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

NASA plans improved ‘Internet in space’ - references SDR's
by h05ram-k9ldw＠usa.net 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

NASA plans improved ‘Internet in space’ * By Sean Gallagher * Mar 09, 2009 NASA’s Deep Space Network is on the way toward becoming a true Internet in space, thanks to the agency’s research and investment in software-defined radios (SDRs). Also, the agency is preparing an SDR test module for the International Space Station that will be capable of connecting the station with an uplink of 100 megabits per second. Pat Elben, the chairman of NASA’s software defined radio architecture and technology team (SAT) at NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation directorate, told attendees at the IDGA’s Software Radio Summit that the agency is setting up a new test platform. The platform, named the Communication Navigation and Networking Reconfigurable Testbed (CoNNeCT) will help NASA test waveforms based on the agency's Space Telecommunications Radio System (STRS), NASA's own standard for space-rated software-defined radio systems. CoNNeCT will be added to the International Space Station in 2011, and demonstrate communications between the space station and the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite constellation that makes up the backbone of NASA’s network with three radio systems -- the Electra radio that flew aboard MRO, the General Dynamics Starlight radio, and the Orion radio -- the system being designed for NASA's follow-on to the space shuttle. NASA developed its own standard because of the demanding requirements of space, where reprogramming a radio often has to be done remotely while the radio is on a spacecraft traveling through the solar system. That was the case, Elben said, when the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) was launched. Technicians discovered the Electra radio aboard MRO, a software-defined radio that was to act as the communications link to the two Mars rovers on the surface, was getting interfered with by something else on the spacecraft just before launch. NASA was able to launch the MRO and create a software patch and upload it to the Electra radios aboard it while the spacecraft was en route to Mars, he said. Some observers have expressed concerns that suppliers might be reluctant to write software to yet another SDR architecture — the Defense Department’s Joint Tactical Radio System uses the Software Communications Architecture, which has been adopted by the Software Defined Radio Forum along with its own SW Radio standard. Elben said NASA plans on buying more than 1,000 STRS-based radios between now and 2025, but the price of these radios — between $1 million and $5 million — makes STRS radios a potentially $1 billion market for radio developers. Although NASA has deployed software-defined radios for years, starting with the “Blackjack” global positioning system receiver on spacecraft in 2000, STRS will be part of the basis of an ambitious revamp of the agency’s Deep Space Network. The re-engineering will be based on SDRs and on high-bandwidth optical links, Elben said. It will also entail the use of software-defined systems and a move to less-expensive arrays of dish antennas instead of the old larger dishes. The new approaches are expected to make the network more automated and less expensive. In the 1960s when NASA first created what became its Deep Space Network, “there was no grand vision,” Elben said. “NASA’s goal for 2024 is a highly integrated, IP-based disruption resistant network.” Last November, NASA successfully tested Disruption Tolerant Networking (DTN), an Internet Protocol-based network using store-and-forward technology to ensure that packets of data would not be lost when being passed through the Deep Space Network. The agency will begin testing DTN aboard the International Space Station this summer. Source: http://gcn.com/articles/2009/03/09/nasa-software-radios.aspx?s=gcndaily_160… ###

1 0

AMSAT-DC Meeting?
by Doug Kuitula 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Hi all, Has any date been set for the AMSAT-DC meeting this spring? I did not see anything on their web site. 73 de Doug KA8QCU

2 1

Orbiting Debris - Again
by Rich Dailey 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Looks like the ISS will have to duck and cover again. I try hard to maintain optimism, but I see this problem only getting much worse in the future. Solutions? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_on_sc/space_shuttle_28 Rich, N8UX

1 0

Re: QSL Etiquette
by Luc Leblanc 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Satellite does not lie (Human does) Something came up to my mind. i received a QSL card for a satellite QSO one year prior to the date i get the card. And for an unexplainable reason this QSO was not in my log. We have another tool available to check if with the time reported on the card this satellite was at least in view at that time. Just set back your pc clock around the past date and play with you program to see if it's matching a co- visibility foot print. It was not but when i try local to UTC time switch it does. This fellow discharge himself from his burden of proof and he got my card but not before he sends me a corrected one. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

2 2

Hello South Carolina
by Glenn AA5PK 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

