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

Trying to find my downlink
by Philip Chimento 18 Jul '16

18 Jul '16

I have an IC-9100 using MacDoppler and hooked up to two home-brew Eggbeater II antennas. I have had a lot of trouble finding my downlink on pretty much all of the SSB satellites that I have tried; AO-7, FO-29, AO-73 and the XWs (2A, 2C and 2F). Does anyone have suggestions, strategies for finding the downlink (so I don’t wind up annoying everyone else by uselessly transmitting). Thanks. Phil Chimento kc3cnx(a)arrl.net

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS + cargoship naked eye visible?
by Rick Tejera 18 Jul '16

18 Jul '16

Henk, In the past, I have visually seen the space Shuttle & ISS in trail after undocking. The cargo vessel is not a Soyuz, but rather a Dragon, bother of which are considerby smaller than the Shuttle. It could be possible if the conditions are right. Good luck Rick Tejera K7TEJSaguaroAstro(a)cox.net623-203-4121 -------- Original message -------- From: PA3GUO <pa3guo(a)upcmail.nl> Date: 18/07/2016 10:36 (GMT-07:00) To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS + cargoship naked eye visible? Wednesday the new cargoship is expected to arrive at the ISS. I can see the ISS with the naked eye. What about the soyouz etc, prior to docking? Would love to see 2 moving stars, one following the other. Henk, PA3GUO _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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SatPc32 phantom satellites
by Jim White 17 Jul '16

17 Jul '16

When I switch to a satellite in a different keps list and select just one sat to be visible and be the active satellite one or more sats from the previous list continue to show up in the display. I have to select the new sat twice before the old ones disappear. Example: I had 6 sats in the display from the 'amateur' list. Using the satellites menu I switched to the 'cubesat' list, selected just one sat, made it visible and made it the active sat. Clicked OK and one of the sats from the 'amateur' list continues to be visible in the display along with the cubesat I just selected. Back into the satellites menu and my selection of the cubesat list and the one cubesat has disappeared. Selected the cubesat list and the one satellite again, back into display and the one from the amateur list is still visible along with the cubesat. Into the satellites menu and now cubesat is selected and my one cubesast is shown in the selected box, and when I OK that back to the display the phantom one from the amateur list is finally gone. How can get the program to take the changes I make to what is displayed and tracked the first time?

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NPOTA activation on 1613 UTC SO-50 pass from Blue Ridge Parkway again today
by John Brier 17 Jul '16

17 Jul '16

Doing NPOTA activation on 1613 UTC SO-50 pass from Blue Ridge Parkway again today. Sorry for late notice. I wasn't sure until now if I'd be able to do it. 73, John Brier KG4AKV

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Upcoming ARISS contact with United Space School hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE), Seabrook TX
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 17 Jul '16

17 Jul '16

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at United Space School hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE), Seabrook TX on 19 July. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 14:52 UTC. It is recommended that you start listening approximately 10 minutes before this time.The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. The contact should be audible over the west coast of the U.S. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The United Space School is a premier educational program hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE). For two weeks each summer, FISE invites approximately 50 students from 23 different countries to the Clear Lake, Texas area to introduce them to aspects of working in the space sciences. During their stay, the students work together in teams to assemble a manned mission to Mars, utilizing knowledge gained from guest lecturers and interactive field trips. The Foundation for International Space Education Board of Directors has two head teachers and five team mentors to assist the students in their day-to-day activities. United Space School culminates in a project presentation, in which the students present their final project to a panel of industry experts and the public. Upon successful completion of their final project presentation, the students are awarded a graduation certificate. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. The ISS attracts astronauts from all over the world, bringing in many different cultures, languages and personalities. Do these cultural differences ever conflict in the confined spaces of the space station or do the differences ever prevent the crew from achieving the work that they set out to do? 2. How would microgravity affect an astronaut that has acid reflux? 3. Can you cry in space, and if so, how do teardrops behave? 4. What do you hope to achieve during your career as an astronaut, and what is your ultimate hope for mankind? 5. What is the biggest misconception about space/space travel that society has? 6. What is your favorite experiment you are involved with? What benefits can its result bring about? 7. What is the most astonishing and surprising thing you have ever experienced during your mission? 8. Despite the hours of rigorous training, was there any situation you didn't feel prepared for? 9. Would you go on a lifelong mission? Why? 10. Does the ISS have issues with the Kessler effect of space debris, or is space debris a problem at all? 11. Do you think astronauts of the future will require new or different traits or skill sets than today's ISS astronauts, and if so, what might they be? 12. When you aren't working or exercising, what do you do to occupy yourself in your free time for fun or entertainment? 13. What is the most difficult thing to do on the ISS that we take for granted here on Earth? 14. What motivated you to want to go into space, considering the risks? 15. What was your least favorite part of training? 16. Have astronauts ever dealt with any psychological effects of living so far away from Earth, or have they ever felt physically ill because of it? How is it managed? 17. Has your perspective of space changed since you've been directly in touch with it, and if so, how? 18. What will you miss most about space or the ISS when you return? 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): TBD 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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Worked All States over satellites!
by Fernando Ramirez 17 Jul '16

