June 2018 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

ANS-168 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 17 Jun '18

17 Jun '18

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-168 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: * AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites * CAMSAT Details on Three Satellites and an HF Transponder * 3A Monaco Activation on FM Satellites in July * ARISS Ham Video Transmitter Aboard ISS Defective * Call for Volunteers, ANS Seeks Rotating Editors SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-168.01 ANS-168 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 168.01 From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE June 17, 2018 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-168.01 AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites It’s that time of year again; summer and Field Day! Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as a “picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!” The event takes place during a 23-hour period on the fourth weekend of June. For 2018 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800 UTC on Saturday, June 23, 2018 through 2100 UTC on Sunday, June 24, 2018. Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 23 can operate only 24 hours. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur sat- ellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event. This year should be easier than many years since we have more than 10 transponders and repeaters available. Users should check the AMSAT status page at http://www.amsat.org/status/ and the pages at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=177 for what is available in the weeks leading up to field day. To reduce the amount of time to research each satellite, see the current FM satellite table at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5012 and the current linear satellite table at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5033 If you are considering ONLY the FM voice satellites, there are SO-50, AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92. It might be easier this year to make that one FM contact for the ARRL bonus points with so many FM birds. The congestion on FM LEO satellites is always so intense that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice. AO-92 may be in L/v for the first part of the event, depending on command station availability. Keep an eye on @AMSAT on Twitter for expected L/v mode change times. The full set of rules are posted at: https://www.amsat.org/field-day/ [ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAMSAT Details on Three Satellites and an HF Transponder CAMSAT, China’s Amateur Radio Satellite organization, has offered additional details about the three Amateur Radio satellites it plans to launch later this year. Two of the satellites, designated CAS-5A and CAS-6, will carry transponders, and one of them will offer HF capability. CAMSAT’s Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that the 6U CAS-5A will carry two HF transponders and two V/UHF trans- ponders. The plentiful equipment package includes an H/T (21/29 MHz) mode linear transponder, an H/U (21/435 MHz) mode linear transponder, an HF CW telemetry beacon, a V/U linear transponder, a V/U FM trans- ponder, a UHF CW telemetry beacon, and UHF AX.25 4.8k/9.6k baud GMSK telemetry. + The H/T mode linear transponder will have a 30 kHz wide uplink centered on 21.400 MHz, and a downlink centered on 29.490 MHz. RF output is 0.5 W. + An HF CW telemetry beacon will transmit on 29.465 MHz with 0.1 W. + The H/U mode linear transponder will have a 15 kHz wide uplink centered on 21.435 MHz, and a downlink centered on 435.505 MHz. The RF output is 0.5 W. + The V/U mode linear transponder will have a 30 kHz wide uplink at 145.820 MHz, and a downlink at 435.540 MHz. The RF output is 0.5 W. + The V/U mode FM transponder will uplink at 145.925 MHz, and downlink at 435.600 MHz. The transponder passband is 15 kHz, and the RF output is 0.5 W. + The UHF CW telemetry beacon will transmit on 435.570 MHz, with an RF output of 0.1 W. + UHF AX.25 4.8k/9.6k baud GMSK telemetry will transmit on 435.650 MHz at 0.5 W. Kung told ARRL that the HF, VHF, and UHF antennas are quarter-wave monopoles. A satellite within a satellite, the tiny CAS-5B, weighing 0.5 kilogram, will be deployed from CAS-5A in orbit. It will carry a UHF CW beacon on an Amateur Radio frequency. Both CAS-5A and CAS-5B will be placed into 539 × 533 kilometer, 97.5° orbits. They will launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in late September. The 50-kilogram CAS-6 microsat will include a VHF CW telemetry beacon, a U/V mode 20 kHz linear Amateur Radio transponder, and AX.25 4.8k baud GMSK telemetry. It will also carry an atmospheric wind detector and other systems that will operate on non-amateur frequencies. A launch at sea on an as-yet undetermined date is planned for CAS-6 from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The microsat will be placed into a 579 × 579 kilometer, 45° orbit. [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 3A Monaco Activation on FM Satellites in July F4DXV plans FM satellite operation from 3A Monaco (JN33) on Monday 02 July ~08:30z to 13z only during a quick break from his trip to Italy. Jerome says, "Due to a bad horizon (mountains, buildings), I could be only QRV for EU on high FM orbits." [ANS thanks Daily DX for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Ham Video Transmitter Aboard ISS Defective Gaston Bertels, ON4WF has provided an update regarding the condition of the ARISS HamTV system aboard the ISS. In mid-April, the Ham Video transmitter on board the Columbus module of the ISS stopped working. Extensive testing was performed by the crew on June 1, 2018 which comprised connecting the transmitter to the second ARISS L/S-band patch antenna on the nadir of Columbus. The test was negative. Ground stations did not receive any signal from Ham Video. Since on-board repair is impossible ARISS is planning to return the transmitter to Earth. Bertels wrote, "We hope this plan will be accepted by the space agencies and the cost of operations funded by sponsors. Schools and crew members performing educational ARISS school contacts are delighted to use Ham Video. We will do the best we can to restart this service as soon as possible. We will keep you informed on progress." Additional information about the HamTV project can be found on-line at: https://www.amsat-on.be/ [ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF and ARISS HamTV for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Volunteers, ANS Seeks Rotating Editors The AMSAT News Service (ANS) is seeking volunteers to serve as rotating editors for its weekly newsletter. Editors work on a rotating schedule, each taking a different turn editing a specific week's newsletter as scheduled by the ANS Editor in Chief. Editors support each other by seeking and reporting to the Editor of the week, information and resources of interest to the AMSAT community. The number of newsletters assigned will be dependent upon the number of available editors at any given time. The average editor can expect to spend, on average, 4-5 hours for each newsletter, dependent on available material. Prospective editors are required to be AMSAT members in good standing and have a genuine interest in satellite operation and an understanding of AMSAT's mission. Former editing experience is a plus but not required. If interested, please submit an inquiry, including your contact information to ans-editor(a)amsat.com. [ANS thanks the ANS editors 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, KT4TZ kt4tz at amsat dot org

