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

double-hop ISS/NO-84 packet around 2209 UTC today
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

Hi! It looks like we have a chance to do double-hop packet through the ISS and NO-84, around 2209 UTC. ISS is passing to my west, and NO-84 is to the southeast. Using SatPC32, it looks like the two should see each other in orbit. I'm going to give this a try, sending my packets first through ISS using its RS0ISS call, as it will be higher and easier to get into. I'm hoping that something makes it to - and through - NO-84. Even though I had tweeted that I would use ARISS for the second part of my path, I'll go with APRSAT instead. I can change it on the fly, if needed. I'll watch the usual web sites, to see what makes it through each digipeater. Please let me know if you see WD9EWK-9 make it through both. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Chat Room?
by Joe 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

Is there like a chat room where OSCAR or any Sat for that matter hang out in? Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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Progress Spacecraft Now At ISS
by B J 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/07/05/progress-resupply-ship-arrives-space… http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/russian-cargo-ship-arrives-at-iss 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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New Horizons Anomaly
by B J 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/07/04/horizons-enters-safe-mode/ http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/press-releases/new-horizons-team-responds… http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-establishes-anomaly-board-to-dia… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Possible Clue To Last Week's SpaceX Failure
by B J 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technolog… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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TH-D72a and SO-50
by Clint Bradford 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

On your 'D72a and the FM birds ... -Use VFO B for TX -VFO A for RX (it has better sensitivity) -balanced audio all the way to VFO A -open squelch for VFO A -5W transmit From another post ... Another thing that's handy for the TH-d72 is the M>V key. Put the center freq in memory, but before the pass copy it into the VFO for Doppler tuning. Saves having a lot of memories used for Doppler shift and the TX frequency isn't as likely to need big adjustments thanks to the capture effect on the satellite receiver. Clint K6LCS

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DeorbitSail Launch + Phase 4 Frequencies
by M5AKA 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

The DeorbitSail satellite developed at the Surrey Space Centre, Guildford, should launch on July 10. It carries a 9k6 BPSK beacon on 145.975 MHz http://www.surrey.ac.uk/ssc/research/space_vehicle_control/deorbitsail/ http://www.isro.gov.in/launcher/pslv-c28-dmc3-mission Phase 4 Spacecraft Frequencies http://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/03/phase-4-spacecraft-frequencies/ UK school plans 2am balloon launch http://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/05/school-plans-2am-balloon-launch/ UWE-3 Status Report http://amsat-uk.org/2015/07/05/uwe-3-status-report/ The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium at Guildford July 25-26 is open to all, admittance is £10 each day, parking free http://amsat-uk.org/2015/06/16/international-space-colloquium-at-guildford/ 73 Trevor M5AKA ---- AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ Twitter https://twitter.com/AmsatUK Facebook https://facebook.com/AmsatUK ----

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Kenwood D72 on SO-50
by Philip Jenkins 05 Jul '15

05 Jul '15

I bought a D72A a little over a year ago because it had APRS built-in; this made it very handy for the balloon-chasing I used to do. Now I'm trying to set it up for SO-50. I'm successfully putting it into full-duplex mode - with the 144 Mhz freq (pl 67.0) on the B-band, and the 435 Mhz frequency on A-band. (Duplex cannot be engaged while the radio is on the A-band.) I'm running into two problems though. 1 ) Whenever I want to change the receive (downlink) frequency because of Doppler, turning the knob changes the B-band side, the transmit, which is what I don't want. As it is, since I can't get the 435Mhz to change, this setting is only going to allow me to hear the satellite mid-pass 2) I had the idea of putting this/these VFO settings - including duplex - into memories, one memory for each 5 Khz step on receive. When I follow the manual directions for entering odd splits in memory, whenever I check to see what's in the memory by transmitting, (it appears) I'm just transmitting simplex on the 435Mhz frequency; the radio's display doesn't change (other than the s-meter showing that power is being transmitted). I'm wondering how others are making their D72s work successfully on SO-50. Is/are there (a) certain step(s) that I'm missing in order to change the receive frequency AND enter full-duplex VFO settings into memory successfully? Thanks for the help...either replying to the BB or to me personally is ok. ( N4HF(a)AMSAT.ORG) Philip N4HF EM85

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SO50 gridline protocol
by Michael Adams 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Due to a death in the family, I am currently enroute to my parents' place in Memphis. I have a (not full duplex, unfortunately) HT in my bag, and I just discovered I had left my Elk in the car from Field Day. The 90th meridian passes through my old childhood bedroom. I was wondering, in case the opportunity arises, what the protocol is for operating on a gridline, and the subsequent LOTW record keeping. -- Michael Adams | mda(a)n1en.org

