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

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-11-09 19:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-11-09 19:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: BORG Monsbergergasse, Graz, Austria, direct via OEØARISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact was successful: Mon 2015-11-09 09:42:15 UTC 49 deg (***) Ste. Genevieve du Bois Catholic Elementary School, Warson Woods, Missouri, direct via NØKBA The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS The contact is a go for: Thu 2015-11-12 16:25:16 UTC 55 deg **************************************************************************** ** >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 112 **************************************************************************** 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 Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added.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 2015-11-09 19:00 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 1007. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 972. (***) 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 2015-11-09 19:00 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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AO-85 SWL report
by David 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Hi all: Just for information. SWL report of AO-85 during its orbit #456 + 11mins at 09:39 UTC Location: IN80CP. Max. elevation during the pass: 7º RXing with 9 element yagi + mast preamp, horizontal polarization. No telemetry heard. No beacon heard. Is sat still on COR mode? Usual dificulties to be repeated by the sat. Usual fading. But clear audio (My feeling that much clearer than when the sat is in the standard modes) Very good signal strength (Same feeling... Is this COR mode providing more power than in the standard modes?) Best 73s David EA4SG

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AO-85 SWL report II
by David 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

El 09/11/15 a las 10:10, David escribió: >> SWL report of AO-85 during its orbit #456 + 11mins at 09:39 UTC >> No telemetry heard. >> No beacon heard. >> Is sat still on COR mode? El 09/11/15 a las 10:18, Dani escribió: >That's a bit weird, isn't it? VK5HI reported telemetry at 6:25 UTC today: > http://amsat.org/tlm/ao85/201511082225427.txt > I coincide in the opinion that the audio is clearer without DUV telemetry. > 73, > Dani M0HXM/EA4GPZ. _____________________________________________________________________________ Hi all: Now orbit #457 + 12 minutes Double checked. No telemetry at all neither in this pass. EA1JM confirms the same.Satellite was busy and several stations were making QSOs. At least from my side, same comments and feelings as in my previous RXed pass: Nothing have changed regarding the uplink issues and downlink quality looks to be better (Both audio and signal strength) than when in the normal modes. Question: I understood that the uplink dificulties were related to some issues regarding 67Hz reception on the sat. If the COR mode doesnt handle 67Hz at all and is an "Open Squelch" mode... Should not "life be easier" to be repeated by the sat?. 73s David EA4SG

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FM signal on FO-29
by Todd W. Deckard 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

