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

LoTW and the ISS repeater
by Ronald Parsons 05 Sep '20

05 Sep '20

To be consistent with other satellites, which use the popular keps satellite name as the LoTW satellite name, LoTW should accept "ISS" as a satellite name along with "ARISS" Cc: LoTW-help(a)arrl.org Ron W5RKN

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SatPC32 vs. HRD
by Gerald Payton 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

As I have previously stated, I am new and in the planning stages of my satellite station. I have SatPC32 installed and impressed with its abilities. Also, I am receiving encouragement from a friend to try HRD (Ham Radio Deluxe) which I also own. I was wondering if and how many satellite operators are using HRD or have tried it. I suspect that SatPC32 of used primarily by most everyone. Many thanks for the help being received here and off the BB. 73, Jerry AB5R

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Icom IC-9700 and Kantronics TNC
by Tim N8DEU 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

Has anybody interfaced a Kantronics 9612 or the KM XL TNC to the accessory port of the Icom IC-9700? The reason I am asking is there are two IC-9700 users using the same firmware who are experiencing the same issue with both of these TNC’s. Packets are decoded with little to no issue on the receive side, but the transmit side is a different story. It seems only about 30% of the transmitted packets are decoded by other stations using 1200 baud. The deviation of the transmit signal and the TX delay are not the issue. The same TNC works with no issue on a Yaesu FT-736 and the FT-847. Thank You, Tim Cunningham - N8DEU

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ISS FM Repeater Report
by Roy Dean 04 Sep '20

04 Sep '20

I worked the 9:00z pass this morning (12 degrees max, to my north - typically my best passes). I had to get up early for work and I ended up waking up 2 hours early and not being able to fall back a asleep, so what the heck. The only callsigns on were myself and KE8FZT. Andrew was choppy getting in at half a watt, constantly cutting in and out. When he was getting in, he was clear as day - full quieting. I couldn't get in at all until around TCA, and at that point I was also loud and clear, but couldn't bring up the repeater on every attempt (I'd say I got in every 2nd or 3rd attempt). As soon as the ISS fell below about 6 degrees, I couldn't get in anymore. I was transmitting at 20 watts the whole time. I tried tones from 67 to 88.5 Hz from about 6 degrees to 3 degrees, with no luck. Is this radio connected to the same antenna system that the old packet radio was hooked up to? It really seems to be behaving just like the packet system (hit or miss getting in). --Roy K3RLD

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Re: [amsat-bb] gprediict and PI
by Roy Dean 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

> > Hi GuysI want to embark on converting my sat station over to PI 4b > computer using gpredict,hamlib and a compatible rotor control unit that > will work with Yaesu G5500. > I am sure someone out there has done this but I am in need of an elmer! > Someone will comment, why. I have my hF stations working fine with PI and I > want to send Microsoft to the dungeon! > Jim KI6WJ While I don't do it now (I use Ubuntu on a normal pc), my first rotator setup was on a Pi 3B+. There was no secret to it, other than at the time there was a bug in the GS232 code for Hamlib that interfaced with my G-5400B and Fox-Delta ST2. However a code savvy ham submitted an update to Hamlib which is now implemented in their main branch that is specific to the Fox-Delta ST2 controller (608 FoxDelta GS232/ST2). If you follow the setup commands for both software packages, it should be straight forward. --Roy K3RLD

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gprediict and PI
by James Brown 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

Hi GuysI want to embark on converting my sat station over to PI 4b computer using gpredict,hamlib and a compatible rotor control unit that will work with Yaesu G5500. I am sure someone out there has done this but I am in need of an elmer! Someone will comment, why. I have my hF stations working fine with PI and I want to send Microsoft to the dungeon! Jim KI6WJ

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Re: [amsat-bb] Delaware Contact
by Albert Ozias 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

I am encouraged by the numbers of Satellite operators who would also to like to make a DE contact. I appreciate that it is less complicated to set up a portable station for the FM mode but my hope is whomever makes DE available has linear satellite capability. With my present station in western OR I cannot work further east than MT on FM birds but can work the Midwest on CAS-4A/B and the east coast on RS-44. 73 - Al -N7EQF -CN84

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ISS Crossband Repeater
by BeetleJerald Oliver 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

I can hear the downlink on 437.800 Mhz great....However, cannot get into the repeater......Is 145.990 Mhz with 67 Hz tone correct ? Or did I miss something... Jerry KJ4EU

