December 2009 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Office Closed
by Martha 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

The AMSAT Office will be closed from 2:00 PM Dec 23rd - January 1st, 2010. I will be back on Monday, January 4th at 10:00 AM ET. Happy New Year! -- 73- Martha

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ANS-355 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - XW-1 Designated Hope OSCAR 68
by JoAnne Maenpaa 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-355.01 ANS Special Bulletin - AMSAT China XW-1 Designated Hope OSCAR 68 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin 355.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 21, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-355.01 AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Coordinator Bill Tynan, W3XO has informed Alan Kung, BA1DU, Amateur Satellite Project Manager and Chief Executive Officer of AMSAT-China that XW-1 is now designated as Hope OSCAR 68, or HO-68. Bill wrote, "The satellite was launched successfully 15 December from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center of China, on a CZ-4C rocket. Ama- teur Radio Operators around the world have received beacon signals from XW-1." Bill continues, "Further, I have been informed that XW-1 has been coor- dinated through IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel. As XW in Chinese means 'hope', it had been requested that this word be used as the prefix for the new OSCAR number. Therefore, with the above infor- mation and the authority vested in me by the AMSAT-NA President, I hereby designate this latest amateur radio satellite as Hope Oscar 68 or HO-68." Congratulations to AMSAT-China. Bill concludes, "On behalf of AMSAT-NA and the world's amateur radio satellite community I congratulate those responsible for building, testing and launching this new satellite. May it have a long and successful life." The latest official information can be found on-line on the AMSAT-China web page at: http://www.camsat.cn/ The AMSAT-NA Satellite Status Web may also be consulted for frequency and operating mode information at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=116&retURL=/sate llites/status.php /EX

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XW-1 QSO and packet attempt
by Mark L. Hammond 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

I was happy to make a QSO on the FM repeater of XW-1 tonight during the 0210utc 21 Dec 2009 pass, and tried some packet too. Signals were S9 or better (didn't really look carefully). Audio was loud and clear on all stations I heard. I was able to get connected to the BBS, but unable to upload a small file. A directory request was given a -2 error a few times, too. So, it will take some tweaking, but it's working! Bravo, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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satpc ??
by Bob- W7LRD 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

I downloaded new keps now I get a box that says," ungultrige Gleitkommaoperation" marching across the screen that won't stop unless I restart the computer. Assistance please. 73 Bob W7LRD

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XW-1 North America FM 21Dec2009 0205z Audio
by John Papay 21 Dec '09

21 Dec '09

The XW-1 pass over North America at 0205z was interesting. When the bird first came up over the horizon, it seemed to be fairly easy to work through although it was apparent that there were other signals (probably without tone) that were on the channel. As the bird went higher (an 86 degree pass for me), it was harder to get into. It could have been that the BBS stops the voice repeater but there were times that VE2DWE was making it (although noisy) and my signal was not there at all. Maybe the amount of deviation on the tone makes a difference when there are a lot of competing signals on the input. As the bird sank low on the horizon on the way north, it was again possible to get into it. Normally there are not many who get into any satellite that is in northern Canada. Less congestion on the input gives you a better chance. The details of how this bird is designed to handle packet and voice at the same time may provide an explanation of what we all experienced. The signal was strong during the entire pass; no problem hearing it. The audio recording of this pass can be downloaded at: http://www.papays.com/XW-1_21Dec2009_020500z.mp3 We look forward to more testing in the FM/BBS mode. Thanks to everyone who played a role in launching this satellite. 73, John K8YSE

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UHF QRM from HAM stations!!
by Luc Leblanc 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

On UHF the band is shared up to a point the "other side" is considering us as "interference" at least in 2005... Just check slide 9 in the power point below. Can we also found them as QRM i think not as we are on a secondary basis :( www.dtic.mil/ndia/2005rangeops/tuesday/owens.pps "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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XW-! keps
by Jim 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

I am running satpc32 and I guess I missing something as I cant seem to enter the new sat. Can some one give me the step by step info on how to do it. tnx Jim K7UDG

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AO-51 mode change 20 Dec 2009
by Mark L. Hammond 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

Hi All, Around 2230UTC 20 Dec 2009 the mode on AO-51 was changed according to the posted schedule as follows: December 21 - December 28 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM The FM Repeater on TXB (435.300) is at about 450mW, while the BBS on TXB (435.150) is at about 500mW. Signals on both transmitters sounded fine. The digipeater on TXB is "ON." We are collecting telemetry (every 30 secs) for the next 24 hours. Thanks for the S-band activity during the previous mode period! 73 on behalf the AO-51 Command Team, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Re: AO-51 mode change 20 Dec 2009
by Mark L. Hammond 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

Okay--of course the digipeater is on the digital downlink, TXA (435.150). I typed it wrong and corrected it below..sorry about that, folks! 73, Mark N8MH > Hi All, > > Around 2230UTC 20 Dec 2009 the mode on AO-51 was changed > according to the posted schedule as follows: > > December 21 - December 28 > > FM Repeater, V/U > Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM > Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM > > 9k6 BBS, L/U > Uplink: 1268.700 MHz 9k6 FM > Downlink: 435.150 MHz 9k6 FM > > > The FM Repeater on TXB (435.300) is at about 450mW, while the > BBS on TXB (435.150) is at about 500mW. Signals on both > transmitters sounded fine. The digipeater on TXA is "ON." We > are collecting telemetry (every 30 secs) for the next 24 hours. > > Thanks for the S-band activity during the previous mode period! > > 73 on behalf the AO-51 Command Team, > > Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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help
by w3vvp 20 Dec '09

20 Dec '09

Trying to load Satpc32 I get the error message as follows:SatIni.SQF oder ParPort SQF. I can't find any reference in manual to this. Say error with this file and closing down.Program won't load.Any help appreciated. Thanks. George

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