November 2010 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: ARISSat-1 and FOX fundraising
by G0MRF＠aol.com 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

In a message dated 19/11/2010 18:55:28 GMT Standard Time, bbjunkie(a)f2s.com writes: I'm sure there are lots of factors which make ARISSat-1 viable that I am overlooking. Just wondering Pete MI3EPN Yup. Like Developing a team of satellite engineers who are motivated to work on other projects after ARISSat. Demonstarting to NASA that AMSAT builds hardware. - Building reputation. Providing an amateur / educational satellite with zero launch cost. (OK, but a fair amount of other expenses) Finding a platform to orbit and evaluate the first software defined transponder. etc etc. It's test and development as well as providing a valuable service. David G0MRF

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ARISSat-1 and FOX social media fundraising
by Andrew Glasbrenner 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Hi Everyone, I've set up a fundraiser on Facebook using Fundrazr and PayPal. If you have a Facebook or Twitter account, please visit http://bit.ly/c861N7 and use the share button to post to your own account. The $2000 dollar limit is far below what we need to raise, but is the max allowed by the program. I'm hoping I can create new ones as we exceed that amount. I hope to soon have a PayPal donation widget that you can include on your own webpages, or anything html. When I get that working I'll post back here. The idea is to solicit support from those outside the normal AMSAT membership and circles. Thanks for the support, and please help us pay for the costs incurred during ARISSat-1 construction, and get us off to a good start as we begin working on FOX! 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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Live streaming of the new satellites
by PA3GUO 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

We will try to stream as much as possible live the audio of the new set of satellites in the upcoming launch today. As a test, we will in the coming hours we will stream HO68 and other Cubesats. http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?page_id=17689 -- Henk, PA3GUO

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North America - ISS School Contact This Morning on 145.800
by JoAnne Maenpaa 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Hello Everyone, This is a quick heads up ... ISS School contact should be heard this morning in western 2/3 of USA beginning at approximately 16:43 UTC. Listen on 145.800 MHz FM for the contact with Holy Family Catholic School, Grand Junction, Colorado. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and W0YH. The ground track extends from San Francisco northeast toward Hudson Bay. -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service Copy Editor, AMSAT Journal

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Sats after dark
by Dominic Hawken 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Probably a dumb question and still new to this - apologies in advance. Am I right in thinking the amateur sats switch comms off when not in sight of the sun? Are there any that continue to run in darkness? Best, Dominic G6NQO

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Re: [sarex] Re: Re: ARISSat-1 and FOX social media fundraising
by Anthony Monteiro 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Hi Samudra, We haven't worked this out yet. 73, Tony AA2TX --- At 06:21 PM 11/18/2010, Samudra Haque wrote: >Can I ask how many solar panels will be unfurled from the 1U chassis >which has an internal dimension of approx. 87 x 87 mm? Will it be a >symmetric or assymetric arrangement? Will the antenna be embedded into >the extended solar panel? > >73 de N3RDX > >Samudra > >On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 4:48 PM, Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > Hi Trevor, > > > > The current plan is to use the same frequency for the FM downlink > > and the telemetry beacon. The IHU will have sufficient memory capacity to > > hold at least a days worth of data so the beacon would be turned on once > > a day for a telemetry dump and then back to transponder mode. > > > > And yes, we plan to use forward error correction on the beacon so > > that it will be bulletproof. It will likely be a different format > > than the one used on ARISSat-1 since we want a higher bit rate and Fox > > will be passive magnetic stabilized (like AO-51) so it will not suffer > > from tumble fading like ARISSat might and the interleave length does not > > need to be as long. > > > > Thanks for your interest! > > Tony AA2TX > > --- > > > > At 03:35 PM 11/18/2010, Trevor . wrote: > >>--- On Thu, 18/11/10, Andrew Glasbrenner > <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > >> > > >> > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/images/fck_images/2010_President_Annual_Repo… > >> > > >> > Slides 14 through 17 > >> > >>Hi Drew, > >> > >>Really glad to see that AMSAT-NA is going ahead with the FOX project. > >> > >> >From my point of view potentially the valuable part of FOX is the > >> deployable Solar Panels. > >> > >>This has never been done on a 1U CubeSat and should significantly > >>increase the power available. A space proven system to deploy panels > >>on a 1U sat will benefit not just AMSAT-NA for future projects but > >>the entire CubeSat community. > >> > >>Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the symposium so perhaps you > >>could clarify one of the slides for me. > >> > >>Slide 16 mentions both a U/V FM transpoder and a V telemetry beacon. > >>Is the telemetry beacon on a seperate frequency from the transponder > >>so both can run at the same time ? Also is the beacon using the > >>robust narrow band, high efficiently, BPSK system developed for ARISSat-1 ? > >> > >>I look forward to the launch of ARISSat-1 in the New Year with its > >>first ever space deployment of a SDX linear transponder, with that > >>and the Slow Scan TV, its sure to be very popular. > >> > >>73 Trevor M5AKA > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>_______________________________________________ > >>Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > >>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > >>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >

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Re: Kenpro 500 parts?
by G. Beat 19 Nov '10

19 Nov '10

Tony - Unless you have access to a local machine shop and machinist, your only source for these Japanese manufactured parts is Yaesu USA. SOME of the KR-500 parts may be identical (common) to the current production Yaesu G-550 elevation rotator. Yaesu purchased the Kenpro Company which originated these designs. The individual azimuth and elevation rotators were KR-400 and KR-500. Later came the KR-5400, the KR-5400-A/B and the KR-5600-A/B. [i]After the purchase, Yaesu eventually changed these prefix designations to "G" from the earlier "KR". DIY REPAIR SITES for the KenPro / Yaesu Rotators, Courtesy of the previous KenPro/Yaesu queries from QRZ and AMSAT-BB reflector (archives) Henk, PA3GUO (Netherlands) described the repair and cleaning of the KR400 and KR500 rotators (Photos). http://www.pa3guo.com/ KENPRO-YAESU ELEVATION ROTATOR MAINTENANCE This is a useful collection of articles compiled by longtime AMSAT member Ron Long W8GUS. Common faults of the KR-500 series elevation rotator and its derivatives are described. Instructions, hints and tips for disassembly, cleaning, and rebuild are included. ZIP File size 11.5K. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/kr_rot.zip W7KKE had a web page that demonstrated the rebuilding of his Yaesu G-5500 Az/Elev rotator, however that web page is now gone. : -( http://webpages.charter.net/k.swaggart/W7KKE/w7kke.html IF you need parts or desire to have the rotator repaired by Yaesu, you can contact the Yaesu service department in California that handles rotator repairs. Vertex Standard USA Attn: Amateur Repair 10900 Walker Street Cypress, CA 90630 For customer service, technical support or parts, please call: 714-827-7600 ==== K6VLF in Fresno, CA started a repair business for older KenPro / Yaesu rotors --- Contact him for details! * Phone: (559) 264-0772 * Email: k6vlf(a)comcast.net * Web: http://yaesurotorrepair.com Talino, IZ7ATH has photos (belt) of his repair http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/02_brew/13_rotor/english/pag07_eng.htm Full article http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/02_brew/13_rotor/english/pag02_eng.htm His web site http://www.qsl.net/iz7ath/web/home_eng.htm KenPro KR-500 manual http://www.w4rp.com/KR500/index.html http://www.g4dmf.co.uk/rotatorinfo/rotators.html Yaesu G-550 manual http://www.yaesu.com/downloadFile.cfm?FileID=968&FileCatID=155&FileName=G%2… Greg w9gb === Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:37:12 -0500 From: Tony, K2MO Subject: To: AMSAT-BB All, Can anyone tell me if the mounting hardware on the Yaesu G-550 is the same as the old Kenpro KR-500? Anyone other than Yaesu selling parts for these units? Thanks, Tony - K2MO

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DM45 on Tuesday 16 November - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

