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

APRS Digi Question
by Zachary Beougher 06 Feb '11

06 Feb '11

Hi All, I know this is generally a satellite specific list, but since a lot of you are APRS users, I am going to see if anyone can answer this question. I will try to keep it simple. Please email me if I don’t make sense. I recently put up a digi on my property (KD8KSN-1). I am using a Kenwood TM-271 (25w – lowest power setting), Diamond F22A 6.7db ground plane on a 1112ft hill, and a Kantronics Packet Communicator 3 Plus TNC. From what I can tell, everything seems to be working fine from the RF side. Here is the issue: On aprs.fi, when KD8KSN-1 is digipeated by station (eg) xx1xx, xx1xx shows up in KD8KSN-1’s “info bubble” as one of the stations who digi’d the most recent packet. (You can also view it by going into raw packets (http://aprs.fi/?c=raw&call=KD8KSN-1) and looking at what stations digi’d KD8KSN-1. Just in case you don’t know what this “info bubble” is I am referring to, follow this link http://aprs.fi/?call=a%2FKD8KSN-1 I am referring to the box in the middle of the screen with my digipeater’s status text, power/gain/HAAT/range.) Now, when I watch the TNC and the receive light comes on, then the transmit light comes on (which would indicate it is didgipeating a station), I monitor with the D7, and as soon as the TNC transmits, I receive a packet on the D7 with (eg) KB8TZE-9. I then immediately get on the computer, lookup KB8TZE-9 on aprs.fi, and according to his raw packets and “info bubble,” I am nowhere in the chain of digis that digipeated him. I have tried this with several different stations, and not once have a seen myself come up in anyone’s raw packets as a station that digipeated them. The *only* time I have seen KD8KSN-1 in the chain of digis that digipeated a station is when it has digipeated me (KD8KSN-7/-9). Me and my other APRS friend speculated that it might be due to the fact that I live in the country and don’t live close to an internet gateway, but I am able to send myself email messages without issues, and I am also aware of at least three gateways that I am very frequently digipeated by. I know this is probably not a huge issue. Having your call in someone’s raw packets or “info bubble” isn’t a big deal, but WHY its not working is what’s bugging me. Everyone else’s digi does this, so why isn’t mine? Any help would definitely be appreciated. Please feel free to ask me any questions if I am not making sense. Just keep in mind that I am brand new to this, so please keep it in layman’s terms. ;-) 73! Zack KD8KSN

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Re: Memories of OSCAR 10
by Joe v Murray 06 Feb '11

