October 2015 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: [amsat-bb] Satellite Sex?
by Clint Bradford 21 Oct '15

21 Oct '15

I thought the mission was being dedicated to the memory of Tony ... so that is why I was inquiring ... Clint

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Satellite Sex?
by Clint Bradford 21 Oct '15

21 Oct '15

Do satellites have sex? Er, I mean, well ... nautical ships are referred to as being female - "she." Does Fox-1A have a gender? When I called it "her" in a recent post, I was asked if it really had a gender. Clint Bradford http://www.work-sat.com

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SatPC32 V 12.8C help
by KE6PPE＠aol.com 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

Need some help on two thing dealing wit Satpc32 V12.8c. 1. How do you change the size of the window for satellites sub available window size so you can see all of information on the list information? 2. How do you down load new satellite information on new satellites. Thank for the help. Larry KE6PPE

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Upcoming ARISS contact with West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI on 22 Oct. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 17:14 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and W8ISS. The contact should be audible over portions of the eastern U.S. and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The West Michigan Aviation Academy is a tuition-free public charter high school founded by Dick DeVos upon encouragement from wife, Betsy. Stemming from their passion for both education and aviation, the school opened its doors in the fall of 2010 and is located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Like other high schools, our curriculum includes core subjects. But as an aviation-themed high school the curriculum at WMAA is designed for students who have a passion for aviation and/or an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. (STEM) The Aviation program includes training for the Private Pilot certificate in the student's senior year. The school owns our own Cessna 172 that is provided at direct operating costs to the students. Although they must pay for the flight training the total cost is much lower than renting at the local flight school and ground instruction is provided for as part of their elective classes. Currently we have 11 students in the program and hope to have 18 by the time of the contact. We also try to get the kids out around the airport to experience the many different job opportunities available in aviation. The Robotics program includes FIRST robotics programs and many of our competitors are taking both engineering and aviation classes. Our engineering program provides for instruction in aerospace, robotics and electronic fields. We try to closely alley the Aviation and Engineering departments. We currently have about 500 students were everyone knows each other. We have students from all walks of life from the suburbs to the inner city all working together and enjoying the diversity this environment offers. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What courses did you take in high school that you find most relevant to your work at the International Space Station? 2. Are you planning on expanding the size of the ISS, if so then when do you plan on starting the constructing? 3. So far during the twin study, what research has been recorded since Scott Kelly was sent up to the station? 4. What do you think of the liquid water on Mars? Do you think it would make it possible to colonize it earlier? 5. Waking up in space every day and seeing earth out your window, how has seeing this and having this opportunity changed your perspective on life? 6. Concerning the twin study, in order to remove variables from the research on gut organisms, will the twins have the exact same diet during the space mission? 7. Could you use a gyroscopic space station to simulate gravity so the astronauts can still maintain balance and bone strength? 8. What are the ways you blend your culture with the other cultures surrounding you at the station? 9. Do you always have enough food? If not, how is more food sent to you? 10. Being confined in that small area so far away from others, do you guys ever feel lonely? How are the group dynamics? 11. How does space positively or negatively affect your health? 12. What is the daily checklist for astronauts, in terms of safety inspections, instrument tuning, and/or incoming information? 13. What types of plants do you grow to study and what are the main differences between their growth in space and on earth? 14. What kind of emotional impact do you feel being selected out of thousands of scientists to be one of the few humans to venture into outer space? 15. Does zero gravity affect your dreams? 16. I understand most astronauts stay in space for approximately six months, do you feel that astronauts should be kept in space for this long or should it be longer such as Russian astronauts who have been known to stay for a year? 17. In your opinion, do you think that commercial rocket companies such as SpaceX will help the space industry by exploring new realms of our solar system, or will the cheaper, reusable rockets hurt the industry by causing a fatal accident? 18. Does Scott Kelly have to do anything different while in space to gather data for the identical twin/effects of space study? 19. What does a lunar eclipse look like up at the space station? 20. How does having women on the ISS impact the mission? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): TBD ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the volunteer support and leadership from AMSAT and IARU societies around the world with the ISS space agencies partners: NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on-board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ Thank you & 73, David - AA4KN --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Bob Farquhar SK
by Peter Guelzow 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

Robert W. Farquhar, PhD (1932-2015) It is with great sadness to inform you that Robert W. Farquhar, former flight director of the ISEE-3 mission passed away on Sept 18th, 2015. Bob’s dissertation was key to halo orbits around libration points, which are now used by many science missions. After redirecting the ISEE-3 mission to comet Giacobini-Ziner in 1985 he developed the trajectory with eventually returned ISEE-3 to earth’s vicinity in 2014, where with his assistance an international team successfully regained control of the aging spacecraft. Our heart goes out to his family and friends and all those who were close to him. Peter Guelzow, DB2OS AMSAT-DL

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FO-29 and AO-73 Antenna Patterns and Crosslinks
by Zach Leffke 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

Hello!, First off, I'd like to say I had a blast at the 2015 AMSAT Symposium. It was a lot of fun and I know that the rest of the VT team really appreciated the warm welcome from everyone. Drew and I got to talking at one point after the Banquet and he re-kindled an interest in something for me. He posted a while back about how the downlink for AO-73 is in the passband of FO-29's uplink, and that the PSK can be heard at times when monitoring FO-29's downlink. I'd like to do a bit more analysis using STK to predict when an 'accidental crosslink' might occur allowing a telemetry decode of AO-73 via FO-29. Right now I'm using a simple model for all of this where I'm treating each satellite as a single point in the sky. The first question I'm asking (via STK simulation profiles) is when can the two "points in the sky" see each other when not blocked by the curvature of the earth. The next question I will ask of the great and glorious STK is when can the two "points in the sky" see each other AND when can the point in the sky that is FO-29 see the point on the ground that is the VT Ground Station. When the second question yields accesses in time when the two spacecraft can see each other and FO-29 can see the VTGS, then I have a window to schedule the VTGS for this experiment. The next trick will be accounting for doppler between the two spacecraft (via range rate info from STK for the two points) to determine where exactly in FO-29's uplink passband the AO-73 signal will fall. Then account for the Linear inverting transponder offsets, then account for doppler between FO-29 and VTGS. Also, the signal spectrum will be inverted due to the transponder, but we can "re-invert" in our GNU-Radio flowgraph to account for that. End result should be an access window at VTGS along with a predicted doppler curve for tuning at VTGS, ultimately getting us to an AO-73 tlm decode via FO-29. My question for the group concerns the antenna patterns for FO-29 and AO-73. I'm trying to plan ahead for refining the access windows for when to actually conduct this experiment by doing a bit more than treat each satellite as a "point in the sky." Does anyone have any info on the actual antenna pattern for FO-29? Along with this, I remember reading somewhere that FO-29 has an attitude control system. Is this system still operational and if so, what is the "target attitude." I'm trying to get a sense of the antenna patterns for the two spacecraft and their orientations to identify "sweet spots" where antenna patterns might align positively. On the other hand it will be good to know when we have an access window but one of the spacecraft is in the null of the antenna pattern of the other spacecraft. For AO-73 I'm assuming simple whip antennas. I know it doesn't have a positive attitude control system, but if memory serves I think it has a bar magnet and the spin from the anodized bars imparted on it that should give me a sense of its orientation at particular times. Thanks in advance! -Zach, KJ4QLP -- Research Associate Ted & Karyn Hume Center for National Security & Technology Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University Work Phone: 540-231-4174 Cell Phone: 540-808-6305

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PSK31 Satellite Transponder works!
by Robert Bruninga 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

