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

Garrison Keillor's callsign?
by Robert Bruninga 05 Jul '16

05 Jul '16

On his last radio show, during his Lake Woebegon segment, Garrison made reference to his early days in radio when for fun they used Morse Code... So the question becomes, who has a QSL card from Garisson Keillor? He is not currently in QRZ.com but if he was like many of my friends back in the 60's, they did not renew heir licenses... So, who has a paper callbook say from 1956 to 66 and can look him up? Bob, WB4APR

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Any egg beater, K5OE sq egg beater or Texas Potato Masher antennas for sale?
by Tom J. Gentry 04 Jul '16

04 Jul '16

Any egg beater, K5OE sq egg beater or Texas Potato Masher antennas for sale? Please notify K5VOU(a)arrl.net. 73, Tom

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Upcoming ARISS contact with Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium, Bruchsal, Germany
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 04 Jul '16

04 Jul '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium, Bruchsal, Germany on 01 July. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:31 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between OR4ISS and DN1JKG. The contact should be audible over Germany and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium is one of the biggest schools of general education in the administrative district of Karlsruhe in Baden-Wurttemberg. More than 1,300 students are taught by over one hundred teachers. Our focus is on a scientific profile with the succession of languages being English-French or English-Latin. Furthermore, science and technology is a major subject starting in year 8. About 85% of our students opt for this profile. For four years now the Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium has been one of 44 model schools in Baden-Wurttemberg which allow students to take their A-levels at different speeds - either after eight or nine years of secondary education. The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium is also participating in three different educational pilot projects. In the last two years leading up to their A-levels, students may take up Mathematics "plus" (an enhanced version of the subject Mathematics, six lessons a week) or computer science as a major subject as well as science and technology as a minor subject. Additionally, there are optional subjects for senior students, such as for example psychology, philosophy, drama, and especially natural sciences like geology, computer algebra, computer science, and astronomy. The Justus-Knecht-Gymnasium cooperates with partners in various fields, especially the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). In 2015 the town of Bruchsal organized the "Heimattage Baden-Württemberg" (Homeland Days of Baden-Württemberg). The Justus Knecht-Gymnasium took part in different projects, e.g. "Heimat Erde" (Homeland Earth). Students of different years worked on the topic. Moreover there's a study team working together with the amateur radio operators of Bruchsal. They established radio communication, built a stratosphere balloon and prepared the radio link to the ISS. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Welcoming speech in English and Russian) Is the space debris a threat for the ISS? 2. How long does it take to return to earth in case of emergency? 3. What do you do with the time saved due to time dilatation? 4. Do you feel the temperature differences between inside and outside during a spacewalk? 5. When will it be possible to realize a mission to Mars in your opinion? 6. How do you lubricate mechanical parts against friction in space? 7. How many calories do you need per day? 8. Do you play dart in space? 9. Have you ever realized experiments with flying animals like birds on the ISS? 10. In which way does the 90 minute-day-night-change influence your life on board? 11. Are you floating in your dreams, too? 12. How do you recycle your water on board? 13. Which buildings can you see from above? 14. Are you able to see polar lights from above? 15. Which animals are living currently on board? 16. Do you miss the weather on the ISS? 17. What do you think about planet earth from high above? 18. Did you wear a life vest or parachute during your flight to the ISS? 19. What do you do in your spare time? 20. Did you get medical training during your preparation 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): Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, telebridge via VK5ZAI The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: Wed 2016-07-06 14:28:20 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), and the 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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W5PFG from DM77 today on FO-29 and SO-50
by Paul Stoetzer 04 Jul '16

04 Jul '16

W5PFG will operate from DM77 at 18:30 UTC today on FO-29 and SO-50 at 19:00 UTC. Note that the terrain is mountainous and the SO-50 pass is only 10 degrees, but he will give it a try. 73, Paul, N8HM

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AMSAT Awards Update
by Bruce 03 Jul '16

03 Jul '16

Congrats to all who have earned an AMSAT Award since the last posting. AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO Vinícius Leite, PU4VLT Marcos Kazan, PU2MXU Cleber Rodrigues PU3IBD Pitor Gorecki, SP9RXP Malcolm Harper, VE2DDZ Italo Adriano B.C. Marcelino, PU7ASP Marc-Andre Gingras, VA2EI ------ AMSAT Century Club Award Carl Noll, KA4H #46 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award Ramirez-Ferrer, NP4JV #86 1000+ 73...bruce To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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AMSAT Awards Update - End of the Year
by Bruce 03 Jul '16

03 Jul '16

Congrats to all who have earned an AMSAT Award since the last posting. AMSAT Satellite Communicators Award for making their first satellite QSO Vinícius Leite, PU4VLT Marcos Kazan, PU2MXU Cleber Rodrigues PU3IBD Pitor Gorecki, SP9RXP Malcolm Harper, VE2DDZ Italo Adriano B.C. Marcelino, PU7ASP Marc-Andre Gingras, VA2EI ------ AMSAT Century Club Award Carl Noll, KA4H #46 ------ AMSAT Robert W. Barbee Jr., W4AMI Award Ramirez-Ferrer, NP4JV #86 1000+ 73...bruce To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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ANS-185 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 03 Jul '16

