radio – Page 35 – Spinning and Grinning

Polar Bear Hunt

When:	14 January 2006
Time:	Look for the Polar Bear between at 20:00 UTC and 23:59 UTC
Frequencies:	Around the QRP Frequencies + or – a few kHz. due to QRM
Mode:	Mostly CW, some SSB
CQ by Polar Bears:	CQ PB CQ PB de WB3AAL WB3AAL PB k
Exchange:	RST, Name, QTH, Polar Bear # if you have one. If you are not a Polar Bear, send your power.
QSL Exchange:	QSL to the Polar Bear you have contacted. If you would like a Polar Bear certificate, please drop us N3EPA an e-mail with Polar Bear Certificate in the subject line and the Polar Bear contact information that you made in the body of the e-mail. Pleas allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery for the certificate.

Polar Bear Activators for January 2006
Check back for updates before 14 January.

Call	Time in UTC	QTH	Rig	Bands	Mode
WB3AAL	18:00 – 00:00	Route 309 on the Appalachian Trail in PA	Elecraft K2	40, 30, 20, 17 & 15 m	CW SSB
NK8Q	18:00 – 00:00	Route 309 on the Appalachian Trail in PA	Elecraft K2	80, 40, 30 & 20 m	CW
WA3WSJ	See Web	Mohican Outdoor Center on the Appalachian Trail in PA	Elecraft K1	20 & 40 m	CW
K3YTR	See Web	Mohican Outdoor Center on the Appalachian Trail in PA	SG 2020	75 & 6 m	SSB
N7UN/2	See Web	"Bearfort Fire Lookout" tower in northern NJ & Mohican Outdoor Center on the Appalachian Trail in PA	FT-817	40 & 30 m	CW
NU3E	See Web	Mohican Outdoor Center on the Appalachian Trail in PA
NK1N	See Web	Mohican Outdoor Center on the Appalachian Trail in PA	Elecraft K1	40, 30, 20 & 17 m	CW
W9HZC	Sprint times	Neale Woods Nature Reserve in Omaha, NE		40 & 20 m	CW
KM0Y	Sprint times	Neale Woods Nature Reserve in Omaha, NE		30 m	CW
K0JL	Sprint times	Neale Woods Nature Reserve in Omaha, NE		?	?
N5SEZ	Sprint times	Neale Woods Nature Reserve in Omaha, NE	NC2030	20 m	CW
KI4DGH	Sprint times	Appalachian Trail between Mt. Collins and Clingmans Dome, NC	KX1	40, 30 & 20 m	CW
VE3EUR	19:00 – 22:00	Gatineau Park, Quebec		40, 30, 20 & maybe 80 m	CW
VE3WMB	19:00 – 22:00	Gatineau Park, Quebec		40, 30, 20 & maybe 80 m	CW
VA3SIE	19:00 – 22:00	Gatineau Park, Quebec		40, 30, 20 & maybe 80 m	CW
KB3JNE	21:00 – 03:00	Shady Oaks Campgrounds in Newmanstown, PA		6 & 2 m	SSB FM
KB3JND	21:00 – 03:00	Shady Oaks Campgrounds in Newmanstown, PA		6 & 2 m	SSB FM
KC0SYS	Sprint times	Cover Bridge #16 57A, McPherson, KS		14.320 then 7.230	SSB
WA8REI	Sprint times	Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron, Bay County, MI	FT-817	40, 30 & 20 m	CW SSB

3YØX DXpedition gets substantial grant

The team are pleased to announce that the 3YØX DXpedition has been given a substantial grant by the ARRL/Colvin Award. This is a prestigious award and is important to our overall DXpedition financing. Our special thanks to the Awards Committee.

Our twenty-two-man team now includes Wayne, KU4V and Robert, SP5XVY. Their special expertise rounds out the team.