06 Feb '11

My My . all of these great memories of long ago makes me suggest I have to hark back to my first Q on a satellite. That event that leaves you so high it takes a couple of day to join the rest of the human race. That Q was after designing and constructing a 2 meter SSB transverter, preamp and antennas Now it needs to be said that living in NE in 1965 and getting the bug to accomplish this is with out elmers or help of commericial equipment . I point that out because NE was the last state I needed to work WAS years later The HB 2 mtr preamp was a 7077 ceramic that was sweet as it could be. The HB 2 mtr transverter was a 6360 tube that also was a marvel back then. Naturally I needed a SSB HF rig to drive the transverter and that was an Hallicrafters HT-37 Oscar III had a 2 meter transponder with 50 KHz wide The uplink was on 146 MHz and the down link was on 144 MHz . During these day getting information about Ham satellite activity in NE was almost impossible We were able to learn the time and longitude that the bird was next crossing the equator. I took a school Globe, seperated the two halves of the globe, set the northern half on a board so I could rotate the globe to a index on the board That index was aligned with the longitude of the next pass . A wire also beginning at that index crossed over the globe to the correct location on the other side which represented the path about the globe for the bird. String knots tied to the wire at each location equaling about ten minutes flight represented time along the path. All of this 1965 effort for a 18 day battery to run the Oscar III 2 Mtr transponder. Then the newer birds each in it's own time with all the learning and enjoyment Along came the French Mode S Arsene, as I recall there were 4 Hams in the US that worked that bird Stations in FL , CA, NY and NE She was upside down and got to hot to last. Then the last HEO AO-40, Over 200 DXCC entities confirmed on satellite. All but one zone (34) via satellite confirmed WAS # 109 Enjoyment I have had plenty. I have also paid my share into the fund to build and launch AO-40 It was not cheap if you want what I wanted. The above makes me old with the old junk out in the shack 13 last Sept. a 40 minute , 108 MPH hail storm made 19 antennas in my back yard useless. My insurance Co has already spent over 50 grand on my place without getting into any Ham antennas. I am not sure I will match Dave or Dan's ability to wait for P3E and rebuild my earth station. I suggest that this is not one of those "Build it and they will come" Time will tell ! Joe Murray K0VTY Amsat 860 ================ On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 15:40:46 -0900 "Edward R. Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> writes: > At 03:08 PM 2/5/2011, Bill Dzurilla wrote: > >I've been enjoying the posts regarding our last HEO satellite, > >AO-40. I was inactive while AO-40 was going strong, but the posts > > >brought back memories of our first HEO, OSCAR 10, my first > >experience with satellites until a couple of years ago. You can't > > >find much about the glory days of AO-10 on the web, but I remember > them well. > > > >Passes lasted for 8 hours. Always Q5 copy everywhere in the huge > >footprint, very little QRM or QRN. I worked over 100 countries > from > >1983-85, but never got enough cards for DXCC. My rig was a Yaesu > >FT-726R with a Mirage D-1010 amp. It was 70cm uplink, 2 meters > >downlink. I attached the antennas to a small mast on my chimney. > I > >had a surplus cavity bandpass filter that wiped away all the > >birdies; it was needed because I lived in EL49 in New Orleans. The > > >antennas were small crossed-yagis (KLM?), circularly polarized, on > > >separate booms. I can't recall the make or model. Also must have > > >had a mast-mounted preamp and an az-el rotator, but I can't > remember > >them. I got the tracking info from a program that ran on my > >Commodore 64 and printed it out on my Gorilla Banana printer. > > > >Those were halycon days, with AO-10 supposed to be just the > >beginning. The grand plan was to put up 3 linked ham sats in > >geosynchronous orbit, which would enable any ham to work any other > > >ham anywhere on the globe 24-7. Will we ever see anything like > that > >again? How did AO-10 compare with AO-40? > > > >There was a fire at my home and all my logs and QSL cards from > those > >days were lost. If anyone out there happens to have an old AO-10 > >QSL card from me, I'd sure appreciate a copy. > > > >73, Bill NZ5N > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ > >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 > > AO-10 in the mid-1980's was my first real satellite operation (I had > > been involved with AO-6). It was the basic mode-B linear > transponder. Great range and lots of DX. I worked some rare DX > that > was rare on HF standards. The hams I worked said they were tired of > > the pileups on HF and came up on AO-10 to enjoy some nice contacts. > > P3E inherits the legacy of AO-10 and AO-13, as it is very similar in > > what it is equipped to do. ARISSat-1 will be a precurser for what > P3E > would be without the high orbit. > > > > 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 > ====================================== > BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com > EME: 144-1.4kw*, 432-100w*, 1296-testing*, 3400-winter? > DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com > ====================================== > *temp not in service > _______________________________________________ > 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 > ____________________________________________________________ $65/Hr Job - 25 Openings Part-Time job ($20-$65/hr). Requirements: Home Internet Access http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4d4e1909dee0122f9cfst02vuc

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FW: [ans] ANS-037 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Dee 06 Feb '11