It's not uncommon to hear Brazilian pirates on FLTSAT and UFO military satcom frequencies. I wonder if the recent crackdowns have pushed them to the OSCARS. Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 8, 2015, at 6:46 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Zach Leffke) > 2. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Burns Fisher) > 3. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Robert Bruninga) > 4. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Robert Bruninga) > 5. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Zach Leffke) > 6. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Hector W5CBF/CO6CBF) > 7. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Zach Leffke) > 8. Re: FM signal on FO-29? (Zach Leffke) > 9. Re: FM signal on FO-29 (VK4NBL) > 10. Re: Frequency chart and satellite information -online- (Ted) > 11. Fm activity on FO29 (jeffory broughton) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 17:54:28 -0500 > From: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: <563FD2A4.9050200(a)vt.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that > happened to be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They work > with me and Bob, so a few crude words here and there aren't uncommon to > them. > > But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if your > audience is a bit younger. > > Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've > monitored FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that I've > been toying with the idea of trying to locate where the source emitters > actually are located based on doppler shift data. We know the doppler > between the receiving ground station and FO-29, so we can back that > out. We know the transponder mapping, so we can work through that to > determine what the center frequency is as the signal enters the > transponder uplink receiver. What we don't know is the uplink doppler, > because we don't know where the emitter is and we don't know what exact > center frequency they are on (but I bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe > 2.5kHz). So we have two unknowns. I'm betting there's a way to work > through it though, and with enough observations and by watching the rate > of change of the doppler, I bet there's a way to make an educated guess > on what their center freq and location are. > > Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we could > get lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to (if it is in > fact a taxi). > > -Zach, KJ4QLP > >> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group >> of children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a >> religious broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >> >> 73 >> Clayton >> W5PFG >> >>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>> >>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:04:49 -0500 > From: Burns Fisher <burns(a)fisher.cc> > To: Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> > Cc: Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg(a)amsat.org>, "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: > <CABX7KxWCRhJ+3093GEruVQcBgLhpHhQYqGR9bLmAgTC+4hy3QQ(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Fun and interesting! AO85 and AO73 have been coinciding frequently of > late, but they are not compatible. > >> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:33 PM, Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> wrote: >> Speaking of FM signals on FO-29, you'll be able to hear the AO-85 >> transponder through FO-29 when their paths cross as well. I wonder if >> you could get a high enough SNR to decode the DUV... >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >>> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg(a)amsat.org> wrote: >>> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group of >>> children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a religious >>> broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >>> >>> 73 >>> Clayton >>> W5PFG >>> >>>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>>> >>>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>>> >>>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 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 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:10:48 -0500 > From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > To: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > Cc: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: > <CALdCfNK9ctph66fy-=+Cd4k6oPxYM4rUVVUNwbCduPtWdzLmKA(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Zach > >> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:54 PM, Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> wrote: >> >> well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that happened >> to be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They work with me and >> Bob, so a few crude words here and there aren't uncommon to them. >> >> But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if your >> audience is a bit younger. >> >> Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've >> monitored FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that I've >> been toying with the idea of trying to locate where the source emitters >> actually are located based on doppler shift data. We know the doppler >> between the receiving ground station and FO-29, so we can back that out. >> We know the transponder mapping, so we can work through that to determine >> what the center frequency is as the signal enters the transponder uplink >> receiver. What we don't know is the uplink doppler, because we don't know >> where the emitter is and we don't know what exact center frequency they are >> on (but I bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe 2.5kHz). So we have two >> unknowns. I'm betting there's a way to work through it though, and with >> enough observations and by watching the rate of change of the doppler, I >> bet there's a way to make an educated guess on what their center freq and >> location are. >> >> Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we could get >> lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to (if it is in fact a >> taxi). >> >> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> >>> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >>> >>> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group of >>> children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a religious >>> broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >>> >>> 73 >>> Clayton >>> W5PFG >>> >>>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>>> >>>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>>> >>>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 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 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:12:35 -0500 > From: Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > To: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > Cc: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: > <CALdCfN+cyT1Cj_KYyeXisB_Hds5runD6fOoRfkLuohdfSC+u6Q(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Zach > You dont need to know the senders exact freq, just a plot of his freq > during the pass will form an "S" curve and once you have enough of the "S", > you can know his center freq, and hence his closest point of approach. > That gives a line of bearing. Anothe pass gives another one, and so on... > > bob > >> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:54 PM, Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> wrote: >> >> well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that happened >> to be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They work with me and >> Bob, so a few crude words here and there aren't uncommon to them. >> >> But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if your >> audience is a bit younger. >> >> Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've >> monitored FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that I've >> been toying with the idea of trying to locate where the source emitters >> actually are located based on doppler shift data. We know the doppler >> between the receiving ground station and FO-29, so we can back that out. >> We know the transponder mapping, so we can work through that to determine >> what the center frequency is as the signal enters the transponder uplink >> receiver. What we don't know is the uplink doppler, because we don't know >> where the emitter is and we don't know what exact center frequency they are >> on (but I bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe 2.5kHz). So we have two >> unknowns. I'm betting there's a way to work through it though, and with >> enough observations and by watching the rate of change of the doppler, I >> bet there's a way to make an educated guess on what their center freq and >> location are. >> >> Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we could get >> lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to (if it is in fact a >> taxi). >> >> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> >>> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >>> >>> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group of >>> children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a religious >>> broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >>> >>> 73 >>> Clayton >>> W5PFG >>> >>>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>>> >>>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>>> >>>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 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 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:30:33 -0500 > From: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: <563FDB19.7070501(a)vt.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > Sweet, second cross link signal to look into! I missed that, you got > the gears turning....... > > So lets see.... 145.900MHz to 146.000MHz for FO-29 passband. > > A quick look through JE9PEL satlist reveals these downlinks: > > AO73 tlm bcn, 145.935 MHz > AO73 transponder, 145.970-145.950 MHz > AO85, 145.978 MHz > First-MOVE cubesat (NORAD ID 39439), 145.970MHz > DUCHIFAT, 145.980 MHz > QB50p1/FUNcube3 (EO-79) transponder, 145.970-145.945 MHz > VELOX-I, 145.980 MHz > UKube-1/FUNcube-2, 145.915 MHz > DeorbitSail, 145.975 MHz > CAS-3E (XW-2E) transponder, 145.935-145.915 MHz > CAS-3F (XW-2F) transponder, 146.000-146.980 MHz > Fox-1B, 145.960 MHz > Fox-1C, 145.920 MHz > > I guess its not that surprising when FO-29 has half of the 2m Satellite > Service allocation for its uplink. Next thing to do is figure out which > ones are the most likely to be successful based on power levels, > modulation schemes, transmission rate, which ones are using Forward > Error Correction, etc. And then look at the orbits for possible chain > events. > > fun stuff! > > Does anyone know the uplink receiver sensitivity and antenna gain/design > on FO-29? > > -Zach, KJ4QLP > > >> On 11/08/2015 05:33 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> Speaking of FM signals on FO-29, you'll be able to hear the AO-85 >> transponder through FO-29 when their paths cross as well. I wonder if >> you could get a high enough SNR to decode the DUV... >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >>> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg(a)amsat.org> wrote: >>> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group of >>> children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a religious >>> broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >>> >>> 73 >>> Clayton >>> W5PFG >>> >>>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>>> >>>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 17:34:43 -0600 > From: "Hector W5CBF/CO6CBF" <kf5yxv(a)gmail.com> > To: "'Zach Leffke'" <zleffke(a)vt.edu>, <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: <01dd01d11a7e$0d033310$27099930$(a)gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Hi Zach and group > > I think, the main problem is they are not always the same stations. I have > heard several different stations in terrestrial QSOs QRMing FO-29; majority > of them speaking Spanish and without any kind of ID. I have not heard them > recently, though. > > 73! > > Hector, CO6CBF/W5CBF > > -----Mensaje original----- > De: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] En