Students at the Ivy League Brown University are developing an amateur radio satellite EQUiSat that will carry a Xenon Flash Tube (XFT) subsystem to act as an Optical Beacon that should be visible to the unaided eye of observers on Earth.
See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=10635
73 Trevor M5AKA
AMSAK-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/
----
Thinking about adding the 1.2Ghz module for my 9100. Prices have dropped a little and units will start become harder to find once production ends. Anybody using this band? I read it's used as a uplink frequency for some satellites. Any input appreciated.ToddAL7PX
The Outernet L-band feed is now carrying a condensed version of the AMSAT
and ARISS weekly news files. (Global Geosat coverage except for Northern
Alaska)...
Receivers are simple: http://aprs.org/outnet.html
For ARISS, I manually added a 2 char grid square to each school listed in
the school schedule and am asking the outernet folks to parse out that
location info and plot a 1200 km footprint on their weather globe showing
where people can tune in the ARISS contacts. Then their RTL-SDR dongle
could then actually be retuned to hear the contact. Just an idea...
Bob, WB4APR
-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Dani
EA4GPZ
Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 7:36 AM
To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] New Outernet L-Band service...
>> I hope someday a service like this will be available
>> from an AMSAT geostationary service.
> I'm pretty confident that the guys at AMSAT-DL are capable
> of doing this much better on the upcoming EsHail'2
> than what Outernet is currently doing on Inmarsat...
> They already have in mind a "DVB-S beacon"... broadcast
> from the ground station at Qatar ... carrying videos
> about Ham radio and Ham radio events on this signal.
> What is more, if you have equipment to operate EsHail'2 on SSB,
> it's more or less easy to use either the narrowband transponder
> or the wideband transponder to transmit an Outernet-type signal
> through EsHail'2, so anyone can have a go with this.
> Outernet uses 4200baud BPSK and half of the bitrate is spent for FEC.
> You can use a bit less bitrate to get a signal that will even pass
> through a conventional 2.7kHz SSB filter and you can use less
> bits for FEC to get increased data throughput (but more SNR required).
> Dani EA4GPZ.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-26 23:00 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Possible Russian contact with Kursk
Tue 2015-10-27 11:35 UTC
Dearborn Public Schools, Dearborn, Michigan, USA, direct via K8UTT
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS
Contact is a go for Option #3: Tue 2015-10-27 16:01:59 UTC 57 deg
Watch for a live video stream that should start about 15:00 UTC: (***)
http://www.dearbornschools.orghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbhrQiZ62LE
Daggett Montessori School K-8, Fort Worth, Texas, USA, direct via K5COW
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS
Contact is a go for Option #4: Thu 2015-10-29 14:12:56 UTC 31 deg
****************************************************************************
**
Interested in hosting an ARISS contact? The window is now open from
2015-09-01 to 2015-11-01. These proposals will be for school contacts during the
second half of 2016. Go to http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact
or http://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html for full
details.
To help organizations in preparing their proposals, the ARISS Program
Coordinator will offer hour-long online information sessions. These are
designed to provide more information regarding US ARISS contacts and the proposal
process and offer an opportunity to ask questions. While attending an
online information session is not required, it is strongly encouraged.
These will be offered Thursday, September 17, at 2000 UTC; Tuesday,
September 22, at 2000 UTC, and Wednesday, September 30, at 2300 UTC. Advance
registration is necessary. Email ARISS (ariss(a)arrl.org) to sign up for an
information session.
****************************************************************************
**
>From 2015-12-20 to 2016-01-04, there will be no US Operational Segment
(USOS)
hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be
conducted by the ARISS Russia team.
****************************************************************************
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.
****************************************************************************
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
Francesco IKØWGF with 114
Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 112
****************************************************************************
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 8061 date
and
time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS
The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2015-10-24 06:00 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
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1001. (***)
Each school counts as 1 event.
Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 966. (***)
Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot.
Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 46.
