AMSAT-BB December 2015

157 participants
241 discussions

Re: [amsat-bb] What on earth (or in space...) is going on?

by Tom Clark

A related thread has been running on QRZ.com where I just posted this comment: > To all those who have been bewailing the fact that the microwave > technology needed to use the P4B digital GEO satellite let me > offer a couplke of comments. I preface this by saying I am a part > of both the AMSAT and VT "factions:". > > All of you are making the mistake in believing that the 10 GHz > downlink will be complicated and expensive. Au contraire! > > How many of you have a 20 to 40 inch dish you use to watch TV? > Well, the downlink that DirectTV uses is well up in the microwave > spectrum in Ka band, at about 12 GHz. Many of the other TV > satellites operate at ~11 GHz. Hams in several parts of the world > have found that the feed used in these dishes (called an LNB) > consists of a good feed (designed to work with the small offset > dishes) coupled to a HEMT Low-Noise Amplifier (don't believe the > advertising -- the Noise figure is closer to 1 Db and not the 0.1 > dB the vendors claim). The LNA feeds a crystal-controlled down > converter which, off the shelf, makes the IF come out around 700 > Mhz. I can go on Amazon, Ebay or Alibaba today and purchase a dish > plus a full LNB plus some dish mounting hardware plus 100 ft of > low-loss (foam) 75 ohm coax and have it delivered to my house for > less than $100. > > The ~700 MHz IF can plug into a $200-300 RX SDR which converts the > ~10 MHz wide downlink into usable signal channels. Instead of > tuning an analog frequency dial, you will select an appropriate > channel to listen to your buddies. Or you can feed the SDR into > your local VHF/UHF LAN where you can user your existing HT. If you > are a skeptic about using the TVRO hardware in the amateur world, > I'll note that just such hardware has successfully copied the DL > 10GHz EME beacon in San Diego using a DVB Dongle+a laptop as the > receiver. > > What I described was the downlink side. The ~6 GHz uplink will > require the addition of a 1-5W PA, a small (probably array of > patches) with the TX side of an SDR and an upconverter from > whatever IF your SDR can generate to 6 GHz. The C-band TX should > cost under $500-$600 with the bulk of the cost in the SDR and TX PA. > > If you add up the RX and TX hardware, the tariff is less than the > price of an FT-1200 or KX-3, i.e. under $1000. We are working hard > to meet this goal since it meets FEMA requirements for portable > first responder "Go Boxes" to cover the need during major > disasters (Katrina, tsunamis, earthquakes) for reliable > communications in the first 24-96 hours. The ARRL and FEMA have an > agreement to have a hundred such "Go Boxes" (which also includes > suitable portable radios to augment whatever local resources exist). > > For those of you who want to use "conventional" modes our current > plans call for a ~100 kHz wide LINEAR C/X-band transponder. I note > (with pride) that I have figured out how we can have a LINEAR > transponder built on RX software running the "main" payload and > getting a LINEAR ANALOG output from a hard-limiting digital PA. > Using the linear transponder will require you to have a bit > antenna/TX power, but it will be there as a challenge! > > For all the nay-sayers please realize that AMSAT is trying to make > a miracle happen. We need financial, moral and technical support. > The "Space Biz" of today is radically different from what it was > when NASA and ESA were launching their own rockets and when AMSAT > was able to get sympathy for a bunch of "Space Cadets". > > 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI) > >

6 years, 7 months

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-28 19:30 UTC

by AJ9N＠aol.com

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-12-28 19:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Frederick W. Harnett Middle School, Blackstone, Massachusetts, telebridge via K6DUE (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Timothy Peake KG5BVI (***) Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-01-05 17:42:06 UTC 81 deg (***) Exp. 44 now back on earth (***) Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Congratulations to all 3! Job well done! Exp. 46 on orbit (***) Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP Welcome aboard! **************************************************************************** ** >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 115 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 114 **************************************************************************** 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 2015-12-12 03:00 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 1015. Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 980. 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 2015-12-09 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 now back on earth (***) Oleg Kononenko RN3DX Kimiya Yui KG5BPH Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS Exp. 45 on orbit Sergey Volkov RU3DIS Exp. 46 on orbit (***) Tim Kopra KE5UDN Timothy Peake KG5BVI Yuri Malenchenko RK3DUP **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

