January 2011 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: finding yourself in the passband of an analog satellite
by na2x＠yahoo.com 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

Hi Norm, Good question. It brings to mind another question (a second post coming). To do it manually, I first start with the info for the satellite found at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php For example, under VO-52, it shows (for the Indian Transponder) Mode U/V (B) Linear Transponder (Inverting) (Indian Transponder): Operational Uplink: 435.2200 - 435.2800 MHz SSB/CW Downlink 145.9300 - 145.8700 MHz SSB/CW I read this to mean that (with no doppler) for this transponder, an uplink input frequency of 435.2200 MHz will result in a downlink frequency of 145.9300 MHz, etc., etc. I make up a small table for each satellite showing uplink and downlink frequencies across the range of frequencies. So for VO-52 (Indian Transponder), the table looks like this: Uplink Downlink ----------------------------- 435.22 MHz 145.87 MHz 435.23 MHz 145.88 MHz 435.24 MHz 145.89 MHz 435.25 MHz 145.90 MHz 435.26 MHz 145.91 MHz 435.27 MHz 145.92 MHz 435.28 MHz 145.93 MHz Of course, you can put as many entries in the table as you wish. You could have every Khz frequency in the range. I use this information as a starting point. Doppler will move the downlink receive frequency. So, for this satellite, if I hear some one calling CQ on 145.890 Mhz, I know I should start at an uplink frequency of around 435.240 Mhz and then tune around to find my downlink to match other station.

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HO-68 Status 110120
by Alan Kung 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

Hi All, The transponder was not turn on correctly, there is only the beacon now, we will try again at 0255UTC, if OK, the transponder will keep operation for full circle from 0255UTC to 0500UTC. 73 Alan, BA1DU

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Re: finding yourself in the passband of an analogsatellite
by na2x＠yahoo.com 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

That is a nice tool, Mark. I flipped the input/output ranges in my table in my response. The table should look like this Uplink Downlink ----------------------------- 435.22 MHz 145.93 MHz 435.23 MHz 145.92 MHz 435.24 MHz 145.91 MHz 435.25 MHz 145.90 MHz 435.26 MHz 145.89 MHz 435.27 MHz 145.88 MHz 435.28 MHz 145.87 MHz And, for the example, if I hear some one calling CQ on 145.890 Mhz, I should start at an uplink frequency of around 435.260 Mhz, etc..

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finding yourself in the passband of an analog satellite
by normn3ykf＠stny.rr.com 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

Hi all!! How does one do this. It's not as easy as it sounds. Bearing in mind the fact that most birds are inverting, how do you do it manually, and then adjust for doppler. Or answer someone calling cq? How do you find his spot? Not as easy as zero beating a cw station!! Thanks, Norm n3ykf

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ARISSat-1 article
by David H. Jordan 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

SpaceDaily.com just released an article concerning upcoming ISS activities. It also contains a brief discussion of the ARISSat-1 mission at http://tinyurl.com/6jeqf5b. Thanks to JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM for bring this to my attention. Dave, AA4KN Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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Historical Software
by Martha 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

You can own a piece of AMSAT history. I have the following software available for a minimum donation of $5.00: Atari W3IWI (1985) 5 1/4 disk AMSAT AMS-81 (1986) for Sinclair computers - Cassette W3IWI Basic Orbits for I-99 (1985) - Cassette UoSat 1 & 2 Telemetry Capture Editing and Decoding program for IBM - 5 1/4 disk W3IWI Orbit Prediction Program for TRS-80 Color Computer - Cassette AMSAT 2064 Tracking Program (1984) - Cassette ORBITS II for IBM (1993) - 3 1/2 disk N4HY QuikTrak for IBM - 3 1/2 disk If you are interested send your order to: AMSAT, 850 Sligo Ave, #600, Silver Spring MD 20910 73- Martha - AMSAT Manager

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Re: Nanosail-D (what are we listening for???)
by Dave Webb KB1PVH 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

