June 2013 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Pass prediction - New Option - ALL
by Robert Bruninga 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

The pass prediction page is wonderful! Great work! But it is tedious if you simply want to know what is the next satellite to demo. I's like to ask the programmers to add a second link to an ALL-SATELLITES page. This page would simply list the next 10 satellites to come in view at the subscribers location. This is what I need because I never know when someone is going to walk through the door and I need to give a quick demo. Or when I have a few minutes in the shack and just want to see if something is in view in the next 10 minutes. The page would have these entries: LAT/LONG and TIME (defaults to now). Then there are several buttons: * FM only * ALL mode * Voice * Digital * All beacons If ALL BEACONS is checked, then all satellites with telemetry in the ham bands are included in the list including all the bleepsats. If this is not checked, then the other 4 buttons are used to filter. The result is a LIST of the next 10 passes of any satellite that meets the criteria. This type of pass prediction engine is of extreme value to people that want to DEMO Amateur satellites without having to go run pass predictions on over 30 different satellites just to see what might be in view. With that many satellites there is almost always coming coming up real soon, and this is invaluable for quick demos. It is also invaluable for the ham that only gets a few minutes in his shack now and then. This page would show him what might be available for the next several minutes... Bob, WB4APR

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HamSatDroid now AmsatDroid FREE
by David A B Johnson 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

Hi, As part of the transition to a 'paid' version of the application. The original HamSatDroid has been removed from 'Google Play' and replaced with 'AmsatDroid FREE'. It has all the functionality of HSD and can now - support 4/7/10 inch displays in landscape for the current satellite position and next two orbits - take the user location as a IARU locator The requirement to access user email info has been removed (the original thought was to issue remeinders, but was never implemented) 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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Re: LUSAT-1 Heard
by Hector, CO6CBF 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

Hello to all! Very strong signal received from LUSAT-1 (LO-19) in Cienfuegos city, EL92sd. Orbit number 22137, 1843z max elevation 82 degrees. Setup: FUNcube Dongle with SDR-Radio V2.0 and ELK antenna. I recorded audio and IQ data. If anyone need the recording, please let me know and I will be happy to send it. 73! Hector, CO6CBF EL92sd -----Mensaje original----- De: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] En nombre de Jean-Pierre Godet Enviado el: domingo, 09 de junio de 2013 8:48 Para: Amsat Argentina CC: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; amsat-francophone(a)yahoogroupes.fr; amsat-f(a)yahoogroups.com Asunto: [amsat-bb] Re: LUSAT-1 Heard Hello my friends from AMSAT-Argentina ! Your bird was heard here in the North of France, very very strong signal, the sort you received with dash and dots, strong especially according to the conditions : ground plane antenna in the attic, AM receiver and 456,9 kHz transmitter poorly hacked together to receive CW, GaAsFET preamp. Orbit nr 22133, acquisition at 1202 UTC, lost at 1215 UTC (elev. then was about 4 deg.). The max elevations was around 42 deg. I recorded audio and spectrogram, I send you both later. Best 73 ! Jean-Pierre/F5YG -- Powered by Linux (Slackware 10.0 - kernel 2.4.26) On Sat, 8 Jun 2013, Amsat Argentina wrote: > LUSAT-1 (LO-19) CW Beacon on 437.125 KHz quit transmiting on Dec-2012 after 23 years of operation, only a very weak carrier from local osc could be copied. > > Recent reports state that LUSAT was again heard, today we received a regular signal compatible with LUSAT on 437.125 +/- Doppler in two passes. > > By the strong level and QRG of the signal it corresponds to LUSAT. > > Modulation is CW without a morse logic, just some dots, regular spaces and sometime a dash, no information is decoded, not always the same sequence or message. > > Waterfall at http://amsat.org.ar/lusatsdr.jpg > Audio at http://amsat.org.ar/lusat2013.mp3 > > Any further heard or reports appreciated. > > Amsat Argentina > lu7aa(a)yahoo.com > www.amsat.org.ar > _______________________________________________ > 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: LO-19 Signal Stop ?
by Amsat Argentina 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

Hello Mineo, Looks like on 06/09/13 at 15:56 UTC LUSAT-1 (LO-19) over Japan, LUSAT entered shadow, please confirm if possible. Also given your valuable information, LO-19 seems to be operating only on solar panels due onboard nicad batteries after 23+ years and 122,140 charge/discharge cycles are not keeping charge anymore. Much appreciate your neat and useful audio and waterfall capture. Best 73, Amsat-Argentina lu7aa(a)yahoo.com www.amsat.org.ar

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Dayton Youth Forum
by John Spasojevich 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

