:34:54 +0000
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb@xxxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite
Message-ID:
<CAN6TEUdEf7N=oxFkgzcAQg7Ck-hjogKiRHcM+ZN94g7B5ic89Q@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Hi!
The inexpensive "RTL-SDR" dongles typically cover from around 24 to
1800 MHz, lack front-end filtering, and in my experiences are useless
when there is a transmitter nearby - even a low power transmitter
like an HT or FT-817. I have tried them, as well as the
original
FUNcube Dongle Pro (not the Pro+), and have been unable to
work satellites
with those as my receiver for full-duplex operation. There are some
that work better, and have coverage throughout HF, VHF, UHF, and into
the low microwave range...
FUNcube Dongle Pro+ - order from funcubedongle.com in the UK, cost
including FedEx shipping to the USA is around US$ 200 depending on
exchange rates.
SDRplay - available from sdrplay.com (based in the UK) or at HRO stores
across the US for US$ 149.
These two have the front-end filtering that the RTL-SDR type of
dongles lack, and have worked well for me as a downlink receiver
for satellite work. I have been using an SDRplay for the past few
months, and before that I had been using a FUNcube Dongle Pro+. The
big advantage of the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ is that it is compatible
with the FUNcube Dashboard program for AO-73 telemetry as well as the
FoxTelem program for AO-85 telemetry. You can use other SDR receivers
with these programs, but you will need to use some sort of virtual
audio cable to connect the output from your SDR software to these
dashboard programs. I prefer the SDRplay, but either of these units
would work well for satellite and other receiving work. Both of these
have worked well with the inexpensive Windows tablets I have been
using for the past year or so, depending on the software you run on
the tablet.
The Airspy R2 has frequency coverage similar to the "RTL-SDR"
dongles, only covering 24-1800 MHz, and is sold in the USA by the
airspy.us web site for US$ 199, or see airspy.com for sales to
other countries. You would need to use an upconverter to get coverage
throughout the HF range, and Airspy markets the Spyverter upconverter
for US$ 59. There are other upconverters that could work with the
Airspy.
Airspy is now selling an Airspy Mini, a smaller SDR receiver with
the same 24-1800 MHz coverage as the original Airspy receiver,
and airspy.us is selling these at US$ 114.95 initially. I have not
tried either of the Airspy receivers, since I prefer to have an
SDR receiver that doesn't require an upconverter for HF coverage.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Twitter: @xxxxxx
On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 4:00 PM, Joe <nss@xxx.xxx> wrote:
> yeah and the 20 buck ones are deaf as a dummyload, and once the signals
> are strong enough there is soo much spurious signals, what one is the real
> one?
> Sig
> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
> Idle Tyme
> Idle-Tyme.com
> http://www.idle-tyme.com
> On 5/27/2016 10:56 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
>
>> Less than 20$.
>>
>> On May 27, 2016, at 10:12 AM, Michael Adams <mda@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> How expensive is an HF-capable SDR RX dongle these days?
>>>
>>> --
>>> Michael Adams | mda@xxxx. <mda@xxxx.xxx>
>>
>>
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 11:35:27 -0500
From: Clayton Coleman <kayakfishtx@xxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] K5L operation from EL58 on satellites QRT
Message-ID:
<CAPovOwdBzncA__XMPQndbUMzTyuRGK-Rk04Cmz+tAYDONVi8wQ@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I want to thank all of you for your kind words and encouragement
during my operation from EL58hx yesterday. I've not had a chance to
tally all the contacts but I made contact with a lot of unique
stations.
There is both high-resolution video and drone footage of the K5L
operation. Give me some time to get that put together in a
presentable format.
As for confirmations, I kindly request you send paper QSL with SASE
and be patient. Paper cards may take a couple of months. I will be
ordering customized, full-color cards. I will do LoTW eventually but
not until paper cards are ready to go out.