These are the only two I could get last night. Fm KE7EGC To UNDEF Via TELEM <UI pid=F0 Len=64 >[22:55:45] NanoSailD.org 8C0F0000A21400000004008A890200004939C37ACFC0000000 Fm KE7EGC To UNDEF Via TELEM <UI pid=F0 Len=64 >[22:55:56] NanoSailD.org 8C0F0000A31400000004008A880200004939C37ACFC0000000 Dave - KB1PVH Sent from my Verizon Wireless DROID X On Jan 20, 2011 10:39 AM, "Wouter Weggelaar" <wouterweg(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi All, > > I've just tracked a pass over Delft (PA-land) of nanosail-d > Sounds like ordinary 1200BPS AFSK to me. > Tomorrow I will have a TNC connected in monitor mode + maybe the TH-D7. > I've used the tracking yagi's of the ISIS ground station. > > I expect the beacon to be UI frames. Their website does not say so on > the front page. > However, they have hidden a PDF away on the data submission page. > Direct link: http://beacon.engr.scu.edu/BeaconProcessingSystem/NanoSailDBeaconDecoding.p… > Additionally, Bob is right, there is NO bitrade or modulation type in > this document. > > 73s > > Wouter Weggelaar > PA3WEG > > > > On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 12:12 AM, Bob Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: >> Would someone pass back to the FASTSAT and NANOSAT folks that they should >> tell us what we are listening for? AX.25? 1200 baud, 9600 baud? CW? What >> are we listening for? >> >> I just had an overhead pass, but by the time I went through all their web >> pages and links, I found NOTHING useful. By the time I gave up, and got >> back to the radio, I really missed the whole pass. >> >> Bob, Wb4APR >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On >> Behalf Of Dave Taylor >> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 4:24 PM >> To: amsat >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Fwd: NanoSail-D Ejects; NASA Seeks Amateur Radio >> Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal >> >> For those interested... >> >> -- Dave, W8AAS >> >> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> >>> RELEASE: 11-009 >>> >>> NANOSAIL-D EJECTS; NASA SEEKS AMATUER RADIO OPERATORS' AID TO LISTEN >>> FOR >>> BEACON SIGNAL >>> >>> HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EST, engineers at >>> Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., confirmed that the >>> NanoSail-D nanosatellite ejected from Fast Affordable Scientific and >>> Technology Satellite, FASTSAT. The ejection event occurred >>> spontaneously >>> and was identified this morning when engineers at the center analyzed >>> onboard FASTSAT telemetry. The ejection of NanoSail-D also has been >>> confirmed by ground-based satellite tracking assets. >>> >>> Amateur ham operators are asked to listen for the signal to verify >>> NanoSail-D is operating. This information should be sent to the >>> NanoSail-D dashboard at: http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm. >>> The NanoSail-D beacon signal can be found at 437.270 MHz. >>> >>> The NanoSail-D science team is hopeful the nanosatellite is healthy >>> and >>> can complete its solar sail mission. After ejection, a timer within >>> NanoSail-D begins a three-day countdown as the satellite orbits the >>> Earth. Once the timer reaches zero, four booms will quickly deploy and >>> the NanoSail-D sail will start to unfold to a 100-square-foot polymer >>> sail. Within five seconds the sail fully unfurls. >>> >>> "This is great news for our team. We're anxious to hear the beacon >>> which >>> tells us that NanoSail-D is healthy and operating as planned," said >>> Dean >>> Alhorn, NanoSail-D principal investigator and aerospace engineer at >>> the >>> Marshall Center. "The science team is hopeful to see that NanoSail-D >>> is >>> operational and will be able to unfurl its solar sail." >>> >>> On Dec. 6,, 2010, NASA triggered the planned ejection of NanoSail-D >>> from >>> FASTSAT. At that time, the team confirmed that the door successfully >>> opened and data indicated a successful ejection. Upon further >>> analysis, >>> no evidence of NanoSail-D was identified in low-Earth orbit, leading >>> the >>> team to believe NanoSail-D remained inside FASTSAT. >>> >>> The FASTSAT mission has continued to operate as planned with the five >>> other scientific experiments operating nominally. >>> >>> "We knew that the door opened and it was possible that NanoSail-D >>> could >>> eject on its own," said Mark Boudreaux, FASTSAT project manager at the >>> Marshall Center. "What a pleasant surprise this morning when our >>> flight >>> operations team confirmed that NanoSail-D is now a free flyer." >>> If the deployment is successful, NanoSail-D will stay in low-Earth >>> orbit >>> between 70 and 120 days, depending on atmospheric conditions. >>> NanoSail-D >>> is designed to demonstrate deployment of a compact solar sail boom >>> system that could lead to further development of this alternative >>> solar >>> sail propulsion technology and FASTSAT's ability to eject a >>> nano-satellite from a micro-satellite - while avoiding re-contact with >>> the FASTSAT satellite bus. >>> >>> Follow the NanoSail-D mission operation on Twitter at: >>> http://twitter.com/nanosaild >>> >>> For additional information on the timeline of the NanoSail-D >>> deployment >>> visit: >>> http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/501204main_NSD2_timeline_sequence.pdf >>> >>> To learn more about FASTSAT and the NanoSail-D missions visit: >>> http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats >>> >>> -end- >>> >>> News release >>> http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2011/11-009.html >>> >>> >>> For releases sent directly to you, contact: betty.humphery(a)nasa.gov. >>> >>> Marshall Space Flight Center >>> Public Affairs Department >>> 256-544-0034 >>> 256-544-5852 (fax) >>> http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news >>> >>> Follow Marshall news and interact with the NASA Marshall community on >>> Facebook, Twitter and Flickr: >>> >>> http://www.facebook.com/nasamarshallcenter >>> http://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall >>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Fwd: NanoSail-D Ejects; NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal
by Dave Taylor 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

