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

LO-87
by LU2DPW Juan Carlos 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Luciano muy bien escuchado, pero no escucho mi portadora, lo lamento tengo que mejorar mi antena!!!! Te paso el audio. 73 de JC

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NAYIF-1 TLEs
by Wouter Weggelaar 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Hi All, The post-launch TLEs for NAYIF-1 are starting to become out-of date. We have produced a new set of unofficial TLEs that take into account the new AOS / TCA / LOS timings. Please however note that the post-launch TLEs do not contain the correct constants to make this TLE reliable in the long run. The only object that comes close in the recent TLEs from JSpOC is the 2017-008F object, but note that we are still missing a lot of objects. They are working round the clock to map and catalog all remaining objects, but 104 satellites presents a challenge. We are in contact with JSpOC about this and are doing our best to help them match up objects. For now, the unofficial ones are: NAYIF-corrected 1 17003U 17002A 17046.17714120 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 9994 2 17003 97.5521 107.5843 0004848 278.6481 296.8511 15.21991390 02 and 2017-008F-corrected 1 17004U 17008F 17050.08273148 .00155491 00000-0 65272-2 0 9998 2 17004 97.5078 111.7095 0000538 25.3680 334.7132 15.22769132 566 And we welcome any observations with regard to which one you used and how much it was off. I would think the 2017-008F variant will work better in the long run, but we will have to see. 73 Wouter PA3WEG

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(no subject)
by Dale Kubichek 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

These are very good devices (lil pricey), but an issue I found is they do not sell the shack-coax-end 'voltage input/isolation' box/device to power these via coax. Just like I'd like to find a solid low-loss on-mast two-position-coax-switch to be controlled via ~12VDC from the shack coax. Making changing CP or Vet/Horz easy with only one coax feed. I want them for 2m/70cm/1.2G. MFJ has one but it's not rated for >150MHz. Best regards, Dale Kubichek, MS-EET, N6JSX Sidney, OH 45365 EN70vh http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HAM-SATs http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RDF-USA Message: 2 Date: Sat, 18 Feb 2017 20:34:38 -0500 From: Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> To: "kb2cwn(a)yahoo.com" <kb2cwn(a)yahoo.com> Cc: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Advanced Receiver Research has the most cost effective mast-mounted RF switched preamps. http://advancedreceiver.com/page10.html SSB Electronics' line of preamps might be better, but are more expensive. http://www.ssbusa.com/NEWSSBPREAMPS.html 73, Paul, N8HM

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Preamps
by Fred Castello 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Message: 1 Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2017 01:29:59 +0000 (UTC) From: "Frank Staffa Jr." <kb2cwn(a)yahoo.com <mailto:[email protected]>> To: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] (no subject) Message-ID: <481922136.333610.1487467799948(a)mail.yahoo.com <mailto:[email protected]>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Well, I have spent a good portion of the day trying to find preamps for my M2 leopack. I read that at the very least putting one on the 70cm antenna will help a lot with the receive. But, I just can not find any. Most of the names I came across must have went out of business because their website are no longer in existence. ?Any suggestions out their from you season operators out there? The ones that I got last post I couldn't find.?Thanks Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Fri, Feb 17, 2017 at 3:17 PM, Frank Staffa Jr.<kb2cwn(a)yahoo.com <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: Hello everyone. I just purchased a M2 leopack antenna system and I was reading about different coax cables to use for low loss. Since I am mounting the antenna only about 10 feet off the ground, 50 foot will be enough to go into the shack. I wanted to purchase RG8x but read that the best way to go is with LMR400. What I dislike about it is that its much wider and very stiff, and will make it difficult around bends. I also have the Az/alt rotator which I will have to loop each antenna to have enough for turns. Any other suggestions out there for an alternative to LMR-400?Thanks?Frank KB2CWN? Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android Frank, I went through the same thing you did. I am running a Kenwood TS-790 (so about 30 watts max) and have about 100 feet of feedline so I need preamps on both 2 meters and 70 cms. I looked and the recommendations you have already received are great but I ended up going with these: http://vhfdesign.com/en/category/lna <http://vhfdesign.com/en/category/lna> I found that they were less expensive that some of the others and they would handle my power requirements. They have RF protection but I think most folks would say that you still might need to use a sequencer or just an on/off switch depending on the band you are receiving on (that is the mechanism I went with- I just switch the transmit band preamp off (thus it is bypassed) using a simple switch in the shack). They would probably be fine for FM but for SSB it is not worth taking the chance (I switch them religiously). You could also use the simple sequencer they sell. That is my next project. I have been very pleased with them but have only had them in place for a few days. The company was very responsive to my questions via email and I was a bit of a pain when I bought them because they appear to be a new(ish) company. Good luck and have fun! Fred - KF4FC