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Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue
by Rick Tejera 17 Jun '18

17 Jun '18

Umesh and everyone else who offered suggestions, All is well, it looks like it was a corrupted file. I reinstalled and then copied my know good files from my desktop into the laptop files and everything works. YEAH! Thanks again, hope to work you on field day. Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.W7TBC.org -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of k6vug(a)sbcglobal.net Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2018 3:14 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue Hi Rick, Been there done that, so may I suggest a couple of things to reduce your work and speed things up... So, do as Alan has said, then sort the SatPC32_DataBackup folder by Date Descending. You should see only a few files/folders would have recent timestamps. Only focus those files/folders, this will save you lot of time and frustration. Also before copying over the newer files (one buy one), rename the original files as .ORIG, or .SAVE, so you can bounce back quickly from any problematic file. Just a thought, hope it helps. 73!UmeshK6VUG ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2018 07:04:39 -0500 From: "Alan" <wa4sca(a)gmail.com> To: "'Richard Tejera'" <Saguaroastro(a)cox.net>, "'AMSAT'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue Message-ID: <000a01d404a1$0a12d880$1e388980$(a)gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Try running the new version without reinstalling your old data. If that works, you can incrementally restore the old data manually and find the problem. 73, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of <Richard Tejera <Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 21:19 PM <To: 'AMSAT' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue < <Anyone??? Still can't get Satpc32 to run properly < <Rick Tejera K7TEJ <Saguaro Astronomy Club <www.SaguaroAstro.org <Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club <www.w7tbc.org < <On June 11, 2018, at 18:50, Rick Tejera <SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net> wrote: < <All, < <I recently (today) had to reinstall SATPC32. I was getting the following <error on start up: Ungultiges argument zum Codeieren des Datms. If I clicked <OK the program would open, but with a blank window. Move on if I try to <open <the Satellite menu, the following error popped up: . < <So Anyway, I save my data, uninstalled, and reloaded (Upgrading while I was <at it), restored my data. Same thing is happening. < <Any Ideas? I'd like to get things running by Field day. < <TIA < <Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) <Saguaro Astronomy Club <www.saguaroastro.org <http://www.saguaroastro.org> <Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club <www.W7TBC.org <http://www.W7TBC.org> < ***************************************** _______________________________________________ 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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Another KR500 thread, maybe.
by Paul 17 Jun '18

