February 2019 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

NO-84 Digipeater Online
by Nicholas Mahr KE8AKW 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Joe, As far as I am aware NO-84 is just fine. Its just that it cannot always support having the Digipeater on 24/7 (It depends on battery conditions and amount of time in sunlight). So the digipeater is commanded on as it permits by the control operators. The PSK31 transponder is always on regardless of conditions. Hope to see you on PSK31!

1 0

TH D72, Heil HTH-K, and recording Qs
by K5ZM 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Hi all. After having been licensed since '75, I'm finally dusting off my interest in sat work! I've got a Kenwood D72 paired with a short Arrow II. I also picked up a Heil boom mic HT headset for the Kenwood HTs -but now wonder if that part will actually end up complicating my efforts to record my Qs. The connector on the end of the headset is a two-pronged arrangement (think 'mini eggbeater') that uses both mic and speaker connections on the side of the D72. If I want to go forward with this headset, it's obvious I'll need to either fab something up or acquire a specialized patch cord, a Y cable, etc. If it comes to it, I can live without the headset and just use headphones in the event that makes life easier. Would like to hear what other ops are doing in this regard. Tnx es 73 Ian, K5ZM

2 1

A new 400bps telemetry beacon now on!
by Graham Shirville 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

Those of a certain vintage will remember listening to the distinctive 400 bps beacons from AO10, 13 and finally AO40. You can now hear the sound again, live. If you are in range of Oscar-100 then tune to 10489.800 MHz or, if not, then logon to the BATC/AMSAT-UK websdr here https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/and tune to the same frequency! Wonderful...thank you QARS and AMSAT-DL 73 Graham G3VZV

