Klaus & Lita

SATNOGS – Open Source global network of satellite ground-stations

SatNOGS Network is a global management interface to facilitate multiple ground station operations remotely. An observer is able to take advantage of the full network of SatNOGS ground stations around the world. It’s part of the SatNOGS project.

Since end of April 2022 I operate a satellite monitoring ground station. It is running on a Raspberry Pi 4 with an Airspy SDR connected – via a dual band bandpass filter (2m/70cm) – to a 3/5 element Yagi antenna. The Yagi is fixed mounted pointing SSW with a 20 deg elevation.

Station ID is 2650 – 9V1KG. I just updated the software to the latest version 1.8.1. Over the last 9 months 3500 observation were stored in the SATNOGS database, the success rate is between 60 and 70%.

Foot switch and CW Keyer for wfview

Wfview is a program to remotely control Icom radios. You can find more information on https://wfview.org/.

As I do not have space for my own radio shack and my IC-7610 is located in the living room beside the balcony door, my IC-9700 in the guestroom near to the window, I use wfwiew since a couple of months to operate both radios from my (small) computer desk.

In order to make operation more convenient, I wanted to use my foot switch as PTT. An Arduino micro can emulate a USB keyboard. In wfview PTT is switched using ctrl-t (transmit) and ctrl-r (receive). A simple program on the Arduino micro can do this:

#include <AceButton.h>
using namespace ace_button;
#include <Keyboard.h>

#define LED_BUILTIN 17

const int BUTTON_PIN = 2;
const int LED_ON = LOW;
const int LED_OFF = HIGH;

AceButton button(BUTTON_PIN);

void handleEvent(AceButton*, uint8_t, uint8_t);

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(LED_BUILTIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(BUTTON_PIN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  Keyboard.begin();
  button.setEventHandler(handleEvent);
  digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LED_OFF);
  TXLED1;
}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
  button.check();
  TXLED1;
}

void handleEvent(AceButton* /*button*/, uint8_t eventType,
                 uint8_t /*buttonState*/) {
  switch (eventType) {
    case AceButton::kEventPressed:
      digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LED_ON);
      // ctrl-T
      Keyboard.press(0x80);
      Keyboard.press('t');
      Keyboard.releaseAll();
      break;
    case AceButton::kEventReleased:
      // compensates for network latency
      delay(250);
      digitalWrite(LED_BUILTIN, LED_OFF);
      // ctrl-R
      Keyboard.press(0x80);
      Keyboard.press('r');
      Keyboard.releaseAll();
      break;
  }
}

I have built-in the controller in a small 3D printed housing with a 1/4″ jack plug.

It works like a charm! A similar solution is possible to use a CW keyer (for example K3NG). I open the CQRLOG CW window and input my CW from the keyer to be converted back to text and sent to my IC-7610.

APRStt Gateway – Singapore

Use your analog handheld transceiver (HT) to report your position, status and receive frequency to the APRS network using DTMF touch tone!

Possible commands to the gateway are shown in the table below. Correct input will be replied with Morse code R for roger, or ? for errors. APRS frequency in Singapore is 144.390 MHz.

Memory	Sequence	Comment
MEM 1	ACxxxxxxxxxx#	Your full 10 digit call sign (always transmit at first)
MEM 2	C9*xxBzzzzz#	Your home location xx (see below), status 9 (set to “APRStt user”) and your 5 digit abbreviated suffix zzzzz (see below)
Keypad	xxBzzzzz# e.g. 20B15409#	Set location to xx (zzzzz your suffix abbreviation)
Keypad	xxxxxxCzzzzz# e.g. 145500C15409#	Change QRG to xxxxxx (exactly 6 digits), zzzzz your suffix abbreviation.
Keypad	xCzzzzz# e.g. 3C15409#	Change status to x: 1 – off duty, 2 – en route, 3 – in service (check in), 4 – returning etc.
Keypad	xxxAzzzzz# e.g. 223A15409#	Change symbol. xxx = 159 Human/Person (HT), 229 APRStt (DTMF user), 153 Bus, 166 Bike.

Possible DTMF sequences. “*” = E, “#” = F

To check in to the gateway press MEM 1 for your full call and then MEM 2 to report your location. Afterwards you might change location, QRG, status or symbol using the keypad.

Example: FT-60

On the Yaesu FT-60 HT you have nine available DTMF memories with max. 16 chars each. Two DTMF modes can be selected: MEM and CODE. Press F/W DTMF to toggle between both.

In MEM mode you simply press the PTT and one of the keys 1 to 9 to transmit the predefined DTMF sequence of the respective DTMF memory.