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Yaesu FT-847 for sale!
by Stefan Wagener 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Have a very nice FT-847 available. Unit is a 9/10 (very minimal signs of wear), fully functional, no modifications, non-smoking radio, very clean and very well kept, never mobile! Comes with original manual, laminated quick set-up guide, new microphone and power cable. Has a removable protective cover on the display (beautiful green appearance). Asking $875 plus shipping. PayPal or MO okay. Questions? ship me an email. My callsign at gmail.com 73, Stefan VE4NSA

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ANS-186 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-186 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 2015 Symposium Call for Papers * Reminder - Send in AMSAT Field Day Results * $50SAT 19 months in Space and still working * International Space Colloquium at Guildford * WD9EWK California road trip July 9-13 * ARISS Poster Presented at ISS R&D Conference * Help Wanted - Editor-in-Chief for the AMSAT Journal * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-186 ANS-186 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 186 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. July 5, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-186 AMSAT 2015 Symposium Call for Papers This is the first call for papers for the 2015 AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held on the weekend of October 16- 18, 2015. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, but no later than August 1. The final copy must be submitted by September 15 for inclusion in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz at n8fgv at amsat.org The 2015 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will be held October 16, 17, 18, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 33 East 5th Street, in Downtown, Dayton, Ohio. [ANS thanks the 2015 Symposium Committee for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Reminder - Send in AMSAT Field Day Results Please send your AMSAT Field Day results to Bruce Paige, KK5DO. Refer to the AMSAT Field Day web page at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=216 for a copy of the rules document. This also includes the format of the Satellite Summary Sheet. The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the AMSAT Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail) by 11:59 P.M. CDT, Monday, July 13, 2015. The preferred method for submitting your log is via e-mail to kk5do(a)amsat.org or kk5do(a)arrl.net. You will receive an email back (within one or two days) from me when I receive your email submission. If you do not receive a confirmation message, then I have not received your submission. Try sending it again or send it to my other email address. You may also use the postal service but give plenty of time for your results to arrive by the submission date. If mailing your submission, the address is: Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director of Awards and Contests PO Box 310 Alief, TX 77411-0310 Please add photographs or other interesting information that can be used in an article for the Journal. Certificates will be awarded to the first-place emergency power/portable station at the AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium in the fall of 2015. Certificates will also be awarded to the second and third place portable/emergency operation in addition to the first-place home station running on emergency power. A station submitting high, award- winning scores will be requested to send in dupe sheets for analog contacts and message listings for digital downloads. [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Awards and Contests for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- $50SAT 19 months in Space and still working Michael Kirkhart KD8QBA provides an update on the $50SAT amateur radio spacecraft which measures just 5x5x7.5 cm Sunday, June 21, 2015 marked the 19 month anniversary of the launch of $50SAT/MO-76/Eagle-2. The good news is it still operating. The bad news is the power situation has been degrading, with an apparent step change on or near May 12, 2015, followed by another on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. The last full telemetry capture made here in EN82 land was on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, and the last time it was heard was on Friday, June 6, 2015. I continued to attempt to listen for it for another week or so, and heard nothing. Has anybody heard it since then? At this point, I have been monitoring it using Anton's (ZR6AIC) WebSDR as it makes daytime passes over South Africa. These occur between 7:30 and 9:00 UTC, which translates to 3:30 and 5:00 AM here in EN82 land. This is tough, as I am not a morning person. Sometimes, however, you have to do these things; helping build a satellite might be a once-in-a-lifetime event. During these passes, where it has already spent a significant amount of time in sunlight, the battery voltage is below 3400 mV. Is the battery going bad? While it is certainly possible the battery has suffered from some loss of charge capacity, one has to remember it is does not generate energy; it merely stores it. Since it is the solar power system that generates the power used by the satellite and stored in the battery, could the drop in battery voltage be due to a degradation in solar power generation? Back around May 12, I noticed the MPPT (solar) current readings were typically less than 10 mA. This much lower than it should be. To better understand what might be going on, a new chart was added to the telemetry spreadsheet which shows both the battery voltage and the MPPT (solar) current (with the zero readings removed), each with its own linear regression line. This chart can be seen from the following URL: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/ AABKSR5V4cOvEPqPYbs8QYZNa/Telemetry-analysis/Current- Telemetry/Battery-Voltage-MPPT-Current-Chart.pdf Notice how the MPPT current trend line has been sloping downward, similar to that of the battery voltage. Moreover, starting 2 weeks before June 4, 2015 (each X axis division on the chart represents 2 weeks time), each reading has been at or below the trend line. A more striking comparison can be seen by doing the following: 1. Zoom in of the Battery-Voltage-MPPT-Current-Chart to show the 4 week interval starting May 7, 2015, and ending June 4, 2015 (see https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/ AACdQtySHZW3kVl7UMgSrxfHa/Telemetry-analysis/Battery-Voltage-MPPT- Current-Comparison-2015-05/Battery-Voltage-MPPT-Current-2015-05.pdf) 2. Zoom in of the Battery-Voltage-MPPT-Current-Chart to show the 4 week interval starting May 8, 2014, and ending June 5, 2014 (see https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/ AACracUWkivilfsKGBUFkmDXa/Telemetry-analysis/Battery-Voltage-MPPT- Current-Comparison-2015-05/Battery-Voltage-MPPT-Current-2014-05.pdf) [Editor's Note: The URLs above don't port well via tinyurl.com and have been truncated to fit the ANS format requirements. They should be copy and pasted as a continuous line to work with most browsers.] In comparing these charts, it is clear both the battery voltage and the MPPT current were significantly lower this year that during the same period last year. On June 5, 2014, the trend line value for battery voltage was about 3610 mV, and for MPPT current was about 30 mA. One year later (June 4, 2015), the trend line value for battery voltage was about 3380 mV, and for MMPT current was about 14 mA. Therefore, while it is likely the battery has suffered some loss of capacity, it appears the low battery voltage is due to low solar power