December 2017 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Yaesu G-5500 rotor
by JOEL KANDEL 24 Dec '17

24 Dec '17

Fellow AMSAT members, I’m about to install a never before used G-5500 rotor, and was wondering if there is any preventive maintenance I should do to it before I put it out in Florida weather (e.g., siliconing seams, greasing gears, etc). Would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks, Joel, KI4T Kandelj(a)bellsouth.net Traveling at 300,000,000 meters per second

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ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 23 Dec '17

23 Dec '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-358 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: * AO73 / FUNcube-1 Happy Holiday Mode * Satellite Activity Planned From Solomon Islands * AMSAT CW Activity Day 2018 In Memory Of G3IOR * Another Radio Amateur Joins ISS Crew, Three Hams Now On Board * AMSAT Officed Closed For Holiday * 13 US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections * Satellite DXCC Awarded to K8YSE * Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch * Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-358.01 ANS-358 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 358.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. December 24, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-358.01 AO73 / FUNcube-1 Happy Holiday Mode AO73/FUNcube-1 is now operating in full time transponder mode and will continue in this mode until the evening of Wednesday 3rd January 2018. Please enjoy the transponder during this happy holiday period! Season's greetings from the whole FUNcube team. [ANS thanks Graham, G3VZV for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Activity Planned From Solomon Islands H44, SOLOMON ISLANDS. Shane, VK4KHZ, will once again be active as H44DA from his holiday home in Busuone, Guadalcanal Island (OC-047), until sometime early January 2018. His main focus is on 6 meters, but he will also be active on various HF bands (80/40/20/15/10m) using SSB and also on the SO-50 satellite. Suggested 6m frequencies are: calling on 50.110 MHz, Shane will always QSY to 50.125 as his primary frequency and 50.135 as his secondary frequency (secondary frequency will only be used if primary is in use or too much QRM). QSL via his home callsign direct. NO Bureau. PLEASE NOTE: This is not a DXpedition, but Shane's annual holiday - he will be operating the radio only as time permits and when doing so, training the locals in the operation of the equipment so please be patient and courteous. [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1344 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT CW Activity Day 2018 In Memory Of G3IOR You are cordially invited to participate in AMSAT's second annual CW Activity Day. It will be held from 0001 to 2400 UTC on January 1, 2018. This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Pat Gowen, G3IOR. The rules are very simple: there aren't any. Just operate CW through any amateur radio satellite. Straight keys and "bugs" are encouraged, but not required. The important thing is to get on the air and have fun. [ANS thanks Ray W2RS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Another Radio Amateur Joins ISS Crew, Three Hams Now On Board The International Space Station crew is back to its nominal complement of six members, after Scott Tingle, KG5NZA, Anton Shkaplerov, and Norishige Kanai arrived on board early this week. Cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin is the new Expedition 54 commander. The other crew members are Mark Vande Hei, KG5GNP, and Joe Acaba, KE5DAR. On December 17, Tingle, Shkaplerov, and Kanai headed into space on board a Soyuz MS-07 vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Officed Closed For Holiday The AMSAT Office is closed from Friday, Dec 22 - Friday, Jan 5th. Please check the website (amsat.org) for information. HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a VERY HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR. [ANS thanks Martha for the above information --------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 US Schools/Groups Move Into Phase 2 of ARISS Selections The ARISS-US Team (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) is pleased to announce that 13 of the 25 schools or organizations submitting proposals have been selected to advance to the next stage of planning to host amateur radio contacts in July to December 2018. The contacts will be with International Space Station (ISS) crew members using the ARISS equipment on the ISS. A review team of educators from the new ARISS-US Education Committee selected proposals after the recent proposal window closed. The groups will go forward into Phase 2, the submitting of an amateur radio equipment plan to host a scheduled ARISS contact. ARISS's primary goal is to engage young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities, and involve them in activities related to space exploration, amateur radio, communications, and areas of associated study and career possibilities. ARISS anticipates that NASA will be able to provide scheduling opportunities for these US host organizations during the second half of 2018. These candidates must now complete an equipment plan that demonstrates their ability to execute the ham radio contact. Once their equipment plan is approved by the ARISS technical team, the final selected schools / organizations will be scheduled as their availability and flexibility match up with the scheduling opportunities. The schools and organizations are: Allen Park Elementary School, Lee County School District Ft. Myers FL Ashford School Ashford CT Bishop O'Connell High School Arlington VA Delcastle Technical High School Wilmington DE Hudson Memorial School Hudson NH Kopernik Observatory & Science Center Vestal NY Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School Santa Ana CA Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School Palmer MA Pearl Technology STEM Academy Peoria Heights IL Pell Elementary School Newport RI St. Catherine of Bologna School Ringwood NJ Tallmadge Community Learning Center Lancaster OH Valley High School Albuquerque NM 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. Find more information at www.ariss.org, and also www.amsat.organd www.arrl.org. [ANS thanks David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite DXCC Awarded to K8YSE Congratulations to John Papay, K8YSE, who has been awarded satellite DXCC with 101 entities verified. The satellite DXCC standings are available at http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-standings While there is no way to be certain, John's satellite DXCC is likely the first to be obtained without the use of either HEO satellites or sub-horizon Mode K propagation since prior to the launch of AO-10 in 1983. Starting on satellites in 2006, John did not even enjoy the advantage of FO-20's higher LEO apogee or RS-15's high LEO orbit in his quest to work and confirm 100 DXCCs via satellite.This is certainly a noteworthy achievement! