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

Mode B operating question...
by Chad Phillips 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

I first got on the sats back on AO-13. Seem to me back then when we operated linear satellites (FO-29, RS’s etc) we found ourselves on the receive passband and as the doppler changed we adjusted our transmit freq to make sure we stayed on the receive frequency. Of course things have changed since then and many use some sort of satellite tracking software to control the doppler adjustments on the radio. But when you are operating portable what is the proper procedure on the linear sats? Thanks, Chad kg0mw/en13

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BY70-1 - what a great satellite !
by PA3GUO 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

Wow ! Awesome FM satellite !! Would have been THE replacement for AO51. Really great signal, extremely sensitive. Many EU stations QRV this evening. Worked 2E0SQL, PE0SAT, EA1JM .... and did hear DK3WN ! TS2000, 2x6 elements for uplink, 67 Hz tone TS2000, 16 elements for downlink Henk, PA3GUO The Netherlands

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Primary School Georges Wallers, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (59), France
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Primary School Georges Wallers, Saint-Amand-les-Eaux (59), France on 31 Dec. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:31 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between FX0ISS and F4KJV. The contact should be audible over France and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in French. Saint-Amand-les-eaux is a city of approximately 16 000 inhabitants located in the north of France near Valenciennes. It is a spa town. The students participating in this project come from two different schools: the 5th Grade class (CM2) at the Georges Wallers school and another 13 young people with disabilities from the Institut Medico-Educatif (IME) Léonce Malécot (aged 12 to 18 years). The IME is a specialized institution that welcomes more than 100 young people, almost two thirds of whom have access to appropriate schooling. The main interests of the ARISS project for these young people are to be open to the outside world, to invest in a project, to develop self-esteem and to take an interest in scientific culture. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Comment avez-vous décidé de devenir astronaute? 2. Quels sont les qualités qui ont été déterminantes pour être sélectionné pour cette mission? 3. Comment vous êtes-vous préparé pour la mission Proxima? Quels entraînements? 4. Qu'avez-vous ressenti au moment du décollage? 5. Quelles sont vos principales missions sur ISS? 6. Comment se déroule une journée type (entre pilotage, recherche, maintenance.)? 7. Quels sont les dangers lors des sorties dans l'espace et comment assurez- vous la sécurité? 8. Quels sont les loisirs ou les sports que l'on peut pratiquer à bord d'ISS? 9. Quels effets personnels vous était-il indispensable d'emmener avec vous? 10. Quels sont les aspects de la vie terrestre qui vous manquent le plus? 11. En tant qu'astronaute, qu'est-ce qui vous passionne le plus: améliorer la vie sur Terre, étudier les réactions de l'être humain dans l'espace, piloter un vaisseau spatial, ou découvrir une vie extra- terrestre? 12. Combien êtes-vous à bord d'ISS et n'est-il pas difficile de s'entendre? 13. Y a-t-il des moments où vous pouvez être seul? 14. Avez-vous fêté Noël avec vos collègues? 15. Y a-t-il des choses qui vous ont surprises depuis votre départ, malgré votre préparation extrêmement poussée? 16. Pouvez-vous à certains moments marcher normalement comme sur Terre? Comment garder les muscles en bon état? 17. Combien de temps vous a-t-il fallu pour vous habituer à l'apesanteur? 18. Vous avez plus de 50 expériences à mener, où en êtes-vous? Y a t il des domaines médicaux? 19. Vous êtes en train de réaliser un rêve, en avez-vous d'autres? Quels sont vos prochains objectifs? 20. Comment appréhendez-vous le retour à la vie terrestre? Translated: 1. How did you decide to become an astronaut? 2. What were the key qualities that made you selected for this mission? 3. How did you prepare yourself for the Proxima mission? What types of training? 4. What did you feel during the launch? 5. What are your main tasks on the ISS? 6. Could you describe us a typical day (between Pilot training, research, maintenance.)? 7. What type of hazards you could encounter during EVAs, and how do you apply prevention measures? 8. What type of leisure, or sport could you practice on board? 9. What personal belongings were critical to bring with you? 10. What do you miss the most from earth? 11. As an Astronaut, what is the most attractive for you: Improving life on earth, study the body adaptation for long spaceflights, pilot a spaceship, or discover alien life? 12. How many of you are onboard, isn't it difficult to live together? 13. Could you find time to get alone? 14. Did you celebrate Christmas with your colleagues?? 15. Despite your heavy preparation, did you face any completely new situation to handle? 16. Do you have situations were you could walk normally as on earth? How to keep muscles healthy? 17. How long did you need to get familiar with the zero gravity? 18. You have more than 50 experiments to run, Are you confident to do all of them? Are there any medical experiments? 19. You are achieving a dream, Do you have other dreams? What's next? 20.: Do you fear your return to normal life on earth? 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): 1. Collège Mathilde Marthe Faucher, Allassac, France, direct via F1IMF The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-01-04 11:16:26 UTC 2. Rainbow Middle School, Rainbow City, AL, direct via K4JMC The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD Contact is a go for: Wed 2017-01-04 17:29:40 UTC 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. 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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[Video] I made CONTACT! Through the UHF ISS digipeater with my Kenwood TH-D72
by John Brier 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