> ON4HTI... will be participating in the... SCR, > and we always do a lot of PSK... on 10-15-20m Don't forget to listen to the PSK31 downlink on PSAT (NO84). Its FM downlink is the audio copy of everything the satellite hears on the normal 28.120 MHz ten meter PSK31 terrestrial hangout. And of course since the downlink (FM) adds no doppler, most signals come in just fine and can be decoded by any PSK31 clients. AND of course, being full duplex, it is fun to be transmitting to EVERYONE in the passband at the same time you are seeing EVERYTHING everyone is saying. Try it... http://aprs.org/psat.html Bob, WB4aPR

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VA7EWK/3 @ EN93/EN94 today
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

Hi! After an early start, and a slight delay at the border, I am now about 20 miles or so north of Goderich, Ontario, and ready to work various passes from the EN93dx/EN94da boundary along Ontario route 21, just east of Lake Huron. I already worked an SO-50 pass from here, and will work the next SO-50 pass followed by an FO-29 pass around 1700 UTC that may cover out to England. I am operating as VA7EWK/3, and this is how I will upload QSOs to Logbook of the World. I think I have a receive issue in my IC-2820H mobile radio, so I will work any further SO-50 passes with an HT or SDR receiver for the downlink, through a duplexer to my Elk log periodic. I have 3 HTs and two SDR receivers here, so that should not be an issue. I hear APRS out here, but I can't reach the digipeaters up here. When I move away from here, maybe my track will reappear there. More information will be on my @WD9EWK Twitter feed, viewable at https://twitter.com/WD9EWK for those not on Twitter. Some rain off and on up here, and I saw snow about halfway between Sarnia and this area. No snow is falling, just the occasional rain. A nice day now, at 59F/15C outside. 73! Patrick VA7EWK/WD9EWK - near Goderich, Ontario http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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WD9EWK @ EN83, now
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

Hi! Late notice, but I will be on the upcoming AO73 & SO50 passes from EN83sa in a few minutes. Just got all set here. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK Port Huron MI

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Re: [amsat-bb] A tip for Gqrx users and report of the copy of FIREBIRD-II FU3/4 19k2 FSK.
by M.Sc. Pavel Milanes Costa 20 Oct '15

20 Oct '15

This is the bookmark file I have talked about. [attached four you use, feel free to use it...] I have made a request to Alexandru Csete the author of Gqrx and it has modified the source code of gqrx on github, now gqrx support up to 10 visual levels before fold and rewrite... it's only in the source yet, so wait for it on the official PPA soon, if you know how to compile from the source give it a try, it's working great here... Thanks to Alex Csete for Gqrx... 73 El 19/10/15 a las 10:47, John Grant escribió: > Hi Pavel, > > I wonder if you could send through the bookmarks file for me to have a > try with, I'm just about to put up a rhcp 70cm antenna and use gqrx > frequently so this would be a good test. > > Thanks, > > John > GI7UGV > > On 15/10/2015 04:24, M.Sc. Pavel Milanes Costa wrote: >> I'm playing this night with my linux box and rtl-dsr + Gqrx + >> Gpredict to see the 70cm satellite sub-band... >> >> And found a way to identify the sat from the spectrum at a glance in >> 70cm using the bookmarks of gqrx... very handy feature of this >> software... just linux here, not know if windows sdr soft has this >> feature... >> >> After playing with satlist.csv (from >> http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm) and parsing it >> to make it work with gqrx... I fire the Gqrx software, put up the >> antenna and watch for any suspicious signal... and the bookmarks on >> top of the signals are there, nice.... >> >> ... (a few minutes after) ... haja !!!! >> >> A packet like signal around 437.4 Mhz, zoom it.... wow, to wide for >> normal packet... let's widen the filter to fit... ~25 Khz is enough, >> hum... it's bigger than 9600 bauds... lets see what the bookmarks on >> the screenm says... FIREBIRD-II FU4 19k2 FSK within the +/- 10khz of >> doppler... bingo !!! >> >> Let's run Gpredict to check.... right on the spot... and also >> FIREBIRD-II FU3 incoming on range... let's check... right... >> >> So if you use linux and some SDR hardware with Gqrx, you can use the >> bookmark function to this purpose, you can actually click & zoom and >> then read of the screen to approximate which is the satellite who tx >> that signal... all at a glance... >> >> If any of you want to play with this I can send you my bookmark file >> of the entire 70cm satellite sub-band, updated with the last info >> from http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm just email >> me a private msg. >> >> I was not trying to decode, just to prove the usefulness of this >> feature, I use the latest gqrx & gpredict from ubuntu PPA. >> >> BTW, none of the FIREBIRD satellites are in the >> http://www.amsat.org/status/ page, so I can't update it's state. >> >> 73 from Cuba, CO7WT >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >> Opinions expressed >> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views >> of AMSAT-NA. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >> program! >> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> > >

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DX Coffee Blog Covers the ISS HamTV project
by JoAnne Maenpaa 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

The ISS HamTV project with a downlink at 2.422 GHz and 2.437 GHz is discussed on the DX Coffee blog at: http://www.dxcoffee.com/eng/2015/10/19/the-ham-tv-project-a-technological-su ccess-of-amsat-italia/ The TV format is DVB-S (Digital Video Broadcasting-Satellite) -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Shadowed-Rician fading in satellites
by shakeel -ur-rehman 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

Hi ALL Is anyone working in performance analysis of satellite link considering Shadowed rician distribution in land mobile satellite channesl and many research papers has been published. Anyone who is doing many practical experiments with satellites like listening to amature satellite pass ,downloading telelmetry ...etc and may some one who is evaluating the performance of satellites using theory/publications in ieee/iet .

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TM transmitter is ON and satellite pass
by shakeel -ur-rehman 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

I come to know that funcube TM transmitter is ON during DAY and during NIGHT Transponder in ON during night. I received the satellite BEACON and funcube dashboard was set to capture from sound card dash was showing detected frequency but no telemtry data has been received. the pass was taken at with follwoing date and time FUNcube-1 pass date 15 Oct pass time: 03:53:39 GMT time on 15th Oct please suggest what will be the problem either my dash board software is cause this error and or the TM transmitter in funcube-1 satellite is off. previously i have taken many successfull passes of funcube satellite. regards

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ANS-292 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin - 4U1UN as 4U70UN on satellite this weekend!
by Joseph Spier 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE SPECIAL BULLETIN ANS-292 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. In this edition: * 4U1UN as 4U70UN on satellite this weekend! SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-292.01 ANS-292 AMSAT News Service Special Bulletin AMSAT News Service Bulletin 292.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE October 19, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-292.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- AO-85 OSCAR Number Assigned for Fo4U1UN as 4U70UN on satellite this weekend! Word has been received, that, in celebration of the UN's 70th anniversary, 4U1UN will be activated as 4U70UN on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October. The operation by the UN ARC will be from the ground-level garden area within the UNHQ complex in New York City and will be limited to daylight hours. Satellite operation is included in the plans, but time and equipment limitations will exist. Blockage from high rise buildings toward the West is expected. Best passes will be to the East of FN30as and North/South overhead. Possible satellites in view may be AO-73, FO-29, AO-85, AO-7, SO-50, XW-2E and XW-2F. Note that 4U1UN is a separate DXCC entity. See QRZ.COM for QSL info.” For more information please see http://www.amsat.org/?p=4650 [ANS thanks Mike, N1JEZ, and AMSAT-NA 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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Symposium-- fantastic
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

The AMSAT symposium was fantastic this year many more sat on orbit this year. A big thanks to the team for a great outing. Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School Disagree I Learn

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WD9EWK radio activity, between Thursday and Sunday
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