Our sea container containing all of our equipment, and most of the team’s personal gear is aboard the vessel DAP Mares which is now in the S. Shetland Islands. Our foodstuffs are also aboard after being purchased in Punta Arenas, Chile. The team will be reunited with their equipment and gear on or about Feb, 2nd to begin the four-day voyage to Peter I. Remember these dates are target dates and weather- dependent.

The team has been assigned the special Chilean Antarctic call sign of XR9A for use to/from Peter I. We hope to be QRV from Punta Arenas for a few days and then maritime mobile to and from Peter I. There is also a possibility that the team will also be QRV from the S. Shetlands for a few days after the Peter I DXpedition is complete.

Our website, http://www.peterone.com, will be updated regularly and should be checked often. The website should be considered the best source of updated and correct DXpedition news direct from the DXpedition leaders.

We are currently designing a special “souvenir ” QSL card to commemorate your QSOs. Please QSL via N2OO.

Please visit our website often as we have worked hard to enable you to be a part of this incredible adventure. We are seeking financial support, so consider a donation please! Pay Pal is accepted!

73,
Ralph, KØIR and Bob, K4UEE
Peter I DXpedition co-leaders

OUR PLANNED OPERATING QRG

BAND	SSB	CW	Digital
10	28475	28023	28092 (Listening up!)
12	24987	24893	24928 (Listening down only!)
15	21295	21023	21102 (Listening down!)
17	18165	18073	18148 (listening down only!)
20	14190	14023	14084 (Listening up!)
30	n/a	10103	10135 (Listening up!)
40	7093	7023
80	3750	3523
160	1842.5	1822.5

Note: These frequencies have been selected to allow the Peter I Team to, on occasion, have three signals on a band at one time. We have taken steps to minimize inter-station interference by separation of operating sites and different antenna polarizations. Although these frequencies may vary some and may even be changed all together depending upon what we encounter on the island and on the air, they are a good place to start looking for us. In that regard, remember we will be communicating regularly with the world-wide community through our pilot system. Click HERE for directions on how to use that pilot system.

We are well aware of the demand for a QSO with Peter I with the US General Class licensee. It is our intent to spend considerable time operating split, and listening in the General Class bands. Please listen for instructions from the 3YØX operator for listening frequencies.

() Please note that we will be offering digital QSOs on several bands but have selected 30m and 20m as “primary” digital bands. This is where you should look for us first.

Ham Radio Kits

I’m trying to build up my kit building skills and started with this Vectronics Comprehensive Soldering Course:

This professional-grade soldering course was designed for schools and individuals. Includes theory, quizzes, PC board and components for soldering practice. Taking this course will result in professional soldering skills and fun blinking LED project. This course covers all of the latest tools, techniques and materials you’ll need for “through-hole” style PC board assembly and repair.

When you complete this course you’ll be ready to tackle a wide range of jobs on the bench and in the field. Short, concise lessons cover topics like solders and fluxes, product safety, soldering irons, circuit boars, and much more.

Skill Level: Simple – Calls for a few basic tools — a soldering iron, cutters, pliers, wire-strippers and a small screwdriver.

Note: This is merely the kit. If you would like to purchase a case for your electronic kit as well, you will need to purchase it separately.

…. it took me about three hours to put it together and now I feel a lot more confident with the soldering iron. I attached the battery and the lights started blinking, always a good sign. 🙂

My next kit attempt will be Ten Tec’s 40M QRP CW transceiver kit:
Ten-Tec began in 1968 with the release of very inexpensive “QRP” transceiver kits. We thought it would be fun to revisit those roots. We explored today’s RF technology and components to see just how inexpensive, compact, and simple a quality QRP kit rig could be. The low price and great receiver design make these QSK VFO-controlled transceivers a great choice. Get on the air from anywhere!

The model 1340 40 meter QRP transceiver was reviewed by ARRL in the September 1998 issue of QST.

Good site here for assembly tips: http://www.io.com/~n5fc/tt1340.html

This kit will be much more complicated and take a lot longer. I’m going to take it slow – wish me luck.

