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

Visitor Satisfaction Survey
by Clint Bradford 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

I set up a quick "satisfaction survey" earlier this month for visitors to my "How to Work the FM Sats with your Handheld Radio" Web site. I wanted to make sure I was on the right track for what I am trying to accomplish with the site: Provide all the info needed to get on the FM birds painlessly - as a "reference" site for my talks. The responses have been marvelous. I think it is important to keep in touch on all levels with one's audience. To try to elicit as much as I could from visitors, I made sure that the entries were all anonymous. Here's a summary of what I have been told ... - Clint, you fail to cite Orbitron for satellite tracking software ... Orbitron is a Windows app, which I have personally not run. I wasn't impressed with the fact that it has not been updated since September of 2005. But if it is working and accurate for people, that's great. - Clint, you fail to cite SatScape for sat tracking software ... I did try out SatScape. It is a Java app, so it should run on most any Windows PC, Apple, or Linux machine. It took me longer to set it up than, say, Nova for Windows. But it appears to be a supported, solid application. On my MacBook Pro, it makes me close and re-open to accomplish some basic ops. But it is showing current location of my chosen sats correctly. - Clint, SatelliteTracker Plus is a less-expensive app for the iPhone and iPod touch ... It is, indeed. I am just a fan of PocketSat. And you are correct: Of the 102 apps that I have paid for for my iPod touch, PocketSat3 was the most expensive, at $24.95. Maybe it's because I have "grown up" with PocketSat+ for the Palm, and it is "comfortable" to use for me. It certainly is more "pleasant" to look at, with its great graphics of the Earth and sat passes. SatelliteTracker Plus by Susan Mackay looks like a solid app. - Dude, where's the 'Droid apps? Android is a platform that I have NO machines to test. But a participant recommends ... HamSatDroid - http://sites.google.com/site/hamsatdroid/ - I'd like to see projects like easy to build elevation rotors ... Beyond the scope of what I am trying to accomplish with THIS Web site! I want to get fellow hams on the air with the easy-to-work sats, using equipment they probably already own. THEN they can graduate to sats that require elevation rotators. - ... mention the use of a GPS for location Lat/long for tracking programs and Maidenhead for the report ... I am using Maidenhead on my iPod touch. Although my "target audience" for this site is mostly hams at home (and we SHOULD all know our home grid squares, right???), if one travels out of their immediate area, quickly obtaining grid square info is important. I mention this in my presentations (" ... If you're at a fellow ham's house, their QRZ entry shows grid square info ... " and " ... the ARRL.org site has easy-to-use grid square locators ... "). I'll make sure to add a Web site or two for reference on my site. - How to connect a tripod to a yagi or beam. Interesting! The Arrow satellite antennas are tapped for tripod mounting (pull off the foam grip). And the Elk log periodics and their PVC pipe construction just BEG to to mounted in all sorts of different ways by resourceful hams! This is a great topic for a photo album in the future. - ... the need for 440 preamp on the mast ... Not a necessity for the "easy FM sats." When it's not snowing outside (grin). There's been a couple sat antenna construction articles in QST recently, where the use of a pre-amp was called for as if it were "standard operating procedure." But to successfully work several satellites, we're just slightly improving the stock duck on a handheld ... or using handheld Yagis. Pre-amps have their place - but not for my audience at the beginning stages of working the birds. - Maybe a section or two about more advanced amateur satellite operation, such as packet radio, and downloading telemetry and images from satellites such as ITUpSAT1 and the ISS ... homebrew diplexers ... MORE GREAT IDEAS - but I just want to keep the current site "plain and simple" for getting folks started on the birds. THANK YOU ALL for your input! Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com 909-241-7666

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Next "HV Satcom" Net
by Stuart Balanger 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

*Hi all., The next "HV Satcom" Net is skeduled for ThusdayApril 1 on the 146.97MHz. Mbarc Repeater, (8PM;or 2400 UTC)w/ an Echolink node of "N2EYH-L" Node! More info: www.hvsatcom.org Hope to hear some new people! 73,.Stu (WA2BSS) *

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HO-68 Schedule - 21-28 Mar 2010
by Alan Kung 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