73
Clayton
W5PFG
On Mon, May 23, 2016 at 7:28 AM, Clayton Coleman <kayakfishtx@xxxxx.xxx>
wrote:
> Thursday, May 26, gridsquare EL58 will be activated on satellites
> SO-50 and FO-29 with the 1x1 callsign K5L. This will be a /MM
> operation launched from Venice, Louisiana.
>
> The satellite pass schedule is online: http://www.qrz.com/db/k5l
>
> 73
> Clayton
> W5PFG
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 13:01:41 -0400
From: "E.Mike McCardel" <mccardelm@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?)
Message-ID: <94746095-E297-4B61-9BEB-6E69BCC16D15@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Bob
Search for the November 1977, 73 Magazine. It is available online. The whole
issue was dedicated to things Oscar in prep for Oscar 8
I have an AMSAT owned copy of an Oscar Locator, I would gladly loan you if
you are interested.
73
EMike
EMike McCardel, AA8EM
Rotating Editor AMSAT News Service
Sent from my iPhone
On May 27, 2016, at 10:09 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
>> Sat tracking in the early days was with an AMSAT
>> OSCAR-LOCATOR (Rotating mylar discs over a global map!!).
>
> I just googled and there is only one image of an OSCARLOCATOR I can find.
> I remember it well, but am confused by this image:
> http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/images/oscarlocator.jpg
>
> I understand the curved trace. It crosses near the pole at the latitude of
> the inclination of the orbit. And I understand the circular plot which is
> angle and elevation from your QTH when placed over your house. But I do
> not understand the straight line scale going nearly vertical and labeled
> RS? WHy is there no curve to it?
>
> And the only other one I found was this:
> http://www.studiorite.com/oldindex/images/OscarLocator1sm.jpg
>
> Which looks like it has the orbits of three different satellites, one of
> them added on in green marker. But this one is lacking the AZ/EL circle
> for the station.
>
> Is there a better image anywhere that I can use to justify this "minimum
> satcom" experiment?
>
> And is this how it worked? You got the daily zero crossing of the
> equator. Then for the next 24 hours you could just rotate the plastic
> overlay by the longitude increment? ANd increment the time by the orbital
> period?
>
> On a trip and without a smart phone, I'd rather do an OSCAR locator then
> fuss with a PC...
>
> Bob, WB4APR
> _______________________________________________
> 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: Fri, 27 May 2016 18:11:17 +0000 (UTC)
From: John Magliacane <kd2bd@xxxxx.xxx>
To: amsat bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?)
Message-ID:
<94454518.439993.1464372677282.JavaMail.yahoo@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
On Fri, 5/27/16, Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
> I understand the curved trace.? It crosses near the pole at the latitude
of the inclination of the orbit.? And I understand the circular plot which is
> angle and elevation from your QTH when placed over your house.? But I do
not understand the straight line scale going nearly vertical and labeled
> RS?? WHy is there no curve to it?
Bob,
If I remember correctly, the RS satellites of that era had orbital
inclinations a bit over 90 degrees, thereby causing the ground tracks to
appear straighter than satellites having inclinations less than 90 degrees.
The "Satellite Experimenter's Handbook" included an Oscar Locator that when
used in conjunction with reference orbit and equator crossing (EQX) data
transmitted in CW by W1AW, provided my first exposure to making orbital
predictions.
Later on, I wrote some code in BASIC for my Commodore 64 that propagated the
EQX reference orbits ahead in time, and eventually added additional code
(mostly based on equations in the "Satellite Experimenter's Handbook") that
eventually eliminated the need for the Oscar Locator, altogether.
Incidentally, NASA once published a book for educators on the subject of
Weather Satellite reception that included a map and overlays very similar to
those included with the Oscar Locator. I seem to remember there were
versions of the RSGB's "VHF-UHF Manual" that also carried a similar map.
Out of this work, PREDICT was eventually born, which led to the on-line pass
predictions provided on the AMSAT-NA website, not to mention gpredict, and
other derivatives that live on to this day.
