July 2020 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

AMSAT board election controversy
by Clint Bradford 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

Thank you, Bob, for your honest statement. Clint Bradford K6LCS

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AMSAT board election controversy
by Robert McGwier 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

My statement on the board election: https://n4hy.blogspot.com/2020/07/amsat-bod-election-controversy.html -- Bob McGwier Founder, Federated Wireless, Inc Founder and Technical Advisor, HawkEye 360, Inc Adjunct Professor Virginia Tech Former Chief Scientist: The Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology Senior Member IEEE, Facebook: N4HYBob, ARS: N4HY

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What?
by Clint Bradford 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

MICHAEL>m.. ome people who do volunteer or charity work for an organization or make contributions do so anonymously and without much fanfare … What? People are griping about AMSAT Board devisions made secretly … How many ways do toy want it? Someone running for a board decision whose resume includes NO volunteer with for AMSAT? Go ahead. Promote mediocrity from someone who wrote - "I make no bones that I feel that the majority of the [AMSAT-NA] BOD are doing a true disservice to AMSAT. That's why we have elections ... I was elated with the outcome of the last election. It went just as planned :) I was happy to draw votes away from other incumbents during the last election.” “Blind Faith” was an English music supergroup featuring Clapton, Winwood, Ginger Baker and Greecg. To you, “Blind Faith” is the support of someone who has performed NO service to AMSAT-NA. Clint Bradford K6LCS

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Amsat - SOTA
by Michael Tondee 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

Might I suggest you look up the WA5VJB "Cheap Yagi" antennas. An Arrow or an Elk is certainly a nice solution but there are other ways. I built my base station antennas based on these designs and many have built handheld antennas like them as well. 73, Michael, W4HIJ Message: 7 Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2020 00:37:57 +0100 From: Oscar Acton<murtonminer(a)gmail.com> To:amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Amsat - SOTA Message-ID: <CABY8qs+p_2UMi-jbRcX9N+kOr6j=9nPZr3SqrgsKDpVXHhX2hg(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hello, I am new to satellite operations. I tried to access Lilacsat2 from a SOTA summit today and failed. I did manage to call into AO-92 yesterday and I was heard by four stations (but I couldn't receive the downlink). I was using a 2m dipole to transmit (I am fairly confident I was getting into the satellite today) and a 2 element 70cm yagi. Now, I think two things went wrong. Firstly, I had no way of directing the antenna accurately (I had to guess on the angle and azimuth), and secondly, the antenna isn't very powerful, is small and isn't tuned brilliantly (it's a 70cm yagi but I get SWR of 2.2 on 70cm). Firstly, I'm wondering how precise you need to be in directing the beam? Can I just hold it in the vague direction that the satellite is approaching from, or do I need to work out the headings? Secondly, I am wondering if my equipment is likely to cut it. As I said, yesterday I was told that my signal was getting in - quiet but fully readable using my Diamond x30. I don't want to transmit if I can't receive in case I talk over someone or cause some interference. I won't be able to buy an arrow or a powerful beam antenna for around a year, but I am really desperate to work the satellites. Wondering if there are any ways that I can use my current equipment in order to work it (whether that be from my Home QTH or from a SOTA summit). I have: Yaesu FT-2980 (2m only, limited to 10 watts) Anytone 868 (8 watts max) Baofeng GT-3TP (8 watts max) 2 ele 70cm yagi 2m dipole diamond x50 collinear at the Home QTH Hoping for some advice.. I would love to hear stories of you working satellites during a Summits On The Air activation, and I would be interested to hear of your station setup (and whether you have had success with a minimal setup like mine). Best Regards, Oscar M7OJA (IO94HT)

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Amsat - SOTA
by Stephen DeVience 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

Hi Oscar, Lilacsat-2 has not been on the last few days, so it's not a problem on your end. Its schedule is irregular, and it's usually on for 3-4 days then off for a few. If you don't want to buy an Arrow, there are a number of designs online for crossed or dual band yagis you can make yourself. They won't be as convenient for SOTA, but work great at home. I've had success using PVC and copper tubing and I've also seen nice ones made with light wood and stiff wire. -Stephen, N8URE