28 Mar. 2010 ================================ 16:25...Turn On--FM India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:10...Turn Off 18:15...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:00...Turn Off 29 Mar. 2010 ================================ 01:10...Turn On--PACKET South America,NA,North Asia 01:55...Turn Off 02:01...Turn On--PACKET North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:17...Turn Off 03:00...Turn On--PACKET South America,NA,North Asia 03:45...Turn Off 19:40...Turn On--PACKET Africa,Europe,NA 20:25...Turn Off 30 Mar. 2010 ================================ 00:55...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 01:40...Turn Off 01:47...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:02...Turn Off 02:40...Turn On--FM NA,South America,North Asia 03:25...Turn Off 11:15...Turn On--FM South America,Oceania,Asia 12:00...Turn Off 17:35...Turn On--FM India,Middle East,Europe,NA 18:20...Turn Off 19:25...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 20:10...Turn Off 31 Mar. 2010 ================================= 01:33...Turn On--PACKET North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:47...Turn Off 09:45...Turn On--PACKET Oceania,East Asia,North Asia,Europe 10:30...Turn Off 12:45...Turn On--PACKET South America,Oceania 13:30...Turn Off 16:00...Turn On--PACKET India,Middle East,Africa,Europe,NA 16:45...Turn Off 23:15...Turn On--PACKET NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 24:00...Turn Off 01 Apr. 2010 ================================= 01:13...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 01:28...Turn Off 06:30...Turn On--FM NA,North Asia,Middle East, Europe,Africa 07:15...Turn Off 15:00...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 15:45...Turn Off 17:05...Turn On--FM Africa,India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:50...Turn Off 18:55...Turn On--SSB/CW Africa,Europe,NA 19:40...Turn Off 02 Apr. 2010 ================================ 00:10...Turn On--PACKET South America,NA,North Asia 00:55...Turn Off 02:46...Turn On--PACKET North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:01...Turn Off 10:55...Turn On--PACKET Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:40...Turn Off 18:35...Turn On--PACKET Africa,Europe,NA 19:20...Turn Off 22:40...Turn On--PACKET NA,Asia,Oceania 23:25...Turn Off 03 Apr. 2010 ================================ 01:35...Turn On--FM South America,NA,North Asia 02:20...Turn Off 02:29...Turn On--FM North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:45...Turn Off 10:40...Turn On--FM Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 11:25...Turn Off 18:20...Turn On--FM Africa,Europe,NA 19:05...Turn Off 04 Apr. 2010 ================================ 01:20...Turn On--PACKET South America,NA,North Asia 02:05...Turn Off 03:57...Turn On--PACKET North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 04:11...Turn Off 07:25...Turn On--PACKET North Asia,Europe,Africa 08:10...Turn Off 10:25...Turn On--PACKET Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:10...Turn Off 73 Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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Re: [aprssig] March 27th: APRS Sounding Rocket Launch on the East Coast
by Alan P. Biddle 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

According to the Twitter, the launch and TLM was a success: "Packets packets packets...." Congratulations to all concerned! I didn't see anything on APRS.FI, except for the launch crew driving around. Nothing heard direct here in the wilds of TN. Alan WA4SCA

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logging Sat contacts...??
by K7TRK 28 Mar '10

28 Mar '10

I recently received the following comment from a contact that I made: "Hello Ted, eQSL does not provide the option to enter separate transmit and receive frequencies/bands for cases where a station is operating cross-band such as with satellite, so the transmit frequency should be used to select the QSO band. eQSL does provide the user the option to enter a "SAT band" (ie. SAT J, SAT B, etc...) instead of choosing the band directly, this automatically picks the correct band for the user and is based on the uplink frequency (transmit frequency). The eQSL ADIF import specification found at URL http://www.eqsl.cc/qslcard/ADIFContentSpecs.cfm clearly shows that Mode J (V/U) Satellite translates to the 2m band (the "uplink" frequency), and Mode B (U/V) Satellite translates to 70cm, etc... proving that the transmit frequency should be used to select the QSO band. It is a common eQSL mistake to enter the wrong band for satellite contacts (and also to enter incorrect mode ie. "FM" instead of "FM (SAT).)" Many do not pay attention to the details and just accept eQSL's they receive based on callsign, date, and time without thinking about the band or mode that applies to a specific contact." I am curious as to what difference it makes whether the contact is logged as TX or RX. I have a TS2000 and HRD picks up the log info from the main VFO I believe, which is going to be the RX side. The info is then sent to logbook and automatically uploaded to eQSL. I'm not to concerned whether or not eQSL figures it out, but I would like LoTW to be correct and cards for VUDXX. so does it matter?? Thanks, Ted

