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

Great Satellite contact
by John Price 21 Jul '08

21 Jul '08

I just works AO-07 a few minutes ago. It was my pleasure to work WA9WUA Andy. After the pass I was entering the contacts two by the way in the log and sure enough there was Andy from back in 1994 on AO-13. A thrill to work him again after all this time. The satellite was in fine shape this evening. You would never guess it is running on the panels only. Thanks to KC4UMO for the fine QSO also The new radio is working great. I did not get were your daughter is stationed in Virgnia. Let me know if you read this. 73's << 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!"

1 0

where all the users
by John Price 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

I have been reading about the need for HEO satellites and the reasons we don't have them. I wonder why the folks that wont the HEO's so bad never show up on AO-07 or VO-52. Most passes it is joe K3SZH and maybe two others at most on AO-07 and I hardly ever hear anyone on VO-52. The birds that have all the users are the FM sats. I would love to see a HEO built but if we are not going to use what we have what is the point. 73's << 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!"

10 11

AMSAT-UK Colloquium to be Webcast by BATC
by Trevor 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) this years AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be streamed live to the web. Peter Blakeborough G3PYB, President of BATC, will be streaming video of the presentations live to the Internet so that Radio Amateurs and SWL’s can watch them from anywhere in the world. This service will be available at http://www.batc.tv/ As well as the live webcast BATC will also be providing a Live Chat web page enabling viewers to post messages. The 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. Prof Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO Chairman AMSAT-UK, will open the Colloquium at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on the Friday. This will be followed by the keynote speech given by Dr Rob Gowen, Department of Space & Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London and Coordinator of the UK Lunar Penetrator Consortium) on "Science Penetrators for the UK MoonLITE mission". On Saturday at 0905 BST (0805 GMT) the Delfi-C3 team will be giving presentations on their exciting new satellite. Its SSB/CW 435/145 linear transponder will activated soon and is sure to prove popular with satellite enthusiasts world-wide. Later that day at 1130 BST (1030 GMT) there will be presentations from AMSAT-DL on both the eagerly awaited P3E High Earth Orbiting satellite and the pioneering Mars Orbiter P5A. This will be the first private venture spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet providing Radio Amateurs with some true DX signals. On Saturday afternoon at 1500-1530 BST (1400-1430 GMT) Grant Hodgson G8UBN will be giving a presentation on 2.3/3.4/5.6GHz Signal Generator for Satellite Applications. The IARU Satellite Forum chaired by the IARU Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will also take place on Saturday afternoon. 1600-1645 BST (1500-1545 GMT) Band planning for satellite operations on frequencies in the Amateur Service by Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, President AMSAT-SA 1645-1800 BST (1545-1700 GMT) IARU Amateur Satellite Forum Chairman: Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, President AMSAT-SA The Colloquium is open to all. New for 2008, it has been arranged with the University for "walkin" day delegates for £10 per day. For this, you do not get any meals, only attendance at lectures/beginners sessions. It does not entitle you to any other of the functions. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day. It would help if you could let us know in advance if you intend using this facility, please email g3wgm(a)amsat.org For further details see http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ Programme: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/640/213/ Travel information: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/23/52/ A site map showing location of the Management Building and the adjacent main car park and conference visitors parking can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/stories/uosmap6.jpg AMSAT-UK Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Web: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ Related URL’s British Amateur Television Club (BATC) http://www.batc.org.uk/ BATC Video website http://www.batc.tv/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