output. There are many possible reasons for this, including: * Solar cell damage due to sputtering: since there was no protective covering on the solar cells, impacts from high energy particles can damage the cells, causing a drop in output. * Solar cell damage due to thermal cycling: We know from telemetry data the interior of the satellite cycle between +30 degrees C and - 30 degrees C each orbit. It is likely the exterior temperatures experienced higher extremes, and this periodic thermal cycling may have caused the solar cells to fracture, thus leading to a drop in output. * Short circuit failure of one or more of the diodes which isolate each MPP tracker output, which can cause an inactive MPP tracker (one whose corresponding solar panel is not facing the sun) to load an active one (one whose corresponding solar panel is facing the sun). Because of the limited amount of telemetry gathered, it may not be possible to determine the exact cause. If the solar output power continues to drop, the battery voltage may never get above the 3300 mV threshold needed to enable the transmitter, at which point we will lose the ability to monitor its status. Even if this does happen, however, we never really thought it would last this long. We would have been happy if it just worked, and really happy if it lasted a month or two. 19 months - this is way beyond what any of us expected! As of June 25, 2015, the orbit has decayed by about 73 km since launch. Since April 21, 2015, it has been decaying at a rate of about 1 km per week. Apogee is now at 561 km, and perigee is at 529 km. The following are the TLEs from 2015-06-25: EAGLE 2 1 39436U 13066W 15176.16386703 .00013608 00000-0 90105-3 0 9991 2 39436 97.7444 252.3622 0022818 80.2035 280.1767 15.07230510 86697 Again, if anyone wants to make an attempt at predicting when it will de-orbit, here is some useful information: Average cross-sectional area = 0.014252 m^2 Mass = 210 g Area/mass ratio = 0.06787 m^2/kg >From the 2015-06-25 TLEs: Semi-major axis: 6922.8 km Eccentricity: 0.0022818 Apogee: 560.6 Perigee: 529.0 As always, please post any telemetry, or for that matter, any reception reports to the Yahoo discussion group. We would especially like to encourage our friends in the southern hemisphere to listen for $50SAT/MO-76/Eagle-2. We really appreciate everyone who has provided reception reports and telemetry as well as access to their WebSDRs. To date, we have 3,098 individual error-free telemetry captures, and the vast majority of these did not come from Stuart, Howie, or I. 73 Michael Kirkhart KD8QBA $50SAT/MO-76/Eagle-2 team $50SAT is one of the smallest amateur radio satellites ever launched at 5x5x7.5 cm and weighs only 210 grams. Transmitter power is just 100 mW on 437.505 MHz (+/-9 kHz Doppler shift) FM CW/RTTY. It uses the low cost Hope RFM22B single chip radio and PICaxe 40X2 processor. $50SAT has been a collaborative education project between Professor Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, Morehead State University and three other radio amateurs, Howie DeFelice, AB2S, Michael Kirkhart, KD8QBA, and Stuart Robinson, GW7HPW. Further information in the $50SAT Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/-HxyXNsIr8 There is a discussion group for $50SAT http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/50dollarsat/ 50DollarSat http://www.50dollarsat.info/ {ANS thanks Michael KD8QBA and Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- International Space Colloquium at Guildford The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held on July 24- 26 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK. Among the speakers will be: • Peter Guelzow DB2OS with an update on AMSAT-DL projects, including the Phase 4 satellite • Chris Brunskill, formerly of Surrey Space Centre (SSC), now working at the Space Catapult at the Harwell Campus. He will be presenting an extremely novel project aimed at schools and education • It is hoped the BATC will be able to demonstrate live Digital TV reception from the International Space Station, using the Ham TV system • Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA, from AMSAT North America will be attending, and presenting the latest news of the FOX satellite(s) due for launch later this year, and also on their Phase 4 project The Colloquium is open to all further information is at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- WD9EWK California road trip July 9-13 Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK will be driving to southern California next Thursday (9 July), in advance of a presentation he will give for the Escondido Amateur Radio Society that evening. After that presentation, and after spending the next day (Friday, 10 July) in and around San Diego, he will head north. Other than a planned stop at the DM04/DM05 grid boundary north of Los Angeles (the same spot he stopped at last September, near Mojave CA and Edwards AFB), He may be going to head further north. He hopes to have some time to go either north through the San Joaquin Valley, or over to the Pacific coast, or some sort of loop to see a lot more of central California. Whereas there is not a set itinerary for the portion of his trip after the DM04/DM05 stop, he has asked other satellite operators via Twitter for feedback on some grids that would make for worthwhile visits during his trip. Patrick is asking for feedback, "If I look to go up or down the Pacific coast, grids I could visit include CM94 through CM96, and possibly even as far north as Santa Cruz and the almost-all-wet grid CM86. If I stay inland, DM0x grids would be where I'd probably drive through. I'm not planning to go all the way up to the Bay Area, although Santa Cruz is not that far from San Jose. Any thoughts from the crowd here, on grids that I should try to visit between 11 and 13 July?" On his return trek to Phoenix on 13 July, he could be able to make a stop on the DM23/DM24 boundary, either north of Quartzsite on the Arizona side of the Colorado River, or just across the river along US- 95 in California. This stop will depend on whether or not a satellite pass is available as he passes through that area. Patrick notes that he won't be passing that way on his trip out to San Diego. During his travels he will be running APRS using WD9EWK-9, which should be visible on sites like http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 . Check his twitter feed, @WD9EWK, for updates. Any QSOs made will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. [ANS thanks Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Poster Presented at ISS R&D Conference Frank Bauer,KA3HDO, on behalf of ARISS-US team will host a poster presentation “Educational Outreach and International Collaboration Through ARISS---Amateur Radio on the International Space Station” during the 4th Annaul International Space Station Research and Development Conference July 7-9, 2015. The poster is a colaborative work by members of the ARISS-US Executive team and outlines the objectives, capabilities, and impact that amateur radio plays in international collaboration and STEM education engagement aboard the International Space Station. Poster are available for viewing throught the conference and are the center attraction during one of the receptions where Bauer will be available to answer questions. This is the second year that ARISS has been represented at the conference. The ISS R&D conference is being held in the Marriott Copley Hotel in the center of Boston, MA. Each morning of the 4th International Space Station Research & Development Conference will be webcast live starting at 8:00 am eastern on July 7. Opening remarks by Michael Suffredini, Manager, ISS Program Office, NASA JSC, will be followed