Hi! It has been fun over the past few days here in Dayton for the Symposium. Since my post about the passes I worked on Wednesday to start this trip, I have worked other passes over the past few days: Thursday (15 October) - from the Indiana/Michigan/Ohio border tripoint in grid EN71oq for a few SO-50 and FO-29 passes, followed by two AO-85 passes from different spots in grid EN70 on my way to Dayton. Friday (16 October) - an AO-85 pass from the parking garage next to the Crowne Plaza Dayton hotel in downtown Dayton, followed by a western AO-85 pass at the Indiana/Ohio state line near the I-70/US-40 interchange west of Dayton. Sunday (18 October) - Paul N8HM and I worked an AO-73 pass just after noon/1900 UTC from the parking garage next to the Symposium hotel, and we both listened to the 2130 UTC AO-85 pass with SDR receivers from the same location. The AO-73 pass was part of an unofficial SDR Q&A session for a few hams who were still at the hotel today. We compared HDSDR settings, and for one ham I was able to verify his HDSDR setup was ready to use an SDRplay receiver by plugging my SDRplay into his laptop. Paul and I used a midday AO-73 pass as a demonstration - Paul with two FT-817s and an Arrow Yagi; I had my FT-817/SDRplay combination with an Elk log periodic. For the midday AO-73 pass, and we had a small audience on the garage for the AO-73 pass. Red KC4LE also had his FT-817/SDR setup out at the garage. We could hear - and, using HDSDR, see - Red's CW signals through the AO-73 transponder, but it was too bright for Red to see his laptop's screen up on the garage. It was tough for me to see my 8-inch tablet's screen, but I was able to get lined up for 3 QSOs on AO-73. Paul worked 4 stations on the same pass. Nick K5QXJ and Doug K9DLP were out with us on the garage. At the tripoint, I either used a Kenwood TH-D72A to work the SO-50 passes, or my two FT-817s hanging around my neck to work FO-29. I could not park my car on the tripoint, which was in the middle of a narrow county road, so I went with completely portable options for working FM and SSB out there. For the other passes I have worked after the stop at the tripoint, I used my IC-2820H and SDRplay SDR receiver for the AO-85 passes, and the FT-817ND/SDRplay combination for today's AO-73 pass. As I have worked AO-85 passes, I used HDSDR to write RF recordings from those passes. I then played those recordings from HDSDR into the FoxTelem software, so the telemetry I received on these passes would get to AMSAT. If you look on the http://amsat.org/tlm page, you can see my call sign with a grid locator after a hyphen, indicating where I was for the number of data frames I received and uploaded for those AO-85 passes. I worked only one AO-85 pass from EN71 in Indiana Wednesday (14 October) evening, 3 AO-85 passes from EN70 (one in Indiana Wednesday evening, two on Thursday evening from Ohio), and 3 AO-85 passes from EM79 (two at the parking garage next to the Symposium hotel, one on the Indiana/Ohio state line west of Dayton). I have uploaded the RF recordings for the AO-85 and AO-73 passes I have worked over the past few days, along with audio recordings and other files for those passes, on my Dropbox space. These are accessible at: http://dropbox.wd9ewk.net/ Hit F5 to refresh your browser, if the file/folder listing does not appear in your window. All of the QSOs I have made up through today on this trip are in Logbook of the World. QSL cards are available on request, if you are in my log. Just e-mail me the QSO details, as I don't normally collect QSL cards for my satellite work away from central Arizona. As I posted a little earlier, I will set out on what may be a 1000-mile road trip tomorrow afternoon. My rental car already has about 600 miles on it from the past 4 days, so it is getting a workout. I may not work every single pass during the trip, but will try to work from the spots I have planned - and maybe a couple of other spots, if time and weather allow for that. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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post-Symposium road trip
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

Hi! As the AMSAT Symposium is wrapping up, I am planning to start my post-Symposium road trip Monday afternoon, after the tour of the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base tomorrow. I still plan on heading north from Dayton, and hope to be able to work from the EN93/EN94 grid boundary Tuesday afternoon. It is possible I could work from some location in EN82 or EN83 tomorrow night, and possibly from EN92 on Tuesday before or after my visit to the EN93/EN94 boundary. And on my way back to Indianapolis on Wednesday morning, I may be able to work from a grid or two on the way home (my rover map does not have EN60 and EN72 filled in yet, along the route I will probably use for that drive. When at EN93/EN94, and possibly EN92, I will use VA7EWK/3 as my call on the air and for my Logbook of the World uploads. For any activity in Indiana or Michigan, I will just use WD9EWK without any extra indicators. The QSOs made over the next 3 days will be uploaded to LOTW, to go with the other QSOs from the past few days that I already uploaded to LOTW. I will be happy to send QSL cards for QSOs made at any point during this trip. Please e-mail me with the QSO details. If you are in my log, I will be happy to send you a card (or cards) for each of those QSOs. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Possible ISS School Contact Experiment idea?
by Robert Bruninga 19 Oct '15

19 Oct '15

I wonder if we could collect data from skilled portable "arrow" operators on the reception of ISS comms near the horizon during upcoming school contacts. The interesting question is the viability of using well placed fixed tripod "arrow class" antennas at AOS and LOS instead of the current requirement for a full AZ/EL Oscar class antenna system at the school. By using two fixed portable beams on the AOS and LOS sides of the school for reception, for example, then maybe the 50W uplink can work fine from a more simply located and operated central omni antenna that is easier to set up. A concept paper with details on this idea will be posted Monday afternoon at http://aprs.org/aos-los-test.html The desired data would be a minute-by-minute log throughout the pass of ISS signal quality especially noting any nulls or fades without moving or adjusting the antenna. Just orient the beam vertically with an up tilt of 15 degrees. Then aim it in Azimuth half way between AOS (LOS) and when it rises above (drops below) 30 degrees elevation to cover the first (or last) portions of the pass. Above 30 degrees the ISS is 3 times closer and 10 dB stronger and would probably be heard fine on the central omni. An audio recording would make it easier to prepare the log after the pass or you can just make checks or X's every 5 seconds on a piece of paper and summarize it later. Do NOT run open squelch. Set the squelch for normal ham radio operation to silence the radio when the signal would be unintelligible anyway, since we would not want unintelligible noise from one receiver to distract from good audio from the possible others.. The concept is to bring in all three receiver speakers (left-to-right) into the auditorium operating position to give equal weight to each receiver but also give a sense of the passage of the ISS. During this test, It is tempting to want to re-orient or move your AOS (or LOS) beam, but we need the data horizon to horizon on the original fixed antenna orientation to see how well the squelch eliminates the distraction of a noisy receiver when it is not the prime contributor. If this test shows any promise, it could not only eliminate all the complexities of long crossed yagis, AZ/EL rotators, big masts and active tracking, but also completely eliminate the problem of long runs of coax from the school gymnasium to the antennas. The coax is eliminated by placing 50W mobile rigs (capable of cross band repeat) at each of the possible three antennas and operating them remotely via 3 UHF HT's indoors on-stage (coupled into the sound system). So, if there will be an ISS school contact within range of your station, and you have an arrow on a tripod at your QTH, you could collect data to see if this idea is a possibility. Again, this is *independent* of the actual school contact, you are just taking your own receive data where ever you are of how well an arrow on a tripod can hear the ISS at low elevations. Be sure to find a place with a good horizon at AOS(or LOS) to set your antenna. I'm on deadline to deliver a satellite in 12 days, and so if someone else might be interested in collecting and summarizing any incoming reports, that would be helpful too. If we learn that there will be any significant fades or loss of signal, then this idea fails... But if it works, then the two arrows, tripods, three mobile rigs and three UHF HT's could be made into a suitcase GOKIT to standardize school contacts with a lot less work. Just an idea Bob, WB4APR

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Fox-1A with Signalink USB
by Mike 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

I have my FT-897 setup with a Signalink USB interface. Inside the Signalink box their is a jumper setting for the audio. Should this be set up for pin 4 9600 out? In the radio setup menu #73 their is a packet setting for 1200 or 9600. Should this be set for 9600 as well? Thanks for any help in Adv. Mike N6IMF

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Easy & instant predictions
by Pedro Converso 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

New, quick, easy & instant predictions at http://amsat.org.ar/pass.htm . Detects and remembers your location, operates with and without Internet access. Sould work on any PC browser, tablets or smart phones in your local time, not worry about keps. Useful for planning field operations, showing current and future passes with real time graphics. Displays azimuths and elevation as well as Uplink / Downlink frequencies. It helps compare results with your tracking program. If you try, comments or suggested changes/additions welcome. Congratulations to all for the great satellite activity. 73, lu7abf, Pedro Converso.