73 de John, KD2BD
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 14:22:12 -0400
From: "E.Mike McCardel" <mccardelm@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat bb <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Fw: HF-HF satellite (OSCAR LOCATOR?)
Message-ID: <DE5A3C69-C7EC-44A2-BB35-18A2FD687035@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Bob
There is also a good description of the Oscarlocator in Martin Davidoff's
K2UBC book The Satellite Experimentor's Handbook.
Copyright 1990.
EMike McCardel, AA8EM
Rotating Editor AMSAT News Service
Sent from my iPhone
On May 27, 2016, at 10:09 AM, Robert Bruninga <bruninga@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
>> Sat tracking in the early days was with an AMSAT
>> OSCAR-LOCATOR (Rotating mylar discs over a global map!!).
>
> I just googled and there is only one image of an OSCARLOCATOR I can find.
> I remember it well, but am confused by this image:
> http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/images/oscarlocator.jpg
>
> I understand the curved trace. It crosses near the pole at the latitude of
> the inclination of the orbit. And I understand the circular plot which is
> angle and elevation from your QTH when placed over your house. But I do
> not understand the straight line scale going nearly vertical and labeled
> RS? WHy is there no curve to it?
>
> And the only other one I found was this:
> http://www.studiorite.com/oldindex/images/OscarLocator1sm.jpg
>
> Which looks like it has the orbits of three different satellites, one of
> them added on in green marker. But this one is lacking the AZ/EL circle
> for the station.
>
> Is there a better image anywhere that I can use to justify this "minimum
> satcom" experiment?
>
> And is this how it worked? You got the daily zero crossing of the
> equator. Then for the next 24 hours you could just rotate the plastic
> overlay by the longitude increment? ANd increment the time by the orbital
> period?
>
> On a trip and without a smart phone, I'd rather do an OSCAR locator then
> fuss with a PC...
>
> Bob, WB4APR
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 6
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 18:59:40 +0000 (UTC)
From: Roland Zurmely <py4zbz@xxxxx.xxx>
To: AMSAT <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Oscar Locator
Message-ID:
<706966470.475730.1464375580924.JavaMail.yahoo@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I used " Oscar?Locator " in 1985 and 1986 to calculate the position of Oscar
10.See here (use Google translator for
portuguese):<http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/satelite.htm#10>
73 de Roland PY4ZBZ
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 21:03:42 +0100
From: "Jim Heck G3WGM" <jimlist@xxxx.xxx>
To: "AMSAT BB" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-73/FUNcube
Message-ID: <01B727274E3C47DF933CCCE05734DB91@xxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
Hi Folks
I have just switched AO-73/FUNcube into full time transponder mode (Amateur
Mode).
As normal, plan to switch back to education mode on Sunday PM UTC
Have FUN!
73s Jim G3WGM
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 20:56:53 -0700
From: Greg D <ko6th.greg@xxxxx.xxx>
To: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>, 'Robert Bruninga'
<bruninga@xxxx.xxx>, 'Amsat BB' <AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite (horizon?)
Message-ID: <57491705.709@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Thanks, Drew. That was exactly the write-up I was remembering!
Greg KO6TH
Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
> With RS-12, when 10m was open, the satellite could be hard to hear at lower
> elevations. However, you could sometimes hear it (and use it) while it was
> on the other side of the planet.
>
> Here's a good write-up from DXCC #1 on RS-12:
>
> http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200202/msg00707.html
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On Behalf Of Robert
> Bruninga
> Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 9:08 AM
> To: Amsat BB
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite (horizon?)
>
>> As noted, the entry to Ham radio is not via HF these days, but with no
>> HEO sats, one can stretch the footprint pretty well with an HF bird,
> Is this true? On one hand, it makes sense, but on the other hand, the
> closer to the horizon the smaller the angle of incidence and the thicker the
> ionosphere becomes. It woiuld seem to me maybe that this would bend the
> user's horizon waves downward and therefore miss the satellite.