17 Jul '16

Good evening fellow satelliteers! I would like to share the news and publicly thanks the people that help me make it happen. Today, during the SO-50 pass at 15:46, I made contact with KB1PVH in New Hampshire and completed my Work All States Award requirement. The pass was very challenging since it was only 6 degrees for Arizona and KG4AKV was going to activate Blue Ridge Parkway in NC. I waited for a break, called him and heard his call back a coupe of seconds later. The QSO took place when the satellite was 3 degrees above the horizon and almost setting behind the Patagonia Mountains in southern Arizona. The WAS application has been submitted to the American Radio Relay League. I used 49 LoTW confirmations and will send a paper QSL from a contact with WH6XM in Hawaii. *Time it took me to work ‘em all: 9 months, 16 days. *The hardest states to get: the ones in New England, Hawaii and Alaska. *The majority were worked over FM satellites, with only HI, AK and FL worked over FO-29. The list at the bottom shows the stations I worked from each state. To all of them, thank you! Also grateful for the support from colleagues like W1PA, KG5CCI, W5PFG, AC0RA, N6UA, N4UFO, N8HM, KI4RO. A special thank you to WD9EWK for his technical and moral support and encouragement! Now, to keep looking for a FM QSO with my homeland, Puerto Rico! 73! Fernando, NP4JV --------------------------------- Alabama, KC4LE Alaska, KL7R Arizona, WD9EWK Arkansas, KG5CCI California, K6FW Colorado, W0DHB Connecticut, W1AW Delaware, N6UA Florida, W4UOO Georgia, K4RGK Hawaii, WH6XM Idaho, KG7EZ Illinois, AA9LC Indiana, WB9YIG Iowa, W5PFG Kansas, KG5CCI Kentucky, KJ4EU Louisiana, KG5FQT Maine, N1AIA Maryland, N8HM Massachusetts, KB1PVH Michigan, KD8CAO Minnesota, NR0T Mississippi, KX9X/5 Missouri, KG5CCI Montana, WC7V Nebraska, KE0FJI Nevada, N6UA New Hampshire, KB1PVH New Jersey, W2HRO New Mexico, W5PFG New York, WU2M North Carolina, N4UFO North Dakota, W0N Ohio, K8YSE Oklahoma, AF5CC Oregon, KL7CN/W7 Pennsylvania, NS3L Rhode Island, KC1EXK South Carolina, KO4MA South Dakota, W0LSB Tennessee, W4DTA Texas, N8RO Utah, N6UA Vermont, N0VVV Virginia, KA4H Washington, KE7JIM West Virginia, KI4RO Wisconsin, W0N Wyoming, N6UA