10 14

ANS-048 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 17 Feb '19

17 Feb '19

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-048 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: * QO-100 released by QARS * ARRL Adds JO-97, FO-99, QO-100 to LoTW Configuration File * New Distance Record on AO-91 * Call for Papers - Digital Communications Conference * KickSat 2 Is Alive And Kicking * Upcoming Satellite Operations * ARISS News * Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-048.01 ANS-048 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 048.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. February 17, 2019 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-048.01 QO-100 released by QARS Following the successful launch of Es'hail-2, the new Es'hailSat teleport was inaugurated on February 14, 2019. Prior to its official inauguration and opening the QO-100 NB Tran- sponder was opened for experimental use on February 12. The Qatar Amateur Radio Society (QARS) invited radio amateurs worldwide to make good use of the NB transponder and make contacts with each other. In parallel to the experimental operation, Es'hailSat, QARS and AMSAT-DL monitored transponder performance and optimized trans- ponder parameters. Access the full article with photos on the AMSAT-DL website: https://amsat-dl.org/en/eshail-2-qo-100-teleport-inauguration Stations finding themselves out of the footprint of QO-100 or those who have not had the opportunity to acquire 10 GHz down- link receiving capability can join in the action using on-line WebSDR resources: + In co-operation with AMSAT Deutschland, the British Amateur Television Club will be operating a WebSDR for the narrowband segment, and a Spectrum Viewer for the wideband (DATV) segment. The Goonhilly Earth Station is supporting the project, providing hosting for the Ground Station facility at their world-famous site in Cornwall, UK: https://eshail.batc.org.uk/ + The IS0GRB Es'Hail2 (QO-100) SAT 26E WebSDR receiver, located in Dolianova, South Sardinia island, Italy, JM49OJ, operated by Roberto, IS0GRB, using a 100cm parabolic dish can be accessed at: http://websdr.is0grb.it:8901/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARRL Adds JO-97, FO-99, QO-100 to LoTW Configuration File On February 14, 2019, the ARRL released version 11.7 of the Logbook of the World configuration file adding the ability to confirm QSOs made through JO-97, FO-99, and QO-100 via LoTW. LoTW users should receive a prompt to update their configuration file when opening recent versions of TQSL. The file can also be downloaded at https://lotw.arrl.org/lotwuser/config.tq6 [ANS thanks ARRL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Distance Record on AO-91 PR8KW GI77 - Gustavo ?Tks @eb1ao for new record on AO91 2019-02-13 14:23z 6133km. PR8KW GI77um73sc <> EB1AO IN52pf89tw. 73 de PR8KW GI77um [ANS thanks PR8KW via Twitter for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ For a limited time, new and renewing AMSAT members will receive a free digital copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" Join or renew your AMSAT membership today at https://www.amsat.org/product-category/amsat-membership/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Papers - Digital Communications Conference Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC), to be held September 20-22 at the Marriott Detroit Metro Airport Hotel. Papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings. Authors do not need to attend the conference to have their papers included in the Proceedings. The submission deadline is August 5, 2019. Submit papers to via e-mail to maty(a)arrl.org, or via post to Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Papers will be published exactly as submitted, and authors will retain all rights. [ANS thanks Steve Ford, WB8IMY, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- KickSat 2 Is Alive And Kicking The first couple of days after KickSat 2 was deployed from Cygnus NG 10 no downlink signals were received from the satellite. But today I received several short and weak transmissions from KickSat 2. So it appears to be alive and transmitting short telemetry bursts on 437.5077 MHz. KickSat 2, object 44046, is to deploy up to 104 small Sprite satellites into its low orbit. All these Sprites will then transmit on 437.240 MHz with 10 mW and are expected to reenter within weeks. [ANS thanks Nico PA0DLO via Amsat-bb for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Purchase AMSAT Gear on our Zazzle storefront. 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming Satellite Operations Eureka Nunavut (ER60, EQ79) – February 3, to March 29, 2019 Eureka ARC, VY0ERC, will be QRV from Eureka, NU (NA-008), February 3 until March 29, 2019. Time and weather permitting, they expect to be on the FM satellites from ER60 and EQ79. Announcements will be posted on Twitter at https://twitter.com/vy0erc. 3A, MONACO (JN33) – February 15-18, 2019 Philippe, EA4NF, will be active as 3A/EA4NF from Monaco, between February 15-18th. Priority will be given to FM and SSB Satellites to get confirmed as much as possible this rare DXCC country to the amateur radio satellite community. HF activity will be on 20 meters SSB, but on the QRP mode (5w). QSL via LoTW. Yuma Hamfest (DM22) – February 15-16, 2019 Patrick, WD9EWK, will have an AMSAT booth at the Yuma Hamfest in southwestern Arizona on Friday and Saturday, 15-16 February 2019. This year’s hamfest also serves as the 2019 ARRL Southwestern Division Convention. The hamfest will be at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, along 32nd Street between Pacific Avenue and Avenue 3E, and south of I-8 exit 3, in Yuma. The fairgrounds is across the street from Yuma International Airport and Marine Corps Air Station. More information about the