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ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletin
by Frank Karnauskas 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-201 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information 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://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 dot org. In this edition: * AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14 * HO-107 is Back! * First Call for Papers - Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium * New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use * SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites * DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band * 1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting * IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts from All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-201.01 ANS-201 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 201.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. July 19, 2020 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-202.01 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Packages Mailed July 14 Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary reports that the ballots, candidate statements, and return envelopes for the 2020 AMSAT Board of Directors Election were prepared by Paladin Commercial Printing of Newington, Connecticut. Paladin mailed the packages from Hartford, Connecticut, on Tuesday, July 14, to members of record on July 1. Non-US addresses were sent first class (the only option for overseas). US addresses were sent pre-sorted standard, which is routine for mail that requires a two-way response time measured in weeks, as this does. Allowing for postal delivery standards and guard time, the Secretary will not consider a ballot as lost in post any earlier than August 12 (four weeks after the mailing). This timing permits a replacement ballot to be mailed first class in both directions, even internationally, with time to spare under prevailing postal delivery standards. Paladin has shipped materials for 100 blank election packages to Price. Price will use these materials to assemble and mail replacement or substitute packages as necessary. These requests and packages will be tracked and accounted against the voter list and returned ballots to guard against duplicates, and will be identifiable against the package mailed by Paladin for further verification and accounting by the tellers. Members desiring a replacement ballot package should contact Price no earlier than August 12. The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains: 1) An instruction and ballot sheet, with the ballot perforated, 2) A sheet of candidate statements, and 3) A No 9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots should be returned and the member's name and address for verification against the voter list and any replacement ballot requests. Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the ballot from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a receptacle, and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been separated from the envelopes. Ballots should be returned in the return envelopes provided to arrive at the designated Post Office Box in Vienna, Virginia, by 5 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2020. Separation of the ballots from the envelopes and counting will occur as soon thereafter as practicable, and no later than September 30. Brennan can be reached at brennanprice(a)verizon.net for a query about membership status at any time or a replacement ballot after August 12. [ANS thanks Brennan Price, N4QX, AMSAT Secretary for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AMSAT office is closed until further notice. For details, please visit https://www.amsat.org/amsat-office-closed-until-further-notice/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ HO-107 is Back! On the evening of July 17, 2020, Vlad Chorney, EU1SAT, tweeted "Husky-1 ACTIVE!" with a screenshot from FoxTelem showing that he had received telemetry from HO-107 (HuskySat-1) which had been silent for nearly two months. About an hour after EU1SAT's tweet, the satellite passed over the eastern United States and AMSAT command stations KO4MA and N8MH copied telemetry. On subsequent passes, the satellite was successfully commanded. Please continue to copy telemetry in FoxTelem. If you have removed HO-107 from your tracked satellites during its period of inactivity, please add it back. The transponder remains disabled while AMSAT Operations evaluates the telemetry from the satellite. [ANS thanks AMSAT Operations for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- First Call for Papers - Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium This is the first call for papers for the Virtual 2020 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held on October 17, 2020. Proposals for papers and symposium presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite community. Further details regarding the virtual event will be announced shortly. We request a tentative title of your presentation as soon as possible, with the final copy to be submitted by October 5, 2020 for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz at n8fgv(at)amsat.org [ANS thanks Dan Schultz, N8FGV, for the above information] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT's GOLF Program is about getting back to higher orbits, and it all begins with GOLF-TEE - a technology demonstrator for deployable solar panels, propulsion, and attitude control. Come along for the ride. The journey will be worth it! https://tinyurl.com/ANS-GOLF +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ New D-STAR Reflector for AMSAT Use It has been nearly two years since Walter Holmes, K5WH and friends created the AMSAT DMR Talkgroup 98006 and has been working with great success. About one year ago they created a YSF US AMSAT Reflector 11689 to pull in others using Yaesu System Fusion digital radios. As these were working so well, they decided to bridge the two systems together so it would longer matter which of these digital technologies users had. Users could cross communicate between all users of both systems. After success with the DMR talkgroup and the YSF reflector for more than a year, there was plenty of interest in adding D-STAR capability to the same system. Walter is happy to announce the creation of a new D-STAR reflector for that purpose. It supports four different reflector names such as XLXSAT, XRFSAT, DCSSAT, and REFSAT that are all linked together so that all of these work the same. As most people that are familiar with D-STAR reflectors know, they usually have numbers for the reflectors, but it seemed more appropriate to switch from the number system to the Alpha name like SAT to make it easier to find in the list. For those using hotspots, they will need to refresh or update their Pistar or BlueDV host files to see these entries before they will see this one in the pull-down list. Walter adds, "We recommend that users use module C for the AMSAT conversations but several other modules are available if we find a need to stretch out a bit. But, the C module is the one also linked to a few other repeaters. "The D-STAR SAT reflector is not currently bridged into the system as are the DMR and YSF reflectors, but we hope to have that linked in very soon after a little more testing. "If you have D-STAR capability, we invite you to give it a try and see how it works for you." [ANS thanks Walter Holmes, K5WH for the above information] -------------------------------------------------------------------- SpaceX to Launch AMSAT-EA EASAT-2 and Hades Satellites Spain's national amateur radio society URE says SpaceX expect to launch the EASAT-2 and Hades satellites in December 2020. AMSAT-EA, the URE satellite group, is building the satellites together with the European University of Madrid. The launch has been managed through the space broker Alba Orbital based in Glasgow. EASAT-2 and Hades will be launched into a sun-synchronous orbit between 500 km and 600 km and their main function is to act as analog and digital repeaters for radio amateurs. There is also a camera for SSTV transmissions provided by the Czech Republic that has already flown on the United States Marine Academy PSAT-2 satellite, and has now been adapted to fit into the PocketQube satellites. Both satellites are based on the PocketQube 1.5P (7.5 x 5 x 5 cm) architecture and represent an evolution of the previous GENESIS platform, whose GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites are expected to fly before