03 Jul '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-185 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 Field Day Submissions * AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2016 * North Texas "Moon Day" for AMSAT, ARISS and Amateur Radio * South Africa Satellite Day * UAE Satellite Will Have Amateur Radio Transponder SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-185.01 ANS-185 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 185.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. July 3, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-185.01 AMSAT Field Day Submissions Now that Field Day is only a blur, it is time to prepare your score and submit it for the AMSAT Field Day results. All submissions are due by 11:59PM Central Time on Monday, July 11, 2016. Bruce Paige, KK5DO, will then prepare the story and send it off to the editor of the AMSAT Journal who will have it in the upcoming issue that goes to press shortly thereafter. Please send your score sheet and photos to Bruce kk5do(a)arrl.net or kk5do(a)amsat.org You will receive an email back that day or the next day when Bruce has received your submission. If you do not receive the email, he did not get it. Don't assume that because you sent it,it was received. Make sure you get the confirmation email. [ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2016 This year’s Colloquium is now only a few weeks away. The event, taking place as usual at the Holiday Inn in Guildford, will be held over the weekend of the 29/31st July. A full programme of presentations, covering all aspects of the amateur satellite world, has been developed for the Saturday and Sunday and a “Beginners Session” is scheduled for the Friday afternoon. Sessions will include updates on the many new satellites that are expected to be launched over the next few months. This includes Eshail-2 which will carry the first ever geostationary amateur radio transponder and provide more than 8MHz of new intercontinental spectrum - it will provide coverage to five continents. Additionally we will have a session on how to develop software receivers using GNU radio, reviews of the Tim Peake ARISS contacts and the STEM results achieved, information about a new 76GHz satellite project, a review of how to operate “in the field” and lots more. As well as the presentations during the day, Libby Jackson, from the UK Space Agency, with whom the ARISS UK team worked closely during the Tim Peake mission, will be speaking during the Gala Dinner on the Saturday evening. Other highlights will include visits to the SSTL facilities (Friday evening and Saturday morning) and the opportunity to see the special ground station equipment that was used for all the ARISS contacts. This will be available for use for contacts during passes of all the available satellite transponders. Visitors can either turn up on the day, book day passes on the website or, if planning an overnight stay, now is the last week to make their hotel bookings at the preferential rate and which have been block-booked by AMSAT-UK. The URL for the AMSAT-UK shop to book day passes is http://shop.amsat-uk.org. If you wish to book overnight accommodation, please contact the hotel direct on 01483 784413. Please note that due to problems with their booking system THE HOTEL WILL KEEP OUR RESERVED ROOMS UNTIL 6 JUL. Day passes cost £10 per day (incl tea/coffee, etc) , please pay at the AMSAT-UK shop (not hotel reception). If you wish to attend the Gala dinner on Saturday, please book at least 7 days in advance, either with the hotel (by booking dinner, bed, and breakfast), or at the AMSAT-UK shop. As well at the AMSAT-UK shop, there will be a number of specialist suppliers present, and we are hoping that the RSGB bookshop will also be present Members and non-members will be made very welcome and booking info can be found here https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/ The Colloquium team are looking forward to meeting many old friends and making many new acquaintances during the event. [ANS thanks Jim, G3WGM, Hon Sec AMSAT-UK, for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- North Texas "Moon Day" for AMSAT, ARISS and Amateur Radio July 16th, 2016 will be the date for the annual "Moon Day" at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Love Field in Dallas, TX, STEM event. Check out http://www.flightmuseum.com/moon-day-2016/ for more information. Moon Day is a large space exploration and science themed STEM event from 10a-5P that features numerous exhibitors, technology demonstrations, an ARISS contact with the ISS and AMSAT/Amateur Radio as key elements. Over 1500 attended last year's event including many Boy/Girl Scouts and other young people and families. This year's event might be even bigger. As last year, AMSAT members from North Texas, along with the Dallas Amateur Radio Club, will have a shared display space with STEM activities for people to learn about satellites, orbital mechanics and the exciting possibilities of personal communications through Amateur Radio and Amateur Radio satellites. Aside from the indoor space, we want to be able to offer multiple opportunities for satellite pass demos on the outside of the building as well. Keith Pugh, W5IU, will be the ARISS Mentor/coordinator for the scheduled ARISS contact and has a support team for that but we need other Amateur Satellite enthusiasts to help man the display space and also to run the pass demos outside the facility. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP, has communicated with the event coordinator asking them to provide an approved outside space and published promotion and "Carrots" to get people out there. Being summer and most likely hot. Tom also asked if there could have some sort of tent or easy-up to block the sun from the operating point. What is needed are people to man the inside display table, where you will get to explain some of the basics of Amateur Radio satellites, orbits, footprints and cubesat to hundreds of inquisitive young people. Also needed are some experienced satellite and Amateur Radio operators who will be willing to handle the heat outside and get people involved with this fun aspect of our hobby. (With enough of us we can do shifts). There is quite a good list of pass opportunities between 10a and 5p so you would not be bored. Please let Tom, N5HYP, or Keith, W5IU, know if you can join us and help with a great public outreach for Amateur Radio and AMSAT. [ANS thanks Tom, N5HYP, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- South Africa Satellite Day AMSAT SA is planning to arrange a weekly satellite day to encourage radio amateurs to operate satellites. The proposal is to dedicate preferred slots for satellite operation, for example Tuesday between 18:00 and 23:00. There are a number of relatively easy to operate satellites. These will be identified and operating slots with details about the orbit and time over South Africa and neighboring countries will be published in advance. AMSAT SA is seeking input from radio amateurs who would be interested in participating. Please send your proposals and ideas to saamsat(a)intekom.co.za [ANS thanks the SARL weekly news in English 2016-7-2 for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- UAE Satellite Will Have Amateur Radio Transponder The United Arab Emirates newspaper The National reports on the Nayif-1 spacecraft developed by Emirati students from the American University of Sharjah in partnership with The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre. Nayif-1 carries a 435/145 MHz transponder (FUNcube-5) for amateur radio SSB/CW communications. It is expected to launch along with other amateur radio satellites such as Fox-1C and Fox-1D on a SpaceX rocket between September and November 2016. The National says: Yousuf Al Shaibani, director general of The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, said the satellite’s development was a testament to its commitment to develop Emirati talent. “There is no doubt that the field of satellite design and manufacturing is a new industry to UAE universities and students,” Mr Al Shaibani said. “The Emirati students possess the skills and capabilities to design and build a CubeSat as a result of a knowledge-transfer strategy and cooperation between academic and professional institutions that are launching real space projects, enabling students to see the product of their work as a reality in space.” The satellite is about 10 cubic centimetres and weighs about 1 kilogram. One of its most notable features is that it is programmed to transfer messages in Arabic. “This is a great achievement and a source of pride for all of us,” said Dr Bjorn Kjerfve, chancellor of American University of Sharjah. Nayif-1 CubeSat https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/nayif-1/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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ISS?
by skristof＠etczone.com 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