nombre de Zach Leffke > Enviado el: Sunday, November 08, 2015 4:54 PM > Para: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Asunto: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > > well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that happened to > be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They work with me and Bob, > so a few crude words here and there aren't uncommon to them. > > But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if your > audience is a bit younger. > > Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've monitored > FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that I've been toying > with the idea of trying to locate where the source emitters actually are > located based on doppler shift data. We know the doppler between the > receiving ground station and FO-29, so we can back that out. We know the > transponder mapping, so we can work through that to determine what the > center frequency is as the signal enters the transponder uplink receiver. > What we don't know is the uplink doppler, because we don't know where the > emitter is and we don't know what exact center frequency they are on (but I > bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe 2.5kHz). So we have two unknowns. I'm > betting there's a way to work through it though, and with enough > observations and by watching the rate of change of the doppler, I bet > there's a way to make an educated guess on what their center freq and > location are. > > Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we could get > lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to (if it is in fact a > taxi). > > -Zach, KJ4QLP > >> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group >> of children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a >> religious broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >> >> 73 >> Clayton >> W5PFG >> >>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>> >>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 7 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:40:48 -0500 > From: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > To: Hector W5CBF/CO6CBF <kf5yxv(a)gmail.com>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: <563FDD80.1010702(a)vt.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed > > That makes sense Hector. I've seen the FM activity kind of all over the > transponder. More so than I would expect if it was the same transmitter > each time on the same frequency and the different pass geometries > causing a bit of swing due to doppler. > > > -Zach, KJ4QLP > >> On 11/08/2015 06:34 PM, Hector W5CBF/CO6CBF wrote: >> Hi Zach and group >> >> I think, the main problem is they are not always the same stations. I have >> heard several different stations in terrestrial QSOs QRMing FO-29; majority >> of them speaking Spanish and without any kind of ID. I have not heard them >> recently, though. >> >> 73! >> >> Hector, CO6CBF/W5CBF >> >> -----Mensaje original----- >> De: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] En nombre de Zach Leffke >> Enviado el: Sunday, November 08, 2015 4:54 PM >> Para: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Asunto: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? >> >> well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that happened to >> be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They work with me and Bob, >> so a few crude words here and there aren't uncommon to them. >> >> But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if your >> audience is a bit younger. >> >> Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've monitored >> FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that I've been toying >> with the idea of trying to locate where the source emitters actually are >> located based on doppler shift data. We know the doppler between the >> receiving ground station and FO-29, so we can back that out. We know the >> transponder mapping, so we can work through that to determine what the >> center frequency is as the signal enters the transponder uplink receiver. >> What we don't know is the uplink doppler, because we don't know where the >> emitter is and we don't know what exact center frequency they are on (but I >> bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe 2.5kHz). So we have two unknowns. I'm >> betting there's a way to work through it though, and with enough >> observations and by watching the rate of change of the doppler, I bet >> there's a way to make an educated guess on what their center freq and >> location are. >> >> Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we could get >> lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to (if it is in fact a >> taxi). >> >> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> >>> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >>> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a group >>> of children. Normally it's not English. It's most likely NOT a >>> religious broadcast based on their choice of crude words. >>> >>> 73 >>> Clayton >>> W5PFG >>> >>>> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >>>> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM activity on >>>> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, which was >>>> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America QRM theory. >>>> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the satellite was >>>> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over higher latitudes >>>> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >>>> >>>> -Zach, KJ4QLP >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 18:55:00 -0500 > From: Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu> > To: Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> > Cc: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29? > Message-ID: <563FE0D4.5020503(a)vt.