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Arrow Antenna
by W3MAT . 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

Has anyone removed the duplexer and its coax and replaced it with one coax cable to VHF, and one coax cable to UHF for two radio operation? If so, did you notice any improvement and what would the power rating be now without the duplexer?

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URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update
by E.Mike McCardel 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update After our successful launch on October 8, AO-85 has been chiefly in transponder mode and available to users. While this operational plan resulted in increased data for AMSAT engineering evaluation, we have some necessary tests to complete that require limiting access for a short period. We will be characterizing the uplink and downlink signals, and developing an updated set of recommendations for minimal equipment and best operating practices. For the week of October 19 to 23, AO-85 will be unavailable while this testing and evaluation is complete. Please avoid transmitting to the satellite even if you hear the transponder on. Users are encouraged to collect and forward telemetry via the FoxTelem program. Please share this information to other operators as needed. Cooperation will expedite this testing and the return to normal operations. [Information provided by Drew KO4MA] E. Michael McCardel, KC8YLD V.P. for Educational Relations, AMSAT-NA Have you donated to get your Fox-1 Challenge Coin Yet? http://www.amsat.org/?p=3275

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ANS-291 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-291 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. In this edition: * URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update * Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor * Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015 * AMSAT Elects Senior Officer * SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015 * Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century * Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch * ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1 * NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-291 ANS-291 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 291 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. October 18, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-291 URGENT - AO-85 Operational Update After our successful launch on October 8, AO-85 has been chiefly in transponder mode and available to users. While this operational plan resulted in increased data for AMSAT engineering evaluation, we have some necessary tests to complete that require limiting access for a short period. We will be characterizing the uplink and downlink signals, and developing an updated set of recommendations for minimal equipment and best operating practices. For the week of October 19 to 23, AO-85 will be unavailable while this testing and evaluation is complete. Please avoid transmitting to the satellite even if you hear the transponder on. Users are encouraged to collect and forward telemetry via the FoxTelem program. Please share this information to other operators as needed. Cooperation will expedite this testing and the return to normal operations. [ANS thanks Drew KO4MA for the above informatioin] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe Kornowski K9JMK Named AMSAT Journal Editor During the 2015 AMSAT Annual Meeting held in Dayton, Ohio, AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, announced the appointment of Joe Kornowski, KB6IGK as the Editor of The AMSAT Journal beginning with the November/December 2015 issue, filling the position previously held by JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, who had to resign for personal reasons. Joe has served as an Assistant Editor since 2014 and has several years of professional experience in writing, editing, and content creation in various fields, including law and legal publishing, technology, health and wellness, and creative/media. [ANS thanks AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Help AMSAT Launch FOX-1Cliff and FOX-1D Satellite in 2015 For a $1,000.00 donation, AMSAT will provide you, after launch, with a clear solar panel protective cover actually used on Fox-1 Cliff or FOX-1D. The cover will be mounted on a plaque, and engraved with your name, callsign and date of launch. Quantities are limited. The plaque will make an excellent display in your office or shack for you to show off your pride in helping AMSAT launch Fox-1 Cliff! To donate and claim your panel visit https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6pz92/ab/561Zd Similar plaques from FOX-1A were recently presented to their donors during the AMSAT Space Symposium in Dayton. [ANS thanks Barry WD4ASW for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Elects Senior Officer Election of AMSAT's Senior Officers was one of the first orders of business to be settled once the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting opened on October 15, prior to the start of the 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium held in Dayton, Ohio. The following positions were voted upon and filled: Barry Baines, WD4ASW President Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Vice-President Operations Jerry Buxton, N0JY Vice-President Engineering Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Vice-President Human Spaceflight Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Secretary Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF Treasurer Martha Saragovitz Manager The following Senior Officer positions remained open at this time awaiting appointments: Executive Vice President Vice-President User Services Vice-President Marketing The AMSAT Board of Directors for 2016 consists of: Barry Baines, WD4ASW Tom Clark, K3IO JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM Lou McFadin, W5DID Jerry Buxton, N0JY Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA Bob McGwier, N4HY Mark Hammond, N8MH (First Alternate) Bruce Paige, KK5DO (Second Alternate) [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SAREX Reflector to be Closed 1 November 2015 At the request of the ARISS US Team, AMSAT-NA Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO has announced that the SAREX reflector will be closed 1 November 2015, and its functions folded into the AMSAT-BB list. Frank explained that at one time operations from the Space Shuttle and the ISS were considered as sufficiently different from other satellite operations as to need separate forums for their respective interest communities. More recently, changes in the human spaceflight operations, the new generation of satellites, and the interests of the general AMSAT community have removed the reasons for this distinction. What does this mean to the current subscribers? If you are subscribed to both SAREX and AMSAT-BB, there is no need to take any action. You will cease to receive new postings on the SAREX list 1 November 2015, which will now be made on AMSAT-BB. The SAREX archives will continue to be available for historical purposes. If you are not subscribed to AMSAT-BB and wish to continue to receive human spaceflight announcements, please go to http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo and subscribe to AMSAT-BB. Your existing SAREX subscription will not be automatically carried over since not everyone will wish to do so. [ANS thanks Alan WA4SCA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Radio – a hobby for the 21st century The RSGB has launched a new amateur radio promotional video on their YouTube channel. The video was produced in conjunction with TX Factor and has generated lots of positive comment since it was first shown publicly at the RSGB Convention on October 10. One person commented “the video is really good, hardly an oldie to be seen !!” The amateur satellite service features prominently in the video, Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL is shown working the amateur satellites and astronaut Doug Wheelock KF5BOC puts in an appearance from on-board the International Space Station. Among those spotted in the video were amateurs from the Silcoates School, Camb Hams and Essex Ham. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/8x6x_6mDVlQ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer for Fox-1A Launch AMSAT’s Fox-1A , AO-85 was launched as part of the GRACE (Government Rideshare Advanced Concepts Experiment) auxillary payload on the NROL- 55 mission October 8, 2015 from Vandenburg AFB on an Atlas V vehicle. NRO has released this factsheet about the mission: http://tinyurl.com/ANS291-FactSheet General information on Fox-1A is available in the downloadable AMSAT Fox Operating Guide. http://tinyurl.com/ANS291-OperatingGuide FoxTelem software for decoding and submitting telemetry has been made available for download at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=4532 . As part of the celebration for the launch and activation of this new satellite, AMSAT is making our “Getting Started With The Amateur Satellites” book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 132 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, AMSAT shirts, hats, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on Fox-1A! [ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, Vice-President Operations for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS-US Contact Proposals Accepted Through November 1 Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window September 1 – November 1, 2015 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1 and December 31, 2016. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is November 1, 2015. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an- ariss-contact. The next and last of these will be offered Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance registration is necessary. E-mail ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss- contact. Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA awards launch services contracts for CubeSat satellites NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP) has awarded multiple Venture Class Launch Services (VCLS) contracts to provide small satellites (SmallSats) - also called CubeSats, microsats or nanosatellites - access to low-Earth orbit. The three companies selected to provide these new commercial launch capabilities, and the value of their firm fixed-price contracts, are: Firefly Space Systems Inc. of Cedar Park, Texas, $5.5 million; Rocket Lab USA Inc. of Los Angeles, $6.9 million; Virgin Galactic LLC of Long Beach, California, $4.7 million. At present, launch opportunities for small satellites and science missions mostly are limited to rideshare-type arrangements, flying only when space is available on NASA and other launches. The services acquired through these new contract awards will constitute the smallest class of launch services used by NASA. "LSP is attempting to foster commercial launch services dedicated to transporting smaller payloads into orbit as an alternative to the rideshare approach and to promote the continued development of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry," said Jim Norman, director of Launch Services at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "VCLS is intended to help open the door for future dedicated opportunities to launch CubeSats and other small satellites and science missions." Small satellites, including CubeSats, are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstration, scientific research and educational investigations at NASA. These miniature satellites provide a low-cost platform for NASA missions, including planetary space exploration; Earth observations; fundamental Earth and space science; and developing precursor science instruments like cutting-edge laser communications, satellite-to-satellite communications and autonomous movement capabilities. LSP supports the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) by providing launch opportunities for more than 50 CubeSats that are awaiting launch during the next three years. The VCLS contracts will demonstrate a dedicated launch capability for smaller payloads that NASA anticipates it will require on a recurring basis for future science SmallSat and CubeSat missions. Small satellites already are used to provide imagery collection for monitoring, analysis and disaster response. In the future, CubeSat capabilities could include ship and aircraft tracking, improved weather prediction, and the provision of broader Internet coverage. The Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington has partnered with LSP to fund the VCLS contracts. These VCLS launches of small satellites are able to tolerate a higher level of risk than larger missions and will demonstrate, and help mitigate risks associated with, the use of small launch vehicles providing dedicated access to space for future small spacecraft and missions. "Emerging small launch vehicles have great potential to expand the use of small satellites as integral components of NASA's Earth science orbital portfolio," said Michael Freilich, director of NASA's Earth Science Division. "Today's CubeSat technology fosters hands-on engineering and flight research training; with the addition of reliable, affordable, and dedicated access to space on small launchers, constellations of SmallSats and CubeSats could revolutionize our science-based spaceborne Earth-observing systems and capabilities. We're eager to work with the VCLS providers as they develop new launch capabilities for the Earth science community." [ANS thanks Space Daily for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News A Successful contact was made between Bay View Elementary School, Burlington, WA, USA and Astronaut Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2015-10-14 19:41 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was K4SQC. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan, direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:47:21 UTC 62 deg West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:10:02 UTC 36 deg [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + 2016 Colloqium Dates Set The dates for the next Colloquium have now been confirmed as Fri 29 Jul to Sun 31 July 2016. It will be held in the same location as in 2015, ie the Holiday Inn, Guildford, UK [ANS thanks Jim G3WGM for the above information] + Eimac Moonbounce Notes collection Way back in 1980 when I first got interested in amateur satellites and AMSAT, I wrote off to Eimac Corporation for their "Moonbounce Notes" collection. While on a household paper eradication campaign I came across them and scanned them. I thought others might enjoy a look back at some bleeding-edge ham activities from the mid-late 1970s. It's particularly amusing to see how much effort was spent just tracking the moon with the technology then available. http://www.ka9q.net/moonbounce-notes This is a raw collection of pdf files, but the file names are pretty descriptive. Collect the entire set! If anybody has any notes missing from my collection, please let me know. [ANS thanks Phil KA9Q for the above information + Space Diary: Fire up your imagination! Fire up your imagination and get ready for launch Lucy Hawking and Curved House Kids launch a STEM literacy project to get 500 primary schools involved in Tim’s mission to the ISS. As Tim lifts off in December, school students will follow his mission by creating a personalised log book, the Principia Mission Space Book. Each month a video will be released from amazing space crew including Dallas Campbell, Stephen Hawking, Richard Garriott and Lucy Hawking. To learn more visit https://principia.org.uk/news/spacediary/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