hamfest is available from: http://www.yumahamfest.org/ During the hamfest, Patrick will have demonstrations of satellite operating from outside the main hall on the fairgrounds. If you hear WD9EWK on passes during those two days, please feel free to call and be a part of the demonstrations. Patrick may not be able to work every possible pass from the hamfest, but hopes to work a variety of passes in FM, SSB, and even packet. The hamfest site is in grid DM22. Contacts made with WD9EWK will be uploaded to Logbook of the World, and QSL cards for contacts made with WD9EWK will be available on request after the hamfest (please e-mail me directly with the QSO details). During the hamfest, he will use his @WD9EWK Twitter account to post updates from the hamfest. If you do not use Twitter, you can still see these updates in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK Imperial Valley (DM12, DM22) – February 17, 2019 After the end of the upcoming Yuma Hamfest, Patrick, WD9EWK, plans to make a drive west to the DM12/DM22 grid boundary along I-8 near the west end of California’s Imperial Valley on Sunday, 17 February 2019. He hopes to work passes for a few hours out there, with much cooler weather than what he experienced last July when he was previously out there. ?? The DM12/DM22 grid boundary, at the town of Ocotillo, is in Imperial County. Patrick will use his @WD9EWK Twitter account to send updates. Even without a Twitter account, these updates will be visible in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK His travel out to the DM12/DM22 line should be visible on APRS as WD9EWK-9: http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 Isla del Culebra, Puerto Rico (FK78) – February 22-24, 2019 Radio Opordores del Este, KP3RE, is preparing for their Culebra IOTA (NA-249) Expedition 2019. Satellite operations are planned for AO- 91, AO-92, SO-50, and IO-86. Turks and Caicos Islands (FL31) – February 28 – March 9, 2019 Adrian, AA5UK, will be heading to Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands from Feb 28th through March 9th, 2019. He will be operating holiday style on HF and Satellites as VP5/AA5UK from grid FL31UU14. Focus will be on the linear satellites, with some FM activity depending on pile-up civility. Hope to work some European stations as location favors the East. Pass announcements will be made via Twitter: https://twitter.com/AA5UK and periodically via amsat-bb. Please submit any additions or corrections to ke4al (at) amsat.org Updated February 15, 2019 For most recent updates visit: https://www.amsat.org/satellite-info/upcoming-satellite-operations/ [ANS thanks Robert KE4AL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + 2019-02-13 20:10 UTC between David St-Jacques KG5FYI using ISS callsign NA1SS and College Park School, Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada Contact was direct via VA5ISS. ARISS Mentor was Brian VE6JBJ. + 2019-02-14 14:30 UTC between David St-Jacques KG5FYI using ISS callsign NA1SS and Faith Christian Academy, Orlando, FL, USA. Contact was direct via W9DWJ. ARISS Mentor was Dave AA4KN. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule There are no scheduled contacts this week. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT and ARISS are currently supporting a FundRazr campaign to raise $150,000 for critical radio infrastructure upgrades on ISS. The upgrades are necessary to enable students to continue to talk to astronauts in space via Amateur Radio. We have reached a great milestone with $16,895 raised or about 11% towards our goal. This would not have been possible without your outstanding generosity!! Donations have recently stalled. We ask that you help us get back on track by donating today? For more information and to DONATE TODAY visit: https://fundrazr.com/arissnextgen?ref=ab_e7Htwa_ab_47IcJ9 +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ 2019 is AMSAT's 50th Anniversary! Watch this space for announcements of special events coming in 2019 Get ready to help celebrate with us at the Hamvention Symposium 2019 promises to be a special event Stand by for 50th anniversary operating events and awards +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ --------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts From All Over + Videos from the 2018 TAPR Digital Communications Conference are available at: http://tinyurl.com/TAPR-2018-DCC-Videos [ANS thanks TAPR for the above information] + Information for a Raspberry Pi - based SSTV receiver can be found at: https://github.com/davidhoness/sstv_decoder/blob/master/README.md [ANS thanks JoAnne K9JKM for providing the above information] + Humorous Anecdote John, C6ATS, reports that while working an SO-50 pass from his boat in FL22 on February 12th, a wind gust caused his Elk antenna to fall off its handle and blow overboard. Luckily, it was still attached to the coax and he was able to haul it back on board and work a few more stations before LOS. [ANS thanks @ItinerantHam via Twitter for the above information] + Congratulations to Dhruv Rebba, KC9ZJX. who was the Keynote Speaker at the 'Students Involved with Technology(SIT) Conference-2019' on February 9th at Heartland Community College. His inspirational speech was addressed to the SIT Conference, 'For Students By Students', which was filled with workshops to showcase technology, tools and skills. Dhruv organized an ARISS contact with his school last year and he was a speaker at the AMSAT Space Symposium in Huntsville, AL in October, 2018. [ANS thanks Hari Rebba via AMSAT facebook + Read this and past releases of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins at: http://amsat.org/pipermail/ans/ --------------------------------------------------------------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, EMike McCardel, AA8EM aa8em at amsat dot org