In CODE mode you press PTT and each key 1 … 9 and A … D, *, # will send the corresponding DTMF tone.

How to program the DTMF memories?
F/W SET sel 17 -> DT WRT F/W
sel d1 … d9 DTMF memory F/W
Press keys 1 … 9 or sel A … F followed by F/W for your DTMF tone sequence. E corresponds to “*” and F to “#”.
Press F/W > 1 sec to store.

Example: IC-9700

You can also send DTMF sequences from your home station. For example, the Icom IC-0700 has DTMF capabilities with 16 DTMF memories.

Select MENU, then 2 and DTMF. EDIT d0 (MEM 1) to enter ACmy10digitcallsign# and d1 (MEM 2) to enter C9*xxBmy5digitsuffix# – xx your home location.

Select Direct Input or d0 … d* to send manual input or predefined sequences.

Determine your 10 digit call sign number

Example: 9V1KG_ is the key sequence “981540“. The last “0” stands for space, as the call sign only has 5 characters. Next we need to add a check sum based on the position of individual letters. “9”: no letter = 0. “V”: 3rd letter of TUV = 3. “1”: no letter = 0. “K”: 2nd pos of JKL = 2. “G” 1st pos of GHI = 1. “Space” 1st pos of _ = 1. The resulting number is 030211. Taken as a base 4 number we need to convert it to a base 10 number:

0 * 1024 + 3 * 256 + 0 * 64 + 2 * 16 + 1 * 4 + 1 * 1 = 768 + 32 + 4 + 1 = 805

The resulting 10 digit number for 9V1KG is 9815400805.

Store ACyour10digitnumber# in your 1st DTMF memory.

Shortcut: For Singapore hams (9V1) with a 2 letter suffix just add the position of the first suffix letter (1…3) multiplied by 16 to the second suffix letter (1…3) multiplied by 4 to 769.

Example: 9V1LH_ = 981540, checksum 769 + 48 + 8 = 825 (L: pos 3*16 + H: pos 2*4 ), the result is 9815400825.

Abbreviated 5 digit call sign

Once your full call sign is known to the gateway, it can be abbreviated to the 3 character suffix only. For 9V1KG the suffix is 1KG. Calculation is analogue to the 10 digit call sign. Key sequence for 1KG is “154“. “1” no letter = 0, “5” 2nd letter = 2, “4” 1st letter = 1, i.e. resulting in 021. Converting to a base 10 number:

0 * 16 + 2 * 4 + 1 * 1 = 8 + 1 = 09

The resulting abbreviated 5 digit call sign number is 15409. My full call sign can be abbreviated with 15409 or even shorter 154.

Shortcut: For Singapore hams (9V1) with a 2 letter suffix just add the position of the first suffix letter (1…3) multiplied by 4 to the position of the second suffix letter (1…3).

Example: 1LH = 154, checksum 12+ 2 = 14 (L: pos 3*4 + H: pos 2 ), the result is 15414.

Terminate any tone sequence with ACzzzzz# – in my case AC15409# – the gateway will complement it to your full call sign. You just need to remember a 5 digit number.

After check in with your call sign ACtttttttttt# (MEM1) and home location C9*xxBzzzzz# (MEM2), you can change to a new location by entering the DTMF sequence xxByyyyy# with xx your location number – as shown in the tables below – and yyyyy your abbreviated call sign (see above). Example: Pressing 30B15409# on the keypad in CODE mode will set my location to Bedok.

Stored Singapore Locations

xx	Locations in the North of Singapore
10	Lim Chu Kang
11	Mandai
12	Sembawang
13	Simpang
14	Sungei Kadut
15	Woodlands
16	Yishun

xx	Locations in the North East of Singapore
20	Ang Mo Kio
21	Hougang
22	Pungol
23	Serangoon
24	Sengkang
25	Seletar

xx	Locations in the East of Singapore
30	Bedok
31	Changi
32	Changi Business Park
33	Pasir Ris
34	Paya Lebar
35	Tampines
36	Changi Village
37	Changi Bay

xx	Locations in central area
40	Bishan
41	Kallang
42	Bukit Timah
43	Central Area
44	Geylang
45	Marine Parade
46	Novena
47	Queenstown
48	Tanglin
49	Toa Payoh
60	Bukit Merah

xx	Locations in the West of Singapore
50	Boon Lay
51	Bukit Batok
52	Bukit Panjang
53	Choa Chu Kang
54	Clementi
55	Jurong East
56	Jurong West
57	Pioneer
58	Tengah
59	Tuas

xx	Other locations in Singapore
70	Western Water Catchment
71	Central Water Catchment
81	Sentosa Island
82	Jurong Island
83	Pulau Ubin
84	Pulau Tekong

Link to Direwolf configuration file

APRS Map Singapore

https://aprs.fi

My first QSO via Satellite

Finally I made it: my first ever qso in CW via satellite (RS-44). As I only have a free open view of less than 90 deg from my balcony, I have to wait for the right passes, and the time window is usually maximum 10 min.

