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

News Updates on AMSAT Web
by JoAnne Maenpaa 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Hello Everyone, Just a quick note to point you over to the AMSAT Web http://www.amsat.org and catch up on the news updates ... + ARISS 25th Anniversary Adds New Modes to ISS Amateur Radio Operations This lists the upcoming operating modes aboard ISS and includes the QSL addresses for the ARISS 25th Anniversary Certificate. + The latest AO-51 Operation Summary + Get Ready for OSCAR Straight Key Night 2009 -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Copy Editor, AMSAT Journal

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Namibia VHF expedition in January
by James French 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

This off the VHF reflector this morning. Certainly of interest to satellite operators and 6m operators. James W8ISS ===== On Sat, 2008-12-13 at 17:18 -0500, N7BHC wrote: > The following message came from Dan HB9CRQ this morning. The January > DXpedition to Namibia will focus on VHF and UHF exclusively. Modes > will include EME, tropo, meteor scatter, LEO satellites, etc. Here is > Dab's posting. > > Dave N7BHC > > ______ > > Dear friends > > I am happy to officially announce our Namibia DXpedition! The > reservations and flight tickets are confirmed and we are in the final > stage of preparations. Many thanks especially to Hal, Pine, Dick and > Dave for their huge effort preparing everything! > > > NAMIBIA DXpedition January 2009 > > This information will be updated as more details are available! Please > check www.hb9q.ch and www.mmmvhf.de for updates! > > Dates of operation will be from moonrise on 7th to moonset on 16th > January 2009. QTH will be in Luderitz Namibia, grid locator JG73NI. > See the GoogleEarth Pin (V5 DXpedition JG73ni.kmz)! > > We have applied for a special call for our DXpedition. As soon as we > get it confirmed we will announce it. > > Our main target is to activate Namibia on 50, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz > EME. At the same time we will be QRV for transatlantic Tropo on 144 > and 432 and on satellite (AO-7, FO-29 and AO-51). > > EME operation: > We intend to operate 144 and 432 all our moon-windows, 50 and 1296 > will have limited activity times. We will announce them when on site. > We will be QRV in JT65 on all bands and will do some CW on 144 and > 432. The details of activity will be announced later. As soon as we > arrive in Luderitz we will check-out the QRM situation and announce > our frequencies on www.hb9q.ch and/or www.mmmvhf.de > > Equipment: > For 50 MHz we will be using 1 x 6M7JHV and Acom 1000 (400W). > For 144 MHz we will be using 4 x M2 2M9SSB yagis mounted on the trailer > with az/el rotators. We will have 400W and ARR preamp. > For 432 MHz we will be using 8 x M2 432EME-12 yagis on a low tower > manually rotated. We have a TE Systems 180 watt and ARR preamp. > For 1296 MHz we will be using 1x59el yagi (21wl) and 80W (Transverter > and PA by DJ9YW), no preamp. > For the 144 MHz the cross-Atlantic tropo attempt we will take an M2 > 2M19XXX long yagi and will have 180 & 300 watt amplifiers available. > For Satellite operations we will be using M2 crossed Yagis for 144 & > 432 MHz with az/el rotator as the primary array with M2 Eggbeaters > available for backup. > > The operators will be ZS6WB Hal, ZS6OB Pine, ZS6BUN Dick, ZS6AC Sarel, > N7BHC Dave, HB9CRQ Dan. > > We hope to have (limited) internet access from our QTH. If we can we > will update once a day the stations worked at www.hb9q.ch > > We would like to get as many contacts as possible in the log and all > contacts will be confirmed. > > > vy 73 > > Dan, HB9CRQ/KT6Q > head of HB9Q > > www.hb9q.ch Beginning of second message: On Sat, 2008-12-13 at 17:25 -0500, N7BHC wrote: > In the email I just forwarded from Dan HB9CRQ, he mentions that we > will will also be doing some tropo ducting tests across the South > Atlantic ocean. I am joining the expedition to focus on the trans- > oceanic ducting research and attempts to cross the South Atlantic on > 2m and 70cm. Here are a couple more web pages to look at for > additional data. > > Expedition overview (not an official expedition web page). This page > has many links to additional data on Luderitz Bay where the expedition > will take place. > http://sites.google.com/site/n7bhcvhf/trans-oceantic-ducting/south-atlantic… > > Tropo Ducting from Namibia in January. > http://sites.google.com/site/n7bhcvhf/trans-oceantic-ducting/south-atlantic… > > 73, Dave - N7BHC > =========================================== > Email: n7bhc(a)drasticom.net > > N7BHC/B beacon > FM15PA > 144.291 MHz CW > 50 W - 16 element horizontal pol. > reports by email or phone +1 (704) 225-3928 > ===========================================