For those interested... -- Dave, W8AAS > > -----Original Message----- > > RELEASE: 11-009 > > NANOSAIL-D EJECTS; NASA SEEKS AMATUER RADIO OPERATORS' AID TO LISTEN > FOR > BEACON SIGNAL > > HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 11:30 a.m. EST, engineers at > Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., confirmed that the > NanoSail-D nanosatellite ejected from Fast Affordable Scientific and > Technology Satellite, FASTSAT. The ejection event occurred > spontaneously > and was identified this morning when engineers at the center analyzed > onboard FASTSAT telemetry. The ejection of NanoSail-D also has been > confirmed by ground-based satellite tracking assets. > > Amateur ham operators are asked to listen for the signal to verify > NanoSail-D is operating. This information should be sent to the > NanoSail-D dashboard at: http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm. > The NanoSail-D beacon signal can be found at 437.270 MHz. > > The NanoSail-D science team is hopeful the nanosatellite is healthy > and > can complete its solar sail mission. After ejection, a timer within > NanoSail-D begins a three-day countdown as the satellite orbits the > Earth. Once the timer reaches zero, four booms will quickly deploy and > the NanoSail-D sail will start to unfold to a 100-square-foot polymer > sail. Within five seconds the sail fully unfurls. > > "This is great news for our team. We're anxious to hear the beacon > which > tells us that NanoSail-D is healthy and operating as planned," said > Dean > Alhorn, NanoSail-D principal investigator and aerospace engineer at > the > Marshall Center. "The science team is hopeful to see that NanoSail-D > is > operational and will be able to unfurl its solar sail." > > On Dec. 6,, 2010, NASA triggered the planned ejection of NanoSail-D > from > FASTSAT. At that time, the team confirmed that the door successfully > opened and data indicated a successful ejection. Upon further > analysis, > no evidence of NanoSail-D was identified in low-Earth orbit, leading > the > team to believe NanoSail-D remained inside FASTSAT. > > The FASTSAT mission has continued to operate as planned with the five > other scientific experiments operating nominally. > > "We knew that the door opened and it was possible that NanoSail-D > could > eject on its own," said Mark Boudreaux, FASTSAT project manager at the > Marshall Center. "What a pleasant surprise this morning when our > flight > operations team confirmed that NanoSail-D is now a free flyer." > If the deployment is successful, NanoSail-D will stay in low-Earth > orbit > between 70 and 120 days, depending on atmospheric conditions. > NanoSail-D > is designed to demonstrate deployment of a compact solar sail boom > system that could lead to further development of this alternative > solar > sail propulsion technology and FASTSAT's ability to eject a > nano-satellite from a micro-satellite - while avoiding re-contact with > the FASTSAT satellite bus. > > Follow the NanoSail-D mission operation on Twitter at: > http://twitter.com/nanosaild > > For additional information on the timeline of the NanoSail-D > deployment > visit: > http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/501204main_NSD2_timeline_sequence.pdf > > To learn more about FASTSAT and the NanoSail-D missions visit: > http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats > > -end- > > News release > http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/news/releases/2011/11-009.html > > > For releases sent directly to you, contact: betty.humphery(a)nasa.gov. > > Marshall Space Flight Center > Public Affairs Department > 256-544-0034 > 256-544-5852 (fax) > http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news > > Follow Marshall news and interact with the NASA Marshall community on > Facebook, Twitter and Flickr: > > http://www.facebook.com/nasamarshallcenter > http://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall > http://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets >

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AO51 2148z Recording?
by Zachary Beougher 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

Hi All, Does anyone happen to have the 2148z AO51 recording from yesterday (1/19)? My recorder failed, or I forgot to hit the record button. I know I worked AJ5C in EM36, KJ4OHL in EM83 (I think), and there was also a N3??? /p station in FN11?. If someone could just give me the call sign of the N3 portable station, I can piece the rest together. 73! Zack KD8KSN

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em40 needed
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 20 Jan '11

20 Jan '11

Is there anyone that can go to EM40 to help many of us out with getting that grid confirmed ? Ive sent 2 SASE's to ????? and havent recieved a card back. Also here is a link to print free cards http://www.radioqth.net/qsl.aspx Cards can be onplain printer paper and will be fine Thanks to all the good hams that DO QSL WA4HFN Damon

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