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

9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by G0MRF＠aol.com 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. _http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html_ (http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html) Thanks David

5 7

LVB Tracker MacDoppler
by Roger Swickis 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

I have just received my assembled LVB Tracker box from AMSAT. I would like to control it using my iMac and MacDoppler. I have downloaded the instructions from LVBTracker.com When I turn on the LVBTracker the indicator says I have v0.7, then it says "Warning bad EEPROM data." prior to displaying the az/el data. Should I worry about this or should I simply ignore it? Do I need to install different firmware? I have attempted to calibrate the Trackerbox and have managed it a couple of times, however it doesn't seem to want to retain the azimuth information once I have turned it off and back on again. Any suggestions? (The LVBTracker has both a USB and a DB-9 socket on the back, do I need to open things up and select one or another? ) I have downloaded the FTDIUSBSerialDriver file. It will only install on the main "Macintosh HD" level, and does not allow me to select another location during the installation. I am not familiar with the Mac OS, do the drivers need to be moved to a particular file? The instructions suggest that I "... talk to the LVBTracker using a terminal program ..." Suggesting that I "Setup (via the terminal program) the COM port selected for the FTDI USB device, 9600, N, 8, 1" How do I perform this "setup"? How do I select a COM port via the terminal program on a Mac? (I have done this on a PC for a COM port, but I have no idea how to do it via a USB port on the Mac.) Any suggestions? The instructions say that "All the tracking programs ... have good instructions for setting up a rotor controller." I do not find this to be true for Macdoppler, which has a minimum of instructions. (The LVBTracker instructions mentions "Macdoppler Pro", I only have something called "Macdoppler" do I need to upgrade to Macdoppler Pro?) Under Macdoppler "Preferences", "Rotator", I can select my rotator, and baud rate, but I don't know what serial port I should select. I presume its "usbserial", but it could also be "SerialPort-1", which is also an option. Is "usbserial" the correct serial port to select? (I am controlling my IC-821 somewhat successfully via Macdoppler using "usbserial" and one of the iMac's USB sockets using a CI-V interface cable. I would like to use another USB cable for the rotor control. Do I select "usbserial" for both? (Of course this leaves me a little short of USB sockets, has anyone daisy- chained the radio and rotor control via a single iMac usb jack and one of those multi-usb boxes?) Sorry for all the questions, but I am just about at the stage where I go back to using my old PC and try to get things running using SATPC32 through COM ports, but I would like to control things via the Mac if that is possible. Is there anyone out there who has succeeded in getting the LVBTracker to work via Macdoppler and can help? Thanks, Roger VA7MG

1 0

Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by Tom Clark, K3IO 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum: * Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of Wuerzburg Unisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU. It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated. If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/. 73, Tom

4 3

Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by Giulio AB2VY 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hi Domenico , you are absolutely right! the main problem is that young people involved in projects not even know what is an "hamradio" and what is an "ham spirit" (in Italy this is the situation), so whithout these conditions you can't produce something right for our community think only this: the only satellites "ham-useful" have been produced outside university programs I write this because I personally experienced what it means Only AMSAT have the right spirit ( and experience..) to produce useful object when a university has to create a satellite? turns to us... For Italian University satellities is so 73 de Giulio AB2VY Hi David, G0MRF It seem to me that while the Universities are becaming tennis players we collect telemetry without to be involved in their experiments and this is like to only pick up their balls and run with it. The only difference is that each University receive governement contributions to build the satellite while we radioamateurs invest a lot of personal money to build our own satellite stations. Since the Radioamateur Community make a worldwide service to the Universities my idea is to collect their TLM upon official donations to be used to build our Orbiting Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio i.e. satellites with linear transponders to talk each other. Is the Amateur Satellite Service becaming an endangered species ? It will became an endangered species if P3-E and EAGLE will be not placed in orbit as soon as possible but this requires our contributions ............or not ? Do you like my TLM ?............Please donate ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: <G0MRF(a)aol.com> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2008 4:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space > Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy > Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth > orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the > end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. > > _http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html_ > (http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html) > > Thanks > > David > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___________________________________ Scopri il Blog di Yahoo! Mail: trucchi, novità, consigli... e la tua opinione! http://www.ymailblogit.com/blog/