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-07-17 00:30 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-07-17 00:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Frontiers of Flight Museum's “Moon Day 2016”, Dallas TX, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact was successful: Sat 2016-07-16 15:54:09 UTC 88 deg (***) YOTA Camp 2016 IARU-R1, Salzburg, Austria, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: Mon 2016-07-18 10:25:53 UTC 72 deg United Space School hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE), Seabrook TX, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-07-19 14:52:20 UTC 74 deg Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Contact is a go for Thu 2016-07-23 18:50 UTC **************************************************************************** ** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. **************************************************************************** *** All ARISS contacts are made via the Ericsson radio unless otherwise noted. **************************************************************************** *** Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to http://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Gaston ON4WF with 121 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 119 Francesco IKØWGF with 116 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2016-07-17 00:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1069. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1034. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 47. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: Arkansas, Delaware, South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: http://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** The successful school list has been updated as of 2016-07-17 00:30 UTC. (***) http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correction .rtf Listing of ARISS related magazine articles as of 2006-07-10 03:30 UTC. http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ARISS_magazine_articles.rtf Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 47 on orbit Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Aleksey Ovchinin Exp. 48 on orbit Anatoly Ivanishin Kate Rubins KG5FYJ Takuya Onishi KF5LKS **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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ANS-199 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-199 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: * ARISS Well Represented at ISS R&D Conference * LUSEX Transponder Test Successful * Home of Australia's First Satellite is at it Again * Cubesat Launch Opportunity for December | Are You Ready To Go? * LilacSat-2 Linear Transponder Tested * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots in the Mail * Satellite Activation of NPOTA Blue Ridge Pkwy PK01 * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-199.01 ANS-199 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 199.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. July 17, 2016 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-199.01 ARISS Well Represented at ISS R&D Conference ARISS was well represented at the ISS R&D Conference, held this past week in San Diego. An ARISS Team led by ARISS International Chairman and AMSAT VP for Human Spaceflight Frank H. Bauer KA3HDO, had the opportunity to meet with others that have a vested interest in or support to the ISS-including those responsible for ISS payloads, scientists/researchers, contractors, aerospace developers and NASA employees. The team including Bauer, Rosalie White K1STO, Kerry Banke N6IZW, Tim Bosma W6MU, and Dave Taylor W8AAS, staffed a display and helped with an ARISS contact during the conference. The ARISS contact was conducted among a consortium of schools attending the ISS R&D conference as part of STEM day and telebridged via W6SRJ. Descriptions of the schools participating in the contact are shown below: Lake Elementary School, Oceanside, CA Lake Elementary School opened in 1989 in southeastern Oceanside. A top priority continues to be the use of technology by students and staff to prepare children for 21st Century College and Career readiness. Community Montessori Charter School, Escondido , CA CMCS currently serves approximately 375 students in grades K-8. Students attend one of five resource centers located throughout San Diego county, and are on a Montessori home study program. Vista Magnet Middle School, Vista, CA Students will be literate, reflective and critical thinkers in all areas of interaction who transfer knowledge and embrace diversity within a global society. Monte Vista Elementary School, Vista, CA Our vision at Monte Vista Elementary is to ignite a love of learning and a sense of curiosity in all students. We will promote academic achievement through high expectations and develop problem solvers who are technologically proficient. Lilac School, Valley Center, CA The Lilac Learning Community shares a commitment to exploring, developing and differentiating deliberate, effective strategies and practices for learning in a dynamic environment of collaboration, inquiry and diversity. STAR Prep Academy, Los Angeles, CA The STAR PREP ACADEMY is an extraordinary private middle & high school for students who seek an individualized approach to learning, based on their desired areas of