6 years, 7 months

Re: [amsat-bb] What... in space... is going on? (Microwave Fun)

by Robert Bruninga

And dont forget how you can take most old 10' dishs and disassemble it into 4 sections and make FOUR vrey high gain antennas. Just mount the feed to fully illuminate your quarter section of the dish and you have adequate gain in 1/4th teh space. Lots of fun with microwafves.. I thought I had photos, but cannot find them. I did find this old portable briefcase 1m dish system I put together for AO40: http://www.aprs.org/ao40ant.html Bob, Wb4APR On Mon, Dec 28, 2015 at 5:00 AM, Tom Clark <k3io(a)verizon.net> wrote: > A related thread has been running on QRZ.com where I just posted this > comment: > > To all those who have been bewailing the fact that the microwave >> technology needed to use the P4B digital GEO satellite let me >> offer a couplke of comments. I preface this by saying I am a part >> of both the AMSAT and VT "factions:". >> >> All of you are making the mistake in believing that the 10 GHz >> downlink will be complicated and expensive. Au contraire! >> >> How many of you have a 20 to 40 inch dish you use to watch TV? >> Well, the downlink that DirectTV uses is well up in the microwave >> spectrum in Ka band, at about 12 GHz. Many of the other TV >> satellites operate at ~11 GHz. Hams in several parts of the world >> have found that the feed used in these dishes (called an LNB) >> consists of a good feed (designed to work with the small offset >> dishes) coupled to a HEMT Low-Noise Amplifier (don't believe the >> advertising -- the Noise figure is closer to 1 Db and not the 0.1 >> dB the vendors claim). The LNA feeds a crystal-controlled down >> converter which, off the shelf, makes the IF come out around 700 >> Mhz. I can go on Amazon, Ebay or Alibaba today and purchase a dish >> plus a full LNB plus some dish mounting hardware plus 100 ft of >> low-loss (foam) 75 ohm coax and have it delivered to my house for >> less than $100. >> >> The ~700 MHz IF can plug into a $200-300 RX SDR which converts the >> ~10 MHz wide downlink into usable signal channels. Instead of >> tuning an analog frequency dial, you will select an appropriate >> channel to listen to your buddies. Or you can feed the SDR into >> your local VHF/UHF LAN where you can user your existing HT. If you >> are a skeptic about using the TVRO hardware in the amateur world, >> I'll note that just such hardware has successfully copied the DL >> 10GHz EME beacon in San Diego using a DVB Dongle+a laptop as the >> receiver. >> >> What I described was the downlink side. The ~6 GHz uplink will >> require the addition of a 1-5W PA, a small (probably array of >> patches) with the TX side of an SDR and an upconverter from >> whatever IF your SDR can generate to 6 GHz. The C-band TX should >> cost under $500-$600 with the bulk of the cost in the SDR and TX PA. >> >> If you add up the RX and TX hardware, the tariff is less than the >> price of an FT-1200 or KX-3, i.e. under $1000. We are working hard >> to meet this goal since it meets FEMA requirements for portable >> first responder "Go Boxes" to cover the need during major >> disasters (Katrina, tsunamis, earthquakes) for reliable >> communications in the first 24-96 hours. The ARRL and FEMA have an >> agreement to have a hundred such "Go Boxes" (which also includes >> suitable portable radios to augment whatever local resources exist). >> >> For those of you who want to use "conventional" modes our current >> plans call for a ~100 kHz wide LINEAR C/X-band transponder. I note >> (with pride) that I have figured out how we can have a LINEAR >> transponder built on RX software running the "main" payload and >> getting a LINEAR ANALOG output from a hard-limiting digital PA. >> Using the linear transponder will require you to have a bit >> antenna/TX power, but it will be there as a challenge! >> >> For all the nay-sayers please realize that AMSAT is trying to make >> a miracle happen. We need financial, moral and technical support. >> The "Space Biz" of today is radically different from what it was >> when NASA and ESA were launching their own rockets and when AMSAT >> was able to get sympathy for a bunch of "Space Cadets". >> >> 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI) >> >> >> > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

6 years, 7 months

NO-84

by Joe

I did a look through on You-Tube, and did not find any. Does anyone have a nice video of people using NO-84? I'd like to make up a club presentation. Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

6 years, 7 months

Transponder EO-79 Offline

by pd3t＠amsat.org

Hi, Tried to reach the EO-79 Transponder but it seems to be in the off state. Didn’t try listening for the beacon will do that on next pass. Regards Terence PD3T