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AMSAT Symposium Videos Online + Raspberry Pi
by M5AKA 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

AMSAT Symposium Videos Now Online http://amsat-uk.org/2015/10/18/amsat-symposium-videos-now-online/ New ham radio promotional video features amateur satellites and ISS http://amsat-uk.org/2015/10/15/new-ham-radio-promotional-video/ IARU Agree New Satellite Guidelines http://amsat-uk.org/2015/10/12/iaru-agree-new-satellite-guidelines/ Surrey Space Centre's latest work on the Raspberry Pi Foundation's compute module as the grunt behind their rendezvous & docking technology research. More academic info in their papers: https://www.academia.edu/16685779/Using_CubeSat_micro-satellite_technology_… Short link goo.gl/Fjkg4C https://www.academia.edu/3073489/STRaND-2_Visual_Inspection_Proximity_Opera… Short link goo.gl/2bSdbO Compute Module CubeSats - post about work of Chris Bridges 2E0OBC and the Surrey Space Centre https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/compute-module-cubesats/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK YouTube https://youtube.com/AmsatUK ----

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Lilacsat-2 & EO-85 SATPC32 Setup?
by Jayson 18 Oct '15

18 Oct '15

Hi All, I was wondering if someone could help me with the setup files for the Lilacsat-2 andEO-85 FM birds, as for some reason I'm unable to trigger the input on either bird - I'm hearing the beacons fine though. For Lilacsat-2 I have the following in the Doppler.SQF file LILACSAT-2,437200,144350,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,FM Transponder LILACSAT-2,437225,144350,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,CW Beacon LILACSAT-2,144390,144390,FM,FM,NOR,0,0,APRS For EO-85 I have the following in the Doppler.SQF file AO-85,145980,435170,FM,FM,NOR,0,0 Along with these details in the SubTone.SQF file AO-85,67.0,$3F,1 Is there anything blaringly obvious that I've done wrong? 73 Jayson VK1JA

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AMSAT Symposium
by dnkucij＠myfairpoint.net 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

A big thanks for the live symposium uStream feed and the Echolink streaming on the AMSAT channel today. It was great to be able to see what was happening. 73, Nick, KB1RVT

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Easy & instant predictions available
by Pedro Converso 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

New, quick, easy & instant predictions at http://amsat.org.ar/pass.htm , available for satellites in use. Detects and remembers your location, operates with and without Internet access. Should work on any PC browser, tablets or smart phones in your local time, not worry about keps. Useful for planning field operations, showing current and future passes with real time graphics. Displays azimuths and elevation as well as Uplink / Downlink frequencies. It lets compare results with used tracking programs. If you try, comments or suggested changes/additions welcome. Congratulations to all for the great satellite activity. 73, lu7abf, Pedro Converso.