https://youtu.be/nhv7oz_El80 BTW, I just hit 1,000 subscribers and am very grateful for all the subs from this list/AMSAT. If you aren't already subscribed please subscribe for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/SpaceComms1?sub_confirmation=1 Here are all the stations I heard on the pass from this video (time stamps GMT -5) -------------- N4ZQ 12/18/2016 11:08:08 System time KG4AKV-5 12/18/2016 11:08:13 W8LR 12/18/2016 11:09:02 KC4LE 12/18/2016 11:09:17 W0NBC 12/18/2016 11:11:07 RS0ISS 12/18/2016 11:11:38 W4TBD-6 12/18/2016 11:12:14 KA8YES-6 12/18/2016 11:12:52 Total Stations = 8 This was my second contact through the ISS digipeater. I actually contacted the same station I contacted in this video, W8LR, three days before, but I wasn't recording any video. For this video I recorded the audio from my Kenwood TH-D72a and later played it back to Soundmodem+UISS. Soundmodem decodes many more packets than my radio does. I made a screen capture of UISS and its map so you can see the complete details of every received packet. Another thing this video shows is how hard it can be to track a near overhead pass (close to 90 degrees elevation). When I was beginning in satellites I only tried to work overhead passes because I knew the signal would be strongest when the satellite was closest to me. While that is true, the closer the satellite is to you the faster its relative speed is. When it passes overhead it switches from coming towards you to going away from you very fast, and drops 10s of degrees in seconds. That makes the satellite very easy to lose track of. In this video I got distracted while changing settings on my radio and lost the ISS after it went overhead. It didn't help that I was using a tripod for the first time. I prefer to hold the antenna in my hand precisecly because I find it's easier to track, as I can make quick adjustments and listen for the signal going up and down. To control the radio for packet, it helps to have two hands. See my previous UHF ISS digi video to see how hard it is to change settings with one hand. Here is the very appropriate QSL card I got from W8LR for my first ISS digi contact: http://imgur.com/vUfwkiE http://imgur.com/DIq7fD4 Thanks for watching, 73, John Brier KG4AKV The music at the end is "Jubilee - Opa--locka"

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BY70-1 with an HT
by Matthew Stevens 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

I worked N8HM, AC0RA, AA5PK, and XE2AT on a 75° pass earlier this morning, using 5w from a D72A HT and an Arrow antenna. Because of the 5khz tuning steps on the HT, it was a little tough getting in except for a short window +/- about 1 minute before and after TCA due to uplink Doppler shift. I could key the transponder earlier/later in the pass, but my audio was pretty poor except during that brief window around TCA. On the same pass I heard KI4RO work several stations, and also last evening W4FS, both who were using HTs and handheld antennas. So, it's definitely possible with low power from an HT. I'll be experimenting some more on upcoming passes to see just what is possible with basic equipment. 73, - Matthew KK4FEM Sent from my iPhone

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BY70-1 identified
by Nico Janssen 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

All, Detailed doppler measurements show that BY70-1 is object 41909, 2016-083C. The latest TLEs show that its perigee is now 216 km and its apogee 520 km. 73, Nico PA0DLO

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BY 70-1 operable
by Jari A 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

Hi everyone, I have seen some messages about this satellite, but I havent seen mention of 67Hz subtone. I had signal at 18:30UTC over russia, as I switch on CTCSS. Unfortunately none was with me on the pass. But in case I'm not the only one who miss subtone, now its mentioned. Audio was good, but has delay like Paul, N8HM mention at hes message. Regards, :Jari / OH2FQV

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Excellent BY70-1 Pass Just Now
by Andy 29 Dec '16

29 Dec '16

Nice signals and good QSOs with NP4JV and AC0RA via BY70-1. Using Keps for 2016-083A. Uplink on 145.920 with 67 Hz tone. Downlink on 436.200. C U on BY70-1 soon! Andy W5ACM

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BY70-1 over GG54
by PY5LF 28 Dec '16

28 Dec '16

Very nice pass of BY70 over here . https://youtu.be/3nM_2KtMQnE The audio is very nice , with a little delay . 73

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BY70-1 FM Transponder Active Over North America
by Paul Stoetzer 28 Dec '16

28 Dec '16

The FM transponder was active on BY70-1 for the passes over North America this morning. K4KDR reported hearing my call on the pass around 1540 UTC, but I did not hear myself. On the 1709 UTC pass, I worked AC0RA and heard AA5PK. The signal is strong, but the uplink seems to require precise Doppler tuning. I was only able to get in cleanly when tuning for Doppler, starting at around 145.917 MHz near AOS and tuning up to 145.923 MHz near LOS. An FM only radio with only 5 kHz steps may not work well for accessing this transponder. There was also a clear SDR delay on the downlink signal which makes things interesting and it seems to require a bit of power to break the squelch. I was using about 30 watts on this pass. Equipment used was 2 FT-817s, a High Sierra Microwave preamp, a Microset VUR-30 amplifier, and an Alaskan Arrow antenna with the top section removed (8 elements on 70 cm and 3 elements on 2 m) Unfortunately, the satellite's life is destined to be quite short due to the incorrect orbital insertion with a very low perigee. The 2016-083A keps from CelesTrak's TLE-NEW.txt file seemed pretty accurate. I have posted a recording of the pass. Skip ahead to about 2:35 of this recording: https://soundcloud.com/paul-stoetzer/by70-1-1706z-28-dec-2016 73, Paul, N8HM

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