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Just need some help.

tigerhawk – September 14, 2008 – 02:26

Sorry, but I'm still pretty new to all of this, but I really am doing my best to study everything that I can get a hold on about the ISS and how to do an Official Contact with them.

I've read the ARISS website, and I've gotten in touch with my country's ARISS/NASA representative (I live in Canada). So I have a good idea on how to follow the contact procedures/requirements.

Alright, so I'm on a really tight budget and I've only been able to buy the following equipment:

HyGain VB216-sat antenna, Yaesu G5500 rotor, nova and orbitron software for tracking, 250ft. of control cable, and my own homemade base stand. (these are all for my primary station).

I've considered buying the LVB tracker to track the ISS. It is the device that I plan on buying for my in-between connection from my laptop (w/softare) to the Yaesu rotor control box. I'm also in the midst of buying about 250ft. of RG-8 or LMR-400 cable for the connection from antenna to the transceiver.

Ok, so I need help to determine some of the following:

1. How do I take care of the doppler-effect when I do the actual contact? I've heard the software SatPC32 will take care of the echoeing of the doppler-effect. But couldn't my software Nova or Orbitron take care of that?

2. I've read a lot of webstores selling transceivers, but they are all expensive. Anyone know where I can get something in the range of about $200~300 that can produce a minimum of 75Watts? (ARISS minimum requirement).

3. I've read that I can use a vertical antenna for my secondary station. Is everyone in agreement here?

4. I'm still not clear on what a "receive pre-amp" is? You mean that I need a pre-amp on my receive signal to amplify the signal so I can hear it?

Sorry, but I would normally contact my representative here in Canada, but I'm always under a tight schedule and pressed for time, and my contact doesn't mail me as often as I would like. So I thought why not ask my fellow friends here on this website.

My other club member has his amature ham radio license. So that's covered. So I guess what I'm lacking so far is:

Secondary stand, 2 LVB trackers, secondary antenna, secondary rotor, 2 transceivers that have a minimum of 75Wattage output.

Am I leaving anything out? The application is almost ready to go. I just wanted to get all of the equipment done as soon as possible so that I can show everyone that I'm very serious in doing this fantastic official contact sometime next year.

Please, if anyone can help, I would be most grateful. Thank you in advance.

From,
Tigerhawk

General ISS forum
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Application

N5VHO – September 16, 2008 – 12:42

Your comments lead me to believe that you are planning to do a school contact.

If you are doing a school contact, it sounds like you are on the right track. For a limited budget, you have already spent more than most do.

The primary station needs the tracking antenna system but the back up can be a simple eggbeater or vertical and no need for a rotor with those antennas.

Before you buy a radio, check to see if anyone nearby could loan you the necessary equipment. Most hams would be willing to support a local school contact.

For doppler, you can do that manually using preset memory channels. That would save you the expense of doppler control equipment.

The pre amp is a signal boosting device for receiving. It is typically mounted at the antenna and increases the signal down the coax to the radio.

Hope this helps some.

Kenneth - N5VHO
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
Support ARISS http://www.amsat-na.com/store/donation.php (select "Human Spaceflight (ARISS))

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Oh, one more thing...

tigerhawk – September 14, 2008 – 02:31

Sorry, just one more thing I wanted to ask:

Can I get by with a 10Watt transceiver? It's not the minimum 75Watt type that NASA requires on the application, but a friend is willing to lend it to me and my friend. It's a ICOM IC-211. Thx in advance!

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Radio and amp

N5VHO – September 16, 2008 – 12:44

That radio can work if you get an amplifier to increase the output to the required minimum.

Kenneth - N5VHO
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
Support ARISS http://www.amsat-na.com/store/donation.php (select "Human Spaceflight (ARISS))

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