I'm down to a one state needed for WAS Satellite endorsement. Is there no one operating from South Carolina? 73 de Glenn AA5PK AMSAT #6694

1 0

kenwood d7a KISS mode + manuals
by Robert Coppock 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

HI ,,,, ,, i did some checking, looking for the KISS mode info from the "specialized communications manual" i could not find one for the d7a, but the manual for the d700e shows this info. i also ran into a document that stated it only works on the d700e, not the d700a, i am not sure about the d7a i need to unbox my HP LX200 to even attempt to try and test it out, maybe i will have time soon. anyway, here is a good link for kenmore(hihi) radio manuals. http://www.kenwood-service.com/e_imdl/com.html happy saint patty day, go eat some green eggs and HAM, 73, Robert k f 0 g cm97 dublin, ca

1 0

Remote control of the IC-910H
by Werner H. Berli 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hi Has anyone on this list remote controlled the IC-910H? What is the best software to control the IC-910H via its CAT interface? 73 de Werner, HB9US

5 6

Upper Mid West Hamfests
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Is anyone going to Fargo or Sioux City this year? I noticed they are on the same day, April 18th. 73, Joe kk0sd

1 0

Re: North Korean Launch
by Luc Leblanc 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

On 15 Mar 2009 at 7:51, Gary "Joe" Mayfield wrote: The last satellite (if it would have > reached orbit) was supposed to broadcast on 27 MHz. > > > > 73, > > Joe kk0sd Wow my son will put his CB stuff back in his car... "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

1 0

North Korean Launch
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

I know there isn't much information that comes out of North Korea, but several short wave news sources are reporting another attempted satellite launch between April 4th and 8th. The last satellite (if it would have reached orbit) was supposed to broadcast on 27 MHz. Has anyone heard anything else? 73, Joe kk0sd

1 0

2M1EUB/P QRV SCOTLAND reminder
by paul robinson 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hi group ill be qrv all SATS from N.E.Scotland ,from 21.March.09 for one week .check out qrz.com under 2M1EUB listing for more info.should be qrv 160m and 80m as well. de paul 2E1EUB

1 0

Re: PREDICT for DOS configuration question
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

WA4SCA said : > , so now to figure out the scheduling. As I recall (without looking) the InstantTrack method, something like 000B045S090B270 would indicate mode B from 000 to 045, mode S from 045 to 090, back to B, etc for an orbital schedule, but as Greg says we don't have any of those. Maybe a test of something like that would at least show if the format was similar for Predict. I can't think of what else it might be useful for. I don't think we have any that would use a weekly schedule either, but I understand the general query to find the formats ... With source code in hand (on screen), I'm sure someone (with more time on their hands than me) could figure out what it was looking for, and how it was formatted. .. Or someone might show up and just tell us. Good luck Alan... /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net -> <- http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg * My 'Day Job' ->

