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

Fw: AO73 Mode change
by Graham Shirville 11 Jun '19

11 Jun '19

Hi folks, AO73/FUNcube is now in amateur mode for the weekend with the transponder on! Please see below for all FUNcube mission info 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. _______________________________________________ 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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EQUiSat Optical Beacon CubeSat
by Trevor . 17 Oct '18

17 Oct '18

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/ ----

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Using 1.2Ghz
by Todd 04 Apr '18

04 Apr '18

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

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Outernet L-Band now carries AMSAT and ARISS weekly bulletins
by Robert Bruninga 17 Mar '18

17 Mar '18

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.

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FUNcube-1 weekend operations
by Graham Shirville 03 Nov '17

03 Nov '17

Hi All, FUNcube-1 AO73 is now in full time transponder mode for the weekend. Have FUN with the bird 73 Graham G3VZV

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AO-73/FUNcube Mode switch
by Jim Heck G3WGM 27 Oct '17

27 Oct '17

Hi Folks, This is to let you know that I have just switched AO-73/FUNcube into amateur mode, with transponder activated 24/7. Early this week due to ground station availability. As per normal, we will switch back to autonomous mode on Sunday pm UTC. 73s Jim G3WGM 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. Low 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… Nayif-1 FUNcube-5EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder isoperational when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOTbeing 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 USBTelemetry Tx: 145.940MHzAll FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are verygrateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, TheNetherlands. _______________________________________________ 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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Alert! AO-40 is working again!
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 27 Sep '17

27 Sep '17

April Fools.

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2015-10-26 23:00 UTC
by AJ9N＠aol.com 22 Sep '17

22 Sep '17

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.org https://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

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SATPC32 doppler correction stops working
by Gabriel - EA6VQ 31 Jul '17

31 Jul '17

After years on not being on the satellites I am trying to be active a little again. I have installed the trial version of SATPC32 12.8b in order to automatically correct Doppler in the rig and it works fine for 5 to 10 minutes, but then it stops updating the frequency in the transceiver. No error message or something, it just stops updating the frequency. Some information: - Rig is an IC-9100 - OS is Windows 10 64 bit - CAT is connected using the IC-9100 USB port (Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART Bridge) Some tests I have already made and additional information: - The drivers I had for the CP201x were old. I have updated them with the latest, but without luck. - I have tried running SATPC32 as administrator, without changes. - When the Doppler correction fails, the CAT communication is still working. For instance I can change CW/SSB using the C+/C- button. - The only way to make it work again is to reconnect the IC-9100, so that the COM port is created again in Windows, and obviously restarting SATPC32. - Years ago I remember I tried version 12.8b , in Windows XP, and Doppler correction was working. - When I use the CAT communication in the same PC with the logbook program, there are no issues. Before you tell me that I should try version 12.8c, I have already done it and it is worse: for instance, it not even changes the frequencies in the rig when changing from one satellite to another, although CAT communication has been stablished. Anyone using SATPC32 on Windows 10 64 bit together with the IC-9100, with success? Any idea of what to try next? Is there some other program that I can use for Doppler correction? 73. Gabriel - EA6VQ

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Upcoming ARISS contact with VCP-Bundeszeltplatz, Großzerlang, Germany
by n4csitwo＠bellsouth.net 30 Jul '17