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Antennas
by Joe 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Weather is nice, Time to put up antennas. Now I know most like to go CP, But I'm on a limited budget. So it will need to be a traditional linearly polarity yagi, Of course I can mount them vertically or horizontally polarized. And if it was just one band, is there ny preference to vert or horiz? I don't see any, except from the man made noise issue when on low elevations. is there any best polarity? I'm planning on a side by side 2 meter and 70 cm set up 2 meter vertically polarized on one end of a cros boom, and the same on the other side but 70 cm. This way I can get away with using a metal cross boom. Thoughts? Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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ARISS Equipment on SpaceX Launch
by KA3HDO 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

All, Included as part of today's successful launch of the SpaceX Dragon vehicle to ISS is an ARISS Ericsson 2 meter VHF radio. This radio will replace the Ericsson radio that failed a few months ago. The VHF radio is used for school group contacts and amateur packet radio in the Columbus module. Once the Dragon vehicle is berthed to ISS, the Ericsson will be unstowed and, at some point, installed in Columbus, replacing the UHF radio that is now supporting APRS packet and some school contacts. Our thanks to SpaceX on an outstanding and historic flight from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A, where many Space Shuttle missions and nearly all the Apollo moon missions were launched. We also would like to thank our ARISS benefactors-NASA and CASIS, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. And, of course, our amateur radio long-time sponsors-our national amateur radio organizations around the world, including the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in the US, and our international AMSAT organizations, including AMSAT-NA. Before closing, I want to let you know that ARISS is making great progress on the development of the new interoperable radio system that we hope to use to replace our aging radio infrastructure in the Columbus module and the Service module. The hard (and expensive) part of this effort is just beginning, with testing and human certification on the horizon. We thank all that have donated to the cause thus far. We hope you continue to help ARISS move forward through your support, including your volunteer time and talent and, of course, financial contributions through the AMSAT web site donate button. 73 es Ad Astra! Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chair AMSAT-NA V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

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FUNcube and Nayif Data Warehouse Integration
by David Johnson 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Hi, We are doing some work to integrate the registration on the FC warehouse with the Nayif database, please bear with if you find that the FC warehouse in unavailable for short periods. The Dashboards will back off until they get the connection again and no data updates will be lost. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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(no subject)
by Frank Staffa Jr. 19 Feb '17

19 Feb '17

Hello everyone. I just purchased a M2 leopack antenna system and I was reading about different coax cables to use for low loss. Since I am mounting the antenna only about 10 feet off the ground, 50 foot will be enough to go into the shack. I wanted to purchase RG8x but read that the best way to go is with LMR400. What I dislike about it is that its much wider and very stiff, and will make it difficult around bends. I also have the Az/alt rotator which I will have to loop each antenna to have enough for turns. Any other suggestions out there for an alternative to LMR-400?Thanks Frank KB2CWN Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

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WD9EWK @ DM22/DM32, Sunday (19 February) morning
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 18 Feb '17

18 Feb '17

Hi! Now that the Yuma Hamfest has wrapped up, I will head home in the morning. On my way home, I will stop on the DM22xq/DM32xq grid boundary about 20 miles/32km east of Yuma AZ, along old US-80 and north of the I-8 freeway. I am hoping to be out there for the SO-50 pass just before 1500 UTC, but may not be on until the 1603 UTC FO-29 pass. I am planning to try working passes for 1 to 3 hours from there, before I resume my driving home. Hopefully the rain that has been hitting southwestern Arizona for the past 24 hours will be done by the time I get on the road in the morning. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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ANS-050 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 18 Feb '17