3 3

WD9EWK @ Scottsdale AZ hamfest - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hi! The 2009 Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club's "Springfest" hamfest was this (Saturday) morning, and AMSAT was present once again. The hamfest, held at Scottsdale Community College in Scottsdale AZ (technically, on the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community reservation east of the Scottsdale city limits), is usually the largest and best-attended of the various Phoenix- area hamfests in the hamfest "season" here - any time other than summer. A good location at the end of one row in the college's parking lot, and a great turnout, made for a successful morning. I set up an AMSAT table at 0500 local (1200 UTC), and was able to get on an AO-51 pass at 1245 UTC. Thanks to the 14 stations from Maine down the eastern half of the USA and HI8LAM in the Dominican Republic for QSOs during that early (for me) pass. Later, I worked the next AO-51 pass around 1424 UTC, logging 14 more QSOs. Stations from British Columbia down through the USA (thanks K8YSE, for being the station furthest east on that pass!) and into Mexico were worked. I was on the FO-29 pass around 1525 UTC, hearing stations clearly on the downlink around the area I hoped to be on, but could not hear myself through the satellite. I don't know if it was a case of the satellite's uplink antenna(s) pointing away from me or if I need to take a closer look at my setup. In any event, I had a crowd for that pass, so we listened as I fielded questions about this satellite and SSB satellite operating. Around 1710-1730 UTC, I had 3 passes to choose from - FO-29, SO-50, and VO-52. All were good passes, but I went with VO-52 so I could work stations on an SSB satellite for one of my demonstrations. Thanks Mark WA8SME and Glenn AA5PK for showing up and chatting for a couple of minutes. If anyone who worked WD9EWK during these passes wants to get a QSL card for those contacts, please e-mail me directly. I'll be happy to drop a card in the mail for you. Some of the contacts will have QSL cards dropped in the mail with SASE, since they were new grids and/or states/countries worked via satellite. :-) I did not work alone this morning. Gerry VE4GTB/KD7MDB, who is from Winnipeg but spends winters in the Phoenix area, once again showed up at the hamfest. As always, many thanks for helping the AMSAT efforts at yet another Phoenix-area hamfest in your retirement days. :-) Larry W7LB came up from Tucson, and Ray W1OTH was down from Prescott, spending time at the table and also walking around the hamfest. Ray acted as my "antenna rotator" for the VO-52 pass, which went almost directly over the hamfest. All of us chatted with whoever happened to stop by the table, answering questions throughout the morning. Thanks for all the help! The Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club has been very accomodating to AMSAT for the times I've been part of the AMSAT efforts. This is the 3rd year I have been with an AMSAT table at this hamfest. Thanks to Ed WU7S, the primary contact for the club's hamfest organizing committee, and the club for the space at the hamfest. And many thanks to the stations making 30 QSOs with WD9EWK during the morning. Until the next demonstration... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

help on antenna project
by VE6ITV 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hi, i have a little fm radio station and use a 1/4 wave with radials, i would like to know the dimensions to make a 5/8 wave with radials, any help appreciated. VE6ITV Scott

3 2

AO-7 RTTY TLM Beacon
by Nader Omer 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hi AO-7 RTTY TLM Beacon 06 March 2009 16:37 - 17:00 UTC Orbit #56.987 The downlink frequency is 435.105 + - doppler Parameters 45 BAUD, 85 SHIFT. -00366-01899-02609-03895-04875-05054-06891-07620-00000-09913 -10000-11769-12336-13710-14603-15937-16424-17397-10000-19147 -20484-21899-22596-23903-24719-25021-26883-27600-20000-29909 -30000-31000-32000-33499-34000-35233-36229-37217-30000-39253 -40501-41912-42640-43882-44883-45060-46917-47562-40000-49921 -50000-51765-52323-53009-54000-55000-56000-57000-50000-59848 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00366-01915-02698-03786-04874-05038-06909-07714-00000-09913 -10000-11769-12337-13709-14603-15937-16432-17401-10000-19134 -20483-21909-22715-23764-24873-25021-26883-27727-20000-29908 -30000-31000-32000-33490-34000-35233-36231-37226-30000-39254 -40501-41914-42776-43743-44879-45016-46918-47674-40000-49918 -50000-51762-52323-53009-54000-55000-56000-57000-50000-59851 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00366-01916-02791-03649-04874-05017-06909-07801-00000-09912 -10000-11768-12336-13711-14603-15937-16425-17398-10000-19125 -20484-21911-22819-23655-24874-25017-26888-27824-20000-29902 -30000-31006-32000-33483-34000-35234-36239-37243-30000-39256 -40501-41915-42829-43640-44876-45017-46923-47827-40000-49918 -50000-51748-52265-53009-54000-55000-56000-57000-50000-59849 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047-00650-02047 -00366-01913-02844-03539-04829-05017-06909-07801-00000-09912 -10000-11660-12230-13641-14603-15934-16400-17394-10000-19147 -20484-21913-22901-23576-24803-25029-26887-27883-20000-29805 -30000-31103-32000-33495-34000-$5235-36249-37261-30000-39256 -40501-41915-42907-43619-44747-45023-46921-47913-40000-49799 73's Nader , st2nh www.st2nh.com