the end of the year with Firefly, in a joint collaboration with Fossa Systems and LibreSpace, which also launch their own satellites, all of them within the Picobus dispenser, developed by the latter. IARU has coordinated these frequencies: - Hades - uplink 145.925 MHz, downlink 436.888 MHz - EASAT-2 - uplink 145.875 MHz, downlink 436.666 MHz [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ DARC Finds Unauthorized Transmissions in 144 MHz Satellite Band The DARC reports unauthorized transmissions are taking place in the 144 MHz satellite segment of the 2M amateur radio primary allocation. A translation of the DARC post reads: "In the 144.010 MHz to 144.020 MHz range, illegally operated transmitters are increasingly being operated as "water vitalizers" or "water energizers". The manufacturer specifies 144.015 MHz as the transmission frequency in its product description. "The DARC EMC department asks for further information with location information about conspicuous signals in this frequency range, in preparation for collective complaints. "The devices apparently generate fields with considerable field strength and a long range. The signals appear increasingly in the morning or in the evening. The illegal transmitters are typically in operation for 5 to 60 minutes (integer multiples of 5 minutes). The signal is generally very stable in frequency, but occasionally shows short-term fluctuations of up to a few 100 Hz. Otherwise the carrier is not further modulated. The frequency range 144.000 MHz to 146.000 MHz is assigned to the Amateur Radio service in Germany as the primary exclusive user." A video of the interference caused by these devices and a map showing some of the cases so far detected in Germany can be seen at https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/emv/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1240-1300 MHz Discussed at CEPT SE-40 Meeting The 69th meeting of CEPT ECC Working Group SE-40, held June 23-25, discussed the Amateur Radio 1240-1300 MHz band, the meeting documents are now available. Several contributions were received for the ECC Report dealing with the coexistence between the radionavigation-satellite service and the amateur service in the frequency band 1240 - 1300 MHz. The contributions were incorporated in the draft ECC Report. The CPG arrangements for the preparation of WRC-23 for AI 9.1 topic b) was noted. The Russian Federation noted: - 1240-1260 MHz is by the GLONASS system - 1260-1300 MHz are used by EU's Galileo, Beijing's Beidou, Japan's QZSS and is planned to be used by Korea's KPS. Among the documents available in Input, Info and Minutes are: - SE40(20)052 Amateur Repeaters - IARU-R1 - SE40(20)051 Section 2 update WI_39 - IARU-R1 - SE40(20)050 Annex Draft report RNSS Amateur - Russian Federation - SE40(20)049 Suggestions for RNSS and Amateur Service Compatibility, Russian Federation - Info 1 Amateur repeaters 23 cm - IARU-R1 - Info 3 Letter to SE40 chairman on updated of ITU-R M.1092 - European Commission - Minutes - SE40(20)56A3 (1) Draft Report Amateur vs RNSS Download the meeting documents from https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-CEPT. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- IARU Coordinates Two New Satellites - HIAPO HIAPO is a 1U CubeSat mission that is a unique platform being used to provide engaging meaningful hands-on STEM curriculum for Hawaii students K-12. Part of this curriculum involves obtaining data about solar flares solar particle events and the disturbances of the Earth's magnetic field. The students can also collect data on solar events with relation to the propagation of radio waves reflected or refracted back towards the Earth from the ionosphere. During the lifespan of this mission that data will be available for amateur operators to download directly from the satellite. The Hawaii Science & Technology Museum was awarded a no-cost flight of the launch and a limited resources will not allow the development of an Amateur Radio digipeater. However if the launch date slips they plan to work with resources at AMSAT to develop a digipeater. Proposing a UHF downlink using 9k6 FSK with AX25. Planning a Firefly launch from Vandenberg in July 2020 into a 300 km orbit with 137 degree inclination together with Serenity and Spinnaker 3. A downlink on 437.225 MHz has been coordinated. - VZLUSAT-2 VZLUSAT-2 is 3U CubeSat project of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and Czech Aerospace Research Centre. Students from four Czech technical universities are involved along with members of an Amateur Radio community from The Czech Republic. The primary payload is the experimental Earth observation camera with an expected resolution around 30 to 50 m GSD. Secondary payloads of the mission are Radiation Orbital Monitor, Gama Ray Burst detector, X-ray detector and other sensors. This mission is fully open to Radio Amateurs who were also involved in the development of the satellite. The space segment uses two Amateur bands for communication: An S-band for payload data downlink (DVBS2 ETSI EN 302 307 standard, 2 MBd, QPSK), and UHF downlink beacon (GMSK 1200 Bd), telecommand uplink ( GMSK, 1200 Bd - 9600 Bd) and telemetry downlink (GMSK 4800, 9600 Bd). All the information is in an open format and everything needed for decoding is or will be published at: https://www.pilsencube.zcu.cz/vzlusat2/transmission.pdf. Planning a launch from Cape Canaveral in the time window from December 2020 to March 2021 into SSO 500-600 km. A downlink on 437.325 MHz has been coordinated. [ANS thanks the IARU for the above information.] +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an amateur radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit. Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Upcoming Satellite Operations Quick Hits: - Need Hawaii? On AO-7 Most days. NH7WN for a schedule. - EN85, 86 and maybe 75 and 76, July 11-25. @AA8CH for a schedule. - FN44/54, 7/22 - 7/31, KQ2RP: Just like last time, FM only. - FN11+21 then 12+22 grid lines, 7/25, @NS3L Steve is heading out to these lines. Schedule to come. - EN20/30 Line, July 28-31, @KX9X Sean is moving quickly towards his VUCC/R award by heading out again for two more grids. Watch his Twitter for details. - DM97/98 & EM08/09: Super Rover @AD0DX is heading out for the Kansas QSO party and N0E. More to come. Major Roves: - @WY7AA is heading out again! Mon 7/20 DN67/68. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400. Tue 7/21 DN57/58. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400. Wed 7/22 Travel day no sats. Thu 7/23 DN55/56. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400. Fri 7/24 DN65/66. All SSB and FM passes from about 1600-0400. Watch his QRZ page for details and updates. [ANS thanks Robert Bankston, KE4AL for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events No events posted. -------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News No pending school operations. [ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- Shorts from All Over - Sean Kutzko, KX9X To Present "Working Satellites" at DXE Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy July 25, 2020 Join Sean on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 10:15 EDT for his thirty- minute presentation on Amateur Radio satellites. Sean's presentation is part of the DX Engineering Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy. The event is free and open to all. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Sean - Behind Scenes SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission You Haven't Seen NASA has just released a new video. It starts with "You saw history made with the first crewed launch and docking of the SpaceX Crew Dragon, but you didn't see the flurry of activity on board the International Space Station...until now. "Join Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy and his crew mates as they prepare their cameras to document the DM-2 launch, and look over their shoulders to witness the new American spacecraft dock to the station and deliver their new crew mates." Watch the twelve minute video at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-201-Dragon. [ANS thanks http://spaceref.com for the above information.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 additional 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 student rate for a maximum of six post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Frank Karnauskas, N1UW n1uw at amsat dot 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 member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
by Brennan Price 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