specialization. Westminster Christian School, Miami, FL Founded in 1961, Westminster is an independent, college-preparatory, coeducational Christian school serving 1,241 students from preschool through 12th grade. There were 210 in attendance near CASIS Space Station Explorers booth. Astronauts Carl Walz and Josh Cassada attended and talked with audience pre and post contact. All 16 students asked and had their questions answered with a total of 21 questions being answered. The event was covered by San Diego TV station Channel 8 (CBS). [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- LUSEX Transponder Test Successful On the night of Wednesday 13 July, the scheduler loaded into the computers of fresh, the satellite ñusat1 that houses the lusex, active the experiment of Amsat-Lu. The breath of the transponder could be received between 145.950 and 145.955 with more intensity and heard the call of lu1esy and the issuance of lu9do CW. These first tests will continue during the next weekend conducted by lu1cgb, to try to improve the living conditions of the operational lusex. Those who live in the ignition of the lussat-1 we could feel the same way this "birth" of lusex and feel the same way. Friends, it's an honor to join the group of lusex development, which is proposed and I reach the goal and congratulations... We by the commitment to achieve it. In a follow-up it was reported "...07/14 LUSEX transponder was activated. We heard noise from space @145.950 and then a call from LU1ESY. Transponder is under test, enabled occasionally. We are very excited. More news soon. http://lusex.org.ar https://facebook.com/Amsat.LU http://amsat.org.ar [ANS thanks Nacho LU1ESY for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Home of Australia's First Satellite is at it Again The Melbourne University is now designing a CubeSat, and hopefully will have it ready for launch in 2018. The same university built Australia's first Amateur Radio satellite Australis-OSCAR-5, that was launched on 23 January 23, 1970. It was then the first Amateur Radio satellite built outside of the United States. Australis-OSCAR-5 was a beacon on 29.450 MHz and 144.050 MHz with telemetry starting with HI sent in Morse code, with sensors giving the battery voltage, temperature and the satellite's orientation. Passive magnetic attitude stabilisation was achieved by two bar magnets to align with the Earth's magnetic field to provide a favourable antenna footprint. Built on a small budget, it had bed springs for deploying the bird, and a cut down metallic measuring tape for antennas that extended from the sides of the satellite. At least 200 observers heard it reporting from 27 countries up to 46 days before going silent when its batteries failed. Today, Melbourne University Engineering Department students are working on the CubeSat project and restoring the Melbourne University old dish tracking antenna getting it ready for launch day. Despite its small size the satellite's state-of-the-art communications system can send more data than other satellites, because of a world- first antenna that uses a special acid for inflation in space. The new CubeSat could potentially find applications in agriculture, weather monitoring or even as a telescope in space. [ANS thank Jim Linton, VK3PC and the VK1WIA News for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cubesat Launch opportunity for December | are you ready to go? In an email to the Cubesat,org mailing list, Abe Bonnema Marketing Director, ISIS - Innovative Solutions In Space wrote, "Dear CubeSat (and nanosat) developers, "We normally present launch opportunities well in advance and primarily through our website, at conferences and in direct communication with you, yet given the very short time available, we opted for using the great medium of the CubeSat mailing list to make you aware of a very interesting, short-term launch opportunity; Launch Vehicle: Indian PSLV Launch Period: Dec 2016 - Feb 2017 Orbit: 580 km SSO Launch Interface: ISISpace QuadPack or DuoPack family deployers (or ISIPOD on request) (www.isispace.nl/cubesats/#supported-sizes) "We have a few 1U/2U/3U or 6U slots available still. "We'll have to close the manifest and configuration in the coming weeks. So if you're still looking for a launch from end of this year, and the abovementioned orbit is suitable, please contact us through launches(a)isispace.nl. We'll be at the CubeSat Workshop and SmallSat as well for possible final additions to the manifest. Looking forward to placing your satellites on this (or another, future) launch." [ANS thanks Abe Bonnema for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- LilacSat-2 Linear Transponder Tested On July 10, 2016 the SSB/CW linear transponder on the student built satellite LilacSat-2 was successfully tested LilacSat-2, call sign BJ1SI, was built by students at the Harbin Institute of Technology and launched on September 19, 2015. The 40 kHz wide SSB/CW transponder is Non-Inverting which means the Doppler shift of a signal going through the transponder will be twice that seen on other Low Earth Orbit inverting linear transponder satellites. Clayton Coleman W5PFG reported that he and Glenn Miller AA5PK had a contact through the transponder, a recording can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/w5pfg/lilacsat-2-2016-07-11-1315z-ssb- transponder The transponder frequencies are: • 