From Beacons of Light to Radio Chats

By Louise Popplewell, Victoria Advocate, Texas

Jan. 9–PORT LAVACA — “CQ, CQ, this is W5TLH — Whiskey, Five, Tango, Lima, Hotel — calling QC from the lighthouse at Halfmoon Reef, USA 363 in Port Lavaca, Texas, QRZ?”

Simply put, in ham operator lingo, that means “Hello out there, go ahead and speak if you can hear me,” explained ham operator Patty Martin.

A response came from someone who identified himself as Carl, calling from Arizona. He is curious about the lighthouse.

Patty responds: “You are 59 (coming in clear) in Port Lavaca, Texas, at the Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse. The weather is sunny and beautiful. We are operating today from inside the lighthouse.”

Patty and her husband, Jim Martin, are Extra Class Amateur Radio Operators, licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. The Martins, who live in Richardson, took a week off from their regular jobs to pursue a dual hobby that combines ham radios and lighthouses.

“Ham radio is a hobby and traveling to lighthouses was first a hobby, and then a passion,” Patty said.

They arrived in Port Lavaca on New Year’s Eve after having broadcast from the Texas Maritime Museum Lighthouse in Port Aransas and Lydia Ann Channel Lighthouse near St. Joseph Island earlier in the week.

But Halfmoon was special because they were able to broadcast from inside the lighthouse.

The week’s activities were part of a special events competition in which members of the national Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) made contact with as many lighthouses as possible.

Caller Dan, a participant, said, “Sure was great to work with you from INSIDE a light, probably my first QSO with anyone actually inside a lighthouse.”

Broadcasting got under way early when Jim set up the 14-foot antenna, which he designed and built, behind the lighthouse. When taken apart, the antenna fits into a container that measures about 4 feet in length and in inches around. But it allows the couple to reach out to operators around the world. Within the first hours, they heard from most American states and a couple of foreign countries.

The Martins said they were a bit overwhelmed and delighted that so many people were interested in the lighthouse.

Two years ago, they founded the Texas Lighthouse Radio Society, which has similar goals to that of the national society.

“The purpose of the society is to draw attention to the historical significance of our Texas lighthouses and assist in creating publicity about them to help in any renovations taking place. It is our hope that none of the existing lighthouses in Texas will ever be closed or lost to disrepair,” Patty said.

By the time they were ready to head home, the Martins had made more than 1,500 contacts from the three lighthouses. Of that number, more than 800 were made from Port Lavaca and consisted of talking to people in 48 states and about 10 countries.Back home in Richardson, Patty wrote, “Boy, we had a ball at the lighthouse. We made over 800 contacts. It was a total blast. We really had a lot of people calling on the radio, but there were so many people calling that we had a pileup. This means that so many stations are calling at the same time that it sounds like a huge rumble, and you can’t hardly pick out anyone speaking, since there is so much noise. That was exciting.”

George Ann Cormier, chairman of the Calhoun County Historical Commission, provided the Martins with most of the information they shared with callers.

Built in 1858, Cormier told them, the original location of the lighthouse was on the southern tip of Half Moon Reef in Matagorda Bay. It consisted of three tiers placed on pilings about 10 feet above the water.

Children were born and raised in the small confines of the lighthouse, which was home to the keepers.

The lighthouse was an important aid to vessels entering or leaving the bustling port towns of Lavaca, later Port Lavaca, and Indianola until the outbreak of the Civil War, according to information compiled by George Fred Rhodes, former chairman of the historical commission.

In 1861, Confederate troops gained control of the lighthouse and extinguished its light. Although the Confederates had hoped to dismantle the light permanently, damage was slight and repairs were made. The beacon was re-lighted on Feb. 20, 1868.

In Rhodes account, he quoted the late King Fisher as saying that he knew of his “own personal knowledge that the lighthouse was maintained in active use until early 1942.”