I do want to address both Greg's observation and Bruce's, in turn. 1) An interior envelope is admittedly commonly used in mail-in balloting. It also incrementally increases the cost and complexity of the mailing, and has been abandoned by other organizations in lieu of other measures to maintain secrecy as a result (I actually modeled this process and ballot design--including return envelopes with preprinted addressed for verification and no interior envelope--from a recently concluded and similarly robustly conducted election for the board of the United States Chess Federation, of which I am a member). I will cite this relevant text from my earlier advisory to this reflector: The package is clearly labeled as election-related and contains . . . [a] No 9 return envelope, which bears the address to which ballots should be returned and the member's name and address for verification against the voter list and any replacement ballot requests. Secrecy at the time of counting will be maintained by separating the ballot from the envelope without inspection, placing the ballot in a receptacle, and scrutinizing the ballots after all have been separated from the envelopes. I appreciate the membership's anticipated confidence in my commitment and ability to maintain the bylaws' requirement of a secret ballot through this method. 2) It is not correct that I have been pressured in my conduct of the election. I have made decisions on a number of issues that warranted discussion both before and after the fact, and I believe I've made at least one call with which every candidate would have rather me made another by now. These discussions, even when ending in disagreement, have universally been conducted with professionalism and in the absence of the vigor that one may detect here. 73,Brennan Price, N4QXSecretary, Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation -----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org> On Behalf Of Bruce Perens via AMSAT-BB Sent: Saturday, July 18, 2020 4:38 PM To: Gregory Beat <w9gb(a)icloud.com> Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ?? Hi Gregory, I believe that Brennan was doing his best to run a fair election, and this is an unintentional mistake. Brennan was under pressure to make things less fair, and did not. On Sat, Jul 18, 2020, 1:11 PM Gregory Beat via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today. > > I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT > Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA. > The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner. > > The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable > return address. > A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is > provided for the member’s ballot. This assures that the member’s > ballot remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical > counting process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering. > == > The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election, > when AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election process. > I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and > visible balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the > Oscars, that is PwC). > > I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method > does not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting > (tabulation) process. > > Greg Beat, w9gb > AMSAT-NA life member > == > ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins > DATE: 2019 July 7 > To All RADIO AMATEURS > 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update > > The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted > differently than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting > process was handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has > contracted with a single, independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct > and fully manage the election process. > Sincerely, > Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG > AMSAT Secretary > > > Sent from iPad Air > _______________________________________________ > 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > _______________________________________________ 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: AMSAT-BB Info Page | | | | AMSAT-BB Info Page | | |

