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

[ans] ANS-180 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 29 Jun '08

29 Jun '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-180 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 ************************************************************** *** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting *** *** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia *** *** See The AMSAT Website for Latest Info on This *** *** Annual Meeting of Our Group *** ************************************************************** In this edition: * ARRL Clarifies ISS Satellite Category * Final Call for Papers - AMSAT UK Colloquium * IARU-News Release * HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF WOMEN IN SPACE * Stanford Cubesat Ground Station Survey * Upcoming ISS Scheduled Contacts * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.01 ARRL Clarifies ISS Satellite Category AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.01 Word was received this week from Sean Kutzko, KX9X, the Contest Branch Manager at the ARRL clarifying the rules in regard to the ISS amateur radio operations. Sean wrote, "At the request of several in the satellite community, I spent some time last evening reviewing data presented to me con- cerning my ruling that the ISS would not count for satellite QSO credit during Field Day." "After reviewing the data last evening, I have come to the conclusion that my first ruling was incorrect; The ISS is indeed eligible for satellite QSO credit during Field Day." I hope everybody had fun this weekend. [ANS thanks Sean KX9X at the ARRL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.02 Final Call for Papers - AMSAT UK Colloquium AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.02 This is the final call for speakers/papers for the 23rd Amsat-UK Colloquium which will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, U.K., from Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July 2008. Details of this and previous events can be found at: http://www.uk.amsat.org. Amsat-UK invite speakers, about amateur radio space and associated activities, for this event. They are also invited to submit papers for the "Proceedings" document which will be published at the same time but printed papers are not mandatory. We normally prefer authors to present talks themselves rather than having someone else give them in the authors' absence. We also welcome "unpresented" papers for the Proceedings document. Offers of talks should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents to be received is July 16th 2008 in order that the "Proceedings" document be available to participants. Submissions should be sent *ONLY* to G4DPZ, via the following routes: Internet e-mail: david dot johnson at blackepper do co dot uk SnailMail: QTHR from http://www.qrz.com 73 Dave G4DPZ [ANS thanks Dave, G4DPZ for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.03 IARU-News Release AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.03 26 June 2008 For immediate release IARU Officer Nominations Agreed for 2009-2014 Term The Administrative Council (AC) of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) held its annual meeting on 24-25 June 2008 in Konstanz, Germany and took the following actions. 1. The consultative process leading to nominations for IARU President and Vice President for the five-year term beginning on 9 May 2009 was completed between the AC and the American Radio Relay League, the IARU member-society that serves as the International Secretariat. IARU President Larry Price, W4RA had announced in 2007 that he was not available to serve an additional term. The AC agreed that Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH and Region 1 President Ole Garpestad, LA2RR are suitably qualified to serve as IARU President and Vice President, respectively. Their nominations will be offered to the member-societies for ratification. 2. A comprehensive review and update of the working document that defines the additional spectrum requirements of the amateur and amateur-satellite services was conducted. Requests from the amateur satellite community for support of additional allocations were considered and referred to the IARU Satellite Adviser for additional information. 3. The IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications, Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP, presented his report in person. He noted the outstanding performance of radio amateurs in China who responded to the recent tragic earthquake emergency. 4. Reports of the other IARU international coordinators and advisers were received. They are International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; EMC Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY; and Interim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG. 5. An additional progress report was received from an ad hoc committee that is investigating the future role and structure of the IARU. Work since the previous AC meeting has refined the structure and identified the remaining issues to be resolved. 6. A resolution offered by Region 1 that seeks to improve the operating standards of radio amateurs was adopted. The AC endorses and recommends the principles set out in the booklet “Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio Amateur” by John Devoldere, ON4UN and Marc Demeuleneere , ON4WW, and encourages each IARU Region to consider this booklet, with a view to adopting it, including any Regional variations that might be felt appropriate. 7. A study of the international QSL bureau system was commissioned. The study will seek input from member-societies on the problems they face in light of escalating postage and other expenses, and the anticipated impact of electronic confirmation systems such as the ARRL’s Logbook of the World. 8. The three-year strategic plan for the development of support for amateur radio frequency allocations was reviewed and renewed for the period 2008-2011. The principal focus is on preparations for the 2011 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-11), especially the attainment of an amateur allocation in the vicinity of 500 kHz. 9. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings at which IARU representation will be required for the coming year were identified, and plans for representation were reviewed. 10. The plans of Region 3 for the IARU presence at Telecom Asia 2008 (Bangkok, 2-5 September) and of the International Secretariat for Telecom World 2009 (Geneva, 5-9 October) were reviewed. 