144.3425-144.3825 MHz Uplink • 437.180-437.220 MHz Downlink It is not yet known when the transponder will be activated again. LilacSat-2 https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/lilacsat-2/ [ANS thanks Southgate ARN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Ballots in the Mail Ballots have been mailed to AMSAT-NA members in good standing, and must be returned to the AMSAT-NA office by September 15, 2016 in order to be counted. Those sent outside North America were sent by air mail. If you have not received your ballot package in a reasonable time for your QTH, please contact the AMSAT-NA office. Your completed ballot should be sent as promptly as possible, and those from outside North American preferably by air mail or other expedited means. This year there are five candidates: Tom Clark, K3IO Clayton Coleman, W5PFG Mark Hammond, N8MH Bruce Paige, KK5DO Paul Stoetzer, N8HM The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as voting Board Members with two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will be non-voting Alternate Board Members with terms of one year. Please vote for no more than three candidates. Please take the time to review the candidate statements that accompany the ballot and determine who you wish to see on the Board. Election of Board members is both an obligation as well as an opportunity by our membership to help shape the future direction of AMSAT-NA. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activation of NPOTA Blue Ridge Pkwy PK01 John Brier's KG4AKV first National Parks on The Air activation from Blue Ridge Parkway PK01 EM85 at Craggy Gardens in North Carolina was a big success and very fun. On the July 16th 1546 UTC SO-50 pass he made fourteen contacts with the following stations, in order of contact: K8YSE, N8HM, K4FEG, KM4ULB, W2JV, KI4RO, WI9I, WA5KBH, W4DTA, N4UFO, AA5PK, WU2M, K5ND, W1PA. John thanks all the above stations. To those he couldn't get back to, like NP4JV, he suggests "we'll have to do it next time." John stated he really enjoyed the spot he found, it had a very wide open view to the west and was mostly clear in the other directions except for some small brush in the immediate vicinity. It was also out of the way from most of the park attendees, so he didn't have to annoy anyone expecting a tranquil nature hike. After the pass he wasn't sure he made the ten contacts he needed to get credit to be an activator, so he made several more contacts on 146.520 simplex, talking to stations in South Carolina, Charlotte, Hickory, Hendersonville, and a few more nearby towns. He was also able to connect with one of the Golden Packet [1] stations in Roan Mountain and communicated with him over the UHF coordination frequency. He helped John configure his Kenwood TH-D72a to communicate on their APRS network and they shared several packets. John wasn't digipeated along the whole length of the Appalachian Trail, nor did he stick around for the golden packet attempt, but he did communicate directly with one of the stations using the official frequency, and states "that was very cool." John hopes to take part more seriously next year. John further thanks Bob, WB4APR, for responding to his NPOTA activation announcement email to let him know about the event. A picture of the video of the beautiful view where he recorded the SO-50 pass is on his Twitter profile. He plans to make a video of the pass for his "Space Comms" YouTube channel. New videos are released there every Wednesday. This coming Wednesday, July 20th, won't be a video of this NPOTA activation as he has already started work on an ISS SSTV video, but look for the NPOTA video in two weeks. http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html https://twitter.com/johnbrier/status/754349709104480256 https://www.youtube.com/c/Spacecomms1 [ANS thanks John KG4AKV for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Frontiers of Flight Museum's "Moon Day 2016", Dallas TX USA and Astronaut Jeff Williams KD5TVQ using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Sat 2016-07-16 15:54:09 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Keith W5IU. + A Successful contact was made ISS R&D Conference, San Diego, CA, USA and Astronaut Jeff Williams KD5TVQ using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began Thu 2016-07-14 16:03:33 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Frank KA3HDO. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: YOTA Camp 2016 IARU-R1, Salzburg, Austria, telebridge via VK4KHZ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: United Space School hosted by the Foundation for International Space Education (FISE), Seabrook TX, telebridge via W6SRJ The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ Contact is a go for: Tue 2016-07-19 14:52:20 UTC Ufa, Russia, direct via TBD The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS The scheduled astronaut is Oleg Skripochka RN3FU Contact is a go for Thu 2016-07-23 18:50 UTC [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + The world's largest radio telescope has just been completed China's 30-soccer-field-wide radio telescope will start the hunt for extraterrestrials. For the full story visit http://tinyurl.com/ANS199-RadioTelescope [ANS thanks Astronomy Magazine 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, EMike McCardel, AA8EM (former KC8YLD) kc8yld at amsat dot org