30 Jul '17

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at VCP-Bundeszeltplatz, Großzerlang, Germany on 01 Aug. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 18:20 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be direct between NA1SS and DP9S. The contact should be audible over Germany 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. The "Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder"(BdP) is a Guide and Scout Association from Germany. BdP is part of the "World Organisation of the Scout Movement" (WOSM) and the "World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts" (WAGGGS). Every four years a National Jamboree (summer camp) is organized, where about 5'500 guides and scouts, in the age of 12 to 16 years, meet. Part of this gathering are also about 500 guest scouts from all over the world.In German the camp is called "BuLa" - a abbreviation for "Bundeslager". During two weeks the scouts live peaceful together and enjoy life abroad from civilization. They camp in traditional "black tents", which are a specialty of German scouts. The basic tent shape it that of a small tipi (Kothe) our a yurt (Jurte). But there are nearly no limits in combining the tent elements and the scouts build awesome constructions, which they call yurt-castle (Jurtenburg). After everything is built, the campground becomes a little city, where the inhabitants experience a unique back-to-the-roots atmosphere and share thescouting and guiding spirit. The 10 main camp days are loaded with exciting outdoor activities.But there on site actives but also excursions to the surroundings. You can climb, build pioneering stuff, go geocaching, biking, hiking, climbing, swimming, canoeing, go for a drink or snack in on of the tent coffees, etc. etc. One activity spot is the scout-radio-amateur-tent. There the scouts can do amateur radio direction finding (fox hunting), play a game with avalanche beacons, have internationalamateur radio contacts, learn about EME (earth-moon-earth) and try it out or play one of the other radio connected games. And of course, a highlight of ours is the contact with the ISS. The motto of the camp is "Estonteco 2017". "Estonteco" means in Esperanto "future". Our tent city will be a space for different walks of life, nationalities and cultures, to engage and get know each other, while we build our camp world from scratch. Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. What are the current research projects that you have on board the ISS? Which experiment are you carrying out? 2. What skills do you need to become an astronaut and how do you acquire them? 3. What was the most important or most spectacular scientific discovery made on the ISS up to now? 4. What if somebody gets seriously sick? 5. What was your motivation to become an astronaut? 6. What was the most critical situation on the station so far? 7. Can you see our Jamboree site from space and could it help if we shine a laser pen towards the ISS? 8. How do the constellation of the stars change compared to the view from the Earth? 9. How often are you working outside in Space? Is it dangerous? 10. How do you shower in space? 11. Is it possible to see the romantic sunsets from the ISS like from the Earth? Or even polar lights? What about rainbows? 12. What happens, when a meteorite hits the space station? 13. How does the food taste? 14. When you are looking out of the window towards the Earth, do you sometimes think of the insignificance of humanity or of your own person? 15. What is the most annoying thing up there? 16. What are you most excited about, when you are back on Earth? 17. How do you experience the day-night-rhythm? 18. Do you have plants? 19. You've been away from home for a long time. How is that for you? 20. What do you miss most? 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. Frontiers of Flight Museum/ Moon Day, Dallas,TX, telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go: Sat 2017-08-05 18:02 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 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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AO73 Mode Change
by MrToby 30 Jul '17

30 Jul '17

Thanks for all of the details about Funcube operations. I'm new to Sats and have a question: what is the technical reason that Sats don't operate in eclipse (when the solar panels are illuminated?). That seems counter intuitive to me as the Sat would have more power. Thanks for the help. Marshall, AA0FO (em29)

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Is 70cm an option for ISS packet this time?
by Scott 30 Jul '17

30 Jul '17

Greetings everyone. Since this most recent packet failure on the ISS, I have not heard any mention of switching back to 437.550 MHz. Is that not an option this time? Has it been established that some other component is at fault now, and the choice of radio would make no difference? Thanks! -Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA

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Tanusha-SWSU-1/2 (RS-6S/7S) info
by Masahiro Arai 30 Jul '17

30 Jul '17

I found Tanusha-SWSU-1/2 (RS-6S/7S) info on Southwest Stage University web site. http://eng.swsu.ru/space Both downlink frequency is 437.05MHz. They transmit messages and telemetry. Telemetry is 9600bps AX.25. Telemetry format is on the web site. Deployment from ISS is still set Russian spacewalk at 17th Aug. 73 Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japan

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ANS-211 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joe Spier 29 Jul '17