11. The budget for 2009-2011 as presented by the International Secretariat (ARRL) was reviewed. The budget includes provision for financial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy. 12. The 29 March 2009 implementation of the worldwide exclusive allocation of 7100-7200 kHz adopted at the 2003 WRC was noted and the many contributors to this achievement were recognized. 13. “Amateur Radio: Your Resource in Disaster and Emergency Communication” was selected as the theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2009. 14. Status reports from each of the three IARU regional organizations were received and discussed. The next regional conference will be that of Region 1, to be held in Cavtat, Croatia in mid-November. Attending the Konstanz meeting were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regional representatives Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Michael Owen, VK3KI, Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, on behalf of the International Secretariat, and recording secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI. IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP attended a portion of the meeting. The next scheduled meeting of the AC will be held in Christchurch, New Zealand in October 2009. [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.04 HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF WOMEN IN SPACE AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.04 HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CELEBRATING 45 YEARS OF WOMEN IN SPACE In ham radio space related news, word that special event station R45VT is on the air. This, to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova becoming the first woman in space. Tereshkova flew to orbit on June 16th 1963 as pilot onboard Vostok 6. Her call sign during the flight was Chaika. She spent 71 hours in space orbiting the Earth 48 times. Since that time women have made a significant contribution to space exploration and many of them have been licenced Radio Amateurs. A few of the many notable women space explorers since Valentina Tereshkova include American Sally Ride and the United Kingdom's Helen Sharman to mention only a few. Sharman was also the first UK woman to be issued a ham radio call for her flight. She operated from the Mir Space Station as GB1MIR And very apropos for this type of commemorative operation. At least one UK ham resports that he recently worked R45VT through the VO-52 amateur radio satellite. (Southgate) [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.05 Stanford Cubesat Ground Station Survey AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.05 James Cutler, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University asks for help from amateur radio cubesat ground stations, "We are conducting a survey on global ground station availability, and we need your help! If you have a ground station, would you please fill out our survey? It will ask you about station locations and the characteristics of the antennas (type and frequency)". The survey is located at: URL: http://ssdl.stanford.edu/gs_survey/ User: gs Password: stanford Institution - just use your callsign Please provide input by July 7, 2008 if possible. We will make the results available later this summer. We will be using the data for research on improving throughput through networks such as GENSO. [ANS thanks James Cutler, and Graham G3VZV for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.06 Upcoming ISS Scheduled Contacts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.06 ESC (Euro Space Camp) in Belgium Simulated contact with Frank De Winne ON1DWN Contact is a go for: Thu 2008-07-03 1900 UTC at the earliest Watch for IRLP coverage. Ottawa South United Soccer Club, Canada Simulated contact with Bob Thirsk W5/VA3CSA Contact is a go for: Thu 2008-07-03 20:55 GMT at the earliest Watch for IRLP coverage. Round Rock Texas Scout Pack #304 and Blackland Prairie Elementary School, Round Rock, Texas, direct via W5KA Contact is a go for: Fri 2008-07-04 16:32 UTC 52 deg Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 350. (***) Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 7. QSL information may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/ARISS/arissfaq.html http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#QSL's ISS callsigns: DP0ISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RS0ISS ***************************************************************************** The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2008-06-26 04:00 UTC. Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2008-06-26 04:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correctio… tf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf ***************************************************************************** There have been rumors in the past indicating that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40 meter band. There is no HF radio equipment on board and available yet. The HF antenna is mounted. Sometimes WA3NAN will retransmit shuttle audio. ***************************************************************************** Expedition 17 on orbit: Sergei Volkov Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Gregory Chamitoff KD5PKZ ***************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors [ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-180.07 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 180.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 29, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-180.07 + Paul, 2E1EUB plans to be active on satellites from grid IO87rj near Aberdeen, Scotland starting June 28 for 7 days. He will be using the callsign 2M1EUB/P. There may be some low elevation opportunities to work North America via AO-7. The QRZ.com web page 2M1EUB provides QSL information. + The NanoSail-D satellite mentioned in prior ANS reports was featured this week in a NASA web release: "This summer, NASA engineers will try to realize a dream older than the Space Age itself: the deployment of a working solar sail in Earth orbit. It is scheduled for launch on- board a SpaceX Falcon 1 rocket as early as July 29, 2008. See: http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/26jun_nanosaild.htm?list958901 + The EE Times ran an article about Suitsat and SuitSat-2. The SDR transponder aboard SuitSat-2 is based on the High Performance Software Defined Radio "Odyssey" system. For the article see: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml;?articleID=208403999 (Via Graham, KE9H on the HPSDR Discussion List at http://hpsdr.org) [ANS thanks everyone 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