2 1

ANS-074 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-074 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: * AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention 2009 * Air Force Approves AMSAT Keplerian Element Distribution * Mario Acuña, LU9HBG Silent Key * AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop April 25 * Satellite Shorts From All Over * UT1FG/MM Wet Grid Square via Satellite Expedition * ARISS Status Report for the Week of March 9, 2009 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.01 AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention 2009 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.01 AMSAT Board Member, Gould Smith, WA4SXM tells of AMSAT's plans at the 2009 Dayton Hamvention will be held this year on 15 - 17 May 2009. Gould says, "This is the 58th year of the Dayton Hamvention, sponsored by DARA (Dayton Amateur Radio Association). As has been the case for the many years Hamvention will be at the Hara Arena Complex on the north side of Dayton. Further information on Hamvention 2009, includ- ing advance ticket sales and motel accommodations, can be found at http://www.hamvention.org." See http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2009/Dayton.php for all of the details of AMSAT at Dayton 2009. AMSAT will occupy the same booths (444-449) in Ball Arena, right across from the ARRL area and just inside the door from the Satellite Demon- stration area. Make your reservations early for all AMSAT activities! AMSAT has a number of great activities planned during Hamvention. There will be a number of new offerings at the AMSAT booth. 2009 is the 40th Anniversary of AMSAT and we will have many pieces of memorabilia on display highlighting 40 years of amateur radio in space. SuitSat-2 has been making a great deal of progress this past year. We will have on display all of the modules that will go into the Orlan space suit later this year, and we will be able to demonstrate most of them. Space Traveler Richard Garriott, W5KWQ will be the speaker at the annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet. He will also give a short talk during the Saturday AMSAT Forum and spend some time at the AMSAT booth. Reserva- tions for the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet are now available through the AMSAT Store. See: http://www.amsat-na.com/store/item.php?id=100158 AMSAT has a limited block of rooms reserved at the Hampton Inn in Fairborn, OH. Please contact Martha at the AMSAT office (301-589-6062) or by e-mail at martha(a)amsat.org for room price and availability during the Hamvention. Priority for rooms will be given to AMSAT members vol- unteering to work in the AMSAT booth for multiple 2 hour shifts during the Hamvention. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.02 Air Force Approves AMSAT Keplerian Element Distribution AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.02 Keeper of the AMSAT Keps, Ray Hoad, WA5QGD is pleased to announce that AMSAT NA has recieved approval to continue re-distribution of Keplerian elements from the Air Force Space Command data source (Space Track website) for the period April 1, 2009 to April 1, 2010. Thanks to the AFSPC team and especially to Mr. Mark Riddle for their help in this process. Ray said, "This means that the AMSAT Keplerian Elements in verbose format and the 2-line format can be freely distributed by those who recieve them from AMSAT. AMSAT's two formats are each considered an AMSAT product and therefore can be freely distributed. AMSAT asks that AMSAT NA be given credit as the source for your redistribution." [ANS thanks Ray, WA5QGD for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.03 Mario Acuña, LU9HBG Silent Key AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.03 AMSAT Board Member, Tom Clark, K3IO told AMSAT this week, "It is with great sadness that I learned today of the passing of a long- term friend of AMSAT, Mario Acuña, LU9HBG." Mario was a very senior scientist/engineer at NASA Goddard where he made his name by providing magnetometers for nearly every deep-space and planetary mission since the 1970's. Tom recalled, "When a young Martin Sweeting wanted to fly magnetometers for navigation on the earliest UoSAT's, Mario was the 'go to' guy that put Martin on the right track. Since magnetometers are biased by metal and electrical currents in a spacecraft, Mario arranged for testing of the early UoSATs." Tom also recalled Mario's assistance with the Phase-3 program, "When Jan King, Karl Meinzer, and I were trying to minimize radiation damage in critical Phase-3 components (like the IHU and CMOS logic), Mario was our mentor in helping to figure out the best way to minimize damage and teaching us how to apply tantalum to the top and bottom of ICs." [ANS thanks Tom, K3IO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.04 AMSAT-DC Spring Workshop April 25 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.04 AMSAT-DC Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, N8PK reports on plans for the AMSAT-DC Workshop to be held on Saturday, April 25, at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. A small "simulated satellite" kit will be built, tested and operated by individuals attending. The completed kit, soon to be widely known as a PICetSat II module, is a simple remote sensing unit that serves as an expendable high-altitude small balloon payload. It transmits downlink telemetry on the 70 cm Amateur Radio band. Other attendees will provide and configure radios, computers and software needed to receive, decode and analyze the PICetSat II telemetry. Pat says, "The format of this year's workshop is an experiment unto itself for the few AMSAT-DC subgroup of members who are attempting to organize such an event for the first time." He adds, "This workshop may prove to be a fine training opportunity for one to learn the basics of the design, construction, testing, calibrating and operating an earth-orbiting satellite. All of this in one long Saturday of fun!" The planning sessions are being held each Thursday evening via a toll-free telephone conference. If you wish to help organize or execute the workshop then contact Pat by e-mail for the details of connecting with the group on the telecon at Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov as soon as possible. The cost of each kit will be determined soon, along with the admission structure. For example, being evaluated is $90 for a kit plus AMSAT membership if one doesn't already have it. The details of the registration process, workshop procedures and the associated costs are to follow in a later bulletin and on the AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DC web pages. [ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.05 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.05 + The Desecheo Island K5D DXpedition team made its first satellite contact on Friday, February 20th