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… ###

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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

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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

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Re: QSL Etiquette
by Luc Leblanc 15 Mar '09

15 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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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