29 Jul '17

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-211 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: * Packet Module Status On Board ISS * Oklahoma Radio Amateur is First to Score Satellite VUCC from Greenland * 437 MHz Sprite Satellites Deployed * QIKCOM-1 Team Expect Eclipse Day ISS Deployment * One Radio Amateur is Part of New Crew Increment Heading to ISS * Fox-1 Operating Guide Updates for 2017 * AMSAT Presentation at the Austin Summerfest, August 5, 2017 * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-211.01 ANS-211 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 211.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE July 30, 2017 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-211.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Packet Module Status On Board ISS ARISS has received several reports stating that the packet system on ISS is down. Here is what we know and our current forward plan. The packet system in the Columbus module started to act up late last week, sending only a beacon. The ARISS team requested a power recycle by the crew, and with that power recycle, the packet system appears to have stop functioning completely. Note that this unit has been on- orbit for 17 years. It was launched on the STS-106 Space Shuttle Atlantis mission in September 2000 and was built, tested and certified for flight about 20 years ago. The ARISS team has had some extensive discussions on the way forward. We would first like to do some additional troubleshooting with the existing packet module. It will take some time (weeks) to develop troubleshooting procedures, get the procedures approved by NASA and then conduct the tests with the crew. This includes an additional power cycle. The turnaround time is much longer than usual because a new crew will soon be arriving on ISS. The current crew is focused on the new crew arrival and there will be about a one- to two-week transition after the new crew arrives. On the positive side, one aspect of our troubleshooting—a second power cycle—will occur automatically because ARISS is shut down during crew docking and turned on afterwards. However, there will be more to our troubleshooting than just the power cycle. We have some additional plans with alternative solutions, but those are currently being discussed and prioritized within the ARISS team. All solutions will require international ARISS team coordination, additional procedures and crew interaction. People who have carefully followed ISS operations know that crew time continues to evolve with the more extensive research that is occurring on-board. Suffice it to say, it will take longer than what it has taken in the past to work through this issue. The above information is to make sure that ARISS properly sets expectations on how long it will take to resolve this. At this point, expect a few months with no ARISS packet. As you all can see, deploying the Interoperable Radio system that is currently under development by ARISS has become even more critically important. The ARISS team is laser focused on getting that system developed and deployed. We are conducting a final design review with NASA on this system next week. But we cannot get to the finish line without your help. If you can, please consider a donation to the ARISS radio fund by clicking on the ARISS donate button on the ARISS web page (www.ariss.org) or the AMSAT web page (www.amsat.org). All donations, large and small are appreciated. On behalf of ARISS, we thank you for your sustained interest and support of our program. Sincerely, Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chair [ANS thanks ARISS and Frank, KA3HDO, AMSAT Vice President, Human Spaceflight for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Oklahoma Radio Amateur is First to Score Satellite VUCC from Greenland It took just 4 days — some of that time without much sleep — but ARRL member Gabe Zeifman, NJ7H/VE6NJH, of Oklahoma City recently became the first radio amateur to earn VUCC — working 100 grid squares — by satellite from Greenland. In fact, his is the first VUCC award of any kind from Greenland. A relatively new licensee, Zeifman, 22, has managed to activate more than 300 grid squares via satellite as well as nearly 20 DXCC entities. Apart from the operating accomplishment, Zeifman told ARRL, he was attempting to inspire newcomers. “I thought it could get more people interested in satellites in general — VUCC is very achievable for anyone — and could also get more people interested in roving,” said Zeifman, who began training this week to become an air traffic controller. “I was overwhelmed by the support I got; it was really astonishing the number of people that helped!” He said one operator activated eight grids for him, while others who don’t typically rove, visited at least one neighboring grid square to give him a new one. “It was really cool to see our community throughout the world come together to help in this goal,” he said. “I really first envisioned this idea when I realized I had nearly 70 grids confirmed from Iceland, and I thought ‘hmm, OX is an even better location, I bet it’s possible.’” Zeifman said he prefers the linear-transponder satellites such as FO- 29, rather than the FM satellites. He said he may one day get into HF more seriously, but, for now, he finds VHF/UHF/SHF “more fascinating.” He said the trip to Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands with his mother and his sister, was “fantastic,” although, he noted, “they may have sometimes been annoyed by my getting up at 3 AM or several times “Sometimes it was a very nice sunny day, and sometimes it was rainy, windy, and cold,” he recounted. “But, I was happy to operate in everything, and it paid off.” Zeifman, who said he enjoys visiting in “the north,” has been to Northwest Territories twice in the past couple of years, and is hoping for an ATC assignment in Alaska. “But now that I’m a ham, I’ve really developed a passion for operating satellites while all over the world,” he told ARRL. He said a goal still on the far horizon would be to complete a “reverse DXCC” on satellite — working the US on satellites from 100 DXCC entities. “I think it’s definitely achievable someday,” he added. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 437 MHz Sprite Satellites Deployed Scientific American magazine interviews radio amateur Zac Manchester KD2BHC in the article Breakthrough Sends Smallest-Ever Satellites into Orbit. On June 23, 2017 six tiny satellites were sent into low-Earth orbit as secondary payloads on the Venta and Max Valier satellites that were launched on the Indian PSLV-C38 rocket. These six satellites are comparatively dainty, but punch far above their weight. Called “Sprites,” each is a 4-gram flake of circuit-board just 3.5 centimeters on a side, packing solar panels, computers, sensors and communications equipment into an area equal to a U.S. postage stamp. One Sprite apiece is attached to the outside of each mothership — the Latvian Venta satellite and the Italian Max Valier satellite, the latter of which also holds four additional Sprites awaiting deployment into space as wholly independent spacecraft. Radio telemetry from minuscule magnetometers and gyroscopes on the deployed Sprites would then be used to track the spacecraft as they shift, spin and tumble, to better understand their orbital dynamics. Signals on 437.325 MHz from at least one of the exterior-mounted Sprites have been received in California and New York. Read the Scientific American article at https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reaching-for-the-stars- breakthrough-sends-smallest-ever-satellites-into-orbit/ Zac Manchester KD2BHC had 104 Sprite satellites launched into orbit on board KickSat-1 on April 18, 2014 but the Sprites failed to deploy https://amsat-uk.org/2014/04/18/successful-launch-of-kicksat-carrying- 104-sprite-satellites/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- QIKCOM-1 Team Expect Eclipse Day ISS Deployment The US Naval Academy team say their amateur radio QIKCOM-1 APRS Digipeater payload may be deployed from the International Space Station on August 21. The QIKCOM-1 page says: The Ham Radio QIKCOM-1 module attached to the NovaWurks NanoRacks SIMPL spacecraft is now finally scheduled for release from the ISS on 21 August 2017! This is being released on the same day as the solar Eclipse when the ISS will also be passing over the USA during the eclipse 2 hour window around 1800z. We are not clear on any correlation with the Eclipse and our release, but there will be lots of hams in the field and it is a good day to tune in! Read about QIKCOM-1 at http://aprs.org/qikcom-1.html [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK ans the QIKCOM Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- One Radio Amateur is Part of New Crew Increment Heading to ISS European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, and Russian cosmonaut Sergey Ryazanskiy will head to the International Space Station (ISS) on July 28. They will launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Expedition 52/53 crew will spend more than 4 months together aboard the orbital complex before returning to Earth in December. After launching in their Soyuz MS-05 spacecraft, the trio will travel for 6 hours before docking. Once the hatches between the Soyuz and ISS open, Expedition 52 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, RN3FI, and Flight Engineers Peggy Whitson, ex-KC5ZTD, and Jack Fischer, K2FSH, will welcome the new crew members aboard. Their arrival will double the population of the ISS. Expedition 52 will continue work on hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science, and Earth science aboard the ISS, NASA said. AMSAT-IT and the ARISS International community is anticipating a successful mission from ESA Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZ0JPA, with many direct ARISS contacts scheduled. [ANS thanks ARRL and ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1 Operating Guide Updates for 2017 The Fox-1 Operating Guide has been updated for 2017. This can be used for personal reference and be made available for club meeting and hamfest handouts. Designed to be printed double sided the Operating Guide is available in two file sizes: + The lower resolution PDF file is designed to shrink file size for e-mail, web posting, or on-screen viewing. (~300K) + The high resolution PDF file is publication quality designed for hard-copy printing. (~2 MB) The PDF files can be accessed on the AMSAT web: https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/ [www.amsat.org] --> [Satellite Info] --> [Station and Operating Hints] Launch status and dates continue to be driven by the space industry and may change as the year progresses. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Web Gurus for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Presentation at the Austin Summerfest, August 5, 2017 The AMSAT Presentation at the Austin Summerfest, August 5, 2017 will be given by Ron Parsons, W5RKN. The presentation will consist of two parts: Introduction to AMSAT --and-- A Software Defined Radio Satellite Station: The Evolution of its Design For more information, see http://www.austinsummerfest.org/ Ron Parsons, W5RKN, has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1954, a member of AMSAT and active in amateur radio satellite communications since 1993. He has participated in three ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) school contacts: Fulmore Middle School (MIR - 1998) and Blackland Prairie Elementary (2008) and Liberal Arts and Science Academy with Richard Garirott (1998). He has a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford and taught at The University of Texas at Austin. [ANS thanks Ron, W5RKN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News Recent Contacts A telebridge contact with students from the Tuskegee Airmen Youth in Aviation Program at The International Space Station (ISS) Research and Development (R&D) Conference, Washington, D.C., was successful Thu 2017-07-20 13:23:10 UTC 56 deg. An International Space Station school contact was successful with participants at ISS R&D conference, Washington, D.C. on 20 July. The event began at approximately 13:23 UTC. The contact was a telebridge between NA1SS and W6SRJ. See the video at: https://www.facebook.com/SpaceStationExplorers/videos/334464240317857/ The contact was very successful with 24 questions