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AMSAT 2020 BoD Ballot Arrived : ??
by Gregory Beat 19 Jul '20

19 Jul '20

I received the 2020 AMSAT BoD ballot via US Postal Service today. I noticed that the envelope for this ballot is addressed to the AMSAT Secretary, Brennan Price, at a post office box in Vienna, VA. The envelope has my return address pre-printed in the upper left corner. The standard mail-in ballot practice, is to NOT use an identifiable return address. A separate ballot envelope (sometimes a different, specific color) is provided for the member’s ballot. This assures that the member’s ballot remains Secret and the envelope only Opened during the physical counting process. This minimizes or eliminates Ballot Tampering. == The 2020 mail-in ballot process is different than the 2019 election, when AMSAT used a third-party to assure a secret ballot for BoD election process. I previously worked for Ernst&Young, which handles sensitive and visible balloting for many high-profile organizations (expect the Oscars, that is PwC). I raise my hand in objection, that this 2020 mail-in balloting method does not assure the line of secrecy from member to the vote counting (tabulation) process. Greg Beat, w9gb AMSAT-NA life member == ANS-188 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins DATE: 2019 July 7 To All RADIO AMATEURS 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors Election Update The 2019 AMSAT Board of Directors election will be conducted differently than in past elections. In previous years, the balloting process was handled by multiple vendors. This year, AMSAT has contracted with a single, independent party, ElectionBuddy, to conduct and fully manage the election process. Sincerely, Clayton L. Coleman, W5PFG AMSAT Secretary Sent from iPad Air