Using the IC-9700 with the 5 element log. per. antenna on my home brew az/el rotator, I was able to hear my own CW signal from the satellite and manage a qso with E21EJC in Thailand!

Software is Gpredict with Hamlib running on my Mac.

QSO on minute 6:37

Mini Satellite Antenna Rotator MK1

For my VHF/UHF station I am using a dual band five element log-per antenna, similar to the Elk log-per. It is actually an ideal antenna for portable use, as it can be assembled and disassembled easily and packed in a small size. Now the idea came up to use it for satellite communication with my FT-818. The only thing missing was a azimuth/elevation rotator to track the satellites.

I started with my own design, using a stepper motor for azimuth and a servo for elevation. After a while I cancelled the project, as I had too many problems with electromagnetic interference to the servo.

Searching for an alternative DIY solution, I came across the SARCNE T website, and the mini satellite antenna rotator MK1.

I decided to build it, but to separate motors and electronics; purchased the parts and started the 3D print design. Below the details and the final result.

When I first time applied power to the motor drivers, the following happened with a loud bang! Luckily, it was outdoor on my balcony.

Exploded capacitor ... — The 100 uF capacitor was faulty, this is the result after applying 12 V to the board.

My thanks to SARCNET, the software works w/o problems. I only had another EMI problem, which could be solved finding a well screened micro USB cable and adding a few ferrites.

3D Printing for Ham Radio

Approximately a year ago I finally spent the money and bought a 3D printer. My main motivation was that I don’t have a workshop, and therefore I was not able to do even small mechanical things. I decided for the Creality Enders 3 Pro, as this printer has a large community, and it is easy to find tutorials and tons of other information on the web.

For the CAD program I ended up with Blender. It might sound like an overkill, but it’s open source and runs under Windows, Linux and Mac. Blender was the main hurdle, to get active with own designs, as it took quite a while to get familiar with the program using it for precision design.

From then onward, I have realized so many things using the 3D printer, and I can no longer imagine the hobby without this tool. Most items are printed with PETG.

Links

Drill press: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1642711/files

Rod and pipe cutter: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3323294

FT-60 radio mount: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:979456

CQ WW DX Contest SSB 2020

The results are out! The first time I participated in the CQ world wide DX contest from Singapore. 167 contacts, 25 zones, 38 countries with 16.1 hrs operation gave me 22365 points. All with my 5 m whip antenna from the balcony and low power of 100 W.

SDR with Active Antennas for HF

A couple of weeks ago I started to gather my first experiences with software defined radios (SDR) and active antennas. I started with low investment, using the RTL SDR dongle, but I quickly realized that using the direct sampling mode for HF is not an ideal solution and added the Spyverter HF up-converter.

For my first trials I used a Mini Whip from RA0SMS as antenna, but the results were quite disappointing.

Finally, I ended up with an active loop antenna (see featured image), using the Cross-country Wireless Loop antenna pre-amplifier (10 kHz to 30 MHz version). The pre-amplifier is powered with 13.8 V via a bias-tee. Common mode chokes on the antenna line and all power lines helped to reduce noise, especially on the low bands. This is final hardware setup setup:

The setup is now running 24/7 on a Raspberry Pi 3B+ using GQRX and WSJT-X. I was surprised, how many stations and countries can be decoded down to 80 and 160 m.

Further Information

Talk given during SARTS monthly meeting

PSK reporter link to stations currently received by 9V1KG

CQ WPX SSB 2020

CQ WPX over … stn closed. Poor propagation, could not improve from last year. But 850 qso and 700k points in low power is also not bad. 🙂 4E1A

CQWW DX Contest SSB 2019

Last weekend I participated in the CQWW DX contest SSB part under the call sign 4E1A. Propagation was miserable on 40 m and 80 m; with my 100 W low power I was seldom heard by DX stations in EU or NA. On 20 m and 15 m propagation was acceptable, and I got even some openings on 10 m. Finally, I could exceed my points from 2018 and made 852 contacts with 62 DXCC entities and in 30 zones.

Contacts per band. Total 2287 QSO points and 191 Multipliers.

Raw score: 2287 QSOs x 191 multipliers = 436817 points.

Hello world – Here we are!

Last 10 QSOs logged