Hi! I'm getting caught up on my logbook, and wanted to thank everyone who worked WD9EWK on Tuesday while I was in northern Arizona. I had posted to the -BB that morning about my plans to operate from there, and logged 43 QSOs on 5 passes - 2 passes each on AO-27 and SO-50, plus an FO-29 pass in the late afternoon. A good day away from the office in the mountains. I was in Flagstaff to take in the high altitude training camp for the Collingwood Football Club, an Australian rules football club that has been coming to Arizona in November over the past few years (their season in the Australian Football League typically runs from March until the end of September or in early October). Their Arizona base of operations is Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Many other sports teams, along with some Olympic competitors, use the Flagstaff area for this sort of training. Flagstaff is at 7000 feet (2133m) above sea level, and there are mountains near the city up as high as 12000 feet (3658m) elevation. The Grand Canyon is just over an hour northwest of the city. Flagstaff is only 2 hours north of Phoenix, and a place I like to visit from time to time. I spent the morning in the NAU Skydome, a 16000-seat domed stadium on the campus, watching the club work out on the football field. Later in the morning, the club went to a weight room under the stands, and invited me to follow them down there. These guys traveled thousands of miles/km from Australia, and were happy to see a local fan up there. Seeing their kicking practice, I can see why several Australians are punters in the NFL. Even the Collingwood coach could kick the football far enough to be an NFL punter, and he's 57! I took lots of pictures and video, even getting autographs from several players and the coach. I've watched Australian football since the early 80s, and have been a fan of the Collingwood club for most of that time. It was very cool to be among one of those clubs not far from my home. (Note to self - a US ham doesn't need to file paperwork to operate ham radio in Australia anymore. Hmmm...) :-) After the club broke for lunch and other activities away from the Skydome, I went out to the parking lot to work both AO-27 and SO-50 just after 1300 local (2000 UTC). Fifteen QSOs were logged on the AO-27 pass, and 8 more on the subsequent SO-50 pass. I drove around Flagstaff, thinking about getting a bite to eat, but simply returning to the Skydome for the AO-27 and SO-50 passes starting at 2144 UTC. Six QSOs on AO-27, then 9 more on the SO-50 pass just after 2200 UTC. I had read the e-mail from JE9PEL about the successful reactivation of FO-29 earlier in the morning, and wanted to try working a pass up there before making the drive home. There was a pass starting around 2342 UTC. After getting a bite to eat after the FM passes, I was ready for FO-29. I logged 5 QSOs on that pass, and that wrapped up my satellite operating for the day. Of the stations I worked on Tuesday, I know that I've worked some of them from DM45 or the DM35/DM45 boundary at some point in the pass. I know for a few others that DM45 would be a new grid. As I tell others and sometimes mention in -BB posts, I can go back to a particular grid every few months and be a new grid for someone. I will print some QSL cards for the afternoon's QSOs, and be happy to mail out cards for anyone who worked me from there. Just drop me an e-mail with the QSO details, and you don't have to mail a QSL card or SASE to me. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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UK Space Agency to use AMSAT-UK FUNcube Boards
by Trevor . 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

The UK Space Agency is proposing to use the AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards as part of its innovative new CubeSat UKube-1 slated for launch in December 2011. The United Kingdom Space Agency website now includes some more details of the UKube-1, a 3U CubeSat (10 * 10 * 30cm) project. See http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/20084.aspx The baseline design for this satellite includes a set of FUNcube boards to provide the educational outreach for the project. AMSAT-UK are presently discussing the precise details of this arrangement with the UKube-1 project team. This development will enable a much higher level service to be provided for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) outreach to schools than would be possible with just a single spacecraft. An information pack is provided by the UK Space Agency is at http://www.ukspaceagency.bis.gov.uk/assets/ZIP/CubesatAOpayload.zip In it they reference two International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) documents regarding the Amateur Satellite Servivce: [AD-05] IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Request (IARU-ASFCR) (Rev. 2009-03) [AD-06] IARU Amateur Radio Satellite (IARU-ARS) guidelines (Rev. 2006-10) BBC report on UKube http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jonathanamos/2010/11/uk-takes-open-… FUNcube website http://www.FUNcube.org.uk/ FUNcube SDR Dongle http://www.FUNcubeDongle.com/ FUNcube Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FUNcube/ Getting started on Amateur Radio Satellites PDF http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/408/168/ AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information. Join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA

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ao51 L/S
by Bob- W7LRD 18 Nov '10

18 Nov '10

Thanks for putting AO51 in mode L/S. Had a qso with KC9ELU, didn't say much, however the fact we can say anything at all I find remarkable. The AO-40 (sobsob) gear still works!! 73 Bob W7LRD

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