06 Feb '11

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-037 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 In this edition: * SKN Results * ARRISSat-1 Update * AO-11 Report * AMSAT-DC Spring-Summer Workshop in planning * 2 Notes from SA AMSAT * ARRL Announces Teachers Institute TI-2 Space Curriculum * Codec2 Alpha Release Demonstration * ARISS Status - 31 January 2011 * AMSAT at the Orlanda Vacation * Volunteer Request SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.01 SKN Results AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.01 Many thanks to all who participated in AMSAT's Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2011, this year's event held in memory of Dick Peacock, W2GFF. Despite the frequent necessary power-management shut-downs of AO-51, activity was generally good, with AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52 picking up the load. A big "Well Done!" to all of the command stations. The following participants each received one or more "Best Fist" nominations: AA5PK, JH7UJI, JM1SBU, JR0EFE, K9CIS, N1AIA, N4ZQ, N5AFV, N9AMW, ON5NY, PR7VX, PU4RON, VA7MG, W9EN, WA5KBH, WB2SIH, WC7V, WD9EWK, 9A2EY As can be seen from the list, from its very modest, informal beginnings on the North American east coast AMSAT net in the 1970s, SKN on OSCAR is now a worldwide event. Long may it continue, and we hope to see you next year! A Big well done to Ray for once again giving his time and Effort to compilation of the results and moderating the Straight Key Night. 73, Ray, W2RS [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.02 ARISSat-1 Update AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.02 ARISSat-1 The ARISSat team is anxiously awaiting the deployment of ARISSat-1 from the ISS during an EVA on 16 Feb 2011. NASA will cover the EVA on NASA Select TV. We don't have a final time during the EVA when the deployment task will occur. We are continuing to work on the arissat1.org site and adding information, people can also follow on Twitter @Arissat1. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.03 AO-11 Report AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.03 OSCAR-11 REPORT 31 January 2011 This report covers the period from 31 December 2010 to 31 January 2011. During this time the satellite has been heard from 31 December 2010 to 10 January 2011, and from 21 January to 30 January . It is expected to switch-on again 10 February for ten days, and remain silent for the remainder of the month. Excellent signals have been reported from stations located around the world, and good copy obtained from decoded telemetry frames. The satellite is now transmitting during eclipses, although signals are weaker at those times. This indicates that there is still some capacity remaining in the battery. The on-board clock is now very stable. It gained eight seconds during January. The VHF beacon frequency is 145.826 MHz. AFSK FM ASCII Telemetry Reception reports have been received from Christian SWL-CHMY, Mike DK3WN, Campo PY5JAP, Ron WB0SOK and Horatio CX8AF. Many thanks for those and to everyone who posted reports on the satellite status website. At the present time, while OSCAR-11 is operating in a predictable way, I no longer need direct reports or files by e-mail. However, could all listeners continue to enter their reports on the general satellite status website. This is a very convenient and easy to use facility, which shows the current status of all the amateur satellites, and is of use to everyone. Reports around the expected times of switch-on and switch-off are of special interest, especially for times 12:00 - 17:00 and 22:00 - 07:00 UTC, to when the satellite is out-of-range in the UK . The URL is http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php A longer version of this report report is available on my website, and new listeners to OSCAR-11 should read this for further information. The URL is www.g3cwv.co.uk/oscar11.htm . This page contains a links to the longer report, a short audio clip to help you identify the satellite and a file of the last telemetry received. The website also contains an archive of news & telemetry data which is u pdated from time to time, and details about using a soundcard or hardware demodulators for data capture. There is also software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry. If you place this bulletin on a terrestrial packet network, please use the bulletin identifier $BID:U2RPT153.CWV, to prevent duplication. 73 Clive G3CWV xxxxx(a)amsat.org (please replace the x's by g3cwv) [ANS thanks Clive, G3CWV, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.04 AMSAT-DC Spring-Summer Workshop in planning AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.04 AMSAT Maryland-DC Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, N8PK invites East Coast satellite operators to participate with him to plan, organize and conduct the 2011 AMSAT-DC Spring (or summer) Workshop. Pat says the focus of the event will be To BUILD AND TEST something. "Something" may include a PICetSat II flight module, a SoftRock SDR project, SDR Cube transceiver, a photovoltaic system battery charging regulator deep-cycle 90AH batteries, and the door is open for more suggestions. Such a workshop for any of these projects will take nearly a whole day on which to make good progress. Pat is looking for a free or low cost meeting place. The free facility at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland