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

AO-51 Mode S reports
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

AO-51 is currently in Mode V/S on 145.88/2401.200. With our attitude inverted from normal, I'm interested in any S band reports. The L/S antenna should be pointed towards the ground now in the southern hemisphere, and away in the northern. The schedule indicates we would concurrently run the 9k6 telemetry downlink on 435.150. Due to low battery voltages and being near the bottom of the output power selection range, I shut off the 435.150 transmitter this morning at about 1025 UTC. Please send any reports on the Mode S signal to ko4ma(a)amsat.org. or ao51-modes(a)amsat.org. Thanks, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations

4 7

XW-1 Keplerian data update 20091512
by Alan Kung 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

XW-1 1 99999U 09349.11983964 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00004 2 99999 100.4999 046.2127 0015690 067.9387 119.0021 13.15660473000013 73 Alan Kung,BA1DU XW-1 project manger www.camsat.cn

1 0

2.4GHz patch antenna for a 60cm dish
by Eric Christensen 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

Anyone know where I can get a 2.4GHz for a 60cm dish? Thanks, Eric W4OTN

2 1

XW-1 telemetry
by Mateusz 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

http://www.enduro.idl.pl/audio_sat/xw1_telemetry_jo91rr.mp3 Time 9:59 UTC SQ7DQX

1 0

Chinese Launch December 15 (UTC)
by Bob Christy 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

Yaogan 8 and "Hope 1", details against today's date: http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php 1184 x 1193 km, 100.5 deg inclination

1 0

Software for antenna rotators
by codrut buda 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

I hope somebody will find usefull the PstRotator program. It can be downloaded from www.qsl.net/yo3dmu/index_Page346.htm PstRotator handles just about every controllable rotator in common use: Prosistel "D" and "C", RT-20 and RT-21 Green Heron, DCU-1 HyGain, RC1 MDS, Rotor-EZ Idiom Press, Easy-Rotor-Control, Yaesu Az and Yaesu Az/El GS-232A and GS-232B, M2 RC2800, AlfaSpid RAK Az and RAS Az/El, Easycomm, ST3 Fox Delta, Endeavour Electronics AutoTracker, ZL1BPU, EGIS, Create RAC825, EA4TX Arswin, DL7AOT, LBV Tracker, PrimeSat and VK5DJ. PstRotator provides automatic tracking for satelites and EME, using for this WXtrack, WinOrbit, Orbitron, Nova for Windows, Sat_Explorer, SatPC32, WSJT, Z-Track, GJTracker, EME System, Trak_SM, or HRD Satellite Tracker. Also it works with some contest loggers like N1MM, TACLog and Win-Test. Other programs supported are MixW, DXView and VQLog. Tracking the moon is easier now using an internal algorithm. PstRotator supports multiuser remote control over TCP/IP. 73, Codrut - YO3DMU

1 0

Portable Power for USB Devices
by Clint Bradford 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

UPDATE 12/13/09: I have run the ZAGG spark portable power pack through a couple charge cycles. It is impressive. I am working on a deal where if you purchase one, $10 will be sent to AMSAT. Stay tuned ... I will be creating a Web page with detailed information. - Clint Bradford, K6LCS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ever wanted more battery life from your iPod / PDA / cell phone or other device that charges via USB? Of course we have. The company name, ZAGG, might not ring a bell with you. But more of you have heard of the InvisibleSHIELD line they market - IMHO the best of the screen protectors for our PDA and cellphone screens. Well, ZAGG just introduced what appears to be the best of the "portable USB device power packs" available. Although the ZAGGsparq is marketed as being "able to charge an Apple iPhone up to four times," I see it being used for a lot more applications. Physically, it's 3.5 x 3.5 x 1" in size. Its Lithium Polymer battery pack is rated at 6000mAH - that's SIX AMPS in your little pack. Only the Amstron PP66S has that capacity ... but the ZAGG offers more features than the Amstron. ZAGGspark works with any of your devices that uses a USB cord for charging. Plus, it provides TWO USB ports for charging your mobile devices when plugged into an AC outlet. Weighs a tad over a half-pound. Four LEDs indicate the pack's power level (25% / 50% / 75% / 100%). I just ordered one, and will immediately put it to use. It's going to power my Verizon MiFi 2200 and Apple 32GB iPod touch. I'll report back how it performs. Clint Bradford 909-241-7666

2 2

ANS-349 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - AMSAT China XW-1 Launched
by JoAnne Maenpaa 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-349.01 ANS Special Bulletin AMSAT China Says XW-1 Has Been Launched AMSAT News Service Bulletin 349.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-349.01 China's 1st ever amateur radio satelite XW-1 is in space now! AMSAT China reports it was launched at about around 0230 UTC on December 15, 2009. The beacon was received in Sanya after launch. XW-1 was a secondary payload aboard the CZ-4C rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center into a sun-synchronous orbit about 1200 kilometers high. The primary payload of this launch is the Yaogen-8 Remote Sensing Satellite. The preliminary keplerian elements for the satellite are: XW-1 1 99999U 09349.11987269 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00006 2 99999 100.4859 046.2958 0001760 147.4703 038.6343 13.15267150000017 The XW-1 communications payload includes a beacon and three cross band transponders operating in FM, linear, and digital modes. Here is a Spacecraft Summary: Common Name: XW-1 Alternate Name: CAS-1 Satellite Type: Microsatellite Launch Date: TBD Launch Location: Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center of China Launch Vehicle: CZ-2C(LM-2C) Rocket Apogee: 1200km Perigee: 1200km Inclination: 105 degrees Period: 109 minutes Local time of descending node: 21:30 Weight: 50kg Frequency Information Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (30 dbm (1 w)): Uplink: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz. Downlink: 435.6750 MHz FM Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Inverting) (30 dbm (1 w)): Uplink:145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW Downlink:435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW Mode V/U (J) PacSat BBS (30 dbm (1 w)): Uplink:145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS Downlink: 435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS Mode Beacon (23 dbm (200mw)): Downlink:435.7900 MHz CW You can get XW-1 Telemetry Format at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/documents/XW-1_Telemetry_Format.p… Details of the XW-1 satellite are available at: http://www.camsat.cn/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid… [ANS thanks David Chen, BD5RV/4 and Alan Kung, BA1DU for the above information] /EX

1 0

XW-1 Keplerian data
by Alan Kung 15 Dec '09

15 Dec '09

XW-1 1 99999U 09349.11987269 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 00006 2 99999 100.4859 046.2958 0001760 147.4703 038.6343 13.15267150000017

1 0

Re: AO-51 Mode S reports
by Clare Fowler 14 Dec '09

14 Dec '09

Hi Drew Worked KB2M and WB8OTH on 21:30 utc pass however no downlink signal until it reached about 30 degrees elevation then sigs picked up to about S7 max which is 2 to 3 S units lower than before. Clare VE3NPC > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> > To: "Amsat-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; "AO51 Modes" <ao51-modes(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, December 14, 2009 5:36 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Mode S reports > > >> AO-51 is currently in Mode V/S on 145.88/2401.200. With our attitude >> inverted from normal, I'm interested in any S band reports. The L/S >> antenna should be pointed towards the ground now in the southern >> hemisphere, and away in the northern. The schedule indicates we would >> concurrently run the 9k6 telemetry downlink on 435.150. Due to low >> battery voltages and being near the bottom of the output power selection >> range, I shut off the 435.150 transmitter this morning at about 1025 UTC. >> >> Please send any reports on the Mode S signal to ko4ma(a)amsat.org. or >> ao51-modes(a)amsat.org. >> >> Thanks, Drew KO4MA >> AMSAT VP Operations >

1 0