1 0

AMSAT-UK Colloquium to be Webcast by BATC
by Trevor 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) this years AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be streamed live to the web. Peter Blakeborough G3PYB, President of BATC, will be streaming video of the presentations live to the Internet so that Radio Amateurs and SWL’s can watch them from anywhere in the world. This service will be available at http://www.batc.tv/ As well as the live webcast BATC will also be providing a Live Chat web page enabling viewers to post messages. The 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. Prof Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO Chairman AMSAT-UK, will open the Colloquium at 1400 BST (1300 GMT) on the Friday. This will be followed by the keynote speech given by Dr Rob Gowen, Department of Space & Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London and Coordinator of the UK Lunar Penetrator Consortium) on "Science Penetrators for the UK MoonLITE mission". On Saturday at 0905 BST (0805 GMT) the Delfi-C3 team will be giving presentations on their exciting new satellite. Its SSB/CW 435/145 linear transponder will activated soon and is sure to prove popular with satellite enthusiasts world-wide. Later that day at 1130 BST (1030 GMT) there will be presentations from AMSAT-DL on both the eagerly awaited P3E High Earth Orbiting satellite and the pioneering Mars Orbiter P5A. This will be the first private venture spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet providing Radio Amateurs with some true DX signals. The IARU Satellite Forum chaired by the IARU Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will take place on Saturday afternoon (BST). 1600-1645 BST (1500-1545 GMT) Band planning for satellite operations on frequencies in the Amateur Service by Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, President AMSAT-SA 1645-1800 BST (1545-1700 GMT) IARU Amateur Satellite Forum Chairman: Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV, President AMSAT-SA The Colloquium is open to all. New for 2008, it has been arranged with the University for "walkin" day delegates for £10 per day. For this, you do not get any meals, only attendance at lectures/beginners sessions. It does not entitle you to any other of the functions. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day. It would help if you could let us know in advance if you intend using this facility, please email g3wgm(a)amsat.org For further details see http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ Programme: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/640/213/ Travel information: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/23/52/ A site map showing location of the Management Building and the adjacent main car park and conference visitors parking can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/stories/uosmap6.jpg AMSAT-UK Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Web: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ Related URL’s British Amateur Television Club (BATC) http://www.batc.org.uk/ BATC Video website http://www.batc.tv/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

1 0

2820 in fullduplex
by jeff 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

I had to answer my own question about the Icom 2820H. I went out and bought one Friday. After I got home last night I started to familiarize myself with it. I found out the left antenna input is useless, except for diversity reception. After running the right side ant connecter through a duplexer and then out to my sat antenna array I was very happy to work AO-51 in full duplex mode. I just got off AO-51 and made 3 contacts with it. It's will be really nice setting up the 2820 to replace the D-700 I've been using for 8 years in my main travel road vehicle. So I will be building a TNC-X and HamHud for it ? I also noticed that there is no mention in the users manual of fullduplex, and also after browsing through the manual(I might have missed something) that there is no mention of satellite operation. Not even one paragraph in the 'Other Functions' section. I thought this a little strange as you don't see many full duplex radios being made anymore. Anyway it is working FB here.... 73 Jeff kb2m

1 0

Lunar Probe frequencies
by john heath 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

Hi, does anyone have frequencies for the lunar probes Chang-1 and Kyuga (selene) Anyone recieving these, if so what antennas are being used. 73 John G7HIA