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Special Membership Offer Continues for RadFxSat/AO-91 Launch AO-91 is open to all and works great! Now is a good time to join AMSAT and receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites"! Visit https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ and help AMSAT Keep Amateur Radio in Space. AMSAT is making our "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book available for a limited time as a download with any paid new or renewal membership purchased via the AMSAT Store. This offer is only available with purchases completed online, and for only a limited time. A perennial favorite, Getting Started is updated every year with the latest amateur satellite information, and is the premier primer of satellite operation. The 182 page book is presented in PDF format, in full color, and covers all aspects of making your first contacts on a ham radio satellite. Please take advantage of this offer today by visiting the AMSAT store at https://www.amsat.org/shop/ and selecting any membership option. While there, check out our other items, including the M2 LEOpack antenna system, Arrow antennas, AMSAT shirts, and other swag. Thank you, and see you soon on AO-91! [ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to AMSAT Tax-Free From Your IRA Are you over 70-1/2 years of age and need to meet your IRA's Required Minimum Distribution for 2017? Consider making a donation to AMSAT! Under the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, individuals over 70-1/2 years of age may make direct transfers of up to $100,000 per year from a traditional IRA to an eligible charity without increasing their taxable income. Consult your tax advisor or accountant to make certain you are eligible. AMSAT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational and scientific organization whose purpose is to design, construct, launch, and operate satellites in space and to provide the support needed to encourage amateurs to utilize these resources. AMSAT's federal tax ID is 52-0888529. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Board of Directors for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Ashbury College, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-27 18:39 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via VK4KHZ. ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD. + A Successful contact was made between Huntley Centennial Public School, Carp, ON, Canada and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IR0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-28 18:46 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD. + A Successful contact was made between S.G.B. De La Salle, Rome, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-30 08:04 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Francesco IKØWGF. + A Successful contact was made between Istituto Comprensivo Luigi Nono, Mira, Italy and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-11-30 08:04 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was Gianpietro IZ2GOJ. + A Successful contact was made between Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick, RI, USA and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign IZ0ISS. The contact began 2017-11-30 17:02 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Telebridge via IK1SLD. ARISS Mentor was John K4SQC. + A Successful contact was made between School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC), Castelldefels, Spain and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-04 15:10 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via EG3UPC. ARISS Mentors were Marcelo IKØUSO primary/ Francesco IKØWGF backup. + A Successful contact was made between Shirokawa Elementary School, Seiyo, Japan and Astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-12-11 11:06 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via 8J5SS. ARISS Mentor was Satoshi 7M3TJZ. + A Successful contact was made between Antietam Elementary School, Woodbridge, VA, USA and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2017-12-11 18:30 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via KM4TAY. ARISS Mentor was Dave AA4KN. + A Successful contact was made between Summa-Aldapeta, Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain and Astronaut Joe Acaba KE5DAR using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-12 13:01 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via EG2SMA. ARISS Mentors were Marcelo IKØUSO primary/ Francesco IKØWGF backup. + A Successful contact was made between Taipei Municipal Ximen Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP using Callsign OR4ISS. The contact began 2017-12-21 08:49:07 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was Direct via BNØSM. ARISS Mentor was Satoshi 7M3TJZ. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Because of current high interest, here is the link for AMSAT's list of Station and Operating hints. https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/ + FM Satellites: Good Operating Practices for Beginning and Experienced Operators Sean Kutzko, KX9X, has written a helpful document explaining good operating practices for working FM satellites. It's been posted to the AMSAT website at https://tinyurl.com/ANS358-FMSats A PDF version is also available at https://tinyurl.com/ANS358-FMSatsPDF --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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 aa8em at amsat dot org