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, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont,
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 2015-10-24 06:00 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. 43/44 on orbit
Scott Kelly
Mikhail Kornienko RN3BF
Exp. 44 on orbit
Oleg Kononenko RN3DX
Kimiya Yui KG5BPH
Kjell Lindgren KO5MOS
Exp. 45 on orbit
Sergey Volkov RU3DIS
****************************************************************************
73,
Charlie Sufana AJ9N
One of the ARISS operation team mentors
I happen to be a fan of using Software Defined Radio (SDR) to receive
amateur satellites. It is an inexpensive way to view all the signals
appearing on a satellite's passband simultaneously. While I don't
normally run SDR full time at my station, from time to time I use it
to monitor activity on busy satellite passes because I can view and
record all activity.
As a result of more people using SDR on satellites, I have discovered
an operating trait that warrants some discussion and evaluation.
On more than one occasion, I have given a call to a very specific
station, and instead of my intended target had another SDR-based
station appear on frequency immediately saying "QRZ? QRZ?" rather than
wait and listen to who is calling on the frequency. The SDR user saw a
signal on their waterfall and clicked on it. They "pounced" on what
they perceived to be another station looking to make contact which
might not necessarily be the case.
I've see the same thing happen a few times with pileups. There is an
existing pileup in progress when the SDR station comes into the
footprint. Rather than wait a short period to listen, they click on
the new signal in their waterfall, and immediately proceed to "QRZ" on
the frequency of the pileup, sometimes interrupting the flow of
existing contacts.
Just today I heard this scenario: Station 1 calls CQ. Station 2 went
to answer. The SDR user clicked on the waterfall, heard only part of
the callsign of Station 2, and proceeded to call Station 2, ignoring
the possibility that Station 2 was attempting to QSO with someone
else.
It seems to me the visual nature of SDR waterfalls is causing a
temporary lapse in judgement when it comes to a basic ham radio
principle that we apply to satellite operating -- listen with our ears
before transmitting.
SDR is a great listening tool. With great power comes great responsibility.
73
Clayton
W5PFG
Hello all,
Is it not hard times for new and prospective satellite operators (like
me) in terms of equipment choices, at least in terms of the "big three"?
(And, to be clear, I'm talking about current, in-production models only.)
I'm looking for an HF base/mobile radio, and also a VHF/UHF-only
all-mode base/mobile radio that I can use for the linear satellites but
- wait - there are no VHF/UHF-only all mode radios! That means I need to
buy a "shack in a box" but - wait - there are only two choices (at what
I will call moderate prices), the ancient TS-2000 and equally ancient
FT-857D. There is the new and somewhat more expensive FT-991A and,
although that sounds like a very good radio, for HF at that price point
I might prefer the IC-7300 but that would mean no satellite work.
I'm also looking for a portable HF QRP radio, and a portable radio I can
use for the linear satellites. Again the venerable but ancient FT-817ND
is pretty much the only game in town. As with the HF base radios above,
if I am only interested in HF QRP I would probably rather put my money
toward a KX2 or KX3 of newer design but, again, that would mean no
satellite work.
So as a new operator, to get into linear satellites it seems I am forced
to either (1) troll the swap meets for ancient gear; (2) buy new gear of
old design (which in my mind is even worse); or (3) buy new gear of
modern design that works for satellite and HF, but is not necessarily
the radio I would choose for HF alone.
I should add that the situation is not much better for HT/mobile radios
for the FM satellites, but at least there are some cost effective
workarounds including the less expensive Baofeng/Wouxun/Tytera radios
and their clones.
Thanks for indulging my shopping frustrations, and my inexperience, but
I have to think there are others new to the hobby that are having
similar thoughts. Do Amsat members see this as a problem?
Probably off to spend some new money on an old radio...
73 - Ken - VA7KBM
Hi folks,
FUNcube/AO73 is now in full time amateur mode with the transponder ON. The
plan is for it to switch back to auto mode on Sunday pm UTC as usual but,
for operational reasons, this may be delayed until Monday pm UTC.