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed > > Good point Bob. I haven't fully worked through the problem yet, but > thats pretty much right in line with what I'm thinking. Thats what I > meant by saying watching the 'rate of change of doppler.' When the > slope of the doppler s-curve is at a maximum, that should be the point > of closest approach. > > Actually, that brings up a question. Do you know what type of equation > would fit the doppler S-Curve profile? something that could be used to > generate a regression equation from a few doppler observations? > > -Zach, KJ4QLP > > >> On 11/08/2015 06:12 PM, Robert Bruninga wrote: >> Zach >> You dont need to know the senders exact freq, just a plot of his freq >> during the pass will form an "S" curve and once you have enough of the >> "S", you can know his center freq, and hence his closest point of >> approach. That gives a line of bearing. Anothe pass gives another >> one, and so on... >> >> bob >> >> On Sun, Nov 8, 2015 at 5:54 PM, Zach Leffke <zleffke(a)vt.edu >> <mailto:zleffke@vt.edu>> wrote: >> >> well.. when I say students, I meant graduate students at VT that >> happened to be in the lab when I was doing the experiment. They >> work with me and Bob, so a few crude words here and there aren't >> uncommon to them. >> >> But good point, probably not the best thing for a public demo if >> your audience is a bit younger. >> >> Actually, I've seen so much FM activity (basically every time I've >> monitored FO-29 since we first came online in late september) that >> I've been toying with the idea of trying to locate where the >> source emitters actually are located based on doppler shift data. >> We know the doppler between the receiving ground station and >> FO-29, so we can back that out. We know the transponder mapping, >> so we can work through that to determine what the center frequency >> is as the signal enters the transponder uplink receiver. What we >> don't know is the uplink doppler, because we don't know where the >> emitter is and we don't know what exact center frequency they are >> on (but I bet you its in 5kHz steps, maybe 2.5kHz). So we have >> two unknowns. I'm betting there's a way to work through it though, >> and with enough observations and by watching the rate of change of >> the doppler, I bet there's a way to make an educated guess on what >> their center freq and location are. >> >> Or if someone listening knows Spanish and/or Portugese, maybe we >> could get lucky and hear what cross streets the taxi is going to >> (if it is in fact a taxi). >> >> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> >> On 11/08/2015 05:30 PM, Clayton W5PFG wrote: >> >> I wouldn't recommend playing the FM audio heard via FO-29 to a >> group of children. Normally it's not English. It's most >> likely NOT a religious broadcast based on their choice of >> crude words. >> >> 73 >> Clayton >> W5PFG >> >> On 11/8/2015 16:13, Zach Leffke wrote: >> >> So yes, in the last couple weeks I've seen a LOT of FM >> activity on >> FO-29. And based on my experience with Friday's pass, >> which was >> ascending, I'm leading towards the Central/South America >> QRM theory. >> Lots of strong FM activity as the pass started and the >> satellite was >> over the lower latitudes, but as FO-29 ascended over >> higher latitudes >> towards the north pole, the FM activity died down. >> >> -Zach, KJ4QLP >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:AMSAT-BB@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 via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:AMSAT-BB@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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 9 > Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2015 10:21:57 +1000 > From: VK4NBL <vk4nbl(a)bigpond.com> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] FM signal on FO-29 > Message-ID: <BLU436-SMTP20894C252E8F97C94778D4685150(a)phx.gbl> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; > reply-type=original > > > With regards to FM signals on FO-29, we can also here them here in > Australia. > This is most noticeable when the Sat is travelling South to North. > When it gets above Northern Queensland all we can hear is Indonesian fishing > boats on the 2m uplink. > It does suck the power from the Sat and usually ends some very good QSO's > long before LOS. > > 73 > Peter > vk4nbl > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 10 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 16:30:59 -0800 > From: "Ted" <k7trkradio(a)charter.net> > To: "'Stefan Wagener'" <wageners(a)gmail.com>, "'AMSAT BB'" > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Frequency chart and satellite information > -online- > Message-ID: <000801d11a85$e8322cf0$b89686d0$(a)charter.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Good stuff, Stefan...tnx! > 73, K7trk > > -----Original Message----- > From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Stefan > Wagener > Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2015 6:12 AM > To: AMSAT BB > Subject: [amsat-bb] Frequency chart and satellite information -online- > > Hi folks, > > Some of the most comprehensive and very frequently updated sources of > amateur radio satellite information can be found here: > > 1. From Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL > > http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/satslist.htm > > 2. From Mike Rupprecht, DK3WN > > http://www.dk3wn.info/satellites.shtml > > Bookmarked on my Mac for immediate access :-) > > Stefan, VE4NSA > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 11 > Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2015 19:46:38 -0500 > From: jeffory broughton <jefforybroughton(a)gmail.com> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Fm activity on FO29 > Message-ID: > <CACm2je12MnYrso645LUPCBvn58vCNsjingQA1DZpy+rgq5KXFg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > A couple weeks ago . fo29 made a pass over canada.I am in michigan and I > was barely in the footprint when I clearly heard two guys loading trucks on > the upper end of the transponder .it almost had to be coming from canada. > > jeff broughton > > > ------------------------------ > > Subject: Digest Footer > > _______________________________________________ > 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 member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ------------------------------ > > End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 10, Issue 346 > *****************************************