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WD9EWK @ DM51/DM52 this afternoon
by Patrick STODDARD 27 Mar '10

27 Mar '10

Hi! I am at the DM51bx/DM52ba line now, and plan to stay for a few more passes before heading home. Planned passes include: 2256-2308 UTC on SO50 2305-2317 and 0042-0056 UTC on AO51 0057-0119 UTC on AO7 and *possibly* 0150-0210 UTC on FO29. The 2252 UTC AO27 may be hidden by mountains west of this spot, and not be workable. I will at try for it, but know it may not be workable. Please e-mail with QSO details if you want a QSL from me here, or for QSOs at the hamfest in Tucson AZ (DM42) earlier today. Thanks and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - near Sunsites AZ http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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ans-087ans Bulletins
by DOMINICK INTERDONATO 27 Mar '10

27 Mar '10

CM SPAM detection: spam X-SID: 9 X-Authuserid: morsesat(a)optonline.net User-Agent: Laszlo Mail 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-087 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 ******************************************************************** * The AMSAT team is preparing for the 2010 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT * * Booth and activities. For the latest information go to: * * http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/hamvention/2010/Dayton.php * ******************************************************************** In this edition: * NASA to Launch Three New CubeSats in November * Amateur Radio Emergency Regulations Proposal * Latest AMSAT Awards * New Agency * Satellite Shorts * Document Signed with Energia * ARISS Status - 22 March 2010 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.01 NASA to Launch Three New CubeSats in November AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.01 NASA to Launch Three New CubeSats in November Three small research satellites with amateur radio educational payloads are scheduled for launch in late November. Called CubeSats because of their shape, they come from Montana State University, the University of Colorado and Kentucky Space as part of NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellite mission. Kentucky's KySat-1 is believed to be the first CubeSat to carry a 2 meter-to-70 cm FM transponder - truly a crossband repeater in space and one that should be accessible by most radio amateurs within its flight path, authorities said. CubeSats are in a class of small research spacecraft called pico-satellites. They have a volume of about one quart and weigh no more than 2.2 pounds. The University of Florida was selected as an alternate in case one of the three primary spacecraft cannot fly. [ANS thanks Jack, KD1PE, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.02 Amateur Radio Emergency Regulations Proposal AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.02 FCC propose amendment to Amateur Radio emergency drill regulations There has been much debate in the US recently on the issue of amateur radio operators participating in emergency drills which have been organised the their employers. The FCC is hoping to clarify the rules and allow more flexibility with this amendment. A Proposed Rulemaking was released yesterday containing amendments to Section 97:113 of the Amateur Radio Service Rules regarding using paid employees in government sponsored emergency training drills. For actual filing see: WWW.regulations.gov [ANS thanks Southgate for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.03 Latest AMSAT Awards AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.03 The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPN Mesa Community College ARC, KM7CC David Sharpe, KF7DRQ Jim Adams, K0BAM Richard Rowe, KJ4OUQ The following have earned the AMSAT Communications Achievement Award. Randal Schulze, KD0HKD, #509 Michael Vargo, AC8CX, #510 Jose Toste, CU3EQ, #511 The following have earned the W4AMI Achievement Award (for 1000 contacts) Douglas Anoman, KC9MLN, #60 Howard Merritt, KD7ZLF, #61 Chip Weems, W4PBG, #62 The following have earned the South Africa AMSAT Communications A chievement Award Randal Schulze, KD0HKD, #US142 Michael Vargo, AC8CX, #US143 Jose Toste, CU3EQ, #US144 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards [ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information} /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.04 New Agency AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.04 At a Conference in London held today, it was announced that April 1st 2010 is to be the "launch" date for the establishment of the United Kingdom Space Agency. This will take over responsibility for space from the previous voluntary partnerships of Government Departments and research councils, the British National Space Centre. It is reported that the new agency will bring these together "under one roof". It will also include the Technology Strategy Board and the Met Office. In addition to this announcement, the UK Government has stated that £24m will be invested into The International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC) at Harwell which is also the site of the new ESA technical facility. Lets hope the new Agency looks kindly towards UK cubesat projects like AMSAT-UK's FUNcube! (New possibilities?) For more details see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8579270.stm Graham G3VZV [ANS thanks Graham, G3VZV, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.05 Satellite Shorts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.05 AMSAT at Dayton Reminders Another reminder that AMSAT has available a block of rooms for Dayton. The hotel is the Country Inn & Suites in Fairborn. The cost is $99 a night. If you are interested, please call me at 301-589-6062 