Anybody hear from ISS this last pass (~1845 UTC)? I checked both 145.825 and 145.800. I like to know if they've turned things off or if there is an equipment issue on my end. Thanks! Steve AI9IN

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UKUBE-1 Transponder off?
by Bob 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

There was a 16:25 to 16:35 UTC pass off the east coast of North America this afternoon. I didn't hear telemetry nor could I spot myself. I wonder if the transponder is off the air? 73, Bob, WB4SON

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Re: [amsat-bb] Preamps and Polarization Switches
by Edward R Cole 02 Jul '16

02 Jul '16

Fred, Good comments from both Bob-WB4SON and Jim-KQ6EA. I might add that starting simple is a good approach as you will learn the effect that each improvement makes as you go. But saying that, if you can afford simple preamps like the ARR P144VDG and P432VDG ($79/ea.) and add a coax TR relay ahead of them it will work as well as more expensive switched preamps (depending on cost of relays). If you are only running up to 50w relays can be cheap (check e-bay, Fair Radio, Nebraska Surplus Sales). I would not trust a diplexer to have sufficient isolation to protect preamps. I am re-installing my satellite antenna system and using this type of system for modes UV & VU. I have an equipment box for the preamps and switches mounted just below the Yaesu B5400 az-el rotator so only antenna cables run to antennas; I do have separate Rx and Tx coax lines to my equipment (which require modification to break out the Rx separate from Tx connector). Using a switched preamp avoids the extra coax lines and mods so probably easier to implement with most radios. I have one mounted on another 2m antenna where I run 150w, but run a separate dc keying line and do not utilized the internal RF switching detector. This avoids hot switching the preamp. I am involved in eme so have a station sequencer to control TR switching in my station. This considered a "frill" for most satellite stations. I decided to go simple with a M2 2M7 linear antenna and using part of my original M2 436CP42 (RHCP only - not switched). I'm installing 26 elements of that antenna. If I later feel need for CP on 144 then I may add 7 elements to the 2M7 and add RHCP phasing cable (again no switch). I have not found need for filters using high gain yagis for desense. Radio is old but good FT-736R running 30w barefoot. I have equipment for 1268 and 2401 MHz but not installed for the present (used for AO-10/AO-40). I have an 8-dBic patch antenna for 2400 mounted but not connected. I have old preamp and drake converters for that band (stored). 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com "Kits made by KL7UW" Dubus Mag business: dubususa(a)gmail.com

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