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

CY9C on FM Satellites
by Paul Stoetzer 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

CY9C plans to work several FM passes over the next couple of days. As FM is a limited resource, please do not call if you are already in the log on another satellite. Please also refrain from making other QSOs while CY9C remains in the footprint. They are only there for a few more days. It's been 18 years since CY9 has been on satellite, other QSOs can wait a few days. Even if it sounds like they have worked everyone on a pass, another station may be about to enter the footprint with a very short window to work them. 73, Paul, N8HM

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Expanding SatNOGS for satellite command and control
by Daniel Cussen 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

From: https://satnogs.org/2016/08/cnc-librecubesat/ Although quite some time has passed since our last update the SatNOGS team and the community was busy working on it’s software and hardware components allowing modular setups. A large amount of focus has being the SatNOGS client software. Allowing the user to not only use RTL-SDR based dongles but a far greater variety of SDR solutions using GnuRadio. In conjunction with that SatNOGS client is able to use Amateur Radios that are supported by hamlib (we’ve already tested on Yaesu and Kenwood radios). Such functionality paired with our new ground station hardware design, and further tests on after market designs such us Yaesu Az/El rotator would allow the SatNOGS network to not only receive but transmit data via the network to satellites. Since a few months now Libre Space Foundation, the organization that assists the development, and operation of the SatNOGS networks is has being working together with the University of Patras on developing and manufacturing the first satellite with most of it’s components based open hardware and using free software, UPSat. An open hardware and software satellite especially one build by Libre Space Foundation would be a great chance for the SatNOGS network to implement command and control features on it’s SatNOGS client, allowing a fully open Low Earth Orbiting satellite communication stack from earth to orbit and back. Communications with the satellite are implemented through ECSS Standard Commands as described in ECSS-E-70-41A standard (CCSDS). You can checkout the code of the client on GitHub and the ecss services implemented on the satellite here. There has been a lot of effort to make sure that we implement all needed functionality on the SatNOGS client, while in parallel maintaining modularity and extensibility for future satellites and other protocols. Do you have a satellite in the works and want to use SatNOGS client as command and control? Let us know and we will be happy to work with you expanding our client! https://satnogs.org/2016/08/cnc-librecubesat/

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CY9C
by Mark Johns 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

St. Paul is very easy to work on satellite. Good op, station hears well. Just take your time, no need to step all over one another. He was lonely toward the end of the most recent FO-29 pass. Wish I'd waited until the crowd had thinned out. -- Mark D. Johns, KØMDJ Decorah, 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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CY9C Update
by Paul Stoetzer 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

Just saw this on Twitter from WW2DX. Go get them! Even if you don't normally chase grids or DX, please do get on and work them! As Drew said on a previous post, we want to get them a lot of QSOs so they'll see it as worth the effort on future trips. @WW2DX 5m5 minutes ago Victoria, Subd. A, Nova Scotia Hey @AMSAT @AmsatUK #cy9c will attempt every pass today!! Looking forward to the pileup :) #hamradio #dx #amsat 73, Paul, N8HM

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Canadian maritime expedition & LoTW
by Stephen E. Belter 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

We’re only a few days from home; had a wonderful time exploring New England and the Canadian Maritime provinces. During our trip, I took the opportunity to practice operating portable. My thanks to K8YSE, N8HM, and W5PFG for their advice and encouragement. The current count is 20 grids activated, some rare and some not so: GO10, GO11, GO21, GN07, GN08, GN09, GN18, GN19, GN38, FN02, FN03, FN23, FN34, FN41, FN43, FN46, FN67, FN75, FN76, and FN96. 215 total QSOs. Thank you to everyone for their patience and for allowing me to monopolize many satellite passes. If I didn’t hear you, my apologies. I don’t hear well (i.e., hearing aids) and I don’t hear well (i.e., pointing the antenna and tuning the radio). I still need lots of practice and I need to work on my equipment. All of my contacts have been uploaded to LoTW. If we made contact and you aren’t getting a confirmation via LoTW, please contact me so that we can discover my mistakes. Hopefully we can do this again on my next trip. Best way to hear about any operating plans are to follow me on Twitter @sbelter. 73, Steve N9IP -- Steve Belter, seb(a)wintek.com

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Gravity Gradient?
by Robert Bruninga 25 Aug '16

25 Aug '16

My understanding of Gravity Gradient is that a small spacecraft with a long boom and tip mass will align in an UP/Down attitude. But it is bi-stable so either end can be up and be stable. What about a small satellite with TWO booms (dipole wires) in opposite directions with small tip masses, it will be just as stable as before but I may even get by with half the mass on each end. More or less. When I mean “stable” I mean roughly up down, anything within +/- 40 degrees is still a vertical HF antenna…. Besides faraday rotation will rotate the received pattern every whichaway anyway. I disagree with an opinion I have received that says “gravity gradient” wont work with dual opposite end tip masses. Says one has to be bigger and it cannot be in the middle. I disagree. Any professionals have an opinion? Bob, Wb4aPR

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ISS vs NO-84 digi
by E.Mike McCardel 24 Aug '16

24 Aug '16

I just had the ISS and NO84 both in my footprint for 4 minutes ~2228-2232 UTC. I was driving and only had my VX-8 with a rubber duck. I CB usually hear the ISS and occasionally capture its packets. With NO-84 I can sometimes hear the packets but not capture them with the HT. What I am wondering is with a better setup and time to work them: A. could I Digipeat both of them at the same time? B. Would they Digipeat each other? C. Could I digi through them both D. How Would be able to tell ? 73, EMike EMike McCardel, AA8EM Rotating Editor AMSAT News Service Sent from my iPhone

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Correction time activation TM38CDXC
by f5gva-1＠wanadoo.fr 24 Aug '16

24 Aug '16

Hi all >From 1 to 15 September 2016, I activate the special call TM38CDXC for 38 th Convention of Clipperton DX Club. Sorry for this mistake (not 3 to 25 september) QRV AO-07 in mode B, FO-29, SO-50, AO-73, AO-85, and satellites XW The activation will be done on my free time. Activation will take place since my QRA (JN18IT) and the club radio F6KOP (JN18PN) I hope to contact you The QSL will be sent automatically by the bureau. 73, good DX Claude F5GVA Satellite amateur radio station http://f5gva.pagesperso-orange.fr/

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3CAT2 telemetry decoded
by Dani EA4GPZ 24 Aug '16

24 Aug '16

Hi all, Using a recording of Scott K4KDR, I've been able to decode telemetry of the 3CAT2 satellite, which transmits 9k6 AX.25 BPSK telemetry in 145.970MHz. To my knowledge, this is the first time that an Amateur decodes signals from this satellite. More info: http://destevez.net/2016/08/decoding-packets-from-3cat2/ 73, Dani EA4GPZ.

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Arianespace Launch Webcast Wednesday August 24
by JoAnne Maenpaa 24 Aug '16

24 Aug '16

Big rocket launches send a thrill up my leg and one is scheduled for today, August 24, when Arianespace flight VA232 will orbit the Intelsat 33e and Intelsat 36 satellites. A webcast will be available 15 minutes prior to launch: http://www.arianespace.com/ (then click "Live this Launch") Arianespace says liftoff is planned on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 as early as possible within the following launch window: . Between 06:55 p.m. and 07:40 p.m., Kourou time . Between 05:55 p.m. and 06:40 p.m., Washington D.C. time . Between 09:55 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., Universal Time (UTC) . Between 11:55 p.m. and 12:40 a.m., Paris time. Tune in and watch the giant rumble in the Amazon jungle! -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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