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Re: [amsat-bb] AO-85 SWL report
by David 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

El 09/11/15 a las 10:10, David escribió: >> SWL report of AO-85 during its orbit #456 + 11mins at 09:39 UTC >> No telemetry heard. >> No beacon heard. >> Is sat still on COR mode? > El 09/11/15 a las 10:18, Dani escribió: >That's a bit weird, isn't it? VK5HI reported telemetry at 6:25 UTC today: > http://amsat.org/tlm/ao85/201511082225427.txt > I coincide in the opinion that the audio is clearer without DUV telemetry. > 73, > Dani M0HXM/EA4GPZ. Hi all: Now orbit #457 + 12 minutes Double checked. No telemetry at all neither in this pass. EA1JM confirms the same.Satellite was busy and several stations were making QSOs. At least from my side, same comments and feelings as in my previous RXed pass: Nothing have changed regarding the uplink issues and downlink quality looks to be better (Both audio and signal strength) than when in the normal modes. Question: I understood that the uplink dificulties were related to some issues regarding 67Hz reception on the sat. If the COR mode doesnt handle 67Hz at all and is an "Open Squelch" mode... Should not "life be easier" to be repeated by the sat?. 73s David EA4SG

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AO-85 SWL report
by David 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Hi all: Just for information. SWL report of AO-85 during its orbit #456 + 11mins at 09:39 UTC Location: IN80CP. Max. elevation during the pass: 7º RXing with 9 element yagi + mast preamp, horizontal polarization. No telemetry heard. No beacon heard. Is sat still on COR mode? Usual dificulties to be repeated by the sat. Usual fading. But clear audio (My feeling that much clearer than when the sat is in the standard modes) Very good signal strength (Same feeling... Is this COR mode providing more power than in the standard modes?) Best 73s David EA4SG