>
> In other words, I'm thinking that an HF satellite with a footprint that is
> 2000 miles in diameter would in fact only have an operational range that is
> less than that due to bending at those low angles.
>
> On the other hand, some could argue that some ionospheric bending coiuld do
> the opposite and enhance somewhat beyond the line of sight horizon... Which
> is it?
>
> Bob, WB4APR
> _______________________________________________
> 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: 9
Date: Fri, 27 May 2016 23:01:47 -0500
From: "George Henry" <ka3hsw@xxx.xxx>
To: "amsat bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite
Message-ID: <2EC00701F95F46FFA3AE539B454457B9@xxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Mine was a set of Drake B-line twins (R-4B, T-4XB) with the Drake 2-meter
TC-2 transmit converter for Mode A (I also had the 2-meter downconverter and
console). The twins worked great for Mode K on RS-12/13 half-duplex, as
well. Homemade turnstile for the 2-meter uplink, fan dipole in the garage
attic for HF. Pass predictions printed out with InstantTrack.
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob- W7LRD" <w7lrd@xxxxxxx.xxx>
To: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: "Joe" <nss@xxx.xxx>; "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 11:55 PM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite
> first satellite station was a Swan 350 and a R3A receiver, commodore 64
> puter. That's all it took! I've come a very
> long way!
> 73 Bob W7LRD
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> To: "Joe" <nss@xxx.xxx>
> Cc: "amsat-bb" <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2016 8:26:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite
>
> 10m all modes receivers are cheap.
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
>
>> On May 26, 2016, at 11:09 PM, Joe <nss@xxx.xxx> wrote:
>>
>> I would just miss the full duplex possibility mode "A" gives you.
>>
>> Joe WB9SBD
>> Sig
>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock
>> Idle Tyme
>> Idle-Tyme.com
>> http://www.idle-tyme.com
>>> On 5/26/2016 9:20 PM, Greg D wrote:
>>> Got my vote for 15 up and 10 down. RS-12 was my second satellite (RS-10
>>> was the first).
>>>
>>> As noted, the entry to Ham radio is not via HF these days, but with no
>>> HEO sats, one can stretch the footprint pretty well with an HF bird,
>>> working it well below the horizon. That might attract more usage of the
>>> HF bands, and revitalize a lost mode of communication with some really
>>> bizarre propagation.
>>>
>>> Greg KO6TH
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> 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: 10
Date: Sat, 28 May 2016 07:57:26 +0000 (UTC)
From: Kevin M <n4ufo@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite (horizon?)
Message-ID:
<613483527.757308.1464422246053.JavaMail.yahoo@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
With RS-12, when 10m was open, the satellite could be hard to hear at lower
elevations. However, you could sometimes hear it (and use it) while it was
on the other side of the planet.
RS-12 was my first satellite... I whooped and hollered far more after my
first Mode K sat QSO than I did as a Novice and my very first contact. I was
able to manage 48 states worked (47 confirmed) and 150 grids confirmed
(under my old call AC5DK) to give me an RS-12/13 only VUCC-Sat award. But
probably my second biggest thrill was having my CQ answered by OK1DIG while
the bird was over North America. I would not call is 'commonplace', but yes,
OTH contacts were possible through RS-12/13 in Mode K anytime both 15m & 10m
were open between you and the bird. I believe that is what was alluded to
when referring to 'stretching the footprint'... HF propagation enhanced, not
direct path.
Addressing other comments, no, full duplex was not only not required, but
pretty much unheard of on that bird. You found a clear spot on 15m, left
your transmit alone and tuned your receive. This meant you had to tune on
'the other guy' and you didn't hear yourself after the QSO began. The
primary reason was if you changed your transmit, you could wander on top of
an ongoing terrestrial QSO, which was a no-no. And also brings up another
big caveat to considering such a bird today, many DX stations on 15m would
come through the passband and 'eat up' the transponder power, having no idea
that they were, nor should they... it was/is not an exclusive satellite band.