1 0

FN30, Vacation Style
by Michael Styne 16 Feb '19

16 Feb '19

All, I’ll be down in FN30 this weekend into Monday catching FM passes as time allows. I will have L/v gear for AO-92. The only sked I currently have planned is AO-91 Monday at ~1440z looking for UK/Europe. I have a list of operators I know that need the grid: AD0HJ N4QX AA9KG W9TWJ 2M0SQL N2NL K4WPX KI7UNJ N4DCW AD0DX KK4YEL N1PEB If you need the grid and aren’t on the list, catch me on the -bb or Twitter: @k2mts. I hope to work some of you. Have a good weekend, Mike Michael Styne K2MTS mstyne(a)k2mts.org

1 0

KickSat 2 is alive and kicking
by Nico Janssen 16 Feb '19

16 Feb '19

All, The first couple of days after KickSat 2 was deployed from Cygnus NG 10 no downlink signals were received from the satellite. But today I received several short and weak transmissions from KickSat 2. So it appears to be alive and transmitting short telemetry bursts on 437.5077 MHz. KickSat 2, object 44046, is to deploy up to 104 small Sprite satellites into its low orbit. All these Sprites will then transmit on 437.240 MHz with 10 mW and are expected to reenter within weeks. 73, Nico PA0DLO

1 0

satellite ARES group?
by Ron VE8RT 16 Feb '19

16 Feb '19

Is there an online group that discusses satellite use for emergency communications? Ron VE8RT -- Ron VE8RT <ve8rt(a)yknwt.ca>

1 0

EL15&16 L/V, tonight AO-92
by Bob Cutter 16 Feb '19

16 Feb '19

Trying a new HB Helical Antenna, please listen. 72, Bob KI0G Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

1 0

ARISS SSTV--This Weekend
by ka3hdo＠gmail.com 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

All, The ARISS team expects that a second SSTV transmission event will occur from ISS this weekend. ARISS Russia team member Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, worked with the mission control center flight controllers to schedule in ISS crew member time to configure the JVC Kenwood radio to support SSTV operations in the Service Module. SSTV setup is expected to start around 8:45 UTC on February 15 and conclude around 17:25 UTC on February 17. These dates/times are expectations and may vary. The ARISS team wanted to give the community another opportunity to downlink the SSTV images we developed for you given the weak signal situation that occurred last weekend. For clarity, these will be the same 12 images that were downlinked last weekend. As a reminder, you can get the latest SSTV information on the ARISS SSTV Blog Spot: <http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/> http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ Once received, Images can be posted and viewed by the public at <http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php> http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/index.php And you can receive a special SSTV ARISS Award for posting your image. See <https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/> https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/. For simplicity, we have added a new tab for SSTV, under general contacts, on the ARISS web site <http://www.ariss.org> www.ariss.org For those that are asking, we are still not totally clear what caused the issue last weekend. We believe it may have been either a loose feedline cable or an antenna switch that did not fully engage. Once the crew reset the system and checked the cabling and switches, the radio system started to perform nominally. Enjoy!! 73, Frank, KA3HDO *************************************** Frank H. Bauer, KA3HDO ISS Ham Radio Program Manager & PI ARISS International Chair AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs

2 1

ISS Images
by Francis Geraci 15 Feb '19

15 Feb '19

Acquired ISS at predicted time. Using HRD. Radio : IC PCR-2500 Receiver - recording On. Antenna : 5/8 mobile antenna @ 20 feet. S9 - signal @ 145.800 Acquired signal @ 40 degree Elevation - to the East of Marathon, Fl. Recorded : 10 mb SSTV .wav file. Need to to "wash" it thru SSTV, See what I got. Will continue to record, the whole Event. Best W1FXX - Marathon,Fl.

1 0