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Re: [amsat-bb] BRICSAT-1 recovery challenge
by Daniel Schultz 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

What Bob forgot to mention about BRICSAT-1 is that it carries a set of experimental electric thrusters from George Washington University. If you can help recover BRICSAT so that its thrusters can be fired, you would be helping to obtain performance data on the thrusters which could be valuable input to future AMSAT mission proposals. The HEO satellite proposal needs a small thruster for orbit maintenance. This satellite mission is important to AMSAT, let's get out the AMSAT can-do spirit and help recover this satellite! 73, Dan Schultz N8FGV -------------- from AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-312 -------------- >BRICSAT-1 recovery challenge >If anyone has 9600 baud satellite capability and is looking for a >challenge, you could be successful in recovering BRICSAT (NO83). >BRICSAT simply has a negative power budget. When it wakes up, it >should be possible to get in the command to tell it to turn off >unnecessary loads and then let it achieve full recovery. As is, it >wakes up, sends a few feeble 20 second packets and dies again. >Bricsat has another excellent PSK31 transpodner on it too. You can >detect BRICSAT when it awakes by the 20 second packet on the downlink >OR by the occasional PSK31 beacon on 435.350 MHz (+/- Doppler). Do >not be confused by PSAT which also has a PSK31 tranpsonder on the >same frequency. But they have different audio tones for the beacon. >> Downlink: 437.975 MHz, 9600 baud >> Uplink: 145.825 MHz, 9600 baud >> Latest ?guess? at the TLE (not sure if this is BRICSat) >> 1 90722U 15294.38156592 +.00051032 +00000-0 +11686-2 0 0166 >> 2 90722 054.9895 030.6075 0226665 199.3544 159.8861 15.1979213102332 >The commands are simple keyboard dumb terminal commands. >If you think you want to take on this challenge, contact us. >(bruninga at usna.edu) >[ANS thanks Bob WB4APR and Jin KB3UKS for the above information]

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AO-85 COR mode
by Daniel Estévez 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Hi, AO-85 COR mode was working fine in its last pass over Europe (about 15:52 UTC). Plenty of stations where using the transponder and it seems that most sounded quite good without the DUV telemetry. Hitting the transponder with my handheld arrow and 5W didn't seem more difficult than usual, perhaps even a bit easier. 73, Dani M0HXM/EA4GPZ.

