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

KISS results
by Rsoifer＠aol.com 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

Hi all, My "KISS satellite station" (_http://gvarc.us_ (http://gvarc.us) , click on Technical Page) made 14 SKN QSOs this year, on AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52. All the best to everyone for 2011. 73 Ray W2RS

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blimey!
by andy thomas 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

blimey that was quick!! 54 seconds?

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ARGOS
by Andrew Rich 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

>I have been doing some reading up on a system that might interest people > > ARGOS > > ARGOS is fitted to most polar orbiting weather satellites > > This is used to pick up beacons on 401 MHz. Fixed to animals, buoys etc. > > The early generation of ARGOS systems were doppler RX only. (1 / 2) > > NOAA 19 is the first polar bird to be fitted with the new 465 MHz TX > funtion.(ARGOS 3) > > What this does is sends empheris data and also polls ground beacons, hence > saving on TX when no satellite is around. > > METEOP is also fitted with the same system > > - Andrew VK4TEC -

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Fw: Weather Balloon
by Andrew Rich 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

> Always wondered what freq the weather balloons where around here > (RadioSondes) > > Went to the local met bureau this morning with my scanner > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lboBEToLLhE > > - Andrew VK4TEC - >

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Re: AO-51 Status
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

Correct. The shutdowns should only be happening during morning passes (when the eclipses), or if we have the data transmitter on for too long like this afternoon. However, when the repeater is on, it should be very strong, at about 1.5 watts on the downlink. Users can leave the 67Hz tone on and forget about it. If not needed, it won't hurt to be there. No need to think about it after enabling it on your uplink. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford(a)mac.com> >Sent: Jan 1, 2011 10:19 PM >To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Status > >Confirming this "possibly OFF during eclipse periods" is NOT a situation where we can use a 67.0 tone to turn it ON for two minutes. This is a "harder-coded" off period - is that correct? > >Clint, K6LCS >_______________________________________________ >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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John Heaton G1YYH - SK
by Jim Heck 02 Jan '11

02 Jan '11

HI Folks, It is with a heavy heart that I have to report the death of AMSAT-UK committee member John Heaton, G1YYH. He died in hospital in Manchester UK on Christmas Eve, having been admitted two weeks earlier. He had not been well for several months prior to his death. John was the AMSAT-UK Webmaster for many years, and a regular attender at the annual AMSAT-UK Colloquium. He always gave his time and considerable expertise very generously. He will be terribly missed by his friends and colleagues. He was a real gentleman. There is more information about John on his personal web site at http://www.phers.co.uk/content/view/26/65/ 73s Jim G3WGM Hon Sec AMSAT-UK

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A bit of history please.
by Tom Schuessler 01 Jan '11

01 Jan '11

Hello to the AO51 team, Since I am new to the Amateur Satellite world and have only been active for about 7 months now, I have a few historical questions about AO51 and also AO27. We are now moving into these eclipse periods and I see from the graphic that appears in the 2010 version of AMSAT's' "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites", that the advent of long duration eclipses is a recent phenomenon and was not so in the early days of the orbit. If the orbit has been drifting since initial insertion as sun synchronous, I am curious how much has the orbit shifted since release? Right now it seems that an AZ of 90 degrees (Perfect overhead) would happen at about 11:15Z. How much has this changed since insertion? How much orbital decay has occurred since insertion? AO-27 is much older and somewhat lower also I think. Has it drifted in time as compared to what it was following launch? How much orbital decay has occurred with it in 17 years? Such is the fate of a satellite that does not have any means of on board orbital maneuverability. Perhaps if the methods for micro propulsion being tested by the U. Texas folks with their FastTrack satellites might be adaptable to future cubesat designs to help prolong sun synchronous orbits and thus mission lifetimes. Many thanks to all the operational teams for all the satellites on their labor-of-love efforts to keep the birds running in the best possible condition. 73 Tom Schuessler N5HYP

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HO-68 Schedule 02-09 Jan 2011
by Alan Kung 01 Jan '11

01 Jan '11

UTC: 02 Jan 2011 ================================ 16:40...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:25...Turn Off 18:25...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 19:10...Turn Off 20:00...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,Middle East,NA 20:45...Turn Off 22:35...Turn On--CW/SSB South America,NA,North Asia 23:20...Turn Off 03 Jan 2011 ================================ 02:20...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:34...Turn Off 13:15...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,South America 14:00...Turn Off 16:30...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa, Middle East, Europe,NA 17:15...Turn Off 18:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 19:00...Turn Off 22:20...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,North Asia,East Asia, Oceania 23:05...Turn Off 04 Jan 2011 ================================ 02:03...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia, East Asia,South Asia 02:17...Turn Off 10:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Oceania,Asia,Europe 11:00...Turn Off 13:00...Turn On--CW/SSB NA, South America 13:45...Turn Off 16:15...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Middle East,Europe,NA 17:00...Turn Off 17:50...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Middle East,Europe,NA 18:35...Turn Off 19:45...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 20:30...Turn Off 05 Jan 2011 ================================= 23:50...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia Oceania 00:35...Turn Off 01:47...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:02...Turn Off 12:40...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 13:25...Turn Off 16:00...Turn On--CW/SSB India, Africa,Europe,NA South America 16:45...Turn Off 17:30...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 18:15...Turn Off 19:10...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Middle East,Europe,NA 19:55...Turn Off 06 Jan 2011 ================================= 23:35...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 00:20...Turn Off 03:17...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:32...Turn Off 14:10...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 14:55...Turn Off 17:25...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,India,Middle East Europe,NA 18:10...Turn Off 18:55...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 19:40...Turn Off 20:40...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 21:25...Turn Off 23:15...Turn On--CW/SSB Oceania,Asia,Europe,NA 24:00...Turn Off 07 Jan 2011 ================================ 03:00...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 03:15...Turn Off 13:55...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe, NA,South America 14:40...Turn Off 17:10...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 17:55...Turn Off 18:40...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 19:25...Turn Off 20:25...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 21:10...Turn Off 23:00...Turn On--CW/SSB NA,North Asia,East Asia,Oceania 23:45...Turn Off 08 Jan 2011 ================================ 02:43...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:58...Turn Off 13:40...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe, NA,South America 14:25...Turn Off 17:10...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 17:55...Turn Off 18:20...Turn On--CW/SSB India,Africa,Europe,NA 19:05...Turn Off 20:05...Turn On--CW/SSB Africa,Europe,NA 20:50...Turn Off 22:45...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia, South Asia,Oceania 23:30...Turn Off 09 Jan 2011 ================================ 02:27...Turn On--CW/SSB North Asia,East Asia,South Asia 02:43...Turn Off 13:20...Turn On--CW/SSB Europe,NA,South America 14:05...Turn Off 73! Alan Kung, BA1DU HO-68(XW-1) Project Manager www.camsat.cn

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Kevin Schuchmann - AGAIN
by Clint Bradford 01 Jan '11

01 Jan '11

Thank you, Kevin, for ANOTHER substantial donation to AMSAT that just hit the "tote board" widget! Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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AO-51 Status
by Clint Bradford 01 Jan '11

01 Jan '11

Confirming this "possibly OFF during eclipse periods" is NOT a situation where we can use a 67.0 tone to turn it ON for two minutes. This is a "harder-coded" off period - is that correct? Clint, K6LCS

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