October 2008 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

ARISS Flight Update October 15, 2008
by Janet Bauer 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

All, It was quite an exciting day for ARISS yesterday with the Expedition 18 crew docking and the start up of Richard Garriott's ham radio activities. Here are some updates and plans for ARISS during Richard's flight. Richard, W5KWQ, fired up the radio and started SSTV operations just a couple of hours after docking. Prior to flight, Richard planned to support a slide show mode using the SpaceCam software and the SSTV interface box at the beginning of his flight. This is what you saw yesterday. Richard downlinked a number of SSTV images using Martin 1, a higher quality but longer transmit SSTV mode. The Russian team, led by Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, had requested testing several high quality image modes during Richard's flight, so don't be surprised if you see Martin 1 or other high resolution SSTV modes during Richard's flight. We asked Richard to move to the default Robot 36 mode for the time being and to space out the images once every 3 minutes to reduce the radio transmit duty cycle. Richard confirmed that he will support this. He also has transitioned to the VC-H1 as this will allow Richard to use the computer to support his Earth ops and still support SSTV. We have over 300 image uploads on the Gallery site by hams all around the world! The ARISS team appreciates your volunteer support through all the SSTV images that have been uploaded. A volunteer ARISS team is working 24/7 during Richard's flight to review these images, to understand how the SSTV operations is progressing, and to include some of these images on the Gallery pages. ALL the images you have uploaded have been archived and are being reviewed. Please continue to upload these images as they help the ARISS team analyze and redirect the SSTV operations. You are welome to upload these through the gallery page: http://www.amsat.com/ARISS_SSTV/ We also have a blog available that provides the latest ARISS information for this expedition. That blog is located at: http://www.ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ You can also reach these sites through the ARISS website: http:/www.ariss.org Some other information: SSTV uplink/downlink: Richard is really not supporting SSTV uplinks during his short duration mission. The downlink is on the normal ARISS VHF downlink, 145.80. General Voice Contacts: Use the regular general voice frequencies. 145.80 downlink. Uplinks are 144.49 in Region 2 (Americas) and 145.20 for Region 1 (Europe, Africa, Middle East) and Region 3 (Australia, Asia). Richard and Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, have been on the air on voice since shortly after docking yesterday. Sleep Period Activity: We have asked the crew to turn packet on during sleep periods. Our intent is to keep SSTV active during their work day. The rationale for this is that we are having some issues with the software based (SpaceCam) SSTV system occasionally keeping the radio keyed down after an image transmission. And we have a limited set of Russian batteries available during Richard's flight for the VC-H1. Additional SSTV Information: The computer-based SSTV can also support SSTV picture taking using a USB camera. We don't anticipate Richard using this as his primary SSTV operations for his mission will be with the VC-H1. The USB camera was checked out over the weekend by the Expedition 17 crew, where they took photos of themselves and downlinked these to the ham community. You are witnessing and are a part of history: Some of you have asked why Richard is using his callsign for some QSOs and SSTV contacts instead of the ISS station callsigns. There is a long and proud history that is attached to the Garriotts. This includes ham radio in space and their personal callsigns. 25 years ago, Richard's father, Owen Garriott, W5LFL, initiated the first ham radio contacts from space on the STS-9 SAREX mission. Richard, W5KWQ, is following in his father's footsteps, using the ARISS ham radio system extensively on his first flight. And Richard's callsign is actually his grandfather's original callsign. So you can see that this mission touches 3 generations of ham radio and 2 generations of ham radio in space! JOTA: Remember that Jamboree on the Air is this Weekend! Scout groups are welcome to call Richard or Mike Fincke over the weekend using the General Voice Contact frequencies (see above). School Contacts: School contacts from this day forward are tentatively scheduled as follows: Challenger Learning Center Combined Contact #1, telebridge via W6SRJ; on Thu 2008-10-16 16:39 UTC Howard B. Owens Science Center's Challenger Center (Lanham, MD) Challenger Learning Center of Columbia (Columbia, SC) Verizon Challenger Learning Center at MOSI (Tampa, FL) Brownsburg Challenger Learning Center (Brownsburg, IN) Budbrooke Primary School, Warwick, England, direct via GB4OBS Fri 2008-10-17 11:05 UTC Challenger Learning Center Combined Contact #2, telebridge via W6SRJ; on Fri 2008-10-17 15:30 UTC Indianapolis Challenger Learning Center (Indianapolis, IN) Challenger Learning Center at Paducah (Paducah, KY) Challenger Learning Center St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) Austin Liberal Arts and Sciences Academy, Austin, TX, direct via K5LBJ Sun 2008-10-19 13:14 UTC Pinehurst School, Ashland, Oregon, telebridge via W6SRJ Mon 2008-10-20 15:13 UTC National Planetarium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, direct via 9M2RPN Tues 2008-10-21 08:30 UTC Enjoy the ARISS operations!! And my thanks to the international ARISS team for their outstanding volunteer support. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman

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VC-H1 kenwood SSTV camera plus access. FS
by John Price 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

I have a like new VC-H1 that I bought new and have used very little. I bought all the factory cables at the same time. They include the connection for the Kenwood D7a/e handheld, the D700 mobile, and comport cable for computer control. I have the original 12 volt Kenwood wall power supply. I also have the VC-H1 manual. The software is on a 3.5 floppy and will run under Windows 95 and 98. I don't know about XP. I can copy it to a CD if needed. I still have a computer with a 3.5 floppy. If anyone is interested I would consider selling all this for $350.00. First email stating "I will take it" gets it. thanks << John -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Internet N4QWF(a)AMSAT.ORG Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463 Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il >From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"

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Re: ISS SSTV No Joy...
by acjohn1＠juno.com 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

Hi All I left my setup and downloaded 7 photos today. Only two were really clear. The rest had a lot of noise in them. Hopefully I can keep it going like this for the duration. 73 John Rusmiselle KG4VHV ____________________________________________________________ Win the battle of the bulge with great liposuction solutions. Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3nELSrgq6kLdCb9kJx8cmkA2o…

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ISS Voice QSOs
by John Marranca, Jr 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

Good Afternoon, all! Well...on the 1930 pass, K8YSE worked NA1SS! OK...so just what are the frequencies? Is it the 144.49/145.800? Or is it 145.200/145.800? Or simplex? Congratulations, John! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Voice recording of Garriot...
by Mark VandeWettering 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

I got about 1/2 of an SSTV image on the earlier pass from CM87ux, but on the second pass, I had my recorder on and caught the downlink conversation from Richard as he was apparently carrying on some kind of voice exchange. I just got the downlink, but the quality is pretty good, given that I recorded it with my trusty TH-D7a and Arrow antenna, and the maximum elevation was only 23 degrees. http://brainwagon.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/garriot-speaks.mp3 Starts a bit rough (elevation was about 7 degrees in the middle of an urban park with some buildings serving as blockers). Mark KF6KYI

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qrp on AO51
by Jerry Clement 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

I must say I enjoyed working everyone qrp with my handhelds and arrow. I plan on doing more qrp contacts beyond today. everyone sounded great. Jerry ve6ab

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ISS
by malcolm Hall 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

I must be getting old!!.....It's so long since I worked ISS that I can't remember if the UK is Zone 1 or 2/3.....I have been trying to find info an the web but no luck... It's my age Hi!! Malc G7NFO 'O to be young again!!!'

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VE1AMA double Garriott family QSO
by Luc Leblanc 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

On the attached file for EU reflector and on my web page at www.qsl.net/ve2dwe you will hear the October 15 1759utc ISS pass where Richard Garriott is having a QSO with VE1AMA who also contacted his father W5LFL Owen Garriot couple of years ago. I was able to get him just at the end of the pass. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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ISS,13:20 UTC Pass
by Peter 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

At FN-30, booming SSTV signal, three signal bursts! 73, Pete, WB2OQQ

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ISS-fm-sstv
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 15 Oct '08

15 Oct '08

Hi folks, heard some good signal fm, something about a headache last pass, will be looking for the sstv downlinks next two good passes, and tomorrow. wondering if my rig needs to be in dig mode or usb/fm for the sstv, Using mmsstv and mixw with a ft-857/mfj1279 interface and large beam.

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