October 2016 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Fwd: [ARISS-ops] ARISS News Release no. 16-09
by Daniel Cussen 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

ARISS NEWS RELEASE no. 16-09 October 20, 2016 David Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org Current Amateur Radio Status on board the International Space Station (ISS) The VHF handheld radio model that has been used by the ARISS program to connect students worldwide with astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) for over 16 years has given an error message and is unusable at this time. While the ARISS technical team evaluates the best path to restore operation from the Columbus module, ARISS contacts will be supported using the Kenwood radio in the Russian Service Module. During this period, the packet digipeater will be unavailable. Switching to the 70 cm radio capability on board the Columbus module for some operations is being coordinated. Expect further updates as we work to resolve this problem. About ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Also, join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) / Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status Contact: David Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR , aa4kn(a)amsat.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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AMSAT's around the world
by Bruce 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

I have added a link under the AMSAT tab at http://www.amsat.org to other AMSAT's around the world. It was on the old site and never got migrated over. Was easier to just create a new one and here it is. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Member 2016-2018 AMSAT Board Alternate 2015-2016 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Return to EN95/FN05
by Ken Alexander 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

Hi All, Return to EN-95 & FN05 It looks like the weather will be OK this weekend so I can make up for last weekend's rain-out. Schedule below. Visibility from my site on the grid boundary isn't that good. Therefore, I will operate from EN95 in the morning and FN05 in the afternoon as shown below. From EN95 ------------------------------------------------ 22.10.2016 FO-29 14:04 14:15 11 16 092 - 005 22.10.2016 SO-50 14:54 15:03 09 26 258 - 026 22.10.2016 FO-29 15:45 16:02 17 65 150 - 350 22.10.2016 FO-29 17:31 17:46 15 29 207 - 333 From FN05 ------------------------------------------------ 22.10.2016 AO-85 18:54 19:05 11 47 193 - 041 22.10.2016 AO-85 20:35 20:45 10 28 250 - 025 22.10.2016 SO-50 21:43 21:52 09 68 329 - 138 22.10.2016 XW-2F 22:30 22:38 08 60 156 - 352 22.10.2016 XW-2C 22:50 22:58 08 70 172 - 345 73, Ken VE3HLS

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SatPC32 parking frequency?
by w4upd 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

I have attempted use SatPC to provide frequency parking at the end of any priority passes. Thanks to Alan, WA4SCA, he provided some data for simulation of a GeoSync satellite. I tweaked the values to provide what I needed for my locaation and it seems to work fine as far as the satellite always being in range and that it is selected when no other satellite with a priority of 1-9 is above the horizon. The problem I am having is that when I put the frequencies I want into DOPPLER.SQF. I entered the line: TestSat3,146520,436800,FM,FM,NOR,0,0 The name matches the keps. etc. However, nothing displays in the Doppler window. My assumption at this point is that SatPC knows its a Geo or at least there will be no Doppler and doesn't display or use the entered values. Wonder if anyone else has any thoughts on this. The intent was to allow the radio to monitor local frequencies when no satellites were in range then switch as any came within range. Looks like this is not going to work. Reid, W4UPD

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ARISS News Release no. 16-10
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 21 Oct '16

21 Oct '16

ARISS NEWS RELEASE no. 16-10 October 20, 2016 David Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org Attention: This is a reissue of the release previously sent on August 26, 2016 reminding all interested parties that the deadline for educational institutions to submit proposals seeking contacts with the International Space Station for this cycle is approaching fast. Please plan to submit your proposal before the November 1 deadline noted below. Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window September 1 - November 1, 2016 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is November 1, 2016. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space). More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org. About ARISS Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or informal education venues. With the help of experienced amateur radio volunteers, ISS crews speak directly with large audiences in a variety of public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, teachers, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org, www.amsat.org, and www.arrl.org. Also, join us on Facebook: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) / Follow us on Twitter: ARISS_status Contact: David Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR , aa4kn(a)amsat.org --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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ARISS Radio Status Update
by JoAnne Maenpaa 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

Good evening folks, Here is a report of the current status of the ARISS gear aboard the ISS: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/apparent-ariss-radio-failure-prompts-shift-to- russian-service-module-ham-gear (watch the line cutoff from the remailer). -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Wordwide Amsats
by Gerald Payton 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

On an impulse, I Googled the word "Amsat." I came up with 17 countries using the prefix of AMSAT for their sites (including JAMSAT for Japan). I knew that the hobby extended worldwide, but didn't know there were that many. There may be more that I missed. It occurs to me that there could be much to share and learn from each other. However, there would be language barriers for sure, other hurdles possibly. Stations operating on or near the North America coasts are able to make international contacts using the present LEO birds. What about the future Phase 4 and 5 satellites? These will provide a much different coverage footprint. NOT being an "internet nerd", I wonder if there is some central website that could be created that would link all of these 17 possibilities instead of painstakingly searching for the correct URL? Any thoughts out there? Yah or Nay.

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Mirage Mast Mounted Preamp(s)
by Steve Appleton 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

I recently purchased one of the Mirage mast mounted preamps from DX Engineering. Conflicts in documentation and a lack of labeling on the unit caused be concern as to whether I had the right unit. After spending two days back and forth with DX Engineering / Mirage, I’m told the following with respect to the Mirage KP-2 Series Mast Mounted Preamps: 1. Only the 1.25 m (KP-2/220) and 70 cm (KP-2/440) units are being manufactured with N connectors. All other variants have SO-239 UHF connectors. 2. None of the units in this series have any band specific labeling but have the generic label “KP-2”. The only indication of what band the unit is intended to operate on is the labeling on the box. Thanks to Mike at DX Engineering for clearing up the confusion. This caused me to plan the wrong cables at the antenna end. Not a major inconvenience but bothersome just the same. Mike assured me that they are going to correct this information on their website. There is no information on the Mirage web site so I felt it was worth letting everyone know. The experience so far with Mirage does not instill a lot of confidence but I’m going to install it and see how well it works.

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VP5/AA4FL
by Jay Garlitz 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

Feel free to check out my Facebook page for operation photos. I have opened up my VP5 posts for public view so you do not need to friend me. See you on the birds! 73, Jay VP5/AA4FL -- Dr. Jay H. Garlitz, AA4FL -President/CEO Connected World Internet Ventures, In. -President-Elect, Medical Amateur Radio Council, *www.marco-ltd.org <http://www.marco-ltd.org>* -Courtesy Clinical Assoc. Professor, UF Dentistry, Dpt. Community Dentistry -FCC Trustee, W4DFU at Univ. of Florida, since 2005, www.gatorradio.org. The Club Station of the Gator Amateur Radio Club, at UF since 1934 -member 2013 T33A Banaba Island Dxpedition, Central Pacific, www.t33a.com -other past personal calls 3D2FL (Fiji), T30FL (Tarawa), T33FL (Banaba),

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N2YTF/VP9 on SO-50
by Paul Stoetzer 20 Oct '16

20 Oct '16

Good morning, Last night I worked Tom, N2YTF/VP9, in Bermuda on SO-50. He plans to be on passes today and tomorrow with a Kenwood TH-D72A and a Diamond RH77CA whip antenna. It's been a while since Bermuda has been on satellite, so look for him. 73, Paul, N8HM

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