17 Jun '18

Hi all I recently won a Kenpro KR500 rotor on Ebay for the princely sum of a quid. The alleged history was it was purchased, had antennas attached but was never wired or used and this I can believe because the connector block looks untouched. It was however left on its side in the garden so looks pristine but has suffered water ingress. I started to strip it down today and of course the eight M6 Phillips heads put up quite a fight but I attacked it with fire and it is now apart. Having opened it up I'm now slightly confused as to what model rotor I actually have. It has the eight screw terminal block, the casing is stamped Kenpro but internally it has the limit switches and a capacitor. The controller I intend using is an old Kenpro KR400 model and I assume has the 70uF cap across the switches. Do I leave this in place to use it with my rotor or should I remove it, or remove the cap in the rotor? Paul G7PUV Sussex Coast. JO00

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APRS FD method
by Robert Bruninga 17 Jun '18

17 Jun '18

I welcome Rules Feedback, but this is the OPTIMUM way to make FD contacts via a satellite from an APRS radio with the least congestion. DO NOT USE MESSAGES. They will choke the channel with retries and no one will get through. Set your path via the correct Satellite DIGI callsign and turn off proportional pathing and auto-decay. Set interval to 30 seconds. Place your CATEGORY and SECTION in your STATUS text and set beacon time to once a minute. You don't need GRID since all APRS radios display that on receipt based on the position. SO here is your STATUS at the start: CQFD 3AMDC (category and section) Then every time you see someone else's info, QSL them by pressing the F key and SEL button 5 times and it will go directly to place the cursor at the end of your status text for you to add the first contact call: CQFD 3AMDC QSL WB4APR And then when you see the next one, add the next call: CQFD 3AMDC QSL WB4APR,W3ADO And so on. You can be acking up to 4 calls at a time. And your CQ and acks are all in a single packet. You can only count the calls as 2-way if you also see your call in the QSL list of the other station. When you get to 4 calls, then ERASE the first one, and add the next one at the end. and so on. This method keeps the channel load low, automatically captures and records other stations in your STATION LIST and automatically sends your QSL's in your next automatic beacon. This lets you spend your time reviewing the lists, deciding who you have received QSL's from and entering the next calls in your STATUS text. PRACTICE. Yes, pressing F key and SEL key 4 times will get you there since it will go to APRS, then STATUS TEXT, then SELECT the existing one, then SELECT it for editing, and then the cursor goes to the end so you can edit it. You should WRITE down any packets that have your callsign QSLed in them, since once that station has entered 4 more calls, yours drops off his beacon and so your STATION list will no longer have a copy of your call, just his latest 4. In my mind, this is a legal 2-way. You both exchanged grids, and category and section and QSLed and saw your call acknowledged. Again, NEVER us APRS "MESSGE" format via a satellite. It is tremendously inefficient and clogs the channel with retries because the ACKs just dont get through. That's why we invented APRS in the first place. TO get away from the abysimal success of ACKS on a crowded channel. Bob, WB4APR

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Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue
by k6vug＠sbcglobal.net 16 Jun '18

16 Jun '18

Hi Rick, Been there done that, so may I suggest a couple of things to reduce your work and speed things up... So, do as Alan has said, then sort the SatPC32_DataBackup folder by Date Descending. You should see only a few files/folders would have recent timestamps. Only focus those files/folders, this will save you lot of time and frustration. Also before copying over the newer files (one buy one), rename the original files as .ORIG, or .SAVE, so you can bounce back quickly from any problematic file. Just a thought, hope it helps. 73!UmeshK6VUG ------------------------------ Message: 7 Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2018 07:04:39 -0500 From: "Alan" <wa4sca(a)gmail.com> To: "'Richard Tejera'" <Saguaroastro(a)cox.net>, "'AMSAT'" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue Message-ID: <000a01d404a1$0a12d880$1e388980$(a)gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Try running the new version without reinstalling your old data. If that works, you can incrementally restore the old data manually and find the problem. 73, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of <Richard Tejera <Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 21:19 PM <To: 'AMSAT' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue < <Anyone??? Still can't get Satpc32 to run properly < <Rick Tejera K7TEJ <Saguaro Astronomy Club <www.SaguaroAstro.org <Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club <www.w7tbc.org < <On June 11, 2018, at 18:50, Rick Tejera <SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net> wrote: < <All, < <I recently (today) had to reinstall SATPC32. I was getting the following <error on start up: Ungultiges argument zum Codeieren des Datms. If I clicked <OK the program would open, but with a blank window. Move on if I try to <open <the Satellite menu, the following error popped up: . < <So Anyway, I save my data, uninstalled, and reloaded (Upgrading while I was <at it), restored my data. Same thing is happening. < <Any Ideas? I'd like to get things running by Field day. < <TIA < <Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) <Saguaro Astronomy Club <www.saguaroastro.org <http://www.saguaroastro.org> <Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club <www.W7TBC.org <http://www.W7TBC.org> < *****************************************