Please see below for other FUNcube transponder info
Have FUN with the transponder.
73s Graham G3VZV and the FUNcube team.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
FUNcube frequencies and other details
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
AO-73 FUNcube-1
The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in
eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends
(from pm Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7.
When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power,
when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During holidays,
eg Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe activated for
extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are usually made on
Friday evenings (UTC)
The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink: 435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink: 145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB
Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK
(The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Lower
temperatures give higher freqs!)
FUNcube-2 (aka FUNcube on UKube)
The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost
continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the
telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1
Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly
decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it
can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and
these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the
main On Board Computer (OBC).
The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the
other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds
when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit).
The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink: 435.080 - 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink: 145.930 - 145.950 MHz USB
Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK
(The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low
temperatures give higher freqs!)
EO79 FUNcube-3
Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7
and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will
commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will
stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future
months as a result of experience.
The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink: 435.0723-435.0473 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink: 145.946-145.971 MHz USB
Further detailed info on EO79 transponder frequencies is at:
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/10/eo79-funcube-3-transponder-commences-regula…
EO88/Nayif-1/FUNcube-5
EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder is
operational when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT
being illuminated.
When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power,
when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power.
The transponder frequencies are:
Uplink: 435.045 – 435.015 MHz LSB (inverting)
Downlink: 145.960-145.990 MHz USB
Telemetry Tx: 145.940MHz
All FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are very
grateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, The
Netherlands.
I was glad to see some of the rover stations spreading out and avoiding the
busy center on the FO-29 pass around 16:08 UTC today. So many QSO's
squeezed in the middle 20 kHz is a shame on a 100 kHz wide transponder.
Hats off to those guys breaking convention...
73
Clayton
W5PFG
An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Brahma Kumaris Educational Society, Rajasthan, India
on 03 Apr. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 08:19 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 LU1CGB. The contact should be audible over Argentina and adjacent areas. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in English.
Brahma Kumaris Educational Society is a Socio-Spiritual Organization focuses on Ethics & Values, Disaster Relief, Peace & Security and is headquartered in Mt.Abu, Rajasthan, India.
Brahma Kumaris comprises a worldwide network of centers in 110 countries and is an international non-governmental organization of the United Nations accredited with General Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Mount Abu International Ham Radio Club (MHRC) VU2BK is located within Brahma Kumaris Campus with an aim to promote Amateur radio as an instrument for spreading universal brotherhood and to provide emergency communications. It also organizes technical lectures on latest topics like satellite communication, software defined radios, antennas, etc. and conducts demonstrations of Amateur Radio.
Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows:
1. What's the most fun or interesting part about being on the International
Space Station?
2. What does a launch feel like?
3. Where do you go in the Space Shuttle? Do you go to the moon?
4. What do you do when you aren't on a mission?
5. Can you call your family? Do you have email?
6. What should I study in school if I want to be an astronaut?
7. What was your job as an astronaut on the ISS?
8. What advice would you give someone wishing to follow in your footsteps?
9. What was the scariest part of being in space?
10. Have you seen space junk? How bad is the problem?
11. Did you have much fear going into space your first time or on subsequent
trips?
12. Did you ever see anything you couldn't explain while in space?
13. What are your three favorite things about being in a spaceship?
14. How has your understanding of the universe changed since seeing it from
space?
15. If you could go back into space now, what's one thing you would make sure
to do?
16. What will be the basic health standards for people to partake in space
travel as tourists?
17. What is the most beautiful sight you have seen from space?
18. I'd like to know how hard it is to land on Mars.
19. I wanted to know how it feels to be in Space.
20. What does astronaut food taste like?
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):
1. College Roger Martin Du Gard, Bellême, France, direct via F6KCO
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be FXØISS
The scheduled astronaut is Thomas Pesquet KG5FYG
Contact is a go for: Fri 2017-04-14 15:20 UTC
About ARISS:
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), 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.
Thank you & 73,
David - AA4KN
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