If you visit http://n9xh.org/ you will see a photo of a young man and his dad. This young man you may have seen in the AMSAT Journal or QST or CQ. standing in the snow copying ARISSSat-1 some months ago. I was sent that photo by a friend and I thought it was great so I forwarded it to AMSAT and if you click on WATCH THE VIDEO in the caption of the photo you can watch the presentation he was invited to make at the Dayton Hamvention this year largely as a result of that photo. While we spend a lot of time grumbling about the good old days, lets remember that there are plenty of people coming into the hobby and getting interested in the satellites we do have. 73, John - AG9D

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LO-19 Signal Stop ?
by Mineo Wakita 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

The signal of the LO-19 was stopped suddenly at 15:56 UTC, 9 Jun 2013. Please confirm whether the signal is sent later. The following MP3 files is recording the moment before and after the signal has stopped suddenly. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/30610l19.mp3 http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/30610l20.png http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/30610l21.png JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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LUSAT-1 Heard
by Amsat Argentina 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

LUSAT-1 (LO-19) CW Beacon on 437.125 KHz quit transmiting on Dec-2012 after 23 years of operation, only a very weak carrier from local osc could be copied. Recent reports state that LUSAT was again heard, today we received a regular signal compatible with LUSAT on 437.125 +/- Doppler in two passes. By the strong level and QRG of the signal it corresponds to LUSAT. Modulation is CW without a morse logic, just some dots, regular spaces and sometime a dash, no information is decoded, not always the same sequence or message. Waterfall at http://amsat.org.ar/lusatsdr.jpg Audio at http://amsat.org.ar/lusat2013.mp3 Any further heard or reports appreciated. Amsat Argentina lu7aa(a)yahoo.com www.amsat.org.ar