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and World War II was declared, its light was extinguished when lights all along the coast were blacked out to prevent them from aiding the enemy in any way. Its light was never reactivated.

The lighthouse remained in Matagorda Bay until 1943 when it was removed because of damage sustained in the 1942 hurricane.

Considered a hazard, and condemned by the Coast Guard, the lighthouse was moved to Point Comfort on property owned by Bauer-Smith Drilling Co.

In June 1978, W.H. Bauer Sr. and his wife, Louise, deeded the building to the historical commission.

After being repaired, it was moved to Port Lavaca and dedicated to the people of Calhoun County on Aug. 10, 1985. It is located adjacent to the Bauer Community Center and serves as a beacon to folks entering the county.

—–

To see more of Victoria Advocate, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thevictoriaadvocate.com.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com.

Rhyme or Reason to Q Signals?

From : Steve Polaski
Sent : Wednesday, January 4, 2006 12:22 AM
To : SolidCpyCW
Subject : [SolidCpyCW] Q signals

Is there any rhyme or reason to the initials used in Q signal? This may seem elementary but if were made aware of some sense to it I might be able to learn them more easily.
QRP-?reduce power?–seems to make sense but what about QSO?

Help

Steve–(Tech testing + CW 1/14/06)

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From : Art Burke
Sent : Thursday, January 5, 2006 6:20 AM
To : SolidCpyCW
Subject : [SolidCpyCW] Re: Q signals

Amazingly, one seems to hear “Q” signals more on SSB than on CW, where they were originally designed for use. They are “shorthand” for communication between two (or more) ops, for both brevity and overcoming (hopefully) poor conditions.

Common “Q” signals:

QRL? – Is this frequency in use?

(CAUTION: you’ll tick me off if you don’t realize that a “Q” signal sent without the question mark means the opposite of NOT using the question mark!) I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been listening to a DX station, patiently waiting for my “turn,” and hear someone sending QRL? My response, properly, is QRL – that means, yes, the frequency is in use!

QRL – this frequency is in use
QRO – please increase power
QRO? – do you need for me to increase power
QRQ – please send faster
QRQ? – do you want me to send faster?
QRS – please slow down (slower cw speed, please)
QRS? – do you want me to slow down?
QRM – there is man-made interference on the frequency
QRN – there is natural interference on the freq (like lightning!)
QSK – please work full break-in
QSK? – can you work full break-in?
QSL? – can you acknowledge what I sent?
QSL – I successfully received what you sent.
QSY – please change frequency (hopefully followed by a number!)
QSY? – do you want me to change frequency?

There are many others, and there are lots of special ones used on nets (a tone of the ones used on nets start with “QN”) that you don’t hear very often in casual QSOs. Snoop around on the web (I’ll bet the AC6V web site would have a bunch of info) and you’ll probably find a very comprehensive list of “Q” signals.

Since “Q” is not a heavily used letter of the alphabet (certainly not to begin words!), they tend to “stand out” somewhat in cw use.

As an aside, and Mac will probably appreciate this, I’m amazed at how many SSB nets I hear (like during hurricanes), where so many ops assume everything must be spelled phonetically. An operator should not waste time sending *anything* phonetically, unless the op on the other end doesn’t understand! If I tell you my name is Art and you understand, you’ll probably say something intelligent like “Nice to meet you Art.” If I automatically say “My name is Art, alpha radio tango” on everything I transmit, we’ll be here a long time! Don’t repeat things unless the op on the other end says he/she needs it!

You’ll be amazed how many times you’ll hear guys on SSB using some of those “Q” signals, while they’re 20 over S9 to each other!!

Art – K4IRS
Leesburg, FL

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From : Dave Oldridge
Sent : Thursday, January 5, 2006 5:08 PM
To : SolidCpyCW
Subject : Re: [SolidCpyCW] Re: Q signals

And more standard ones, but still much more useful in nets, like QRU? Do you have any messages for me (or for the net)? QRU “I have no messages.”

