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

Found an excellent tutorial: Question about receiving/decoding satellite packet/APRS with MixW
by Mark Lunday 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2013/11/satellite-psk.html Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

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Question about receiving/decoding satellite packet/APRS with MixW
by Mark Lunday 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

What tone should I set the receiving icon for? Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

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XW-2E back on
by Pedro Sousa 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

Hi all, I saw on AMSAT's status page that PU2RAS heard telemetry from XW-2E and OY9CMC reported it active. So I gave it a try. Yes, it's there. Weak signal but readable. Here's the recording I've made, where you can hear shouting my whistle while adjusting XIT. Speaking of which is a bit off than what it used to be. My original sheets showed it at around +0.8kHz. Today it was at +1.2kHz. http://plus2.dutrasousa.name/XW2E06DEC20151915.mp3 Both CW beacon and telemetry appear to be offline though. 73 de Pedro CU2ZG --- Este e-mail foi verificado em termos de vírus pelo software antivírus Avast. https://www.avast.com/antivirus -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.

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Cygnus On Its Way
by B J 06 Dec '15

06 Dec '15

The launch was smooth and the spacecraft just separated from the booster. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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ANS-340 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-340 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: * AMSAT Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas * AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2016 In Memory of W2BXA * Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-02 20:30 UTC * WRC-15 Satellite News * Cubesat by an Elementary School Will be Aboard the Orbital-ATK Cygnus Launch * 73 on 73 Award Recipients SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-340.01 ANS-340 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 340.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. December 6, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-340.01 AMSAT Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas Hardware consisting of Ettus Research USRP X300 SDR, USRP B210 SDR, UBX40 USRP Daughterboard, GPDSO Kits, and antennas have been ordered from National Instruments Corp. for delivery to Bill Reed NX5R in Dallas TX to equip a second community for development of the AMSAT Ground Terminals. These terminals will be used for the Phase 4B and other digital/microwave satellites being developed by AMSAT and in partnership with Virginia Tech. Michelle Thompson W5NYV has been leading the effort in the San Diego CA area, which started up when the P4B project was announced earlier this year. Amateur radio operators in the Southern California area from AMSAT, Palomar Amateur Radio Club, and the San Diego Microwave Society have been implementing a terrestrial system to mimic the ground and space segments of a digital satellite communications link and developing code and hardware techniques for use in the P4B and future HEO opportunities that AMSAT is pursuing. Expanding the system to the Dallas area will allow more collaboration, development, and testing by AMSAT and North Texas Microwave Society amateurs with San Diego and other regions. The investment in equipment and community building will increase the number and quality of ideas in developing this next generation system of amateur radio satellite communications. Another development system is being planned for the east coast. AMSAT is actively recruiting individuals and groups that want to work together to establish increased regional technical activity in support of satellite service goals. Rick Hambly W2GPS has campaigned for the creation of this very type of activity on the east coast for many years. Successful east-coast expansion will add even more variability and expertise to the project. By involving amateurs who have expertise in both microwave and digital communications and in varying terrain and conditions, as well as including people with various backgrounds and experience, AMSAT plans to produce a ground terminal that will be useful with a variety of next generation satellites including Phase 4B, Phase 3E, the Heimdallr Lunar Cube Quest CubeSat, and an AMSAT developed HEO CubeSat. These are all projects currently being pursued by the AMSAT Engineering and ASCENT (Advanced Satellite Communications and Exploration of New Technology) Teams. “The development of a ground terminal along with satellite projects is part of a plan to offer a way for amateurs to buy, build, or access ideas to develop their own ground terminals which will be useful for many future AMSAT satellite mission for years to come” said AMSAT-NA Vice President of Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY. “The concept of common uplink (5 GHz) and downlink (10 GHz) frequencies with software defined transponders allows many different experimentation and communications opportunities ranging from simple texting to voice, streaming video, data exchange, and reliable EMCOMM access in remote areas, with bandwidths to support many satellites and users.” If you are interested in supporting the effort please visit http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1121 