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Fwd: ISS Crossband Repeater
by David Worboys 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

Yup, thats correct although I had difficulty accessing the repeater for the first 3 or 4 minutes of that last pass - after that it was fine! David KG4ZLB On Sep 3, 2020, at 10:48 AM, BeetleJerald Oliver via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: I can hear the downlink on 437.800 Mhz great....However, cannot get into the repeater......Is 145.990 Mhz with 67 Hz tone correct ? Or did I miss something... Jerry KJ4EU _______________________________________________ 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

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PO-101 QSL Card
by Tim Crawford 03 Sep '20

03 Sep '20

Just a reminder to everyone that you can secure a QSL card from the operators of PO-101 (jpeg image) that they will email you. TimKE7TAC https://twitter.com/Diwata2PH Diwata2PH@Diwata2PH·Jan 19[QSL CARDS for QSOs]CQ operators of PO-101! If you have successfully operated PO-101, you can request a QSL card from us! Just fill in the necessary info and we'll send it to you as a token of appreciation for using PO-101 :) QSL Card:QSL Card for QSOs via PO-101Please fill out the necessary information for your QSL card. Complete this form for each confirmed QSO. QSL cards will be released at the end of the month through your provided email. 73docs.google.com

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Vega rocket (VV16) - lauched with success
by christophe.mcr 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Dear The Vega rocket was successfully launched. The satellites were separated. TLE Les TLE : 1 74002U 14900A 20247.14839410 .00000000 00000-0 50000-4 0 04 2 74002 97.4424 320.0103 0002779 53.5911 328.5572 15.10021350 03 73 Christophe <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Garanti sans virus. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Re: [amsat-bb] 3D printing and threaded inserts
by Curt Laumann 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Hi Paul, Right! This 3D printing enables so many different projects, is relatively EASY and LOW COST !!! To share some of the salient points for those not too familiar with 3D printing: A good-quality printer can be had for $250 (Ender3 is a VERY popular printer) Parts the size of your fist cost about $1 to $2 (roughly speaking) As Paul noted, there are materials which nicely survive UV and heat. You could print PETG parts for outside, or in the heat of your car. Parts take between an hour and a day to print, depending on size, complexity and density. FreeCAD software is really, really a nice match to what we do in amateur radio. A couple of hams here in Tucson love it, and it is very nicely suited to making ham radio widgets :) Cura software (also free) is used to take the output of FreeCAD and create "gcode" which drives the 3D printer. The heat insert tool that Paul referred to in his previous email can be seen at the link below: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078K72615/?coliid=I1K4DNMRZKIRXN&colid=2BL2OM2F3… As for material, I get filament made by eSun which prints very nicely. I use PLA+ for stuff indoors, and PETG for outdoor products. Fun Fact: I print 27 whistles in a batch (takes 23 hours), add split rings, and give them away as gifts. They're about a dime each. Another Fun Fact: "Thingiverse" contains 1000's of projects that can be printed. All of this information is well known to avid 3D printer people, and I'm sure others can chime in with their perspective / ideas / product recommendations. BOTTOM LINE: If you like to build stuff, ANY stuff, and are willing to learn a very minor amount of software, the payoff is very very high! Curt / K7ZOO Tucson AZ On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 9:05 PM Paul Andrews <w2hro.fn20(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Curt, > > Nice presentation. I also started 3D printing in May and recently > discovered heated brass inserts. These items can really expand the range > of possibilities. I have designed a folding satellite dish with 3D printed > parts and waterjet cut aluminum. We recently improved the strength of a > few parts using the brass inserts for M3 bolts. > > A standard soldering iron works nicely but you can achieve better accuracy > using a soldering iron tip specially designed to install the inserts. > > What plastic are you printing? I found that PETG is easy to print, UV > stable and will hold up in summer heat outdoors. > > 73 - Paul - W2HRO > > On Wed, Sep 2, 2020 at 10:39 PM Curt Laumann via AMSAT-BB < > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > >> Hi All, >> >> To support my interest in building amateur radio equipment I recently dove >> into 3D printing. I'm sure many are aware of the technique below, but >> still others might find it interesting. >> >> *You can easily install threaded brass inserts into 3D printed parts, >> making them very robust and useful.* Feel free to view the PDF file at >> the >> link below for a brief introduction to this technique. >> >> Curt / K7ZOO >> Tucson AZ >> >> >> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pk_TxQrJCwZ3NnAyDzvdfZ9ijtQBwNNq/view?usp=… >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> >