QTC? “How many messages do you have.”
QTC 5 “I have 5 messages for ”

Then there’s a bunch of really RARE ones, like QSX, QTX, QTP, QTO that are nut much used by amateurs at all.

Dave Oldridge
VA7CZ

New Elecraft Product

80/30m Module for Popular KX1 Portable Transceiver

from Wayne Burdick, N6KR

We’re pleased to announce that the KX1 is now a 4-band radio!

Many KX1 owners have asked for 80 meter coverage, notably Bruce Prior, N7RR, who pointed out that 80 meters is a great band for traffic handling at night (in both the CW and SSB segments). Up till now, Bruce has been taking his KX1 and a second rig that covers 80 meters on his extensive backpacking trips. Our new KXB3080 option will lighten his load a bit. 80 meters is also a popular field day and QRP band, and is especially active in the Eastern U.S. and in Europe. Band noise is lower in Winter, so this is the perfect time to give 80 meters a try.

The dual-band KXB3080 module installs in the same location as our 30-meter-only module, the KXB30. The KXB3080 is very easy to add to your KX1, since all but two components are surface-mount, pre-installed at the factory. (This was necessary in order to provide both bands in such a small amount of space.) Also supplied is a small PC board that mounts in place of the original low-pass filter inductors (L1 and L2). This board includes a relay that configures the low-pass filter for efficient operation on either 80 or 40/30/20 meters.

The KX1’s firmware has been updated in conjunction with the KXB3080. The new firmware adds:

* Full 80-meter band coverage on transmit and receive
* Additional receive-only coverage: 1000 kHz to 5000 kHz (reduced sensitivity outside the 80-m band)
* Programmable scanning (great for monitoring quiet bands, waiting for signals to show up)
* Variable-rate fast tuning: 1 kHz in ham bands in all RX modes, 5 kHz outside ham bands in USB/LSB modes

We have several beta testers lined up for the KXB3080, and will be supplying them kits in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile, I’ve been having great fun on 80 meters with the first 4-band KX1, even with a wimpy 40-foot random wire. In addition to 80 meter transceive operation, I can copy many AM stations from 1.0-1.6 MHz. This broadcast band coverage should prove useful feature for field operation.

If you have any technical questions about the KXB3080 option, feel free to send them to n6kr@elecraft.com. One question I’m sure to get is whether the KXAT1 ATU is usable on 80 meters. The answer? Yes, but the KXAT1 wasn’t designed to cover this band, so it will only help with specific end-fed wire antenna lengths to be determined. It will of course help with tweaking of nearly-resonant antennas, such as portable whips and ad-hoc dipoles.

* * * N O T E * * *

Please don’t call about the KXB3080 or new firmware just yet. We will announce the price of both in late January, and take orders then.

Elecraft Web Site

THE FARC SWAPFEST

THE FARC (Forsyth Amateur Radio Club) SWAPFEST

Saturday, January 7, 2006

7AM-12 Noon

Talk in 146.64 Mhz (100Hz PL)

Summit School Parking Lot

Come be a part of one of the FARC’s “Triad” of events – An all outdoor event- $5 gets you in the lot- Free coffee- BYO tables/chairs. Contact the FARC at 336-723-7388 and leave message for more info. Come swap/buy/sell or just chat!

Directions to Summit School:

Take I-40 Business to Winston-Salem.- North on Silas Creek Pkwy towards Wake Forest University- Right on Reynolda Road at WFU light. Right on Kenway Drive into Summit School lot.

The Original W4NC QSL Card from 1930

Weather Display Working With UI-View

Swapped out the power supply with a new one and that did the trick.

I got the computer back up and operational. Weather Display was pretty easy to configure to get it started – although there will be a lot of tweaking. And with one or two clicks of the mouse I was able to send the weather data to UI-View/APRS.