2 1

ANS-202 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-202 ************************************************************** *** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting *** *** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia *** *********New Forms Online to register for this event********** ************************************************************** 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: * Satellite Shorts From All Over * Informational Changes * Executive Board Meeting * The UK Space Colloquium will be Webcast * ARISS Status - 14 July 2008 * NEW OSCAR Satellite Identities Issued SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.01 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 20, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.01 + NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft has created a video of the moon transiting (passing in front of) Earth as seen from the space- craft's point of view 31 million miles (50 million kilometers away. Quick Time version is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/solarsystem/features/epoxi_transit.html YouTube version is available at: http://www.universetoday.com/2008/07/17/an-alien-view-of-the-moon-transiting -earth/ + On-line video from the Dayton 2008 SDR Forum can be found at: http://www.hamsdr.com/dnld.aspx. Scroll down the list to the links labeled "Dayton_2008_Video". +If you like some ideas about what Satellites were like in the past, here is a link to a great puplication. I remember always having it around my shack to show people about various types and operating of satellites. http://www.amsat-dl.org/pic/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=7527 +Full programme at the AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium AMSAT-UK will be holding their 23rd International Space Colloquium at the University of Surrey, Guildford, from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. On Friday, in addition to the main lecture programme there will be a special Beginners Workshop to show newcomers how to use the many amateur satellites that are available. RSGB Amateur Radio Manager Carlos Eavis G0AKI will be giving a presentation about the plans for a brand new GB4FUN Radio Communications demonstration vehicle on Saturday 26th July. On Sunday morning, the IARU Satellite Adviser Hans, ZS6AKV, will chair the IARU Satellite Forum, which will be attended by the RSGB Microwave Manager Murray Niman, G6JYB. He will be available for questions on the papers relating to amateur satellite operation being presented by the RSGB to the IARU Region 1 conference at Cavtat in November. The event is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL's. It is planned to broadcast some of the proceedings live via the internet at www.batc.tv [Thanks Ian, G3ZHI] [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.02 Informational Changes AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 20, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.02 In the past weeks AMSAT's engineering department has experienced some difficult times. At the present time Rick Hambly, W2GPS is acting VP Engineering. In that role he will be the team leader of all active teams and he will be the arbiter of the guidance provided to engineering by the Board. Rick wants to thank Bob McGwier N4HY for his service as VP Engineering. He single handedly revitalized the department and brought on many new high quality volunteers to work on AMSAT new vision. He has also been the genesis of new concepts like the use of software defined radio concepts as the basis for our new high performance linear transponder design (SDX) and for the implementation of a better HELAPS transmitter design using modern digital techniques to control its linearity. Fortunately Bob is staying actively involved in AMSAT and in our engineering efforts. He will be a key asset as we continue our march toward achieving AMSAT Mission and Vision. Rick has also created an advisory committee to work on a new Engineering organization proposal. It is expected that this group will act quickly to provide an operational proposal for the next VP of Engineering to use in moving the engineering group toward meeting the goals of that group set a number of years ago. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.03 Executive Board Meeting AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 20, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.03 An AMSAT executive meeting is planned for board members and senior officers in mid August to discuss the current status and future direction of AMSAT. The outcomes and expected results will be presented to the membership at the AMSAT Symposium in Atlanta, Oct 24-26. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.04 The UK Space Colloquium will be Webcast AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 20, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.04 Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) this years AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be streamed live on the web. Peter Blakeborough G3PYB, President of BATC, will be streaming video of the event live to the Internet so that Radio Amateurs and SWL’s can watch it from anywhere in the world. This service will be available at http://www.batc.tv/ As well as live video BATC will also be providing a Live Chat web page enabling viewers to post messages. The 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. The Colloquium is open to all Radio Amateurs and SWL's. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. An online booking service is available with PayPal, Visa and Master Card payments accepted. For further details see http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ A site map showing location of the Management Building and the adjacent main car park and conference visitors parking can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/stories/uosmap6.jpg Travel information: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/23/52/ AMSAT-UK Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Related URL’s British Amateur Television Club (BATC) http://www.batc.org.uk/ BATC Video website http://www.batc.tv/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.05 ARISS Status - 14 July 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.05 ARISS Status Report for the week of July 14, 2008 1. Upcoming School Contacts An ARISS contact was held with the Department of Astronomy & Space Sciences (DASS) at the Kuwait Science Club in Safat, Kuwait on Monday, July 14 at 17:05 UTC. Telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii assisted with the contact. DASS aims to spread scientific awareness in the fields of astronomy and space sciences by actively engaging the public in exploring the cosmos. This educational activity will educate young people about space stations, satellites and ham radio. A national competition will be announced through Ministry of Education for all schools in Kuwait. The competition will encourage students to do research in space science. Four students will be selected from 3 levels (elementary, middle, high school) to ask questions of the astronaut. Extensive media coverage is expected from at least 3 television stations, several newspapers, magazines and radio stations. European Space Camp 2008 will be held at the Zanka Children and Youth Centre in Zanka, Hungary for the children of ESA employees. The camp has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Thursday, July 24. The Hungarian Astronautical Society (HAS) is organizing the event. The Radio Club of the Puskas Polytechnic (HA5KHC) will provide equipment and support the contact. 2. Canadian Campers Participate in Successful ARISS Contact On Wednesday, July 9, youth attending the National Agriculture Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada participated in an ARISScontact via telebridge station W6SRJ in Santa Rosa, California. Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, answered 14 questions posed to him by 12 campers as an audience of approximately 120 watched. One television station, 2 radio stations, and one member of the press covered the event. The museum reported on the contact using its Web site. Radio station CFRA, which is the most listened to news radio station in Eastern Ontario, played the audio and interview throughout the day. 3. ARRL Article on ARISS Activities On Tuesday, July 8, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on ARISS contacts which are taking place during the month of July. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/08/10202/?nc=1 The story is also available on The ARRL Letter: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/08/0711/ 4. ARISS Face to Face Meeting The ARISSteam is meeting in Moscow this week for its annual face to face meeting. The conference will be held July 17-18 and will be preceded by an Amateur Radio Working Group (ARWG) meeting July 14-16. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-202.06 NEW OSCAR Satellite Identities Issued AMSAT News Service Bulletin 202.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. July 20, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.06 Satellite CUTE-1.7 + APD II has been issued the OSCAR Number CO-65. This was at the request of Tokyo Institute of Technology. lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/index_e.html Satellite SEEDS II Has been issued the OSCAR number CO-66. This was requested by Nihon University. (http://sat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp) [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, 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 at amsat dot org

1 0

Last day to book for AMSAT-UK Colloquium July 25-27
by Trevor 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