I did acquire a 25 watt 2m transceiver and try mode A for a while, but to be
honest Mode K was much easier and I sold the 2m in short order. In my
opinion, RS-12/13 was sort of considered like a step child by a lot of
satellite purists, in that it was not a 'real' satellite because it utilized
HF bands. (Not unlike the 'linear vs FM' or 'HEO vs LEO' debates of more
recent times...) And yes, some have pointed out that back then HF was the
entry pathway to ham radio, but it was not the radio availability that was
the issue as much as the lack of need for directional antennas!!! RS-12/13
was loud enough and heard well enough that I worked it the vast majority of
the time with my 100 watt HF rig and a Hustler BTV vertical! (Although I did
eventually pick up a used 10m preamp from K5OE that helped a lot with lower
elevations... thanks, Jerry!)
And by the way, not only did my rig not do full duplex... it didn't even do
split band. I turned a manual band switch knob on EVERY OVER.... for YEARS.
(luckily my Heathkit HW-5400 was tough enough to take it) It's also worth
mentioning that CW was much more prevalent then and I would dare say the
primary mode for that bird... As a matter of fact, the bird even had a
'Robot' that would answer you in CW. You would tune just outside the normal
transponder and listen somewhere near the beacon (if memory serves) and give
your callsign in CW. If it copied you, it would respond with your callsign
and issue you a unique QSO number. (It was not the easiest thing to do, but
I know I managed it at least once or twice.) The idea was that you could
then submit for a special QSL card. Since I hosted a website and forum for
RS-12/13 ops and reported regular news updates on RS-12/13 to AMSAT News
Service, I used to get a lot of requests in the mail for those QSLs. (Some
even from outside th
e US!) Unfortunately, the correct QSL address was the infamous 'Box 88
Moscow', and I had to send them all back marked, 'sorry, not the QSL manager'.
Would I enjoy another Mode K satellite? You bet your sweet bippy!!! Would it
make for a good entry level bird like RS-12/13 did? Given today's situation
(both HF and satellite) and the likely restrictions on a cubesat form,
highly doubtful. Do I think it's the best use of resources in today's
satellite climate? Probably not. If one wants a beginner satellite these
days, it should be something worked with simple antennas and cheap (low
power) gear. But looking at an HF only opportunity with limited power budget
(and therefore limited bandwidth), I might suggest something along the line
of a simple single channel experiment... like the ROBOT, but a voice
response instead of CW or a parrot talker maybe. (I can see school kids
getting excited that a robot voice talked back to them.) Again, maybe not
the best idea, as something digital might be far easier to implement, but
just throwing a spit ball here.
Just my opinion and you know what 'they' say about those things... treat
accordingly. And while I'm at it, your mileage may vary, batteries not
included, no animals were harmed during the forming of this opinion. And
thanks for asking the group, Bob... nice walk down memory lane. =^) 73,
Kevin N4UFO
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sat, 28 May 2016 08:21:47 +0000 (UTC)
From: Kevin M <n4ufo@xxxxx.xxx>
To: "amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxxx <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] HF-HF satellite (horizon?)
Message-ID:
<558039417.812259.1464423707522.JavaMail.yahoo@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
With RS-12, when 10m was open, the satellite could be hard to hear at lower
elevations. However, you could sometimes hear it (and use it) while it was
on the other side of the planet.
Here's a good write-up from DXCC #1 on RS-12:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200202/msg00707.html
73, Drew KO4MA
--------------------------------
For anyone with access to QST archives (online for ARRL members), this
article and a good sidebar are available in PDF ofrmat from the August 1995
QST pp 85-86 as well as another article he references therein on a 'how to
primer' for RS-12/13 from the February 1994 QST p 58.
Go here and search 'RS-12' in the given months and years:
http://www.arrl.org/arrl-periodicals-archive-search
73 Kevin N4UFO
------------------------------
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End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 11, Issue 169
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