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Re: [amsat-bb] PSK31 Satellite Transponder works! (go Full dux)
by Robert Bruninga 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

One more thing to multiply the fun of PSK31 on PSAT, is to use K0SM's pre-compensating PSK31 uplink: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=61835 Which solves two problems. 1) It solves Doppler (for everyone that sees your signal in any decoder) 2) It lets any user operate fulldux with any other PSK31 client. Fire up ten meter PSK31 (on 28.120 MHz) and see the downlink on 435.350 MHz during passes. But even without the special uplink software, just transmit HORIZON-to-HORIZON and someone will be at a low doppler-change position relative to the satellite and will be able to decode you. Bob, WB4APR On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 3:03 PM, KO6TZ Bob <my.callsign(a)verizon.net> wrote: > Bob, > > I was just on the 1820u 16Oct15 pass. 10m was high in noise, so the down > link was hard copy of my own signal. I only saw one other Doppler > corrected station (vertical PSK signal) just before LOS. Could not display > the call sign. > > A couple of hints to successful contacts: > > 1. Do not correct for Doppler by shifting the frequency on your 10m radio. > 2. Use the Doppler PSK program, allow it to correct for Doppler by > shifting the PSK-31 frequency. > 3. Update the TLE's in the Doppler PSK program (copy / paste) > 4. Once you are able to see your signal on the down link, NEVER stop > sending until the end of the pass. > "Homestead" that frequency. Just switch from CQ to the QSO sequences > for a contact. > 5. Look for other stations somewhere in the VF pass band. > 6. This procedure is different than working PSK-31 on HF. So is the power > level. > > > BOB KO6TZ > > > > > ON4HTI... will be participating in the... SCR, > > and we always do a lot of PSK... on 10-15-20m > > Don't forget to listen to the PSK31 downlink on PSAT (NO84). Its FM > downlink is the audio copy of everything the satellite hears on the normal > 28.120 MHz ten meter PSK31 terrestrial hangout. > > And of course since the downlink (FM) adds no doppler, most signals come in > just fine and can be decoded by any PSK31 clients. > > AND of course, being full duplex, it is fun to be transmitting to EVERYONE > in the passband at the same time you are seeing EVERYTHING everyone is > saying. > > Try it... > > http://aprs.org/psat.html > > Bob, WB4aPR > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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AMSAT Symposium on EchoLink
by Stephen E. Belter 17 Oct '15

17 Oct '15

The Saturday sessions at the AMSAT Symposium in Dayton, Ohio are being streamed live via the *AMSAT* channel on EchoLink. Signal reports via EchoLink chat are helpful. 73, Steve N9IP -- Steve Belter, seb(a)wintek.com

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Symposium streaming or recordings
by Douglas Quagliana 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

Will any part of the Symposium be streamed on the Internet or recorded? Regards, Douglas

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Re: [amsat-bb] Antenna Setup
by Rupert Hamblin 16 Oct '15

16 Oct '15

Hi Guys, Really appreciate all your comments / feedback here, just one additional question from me, In real world / every day use - what difference does using X-Pol (Cross Polarized) antennas versus a straight beam mounted vertically ? - How much of a difference does it make to the received signals ? Thanks again for your thoughts.. Cheers RH G0TKZ On 14/10/2015 03:47, Lou Michaels wrote: > Hey Rupert > > Here's the list I am working with on my ground tests, which have been > going well: > > |Yaesu G5500 Az.El Rotor > Fox Delta SatTracker 2 RS232 Interface > Arrow II dual band yagi > Arrow II Mast Mount > Comet CF416 Duplexer > 3 Foot Tripod (Radio Shaft) > 2 x 5 foot mast (Radio Shaft) > Andrew Heliax FSJ2-50 > Yaesu 8800 for FM birds (complete station will use Icom 9100) > 2 x 60ft Rotor Control Cable (DX Engineering) > | > > The above is basically the portable setup. I could take it anywhere to > work an FM bird. I thought of trying some EME with JT65. Buddy of mine > has the rig, amp, and Cushcraft yagi that would get the job done. > > I'm waiting for the two antennas to be delivered. My ground tests > should be done by the time they arrive, so I'll do one or two more > ground tests with them, then put everything on the roof. > > The antennas I'm going with are available in a package, but are under > production (m2 doesn't keep stock apparently) - M2 LEO Pack: > > |M2 2MCP8A 4x4 Circularly Polarized 2m Yagi > M2 436CP16 8x8 Circularly Polarized 70cm Yagi > | > > And in the future I'll be adding preamps, but sitting on them for now. > For some weak birds, preamps would be very helpful. > > As far as software used in the sat shack: > > |SATPC32 - Tracks birds and controls VFO > Orbitron - Alternative Sat tracking - much better interface > UISS - Used for ISS APRS > SoundModem - Software TNC for APRS > VSPE - needed for COM port sharing / routing (a real bitch) > ICOM Keyer - app to key radio for APRS > Ham Radio Deluxe - Digital Modes & Basic Sat Tracking > | > > And as far as online resources: > > |Online tracking > > www.heavens-above.com <http://www.heavens-above.com> > www.N2Yo.com <http://www.N2Yo.com> > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/index.php > > Find Modes & Frequencies > > http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslisf.htm|| > ||Hope this gives you some insight :)| > > On Tue, Oct 13, 2015 at 5:16 PM, Rupert Hamblin > <rupert.hamblin(a)gmail.com <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > Hi AMSAT, > > I am looking for some guidance regards antenna setup for a fixed > installation to work both FM sats & linear transponder satellites. > > My initial thought was: > > AZ / EL Rotator > 2M xpol beam 5 ele ? > 70cm xpol beam 9 ele ? > LNA for both 2M & 70cm receive feeds > ...plus some spare space on the boom, perhaps for 3 ele for LEO wx > sats..? > > I appreciate this will probably cost a few $$ - but hopefully worth > it....obviously > won't build all this in one go..! > > Appreciate your thoughts / comments here..? > > Regards > > RH > G0TKZ > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA > makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. > Opinions expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official > views of AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite > program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >

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AO85 on Orbitron
by John Geiger 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

I am using Orbitron for satellite tracking, and just updated the keps (I haven't used it in a while). They new Chinese satellites are appearing for satellites to select, but I can't find AO85 on it. Is anyone else using Orbitron and if so, what is it calling our new FM satellite? 73 John AF5CC

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FoxTelem maxFreqBoundkHz Parameter?
by Bob 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Hi, I have a spur that appears around 145.993 MHz, thanksfully higher than I've ever seen AO-85. With the default settings for Fox-1A, I will sometimes find that it has locked onto the spur and misses all telemetry decodes if i leave things unattended. I went into the "FOX1A_fm.dat" file and saw that there was a parameter: maxFreqBoundkHz=145990 i changed that to be (and restarted the program): maxFreqBoundkHz=145985 I figured that with the spur now 8 KHz above the maximum frequency bound there is no way the program would find the spur and lock onto it. However, testing indicates that FoxTelem will still lock onto the spur despite a lower maxFreqBoundkHz setting. Perhaps I misunderstand what that is used for, or perhaps it is not working as anticipated. Any thoughts? 73, Bob, WB4SON

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A tip for Gqrx users and report of the copy of FIREBIRD-II FU3/4 19k2 FSK.
by M.Sc. Pavel Milanes Costa 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

I'm playing this night with my linux box and rtl-dsr + Gqrx + Gpredict to see the 70cm satellite sub-band... And found a way to identify the sat from the spectrum at a glance in 70cm using the bookmarks of gqrx... very handy feature of this software... just linux here, not know if windows sdr soft has this feature... After playing with satlist.csv (from http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm) and parsing it to make it work with gqrx... I fire the Gqrx software, put up the antenna and watch for any suspicious signal... and the bookmarks on top of the signals are there, nice.... ... (a few minutes after) ... haja !!!! A packet like signal around 437.4 Mhz, zoom it.... wow, to wide for normal packet... let's widen the filter to fit... ~25 Khz is enough, hum... it's bigger than 9600 bauds... lets see what the bookmarks on the screenm says... FIREBIRD-II FU4 19k2 FSK within the +/- 10khz of doppler... bingo !!! Let's run Gpredict to check.... right on the spot... and also FIREBIRD-II FU3 incoming on range... let's check... right... So if you use linux and some SDR hardware with Gqrx, you can use the bookmark function to this purpose, you can actually click & zoom and then read of the screen to approximate which is the satellite who tx that signal... all at a glance... If any of you want to play with this I can send you my bookmark file of the entire 70cm satellite sub-band, updated with the last info from http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm just email me a private msg. I was not trying to decode, just to prove the usefulness of this feature, I use the latest gqrx & gpredict from ubuntu PPA. BTW, none of the FIREBIRD satellites are in the http://www.amsat.org/status/ page, so I can't update it's state. 73 from Cuba, CO7WT