by a conversation with Elon Musk, CEO and Lead Designer, SpaceX. To watch at no charge visit http://www.issconference.org/livestream.php [ANS thanks ARISS, the American Astronautical Society for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Help Wanted - Editor-in-Chief for the AMSAT Journal AMSAT is looking for an Editor-in-Chief for the AMSAT Journal. This position is now open due to the expansion of opportunities in the User Services Department. Our current editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, is also the Vice President of User Services. The Officers and the Board have discovered that it is impossible for a single volunteer to accomplish management of the AMSAT Journal with the other pending User Services leadership requirements. Hence we are planning on a handover in editorship when a suitable candidate is found. Experience with the Adobe InDesign CS6 publication system would be helpful (AMSAT provides the software). However, this publishing system resembles a word processor on steroids; while there is a learning curve it will not be impossible. The editor-in-chief will continue to lead the team of Journal assistant editors arranging for content to publish. To volunteer send an e-mail to JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM at: k9jkm(a)amsat.org [ANS thanks JoAnne K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Recent Contacts + A telebridge contact with students at Universidad Tecnológica de Chile INACAP sede Temuco, Temuco, Chile was successful Fri 2015-06- 26. Contact was established at about 18.50 UTC via ARISS ground station W6SRJ in Santa Rosa, CA, USA. Though the signal from the ISS was strong and clear, a delayed start for the interview meant that there was time for four questions for the Russian cosmonaut. Responding to one of the questions during the interview that was conducted in English, the Russian crew member explained that the temperature outside the ISS varies between +120° and -120° Celsius. School Information: We are a technical university located in Temuco city, 700 kms south of Santiago de Chile and we are planning this event together with telecommunications engineering area. Our university has direct contact with local schools which will be taking part on the event that day. We are planning to invite around 400-500 students because we will organize an open science fair called "telecommunications and space" and we will be teaching them radio communications, antennas and space science along with professional astronomers and engineers. The children will be from five or six different schools located in Temuco and surrounding rural areas. We will coordinate with the schools to select the students and ask their own questions. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + A direct contact with students at Tulsa Community College, Northeast Campus,Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA was successful Wed 2015-07-01 15:59:17 UTC 20 deg. Students ranging in age from 60 to 13 asked cosmonaut Gennady Pedalka, RN3DT thirteen questions. The interview included a question from a deaf engineering student that was managed through an interpreter. Preparing for the contact, students assembled the ground station that was used to make the contact and participated in an antenna design contest. Students tested their antennas by hand tracking the ISS. They practiced doing receiving tests with the assembled ground station prior to the day of the contact to sharpen their skills. A video recording of the contact is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZVWkPPLCEM&feature=youtu.be School information: TCC is Oklahoma’s largest community college with more students and more degree earners than any other community college in the state. We offer students a choice of 235 associate degree and certificate of completion programs of study. TCC students come from every walk of life, and our graduates work in all sectors of business and industry to help build a stronger, more diverse economy. Four campuses (Metro, NE, SE, and W) serve the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. If you're passionate about electronics, criminal justice, horticulture, engineering, computer networking, human services, fire emergency services, interpreter education or aviation science, "Northeast" is the campus for you. Located near Tulsa's industrial and aerospace hub, the campus is perfect if you're seeking a career in high-tech business or service-focused careers. Along with a strong educational curriculum, the campus is home to the Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, offering access to higher education for all segments of the population. The TCC Electronics club started in the early 1980’s on the NE Campus which is where the Electronics and Engineering Technology classes are offered. Amateur Radio activities were added in 2000 (the year an instructor came on board as the only HAM operator), and we became an “ARRL” affiliated club in 2005. Now the TCC-ARC station consists of two towers for HF and VHF, along with two EME and Radio Astronomy arrays. Upcoming Contacts A direct contact with students at Kopernik Observatory, Vestal, NY, USA is planned for the week of July 6. More details will be provided when the schedule is confirmed at www.ariss.org. >From 2015-06-11 to 2015-07-24, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any school contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Space Related Special Event DX Short EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA. Special event station UE40SA is QRV until July 20 to commemorate the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project 40 years ago. QSL via GM0WRR. [ANS thanks ARLD026 DX news for the above information] + Forever Remembered exhibit Astronaut artifacts line the walls of a new, permanent memorial called "Forever Remembered," at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. NASA and astronaut families collaborated on the memorial designed to honor the crews lost on missions STS-51L and STS- 107, pay tribute to space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, and emphasize the importance of learning from the past. The memorial contains the largest collection of personal items of both flight crews and includes recovered hardware from both shuttles, never before displayed for the public. [ANS thanks This Week @ NASA for the above information] + NESC Academy Online The NESC Academy was established by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC), headquartered at NASA Langley Research Center, to enable effective knowledge capture and transfer and ensure technical information remains viable and accessible. The NESC Academy provides a forum through which senior technical experts can teach critical competencies required to effectively accomplish the NASA mission. The online courses were conducted by discipline experts and provide the unique opportunity to share critical knowledge with broad audiences in a self paced manner. For more information visit http://nescacademy.nasa.gov [ANS thanks NASA-Space for the above information] + Fox-1 Update As of Tuesday morning the GRACE mission CubeSats including Fox-1 were successfully transported to VAFB and mated to the Aft Bulkhead Carrier (ABC) plate. Wednesday instrumentation was completed, GRACE CubeSats are ready and waiting to be attached to the Centaur which should occur later this month. [ANS thanks Jerry N0JY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX AMSAT User Services and the Editors of the AMSAT New Service pass on our condolences to ANS Weekly Co-Editor Joe Spier K6WAO and his family on the death of Joe's mother this week. In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