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P3E donations
by Dave Guimont 29 Jun '08

29 Jun '08

Here is the URL for donations.... I tried several and this one finally did it.... If this does not work put out a general inquiry for AMSAT-DL donations... Anyone really interested in amateur satellite operations should put as much as they can afford here..... >http://www.p3e-satellite.org/index.pl?lang=en_EN 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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M Square 436CP30
by Jim Danehy 29 Jun '08

29 Jun '08

I am putting together a 436CP30. I received it this week from M Square. They sent 12 1/2 inch elements for the first director. After checking with M Square I have cut off 1/4 inch per their antenna dimensions. I just wanted to alert anyone who might also have recently acquired this antenna. Easy enough mistake to remedy. Jim W9VNE

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2M1EUB/P IO87RJ SCOTLAND LOOKING FOR FD OPPS//AO7
by paul robinson 29 Jun '08

29 Jun '08

HI GUYS IM LOOKING FOR FIELD DAY OPPS !! THANKS TO THOSE FD STATIONS IVE WORKED!INFO AT QRZ.COM PAUL // --------------------------------- Not happy with your email address? Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo!

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CUTE-1.7+APDII Earth pictures
by Mineo Wakita 29 Jun '08

29 Jun '08

Ground Station put the more Earth pictures into the web site. http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/01-04.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cut17ap2.htm JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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ISS digi not heard
by Alan P. Biddle 28 Jun '08

28 Jun '08

Hi, Just had the first clear FD pass of the ISS, and nothing heard. Anybody else hear it? Wouldn't it be funny if after all the hoopla about credit, it isn't on? ;( Alan WA4SCA ----------------------------------- There is something fascinating about science. One gets such wholesale returns of conjecture from such a trifling investment of fact. Mark Twain

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Excellent SuitSat Article!!
by Bill Ress 28 Jun '08

28 Jun '08

The June 23, 2008 issue of "Under The Hood" (a supplement to the EETimes) has a great article on SuitSat2. I have included the link, but it shows really nice in the magazine article. Congratulations to Lou McFadin and the SuitSat/ARISS team!!! http://www.techonline.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208801324&queryText=s… Regards...Bill - N6GHz

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ARISS Opportunity...
by Dexter N Muir 28 Jun '08