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RFI/EMI-quiet LED 48 inch T8 tube lights (to replace fluorescents)
by David J. Schmocker 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

Everyone: Some of us have fluorescent tube-lights in our homes or garages and desire to replace them with energy-efficient LED bulbs. However as weak-signal enthusiasts, many LED bulbs are electrically noisy. So I set out to identify and test LED bulbs that are both energy efficient and EMI/RFI quiet (starting at 50.2 MHz because I do moon-bounce work there). This need for electrical quiet applies also to 2m and 70cm and other satellite bands too. 50.2 MHz test findings: Test site (KJ9I QTH): N5654 County Road F Sullivan, WI 53178 Test location: basement of residence (location of these lights) Test date: May 2020 Test result: no change in WSJT v10 Rx level with all basement lights on or off (0dB relative signal level both before and after lights illuminated). Fluorescent light replacement (formerly electronic ballasts) converted to direct-wire, single-end fed LED bulbs. *Hyperikon SKU: 841000631* (XYL requirement was soft-white, so 3000 degrees K was selected). 18w bulbs. In May 2020, I installed 14 bulbs (seven dual light fixtures) removing the old ballasts and fluorescent tube lights. I trimmed all unused wires to minimum physical length and removed excess wire from fixtures that had been attached to electronic ballasts. The fixtures in which these were installed are typical tin metal legacy fluorescent fixtures. Note: Hyperikon Non-Shunted Tombstones (end mounts) were replaced on only the energized end of each installed LED bulb. The opposite (non-energized) end retained the original tombstone with wires trimmed off as short as possible. There is no change in my WSJT v10 (nor WSJT-X) signal level with lights all on or off. When Rx level is set to 0dB, it holds at this level. Test Antenna is 1 x LFA-HZE-10 (2-inch homebrew round boom design) up 88 feet Above Ground Level with HA8ET 50MHz LNA fed into SSB Electronic LT6S transverter (1dB NF) then to JRC JST-245DX 28Mhz transceiver. Today I received good news that another ham (Frank W3LPL) also installed Hyperikon LED bulbs at his QTH and he also reported 6m RFI-quiet. I hope this data is useful. 73, Dave KJ9I The disclaimer: I have no financial nor any other connection with Hyperikon beyond being a satisfied customer of the above bulbs.

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Wise Legal Expenses
by Robert MacHale 18 Jul '20

18 Jul '20

To all who claim the legal expenses were a waste of money, consider this: >>>In January 2020, a demand letter arrived at AMSAT from an attorney representing Directors Thompson and Stoddard. Submitting a demand letter from an attorney is a really big deal. That legal line was first crossed by the new board members. Apparently, Joe Spier resigned at this point in order to avoid unfair legal entanglements - and, as far as I can tell from the few interactions I have had with Joe - he is a kind person. Plenty of evidence, plenty of facts - obviously point to AmSat not keeping up with the times. But that does not justify legal betrayal of existing board members by new members in an effort to usurp full control of the board. A more perfect response would have been to do nothing until the election cycle and hope to replace the board members who may have been dragging their feet. My point is this - nobody should be making the argument the legal expenses were not required. Hearing this from the members who delivered the demand letter feels insulting on many levels and should stop. Own it - the members who brought the demand, and their Backer(s), are ultimately responsible for the costs incurred. Actions have consequences - and side-effects. Ends do not justify means. There is a right way and a wrong way to move forward. Trust is more valuable than performance. The legal expenditures were both Wise and Required. The demand letter sent by the new board members was neither. Shifting blame and not owning the side-effects of our actions is less than optimal. This observation is not a vote in favor or against any member or candidate. For reference: https://www.amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2020-July/078239.html Robert MacHale . KE6BLR Ham Radio License . http://www.aprsat.com/predict . http://www.spaceCommunicator.club . Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration Silly Joke: What did the little mountain say to the bigger mountain? Hi Cliff!

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