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Saturday at the Tucson Hamfest & driving around Arizona...
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

Hi! Yesterday was a busy, and fun, day. Between the Tucson Hamfest in the morning and over 300 miles of driving after the hamfest to operate from 3 other locations in 2 southern Arizona grids, it made for a fun day. A good hamfest for AMSAT in the morning, and a long loop through southern Arizona including a stop at one of the rarest grids in the continental USA added to the fun. I drove down to the hamfest, hosted at a school about 25 miles northwest of downtown Tucson in the suburb of Marana, early in the morning. I was setting up around 5am (1200 UTC), so I could be ready for the early- morning crowds and also work the early SO-50 and LilacSat-2 passes from the hamfest site. I was able to do that, and also work a couple of AO-73 passes later in the morning. During the morning, my AMSAT table was visited by a group of students from the University of Arizona. They were interested in learning about AMSAT's Fox project, as they are about to start their own CubeSat project. Maybe we'll hear about their project in the near future. Thanks to the Oro Valley Amateur Radio Club, the club that hosted the hamfest, for providing AMSAT a space at the hamfest - a nice space with a good view of the eastern sky, for the demonstrations. After the hamfest and a quick stop for lunch, I decided to make a long drive from the Tucson area out to the rarely-heard grid DM31. Since I didn't leave the hamfest until almost 12 noon (1900 UTC), I knew I would miss some really good passes that covered the east coast, but I still wanted to make a run out that way. I have not been to DM31 in almost 5 years, and it turned out to be a perfect day to drive around southern Arizona and be outside to work satellites. On my way to DM31, I stopped along a highway in grid DM32re to work SO-50 and FO-29 passes just after 2100 UTC. The SO-50 pass was a shallow pass favoring the east coast, and FO-29 basically went right over my head. I stopped along a highway where I was not right next to the highway, and worked these two passes. This location was on the western edge of the Tohono O'Odham Nation reservation, which covers a large chunk of southern Arizona. These passes went well, and I wasted no time stowing my gear after the FO-29 pass went away to make it to my next stop. I only had to drive about 45 minutes to reach my destination in DM31, the visitor center at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This spot is about 5 miles north of the USA/Mexico border, but a few miles inside DM31. In my two previous trips to this grid, I operated at the Lukeville border crossing, very close to the USA/Mexico border fence. Seeing so many Border Patrol vehicles on the highways after leaving Tucson, and knowing the situation just over the border in that area, I decided not to drive all the way to the border crossing. Operating from the national monument's visitor center was OK, even with the hills to the west that meant the most shallow western passes were not workable. At DM31, I worked 4 passes - two SO-50 passes, and one pass each on FO-29 and XW-2F. The first SO-50 pass, around 2245 UTC, was a high pass, but did not stretch all the way to the east coast. I worked 13 station on this pass. FO-29 came by about 15 minutes after the SO-50 pass, and this was a shallow pass with maximum elevation of 5 degrees. I heard K8YSE/7 on this pass, but did not work anyone. The last SO-50 pass around 0030 UTC added just 2 more QSOs to the log. XW-2F, just after 0100 UTC, was probably the best chance to work some stations further away from me to the east. I used my SDRplay SDR receiver to hear the downlink, transmitting from one of my FT-817NDs. I worked 4 stations, and then packed up. It was just after sunset, and I did not want to stick around this area after dark - even at the visitor center. Before the last SO-50 pass I worked at 0030 UTC, I was visited by a US Park Ranger - the law enforcement at national parks and monuments. We had a nice 15-minute chat, and I was never asked to produce any ID or paperwork for my radio gear. Normally, when I operate from this area or other locations near the USA/Mexico border, I'm visited by Border Patrol agents, but not this time. As I was about to leave this area, a Border Patrol helicopter flew very low over the visitor center heading away from the border area. The drive from the Organ Pipe national monument to Gila Bend, a small town along the I-8 freeway, is a 75-mile drive. On the way north, there are two Border Patrol highway checkpoints, plus the road (Arizona 85) cuts through the east end of an Air Force bombing range where stopping is not allowed except for emergencies. I made the drive in about an hour and a half, and that let me work two AO-85 passes from a McDonald's parking lot near I-8 in Gila Bend to wrap up the day's radio operating. Gila Bend is at the north edge of grid DM32, the grid I worked from earlier in the afternoon before I made it to DM31. The first AO-85 pass I worked, just after 0300 UTC, was probably the busiest AO-85 pass I have worked. I logged QSOs with 11 different stations, and heard a few others I did not work. I used my SDRplay SDR receiver and HDSDR software to hear the downlink, transmitting with my IC-2820H. I made an RF recording of the pass, so I could decode telemetry and upload it later. After the 0300 UTC pass, I had dinner, and then worked the western pass at 0445 UTC for my final pass of the day. Four stations showed up at that hour. When I ran the RF recordings from these passes through FoxTelem this morning, I uploaded a total of 97 data frames to the AMSAT server - a little more than half of them came from the earlier of the two passes. When I made it home just before midnight (0700 UTC), I had driven 416 miles since leaving home at 2.45am (0945 UTC). If I had only driven to the hamfest and back home, I would have had less than 200 miles on the car. The extra driving was nice, especially with the afternoon temperature staying around 80F. I logged 24 QSOs at the hamfest on 6 passes (2 each on AO-73, SO-50, and LilacSat-2), 15 QSOs when I stopped along that highway in grid DM32 on SO-50 and FO-29, 19 QSOs on 3 passes in DM31 (2 SO-50 passes, plus an XW-2F pass), and 15 QSOs on the two AO-85 passes in Gila Bend (DM32pw) in the evening. I enjoy going to hamfests representing AMSAT, and the post- hamfest road trip was a lot of fun. I know there are a few who had hoped I could have made it to DM31 for earlier passes yesterday. With the hamfest being the main reason I was in southern Arizona, the post-hamfest travel was a bonus. I made sure to stretch that into the evening, and that let me operate from a couple of other grids (DM31, DM32) besides the grid the hamfest was in (DM42). I will try to make another run to DM31, when I can work more passes that reach both coasts. All of my QSOs from yesterday's passes have been uploaded to Logbook of the World. If you would like to receive a QSL card for QSOs with me, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will send a card. I have also posted my RF recordings and other files related to the AO-85 and XW-2F passes I worked yesterday, available at: http://dropbox.wd9ewk.net/ Hit the refresh button, or press the F5 key, if the file/folder listing doesn't appear immediately. Other photos from throughout the day were posted on my @WD9EWK Twitter account. If you don't use Twitter, you can still see those photos and other tweets in a web browser: https://twitter.com/WD9EWK Thanks for the QSOs, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Dagget Montessori contact reception audio from Raleigh, NC
by John Brier 09 Nov '15

09 Nov '15

https://soundcloud.com/spacecomms/astronaut-kjell-lindgren-and-dagget-monte… My audio recording/reception of Astronaut Kjell Lindgren talking to students from Dagget Montessori School in Fort Worth, Texas as heard in Raleigh, North Carolina. For continuity, I recorded myself reading the questions the students asked, and spliced them into this recording. I make videos of these receptions too, like this: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixq5yyWH-k I received answers to questions 4 - 10: 4. How does the lack of gravity affect your blood flow? 5. At what age did you decide to become an astronaut and what inspired you to do so? 6. On Earth, we see one sunrise and one sunset a day. How does it change your sleep-wake cycle when you see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes? 7. Are there any mechanical or electrical changes in your equipment from Earth's gravity to microgravity? For example, results from the SoRGE. 8. When you miss your family, what do you do to feel comforted? 9. If someone has a critical medical emergency, such as appendicitis, what would you do? 10. How does microgravity affect your digestive system? For example, does your food float to the top of your stomach? 73, KG4AKV

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