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ARISS Update--25th Anniversary of Ham Radio in Space 12/14/08
by Frank H. Bauer 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

All, As I mentioned on November 29, the ARISS team is currently celebrating 25 years of amateur radio operations from space. This e-mail describes some of the planned set of special event opportunities for the remainder of the month of December and the beginning of January. To date, the ISS crew has configured the radio to support cross-band repeater operations, they have supported some SSTV downlinks and we have had the opporunity to participate in a special test of 9600 baud packet radio operations on the simplex frequency of 145.825 MHz. This week through December 19, we expect the ISS Ham radio system to be on the 145.825 MHz frequency supporting 1200 baud packet. If PCSAT is configured during the week, double hop APRS is possible. Dec 21-26 we plan to support the Crossband repeater mode with a twist. Our intent is to configure the radio for 145.99 MHz uplink including PL tone of 67.0 and 437.80 MHz down. This will be performed in low power mode. We should also note that an EVA is planned for that week. Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov plan to perform a spacewalk on December 22. As per standard procedure, the ISS Ham radio system will be turned off for the EVA. Dec 28-Jan 3 we plan to reconfigure the Crossband repeater for a special experiment. This will be a test of our L-Band uplink capability, which, to date, has not been proven out. Plan for an uplink of 1269.65 MHz and and downlink on the standard frequency 145.80 MHz using low power. Given the subtantial cable losses of the L-band system, we hope some "big guns" are able to penetrate through, keep up with doppler, and make the connection. A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with the ISS. This certificate will be awarded to those that have had 2 way communications with the ISS on Voice, Packet (APRS), or through the voice repeater. And those that have heard the ISS from space in any of the ARISS operations modes (Voice, SSTV, School Contact, Voice Repeater, Digital). Valid dates to qualify for certificate: November 30 to January 15. To receive the certificate: A) Please note on your QSL the ARISS mode of operation (e.g. SSTV, voice, school, etc) and whether the contact with you was 1 way (receive only) or 2 way. B) Send your SASE to the normal ARISS QSL volunteer distributor in your area of the world. C) On the outside of the QSL envelope, please include the words "25th Anniversary Certificate" D) Make sure your envelope is big enough to accept an 8.5 by 11 inch certificate and includes the proper postage. E) Go to www.ariss.org if you do not know where to send your QSL and please use one of the standard international QSL distributors that are noted on the Web page. Important note: We will be sending your certificate to the volunteer distributors in bulk AFTER the event is over. (This saves workload and money). So do not expect to see it until 1-2 months after the event closes on January 15. We will provide more updates in the near future. We would like to remind everyone that ISS flight requirements related to EVA and vehicle activity may require the radio to be off for some portion of this schedule. And school contacts and general QSO opportunities by the crew will also preempt this schedule for short periods of time. (But remember that if you hear these, you still qualify for a commemorative certificate). Enjoy the ARISS ops on ISS! 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman

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ARISS 9K6 / Maritime Mobile
by Dave Ryan 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Hi All Just heard ISS 13:30hrs pass over UK on 9K6 Aprs 145.825 was able to beacon with 2 w and 1/4 wave. Very strong signals. Regards Dave M0GIW / EI4HT Maritime Mobile

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ISS 9600 145.825 over Italy
by Alberto Montardi 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

Confirmed ISS 145.825 9600 bps passed today at 13:40 UTC over Italy 73 de IW4BKX

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PCSAT status report.
by Robert Bruninga 14 Dec '08