18 Feb '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-050 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: * Nayif-1 Launched * Satellite Operators on the Road * Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity * RadFXsat-2 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination * 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop * BY70-1 Re-entry SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-050.01 ANS-050 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 050.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE February 19, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-050.01 Nayif-1 Launched The Indian Space Agency ISRO successfully launched the amateur radio satellite Nayif-1 along with 103 other satellites, a record for a single launch. The PSLV- C37 lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh at 03:58 UT on Wednesday, February 15, 2017. Nayif-1 started transmitting about an hour after launch and radio amateurs in the west of the USA reported the first signals. The first frame of data received at the Data Warehouse was from Christy Hunter KB6LTY. Telemetry data was also received by WA6FWF, KA7FVV, WC7V, NC7V, K6FW, KE7QPV, WA9ONY, W5PFG, KK6AYK. Ken Eaton GW1FKY reports he received his first frames of data when the satellite came in range of the UK at 10:07 UT. The satellite looks to be in perfect health and it was placed in autonomous mode before the end of the first day in orbit. Just like FUNcube-1, this mode has the spacecraft sending high power telemetry when in sunlight and with the SSB/CW transponder active when in eclipse. Already many contacts have been made through the transponder. As expected, the frequency stability of this spacecraft is much better than its predecessors. A new post-launch set of TLE’s has been issued by the launch authority and it can be downloaded from http://amsat-nl.org/download/NAYIF_TLE.txt Please note that these numbers are not based on JSpOC observations so we do not yet have a valid catalog number. During the Launch and Early Operation phase (LEOP) of the mission, the Nayif-1 command team have been headquartered at the American University of Sharjah Ground station in the United Arab Emirates. They have been very grateful for all the telemetry received from around the world. It has proven to be immensely useful to the team in checking that the spacecraft is functioning correctly. Our world-wide network has greatly impressed the many professionals that have been watching our activities. Already more than 100 ground stations are submitting data to the Nayif Data Warehouse. Please continue uploading the data as this will further enhance our knowledge about the spacecraft and the space environment through which it is traveling at 7.6 km/s. The Nayif-1 Data Warehouse has been updated and now includes the Whole Orbit, High Resolution graphs and the upload ranking. It also includes telemetry details from the ADCS sub-system – this is called the iMTQ and is capable of actively magnetorquing. Over the coming days, we will be further tweaking the warehouse, so bear with us if it is unavailable for short periods of time. Background Nayif-1 has been developed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) and American University of Sharjah (AUS). The UAE’s first Nanosatellite was developed by Emirati engineering students from AUS under the supervision of a team of engineers and specialists from MBRSC within the framework of a partnership between the two entities, aiming to provide hands-on experience to engineering students on satellite manufacturing. The spacecraft includes a U/V linear transponder and telemetry transmitter. It employs enhanced oscillator circuitry and includes an active attitude determination and control system. The operating frequencies for the spacecraft are: Telemetry 145.940 MHz using 1k2 BPSK to the FUNcube standard. SSB/CW Transponder Uplink on 435.045 – 435.015 MHz Downlink on 145.960 – 145.990 MHz The Nayif-1 Telemetry Dashboard can be downloaded from http://download.funcube.org.uk/nayif-1_Dashboard_1039_Installer.msi Guidance notes https://funcubetest2.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/nayif-1_dashboard_notes_re… _1-0b.pdf A file to test that the Dashboard and Warehouse configuration are working correctly http://download.funcube.org.uk/nayif1_testfile.funcubebin Nayif-1 Data Warehouse http://data.amsat-uk.org/nayif1/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Operators on the Road ZF, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Scott/KA9P and Ron/W9XS will be active as ZF2SC and ZF2FB, respectively, from the Cayman Islands between February 22-28th. Activity will be on 40/30/20/17/15 meters and the satellites. Operations will typically be CW, with a KX1 or KX3, and Buddipole beams or verticals. QSL via their home callsigns or LoTW. 6E, MEXICO. A group of Ham Radio operators from Southern Mexico will be operating from some Mayan archaeological sites from the Mexican States of Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, Chiapas and Quintana Roo, using the special callsign 6E3MAYA between March 18-21st. Activity is to commemorate the Spring Equinox which is so important for the Mayan culture. Activity will be on 80-6 meters on CW, SSB, the satellites and the Digital modes. QSL via XE3N. C6, BAHAMAS (IOTA Op). Operators John/M0IDA, Rob/M0VFC and Steve/M1ACB hope to be active as C6APY from Little Harbour Cay, Berry Islands (NA-054, WW Locator FL15do). They will fly into the Bahamas on March 2nd, but it will take them a couple of days to get