3 3

[ans] ANS-159 Bulletins
by Dee 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-159 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement * 9 Cubesats offered free launch with ESA * News from the 6/3/08 Executive Teleconference * Satellite Shorts From All Over * Direct Shorts * ARISS Status Report for the Week of May 26, 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.01 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.01 Nominations are open for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors (BOD). The nominations must be in writing and received at the AMSAT office by end of business June 15, 2008. AMSAT-NA member societies or five current individual members may make nominations of fellow members to serve a 2-year term. Three of the seven seats must be filled this year. The board members whose terms are expiring are: Tom Clark, K3IO Lou McFadin, W5DID Bob McGwier, N4HY Prospective AMSAT-NA BOD members generally attend two meetings each year, usually during the first and third quarters of the year. Attendance at the meetings is mandatory. Travel expenses for BOD meetings are paid for by AMSAT-NA. Nominations must be in writing and mailed to: AMSAT-NA Board of Director Nomination 850 Sligo Ave #600 Silver Spring, MD 20910 The nominations with descriptive information about each candidate will be mailed out July 15, 2008. Ballots must be received in Silver Spring,MD by September 15, 2008. Only active members as of July 24, 2008 are eligible to vote. [ANS thanks AMSAT HQ for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.02 9 Cubesats offered free launch with ESA AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.02 Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. One Belgium cubesat proposes to use D-Star as a communications protocol http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html [ANS thanks David, G0MRF, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.03 News from the 6/3/08 Executive Teleconference AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.03 The AMSAT Store will be re-opening soon. It has been moved to the new AMSAT server. There will be a series of ARISS/NASA technical meetings in Russia during much of the month of July this year. There will be a technical meeting in Phoenix about SuitSat-2 hardware the weekend of 14 June. We will be updating the specification and determining what hardware can be developed, tested and delivered to Russia by the end of the year. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.04 The 2008 Dayton Forum presentation of Rick Hambly, W2GPS AMSAT President is now available for viewing online at mms://media.wmfd.com/amsat/W2GPS_2008_forum.wmv Also available is Bob McGwier's 2008 AMSAT Engineering update mms://media.wmfd.com/amsat/EngMovie08.wmv The other 2008 Forum presentations will also be available soon. There will be an ANS announcement. Thanks to Rob and Gunther Meisse and WMFD for hosting the video. Note: The following satellites have been dropped from the AMSAT Keplerian Data List: UARS Cat # 21701 OO-38 Cat # 26063 MO-46 Cat # 26548 UWE-1 Cat # 28892 LIBERTAD-1 Cat # 31129 [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.05 Direct Shorts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.05 + Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 27th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held Septem- ber 26-28, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The submission deadline is July 31, 2008. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111. + Stefan, VE4NSA says his 1:1 scale model kit of the Delfi-C3 satel- lite is in the prototype stage. A photo of the project can be found at http://www.wincube.ca/Delfi.html. This model will be available as pdf files for you to print (and cut and glue) in the next few weeks from the Delfi-C3 website. Stefan invites radio amateurs to also see his released AO-51 scale model at http://www.msig.ca/AO-51.html. + This past week the Cute-1.7 + APD II cubesat team ran a 24hour test of the APD sensor. FM telemetry packets were transmitted on 437.475 MHz. Please forward any received telemetry to Hiroki Ashida via email to hiroki(a)lss.mes.titech.ac.jp. + Yuta Araki, JQ1YGV wrote from Nihon University to inform you of the update of the analysis software for the SEEDS cubesat. The new ver- sion of the analysis software is "Downlink Code for Distribution Ver.2.0.3" at: http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/download_e.html [ANS thanks for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of June 2nd, 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.06 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report June 2, 2008 1. School Contact Status Planning continues for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts; however, the level of school contacts will drop temporarily due to crew time constraints. 2. NASM Space Day Article Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) members participated in the National Air and Space Museum celebration on Space Day. The event was covered in a local paper. To view the article in the Southwester (page 11), go to: http://swdc.org/news/Southwester_JUNE_2008.pdf 3. Terrestrial School Contact Successful On Tuesday, May 27, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori, IZ6ERU, spoke by telephone with students from primary schools San Giuseppe and De Gasperi in Italy. He answered 20 questions posed to him by the students. Approximately 400 people were present during the hour long question and answer session. Newspapers covered the event. These schools plan to participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact in the fall. Photos and detailed information on this activity have been posted to the ARISS-Europe Web site. See: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2008_05_27.htm 4. ESA Article on DRS Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact took place with Delta Researcher Schools (DRS) on Friday, May 23 at Space Expo, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The European Space Agency (ESA) posted a write-up on this educational event to its Web site. See: http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMEZ8NKRGF_education_0.html 5. Astronaut Training Status Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) training session on Tuesday, May 27. Fincke is scheduled to fly in October 2008 as the commander of Expedition 18. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

1 0

AO-51
by Vincenzo Mone 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

Hi to the list, I would like to know if AO-51 is sending frames. I can hear it but cannot decode none. Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

2 1

Need CM86 (or CM96)?
by John Mock KD6PAG 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