to submit a request. While those who live in the San Diego, Dallas, or Maryland areas may find it easier to participate, volunteers from other areas are welcome to join and contribute remotely. [ANS thanks Jerry, NØJY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2016 In Memory of W2BXA You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2016, sponsored by AMSAT for all radio amateurs throughout the world. Operate CW through any amateur satellite from 0001 through 2400 UTC on 1 January 2016, using a manual, non-electronic key. Note that bugs are now allowed, as they are in similar ARRL and SKCC events. There is no need to send in a log, but please nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org.. A list of those nominated will be published in early February. This year’s event is being held in memory of Ben Stevenson, W2BXA (1914-2011). Licensed since 1929, Ben was one of the world’s top DXers on both HF and satellites. He led the DXCC Honor Roll for many years, and among his many awards were Satellite DXCC No. 1 and post-war Worked All Zones No. 1. Founding president of the North Jersey DX Association, Ben shared his knowledge and enthusiasm with one and all. [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-02 20:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Nanasawa Kibounooka Elementary School, Atsugi, Japan, direct via 8N1NKSG The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact was successful: Wed 2015-12-02 09:33:51 UTC 61 deg Yayoi Elementary School, Yatomi, Japan, direct via 8N2YAYOI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-12-04 09:25:46 UTC 57 deg Dragonskolan, Umeå, Sweden, telebridge via LU1CGB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Fri 2015-12-04 10:15:01 UTC 72 deg Ingushetia, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Contact is a go for: Sat 2015-12-05 16:25 UTC Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski Junior High School, Swietajno, Poland, telebridge via LU1CGB The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Contact is a go for: Tue 2015-12-08 08:19:31 UTC 62 deg [ANS thanks Charlie, AJ9N, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- WRC-15 Satellite News In his report for Day 16 of the WRC-15 conference Colin Thomas G3PSM says: Discussions took place on suggested frequency bands for possible new or an upgrade of existing allocations to the space operations service within the frequency ranges 150.05-174 MHz, 400.15-420 MHz [and 420-450 MHz] for short duration satellites. This potential future agenda item is an attempt to overcome the problem of non-amateur nano- and pico-satellites using the amateur service bands. No decision was reached and the document has been passed to plenary for decision. More reports about WRC-15 activities can be found at http://rsgb.org/main/blog/category/news/special-focus/wrc-15/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cubesat by an Elementary School Will be Aboard the Orbital-ATK Cygnus Launch NASA will enable the deployment of three small research satellites, or CubeSats, selected through the CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) for two universities and one primary school as part of the ninth installment of the Educational Launch of Nanosatellite (ELaNa) missions. Full story at this URL: http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/ELaNa_IX_mission_launches_first_cubesat_b… by_elementary_school_students_999.html [ANS thanks SpaceDaily for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 73 on 73 Award Recipients Paul Stoetzer N8HM reports more awards have been issued for contacts made via the AO-73 (FUNcube-1) amateur radio satellite. The 73 on 73 Award aims to promote activity on AO-73. The requirements are straight-forward: 1. Work 73 unique stations on AO-73. 2. Contacts must be made on or after September 1, 2014. 3. There are no geographic restrictions on your operating location. The latest recipients are: 20. David D’Aliesio IW0HLG – 31 May 2015 21. Kiyosi Hasegawa JA3FWT – 22 June 2015 22. Mariusz Kocot SQ9MES – 28 June 2015 23. Hector Luis Martinez W5CBF – 12 July 2015 24. George K. Carr II WA5KBH – 17 July 2015 25. Michel Ribot F6GLJ – 18 July 2015 26. Paul Stoetzer N8HM – 21 July 2015 27. Jeffrey Lamb NX9B – 2 August 2015 28. Imre Füzi HA1SE – 13 September 2015 29. Herman Blom PB0AHX – 1 November 2015 30. Joseba Andoni Barrio – 22 November 2015 Full information on how to apply is at http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ [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, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski Junior High School, Swietajno, Poland
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski Junior High School, Swietajno, Poland on 08 Dec. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:19 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 a telebridge between NA1SS and LU1CGB. The contact should be audible over Argentina 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. Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski Junior High School in Swietajno, attended by approximately 170 pupils (aged 13-15), is situated in a picturesque Land of a Thousand Lakes in Szczytno County (Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, in the northeastern part of Poland). The school consists of seven forms and it employs twenty well-qualified teachers. Mazurian Amateur Radio Club SP4YWM has been established here and it functions with the number of seventeen school members (among which there are three primary school pupils and one pre-school girl, all from Swietajno). In preparations for the amateur radio contact with the ISS, the students with the guidance of their teachers improved their English, got familiar with the life and work on the ISS. They had a great opportunity to learn everyday English in order to ask an astronaut questions during the ISS contact as well as the specialized language of science to visit space agencies pages. The students learned geography with the use of modern technologies and photographed the Earth from the board of the ISS (EarthKAM). The school cooperated with the Olsztyn Planetarium to organize an observation. The planetarium visited Swietajno to accompany one of the school events. Consequently, the Astronomical Mobile Laboratory called Astrolabium was at the school's disposal. Last year the ARISS participants from Swietajno attended the 4th Polish-Wide Conference of Contributors and Sympathisers in ARISS held in the central part of Poland, where they focused on interesting topics concerning the ISS and learned how other Polish schools had prepared for ARISS contacts in the past. The pupils also performed an experiment in the near space as a part of the miniSAT project. They sent peas, bubble wrap and a watch to the near space to the altitude of about 30 000 meters above the Earth. The conditions differ significantly between the near space and the surface of the Earth: the pressure is much smaller, UV radiation is higher and the temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. People from all over Poland, including the pupils from Swietajno, took part in it. The balloon used in the event was marked "CP26". The experiment in the near space was possible thanks to HAM radio operators and other volunteers from a non-governmental organization called Copernicus Project Foundation (near Torun, Poland). Their two flagship projects are MiniSAT and Near Space Program in Poland and they have organized above 30 balloon flies to the near space since 2005. In March 2013 the school started public relations activities connected with the HAM radio contact between an astronaut on the International Space Station and the students from Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski School. An official inauguration of the ARISS program in Swietajno had been prepared. TVP Olsztyn, Radio Olsztyn and other local mass media were present there and took part in an inaugural lecture on ARISS. As a continuation of EarthKAM program an exhibition of the photographs taken by the students was organized during the inauguration. Before that, Swietajno primary school pupils (between the ages of 5 and 12) had been invited to participate in the preparations to the ARISS contact. As a result, some of them are going to ask the astronaut their questions, together with their older friends from the junior high school. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Can you eat ice cream on the ISS? 2. How often do you observe the Earth and try to find your house? 3. How long can an astronaut stay on the ISS? 4. How old must be a person to become an astronaut? 5. Can you stop or change the direction of the ISS flight? 6. How do you spend your free time in space? 7. What time zone is used on the International Space Station? 8. Do you sometimes have a party on the ISS? 9. Can an astronaut catch a cold or flu on the ISS? 10. What was your most difficult task in space? 11. What is the most impressive thing you've seen from space? 12. Can you see New Year's Eve fireworks from space? 13. How long does it take to get from Earth to the space station? 14. What do you miss most from Earth you don't have in space? 15. Do you do the laundry on the ISS to clean your clothes? 16. Have you ever seen any unidentified flying objects? 17. Can you take your pet to the International Space Station? 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 visit the ARISS website at 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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Sunday from En82 and En83
by jeffory broughton 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

We are still on schedule to be parked on those two grids for 7 hours from 9 am to 4 pm EST.on Ao73,Ao85,Fo29,Ao7. WB8RJY.JEFF jeff broughton

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Inmarsat L-Band Sample IQ File?
by Scott 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

I sure hope this isn't too far off-topic, but I would imagine that a lot of Amsat people enjoy other satellite activities as well. I've searched but have not found any sample IQ .wav files of L-Band InmarSat data streams. It sure would be helpful to know what I'm looking for when I scan around the 1.5 GHz area. I'm also quite anxious to test the new JAERO software but of course you need a signal (live or recorded) to see anything decoded. If anyone has a URL for sample Inmarsat files, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks! -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA

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Next Cygnus Launch Attempt Rescheduled For Tomorrow
by B J 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/12/cygnus-return-atlas-v-launch/ http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/12/05/atlas-cygnus-launch-reset-sunday/ 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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What is the tone for AO-85? I can't locate that anywhere
by Mark Lunday 05 Dec '15

05 Dec '15

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com

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