to the island, so they hope to be active around March 4th - but this is very much weather dependent, as is the whole operation. They will fly back to the UK on March 12th, which means they will need to de-rig on the 10th or 11th, again varying according to the weather. Operation probably won't be 24/7 - they will do as much operating as they can, but eating and sleeping is back on the boat, there's only three of them, and they will probably want to go for the occasional swim as well. They will be running up to three stations simultaneously, all Elecraft K3s at 100W. They will be generator powered and have to carry the full week's fuel with them on the boat, hence no amps. They are expecting that most QSOs will be on 40-15 meters; they will monitor the higher HF bands as well and may venture on to 10/12m if propagation favors them; similarly they may throw up an 80m dipole, but don't expect to do very much, if anything, there. There will definitely be CW (op M0VFC) and SSB (ops M0IDA and M1ACB); they may also do some data if time permits. They should be active on some satellite passes with hand-held antennas: the FM birds will only cover parts of the USA, and not EU, so they will attempt some FO-29 passes as well. They are not satellite experts though, so be patient with them. QSL is via M0OXO's OQRS system. They will upload the logs to ClubLog and LoTW regularly throughout the trip, assuming all the kit plays nicely. Watch Twitter for any other updates: https://twitter.com/rmc47 (M0VFC) https://twitter.com/ItinerantHam (M0IDA) [ANS thanks Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 - April 15, 2017 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2017. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in dates and times of the radio contact. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA and CASIS (Center for the Advancement of Science in Space). More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss(a)arrl.org. [ANS thanks Dave, AA4KN, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- RadFXsat-2 Receives IARU Frequency Coordination RadFXSat-2 is a 1U cubesat technology demonstration mission from Vanderbilt University that has been accepted for launch as part of NASA’s CubeSat Launch Initiative. Vanderbilt University is partnered with AMSAT, who will provide the satellite and communications for the experiments onboard as part of the AMSAT Fox program. AMSAT recently received IARU frequency coordination for a 1200 baud BPSK telemetry downlink beacon on 435.750 MHz, and a mode V/u inverting transponder with an uplink of 145.860-145.890 MHz and a downlink of 435.760-435.790 MHz. RadFXSat-2 is currently manifested as part of the ELaNA XX mission, scheduled for no earlier than December 2017, on a Virgin Galactic Launcher One, from Mojave, California. Other satellites on the mission include: CACTUS-1 – Capitol Technology University, Laurel, Md. ALBus – NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio SurfSat – University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla. Q-PACE – University of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla. CAPE-3 – University of Louisiana Lafayette, La. MiTEE – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. PICS – Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah INCA – New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M. MicroMas-2b – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, Mass. EXOCUBE – California Polytechnic University, San Louis Obispo, Calif. PolarCube – University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colo. [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop The 14th Annual CubeSat Developers Workshop will be held in San Luis Obispo, CA April 26-28 2017. The schedule is now on the workshop website at the link below. http://www.cubesat.org/s/2017-Workshop-Schedule.pdf REGISTRATION Prices are as follows: 3 Day Pass + Banquet Early Bird Professional - $375 Professional - $475 Student - $150 1 Day Pass Early Bird Professional - $160 Professional - $200 Early bird registration ends on March 17, 2017 so be sure to register before the price goes up! [ANS thanks the CubeSat Workshop Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- BY70-1 Re-entry The 2U CubeSat BY70-1 was built by students from the Beijing Bayi High School and carried into a 524 x 212 km orbit on a CZ-2D rocket launched from the Taiyuan Space Launch Center on December 28, 2016. On February 17, 2017, as the satellite started to burn up on its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere, this end of mission statement was posted on the school’s website. Dear friends of BY70-1: Satellite BY70-1 has completed all designed missions. For the amateurs who completed 2-way QSO using the repeater onboard, received effective satellite telemetry, or obtained satellite camera photos, we would like to invite you sending connection data package (audio or video evidence), satellite telemetry data or photos received to Email: 6015(a)bayims.cn. So that we can keep statistics records and deliver our appreciation toward you in public. We would be pleased to exchange QSL card for QSO users, and some souvenirs for the telemetry or camera photos users. We hope more Amateur youth space program will be brought to you in the near future! E-mail Address: 6015(a)bayims.cn Post Address: Mr Xiangming TAOBeijing Bayi School, 29# Suzhou Street, Haidian Dist, Beijing, China P.O. 100080 [ANS thanks Beijing Bayi High School and 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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