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Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Michael 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Once again I feel the need to say that we have gone in the wrong direction by trying to convince everyone how easy a "sat" is to work with a handheld antenna. I got into satellite communication because of the technical challenge involved, not by how "easy it was". This whole half or full duplex issue is a symptom of "dumbing down" There should never be any question on it. Full duplex should ALWAYS be used. 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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My upcoming road trip (9-13 July)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Hi! This is going to be the plan for my upcoming road trip, starting on Thursday (9 July) and wrapping up on the following Monday (13 July). This includes an AMSAT presentation, some time in/around San Diego, and at least a thousand miles' driving. Here goes... Thursday (9 July) AM: drive to San Diego. Thursday PM: Work afternoon AO-7/FO-29/SO-50 passes from either DM12 or DM13, possibly both if there is any interest in both grids. Then an AMSAT/satellite presentation at Escondido Amateur Radio Society in DM13, including a possible demonstration before or after club meeting on AO-73. Friday (10 July): no radio until late in the day, possible DM04/DM05 activity on AO-73 @ Mojave CA in the evening. Saturday (11 July) AM: morning AO-7 or FO-29 passes from DM04/DM05 line @ Mojave CA, then 5-hour drive to Santa Cruz CA. If I'm making good time, I might stop in DM06 for 1 or 2 AO-73 passes on the way to Santa Cruz. Saturday PM: hoping to work afternoon AO-7/FO-29/SO-50 passes from CM86/CM96 line @ Santa Cruz CA. If not possible, work from one of the grids in the afternoon, then the other via AO-73 in the evening. (CM86 appears to be the rarer of these two grids) Sunday (12 July) AM: morning AO-7 or FO-29 passes from Santa Cruz CA (hoping for CM86/CM96 line, but probably just CM86 if I can't get on the line), then drive south - either along the coast on CA-1, or inland on US-101. I might be able to work from the CM95/CM96 line, if I'm not able to get CM96 on the air much from Santa Cruz, before going down to Santa Maria. Sunday PM: hoping to work afternoon AO-7/FO-29/SO-50 passes from CM94/CM95 line @ Santa Maria CA. Maybe eastern AO-73 pass in the evening as well. Monday (13 July): not sure if I will work passes before departing Santa Maria, but hoping to get through Los Angeles and make it to DM23/DM24 line north of Quartzsite AZ for afternoon AO-7 or FO-29 passes. Then a quick drive home. Weather conditions, especially the fires, might cause my plans to be altered. I'll use Twitter and posts to the -BB to make updates. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Fox, "Easy Sats" - segway to PSAT PSK31?
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