is availble subject security screening such as at the last Workshop. Pat needs to know if there is enough interest? PLEASE RESPOND soon, by Tuesday, February 7, 5 PM, to amsat-dc(a)amsat.org list (preferred) or privately to Pat at n8pk(a)amsat.org. Pat hopes to hear from a great team of volunteers! Please pass the word! [ANS thanks AMSAT Maryland-DC Area Coordinator Pat Kilroy, N8PK for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.05 2 Notes from SA AMSAT AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.05 *1 SA AMSAT Announces SAiSAT A Journey Into Tomorrow This week SA AMSAT announced two new satellite initiatives. The first is a long-term research and development project called SAiSAT. The Southern Africa Amateur Radio Satellite Association (SA AMSAT) which is affiliated to other AMSAT groups around the world is pro- posing an exciting satellite project and is inviting the partici- pation of South African Universities and Universities of Technology in the development and construction of a completely South African Amateur Radio experimental satellite. The objective of this satellite is to demonstrate South Africa's ability to engineer a satellite, employing the latest technology, and new innovations. In addition to some feasibility projects for future commercial use. The aim of the project is to contribute to propelling South Africa into a world position as a technology resource. SAiSAT is based on the CubeSat satellite design. SAiSAT plans to use fold out panel a total of 24 in all that support solar panel steering in order to capture the maximum energy available from the sun. The rear of the solar panels is free for project use. They have the potential to house 24 projects depending on size. An additional research proposal is that the outer rim of each panel is fitted with pcb tracks in the form of a coil: + To generate additional power from the Earth's magnetic field. + To torque stabilise the satellite against the Earths magnetic field. + To give orientation data to resolve the attitude of the satellite. + Take additional unused power from the batteries and elevate the satellite into an every increasing orbit thus extending its use- fulness and orbital life. + Possible to create an 12 antenna arrary * Provide a steerable antenna array with gain, thus reducing the necessary radio frequency power needed to maintain contact with earth. * Provide a radio Doppler system on board so the satellite can confirm and report position, and supply the radial of interfering emissions. * Provide a vital radio redundancy feature from antenna failure. * Provide static charge data. * Provide residual atmospheric density readings SA AMSAT has issued an open invitation to tertiary institutions and individuals to participate in the project. A project meeting is scheduled on Friday 25 March ahead of the annual Space Symposium which will take place the next day. Full details are posted at: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/SAiSAT.htm *2 SA AMSAT Announces Kletskous Amateur Radio Satellite Project Project Manager Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP invites amateur satellite operators world-wide to monitor the SA AMSAT web page for project plans of the Kletskous satellite. (http://www.amsatsa.org.za) Kletskous is a hands-on CubeSat aimed at promoting greater involve- ment in satellite activity by South African Radio Amateurs. The first draft of a project plan will be available soon on the SA AMSAT web. Regular updates will be posted as the project develops. Hannes is inviting interested persons to join the team. "We are par- ticularly looking for radio amateurs with RF design experience, antenna design experience and software writing experience. Send your contact details and a short description of you technical background to saamsat(a)intekom.co.za. [ANS thanks SA AMSAT and Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.06 ARRL Announces Teachers Institute TI-2 Space Curriculum AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.06 ARRL Announces Teachers Institute TI-2 Space Curriculum The ARRL Education Services Department has announced the 2011 schedule for the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology (TI) workshop. Offered through the ARRL's Education & Technology Program, the Teachers Institute is a four-day, expenses paid, in-residence learning opportunity designed for motivated teachers and other school staff who want to learn more about wireless technology and bring that knowledge to their students. A variety of topics are covered during the TI, including basic wireless technology literacy, electronics, the science of radio, radio astronomy, how to bring space into the classroom, ham radio operation, introduction to microcontrollers and basic robotics. While participants do not need to have an Amateur Radio license to attend the basic TI sessions, one is required for the advanced (TI-2) session. TI-2 Space is sponsored by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association. The TI-2 Space curriculum focuses on the nuts and bolts of setting up and operating a satellite ground station. This serves as excellent preparation for a scheduled contact with the ISS through the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. But it also provides instruction for continued use of satellites and other man made space assets to explore naturally generated signals, space and a variety of