6 years, 7 months

NO-84 question

by skristof＠etczone.com

I know this has been asked a hundred times, but I'm going to make it a hundred and one. I'm using UISS for packet on satellites. What do I put in the "VIA" box to get into NO-84. I've tried ARISS, APRSAT, and PSAT and I was not heard. Obviously, it could be that the satellite just isn't hearing me, but I'd like to know that I'm using the correct path to give myself the best chance of getting in. Most of the packets I see from NO-84 have a couple of paths designated like "CQ,PSAT,ARISS". Do I need to put in two paths like "PSAT,ARISS"? If so, how do you do that on UISS? Thanks for the help and Happy Holidays! Steve AI9IN EM79ji Oldenburg, IN

6 years, 7 months

ISS/NO-84 APRS filter to avoid local uplink dupes ?

by PA3GUO

APRS question: I am using AGWUIDigi to Igate the 145.825 data from ISS, NO-84, etc. How do I avoid that when a local HAM uplinks to ISS, I hear his uplink, I Igate his uplink, and then when ISS digipeats, that is seen as a dupe ? Result would be that that local HAM would never show up anywhere as heard via ISS or NO-84, as I would have Igated his uplink 2 seconds prior to the digipeat. Setting the APRS server logon filter to exclude his CALLSIGN, would that block just incoming or also outgoing (RF to Internet) packets ? If so, I could use such a filter: -b/CALLSIGN Would this be the way to solve this ? Henk, PA3GUO

6 years, 7 months

What on earth (or in space...) is going on?

by Pete Parisetti

I have been sucked into a discussion that makes me feel like I have spent the last six months in a coma... In a nutshell: QUOTE Now, let me remind you of the latest developments, as seen from a casual but highly interested observer like myself, and you will tell me if this is a sad joke or what. 1) From the AMSAT newsfeed, on July 25 we learn that "AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, and Virginia Tech Announce Potential Phase-3E Opportunity". 2) In the following months there has been absolutely NO FOLLOW-UP, no information whatsoever on this potentially crucial piece of information. 3) A couple of days ago, completely out of the blue, we learn that "AMSAT Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas". Hello? WTF is going on here? The P3E launch opportunity has morphed into a geostationary satellite (never heard a thing about that). The projct has morphed from a P3E "old school" satellite into this digital monster (never heard a thing about that). Things have developed to such an extent that now "ground terminals are being expanded"... UNQUOTE Here's a link to the thread: http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/first-amateur-radio-in-geosynchrono… 73 HNY Pete MM0TWX

6 years, 7 months

AO-85 high speed data/telemetry testing Dec. 29-30, 2015

by Mark L. Hammond

Hello All, Greetings. In an effort to test a new autobaud selection feature in FoxTelem 1.03, the Operations Team will be conducting some experimental sessions with AO-85 next week (Dec. 29 and 30, 2015). Telemetry collectors in/near the US are encouraged to participate and help with testing the autobaud selection feature by installing the 1.03 test version available here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/ I suggest you do a clean/fresh install in a new folder so you can always go back to 1.02 if you prefer. (It's possible to upgrade only the new files, but if you have to ask how, you'd better not do it ;)) You'll see a new "Auto" button option, next to the Low and High speed buttons; use it. Specifically, during the following passes we'll be switching from the current voice transponder operation with low speed telemetry, to high speed telemetry (Note: in high speed mode, voice operations are OFF). The switches will take place about every minute or two during the pass. Please avoid making contacts during these testing periods. 29.12.2015 AO-85 11:19 11:32 UTC 29.12.2015 AO-85 13:00 13:12 UTC 30.12.2015 AO-85 11:45 11:59 UTC During 2016, two or three more Fox satellites are planned for launch into orbit, and these birds will need to operate in high speed data mode from time to time to download space photos, experimental data, etc. Taking advantage of some in orbit testing with Fox-1A/AO-85 will be very helpful to the further development of the FoxTelem ground station software. All the thanks go to Chris Thompson AC2CZ for his extraordinary efforts on the telemetry software (both client and server side)! Feedback about your experiences will be appreciated. Email to the list is preferred so all can learn. 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

6 years, 7 months

Grids I operated from

by jeffory broughton

Home grid EN72 OPERATED from EN82 / EN83 LINE WB8RJY jeff broughton

6 years, 7 months

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AMSAT-BB December 2015