Segway this argument to the 10m uplink now 100% available on PSAT PSK-31 which virtually no one is using. > With OSCAR 6 and 7... ten meter downlinks, it was just a matter of adding two meter transmit capability to an HF station. For PSAT PSK31 it is even simpler. Add a UHF FM HT to your HF station! > many... people that worked OSCARs, 6, 7, 8, and RS birds never graduated from Mode A... > Just like many of the FM satellite users never graduate from FM. We give them what they ask for, a multi-user simultaneous transponder supporting dozens of simultaneous contacts, yet we have only seen 1 or 2 stations at a time give it a try. http://aprs.org/psat.html Just an observation. I thought this PSK-31 linerar uplink with FM downlink would make everyone happy. It's a foot in both camps.. <wink> Bob, WB4aPR

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Joe 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

yes it was that big not because of the antennas but the radio technology of the day. I posted about Oscar -5 because of the tape measure antennas and your statement about deploying such an antenna. Joe WB9SBD On 7/4/2015 1:59 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Now try to deploy it from a spinning and tumbling cubesat!

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Re: [amsat-bb] Spectacular Photo of the ISS (pixel)
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

> this potographer had a few-seconds' window to capture the ISS against the moon: > http://www.cnet.com/news/stunning-photo-catches-the-iss-in-transit-over-th e-full-moon/#ftag=CAD590a51e The ISS appears big because it is close to us. I was curious to see what it would look like if it was in orbit around the moon. Turns out, it would be one-tenth the size of even a single pixel. I edited the image to show this: http://aprs.org/ISS-moon-picture.png Bob, WB4APR

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

>> ... At the time I got started I was influenced by an article on the web titled "Work FM Satellites with your HT!" advocating that all I needed was a single handheld and a tape measure antenna ... Wow. I take that as a compliment ... >> ... I notice that the article has been since updated to include "Ideally, we should be working the satellites in full duplex mode, where we can simultaneously listen to the downlink as we are transmitting." Thank you for clarifying this. Then I am teaching it correctly. Whew. Clint

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Joe 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