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Re: [amsat-bb] Falconsat-3 pass attempt.
by Ryan Noguchi 16 Jun '18

16 Jun '18

Include your CQ call in your StatusText field. Mine currently reads "CQ APRS AI6DO DM03" but I'll change that for Field Day to include both my exchange and my grid. Send your beacon (preferably manually) to "call CQ." Dont expect to get your own beacon back. Most of the time you won't. Properly formatted APRS messages are best as most portable ops won't be able to decode anything else. I also put "QSL de AI6DO" or something similar in my acknowledgment message text. If you responded to my CQ with your exchange and you get an ACK packet from me, the three way QSO is complete, since I'm not running an unattended station. Hope to hear you on! The farthest I've gotten with FS-3 is EM10, so I may be able to QSO with you if the timing is right. Good luck! 73, Ryan AI6DO On Saturday, June 16, 2018, 9:16:10 AM PDT, <tjschuessler(a)verizon.net> wrote: Hi all, Am trying to figure out this Falconsat-3 digipeating thing and have ben on several passes this Saturday morning with only N1RCN heard early. I would like to give this a try on Sunday morning in what would be for me, a 1125Z high elevation pass. I think I kind of now know how to reply to calls, if my Kenwood is set up with the phrases that Patrick Stoddard suggested, but am not sure how you throw out a general call. I have beaconed but never saw my call sign come back from the satellite. Should I see my call come back if I hit it? Is this really APRS beconing or standard Packet that we are supposed to be doing here? `This is definitely not an EASYSAT but I like the challenge. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP EM12ms

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Falconsat-3 pass attempt.
by tjschuessler＠verizon.net 16 Jun '18

16 Jun '18

Hi all, Am trying to figure out this Falconsat-3 digipeating thing and have ben on several passes this Saturday morning with only N1RCN heard early. I would like to give this a try on Sunday morning in what would be for me, a 1125Z high elevation pass. I think I kind of now know how to reply to calls, if my Kenwood is set up with the phrases that Patrick Stoddard suggested, but am not sure how you throw out a general call. I have beaconed but never saw my call sign come back from the satellite. Should I see my call come back if I hit it? Is this really APRS beconing or standard Packet that we are supposed to be doing here? `This is definitely not an EASYSAT but I like the challenge. Tom Schuessler, N5HYP EM12ms

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Any plans for ISS participation during Field Day?
by Greg D 15 Jun '18

15 Jun '18

Hi folks, Anyone heard of any plans for the crew of the ISS to participate in Field Day? Or, are those glorious days over? Greg KO6TH

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FIELD DAY: WE7GV ON FO-29 CW
by 2 15 Jun '18

15 Jun '18

Again this year, the Green Valley (AZ) ARC, WE7GV, will be on FO-29 and poaaibly other linear transponder sats. CW only. No phone or digi. Look for us. An easy 100 ARRL points. 73 Ray W2RS

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Re: [amsat-bb] SATPC32 reinstall issue
by Richard Tejera 15 Jun '18

15 Jun '18

Anyone??? Still can't get Satpc32 to run properly Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.SaguaroAstro.org Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.w7tbc.org On June 11, 2018, at 18:50, Rick Tejera <SaguaroAstro(a)cox.net> wrote: All, I recently (today) had to reinstall SATPC32. I was getting the following error on start up: Ungultiges argument zum Codeieren des Datms. If I clicked OK the program would open, but with a blank window. Move on if I try to open the Satellite menu, the following error popped up: E/A Fehler 6. So Anyway, I save my data, uninstalled, and reloaded (Upgrading while I was at it), restored my data. Same thing is happening. Any Ideas? I'd like to get things running by Field day. TIA Rick Tejera (K7TEJ) Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org <http://www.saguaroastro.org> Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club www.W7TBC.org <http://www.W7TBC.org> _______________________________________________ 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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