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 19:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 19:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan, direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:52:21 UTC 54 deg (***) West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:14:55 UTC 40 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** Interested in hosting an ARISS contact? The window is now open from 2015-09-01 to 2015-11-01. These proposals will be for school contacts during the second half of 2016. Go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact or http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html for full details. To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged. These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday, September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. **************************************************************************** ** >From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 114 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 111 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-10-15 19:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 999. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 964. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 44 on orbit Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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WD9EWK @ IN/MI/OH border tripoint, now
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Hi! I am now at the Indiana/Michigan/Ohio border tripoint in grid EN71oq, and will work some SO-50 and FO-29 passes over the next couple of hours. The tripoint is on a road, so I will carry my radios out to the spot. Not the same as the Four Corners in the southwestern USA, but at least I didn't have to pay a few dollars to see the spot here. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Bring your DTMF HT to Amsat Symposium
by Robert Bruninga 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Bring your old DTMF HT to the AMSAT Symposium in Dayton this weekend if you want to help test out the next DTMF satellite. The transponder will be at the symposium and active all weekend. All you have to do is preload your DTMF callsign and Grid Square into a DTMF memory on your HT and you can then uplink to the satellite and make QSO’s. The satellite responds with voice confirmation and an APRS downlink to confirm the contact and to route it to the usual APRS web pages. Info will be available on how to encode your callsign and grid into 16 digits total. Or you can take a look here: http://aprs.org/qikcom-2.html About half way down is how to encode your call. Bob Bruninga Wb4APR

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Bay View Elementary School, Burlington, WA, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact was successful: Wed 2015-10-14 19:41:44 UTC 59 deg (***) Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan, direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:47:21 UTC 62 deg West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:10:02 UTC 36 deg **************************************************************************** ** Interested in hosting an ARISS contact? The window is now open from 2015-09-01 to 2015-11-01. These proposals will be for school contacts during the second half of 2016. Go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact or http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html for full details. To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged. These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday, September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. **************************************************************************** ** >From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 114 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 111 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 999. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 964. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-10-15 07:30 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 44 on orbit Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Jamboree on the Air this weekend.
by Tom Schuessler 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

This weekend, besides being the AMSAT Space Symposium, will also see the annual partnership of Amateur Radio and Scouting for the 58th Jamboree on the Air. JOTA is the largest single scouting event in the world and sees participation from affiliated scouting organizations in 165 countries. If you hear "CQ JOTA" on any satellite passes between the evening of Friday the 16th and the end of the day Sunday the 18th, make it a point to come back to them. They will have young people watching and hoping that you do. I will be again running a large JOTA event at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, TX, EM12nt, and our site will again be using the call, K2BSA/5. My satellite opportunities this year will be limited to two SO-50 passes, 1656Z and 1835Z on 17 October. The first pass will be low angle with obstructions but the second will be high and slightly westerly. Please listen for me, or any other JOTA stations for that matter, and do give us a call. It is fun to see the eyes of young Scouts light up when they realize they have been involved with this type of satellite communications. These kids are our future. 73 Tom Schuessler N5HYP

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WD9EWK - Wednesday evening in Indiana, working AO-85...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

Hi! After flying from Phoenix to Indianapolis, I drove up to Fort Wayne for the night. On the 125-mile drive, I made two stops to work AO-85 passes. I have worked from EN70 and EN71 before, but those past occasions were times I operated from Ohio. Between a freeway rest area and a parking lot for a large store, I was able to give out these two grids and have fun on the new bird. Between pass predictions I printed at home last night and my AmsatDroid Free app on my mobile phone, I had a good idea when I could work passes. I decided to focus on AO-85 tonight, even though I basically have my complete satellite station with me. I decided I would stop about 25 to 30 minutes before the first of the two AO-85 passes I worked, so I could disassemble my suitcase and carry-on bags enough to get my gear ready for the pass. I assembled an Elk antenna, pulled out everything related to my 8-inch HP tablet and SDRplay receiver, my IC-2820H 2m/70cm FM mobile radio (that was an item of interest in the Phoenix airport this morning, especially with its faceplate packed away from the radio), and accessories like an audio splitter, diplexer, coax, etc. I had everything ready in time to take some pictures, and tweet a couple of them before the pass. I used the same setup that I have used at home a couple of times with this satellite - Icom IC-2820H 2m/70cm FM mobile transceiver for the uplink, set to transmit in narrow FM; SDRplay SDR receiver, 8-inch Windows 10 tablet with HDSDR, all connected through a diplexer to my Elk log periodic. I plug an audio splitter into the tablet's headset jack, and split the receive audio between earbuds for me and a Sony audio recorder. I know I could also have HDSDR write an audio recording at the same time it writes an RF recording, but I don't want to risk overloading the tablet. When 2305 UTC came, I could hear AO-85 after it was up about 2 to 3 degrees elevation. It sounds like most stations were using narrow FM on the uplink, as most signals sounded pretty good this evening. I was able to log QSOs with 7 stations, including Paul N8HM on top of the parking garage next to the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Dayton, site of this weekend's AMSAT Symposium. During this pass, I could hear XW-2F passing by - just like I did on Sunday evening back in Phoenix. I saw stations working the XW-2F transponder, and also saw XW-2F's CW beacon, as I worked AO-85. After that pass, I drove north to Fort Wayne. I realized that Fort Wayne is basically at the EN70/EN71 grid boundary, but did not want to try to find a good spot for that boundary in the dark. I have only been through Fort Wayne once before, so I'm not familiar with the area. I kept an eye on my TH-D72A's GPS location, waiting to see EN71 appear on the screen. Once that happened, I looked for an exit off I-69, and for something like a truck stop or large parking lot at a store or shopping center to park. Just north of the grid boundary, I exited the freeway, and found a parking lot just west of the freeway. After setting up my gear on the roof of my car, and waiting for AO-85 to pop up over the western horizon around 0051 UTC, I had no problems hearing it. I worked 8 stations during this pass, including someone else heading to Dayton (Wyatt AC0RA - he was in EN60 for this pass). It was also nice to hear stations from the western USA, like Larry WA6DIR and Jack KC7MG, from here in Fort Wayne, plus VE4AMU in Manitoba. Most stations sounded pretty good on both passes. The later pass was a little harder for me to hear, not keeping up with the fading as well as I had been doing on the earlier pass. I think more stations were transmitting in narrow FM tonight. A couple were not, and one sounded so-so at best - even after trying to adjust the FM settings in HDSDR in an attempt to clean up the audio. My portable setup worked well from the rooftop of my rental car in two different locations, a good sign for upcoming activities later on in the coming week. The SDRplay is working very well as my receiver for working satellites, including AO-85. HDSDR's AFC function works well, except in close proximity to the XW-2F CW beacon and/or transponder signals (the 2305 UTC pass had both AO-85 and XW-2F in view at EN70). Being able to fine-tune how narrow I heard the FM signals, and being able to raise the filtering on the low end of the received signals to eliminate any noise from the telemetry, makes this a very powerful way to work these passes. I will try to upload the telemetry from the RF recordings of both passes this evening. I have uploaded the audio recordings, along with photos and screengrabs, from both of these passes to my Dropbox space: http://dropbox.wd9ewk.net/ Again, press F5 if the file/folder listing doesn't appear immediately. I hope to be able to upload my RF recordings in a day or two from Dayton, depending on the Internet access at the Symposium hotel. I won't try to upload them using my mobile phone's hotspot, as they are too big to do without exhausting my monthly data allowance in a matter of a couple of days. I hope to have tonight's QSOs uploaded to Logbook of the World shortly, for those looking to get confirmations for EN70 and/or EN71. QSL cards will also be available after the trip; please e-mail me with the QSO details, and I'll send a card if you're in the log. Tomorrow will be a busy day, between making a quick stop at the border tripoint where 3 states come together (Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio) and driving down to Dayton to attend the AMSAT Symposium. Please follow my @WD9EWK Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/WD9EWK ) for updates on my activities, and my car should show up on APRS as WD9EWK-9 (visible at http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 among other places). Day 1 was fun, and there is a week to go... 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Fort Wayne, Indiana http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Foxtelem and FT-736R
by Tom Worthington 15 Oct '15