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Report of NPOTA activation at Blue Ridge Pkwy on July 16th 1546 UTC SO-50 pass
by John Brier 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

My first National Parks on The Air activation from Blue Ridge Parkway PK01 EM85 at Craggy Gardens in North Carolina was a big success and very fun. On the July 16th 1546 UTC SO-50 pass I made fourteen contacts with the following stations, in order of contact: 01) K8YSE 02) N8HM 03) K4FEG 04) KM4ULB 05) W2JV 06) KI4RO 07) WI9I 08) WA5KBH 09) W4DTA 10) N4UFO 11) AA5PK 12) WU2M 13) K5ND 14) W1PA Thank you to all the above stations. To those I couldn’t get back to, like NP4JV, we’ll have to do it next time. I really enjoyed the spot I found, it had a very wide open view to the west and was mostly clear in the other directions except for some small brush in the immediate vicinity. It was also out of the way from most of the park attendees, so I didn’t have to annoy anyone expecting a tranquil nature hike. After the pass I wasn’t sure I made the ten contacts I needed to get credit to be an activator, so I made several more contacts on 146.520 simplex, talking to stations in South Carolina, Charlotte, Hickory, Hendersonville, and a few more nearby towns. Even cooler, I connected with one of the Golden Packet [1] stations in Roan Mountain and communicated with him over the UHF coordination frequency. He helped me configure my Kenwood TH-D72a to communicate on their APRS network and we shared several packets. I wasn’t digipeated along the whole length of the Appalachian Trail, nor did I stick around for the golden packet attempt, but I did communicate directly with one of the stations using the official frequency, and that was very cool. I may have to take part more seriously next year. Thanks to Bob, WB4APR, for responding to my NPOTA activation announcement email to let me know about the event. You can see a picture of the video of the beautiful view where I recorded the SO-50 pass on my Twitter profile [2]. I plan to make a video of the pass for my “Space Comms” YouTube channel [3], where I release new videos every Wednesday. This coming Wednesday, July 20th, won’t be a video of this NPOTA activation as I’ve already started work on an ISS SSTV video, but look for the NPOTA video in two weeks. Thanks again for all the contacts! This was more than I’ve ever made on a single pass! The pass just flew by. 73, John Brier KG4AKV 1) http://aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html 2) https://twitter.com/johnbrier/status/754349709104480256 3) https://www.youtube.com/c/Spacecomms1

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Using SATPC32 with FT 847 cabling Com port to USB
by Cruzio Email 16 Jul '16

16 Jul '16

I am setting up my registered Satpc32 Ver. 12.8a with a desktop with Win 10, with only USB ports. My radio is an FT 847 with a DB9 com port. I have a Shaxon RS232 Serial to USB adapter cable. The FT 847 CAT and the adapter both have male DB9 connectors. Therefore I need a gender changer. I was confronted with Null Modem gender changers which got me to thinking. I believe the communication to the FT 847 CAT port is one way, but since it is a serial Com port, I need a null modem interface somewhere in the computer to FT 847 CAT port cable. So would someone confirm my thinking, should I use a Null Modem gender changer? Another thought while I have such a great panel of experts, since my Satpc32 program version is 12.8a should I upgrade to 12.8c? By the way, I am also using a LVB Tracker box. I have removed the MAX232CPE IC and I am connecting to the USB input without any consideration as to Rx to Tx wiring changes. I could figure all of this out with trial and error, plus some expense, but I'm sure others have had these same questions. Thanks, Allen WB6RWU

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