answered. Five astronauts were present during the contact. Frank Bauer KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairperson and AMSAT VP for Human Spaceflight, said of the event, "Great day [Thursday July 20] at the ISS R&D Conference. This was a very important contact with our sponsors---CASIS and NASA SCaN at the event and many of the CASIS senior leaders in attendance. It was great to see several members of the multi-generational astronaut team, that have supported ARISS for over 20 years now, on stage and giving their perspectives of their ARISS connections from space. This ARISS contact was conducted with Youth in Aviation Program students from the East Coast Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) attending the ISS Research and Development conference as part of the conference’s STEM day. ECCTAI is one of the largest Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. chapters in United States and serves the Washington DC area. ECCTAI is dedicated to keeping alive the history, achievements, and importance of the original Tuskegee Airmen. The term, "Tuskegee Airmen," refers to the men and women, who were involved in the so- called "Tuskegee Experience", the World War II Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft. ECCTAI strives to increase understanding of the “Tuskegee Experience” by honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the history of the men and women who participated in the “Tuskegee Experience” and to introduce young people to the world of aviation and space through its Youth in Aviation Program (YIAP). YIAP motivates and inspires America’s youth to strive for similar excellence of these earlier pioneers, exposing them to aviation and space careers (Level I), attending FAA ground school (Level II) and receiving aircraft flight instruction or interning at an FAA certified A&P (Airframe and Powerplant) facility (Level III). Upcoming Contacts: VCP-Bundeszeltplatz, Großzerlang, Germany, direct via DP9S The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be OR4ISS The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go for: Tue 2017-08-01 18:20:35 UTC 46 deg Frontiers of Flight Museum/ Moon Day, Dallas, TX, telebridge via ON4ISS The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be TBD The scheduled astronaut is Paolo Nespoli IZØJPA Contact is a go: Sat 2017-08-05 18:02:31 UTC 87 deg [ANS thanks ARISS and Charlie, AJ9N for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over Message from Space hails Big Lottery Fund Award for Norfolk UK Based Amateur Radio Group Thanks to UK National Lottery players, the Bittern DXers, a North Norfolk UK based Amateur Radio club, are celebrating an award of just under £10,000 by the Big Lottery Fund to help them introduce people to the endless possibilities in technology that Amateur Radio offers to young and old alike. News of the award was heralded around the world by a message transmitted by the FunCube 1 satellite congratulating the group on their award. FunCube 1 was built by members of the Amateur Radio community and launched into orbit on 21st November 2013. It was built with the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics, and is the first satellite with outreach as its primary mission and demonstrates the depth and breadth of the hobby of Amateur Radio. The Bittern DXers' own Educational Outreach Project aims to take advantage of technology like FunCube to bring demonstrations of as many aspects as possible of their hobby to public events in Norfolk as well as reaching out to young people in schools, scouting and guiding etc. With the money provided by National Lottery players, the group have purchased gazebos, radios and demonstration equipment allowing them to take a complete hi-tech station to public shows and events that enables conversations with other amateurs around the world, as well as pick up signals live from the International Space Station, weather satellites and the many other amateur satellites currently in space. Chairman, Steve Cordner - callsign M0HET, said: “We are immensely grateful to the Big Lottery Fund and National Lottery players, for allowing us the opportunity to introduce amateur radio to people and show them what we do. “We already know for example that when young people are shown images being received live from space, that their imagination is fired up and they want to find out more. For older people it can break down barriers of loneliness and disability and allow them to communicate with others across county, country and world. “Becoming a Radio Amateur makes one more employable as well as leading to a lifetime of personal growth in the field of electronics and radio communication. Many people holding senior roles in high-tech industries today owe their careers to an early interest in amateur radio. Our project aims to provide people of all ages that 'first contact' with Amateur Radio.” Club Secretary, Linda Leavold, who has been licensed for more than 30 years with her callsign G0AJJ, is proof that it is not just a male hobby! She remarked “Being a radio amateur gives one a great sense of personal achievement especially when you make that long distance contact with someone on another continent. And its something the whole family can get involved in.” Laughing she added “Even my husband Richard joined me on the air after a couple of years! He got fed up with burnt offerings for meals and decided to discover just what it was that was occupying my time. “It doesn't matter where you come from, whether you have any disabilities or what age you are, Amateur Radio has something to offer everyone and we want to get out there and show people what they are missing.” Although they have a very busy calendar already this year, they welcome contact from any person or organisation who might be interested in seeing what they do. The contact details are available on www.bittern-dxers.org.uk [ANS thanks Julian, M0NUX for the above information] NASA Ground Station for Voyager 2 YouTube tour of Deep Space Tracking Station in Austrailia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rCrfQUcXDI [ANS thanks Zach, N0ZGO 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, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org