15 Oct '15

I've tried unsuccessfully to decode using the 9600 b output of my FT-857 into a sound card. The manual for Foxtelem refers to pulling the discriminator signal out of the Yaesu FT-736R for decoding. However, it does not suggest a point on the circuit. I'm thinking to try between Q20 and Q21 on the RX unit. perhaps a 0.1 uf cap to the collector of Q20? Has anybody else tried this? Thanks, Tom, NH6Y

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Symposium Registration
by R.T.Liddy 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

I'll be attending my first Symposium this weekend in Dayton. I ordered my Registration on 9/30 on-line. Is there somethingsupposed to be delivered to my home address? Nothing hasshown up after 2 weeks. Or, am I supposed to pick it up whenI arrive at the Symposium? TNX/73, Bob - K8BL

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Re: [amsat-bb] Eimac Moonbounce - I8CVS
by Thomas Doyle 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Phil, Thanks for the post. Since I8CVS passed I had wanted to bring up a subject but was a bit hesitant. I8CVS had a mountain of information. He helped me with many things. It may seem a bit selfish but I regret that not only is he a SK but all that information is lost. It probably became a victim of the same 'paper eradication campaign' you described that will destroy your docs. Some info used to wind up on pages like this. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/softwareArchive.php#win I hope the docs you shared wind up on some "permanent" web site. I am sure a recipe for gluten-free muffins or a youtube video of a cat wearing a dress dancing the polka would generate more interest than our old stuff from the old days but it would be a shame if it was lost. Must run - my garden full of kale needs tending, I have an appointment at the tattoo parlor and I need to pick up a new selfie stick to replace the one I wore out. tnx & 73 W9KE On Sun, Oct 11, 2015 at 6:14 AM, Phil Karn <karn(a)ka9q.net> wrote: > Way back in 1980 when I first got interested in amateur satellites and > AMSAT, I wrote off to Eimac Corporation for their "Moonbounce Notes" > collection. > > While on a household paper eradication campaign I came across them and > scanned them. I thought others might enjoy a look back at some > bleeding-edge ham activities from the mid-late 1970s. It's particularly > amusing to see how much effort was spent just tracking the moon with the > technology then available. > > http://www.ka9q.net/moonbounce-notes > > This is a raw collection of pdf files, but the file names are pretty > descriptive. Collect the entire set! > > If anybody has any notes missing from my collection, please let me know. > > Phil > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions > expressed > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of > AMSAT-NA. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Sent from my computer. tom ...

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sat info database, SatNOGS
by Dan White 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

The SatNOGS project has a database component with a nice API for querying sat information. It is an active project, so it is far from a one-stop machine-queryable resource. But that is a stated goal of the component. https://db.satnogs.org (add "/api" to poke around what is query-able at the moment) I'll be at the Symposium this weekend along with a few of the SatNOGS people flying in from Athens, Greece, who will do a talk. IIRC they will be bringing some of the hardware also. In-person would be a great time for lots of discussions. As an open project, in practice things get done by someone doing it. Feature requests are nice, but a request accompanied by code is better. Everyone currently involved has a day job :) Let's work together! Dan White AD0CQ

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AO-85
by W3MAT . 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

The other morning I attempted AO-85, listening to the down link on 145.980. I just sat down and listened to the recording of that pass. At the time I thought I was not making it into the sat, but upon listening to the recording I found that I indeed was making it, and at times quite strong. I was using the Arrow, two FT-60's, and headphones, but during the pass I could have sworn I was not making it, as I was not hearing myself...just squelch. I did learn from that pass though that AO-85 was much clearer on 145.975 in the latter stages, or after it passed the posted Max El for that pass. Just wondering if anyone else experienced the same scenario as I. I did tweak a few things with coax and radio programming last evening, and that seemed to make a noticeable improvement on the SO-50 (03:07Z) pass last evening. Have a great day everyone, Loon W3MAT

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TLE's for AO-85
by Joe Fitzgerald 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

We are in that mad scramble after a cubesat deployment after a launch from a military mission where we don't have a good NORAD//JSpOC/ object number. People have been having good success with the object dubbed "GRACE_47" by CalPoly, with the placeholder number of 90747, and the TLE's have been added to nasabare.txt and nasa.all under that name and number. GRACE_47 1 90747U 15286.49403807 +.00001891 +00000-0 +21258-3 0 00074 2 90747 064.7778 276.6321 0217755 280.3643 225.3523 14.74250622000597 -Joe KM1P

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AO-85 and Mr. Kepler
by Bob KD7YZ 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

I suppose I have the wrong Keps for AO-85 since I always seem 2 minutes too late for start and SatPC32 claims she's still below the horizon. Is it me, or should I find some secret set of TLE's for her ? -- 73, Bob KD7YZ www.qrz.com/db/kd7yz AmSat LM#901

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AO-85 transponder 14-October, 0115 UTC
by Clayton W5PFG 14 Oct '15

14 Oct '15

Using the new GRACE_47 object (90747) for AO-85, I was able to make several contacts this evening using full computer control of my rig with SatPC32 v12.8c. SatPC32 tracked perfectly, keeping my rig on the appropriate uplink and downlink frequencies for AO-85. I worked a station while the satellite was at 2.2 degrees elevation over my horizon. My opinion is that Filter #2 works best for TX and RX with the Icom IC-9100 on AO-85. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-13 23:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 13 Oct '15

13 Oct '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-13 23:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Bay View Elementary School, Burlington, WA, telebridge via IK1SLD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Wed 2015-10-14 19:41:44 UTC 59 deg Saku Children’s Science Dome for the Future, Saku City, Japan, direct via 8NØSDF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 09:47:21 UTC 62 deg (***) West Michigan Aviation Academy, Grand Rapids, MI, direct via W8ISS (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Thu 2015-10-22 17:10:02 UTC 36 deg (***) **************************************************************************** ** Interested in hosting an ARISS contact? The window is now open from 2015-09-01 to 2015-11-01. These proposals will be for school contacts during the second half of 2016. Go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact or http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html for full details. To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged. These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday, September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an information session. **************************************************************************** ** >From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. **************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. **************************************************************************** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Francesco IKØWGF with 114 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 111 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8061 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-10-13 23:00 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 998. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 963. Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2015-10-11 06:00 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 43/44 on orbit Scott Kelly Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF Exp. 44 on orbit Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Antenna Setup
by Rupert Hamblin 13 Oct '15

13 Oct '15

Hi AMSAT, I am looking for some guidance regards antenna setup for a fixed installation to work both FM sats & linear transponder satellites. My initial thought was: AZ / EL Rotator 2M xpol beam 5 ele ? 70cm xpol beam 9 ele ? LNA for both 2M & 70cm receive feeds ...plus some spare space on the boom, perhaps for 3 ele for LEO wx sats..? I appreciate this will probably cost a few $$ - but hopefully worth it....obviously won't build all this in one go..! Appreciate your thoughts / comments here..? Regards RH G0TKZ

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