I have a 12 foot tape here that when coiled up is less than a inch in diameter MAX, Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/4/2015 1:31 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > A 10m dipole is almost 17 feet long. You could fit it in a cubesat, > but where are the batteries, transmitter, receiver, IHU, etc going to go? > > NO-83 and NO-84 have 10m uplinks that use a 72' wire antenna for > reception. That depends on the ground station to supply a bit more > uplink power. With a cubesat, you don't have adequate power to > overcome a poor downlink antenna. > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:22 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net <mailto:[email protected]>> > wrote: > > tape measure dipole worked in the past. > Joe WB9SBD > > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 7/4/2015 1:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> Because of the difficulty of putting an adequate antenna for a >> 10m downlink on a cubesat. >> >> 73. >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> Why don't they have mode "A" anymore? even the single channel >> FM could be mode a true? >> >> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >> Idle Tyme >> Idle-Tyme.com >> http://www.idle-tyme.com >> On 7/4/2015 12:48 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>> Well, you are partially right. With OSCAR 6 and 7 and their strong ten >>> meter downlinks, it was just a matter of adding two meter transmit >>> capability to an HF station. Now it does take a little more work to >>> receive and transmit at VHF and UHF with SSB or CW and the prevalence >>> of man-made noise on VHF and UHF these days generally requires a beam. >>> >>> I am quite certain that many of the people that worked OSCARs, 6, 7, >>> 8, and the RS birds never graduated from Mode A. Just like many of the >>> FM satellite users never graduate from FM. >>> >>> People tend to think it's more difficult than it is. I've made over >>> 2,000 linear transponder contacts with nothing more than two Yaesu >>> FT-817s (for a few hundred of those I used an Icom IC-R10 receiver) >>> and an Arrow antenna handheld. >>> >>> The radios for operating via a linear transponder are widely available >>> and inexpensive. A Yaesu FT-100, FT-817, FT-857, FT-897, FT-991 or an >>> Icom IC-706MkII(g), Icom IC-7000, or any of those plus a FUNcube >>> dongle and computer to receive the downlink are all the radio you need >>> and an Arrow or Elk antenna will get you going. >>> >>> 73, >>> >>> Paul, N8HM >>> >>> >>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Joe<nss(a)mwt.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>> Funny how a linear bird is a technical challenge, wow, as a novice in 1975 I >>>> listened to Oscar 6 & 7 all the time. and once up graded used them also all >>>> the time. Sad to think that 1970's technology is high tech to anyone. >>>> Joe WB9SBD >>>> Sig >>>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>>> Idle Tyme >>>> Idle-Tyme.com >>>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>>> >>>> On 7/4/2015 12:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>>>> Michael, >>>>> >>>>> The idea is to get people hooked on satellite operating and then have >>>>> them "graduate" to more challenging aspects of satellite operating. >>>>> >>>>> AMSAT is, of course, working on projects that be more of a technical >>>>> challenge than FM satellites, like Fox-1E with a linear transponder >>>>> and the geosynchronous P4B project. >>>>> >>>>> 73, >>>>> >>>>> Paul, N8HM >>>>> >>>>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:02 PM, Michael<Mat_62(a)charter.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Once again I feel the need to say that we have gone in the wrong >>>>>> direction >>>>>> by trying to convince everyone how easy a "sat" is to work with a >>>>>> handheld >>>>>> antenna. I got into satellite communication because of the technical >>>>>> challenge involved, not by how "easy it was". >>>>>> This whole half or full duplex issue is a symptom of "dumbing down" >>>>>> There >>>>>> should never be any question on it. Full duplex should ALWAYS be used. >>>>>> 73, >>>>>> Michael, W4HIJ >>>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>>>> Opinions >>>>>> expressed >>>>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>>>> program! >>>>>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >>>>> expressed >>>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>>>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >>>> expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> > >

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Re: [amsat-bb] Fox, "Easy Sats"....et al....
by Joe 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