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ANS-160
by Joe Spier 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-160 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org <http://amsat.org>. In this edition: * Fox-1 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination Letter * _Reminder_: Deadline for AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Approaching * AMSAT Field Day 2013 * AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions Webpage Restored * 2013 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT Forum Presentations Now on YouTube.com * New Video on Ham Radio Satellite SO-50 on FM handheld * South Africa Radio Amateur of the Year Awards 2013 Nominations Closes June 10 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-160.01 ANS-160 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 160.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 9, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-160.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination Letter On June 4 the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Board accepted the following frequencies for our AMSAT Fox-1 cubesat: + 435.180 MHz Uplink + 145.980 MHz Downlink Fox-1 will serve as a communications relay for amateurs worldwide via the onboard FM repeater system. Fox-1 is currently scheduled to launch into a 470 x 780 km at 64 degrees inclination orbit from Vandenburg during 2014 on the NASA ElanaXII mission with ARC1, BisonSat, Lightsail & R2S(NEO). The Fox-1 Engineering Team will deliver the satellite for integration with the launch vehicle during May, 2014 with the launch scheduled for November, 2014. The Fox cubesats are designed to host advanced science payloads to support future science missions that help us to continue qualify for NASA ELaNa (free) launches. President Barry Baines says, "AMSAT's focus on STEM education and development of a cubesat platform capable of flying a science mission with a reliable communications link resulted in the selection of Fox-1 in the third round and RadFxSat (Fox-1B) in the fourth round of NASA's Cubesat Launch Initiative." The Fox-1 satellite will include a space radiation experiment from Vanderbilt University and a JPEG Digital Camera from Virginia Tech. The Vanderbilt Low Energy Proton experiment will detect single-event upsets in memory devices and will operate all the time. The experiment data will be downlinked with the satellite telemetry. The camera will operate when the satellite is in the high-speed digital data mode and will take one photo each minute. Watch the AMSAT Journal, the AMSAT web site (http://www.amsat.org) and the AMSAT News Service for more details to follow. [ANS thanks the Fox-1 Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- _Reminder_ Deadline for AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Approaching It is time to submit nominations for the upcoming open seats on the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors. A nomination requires either one Member Society or five current individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT member for the position. Four director's terms expire this year: Barry Baines, WD4ASW, Alan Biddle, WA4SCA, Drew Glasbrenner, K04MA, and Tony Monteiro, AA2TX. In addition to traditional submission of written nominations, which remains unchanged and is the preferred method, nominations may be made by electronic means. These include e-mail, FAX, or electronic image of a petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to MARTHA at AMSAT.ORG <http://AMSAT.ORG> or faxed to 301-608-3410. Written nominations, consisting of names, calls and individual sig- natures should be mailed to: AMSAT-NA 850 Sligo Ave #600 Silver Spring, MD, 20910 No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive no later than June 15th at the AMSAT-NA office. If the nomination is a traditional written nomination, no other action is required. If it is other than this, i.e. electronic, a verifying traditional written petition MUST be received at the AMSAT-NA office at the above address within 7 days following the close of nominations on June 15th. ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT-NA BYLAWS. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Field Day 2013 Every year AMSAT promotes a satellite version of Field Day during the ARRL annual operating event which is held on the 4^th weekend in June. This year Field Day will take place from 1800 UTC on Saturday June 22, 2013 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 23, 2013. SaudiSat-Oscar-50 will be the only operational FM transponder satellite this year. If you are considering only FM voice operating for your AMSAT Field Day focus the single uplink/downlink channel will be extremely challenging. As in prior years, this intense congestion on FM LEO satellites drives the limitation in the rules allowing their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. You will also be allowed one digital QSO with the ISS or any other digital, non-store-and-forward, packet satellite (if operational). If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on the linear transponder satellites including VO-52, FO-29, and AO-7. During Field Day the transponders come alive like 20 meters on a weekend. The transponders on these satellites will support multiple simultaneous SSB or CW contacts. The AMSAT Field Day 2013 event is open to all Amateur Radio operators. Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur satellites, both analog and digital. For the complete listing of the AMSAT Field Day Rules please refer to the documents posted on-line at: ·http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.docx ·http://www.amsatnet.com/2013fd.pdf [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions Webpage Restored A favorite feature of the AMSAT website has been restored. The AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions Webpage back on AMSAT's webpage. Please visit: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/index.php After a team effort by Emily, N1DID,Bryce, KB1LQC, Brent, KB1LQD, and Rick, W2GPS, the pass predictions are working again. They can also be found at the PASS PREDICTION link on www.amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org> [ANS thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT Forum Presentations now on youtube.com Two presentations from the AMSAT Forum at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention have been posted on the AMSATNA channel on YouTube. Title:AMSAT Status Report, by Barry WD4ASW - 2013 Dayton Hamvention In the first of six videos from the AMSAT Forum at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention, AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, presents an update on AMSAT, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation.Barry's talk covers a review of AMSAT's mission and vision, recent history, Journal, regulatory environment, 2013 Symposium plans, and where AMSAT is headed. Title:Fox-1 Status Update, by Tony AA2TX - 2013 Dayton Hamvention AMSAT VP for Engineering Tony Monteiro, AA2TX, provided an up-to-the-minute review of AMSAT-NA's next satellite, Fox-1, at the AMSAT Forum at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention.The first of a number of satellites planned for Project Fox, Tony reviews the motivation for building a CubeSat, the components that comprise Fox-1, and the capabilities and experiments included.He describes the launch assigned by NASA for Fox-1 and gives a brief look at future Project Fox satellites. You can find these videos and many others on the AMSATNA channel at: http://www.youtube.com/AMSATNA Additional presentations from the AMSAT Forum should become available next week. [ANS thanks Steve Belter, N9IP for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Video on Ham Radio Satellite SO-50 on FM handheld David Mercado KK4MND has produced a video showing how easy it is to receive the amateur radio satellite SO-50. This video demonstrates how to communicate via Amateur Ham Radio Satellite using an inexpensive $50 Baofeng UV5R Dual Band Radio and MFJ dual band antenna from Amazon. Among the stations heard are Hector Martinez CO6CBF, Dave Beumer W0DHB and James Bayne KI4SIY. Watch Ham Radio Satellite w/Baofeng UV5R MFJ on Saudisat SO-50 http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2013/ham_radio_satellite_so50_on_fm_ha… SO50 frequencies Uplink - 145.850 MHz with 67 HZ CTCSS (initial 74.4 Hz CTCSS tone required if satellite has not already been activated) Downlink - 436.800 MHz SO-50 article by Howard Long G6LVB http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/operatingSO50.htm SO-50 http://amsat-uk.org/2012/01/30/working-the-fm-sat-so-50/ [ANS thanks Southgate Amateur Radio News' Website for this June 3, 2013 announcement for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- South Africa Radio Amateur of the Year Awards 2013 Nominations Closes June 10 Nominations are now invited for the 2013 MTN Radio Amateur of The Year Awards : GARTH MILNE TECHNICAL INNOVATION AWARD The award is made for the support, development and application of Technological Innovation in Amateur in South Africa. The recipient will be a person who has promoted the use of technology in amateur radio at club level, nationally, at schools or tertiary education institution MTN RADIO AMATEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD The award is made for the support and development of the Amateur Radio Service in South Africa, not for individual achievements such as DXCC and other operational awards or contests. The recipient will be a person who has given of his or her expertise and time to the promotion of Amateur Radio in South Africa. MTN AMATEUR RADIO COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Annually the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust is recognizing a radio amateur or a group of radio amateurs for service to the community. Community service can be assistance to a handicapped radio amateur, communications support during a sporting event or a disaster situation like a road accident or a natural disaster like a flood, veld fires, or an earthquake. Nominations are invited for an individual or a group of people like a radio club, or an association. NOMINATIONS Nominations must reach the South African Amateur Radio Development Trust by not later than 10 June 2013 P O Box 90438, Garsfontein 0042. Fax: 012 991-5651 Email to: saardt(a)intekom.co.za <mailto:[email protected]> [We thank AMSAT SA's Website 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 addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org ---------------------------------------------------------------------