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[Video] Two videos about the new ISS crossband repeater
by John Brier 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Part 1: "The ISS crossband voice repeater is back!" https://youtu.be/6LIgfv_cDCk Part 2: "My first pass on the new ISS crossband voice repeater!" https://youtu.be/M4gYuUgPAWY Congrats to ARISS and all involved on this milestone for the next gen IORS. It sounds great. 73, John Brier KG4AKV

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3D printing and threaded inserts
by Curt Laumann 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Hi All, To support my interest in building amateur radio equipment I recently dove into 3D printing. I'm sure many are aware of the technique below, but still others might find it interesting. *You can easily install threaded brass inserts into 3D printed parts, making them very robust and useful.* Feel free to view the PDF file at the link below for a brief introduction to this technique. Curt / K7ZOO Tucson AZ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pk_TxQrJCwZ3NnAyDzvdfZ9ijtQBwNNq/view?usp=…

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DELAWARE CONTACT?
by john＠papays.com 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Several are asking about a Delaware contact. DE has always been rare on satellites. It was one of the last I needed for WAS more than a decade ago. The most recent op that I am aware of was WA3X. He has no email in qrz and hasn't uploaded to LOTW in about a year. N8HM operated from there as W3ZM/3 in October 2019. Maybe Paul could be persuaded to take the train up there and satisfy the demand for Delaware? 73, John K8YSE

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Re: [amsat-bb] Just wondering. Are any of the modules on curently flying Fox Sats opensource?
by Bill Gaylord 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Thank you. Anyone know what licensing that documentation would be under? If any. (Like an opensource license or if its got no license making it All Rights Reserved) William Gaylord KD9KCK (Resent as I forgot to reply to the BB) On Tue, Sep 1, 2020 at 6:16 PM Robert Bankston <ke4al(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Bill, > > You can view Fox Engineering Data on the AMSAT website. Link is under > Projects|The Fox Project > > Direct link is > https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/AMSAT-Fox-Docume… > > In addition, as an AMSAT member, you can review past issues of the AMSAT > Proceedings and The AMSAT Journal archive on our member portal, > launch.amsat.org. There's a lot of great information in there. > > Robert, KE4AL > > On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, 05:43:52 PM CDT, Bill Gaylord via AMSAT-BB > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> wrote: > > I am just wondering are any of the stuff in the current Fox Sats > opensource? If not, why not? If so, where could I find information on it? > > William Gaylord, KD9KCK > _______________________________________________ > 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 >

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ISS FM repeater
by Jean Marc Momple 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

Dear All, Just to let you know that Patrice (3B8FA) ad myself did superb QSO via the iSS FM repeater just a few minutes ago. Working fine 59+ both ways on V/U (145.990/437.800 MHz), really nice to have the ISS repeater back on air. 73 Jean Marc (3B8DU)

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Re: [amsat-bb] Vega rocket (VV16) launch expected 2nd september : 3 Satellites with hamradio payload
by Daniel Schultz 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

According to the IARU website description, "AMICal Sat is an educational mission which has been developed by UGA-CSUG and MSU-SINP during 30 month. It involved 50 students of different level and specialties." One of the reasons that amateur radio still exists is that we can educate the next generation of students, and AMICal Sat seems to fulfill that mission. If it was a commercial or government mission or an academic mission without substantial student involvement, then Part 5 or whatever the European equivalent is would be more appropriate, but to grow the next generation of space scientists and satellite engineers it would seem to be a legitimate use of amateur radio frequencies. Dan Schultz N8FGV On 09/01/20 14:15, Zach Metzinger via AMSAT-BB wrote: >> Are any of these "amateur" payloads actually amateur usable >> transponders, or are they just telemetry transmitters on amateur >> frequencies? >I second that sentiment, Jim. Seems like a lot of orbiting class >projects, without much amateur relevance, using our bands. >IMO, these should be Part 5 licenses in some other segment.