You can see the latest data here:

http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/wx.cgi?call=KD7PJQ-2

Weather Station Is Up!

Good news and bad news.

The good news is that I installed the anemometer up on the roof, spliced in an extension cord, placed the outdoor thermometer outside, and ran all the cables into the junction box inside the radio room. After getting everything plugged in, both the temp and wind gauge were responding – so far so good.

I connected the serial interface from the weather station to my tower that also runs the APRS application UI-View. I then downloaded Weather Display and started setting up the interface between the station and computer. I stepped out of the radio room for a moment and when I came back the computer had gone quiet.

Very odd. I’ve never had any problems with this computer before. After a little trouble shooting I can tell that the problem is with the computer and most likely the power supply. So I’m going to try and find a 300w power supply I can swap with the bad one.

… but did I mention the weather station is working!

Satellites

From : Don
Reply-To : HamRadioHelpGroup@xx
Sent : Thursday, December 29, 2005 9:33 PM
Subject : [HamRadioHelpGroup] Re: Satellites (AO-51 mostly)

Bryan KE7EZE (really like the EZE call)

Hey…I use to live on working the Birds/SATS but still try to work them from time to time, so yes I have some suggestions and info. First, it is weaksignal work so no squelch and turn up the volume once your area of the world is in the ‘window’ of the SAT. Second, make sure your tracking software is on the correct time and it and your clocks are correct…you can’t work anyone if the pass you think is overhead was 30 minutes ago or before…also remember that you will only get a few passes so the first ones over the horizon will be shorter and just minutes and the max maybe 10 to 15 minutes so you don’t have much time…be at the ready…also note what type antenna you have and the angle it works best for SAT contacts, if it works best to the horizon like a directional yagi then work the SAT at the 0 to 20 deg range at the horizon is your best bet because if you don’t have a rotor to go overhead you will be out of luck when the SAT is higher overhead..if you use a vertical or eggbeater note the best areas or passes and the degree the SAT is at when best signals. Finally, make sure if you have a small station that you work the SAT on the ‘off’ pass cycles or the less busy times…you can bet that a 7pm pass will be very busy and have more Hams wanting to work the SAT than a 11pm or 12mid pass…your chances will be better on less busy time passes.

As far as some sites for SAT homebrew Jerry K5OE has one of the best sites for that…some PVC and wire and you might be surprised at what you can make for the SATS…give these a try:

http://www.g6lvb.com/HomebrewArrow.htm
http://members.aol.com/k5oejerry/handi-tenna.htm
http://webpages.charter.net/n4wyk/satants.htm
http://members.aol.com/k5oe/
http://members.aol.com/homebrewpics/
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/satellite.html
http://xe1mex.gq.nu/antenas/yagi.html

For those new to SATS here is an old blog on SATS and it also is in our Ham Radio Help Group ‘files’ but here is a bit of info for those new to Ham SATS:

******** from our files section **************

Thanks for your interest in knowing more about working the Amatuer Satellites. They are fun to work and if you are in a dead area for 2 meter or 440 70/cm contacts this will give you another way to work stations using those bands! BTW AMSAT is the Sats number one oranizations with tons of information for the Sat user so keep this link handy:

http://www.amsat.org/

Ok..now for the Satellites……if you crave some DX and more activity on VHF/UHF then working the Sats will do just that for you.

First off ………how does a Satellite actually work?…… How the Sats work is quite simple really…they are like a floating repeater system……you will transmit up on one band (like the 2 meter band) and then it will then inturn take your signal and transmit it down on another band (like the 440 band). That is the simple way to explain it now there are other things involved like knowing when the Satellites are in “view” or in your “window” in order to work them….knowing some about the position (height, angle etc) of the Satellite and also the doppler effect (which is like a loud car driving by you … sounds and frequency will change as it is far to close etc). But really just think simple…this is not brain surgery and anyone can work the Sats!