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FW: Re: AMSAT needs volunteers ???
by R Oler 09 Jun '13

09 Jun '13

From: orbitjet(a)hotmail.com To: apbiddle(a)mailaps.org Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT needs volunteers ??? Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 21:34:27 -0500 Hello Alan " No, but placing volunteers successfully is very similar when we are talking about technical rather than non-specialized social service," but not dissimilar to specialized non technical task. But it doesnt matter...volunteer organizations usually become exactly what the "volunteer" BOD wants them to be and Amsat NA will remain how it is as long as the current BOD remains...and that will only change when the membership demands it. Amsat NA has morphed into a "NASA" sort of organization. Sorry for the autofill on non sequitur I should have checked in more detail...was trying to finish a report on the 767 I am ferrying a week from now to S2 land. I am going to get to see another AMSAT close up and it will be interesting to observe the differences. 73's RGO rom: wa4sca(a)gmail.com > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 12:27:08 -0500 > CC: APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT needs volunteers ??? > > Robert, > > >>Volunteering for AMSAT ... > > No, but placing volunteers successfully is very similar when we are talking about technical rather > than non-specialized social service, which is the point I was addressing. An important distinction, > not a "non inquisitor" sentence. :) > > 73s, > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: R Oler [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Saturday, June 08, 2013 11:51 AM > To: APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG; 'Tom Lubbers K8TL'; Amsat BB > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT needs volunteers ??? > > This in many ways mirrors > corporate and educational hiring." > > A non inquisitor sentence > > Volunteering for AMSAT (or the Boy Scouts or insert volunteer group here) > is not "hiring" and it certainly is not corporate or educational > hiring. > > Robert WB5MZO > > > > From: wa4sca(a)gmail.com > > To: k8tl(a)earthlink.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > Date: Sat, 8 Jun 2013 07:47:45 -0500 > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AMSAT needs volunteers ??? > > > > Tom, > > > > It IS true that AMSAT is always looking for volunteers. And we have an amazing number working on > > projects ranging from Fox to the day to day operations. However messily, the recruiting process > > works. However, in most cases it comes from someone with a specific skill, contacting a specific > > individual, about a specific project. In other cases, the person needing help contacts someone who > > they know who is a good fit, or based on a trusted recommendation. This in many ways mirrors > > corporate and educational hiring. > > > > What you are talking about are the generic "I want to work for AMSAT, what can I do?" volunteers. As > > has been said, those reading the applications are also volunteers who pass them on to other > volunteers > > who may or may not respond. There have been times when the press of other projects, or personal > > health matters, have caused the applications to fall through the cracks. Also, as Gould has > remarked, > > the idea of working for AMSAT is often more appealing than actually working for AMSAT. This is no > > reflection on your son or anyone else, but it does tend to encourage the use of people with proven > > skills and record over "walk ins." > > > > As another respondent has said, ITAR is a complete roadblock for non-US citizens for most areas. As > a > > result of the NDAA changes, the first draft regulations are appearing. We have volunteers plowing > > through the extensive documents, most of which seem to be written in a foreign language. However, we > > have expectations that the current ban will be lifted in the foreseeable future, or at least made > more > > reasonable. The primary benefit will be working with our colleagues in other national AMSATs, but it > > will also open up our own ability to accept foreign volunteers. > > > > All that having been said, I am working on getting the AMSAT generic recruitment running a bit more > > effectively. This will include a more targeted approach for those expressing interest, and at least > > some sort of reply. Of course, I am also just a volunteer. :) > > > > 73s, > > > > Alan > > WA4SCA > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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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AMSAT needs volunteers ???
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 08 Jun '13

08 Jun '13

Over the past half century I responded several times to AMSAT’s call for volunteers and never heard back from them. I was happy to hear from my son when he volunteered his software talents to AMSAT and told me that they had asked when would be a good time to contact him. His job title is Software Engineer with over 30 years experience, a number of published articles and winner of a number of design contests. He is also comfortable with hardware and firmware. If I mention a piece of hardware or software that I wish was a available in my ham shack it is usually available the next time he visits. Oh by the way I see AMSAT is still looking for a software guy, they never followed up on their request of when they could contact him. They sure blew an opportunity there. Tom K8TL

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