tape measure dipole worked in the past. Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 7/4/2015 1:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: > Because of the difficulty of putting an adequate antenna for a 10m > downlink on a cubesat. > > 73. > > Paul, N8HM > > On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 2:07 PM, Joe <nss(a)mwt.net <mailto:[email protected]>> > wrote: > > Why don't they have mode "A" anymore? even the single channel FM > could be mode a true? > > The Original Rolling Ball Clock > Idle Tyme > Idle-Tyme.com > http://www.idle-tyme.com > On 7/4/2015 12:48 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >> Well, you are partially right. With OSCAR 6 and 7 and their strong ten >> meter downlinks, it was just a matter of adding two meter transmit >> capability to an HF station. Now it does take a little more work to >> receive and transmit at VHF and UHF with SSB or CW and the prevalence >> of man-made noise on VHF and UHF these days generally requires a beam. >> >> I am quite certain that many of the people that worked OSCARs, 6, 7, >> 8, and the RS birds never graduated from Mode A. Just like many of the >> FM satellite users never graduate from FM. >> >> People tend to think it's more difficult than it is. I've made over >> 2,000 linear transponder contacts with nothing more than two Yaesu >> FT-817s (for a few hundred of those I used an Icom IC-R10 receiver) >> and an Arrow antenna handheld. >> >> The radios for operating via a linear transponder are widely available >> and inexpensive. A Yaesu FT-100, FT-817, FT-857, FT-897, FT-991 or an >> Icom IC-706MkII(g), Icom IC-7000, or any of those plus a FUNcube >> dongle and computer to receive the downlink are all the radio you need >> and an Arrow or Elk antenna will get you going. >> >> 73, >> >> Paul, N8HM >> >> >> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Joe<nss(a)mwt.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>> Funny how a linear bird is a technical challenge, wow, as a novice in 1975 I >>> listened to Oscar 6 & 7 all the time. and once up graded used them also all >>> the time. Sad to think that 1970's technology is high tech to anyone. >>> Joe WB9SBD >>> Sig >>> The Original Rolling Ball Clock >>> Idle Tyme >>> Idle-Tyme.com >>> http://www.idle-tyme.com >>> >>> On 7/4/2015 12:10 PM, Paul Stoetzer wrote: >>>> Michael, >>>> >>>> The idea is to get people hooked on satellite operating and then have >>>> them "graduate" to more challenging aspects of satellite operating. >>>> >>>> AMSAT is, of course, working on projects that be more of a technical >>>> challenge than FM satellites, like Fox-1E with a linear transponder >>>> and the geosynchronous P4B project. >>>> >>>> 73, >>>> >>>> Paul, N8HM >>>> >>>> On Sat, Jul 4, 2015 at 1:02 PM, Michael<Mat_62(a)charter.net> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> Once again I feel the need to say that we have gone in the wrong >>>>> direction >>>>> by trying to convince everyone how easy a "sat" is to work with a >>>>> handheld >>>>> antenna. I got into satellite communication because of the technical >>>>> challenge involved, not by how "easy it was". >>>>> This whole half or full duplex issue is a symptom of "dumbing down" >>>>> There >>>>> should never be any question on it. Full duplex should ALWAYS be used. >>>>> 73, >>>>> Michael, W4HIJ >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. >>>>> Opinions >>>>> expressed >>>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite >>>>> program! >>>>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >>>> expressed >>>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>>> AMSAT-NA. >>>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Sent viaAMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available >>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions >>> expressed >>> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of >>> AMSAT-NA. >>> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >>> Subscription settings:http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >

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Re: [amsat-bb] Signal on 145.825 (CW?)
by Robert Bruninga 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

> I was hearing ... "sewing machine" on 145.825 MHz FM. ANS: AO-11. NEW QUESTION: Which one sends CW? I hear it in FM, but am on the other side of the lab and haven’t gotten across to switch to SSB to copy it. Been too busy. Bob

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

>> ... the quote that is purely out of context ... Pure nonsense. From the article ... "Working Fox-1A" "With a minimum power output of 400mW, Fox-1A should be easy to work with an ordinary VHF/UHF handheld transceiver and a dual-band handheld Yagi antenna. Most VHF/UHF handhelds can only communicate in "half duplex." This means they cannot receive simultaneously while transmitting. A half- duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better. A full duplex transceiver receives and transmits at the same time. This allows you to monitor the quality of your signal through the satellite so that you can make antenna and frequency adjustments as needed." My quotation of ... " ... a half-duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better ... " ... captures the "essence" properly. Clint Bradford

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Signal on 145.825
by Mark Johns 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

At about 16:15z this morning I was hearing a strong carrier with "sewing machine" modulation on 145.825 MHz FM. It wasn't 1200bps packet. ISS, PSAT, NO-44 and other usual suspects were nowhere nearby. It seemed to be passing to the south of my location in EN43. Can anyone tell me what this was? -- Mark D. Johns, KØMDJDecorah, Iowa USA EN43----------------------------------------------- "Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in." ---Mark Twain

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Working FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

I was startled reading AA4KN's proclamation in his July, 2015 QST article that " ... a half-duplex rig will be adequate for the Fox satellites, but a "full duplex" transceiver is even better ... " Gawd, if I had published that, I would have crosses burning on my front lawn. Confirming we should still be teaching that "Working FOX-1A in true, full duplex mode is preferred ... " - and suggesting methods to accomplish just that? Clint K6LCS

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Spectacular Photo of the ISS
by Clint Bradford 04 Jul '15

04 Jul '15

While all the rest of us were watching Venus and Jupiter this week, this potographer had a few-seconds' window to capture the ISS against the moon: "The ISS only passed over the moon for 0.33 seconds as it shoots by quite quickly. Knowing the second it would pass I fired a 'burst' mode of exposures then crossed my fingers and hoped it would show up in review -- and it did!" ... http://www.cnet.com/news/stunning-photo-catches-the-iss-in-transit-over-the… It is now MY newest screensaver photograph ... Clint K6LCS

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My ft-736 meter lamp went dark, and scratchy pots.
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 03 Jul '15

03 Jul '15

Anyone know off hand the voltage and current rating of the meter lamp in an FT-736 and hard it is to get too? Replacement source? When I have it apart I need to address scratchy pots issue too with the AF gain, squelch, RF gain, and mic gain. Anyone ever taken care of that? What cleaner to use? Thanks Happy 4th everyone. KB7ADL

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