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(no subject)
by Jose Elias Diaz 29 Jul '17

29 Jul '17

I´ll be on FO29 at 0146 looking for SD, ND, MO, VT, NJ on 145940 up +/- only 1º max elevation. 73

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Russian module active 143.625 MHz
by Andrew Rich 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

Sent from my iPhone

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National Parks, Forest Service, etc
by Bruce 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

I got this off another reflector. Even if you miss the deadline to purchase the lifetime senior pass at $10, it will still be a bargain at $80 later. If you go in person, it is $10, I chose to purchase mine online and save the drive. There was a $10 processing fee, still making it a bargain. 73...bruce For those of us over 62 and U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, or know someone who is: If you have lifetime Golden Eagle or Senior Pass, you are good. If you do not, you can still get a Lifetime Senior Interagency Pass for $10. That price is only good through August 27th, after which it goes to $80. Even the annual senior pass is going up to $20. These passes are basically good for Forest Service, and Parks Service facilities, nationwide, and covers Day Use fees. It gets you a discount on other fees, but not necessarily at the concessions. You can check it out and order online: https://www.fs.fed.us/visit/passes-permits/recreation-fees-passes A small investment if you are over 62 and don't have a lifetime pass. -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards AMSAT Board Member 2016-2018 ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

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Russian Thing
by Joe 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

While not really a Com bird, it still me be interesting to spot. Does anyone know of a tracking site for this? http://www.iflscience.com/space/russian-scientists-just-launched-a-controve… Joe WB9SBD -- Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com

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Rotor Sold
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

That was fast. The el rotor has been purchased. Tom K8TL

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Alliance Tenna_Rotor. U-100
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

I have one of the classic elevation rotors sitting on the shelf one click short of the land fill. I have most of the hardware and the service manual. Notable missing is the terminal cover on the rotor motor. Any offer that covers the shipping and it is yours. k8tl(a)earthlink.net

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Alliance Tenna_Rotor. U-100
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

I have one of the classic elevation rotors sitting on the shelf one click short of the land fill. I have most of the hardware and the service manual. Notable missing is the terminal cover on the rotor motor. Any offer that covers the shipping and it is yours. k8tl(a)earthlink.net

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saturday morning from IM79jg via FO-29
by EC4TR Luis 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

Hi all tomorrow mornig I´ll be /P from IM79jg via FO-29 from 11:08 to 11:23 UTC for south and north America, possible too in SO-50 at 12:34 for Europe not sure due to the birdie of TS-2000, sorry I won´t be able to activate during afternoon due to familiar event. 73 Luis EC4TR

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Yaesu G-5500 azimuth issue
by Jeff Griffin 28 Jul '17

28 Jul '17

After a power failure the other day my G-5500's azimuth rotor is dead. I searched for a test procedure, but can't find it. I have one at my Florida home, but that won't do me any good up here. If you have one, the procedure to test from the rotor control box cable please send me one. I switched the cable from az to el and the problem stays with the azimuth part of the rotor, the box appears ok. Thanks. 73 Jeff kb2m

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D-SAT RX Opportunity over U.S.
by Scott 27 Jul '17

27 Jul '17

Hi everyone. Today I was included on an email from Alessio, IU5CRE, who is part of the D-SAT project team. (https://www.dsat.space/radiohams) Previously, it appears that the majority of the transmissions from D-SAT occurred when the satellite was over Europe. Alessio indicated in today's email that commands have been uploaded to D-SAT that may result in transmissions tonight over the U.S. around the UHF downlink of 437.505. He specifically mentioned 437.503 & 437.509. First, here are the approximate UTC times when D-SAT will be over parts of the U.S. tonight (UTC date: 28-July-2017): East - 0152 utc Central - 0326 utc West - 0500 utc If D-SAT is not in your tracking software, here is a web-based tracking site: http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=42794#results And as always, there is good info on the DK3WN site at: http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?page_id=29535 -and- http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?cat=439 So I don't know what, if any, data we might see tonight but since this could be a limited opportunity on this side of the world, I wanted to share what I knew with anyone on this mailing list that shares my interest in cubesat telemetry. -Scott, K4KDR

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InFlateSail
by John Mac 27 Jul '17

27 Jul '17

Hi all Wonder if anyone has seen the Sat InFlateSail this evening, just passed over Sydney and I saw no trace from it.. John vk2fak

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