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Re: [amsat-bb] DE activation
by Roy Dean 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

For a while, N3ROY was very active. Maybe try shooting him an email. --Roy (unrelated to the above callsign holder) K3RLD

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DE activation
by Russ Kinner 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

I would think some Philadelphia based Sat. Ops. might be able to get the state on air. I hope to be in the general area in late November and might make a day trip to DE. Not sure about the trip yet but that seems to be a demand I could fill. Rusty, WA8ZID

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ARISS News Release No. 20-13
by David Jordan 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

ARISS News Release No. 20-13 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE First Element of ARISSNext Generation (Next-Gen) Radio System Installed in ISS ColumbusModule September2, 2020—The ARISS team is pleased to announce that set up and installation of the first element of our next generation radiosystem was completed and amateur radio operations with it are now underway. Thisfirst element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio System (IORS), was installed in theInternational Space Station Columbus module. The IORS replaces the Ericssonradio system and packet module that were originally certified for spaceflighton July 26, 2000. Initial operation of the new radio system is in FM cross bandrepeater mode using an uplink frequency of 145.99 MHz with an access tone of 67Hz and a downlink frequency of 437.800 MHz. System activation was firstobserved at 01:02 UTC on September 2. Special operations will continue to beannounced. The IORS was launched from KennedySpace Center on March 6, 2020 on board the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission. It consists of a special, space-modified JVC Kenwood D710GAtransceiver, an ARISS developed multi-voltage power supply and interconnectingcables. The design, development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORSwas an incredible five-year engineering achievement accomplished by the ARISS hardwarevolunteer team. It will enable new, exciting capabilities for ham radiooperators, students, and the general public. Capabilities include a higherpower radio, voice repeater, digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities and aKenwood VC-H1 slow scan television (SSTV) system. A second IORS undergoes flight certification and willbe launched later for installation in the Russian Service module. This secondsystem enables dual, simultaneous operations, (e.g. voice repeater and APRSpacket), providing diverse opportunities for radio amateurs. It also provides on-orbitredundancy to ensure continuous operations in the event of an IORS componentfailure. Next-gen development efforts continue. For theIORS, parts are being procured and a total of ten systems are being fabricatedto support flight, additional flight spares, ground testing and astronaut training.Follow-on next generation radio system elements include an L-band repeateruplink capability, currently in development, and a flight Raspberry-Pi, dubbed “ARISS-Pi,”that is just beginning the design phase. The ARISS-Pi promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTVoperations. ARISS is run almost entirely by volunteers, and with the help of generouscontributions from ARISS sponsors and individuals. Donations to the ARISS program for next generation hardwaredevelopments, operations, education, and administration are welcome -- pleasego to https://www.ariss.org/donate.html to contribute to these efforts. ARISS--Celebrating 20years of continuous amateur radio operations on the ISS! Amateur Radio on the InternationalSpace Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radiosocieties and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the RadioAmateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), theISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space Communications andNavigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration ofscience, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics byorganizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard theISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators,parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateurradio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Likeus on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and@ARISS_status. -----------------------------------------------------

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AMSAT Status for Android
by Loren M. Lang 02 Sep '20

02 Sep '20

I have an initial working version of the AMSAT Status app that can submit reports as well as can show existing status reports submitted by others. However, it's still a bit rough on the edges and can crash on older devices so I don't want to hit publish just yet, but I am up for adding anyone to the initial testing. If you are interested in being added to the Alpha releases to try it out, just send me a direct email and I can add you. You should get any updates up to the public release. -Loren K7IW

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Vega rocket (VV16) launch expected 2nd september : 3 Satellites with hamradio payload
by Stephen DeVience 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

I would suggest that all these educational satellites that are just sending telemetry should have their own allocation, but the powers-that-be would probably take the spectrum from us to make it! So I suppose all these satellites at least help us protect the spectrum. Amicalsat has all of the protocols nicely documented so we can capture data and process it. I think that's a fair use of ham radio. On the other hand, the information on TTU100 is less forthcoming: https://old.taltech.ee/projects/mektory-eng/satellite-programme-3/satellite… Sure we can capture telemetry, but the other experiments are just using the ham bands for their own purposes. The trade off is that we can claim the 10 GHz band is being used by ham radio the next time someone tries to take it away. -Stephen N8URE

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Delaware Contact?
by Albert Ozias 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

Do amateur radio operators who are active on linear satellites from DE exist? Al - N7EQF - CN84

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Just wondering. Are any of the modules on curently flying Fox Sats opensource?
by Bill Gaylord 01 Sep '20

01 Sep '20

I am just wondering are any of the stuff in the current Fox Sats opensource? If not, why not? If so, where could I find information on it? William Gaylord, KD9KCK

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