topics. Dates of the Institute are July 11-14, 2011. The application deadline is May 15, 2011. The course will be 4 days: the first half will be setting up and learning to operate the ground station, the second half will be practice making satellite contacts and instruction in using space borne assets in the classroom. Participants will receive all the equipment necessary to set up a basic satellite ground station. They will participate in an antenna building party (an activity they can duplicate back home with their students). Though participants need not hold an amateur radio license to enroll in all other sessions of the TI, to be considered for a seat in TI-2 Space, participants must possess at least a Technician class license at the time of application. Priority for attending the TI-2 Space session will first be given to teachers who are signed up for an ARISS contact; second, to TI graduate teachers who have completed an ARISS contact; third to TI graduates who want to learn more about bringing space related activities into their classrooms. This session has a class limit of 8 participants, so apply early! Full information and applications are on-line at: http://www.arrl.org/ti-2-space-in-the-classroom [ANS thanks the ARRL for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.07 Codec2 Alpha Release Demonstration AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.07 Codec2 Alpha Release Demonstration If you attended the 2010 AMSAT Space Symposium you heard the talk by Bruce Perens, K6BP about the Codec2 Project, the open-source, low-bit rate voice codec that is being led by David Rowe VK5DGR. Bruce, VE9QRP recently completed an internet bitstream concact with Paul, ZL3IN using an alpha-level release of Codec2. Bruce made a video of the conversation using the actual audio of the digital audio. You are invited to view/listen to the Codec2 dem- onstration at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k-nhHE6CrI This demonstration is running at 2500 bps. Bruce wrote, "We're aiming for 2400 bps with Forward Error Correction, it could make satellite voice communication comprise a smaller bandwidth, offer- ing less demanding downlink systems. Because it is open source, the codec could even be implemented in the satellite, perhaps to provide voice-encoded telemetry for a FUNcube-like project of the future." The Codec2 site is http://www.rowetel.com/blog/?page_id=452 The source files of Bruce's conversation with ZL3IN, and many ancillary Codec2 materials are available on his blog: http://ve9qrp.blogspot.com [ANS thanks Bruce, VE9QRP for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.08 ARISS Status - 31 January 2011 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.08 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.08 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report January 31, 2011 1. Upcoming School Contacts An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact scheduled for Arsaniq School in Kangiqsujuaq, Wakeham Bay, Quebec, Canada on Monday, January 31 at 19:26 UTC was successful via telebridge station LU8YY in Argentina will handle the radio connection. Students have learned about the ISS through videos, the internet and guest speakers. Collège Joseph Chassigneux, located in Vinay, France, was completed on Tuesday, February 1 at 07:02 UTC. Through this activity, teachers hope to expose students from mostly rural villages to the outside world. In French class, students have written articles for the school magazine about life on the ISS as well as items about their preparations for the radio contact. They have learned technical terms in English, built CW circuits in Physics and have studied continents and countries in Geography. Amateur radio operators plan to discuss the technical aspects of the contact with the youth. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was completed with Buehl-Realschule Dornstadt in Dornstadt, Germany on Wednesday, February 2 at 07:32 UTC. Students have been introduced to wireless technology and have participated in related hands-on activities. In addition, workshops have been planned which will teach about the challenges faced in space travel. An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was scheduled and completed for Adobe Bluffs Elementary School, San Diego, California on Thursday, February 3 at 17:12 UTC. Through projects and hands on activities, students have been learning about electromagnetic waves, astronomy and other space-related topics. 2. Paolo Nespoli Speaks with Marco da Melo Students via ARISS Istituto Comprensivo "Marco da Melo" in Mel, Belluno, Italy took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, January 25. Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA answered the students' 21 questions over two ISS passes and exchanged greetings with the audience. Nearly 250 students, teachers and visitors were in attendance for the contact. Regional television RAI and local media and newspapers covered the event. Video streamed over the internet received over 50 connections. The ARISS contact was the featured event of a curriculum covering telecommunications, electrophysics and telegraphy. 