I'll be in CM86 this Saturday afternoon (maybe early evening) if anyone needs it. CM86 is the western half of Santa Cruz (California) and ALOT of ocean. I might do a couple of passes in CM96 on Sunday morning (and possible another afternoon pass in CM86 if it's unusually convenient). -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. West Coast folk, don't neglect the Pacific passes as we have a rover going up through BC into AK right now. Yesterday on AO-27's Pacific pass, i was the only other station on. UTC AZ EL Location Sat Local time Sat 07Jun08 20:00-20:10 144 104 63 6.8 Santa Cruz? SO-50 (Sat 13:00 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 21:26-21:39 130 67 3 22.3 Santa Cruz AO-27 (Sat 14:26 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 21:38-21:52 205 124 32 78.0 Santa Cruz SO-50 (Sat 14:38 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 23:04-23:19 184 262 339 41.0 Santa Cruz AO-27 (Sat 16:04 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 23:20-23:32 259 317 15 14.9 Santa Cruz SO-50 (Sat 16:20 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 02:11-02:26 146 71 357 39.0 Santa Cruz? AO-51 (Sat 19:11 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 14:22-14:34 35 91 148 13.7 Freedom, CA AO-51 (Sun 07:22 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 16:00-16:14 6 285 206 52.5 Freedom, CA AO-51 (Sun 09:00 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 20:27-20:40 175 109 46 22.3 Santa Cruz?? SO-50 (Sun 13:27 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 20:59-21:10 113 62 11 12.2 Santa Cruz?? AO-27 (Sun 13:59 PDT)

1 0

Idea
by D. Mynatt 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

In the last AMSAT Journal, Dr Shuch addressed the issue of education from the perspective of students and teachers. I would like to add one other idea to an otherwise excellent piece, and that is 'what are the experts doing'? I would like to propose that AMSAT or the education side of the organization, establish teaching centers where students can go for more than just Field Days. I promote an idea of a center where large antenna arrays are installed, accessible via the internet, controllable by schedules appointments, overseen by the AMSAT experts, and acting as established communications centers or ground stations to as many different flights as possible. I'm talking with M2 and ISIS about antennas and such, but wonder what comments and ideas the group would have about the idea. Any other ideas to address the need for new members, new interest, and involved kids? Dave ===== http://sciencecenter.no-ip.org SID ID: S-0258 APRS UI-View KA0SWT LAT: 38'16.278" N LON: -104'40.537" W Alt: 4780ft DM78

3 2

Updated of analysis software of SEEDS
by Yuta Araki 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

Dear All, I'm Yuta Araki at Nihon University (JQ1YGV). First of all, thank you very much for much kind cooperation! We are grateful to you all. I'd like to inform you of the update of analysis software of SEEDS. A new version of the analysis software is "Downlink Code for Distribution Ver.2.0.3". Please download analysis software from the following website http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/download_e.html Please continue your favors toward the reception cooperation about SEEDS in the future. Thanks again! Best Regards, Yuta _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Nakamura&Miyazaki Lab., Department of Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nihon University Yuta Araki E-mail: araki(a)forth.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

1 0

70cm antenna SWR problem solved?
by Michael Tondee 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

After several unsuccessful attempts at solving my 70cm antenna problem while it was still on the mast, I resolved today to just go ahead and get it down off there. Not that big a deal to do really and besides I've been thinking of rebuilding the whole shootin match anyway. I was able to use my 2 meter SWR meter after a fashion once I got the antenna inside. I could see fluctuations in the amount of power the antenna was taking as I tried various things. The problem lies in the area of the matching and feedpoint of the driven element. Again those of you familiar with the WA5VJB " cheap yagi" concept will know that the driven element is bent back upon itself forming a U shaped section on one side. Those less familiar with the design might not understand this but there's something going on right there. Either with the spacing between the legs of the U or the braid and center conductor being too close together at that point where they are soldered. Changing the spacing of the U legs didn't seem to help but spreading the center conductor and shield out from each other right where they are connected to the DE made a marked difference. I suspect it's because at this point they are very close to the "matching area" of the antenna. Hope that makes sense. At any rate I have decided to rebuild both my 70cm and 2 meter antenna. I will keep 11 elements on 70cm but I'm going from 4 to 6 elements on 2 meters. The other change will be to replace the boom material. I used PVC pipe before and the antennas have developed a bit of a sag along their booms. I will be using wooden booms coated with spar varnish this go around and possibly add reinforcement if any sag appears evident. BTW, both of these are linearly polarized as I don't have an SWR analyzer to figure out velocity factor on cable while making phasing harnesses. Maybe someday! Thanks much for everyones help and 73, Michael W4HIJ

3 5