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Satellite DXCC
by rsoifer1＠aol.com 23 Dec '17

23 Dec '17

I agree with everything John, K8YSE, said, except that he's being too modest about what he has accomplished. AFAIK, John is one of only three living people to have made LEO DXCC, and one of only nine to have made it at all. One thing I would add to John's comment about AO-7: the importance of using Mode A. To get the best use of this mode, a good beam antenna that covers the high end of 10 meters is highly desirable. It helps, too, if the beam is on a fairly high tower. When I was chasing DXCC on Mode A, my 3-element 10-meter monobander was mounted at about 30 feet, and Ben, W2BXA, had his beam on a 70-foot tower. He could consistently hear and work stations as much as 200 miles farther away than I could. A short session with a great-circle map will illustrate the importance of this increased range. Why is Mode A so helpful? If your receiving system is good enough, Mode A produces ionospheric scatter that enables stations as much as 100-200 miles below the horizon to be heard, especially on CW where the weak, fluttery signals can still be copied. Mode A seems to have become something of a lost art these days, but not for long. The US Naval Academy's HFSAT, with its 15-meter to 10-meter transponder, is coming! 73 Ray W2RS

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ukube-1 transponder
by jack weimer 23 Dec '17

23 Dec '17

Ukube-1 transponder is working. I just had a contact with AA5PK Glenn in DM91 grid at 2127 Z when the beacon comes on it distorts the transponder downlink so you have to wait until the beacon quicks in order to hear the transponder downlink JACK KC7MG

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-22 20:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2017-12-22 20:00 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Taipei Municipal Ximen Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C., direct via BNØSM The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Contact was successful: Thu 2017-12-21 08:49:07 UTC 72 deg (***) Exp. 52 back on earth! Congratulations to the crew for a job well done! (***) Randy Bresnik Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Sergey Ryazanskiy Exp. 54 on orbit Welcome aboard!. (***) Scott Tingle KG5NZA Norishige Kanai Alexander Skvortsov **************************************************************************** ** 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 Kenwood 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: Francesco IKØWGF with 132 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 127 (***) Gaston ON4WF with 123 Sergey RV3DR with 100 **************************************************************************** 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 2017-12-22 20:00 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 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1200. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1149. (***) 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 2017-12-22 20:00 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. 52 back on earth! Congratulations to the crew for a job well done! (***) Randy Bresnik Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Sergey Ryazanskiy Exp. 53 on orbit Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP Alexander Misurkin Joe Acaba KE5DAR Exp. 54 on orbit Welcome aboard!. (***) Scott Tingle KG5NZA Norishige Kanai Alexander Skvortsov **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Satellite DXCC Awarded to K8YSE
by Juan Antonio 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

A great effort is followed of a recognition, I am sure it is well-deserved. Thanks John for show us the right way. Enjoy it!! 73, Juan Antonio EA4CYQ --- El software de antivirus Avast ha analizado este correo electrónico en busca de virus. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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ukube-1 tRANSPONDER
by alex weimer 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

Ukube-1 transponder is working fine ! I just worked Glenn AA5PK at 2127 Z on Ukube-1 When the beacon transmits it takes over the transponder and you have to wait until the beacon stops to receive the downlink signal again !! JACK KC7MG

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UKube-1
by Frank G 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

HI all, Anyone know what happened to the linear transponder on UKube-1 ? Only the beacon has been on lately. Thanks Frank WA2NDV

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Satellite DXCC
by John Papay 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

Thank you for all of the posts and emails regarding DXCC on the LEO's. But the credit really goes to all of the ops at the other end who were a part of those contacts. It's not always easy to work the low passes on AO-7, especially when that satellite is not having a good day. Thanks to those who listened in the noise and met for skeds day after day until a contact was finally made. And thanks to those that traveled to other countries with their satellite equipment to activate a new one. Many of these were family vacations and sacrifices were made to accommodate sat activities. Some operations were from areas that were not always safe; places where you did not venture out after dark, for example. There is always a risk when traveling. There are stories about many of the contacts, too many to detail. But the RI1F dxpedition to Viktoria Island in Franz Josef Land, Country Number 99, deserves mentioning. The team that traveled there in a small sailing vessel, spending days at sea, literally risked their lives to put that IOTA on the air. And the fact that they bothered to take EME/Satellite equipment with them, managing to work the birds from a most inhospitable island infested with polar bears and Walrus that viewed them as dinner is just amazing. In those situations you are on your own. Dialing 911 won't bring help. These are very brave operators! Thank you to everyone who helped make this DXCC possible. 73, John K8YSE John Papay john(a)papays.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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Satellite DXCC
by Kevin M 22 Dec '17

22 Dec '17

Right. The first seven were all issued prior to AO-10. For the record, the first to actually work 100 DXCC entities via satellite was Pat, G3IOR. He made heavy use of tropo scatter. Ever the good sport, Pat came over to the States and presented Ben, W2BXA, with Certificate No. 1 at the AMSAT AGM. 73 Ray W2RS Hey Ray... long time. I was AC5DK back on RS-12/13... I know we worked because as I recall you were on about every pass. X^D Anyway, I don't know if it was submitted for an official DXCC, but I seem to remember a CQ article about a DXer that worked 100 countries on RS-12/13 ALONE. Could be one of the guys that already had Sat DXCC and couldn't submit a second time. Just wondering if you remember that... Impressive use of the propagation skip tactic to work birds that were below local horizon. Quite an accomplishment by John!!! I'm not even sure I could figure out enough countries to work in any footprint to even reach 100! So good on him! 73, Kevin N4UFO

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