to make a reservation. The block will be gone on April 13th! Don't forget the AMSAT-TAPR dinner on Friday night. You can register for that online at the AMSAT website. [ANS thanks Martha for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to 2 Meter Houston AMSAT Net via the Internet The Houston AMSAT Net now has a new Icecast streaming server, thanks to Mike, N0VZC. During our net, Tuesday 8PM Central Time (Wednesday 0100 UTC), our audio can be heard by pasting the following into your URL, Winamp, iPhone, iTunes or almost any other player. radio.arert.net:8000/amsat.m3u We hope that you continue enjoying the Houston AMSAT Net. You can also listen on Echolink in the *AMSAT* conference as well as after the net completes as a Podcast from the iTunes store or your favor- ite Podcast player. [ANS thanks Bruce KK5DO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.06 Document Signed for ARISSat Delivery AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 28, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.06 Protocol Document Signed for ARISSat delivery This week a protocol document was signed between AMSAT, NASA and Energia stating that AMSAT would deliver two satellites to Energia by 1 July 2010. Since we only have one set of solar panels, the second unit will be tested and operational except for the solar panels. The project is on schedule for the July delivery and we look forward to having ARISSat in space later this year. Gould, WA4SXM ARISSat Project Manager for AMSAT [ANS Thankd Gould, WA4SXM, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-087.07 ARISS Status - 15 March 2010 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 087.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. March 22, 2010 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-087.07 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report March 22, 2010 1. Upcoming School Contacts Shiogama Daini Junior High School in Shiogama, Japan was scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Thursday, March 25 at 07:44 UTC. To prepare for the contact, students studied astronomy and were introduced to the Hubble Space Telescope. They also learned about radio communications and some continued their s tudies and prepared for their amateur radio license exams. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact has been scheduled for Walnut Creek Elementary School in Azle, Texas on Monday, March 29 at 15:08 UTC. Each student researched and created a model of a selected space object and then presented his work to the class. Retired Lockheed employees and members of local radio clubs gave demonstrations of satellite communications to the youth. The school recently formed an amateur radio club and students have enjoyed learning what radios can do. 2. Greece Students Question Astronaut via ARISS Contact On Tuesday, March 16, Timothy Creamer, KC5WKI connected with students attending 18 Dimotiko Scholeio Peristeriou in Athens, Greece via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Students posed 19 questions to the on-orbit astronaut during the ISS overhead pass as an audience of 700 students, teachers and community members gathered to watch the event. Several dignitaries were present, including the General Secretary for Communications of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunication of Greece, the Mayor of Peristeri (Athens) and the four vice mayors of Peristeri City. The contact was integrated into the school’s science curriculum covering subjects on astronomy and radio communications. 3. Astronaut Training Status On Monday, March 15, astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) simulated contact with students from Quintino Sella, Biella, Italy with audio available on IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project). This training session was a terrestrial-based amateur radio contact using ARISS equivalent equipment. Nespoli is slated to fly with Expedition 26 in November 2010. 4. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) international team met for the monthly teleconference on March 16. Status reports were given on the Columbus module radio equipment as well as ARISSat-1. Minutes have been posted. See: https://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2010-03-16.htm [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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CBC's "Quirks And Quarks" 2010-03-27 Segment On Spaceflight
by B J 27 Mar '10

27 Mar '10

http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/media/2009-2010/mp3/qq-2010-03-27_04.mp3 Some interesting thoughts on the current situation and future possibilities. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL __________________________________________________________________ The new Internet Explorer® 8 - Faster, safer, easier. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/

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SO-67 status
by kj4psu＠gmail.com 27 Mar '10

27 Mar '10

Does anyone know when SO-67 will be operational? On their website they predict the end of the month. Any word on a date? Will KJ4PSU Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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Sat recordings
by kj4psu＠gmail.com 27 Mar '10

27 Mar '10

John K8YSE Good morning from Savannah! I would like to thank you for all your hard work in getting the sat recordings on your website. Its really cool to be able to hear myself through the sat. Your technical suggestion has really improved my audio. I'm booming into the bird now. I know it takes a lot of time on your part, but I'm sure everyone appreciates it. www.papays.com/sat Thanks again! Will KJ4PSU Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

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