There is just one day left to book a place for the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium. The 23rd AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from Friday 25th until Sunday 27th July. Prof Sir Martin Sweeting, G3YJO Chairman AMSAT-UK, will open the Colloquium at 14:00 BST (13:00 GMT) on the Friday. This will be followed by the keynote speech given by Dr Rob Gowen, Department of Space & Climate Physics (Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London and Coordinator of the UK Lunar Penetrator Consortium) on "Science Penetrators for the UK MoonLITE mission". There will be presentations from AMSAT-DL on both the eagerly awaited P3E satellite and the pioneering Mars Orbiter P5A. This will be the first private venture spacecraft to travel to the Red Planet providing Radio Amateurs with some true DX signals. The Delfi-C3 team will be giving presentations on their exciting new satellite. Its SSB/CW 435/145 linear transponder will activated soon and is sure to prove popular with satellite enthusiasts world-wide. The IARU Satellite Forum chaired by the IARU Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will take place during the Colloquium. The Colloquium is open to all. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accommodation and meals are available. An online booking service is available with PayPal, Visa and Master Card payments accepted. For further details see http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ Programme: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/640/213/ Travel information: http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/23/52/ A site map showing location of the Management Building and the adjacent main car park and conference visitors parking can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/images/stories/uosmap6.jpg AMSAT-UK Tel: +44 (0)1258 453959 Email: g3wgm(a)amsat.org Web: http://www.uk.amsat.org/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

1 0

Re: Vanishing Hams
by Daniel Schultz 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

Various people wrote: >Ham radio may just evolve from technical whiz kids making coils out of >oatmeal boxes (those are disappearing too) to mere communicators that >know little about the technology inside. >The kids you are trying to impress with ham radio in general and APRS in >specific just roll their eyes and go back to their iPhones and PC's. >After all, ham radio is another name for AMATEUR radio. The world is no >longer impressed with amateur solutions to Telecommunications just as it >is no longer impressed with using horses for basic transportation. A lot of people still keep horses today because they love horses. There are more horses in the USA today than at any time in the past, we just don't use them for daily commutes to work (although with the price of gasoline we may be reconsidering them). Amateur radio is not comparable to cell phone service, it is not for basic communication but for people who love the technology and want to understand it and improve it. Don't try to appeal to the masses. Find the one kid in 100 (or is it one in 1000?) who wants to dig deeper and learn the technology. Robot competitions draw lots of kids who are interested in building and modifying technology. They are still around but they are getting channeled into robotics instead of radio. >Third, and this also can't be overcome by mentoring etc., is that amateur >radio has space and financial requirements that are beyond most young >people. Everyone on this list go look at your stuff right now and add up >what it cost in terms of currency as well as ndoor and outdoor space. >Sure, you *CAN* get into amateur radio with a used 2m HT picked up in >Dayton for $100. But let's face it the really cool stuff requires more >sophisticated (read: expensive) equipment, usually with antenna systems >that require space and more money. When you're a teen or a young person >just starting a family, it's a discretionary expense that is probably >just not high on your list. >As someone who was licensed at age 13, there are somethings that suck about >being a young ham. You don't have much money to spend on rigs and antennas. >You live in your parent's house so you are at their mercy for what antennas >you can put up. You have school and homework to compete for your time. You >go to college which greatly limits funds and time, and then you go into the >raising a family (I am there now) which greatly limits funds again, as well >as operating time. Someone proposed having internet "listen only" remote gateways so that newcomers could get a taste of satellite operation before obtaining their own equipment. We could go one better and devise a scheme that would allow transmit access to holders of valid amateur licenses. That would allow them to get on the satellites without a big investment in radio gear. Dan Schultz N8FGV

2 1

How volunteerism works...
by Fred A Parker 20 Jul '08

20 Jul '08

My Experience working as volunteer for Amsat. In my opinion accomplished nothing. Over the time span of several years while working on the mechanical end of things for the Eagle project. There was nothing getting done, actually things seemed to be going backwards. What satisfaction does one get when one's work goes no where. With the loss of I believe his name was Jim Stanford. Every thing changed and all I seemed to get was unanswered Emails and phone calls. Unless Amsat had some special event coming up and needed some hardware for show and tell. I wish to not seem too negative. But there needs to be an analyses of what changes are needed. My first suggestion would be to set new goals that are achievable. My research tells me the days of free rides are over. Amsat needs to downsize its projects to a more realistic size that is with in there budget. When that happens I am prepared to burn the midnight oil. Fred A Parker KF0AK Itasca County RACES/ARES Logistic Officer

1 0