with Andrew Glassbrenner, KO4MA, in New Port Richey, Florida. That QSO was conducted at 20:14 UTC through the SO-50 ham radio bird. + Paul 2E1EUB will be active on all satellites from N.E.Scotland for the week starting March 21, 2009. Check out qrz.com under 2M1EUB listing for more information. + Graham, G3VZV, has onboard the ship MV Minerva since March 7 which is visiting the islands off lying Antarctica. The schedule included visits to South Georgia (VP8) on March 12 &13th and Tristan da Cunha (ZD9) on March 18 & 19th before arriving in Cape Town on March 24th. Activity is planned via SO50, AO51 and the ISS (if available) from the ship and, if licences can be obtained, from the islands. He will be taking FM handhelds and an Arrow antenna and hopes to have some internet access which can be used to arrange skeds if asked. Contact info is: graham_at_shirville.com + Adrian, AA5UK, will be operating as ZF2AE from Grand Cayman and as ZF2AE/ZF8 from Little Cayman during his March 25th - April 8th vacation on AO-51, SO-50 and FO-29. + QSLs for the W5ACM/C6A/MM Western Caribbean Cruise 2009 started shipping on March 2, 2009. Operators/participants for this event included W5ACM, WB5RMA, WA5TWT and WA5WOD. + Go to http://tinyurl.com/c8jjzx for more information on how you can submit your suggestion to help NASA name the next ISS Module. (UniverseToday.com) + Mark, N8MH plans to host an AMSAT table at RARSFest in Raleigh, NC on Saturday, April 11, 2009. He is recruiting help to staff the table and to answer questions. Please contact Mike directly at: N8MH at AMSAT dot ORG if you can help. Details for RARSFest can be found at: http://www.rars.org/hamfest/ [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.06 UT1FG/MM Wet Grid Square via Satellite Expedition AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.06 Captain Yuri of the MV Bluebill announced he will be operating as UT1FG/MM from his ship April through June, 2009. His sea voyage will take him from Northern Europe, across the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico up to the Mississippi River, then southward toward Mexico and Central America. Yuri says his current plans are to operate on AO-27, AO-51, SO-50, VO-52, FO-29, and AO-7. Over the past two years he already has logged many North American stations from his ship operations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. QSL via home call UT1FG. [ANS thanks Yuri, UT1FG for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.07 ARISS Status Report for the Week of March 9, 2009 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 074.07 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 15, 2009 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-074.07 1. School Contacts An ARISS contact was held with the Da Vinci Science Center in Allen- town, Pennsylvania on Saturday, March 14 via telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Students submitted questions to ask the ISS crew through the Center's Teacher Leader Institute. Eighteen students with the best questions were selected to speak with the astronaut and all students were invited to attend this educational activity. Parkside Community College in Parkside, Cambridge, U.K. has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Monday, March 30 at 16:54 UTC. Station GB4FUN will handle the connection. The Girls' Middle School (GMS) in Mountain View, California has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Monday, March 30 at 18:16 UTC via telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland. The contact is planned with spaceflight participant Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP/HA5SIK. GMS is a small, independent school for girls in 6th - 8th grade. The school's mission is to nurture and empower girls during this pivotal time in their lives. It looks for non-traditional educational opportunities to help girls expand their horizons. An ARISS contact has been scheduled for Marcelino Canino Canino Middle School in Dorado, Puerto Rico. The contact will take place on Tuesday, March 31 at 15:29 UTC. A Microsatellite Student Program has been implemented where students design, construct, build and launch microsatellites which are then tracked and recovered with the help of amateur radio operators. Milwee Middle School in Longwood, Florida has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Wednesday, April 1 at 17:48 UTC via telebridge station ON4ISS in Belgium. Carl Sandburg Elementary School in the Lake Washington School District, Kirkland, Washington has been approved for an ARISS contact. The con- tact is slated for Thursday, April 2 at 19:28 UTC, assisted by tele- bridge station W6SRJ in California. 2. Padthaway Contact Successful On Tuesday, March 3, students from Padthaway Primary School in Padthaway, Australia participated in an ARISS contact. Telebridge station W6SRJ in California facilitated the connection, allowing fifteen students to ask the astronaut 20 questions. One hundred guests, including the mayor and his wife, attended the event and enjoyed a PowerPoint presentation and a showing of Mike Fincke's Expedition 9 video tour of the ISS. Media outlets were present and the audio was fed to local radio stations. The audio was also fed into the EchoLink AMSAT and JK1ZRW servers with 6 connections made from stations in Australia, England, Italy and the U.S. 3. NASA Teaching From Space Site - Now Available The NASA Teaching From Space (TFS) Web site is now on-line. A new ARISS section is also available. For the TFS site, see: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/home/index.html http://tinyurl.com/au7wr8 To view the ARISS site directly, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/teachingfromspace/home/ariss.html http://tinyurl.com/bpy9bp 4. Astronaut Training Status Three successful simulated ARISS contacts took place on Wednesday, March 4. The simulations were held between the following participants: Technopolis, Belgium and Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS Ralph McCall School, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada and Chris Hadfield, VA3OOG Ralph McCall School, Airdrie, Alberta, Canada and Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH These training sessions were terrestrial-based amateur radio contacts using ARISS-equivalent equipment. Audio was available on IRLP. 5. Amateur Radio Newsline Posts Article on Simonyi On March 6, Amateur Radio Newsline (Report #1647) ran a story on Charles Simonyi's upcoming mission. "Ham Radio in Space: Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP Heads Back to the ISS," may be viewed here: http://www.arnewsline.org/ [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI 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. With that please keep in mind you know you are aging when you wake up looking like your driver's license picture. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