First you will need to think about an antenna system to use for the Satellites. Like anything else in radio the better the antenna system the more stations (or Sats) you will work. I know many on just HT’s or mobilt antennas that work the Sats (possible but lots or trying! Also most have 2 meter FM rigs but maybe not a 440 rig but many of you DO have a scanner with 440 on it so try it with an outside 440 antenna)…..but most are on Eggbeater or smaller beams. You will need one for the each band the Satellite that you want to use uses…a nice 2 meter and 440 is good for starters (btw the Sats have different modes that are derived from the band you use going up and the band used coming back down to earth). Just to give you a look at some homebrew Sat antennas take a look at Jerry’s K5OE website…..he is a great guy and if you get into Sats then you will surely hear and work this guy…but look at all you can build for little of nothing…go here:

http://members.aol.com/k5oe/

Another good Sat Antenna site:
http://members.fortunecity.com/xe1bef/vhf-uhf-antennas.htm

So let you know I use a small 2 meter 5 element beam for the up band and a small 7 elelment 440 beam for the down band. You can also tilt your beam at an angle…I tilt my 440 beam at about 20 degrees or so up in the air at an angle to get better coverage of the Sats (I do not have an expensive rotor to do that so I just have them tilted up if that makes since to you….also use old Aliance U-100 tv rotors that are `through’ hole mast rotors around $30 to $40 used).

Ok….now you know what you have to have for antennas so how about reading a very good article on “WORKING THE EASY SATS”…..after reading this article I worked my first Sat the next day…..make sure to note the Frequecy Charts on this great article…also bookmark it or print it or copy it and use it as a reference!! I would work the UO-14 Sat first (note: UO-14 is DEAD so please not this but other Sats are worked just the same…and a new Echo51 up and running )…it is by far the easiest but you will have to try lots as it is the hardest to get into also since it is the easiest……remember on these FM type repeater Satellites the STRONGEST signals win out on them!! So go here and read this please!!! here:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/faqs.html
(look about midpage down for the “WORKING THE EASY SATS”)

Also this is a good one:
http://www.qsl.net/vk3jed/1st_sat.html

Ok …now you got an idea of what you need for antennas….and you got an idea how these Sats work by reading that article but now you need to know when you can work them…or when the Satellites are over your area. There is a nice online real-time tracking from Nasa called JTrack and you can use that if you are online and know when a Sat is in your view. Also on the NASA page you can print out plots or predictions so you have them at the ready…I think you can even have them email the predictions to you weekly if you like! The other program for tracking I strongly suggest is SATSCAPE….so go here and download the best Satellite Predicting program out there called SATSCAPE….and it is FREE!!! Go here and download and install your free virsion (I can help you set it up if you need help):

http://www.satscape.co.uk/
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/realtime/jtrack/Spacecraft.html (you can even print a plot of the Satellite path to take it out in the field/yard with you!…also you can set this site up to email you the path schedules of the Satellites you want to work!)

Ok..now you got all the tools you need to work the Sats…..that is it!!! Don’t make this complicated because it is not! It is lots of fun and although the windows for contact or short (like only 20 minutes per Sat passing) ..it is fun and worth it!!! You will get lots of QSL’s of people wanting to confirm your grid square and contact! So have those QSL cards ready! If you need a program to make your own QSLs then go here …get the FREE Qslmaker and make your own if you need too…that is what I use…go here:

http://www.hfradio.org/wb8rcr/

Ok…I went on way too long but I really like the Sats and Ham radio.
So do these steps:
1. Have a 2 meter and 440 meter antenna ready to go (make them or use whatever you have now and see if you can hear the Sats….the homebrew stuff are easy and cheap!)
2. Read “Working the Easy Sats”….it will make since one you read it!
3. Use the NASA Jtrack or download and install SATSCAPE for FREE…you have to have a tracking program to know when you can work them!
4. Have Fun and work some stations!
5. Get addicted to them and keep upgrading with better coverage/gain antennas feed with low loss feedline adding rxpreamps…it’s weak signal work that is a challenge.