3. Successful ARISS Contact with Polish School On Wednesday, January 26, astronaut Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with students, ages 15 - 18, from Liceum Ogolnoksztalcace Nr I im. Stanislawa Staszica in Ostrowiec Swietokrzyski, Poland. Coleman answered 20 space-related questions posed to her by the youth. Approximately 150 students, teachers and guests were on hand for this event which was covered by several media outlets. In addition to the required science curriculum, the school sponsors astronomy and amateur radio clubs as well as featured activities such as this ARISS contact, in order to stimulate students' scientific interests. 4. Nelson County Area Technology Center Sponsors ARISS Contact On Friday, January 28, on-orbit astronaut Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH took part in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Foster Heights Elementary School students in Bardstown, Kentucky. Nelson County Area Technology Center students operated the amateur radio equipment during the pass during which Coleman answered 16 questions. An audience of approximately 100 people attended the event, including a representative from the Kentucky Department of Education. Television stations and newspapers covered the contact. To view the Kentucky Standard article, go to: http://www.kystandard.com/content/foster-heights-students-use-amateur-radio- speak-astronaut 5. Civitavecchia, Italy Students Radio ISS The primary school "Alessandro Cialdi" in Civitavecchia, Italy participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, January 29. ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA answered 17 questions posed by the students from "Autorità Portuale" in Civitavecchia (Port authority of Rome) where an audience of nearly 200 students, teachers, visitors and media gathered for the contact. Before the ISS call, ARISS mentor Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF introduced the event with a presentation on the ARISS program. Regional and local media and newspapers covered the event and the video, streamed on the internet by AMSAT-Italia, received 60 connections. 6. AMSAT - ARISSat-1 Delivered to the ISS On January 27, ARISSat-1 was launched on Progress 41P and arrived at the ISS on Saturday, January 29. The satellite is expected to be deployed during a Russian EVA on February 16. The January 30 AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) News Service bulletin (ANS-030) included an update on ARISSat-1. "ARISSat-1 Arrives at the International Space Station" may be found at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/2011/000482.html The AMSAT Web site has also been revised to include the latest information on ARISSat-1 with links to several news stories covering the satellite. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php 7. ARRL Story on ARISSat-1 Launch The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an item on the launch of ARISSat-1 aboard Progress 41P. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/arissat-1-blasts-off 8. Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS On January 28, the Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1746 posted an item, "ARISSat-1 Set for Trip to the ISS" under its heading Ham Radio in Space. See: ftp://ftp.arnewsline.org/quincy/News/news.txt [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.09 AMSAT at the Orlanda Vacation AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.09 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.09 AMSAT Will Be at the Orlando Hamcation February 11-13 AMSAT VP Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA reminds everyone that the Orlando Hamcation is just a week away, and AMSAT will be there in force. Here are the details of the hamfest ... Orlando HamCation 2011 February 11, 12, 13 Central Florida Fairgrounds Orlando, Florida 32808 Friday: Noon to 6pm Saturday: 9am to 5pm Sunday: 9am to 2pm AMSAT has a forum scheduled Saturday from 1:45 to 3:15, and this year it is INSIDE! ARISSat-1 will be one of the main topic of dis- cussion. The ARISSat-1 engineering model will be on display, and on the air. Drew will have a FUNcube Dongle Pro on display and in use. Tune your HT to 145.950 MHz to copy the FM downlink transmitting live from the hamfest. AMSAT will also have live satellite demonstrations, ranging from simple handheld/portable operations, to fully automated systems. Drew is also planning on having materials on hand for new members to build their own CJU 435 MHz antenna, for free as incentive to join and support AMSAT. To make this all happen, we need your help. Orlando has become AMSAT's busiest hamfest behind Dayton, and we need current members to assist in the booth. If you can help answer questions and talk up the amateur satellite program, please consider putting in a few hours behind the table. Drop Drew an email at ko4ma(a)amsat.org, and let him know when you can come by and help out! [ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-037.10 Volunteer Request AMSAT News Service Bulletin 037.10 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. February 6, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-037.10 Volunteer request The ARISSat-1 team is looking for volunteers to manage the QSL operations for ARISSat-1. There will be recognitions for voice, CW, SSTV, telemetry and Secret Word reception reports. We expect to have participation from many students and classes worldwide. Please contact Gould at wa4sxm at amsat dot org if you can help us with this part of the project. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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Memories of OSCAR 10
by Bill Dzurilla 06 Feb '11