1 0

Happy Birthday KE5AIT
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Today I sent a Birthday Card to Mike Fincke KE5AIT, via : http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/birthday/index.html - You can too ... ISS is back on APRS, 145.825 FM of course. Not many stations on tonite : http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/ariss/index.cgi Interesting stuff on the ISS home page : http://www.nasa.gov/station Here is an audio recording, as the crew learned of the potential conjunction : http://www.nasa.gov/mp3/318202main_tca_highlights_clip3.mp3 I saw a link to a video they have made, showing some circuit board repair experiments, but I haven't watched it yet. Hummm, never thought about soldering without gravity. I'd be happy to try it if they need someone to go . . . /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net -> <- http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg * My 'Day Job' ->

3 3

ISS repeater is active in U/V mode.
by Cor 15 Mar '09

15 Mar '09

Hello All, ISS repeater is active in the U/V crossband mode. TX Uplink: 437.800 (adjust freq. because doppler effect). RX Downlink: 145.800 A good chance US astronaut Mike Fincke (NA1SS) is listening this weekend. Wish him "happy birthday" via the U/V repeater mode (he might reply to you!). Somethimes crew stay up late in the weekend. 73's Cor PD0RKC Ham Radio In Space: http://iss.ontwikkel.nl

1 0

Looking for Suggestions
by Johnny Miller 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

I'm looking for opinions on my first satellite rig. What seems to be the norm that everyone is using? I'm looking of a base rig. Thanks Johnny Miller millerj - @ - cinci.rr.com N8RTW Xbox Live Gamer Tag:wcso845 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Lets cure cancer together visit: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3 3