GL on the Birds!
de kb9umt Don EN50
ps….There are many Hams that are Satellite only ops and don’t use anything but Sats to make contacts…many are Tech license folks that are so addicted may never want to go to HF and just be left to the action on the Satellite VHF/UHF bands!…….above was just a very short overview with only a small amount of information using FM Sats…once you get into them you will see the FM Sats are easy and you will want to work some SSB/voice/digital ones with more band space for long QSO’s and other Sats out further with larger coverage areas…….and more contacts! They are addicting!

Current Sat stats from http://www.AMSAT.org

Operational Summary
Here is a basic summary of satellite status. The table that follows this status is a summary of operational satellites that are or were recently popular. These tables lists only OSCAR satellites.
Operational AO-27, FO-29, GO-32, SO-50,AO-51, VO-52, ARISS, PCSAT2
Semi-Operational* AO-7, UO-11, RS-15, AO-16, LO-19, NO-44
Non-Operational OSCAR, OSCAR II, OSCAR III, OSCAR-IV, AO-5, AO-6, AO-8, RS-1, RS-2, AO-10, FO-12, RS-10/11, UO-14, UO-15, DO-17, WO-18, FO-20, AO-21 (RS-14), RS 12/13, UO-22, KO-23, AO-24, KO-25, IO-26, PO-28, MO-30, TM-31, RS-17, SO-33, PO-34, SO-35, UO-36, AO-37, OO-38, WO-39, AO-40, SO-41, SO-42, SO-43, NO-45, MO-46, BO-47, BO-48, AO-49, XO-53
Future Launch SSETI Express, P3-E Express

AO51 info:
AMSAT-OSCAR 51 (Echo or AO-51)
Analog Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM (PL – 67Hz)145.880 MHz FM QRP (no PL)
1268.700 MHz FM (PL – 67Hz)
Analog Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM2401.200 MHz FM
PSK-31 Uplink 28.140 MHz USB
Digital Uplink: 145.860 MHz 9600 bps, AX.251268.700 MHz 9600 bps AX.25
Digital Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9600 bps, AX.252401.200 MHz
38,400 bps, AX.25
Broadcast Callsign: PECHO-11
BBS Callsign: PECHO-12
Launched June 29, 2004

Status: Operational
AMSAT-OSCAR 51 or Echo as it is more commonly known is a FM satellite carrying 4 VHF receivers, 2 UHF transmitters, a multimode receiver and a 2400MHz transmitter. It can handle voice and FSK data up to 76.8Kbps. Echo was launched into a low, sun-synchronous polar orbit approximately 850 km high. You must transmit a 67Hz PL tone in order to access the Echo voice repeater.
Please note the change in operational phone downlink frequency to 435.300 MHz.

— In HamRadioHelpGroup@yahoogroups.com, “Bryan Koschmann, KE7EZE”
wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> Hope everyone had a nice holiday! I ended up with the flu just before Christmas, but nice otherwise.
>
> Anyhow, I’ve been attempting to work AO-51. I’m using Predict (on a slackware box) for tracking. FT-8900 setup as a base to my antenna up on the roof (not sure what the technical name is for it, SO-239 with a vertical and 4 radials of copper).
>
> I can receive decently I guess, and didn’t get any responses to my call but on one occasion during a high pass (~85 degrees), but didn’t catch his call and lost him. Now I’m looking for a better solution (different antennas most likely).
>
> I guess I really have 2 choices, some better omnidirectional(s) for the roof, or yagi/quagis using handhelds in the backyard. I really prefer to build my own, but a lot of the sites that seem to have what I need are down.
>
> I’ve mostly been looking at some sort of Eggbeater style for the roof, or just building smaller, separate yagis for 2m and 70cm and rigging up a mount to use outside.
>
> Does anyone have any pointers, plans, tips, hints, etc etc? 🙂
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bryan, KE7EZE