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

satellite demo & presentation, Thursday evening (19 March)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

Hi! I will be giving a satellite-related presentation for the ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club in Glendale, Arizona, on Thursday, 19 March 2009. The meeting is in the Snell Building on the campus of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, room 28. The campus is on the southeast corner of 59th Avenue and Greenway Road - grid DM33vo. The meeting starts at 7.00pm (0200 UTC), and my presentation will be after the first half of the meeting - approximately 8.00pm. Before the meeting, I will have a demonstration on AO-51. The satellite will be in range between 6.33 and 6.47pm (0133-0147 UTC), a high pass to my west. I will be on the 145.920/435.150 MHz repeater, to allow anyone watching my demonstration listen in with a 2m/70cm FM transceiver. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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old satellites
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

Hello I believe this subject has been kicked around on this BB before. It did generate some creative thinking. Given all the satellites up there and all the varied uses of them, eventually some of them get compromised for whatever reason. Is there any way any of these old relics can be reprogramed, used or otherwise "adjusted" to suit us? We don't need a real good S/N ratio to make us happy, and we are pretty good at cobbling together whatever we want. We have some very informed and smart people on this BB who know. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Tranzit-B telemetry system on ISS
by andy thomas 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

I've just come across the following interesting references on space ref to what seems to be a VHF telemetry channel (bio/medical monitoring?) "...including VHF/voice & biomedical electrode belt and *telemetry hookups via the BSS (later by the wireless in-suit Tranzit-B radio telemetry system) for vital signs and equipment monitoring". http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=30763 and: " [The suited run requires wireless Tranzit-B suit radio telemetry on both semisets (activated: 2:56am) and temporary deactivation of the Russian VHF channel 1 (Very High Frequency, Russian: UKV1, for ultra-shortwave) to avoid interference from extraneous radio stations to the Orlans while over Russian ground stations (RGS, DO 3/4). All EVA preps were monitored by the ground via audio, the reason for the early morning time of the training run. Tranzit-B TM was turned off at ~3:10am EST.]" http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/iss_reports/reports2008/12-19-2008.htm My questions are: what is the TRANZIT-B TM system, how close is it to the 2m channels, what is the TLM data modulation and breakdown? 73 de andy G0SFJ

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Re: old satellites
by Daniel Schultz 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

David, KG4ZLB asked: >I was reading about the newly launched GOCE satellite and the fact that >its mission will end when its 40kg tank empties - that of course may be >a long time coming but as it has an S band transmitter, could this not >be tweaked for us once the mission is complete? Given the low altitude orbit for this gravity mapping mission, I suspect that the satellite will quickly reenter when the Xenon supply is used up. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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"Mobile" Operation
by Kent Frazier 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

I've heard conflicting things, so I'd like to see what the consensus is here. Since my rig is mounted in my car, I've been told I should say "mobile" when ever I attempt a QSO. Some of the reasoning is that others will understand my "limitations" and try to work me. On occasion, this seems to have been the case. Others have told me that I should only use "mobile" when the vehicle is actually in motion. What say you all? 73, Kent K5KNT AMSAT #36765 ARRL

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ISS and Shuttle visible over Europe today
by Simone T 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

Hi everybody, we had a nice visible pass of Space Shuttle Discovery pursuiting ISS over south France (Antibes, JN33) at 8pm local time on March 17th. 73 de IW1FYV - Simone

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Defective W32A 4 Sale
by Sebastian 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

This is a long story, I'll try not to get into too much detail, and please any responses send them directly to me. I have an Icom W32A (dual band full-duplex HT) package for sale. It includes a wall charger; an off brand Master Charger 1a (drop in charger); BP-173 9.6v 650mAh battery; 9.6v 1100 mAh W&W battery; Icom antenna and original manual. I bought this recently at the Orlando hamfest, and it seemed to be working fine. It was a package deal, so I sold this to another ham who found the radio had problems when it was received. The other ham opened up the radio, and found a ribbon cable which goes from one part of the radio to the other, was loose, and missing a small plastic connector which holds it in place. When the ribbon cable was moved to the right place, the radio worked perfectly. The other ham broke the cable, and then tried to 'fix it' and the radio no longer turns on. I don't want to deal with this anymore, and would prefer to sell it as- is NOT WORKING. I'll sell the entire package only for $110 shipped. This is good for parts, or perhaps you can repair it. Again, please respond off the list. 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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The Goce Satellite Ion Engine
by Bill Ress 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

Following up on David's (G0MRF) post about the ion engine, the ESA Goce satellite mission, due to launch next week, uses a nifty ion engine which you can see at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7935621.stm I believe these engines will soon become "practical" for use in satellite orbital modification. David presented a fine paper at the 2008 AMSAT Symposium in Atlanta showing how it would be possible to launch (relatively inexpensively) to LEO and then over time, using small thrust engines, modify the orbit to MEO. He also shows how the MEO orbit could provide a significant portion of a HEO's orbit visibility time. Possibly a reduced cost way to achieve extended satellite visibility at a price tag much less than the $8 to $10 million dollar GTO launch cost. If any of our members/readers have leads/contacts with folks doing ion engine development work that might be looking for a satellite test vehicle, please contact me off list. Regards...Bill - N6GHz`

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grid squares
by Michael Heim 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

I'm not sure how active FN01 is regarding satellite work, but I will be spending a week in that grid next week for work. If anyone needs FN01, I can be very easily convinced to take an HT and antenna with me. I do not believe I have the grid worked myself, so it might be rare on the birds. Let me know if you need it, and I'll do something to get on from Oil City, PA. Michael Heim ARS KD0AR

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Re: old satellites
by Wayne Estes 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

There is no reason to stabilize a satellite after it is boosted to the graveyard orbit. The satellite might have power and be easy to track, but the antennas won't point towards earth very often. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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