TH-F6A vs VX7R
by David J 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

I have a friend, Joe KJ4JIO, who is looking for his first HT to use for FM satellites. He is looking at the Kenwood TH-F6A and the Yaesu VX7R. Would anyone who has used these care to share some comments on them that I can share with him? I'm sure he would welcome comments about any other rigs you are fond of. Dave, AA4KN

7 9

PREDICT for DOS configuration question
by Alan P. Biddle 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

I have been looking at PREDICT for DOS, and have a question about configuring individual satellites. A typical entry looks like this: AO-16 07530 No alat/alon Mode VU Transponder 145.850, 145.950 29.500, 29.400 No weekly schedule No orbital schedule end That seems to imply that you can enter schedules, but none of the examples provided provide any format information. Can someone confirm this, and if so, give me a pointer to documentation, or even an example with weekly and orbital schedule shown? Also, if you have an alat/alon, do you just enter the numbers such as 0/0, or does it require something else on the line? TNX, Alan ----------------------------------- Who is John Galt?

3 3

QSL Etiquette
by Ian 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

I was wondering what others may be doing when they receive an "questionnable" request for a QSL. Last week while on vacation in Orlando I attempted to make some AO51 contacts with a handheld station. Althought I was receiving many stations, I was unsuccesful in establishing a contact and never heard anyone call me back. I must have been getting out though as I have received an eQSL request from a South American station. Is it normal practice to ignore the request or to reply with refusal to QSL. If it were a mistaken callsign situation I would reply with a "sorry" but in the case of a bogus request I was wondering what others may be doing. Next time I will use a better antenna hi hi. Thanks & 73 Ian VE9IM

9 9

DK3WN SatBlog
by Nader Omer 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

Hi all I really want to thank MIKE RUPPRECHT DK3WN for his wounderful SatBlog . http://www.dk3wn.info/p/ Every day I learn something new from your blog Mike. 73's Nader , st2nh

1 0

QSL Etiquette
by John W Lee 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

Guys, As a little background, I have been a ham for over 50 years and QSL'ing has been a big part of my activities since they are required for awards. And I just plain like QSL cards! I respond to every card that comes to me. There are so many messages from people who say they don't have time to QSL, etc. When I was a QSL manager (see below) I was working full-time, had a 2 hour each way commute, was married with 2 kids to raise. I was one of the QSL managers for the YASME DXpeditions of the 1970's. W6KG and W6QL went to many countries during that period and made between 8000 and 10,000 QSO's at each place. The logs were all hand-written and in 3 ring binders for each location. QSL cards would come in the mail in big bundles with rubber bands around them daily, and the bureau cards would come in cardboard boxes of maybe 25-30 pounds via UPS! I found LOTS of people who were NOT in the log! And I really tried to help them by looking at different days, different times because they put the wrong time/date on them, etc. And I was able to find a lot of them that way. Some people have not yet learned to use UTC time/date. This is a must. If I couldn't find them anywhere in the log, I'd just write "Sorry, not in the log" on their card and send it back. That way they would know that their card made it to the manager and didn't get lost in the mail. Of course good logging is a must also. I have every logbook from day one of my ham career. They are archived in boxes but I can pull one out and check for something if I need to. And I have received cards 10 years or more after the QSO. I keep about 5 year's logs handy, as well as having a log in the computer which I back up at least monthly. If you work somebody and you don't get the call or don't think you have it correct, by all means ask the person to give it again (slowly or in phonetics, whatever it takes)! A legal QSO should contain the time and date, other station's callsign and some other bit of information such as a signal report, grid locator, name, QTH, etc. What did we do before E-mail? We copied everything down correctly ! We did not write to somebody asking for their callsign or wondering if we made a QSO. Regarding E-QSL and LOTW, with E-QSL, if the QSO information matches, you get a confirmation. You can "fudge" and confirm a contact that is not in the log. This is not good. With LOTW you can't. If the information does not match. If you are new to QSL'ing or new to ham radio, I hope this helps you. 73, John K6YK then there is no confirmation. That's the way it should be. ____________________________________________________________ Free information on Digital Photography. Click Now! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmQzkOdsfjz315gMfwcMZqY…

1 0

iss packet
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 13 Mar '09

13 Mar '09

hi folks, looks like she is on. I even got myself on the map, neat. 73 all, come on up kc8gkf 145.825 1200 baud

1 0