28 Jun '08

Greetings all First post, so I hope it works. Here is reply from NASA (and my original) <Quote> Dear Mr. Muir: Thank you for your note. We are sorry about your disappointment. Speaking just of NASA TV, we do not carry Ham radio events because of reliability issues. We wish we could offer you better news. We appreciate your interest in the space program. Thanks, The JSC PAO Web Team -----Original Message----- From: Dexter N Muir [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2008 8:24 PM To: JSC-HSF-Web-Mail Subject: Opportunity lost! Greetings from 'Down Under' (KiwiSat land) A golden opportunity lost! ARISS had scheduled a contact with Robinson Elementary School, Robinson, Texas via telebridge WH6PN in Hawaii on 25 Jun 2008 at 15:45 UTC. At this time ISS _was_ over Hawaii, and ISS was scheduled to be in its Live Commentary period. There was NO audio from the telebrige WH6PN on either Echolink or the IRLP Discovery Reflector, and NASA TV's 'live coverage' segment made absolutely NO mention of the event - in fact, no 'on-board' coverage was shown at all! ISS was out of range of TDRSS earlier, but would surely have been back in touch by then? A camera at the ARISS position should have been easy to arrange, even if there is not one already present in that segment. What happened? Was there some other pressing event that could not be re-scheduled? A technical fault (though nothing was mentioned of such)? Did 'dirtside' cancel at the last minute? All Internet links showed the event would run as advertised right up to time. Echolink *AMSAT* Conference gives feedback on who is connected, and I observed 6 other stations on at that time (incidentally 3:45 AM next morning here in New Zealand). That is 6 parents or grandparents (like me) keen to demonstrate live one-on-one communications with an Astronaut IN SPACE, who are now extremely disappointed. For myself, it was my first attempt at such a conference, and I am _really_ glad I tried solo without getting 3 grandkids out of bed. Despite this disappointment, I will try again (solo), and given at least _some_ measure of success am likely to bring said children and perhaps others to witness the event some time in the future. THESE are your REAL audience - the Astronauts, Scientists and Engineers of the future! Sincerely Dexter N Muir, ZL2DEX (Radio Ham since 1969) Levin, New Zealand </Quote> Is this really a reliability issue, or somebody so high they don't smell very nice (thinking more govt than anything else) deciding that Amateur = Ham-fisted, and not realising that the 'Hams' involved are mostly professionals and, because they LOVE what they do (the original meaning, from Latin), make professional-level efforts to DO IT RIGHT. Besides, the exercise is NOT 'Carrying Ham radio events', but more an issue of continuing existing coverage, in similar manner to one of the Astronauts doing a video-tour of the premises (which they do from time to time). As I had pointed out, there is probably a camera already there - the 'Ham Shack' is in or near the 'Kitchen' area, which has been 'vid-casted' before. Can we do better? Can we pressure someone/somewhere to not let this sort of opportunity pass again? BTW - what DID happen? Anyone?

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USB to serial interface
by Jim Heck 28 Jun '08

28 Jun '08

Hi All, There have been discussions on this BB in the past about the best USB to serial interface units. I seem to recall that there was one reccommended unit (not very cheap) which had the advantage of not reallocating COM port numbers each time the PC was restarted. I think it had 4 serial ports. Can anyone advise which this unit was Or alternatively recommend a good unit? Thanks and 73s Jim G3WGM

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Fw: [CubeSat] Ground station survey
by Graham Shirville 28 Jun '08

28 Jun '08

Hi all, This survey has just been circulated around the cubesat community and it would be valuable to have submissions from all amsat ground stations. For the name of your "institution" - just use your callsign! 73 Graham G3VZV ----- Original Message ----- From: James Cutler To: cubesat(a)atl.calpoly.edu Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 1:47 AM Subject: [CubeSat] Ground station survey Dear Cubesat Community, At Stanford, we are conducting a survey on global ground station availability, and we need your help! If you have a ground station, would you please fill out our survey (~5minutes)? It will ask you about station locations and the characteristics of the antennas (type and frequency). The survey is located at: URL: http://ssdl.stanford.edu/gs_survey/ User: gs Password: stanford Please provide input by July 7, 2008 if possible. We will make the results available later this summer. We will be using the data for research on improving throughput through networks such as GENSO. Thanks for your time. If you have any questions or comments, please send me an email. Best regards, --James -- James Cutler, Ph.D. Consulting Professor Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Stanford University http://www.stanford.edu/~jwc/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ CubeSat mailing list CubeSat(a)atl.calpoly.edu http://atl.calpoly.edu/mailman/listinfo/cubesat

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