14 Dec '08

PCSAT status: For the first time in 7 years, we were not able to fully recover PCSAT during this full sun period despite the efforts of a number of dedicated volunteers around the world. Full sun periods occur when passes are at sunrise and sunset to earth observers. PCSAT gets sun 24 hours a day then, but only on the side panels. It is an interesting conundrum that when PCSAT is in full sun its average power is worst because the sun only hits the side panels, but if we can recover it once, then we can lower the average power and keep it alive. (we have been unsuccessful this time). On the other hand, a month later, the peak power available (on the best -Z panel) occurs during the worst case eclipses, (midday passes in the Northern hemisphere) so then there are strong packets for 20 minutes or so, Recovery is very reliable, but useless since then 15 minutes later she goes into 35 minute darkness and she dies. But she is useable during the middle of those sunny side passes which will be approaching in mid January. Anyway, this is not the last you will hear of PCSAT, but there will probably not be any more several week full sun, full recovery periods as there have been in the past. Remember that PCSAT has its best panel pointing along the magnetic field lines of the Earth towards the South Magnetic pole of the Earth, and so if you are good at 3D visualization, it is easy to see what is happening. There is a plot on the PCSAT web page, and when I get back to it, I will make another plot showing what it looks like during the peak period above. See www.aprs.org/pcsat.html Sun angle is worsening for my location, and this being nearest the winter solstace, the sun won't get any better. Full sun period in Feb will not be as good as this one was. The good news is that I think a colleage of mine will develop a better magnetic attitude model so we can know better exactly when is the max power on the spacecraft. It should be entirely predictible, so that we do not waste any time on poor angles. I really appreciate all the efforts of so many operators. This is my last day for this season due to some long expected family news last night I will be on travel to Alabama for the next weeks and doubt I will get much email access. So play packet on the ISS and thanks again for all your efforts! Bob, WB4APR

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Kenwood TH-D7 split Tx/Rx
by Greg D. 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Hi folks, Ok, so in the manual it says that I can set up the D7 to transmit on one side, and receive on the other, with APRS. With the ISS seemingly in that sort of mode, this would seem to be the configuration to use. APRS menu 2-M gives me that choice, but when I have either of the spilt modes selected (Tx-A, Rx-B, or Rx-A, Tx-B), I can't turn on APRS mode. Packet turns on, but not APRS. I tried transmitting blind (simplex) on the last pass, but it would be good to be able to hear what's going on too. What is the magic spell to run on split operations with APRS? Thanks, Greg KO6TH _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_anywhe…

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email through ISS?
by Greg D. 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

So, how exactly does that go again? Kenwood TH-D7 1200 bps packet (I think someone said that it's on 145.825 right now) Packet Path set to "ARISS" Message set to "email2 me Test message through ISS" (where the "me" alias has already been set up) I just tried this on the 00:00z pass over the west coast. Nothing recorded at http://www.ariss.net/. Did I just not get in, or is something not set up right? Greg KO6TH _________________________________________________________________ Suspicious message? There’s an alert for that. http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_broad2…

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ISS Packet 16.17 UK Pass
by David Barber 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

Well the guy's up there have certainly had us guessing today. This time round 1200bps. 145.800 Down 145.825 Up David G8OQW

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PCSAT Recovery status
by Robert Bruninga 13 Dec '08

13 Dec '08

PCSAT Recovery Status: Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it. I get command on the first ascending pass each day (PCSAT over atlantic, out of view of most USA). But next passes are impossible. Today, I plotted packet-attempts-by-PCSAT (noise bursts by ear) and noticed an astonishing 3 times heavier load over the USA compared to over the atlantic. Of these dozens of packet attempts, only 2 decoded. But now that I can tell by ear the huge difference in attempted packets by PCSAT when it is over the USA, I can see why we are having problems. And the sun angle gets worse every day for a chance at recovery. So don't hold your breath this operating period. Have fun on ISS, its working great! And if you have an unattended beacon via W3ADO-1, please turn it off. Thanks Bob, Wb4APR

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