06 Feb '11

I've been enjoying the posts regarding our last HEO satellite, AO-40. I was inactive while AO-40 was going strong, but the posts brought back memories of our first HEO, OSCAR 10, my first experience with satellites until a couple of years ago. You can't find much about the glory days of AO-10 on the web, but I remember them well. Passes lasted for 8 hours. Always Q5 copy everywhere in the huge footprint, very little QRM or QRN. I worked over 100 countries from 1983-85, but never got enough cards for DXCC. My rig was a Yaesu FT-726R with a Mirage D-1010 amp. It was 70cm uplink, 2 meters downlink. I attached the antennas to a small mast on my chimney. I had a surplus cavity bandpass filter that wiped away all the birdies; it was needed because I lived in EL49 in New Orleans. The antennas were small crossed-yagis (KLM?), circularly polarized, on separate booms. I can't recall the make or model. Also must have had a mast-mounted preamp and an az-el rotator, but I can't remember them. I got the tracking info from a program that ran on my Commodore 64 and printed it out on my Gorilla Banana printer. Those were halycon days, with AO-10 supposed to be just the beginning. The grand plan was to put up 3 linked ham sats in geosynchronous orbit, which would enable any ham to work any other ham anywhere on the globe 24-7. Will we ever see anything like that again? How did AO-10 compare with AO-40? There was a fire at my home and all my logs and QSL cards from those days were lost. If anyone out there happens to have an old AO-10 QSL card from me, I'd sure appreciate a copy. 73, Bill NZ5N

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Re: Arissat-1 lifetime
by Armando Mercado 06 Feb '11

06 Feb '11

Hello, I guess 258 days. That is how long the Tool Bag lost duing an EVA stayed up. Roughly the same size as Arissat-1. 73, Armando N8IGJ

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watering hole
by Bob- W7LRD 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

Hello has it ever been suggested that we have a "unofficial" watering hole" of sorts, say on 20M? Where we can prearrange, make skeds, thrash out, critique, our on going satellite efforts. I know we have the AMSAT net on 14.282 every Sun afternoon. This would be a more real time on going communication where experiments and other efforts can be discusssed. I have done this using email but some how that takes a bit of the fun away. 73 Bob W7LRD

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AO40 contacts
by Juan Antonio Fernandez 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

Those days were unforgettable! I can remember far stations from Europe, such as the antarctic station 8J1RF, VK6XH, VK5DG, XE1MEX, VU2RM, etc., or speaking with Joe K5OE from which I have learnt a lot building the TPMs antennas. But which I can forgotten is getting up very early to work the AOS. I still keep several contacts in SSTV mode with japanesse stations 7N1JVW, JH2ESW, JA5CU/1, etc. By the way, they were more polite than european stations in HF. Juan Antonio EA4CYQ

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Logging program/LOTW
by Marvin Tamez 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

Hello group I need advice and direction concerning logging programs and LOTW. Using WINLOG32 I uploaded 184 QSO's in to LOTW which resulted in 2 matches. Knowing that some of you have been doing the same and I have had QSO's with you; is the fact that Winlog32 does not provide for a "SAT name" location the reason for so few matches? There does not seem to be a way to add a "SAT name" blank to Winlog32, that I can figure out! Does anyone know a work-around and/or is there a logging program that is easier to use and adapt or is there a program that already has these perameters built in. Your help will be greatly appreciated, Marvin K5MLT

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Help with predict
by Andrew Rich 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

Can someone give me hand with predict under LINUX + Install predict - done + Define QTH - done + Reduce satellite tracking list to just ISS / SO-50 and AO-51 (to do) I will work out the keps location and how to script that bit I have scripts that can query preidict in server mode - Andrew VK4TEC -

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TH-F6A tip request
by Scott Richardson 05 Feb '11

05 Feb '11

I got a surprise gift of a Kenwood TH-F6A and look forward to giving it a try on the satellites. I know there are a few owners on the list -- Drew, Patrick, others -- and wonder if folks have any tips to share (I've read through the eham reviews). I'm especially interested in experiences with speaker/mics and headsets, headphones with 2.5mm plugs, quality of after-market programming cables, etc. I'll typically be using the F6A as one of two radios -- the receiver for the easy sats -- and want to record passes while listening or operating. Thanks in advance for any ideas that will make its use more effective and enjoyable. 73, Scott N1AIA

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